World’s Strongest Man 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Debutant Rayno Nel pips Tom Stoltman to title by HALF a point
RAYNO Nel WON World's Strongest Man on his DEBUT in the competition.
British athlete Tom Stoltman came SECOND by half a point, after a strong end on Sunday was unable to secure him first place.
Rayno Nel managed to get the job done, despite a slow start on Sunday, and won the competition.
His older brother Luke and fellow Brits Paddy Haynes and Shane Flowers came ninth, fifth and seventh respectively.
Follow our live blog below...
How Nel won it
Nel maintained his supremacy in the final after winning his group in the Qualifying Stage.
He got it this hand on the trophy they all want:
- Knaack Carry & Hoist – first place
- 18th Max Deadlift – second place
- Hercules Hold – second place
- Flintstone Press Max – fifth place
- Atlas Stone – third place
‘Being chased by Hooper and Stoltman is different’ – Nel
More fallout from Nel’s win
Excerpt from Nel’s interview with USA Today: “I think to have your two worst events coming up, that’s one thing. But knowing that (2023 champion) Mitch Hooper and (three-time World’s Strongest Man) Tom Stoltman are chasing you, with your worst events coming up, that’s something different.”
“I just tried to stay focused and do as much damage limitation as possible.”
From rugby dream to World’s Strongest Man
Former Cheetahs and Central University of Technology rugby player Rayno Nel has used is god-blessed strength and harnessed it into becoming the new World’s Strongest Man.
“Rugby was what I thought I would do for my sport career. I didn’t think I’d do any sport ever again,” he said in the aftermath of his win.
“But I always had this competitive side to me, so when I stopped playing rugby, I knew I needed to do something competitive. That’s just who I am.”
Nel and co prize pot
The exact prize fund for this year’s competition is yet to be revealed, but reports suggest that it could be higher than the 2024 winnings.
Tom Stoltman pocketed $100,016 for lifting last year’s crown, according to reports.
But the total prize pot was reportedly a record-breaking sum of $263,200.
Final leaderboard
- Rayno Nel, South Africa — 47pts
- Tom Stoltman, United Kingdom — 46.5pts
- Mitchell Hooper, Canada — 43.5pts
- Trey Mitchell, United States — 38.5pts
- Paddy Haynes, United Kingdom — 32pts
- Ondrej Fojtů, Czech Republic — 27pts
- Shane Flowers, United Kingdom — 25.5pts
- Pavlo Kordiyaka, Ukraine — 25pts
- Luke Stoltman, United Kingdom — 21.5pts
- Eddie Williams, Australia — 20.5pts
Nel reacts
Strongman champion Rayno Nel was overcome with emotion after his win last night.
Nel told : “I’m just over the moon. To represent South Africa in any way whatsoever, it feels surreal.
“I mean, we’re a small country with a lot of struggles. To have something like this I know means a lot to my people.”
‘Knew deep down there was chance of world title’ – Nel
Excerpt from Nel’s interview with USA Today: “Although the strongman community is very small in South Africa, of the whole country, I lived 5 kilometers from the best place to train,” Nel said.
“Coming in, I won’t say I was starstruck by everything, but World’s Strongest Man is just such a big scene and competition,” he said.
“Luckily in the sport, I know what the other guys’ numbers are. I know, pretty much, what they can do. So deep down, I knew there was a chance.”
Final leaderboard
- Rayno Nel, South Africa — 47pts
- Tom Stoltman, United Kingdom — 46.5pts
- Mitchell Hooper, Canada — 43.5pts
- Trey Mitchell, United States — 38.5pts
- Paddy Haynes, United Kingdom — 32pts
- Ondrej Fojtů, Czech Republic — 27pts
- Shane Flowers, United Kingdom — 25.5pts
- Pavlo Kordiyaka, Ukraine — 25pts
- Luke Stoltman, United Kingdom — 21.5pts
- Eddie Williams, Australia — 20.5pts
Nel and co prize pot
The exact prize fund for this year’s competition is yet to be revealed, but reports suggest that it could be higher than the 2024 winnings.
Tom Stoltman pocketed $100,016 for lifting last year’s crown, according to reports.
But the total prize pot was reportedly a record-breaking sum of $263,200.
Afternoon reading
Includes fallout from Tom Stoltman's narrow loss:
From rugby dream to World’s Strongest Man
Former Cheetahs and Central University of Technology rugby player Rayno Nel has used is god-blessed strength and harnessed it into becoming the new World’s Strongest Man.
"Rugby was what I thought I would do for my sport career. I didn't think I'd do any sport ever again," he said in the aftermath of his win.
"But I always had this competitive side to me, so when I stopped playing rugby, I knew I needed to do something competitive. That's just who I am."
'Knew deep down there was chance of world title' - Nel
Excerpt from Nel’s interview with USA Today: "Although the strongman community is very small in South Africa, of the whole country, I lived 5 kilometers from the best place to train," Nel said.
"Coming in, I won't say I was starstruck by everything, but World's Strongest Man is just such a big scene and competition," he said.
"Luckily in the sport, I know what the other guys' numbers are. I know, pretty much, what they can do. So deep down, I knew there was a chance."
'Being chased by Hooper and Stoltman is different' - Nel
More fallout from Nel's win
Excerpt from Nel's interview with USA Today: "I think to have your two worst events coming up, that's one thing. But knowing that (2023 champion) Mitch Hooper and (three-time World's Strongest Man) Tom Stoltman are chasing you, with your worst events coming up, that's something different."
"I just tried to stay focused and do as much damage limitation as possible."
2025 Strongest Man Final event podium results
Knaack Carry & Hoist
- Rayno Nel – 2 in 30.58 seconds
- Tom Stoltman – 2 in 34.49 seconds
- Mitchell Hooper – 2 in 35.47
18th Max Deadlift
- Trey Mitchell – 5 Reps
- Rayno Nel – 3 Reps
- Tom Stoltman – 3 Reps
Hercules Hold
- Eddie Williams – 1.22.14
- Rayno Nel – 1.15.63
- Paddy Haynes – 0.59.64
Flintstone Press Max
- Tom Stoltman – 6 reps, Trey Mitchell – 6 reps
- Mitchell Hooper – 5 reps, Pavlo Kordiyaka – 5 reps
- Ondrej Fojtu – 4 reps
Atlas Stone
- Tom Stoltman – 5 in 31.76 seconds
- Trey Mitchell – 5 in 41.08
- Rayno Nel – 4 in 30.17
Final leaderboard
- Rayno Nel, South Africa — 47pts
- Tom Stoltman, United Kingdom — 46.5pts
- Mitchell Hooper, Canada — 43.5pts
- Trey Mitchell, United States — 38.5pts
- Paddy Haynes, United Kingdom — 32pts
- Ondrej Fojtů, Czech Republic — 27pts
- Shane Flowers, United Kingdom — 25.5pts
- Pavlo Kordiyaka, Ukraine — 25pts
- Luke Stoltman, United Kingdom — 21.5pts
- Eddie Williams, Australia — 20.5pts
Morning reading
Includes recap from last night's events:
Nel reacts
Strongman champion Rayno Nel was overcome with emotion after his win last night.
Nel told : "I'm just over the moon. To represent South Africa in any way whatsoever, it feels surreal.
"I mean, we're a small country with a lot of struggles. To have something like this I know means a lot to my people."
ICYMI
Morning!
Here are the winning shorts from Rayon Nel's winning moment in Sacramento.
How Nel won it
Nel maintained his supremacy in the final after winning his group in the Qualifying Stage.
He got it this hand on the trophy they all want:
- Knaack Carry & Hoist - first place
- 18th Max Deadlift - second place
- Hercules Hold - second place
- Flintstone Press Max - fifth place
- Atlas Stone - third place
World record-setter
Earlier, Lucas Hatton set a new world record in the Flintstone Barbell (Max) event with his guest lift peaking at 277 kilograms weight on the barbell and sustained it to make the history books.
Representing
Donning the Unity Flag of South Africa, Rayon Nel maintains his roots of success.
The first of what looks like many.
Nel and co prize pot
The exact prize fund for this year's competition is yet to be revealed, but reports suggest that it could be higher than the 2024 winnings.
Tom Stoltman pocketed $100,016 for lifting last year's crown, according to reports.
But the total prize pot was reportedly a record-breaking sum of $263,200.
Podium three
Nel finds himself at the top of the Strongman game, with fellow champions to his side.
- Rayno Nel — 47 points
- Tom Stoltman — 46.5 points
- Mitchell Hooper — 43.5 points
2025 Strongest Man Final event podium results
Knaack Carry & Hoist
- Rayno Nel - 2 in 30.58 seconds
- Tom Stoltman - 2 in 34.49 seconds
- Mitchell Hooper - 2 in 35.47
18th Max Deadlift
- Trey Mitchell - 5 Reps
- Rayno Nel - 3 Reps
- Tom Stoltman - 3 Reps
Hercules Hold
- Eddie Williams - 1.22.14
- Rayno Nel - 1.15.63
- Paddy Haynes - 0.59.64
Flintstone Press Max
- Tom Stoltman - 6 reps, Trey Mitchell - 6 reps
- Mitchell Hooper - 5 reps, Pavlo Kordiyaka - 5 reps
- Ondrej Fojtu - 4 reps
Atlas Stone
- Tom Stoltman - 5 in 31.76 seconds
- Trey Mitchell - 5 in 41.08
- Rayno Nel - 4 in 30.17
Nel makes history at first time of asking
Nel is the first South African champion in WSM history.
Nel's trip to the history books isn't shocking in retrospect. In his brief strongman career, he has dominated.
He participated in six international competitions prior to his 2025 WSM participation, winning five of them.
Now, he's one for one on the global stage.
