Invergordon strongman Tom Stoltman became the first Scotsman to hold the title of World’s Strongest Man after winning the 2021 instalment in Sacramento, California on Sunday night.
The 27-year-old had to hold off a late charge from four-time WSM winner Brian Shaw, who would have broken the record for all-time wins had he triumphed, sealing his status as the strongest man on planet earth in the final event; the Atlas Stones. Maxime Boudreault of Canada placed third.
Stoltman, who is the first Briton since Eddie Hall in 2017 to claim the title, finished second in 2020 to Ukraine’s Oleksii Novikov and the Albatross’ win this year comes as no surprise with Stoltman highly-regarded as one of the best talents in recent WSM memory. Do not be surprised to see Stoltman go on to dominate the sport for a few years now.
On day one of the finals, Stoltman set a new WSM record after accruing a seven-point lead heading into the Keg Toss - the largest ever after two events.
Tom Stoltman wins the stones vs Brian Shaw and takes home the title of Worlds Strongest Man
#Sacramento #WorldsStrongestMan #WSM
Tom wasn’t the only Stoltman to shine in the USA this summer, with his big brother Luke also finding himself in the WSM finals, finishing an impressive seventh himself. In 2019, the pair became the first brothers ever to appear in the same finals together.
In a sport full of likeable characters, the Brothers Stoltman are right up there with the best and even the most ardent of Brian Shaw fans won’t have begrudged Tom the win, and to see his brother there alongside him is what makes the sport so great.
“I used to think negatively and lose points and would go downhill,” Stoltman said after the win.
“When Brian Shaw came back it was a battle and it was written that it was going to be me against Brian on the stones.
“To finish him off at the end it was a really good feeling. My hamstring was playing up a wee bit, but I kept my cool. I knew Brian was behind me so I just had to keep focused.
“I was one point in front but I was going into my event which is the Atlas Stones. I never second guessed my tactics in my stone run.
“I vision it before I go and every time I do it is the same, I go over and over it. But what a battle.”
Full World’s Strongest Man 2021 Results
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Tom Stoltman (GBR) 45.5 points
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Brian Shaw (USA) 42.5
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Maxime Boudreault (CAN) 36.5
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Trey Mitchell (USA) 35
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JF Caron (CAN) 34
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Konstantine Janashia (GEO) 32.5
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Luke Stoltman (GBR) 32
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Adam Bishop (GBR) 27
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Bobby Thompson (USA) 23.5 (Withdrew)
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Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted (ICE) 20.5
