Rookie wins World’s Strongest Man in Sacramento. ‘Beyond my wildest imagination’
The Dagger family arrived fresh-faced from Scotland to explore many of Northern California’s globally renowned landmarks.
The family of four struggled through San Francisco’s twisty roads and experienced Lake Tahoe’s natural wonders. But in the final days of their vacation, the Daggers wound down their time abroad with a trip to Sacramento with a sole purpose: the World’s Strongest Man competition.
Linsey Dagger said she grew up watching the competition on television with her father, and now gathers her family to view it when it airs around Christmas time. The event’s various challenges have a strong connection to the United Kingdom: Tom Stoltman, the defending world champion for three consecutive years, hails from Scotland. But this year, he was bested by a rookie from South Africa.
“This is beyond my wildest imagination,” Rayno Nel said in an interview with an announcer after he won on Sunday. Nel is the first person from his country to be crowned World’s Strongest Man and the first rookie to achieve the distinction since 1997, event organizers said in a news release.
Sunday’s event marked the fourth and final day of the World’s Strongest Man competition held in Old Sacramento. The spectacle returned to the capital city for the third time in the competition’s history. It was last held here in 2022.
The final competition involved challengers facing off to hoist five stones, weighing between 331 to 460 pounds, atop a pillar. Spectators’ cheers grew louder as the two men in each phase of the competition raced to lift all five rocks.
With a red face and his muscles straining, American Trey Mitchell was the only person who managed to lift all five rocks onto the structure.
World’s Strongest Man, since its inception in 1977, has hosted this competition and draws upon qualified athletes from around the world. Events this year included challengers dead lifting a barbell up 18 inches above the ground, with the weight being increased incrementally as the competition progressed. They also tested their grip strength by trying to hold 350-pound pillars upright, event organizers said.
“The energy and the passion that these guys bring to it is remarkable and incredible,” said Rebecca Levin, the vice president of IMG. She noted how the athletes supported one another while competing.
Indeed, Czech Republic’s Ondrej Fojtu physically lifted up Patty Haynes, from England, after they raced to best one another. Fist and chest pumps bounded from each competitor.
For Dagger, the World’s Strongest Man is an inspiring show. She recalled how last year’s winner — Stoltman — spreads the message that anyone can do whatever they set their mind to.
“It’s a good message for the kids as well, that you don’t have to be perfect in every aspect of life,” Dagger said.
This story was originally published May 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Reyno Nel’s name.
