Upington-born Rayno Nel crowned World’s Strongest Man for 2025

IN A MOMENT that will echo through the annals of strength sports forever, former Free State Cheetahs and CUT rugby enforcer Rayno Nel has rewritten the script — and made history as the first South African and African ever to claim the prestigious World’s Strongest Man title.

And he did it in jaw-dropping fashion.

On foreign soil in Sacramento, USA, with the weight of a continent on his shoulders and just a year after transitioning from rugby to strongman competitions, Nel stunned the world with a performance as thunderous as it was dominant.

From Lineouts to Log Lifts

Few could have predicted the meteoric rise of Rayno Nel. In 2023, he swapped his rugby boots for lifting belts and entered a world known for raw strength, grit, and mental resilience. Just a year later, the 2025 World’s Strongest Man title belongs to a man who, up until recently, was more familiar with rugby scrums than stone lifts.

But don’t let the short timeline fool you — Nel didn’t stumble into this title. He earned it with sheer, unrelenting force.

“I’m just over the moon,” Rayno Nel said after the final event in Sacramento.

“To represent South Africa in any way whatsoever feels surreal. I mean, we’re a small country with a lot of struggles. To have something like this – I know it means a lot to my people.”

A Performance for the Ages

Nel, who was born in Upingon, didn’t just participate in Sacramento — he bulldozed his way through the competition. He topped his qualifying group, sending an early message to the world’s elite strongmen: Africa had arrived.

And when the finals came, Rayno brought the house down:

• 1st – Knaack Carry and Hoist: Left his competitors trailing in his wake.
• 2nd – Max Deadlift and Hercules Hold: Showcased power and grip that seemed almost superhuman.
• 3rd – Atlas Stones: Clinched crucial points with surgical precision.
• 5th – Flintstone Press Max: Enough to maintain his lead when it mattered most.

By the end, Nel stood atop the leaderboard with 47 points, edging out the UK’s Tom Stoltman (46.5 points) and Canada’s Mitchell Hooper (43.5 points) in a nail-biting finale that had fans across the globe glued to their screens.

Social Media Erupts

As the final results were announced, social media platforms exploded with praise, awe, and celebration:

“Rayno Nel – what a monster!” “Seriously insane strength.” “Africa finally has its king!”

The reactions were unanimous: Rayno Nel wasn’t just a winner — he was a phenomenon.

Breaking Barriers, Building Legacy

What Rayno Nel achieved goes beyond weights and rankings. In a sport long dominated by competitors from Europe and North America, Nel’s triumph breaks a glass ceiling for African athletes. He’s ignited hope and pride on a continental scale, proving that world-class strength knows no borders.

He’s a symbol of possibility. A giant — in every sense of the word — whose victory represents not just personal glory, but a shift in the global strongman landscape.

And make no mistake — this isn’t the end of the story.

The Dawn of the African Era

Rayno Nel has planted the South African flag firmly at the summit of the world’s strongest stage. His journey from the rugby fields of the Free State to global strongman domination is more than inspirational — it’s a reminder that greatness often comes from the most unexpected places.

He’s the world’s strongest man. He’s South Africa’s new sporting icon. And if this debut is anything to go by, Rayno Nel is just getting started.

Let the African era begin.