Rayno Nel: The South African ‘Rhino’ who became World’s Strongest Man

The Rhino charged his way to 2025’s World’s Strongest Man title in the Californian state capital Sacramento, pipping three-time winner Tom Stoltman of Great Britain by just half a point.

Having already come through two days of qualifying, Nel then finished in the top three in four of the five events which made up the final.

After deadlifting a mighty 490kg – about half the weight of one of South Africa’s critically endangered black rhinos – Nel took a healthy lead into the penultimate event, the Flintstone Press, a behind-the-neck shoulder press.

“Looking back, that was the least fun and the worst moment,” remembered Nel, whose lead was cut from seven points to just two and a half after he failed on his second lift.

“Not the toughest, like, taxing on my body, but mentally that was the toughest moment in the competition.”

Fortunately, he believes mental fortitude is one of his strong points.

“We (the competitors) are in the same room over four days, so I think there definitely is some mind games.

“I focus on my own job, so I also don’t play mind games.

“But in all honesty, the bunch of guys that I competed against are all amazing people, so it’s nothing nasty.”

In the final event, the infamous Atlas Stones in which athletes lift heavy spherical balls of ever-increasing weight onto elevated platforms positioned around chest height, Nel could afford to finish no more than two places behind Stoltman.

With the 2024 champion finishing first, Nel secured third place by less than a second to give him the overall victory by the slimmest of margins.

“It’s a flood of emotion,” the South African recalled of that winning moment.

“I had family there, my wife, my in-laws. My coach is also a big friend of mine, so it was just a moment of them seeing that all their sacrifices, with my sacrifices, came to fruition.

“It isn’t just a hobby that I do and take up everyone’s free time, but it really is something that can do good for our lives.”