Ross-shire strongman is Rouge Record Breaker champion after Atlas stone success in the Arnolds contest, in Columbus, Ohio, USA
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A STRONGMAN from Invergordon has lifted one of the heaviest Atlas Stones in the world.
Tom Stoltman (25) triumphed at the Rouge Record Breakers event at the Arnolds in Ohio last weekend.
Stoltman was invited to compete in the international event due to his world ranking in Atlas Stone competitions.
However, when Stoltman and his team of supporters were mid-air between Scotland and the US, organisers of the event decided to change things.
Because of a state-wide order due to Coronavirus concerns, the event continued but with no spectators.
The news was something of a disappointment for Stoltman, who had hoped he would be showing his strength in front of a crowd of more than 20,000.
Speaking when he arrived back in Invergordon, Stoltman said: “Instead of a crowd of 20,000 there was a crowd of 200 people and that does something to you as a competitor. So I decided to treat it as a training session. It worked.
“The first lift was a small Atlas Stone of 260kg, or 41 stone. Me and one other competitor managed to lift that. At that point five other guys dropped out. So we then went onto the 272kg stone, 42 stones. I knew I could lift it, but you get anxious about doing it as part of a competition. But in the end it was fairly easy.”
The competition sees the Atlas Stone – or “manhood stone” as it is called at the event – lifted over a four foot bar
Stoltman continued: “I lifted it, but the other guy didn’t manage.”
Stolman was named the Rouge Record Breaker champion, smashing the previous record set by American Brian Shaw. Stoltman won $5000 prize money.
The Rouge Record Breaker event in Ohio is one of the world’s most popular lifting events. It draws competitors from all over the world. Arnold Schwarzenegger created the Arnold Classic to showcase bodybuilding.
Click here to read more Ross-shire news.
