You see them on TV every Christmas, usually in some tropical parking lot, dragging semi-trucks like they’re pulling a grocery cart. These are the giants. The outliers. But if you ask a casual fan who the world strongest man in the world is right now, you’ll probably get three different answers.
Some say it’s the guy from Game of Thrones. Others swear by the Canadian marathon runner who basically broke the sport. Then there’s the quiet South African engineer who just shocked everyone.
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Strength isn't just one thing. It's a mess of physics, leverage, and sheer stubbornness. Honestly, the "strongest" person depends entirely on whether you’re asking them to lift a static bar, throw a sandbag over a high bar, or outrun a clock with 400 pounds in each hand.
The King of the North vs. The New Blood
Right now, the official title belongs to Rayno Nel.
If you haven't heard the name yet, don't feel bad. He’s the first South African to ever take the crown, and he did it in 2025 by beating the absolute favorites. We’re talking about a guy who was a wildcard invite. He showed up to Sacramento and decided to out-pull Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper.
Nel isn't the biggest guy on the field. At 6'3" and around 326 lbs, he’s actually "small" compared to the literal giants like the 6'8" Stoltman. But strength is weird. Nel works as an electrical engineer when he isn't moving boulders. He brought a level of precision to the 2025 finals that felt... different. Kinda like he was solving a math problem while his spine was under a thousand pounds of pressure.
But is he the strongest?
It's complicated. While Nel holds the 2025 WSM trophy, Mitchell Hooper is arguably the most dominant force the sport has seen since the prime of Žydrūnas Savickas. "The Moose" has won basically everything else: the Arnold Strongman Classic (three times in a row!), the Rogue Invitational, and the Shaw Classic.
Hooper is a freak of nature. He used to run marathons. Most strongmen look like they’d get winded walking to the fridge, but Hooper has an engine that doesn't quit. He’s essentially rewritten the playbook on how to train for these events.
The 1,124-Pound Ghost in the Room
You can't talk about the world strongest man in the world without mentioning Hafþór "Thor" Björnsson.
Even if he isn't competing in every WSM heat these days, Thor just did something in late 2025 that most experts thought was decades away. At the World Deadlift Championships, he pulled 510 kg (1,124 lbs).
Think about that for a second.
That is more than half a ton. It’s the weight of a full-grown horse or a small grand piano. Eddie Hall’s 500 kg pull back in 2016 nearly killed him—he famously had blood coming out of his nose and eyes. When Thor pulled 510 kg, he made it look like a warm-up. He actually said on Instagram afterward that he felt like he had 530 kg in him.
He’s now aiming for the Enhanced Games in May 2026 to push that record even higher. This creates a weird rift in the community. You have the "Contest Strongmen" like Nel and Stoltman who win the titles through versatility, and then you have the "Static Monsters" like Thor who move weights that shouldn't be movable by human bone and sinew.
Why the Title is More Than Just a Trophy
People think being the strongest is just about big muscles. It’s actually about not breaking.
Look at Tom Stoltman. The "Albatross" has three WSM titles (2021, 2022, 2024). He is widely considered the best Atlas Stone lifter in history. If the final event involves stones, the competition is basically over. But even he struggled in 2025, losing the title by just half a point.
The sport has shifted. In the 80s and 90s, it was about being a mountain of meat. Now? It’s about recovery.
- The Schedule is Brutal: These guys often compete in back-to-back weekends.
- The Equipment is Inconsistent: One week you're pulling a plane, the next you're tossing a 150-lb kettlebell.
- The Injuries are Constant: Bicep tears are as common as common colds in this world.
Most fans get the "strongest" part wrong because they look at a single lift. But the real world strongest man in the world is the one who can survive a five-day gauntlet of events without their body literally snapping in half.
The Evolution of Power
If you look back at the history, the numbers are getting scary.
- 1977: Bruce Wilhelm wins the first WSM.
- 2002-2008: Mariusz Pudzianowski dominates with five titles, bringing a "leaner" look to the sport.
- 2020s: The era of the 500 kg deadlift and the sub-6-second yoke carry.
We’re seeing records fall every single year. The weights aren't just getting heavier; the athletes are getting faster. Mitchell Hooper’s world record on the Super Yoke—carrying 1,102 lbs for 10 meters in 5.7 seconds—is honestly more terrifying than a heavy deadlift. That’s a 1,000-pound load moving at a jog.
How to Actually Measure Strength
If you want to understand the hierarchy, you have to look at the "Triple Crown."
Winning the World’s Strongest Man, the Arnold Strongman Classic, and the Rogue Invitational in a short window is the only way to silence the doubters.
Hooper has come the closest to total unification lately. While Rayno Nel has the WSM title, Hooper is the one with the target on his back. He’s the most well-rounded athlete we’ve seen. He doesn't have a "weak" event. If it’s a press, he’s top 3. If it’s a carry, he’s #1. If it’s a deadlift, he’s right there with the specialists.
But strength is fickle. One slipped grip on a 400-lb timber carry and you’re at the bottom of the leaderboard.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re inspired by these giants, don't go out and try to flip your neighbor's car. Strongman is a sport of gradual adaptation.
Start by focusing on posterior chain strength. The deadlift is the foundation of every strongman title. You don't need to hit 500 kg, but building a solid base in the hinge movement is where it all starts.
Next, look into grip strength. It’s the "silent killer" in competitions. You can have the strongest legs in the world, but if you can't hold onto the handles of a frame carry, you’re done.
Finally, watch the 2026 Enhanced Games in May. Whether you agree with the concept or not, seeing what a "freed" version of Thor Björnsson can do with a 510 kg+ deadlift will be a landmark moment in human history.
The debate over the world strongest man in the world won't end anytime soon. Between the surgical precision of Rayno Nel, the relentless engine of Mitchell Hooper, and the raw, terrifying power of Thor, we are living in the golden age of strength.
Pay attention to the smaller shows too. Giants Live and the Strongman Champions League are where the next "Nel" is currently hiding, waiting for a wildcard invite to change everything.