Former CUT and Cheetahs loose forward Rayno Nel made history by becoming the first African to win the World’s Strongest Man competition.
The 30-year-old, 148kg South African edged defending champion Tom Stoltman by just half a point in the two-day final to claim the title in Sacramento, California.
It was the first victory by a rookie at the event since 1997.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Rayno Nel is your 2025 @SBDApparel World’s Strongest Man 🇿🇦🏆🌎 #WSM2025 pic.twitter.com/yxxEGTvvQw
— SBD World’s Strongest Man (@WorldsStrongest) May 18, 2025
“To represent [South Africa] in any way whatsoever, it feels surreal,” Nel told USA Today. “We’re a small country with a lot of struggles. To have something like this I know means a lot to my people.”
When asked how he would celebrate, Nel – who drinks Black Label – joked, “I’ll try American beer tonight.”
Nel captained CUT in three successive Varsity Cup campaigns, before being called up by the Cheetahs.
He only took up strongman training properly in 2022 and works as an electrical engineer.
Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
