Invergordon's Tom Stoltman takes silver at the World's Strongest Man
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A GENTLE giant from Ross-shire is the toast of the Highlands after making history.
Tom Stoltman (26) said he was "on cloud 9" after taking second place in the World's Strongest Man event in Florida. The Albatross, as he is known professionally, trains with brother Luke at their specially built fitness centre in Invergordon and is believed to be the first Scot to get onto the podium.
He said: "This means everything to me. I had a really tough group and events I wasn't the best at, but have been making them better! It is an amazing feeling – I am on cloud 9."
He admitted Covid-19 restrictions had taken their toll: "It is bittersweet not having my wife Sinead or my dad here in America, but I did it for them and in memory of my mum and everyone back home."
Big brother Luke said: "Doing what you have done is something so many of us dream about.Proud doesn’t even come close."
Personal trainer Kieran Dear, owner of FitNess, said: "Tom is also autistic which makes his achievement so much more impressive and he is an inspiration to so many people. The more people are made aware of this achievement the better as ultimately the more people he inspires!
"You couldn't meet a nicer bloke either. My little boy is autistic, and Tom and him are like best friends. He is undoubtedly the most gentle of giants."
The competition was won by Oleksii Novikov from Ukraine.
