A Dominant BSM Win for Tom Stoltman
2021-10-23 by Éloi Fournier
Scotland's Tom Stoltman, the current World's Strongest Man, was dominant in his quest to win the British title on Saturday evening in Sheffield. Stoltman amassed 46 out of a possible 50 points and finished in the top 3 in every event to guarantee himself the victory.
The day started with the Dumbbell Medley, a test that has caused Stoltman trouble in the past. At the WUS Strength Island competition in March, the Scotsman had failed to lift the 100 kg dumbbell but on Saturday, he powered through the 100 and 110 kg dumbbells to get off to a good start. He then put in a respectable performance in the Super Yoke and tied for the win in the Deadlift.
After that, the title was just a formality as Stoltman won the Loading Race, just over a second ahead of his brother Luke. Then, in the Atlas Stones, the Albatross made it 11 wins in his last 12 stone runs, putting his Glasgow mishap behind him.
The two previous champions, Adam Bishop (2020) and Graham Hicks (2019) were able to reach the podium. Both athletes tied Tom Stoltman with 8 reps in the Deadlift, and that proved crucial as Luke Stoltman only managed 5 reps. This gave them 5 more points than the Highland Oak in that particular event, which proved decisive as Hicks finished one point in front of the Europe's Strongest Man champion.
This was the first Scottish victory at Britain's Strongest Man since Forbes Cowan's win in 1995, and the first win for a non-English athlete since 2001 (Glenn Ross).
The athletes will start training again soon, as the next Britain's Strongest Man will be taking place in just over 4 months. However, some have other plans: Luke and Tom Stoltman will head to the Rogue Invitational next week, Shane Flowers has entered the Official Strongman Games, and Andy Black will compete at the Magnús Ver Magnússon Strongman Classic. Hibernation has not started just yet!