From lifting atlas stones to the farmer’s carry, soldiers, sailors and aviators went head-to-head to be crowned the strongest men and women in the military.
Female service personnels competed in the farmer’s walk event during the UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Woman Competition.
Male service personnel competed in the atlas stone event during the UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Woman competition.
Male service personnels competed in the log clean and press event during the UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Woman competition.
The UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Woman competition tested the strength and skill of 48 competitors across five tough events. Each activity tested a different type of movement — pushing, pulling, lunging, hinging, and squatting.
A standout performance
Corporal Paige Atwell and Corporal Rhys Calland recognised as the strongest woman and man in their forces, stand side by side.
Corporal Paige Atwell won the female under 82kg category. To get there, she pressed a 52kg log above her head seven times and carried a 150kg super yoke 20 metres in just eight seconds.
“Building up strength sets you up for life and I’m really happy with how I’ve performed,” she said. “It is competitive, but it never feels like you’re competing against each other. Everyone supports each other to do better, because we all understand how hard it is to lift these weights.”
"Everyone supports each other to do better, because we all understand how hard it is to lift these weights.”
Cpl Atwell is a driver with 6 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, based in Dishforth. She is part of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, which is funded by Sport England. The scheme gives talented military personnel extra training time, along with expert coaching and nutrition support. It aims to help soldiers become athletes who can represent the UK at international competitions.
“I feel really proud that I’ve become an ambassador for strongwomen in the Army,” she said. “I get a lot of young female soldiers contacting me how to get involved about training and in the sport, and I love being able to help them along.”
From powerlifting to strongman
Male service personnel competed in the dead lift during the UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Woman competition
Male service personnels competed in the farmer’s walk event during the UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Woman competition.
Corporal Matt Tatman is an Army physical training instructor serving with the Royal Marines’ 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group in Plymouth. He came to the sport through competitive powerlifting.
“Powerlifting is a static sport, and someone suggested strongman as something that added movement to strength,” he said. “I enjoy the range of activities, and everyone has something that is their best event – I like the atlas stones, because it’s just iconic for the sport.
“There’s a real crossover over to the fitness a soldier needs. The farmer’s carry is the same as picking up a casualty on a stretcher and the yoke is like carrying a very big bergen.”
The event was refereed by professional athletes from Giants Live, including the World's Strongest Woman Andrea Thompson.
“The standard of performance has been very impressive.”
“The standard of performance has been very impressive,” she said. “I’ve seen lots of personal bests set in a very supportive atmosphere with a lot of cheering and encouragement. There’s a lot of potential among the competitors, and the Army gives great coaching support and a clear pathway for people to develop.”
Strongman was officially recognised as a sport by all three services last year and is one of the fastest growing sports in the military.
Soldier named Europe's Strongest Man
Corporal Rhys Calland has achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for Ultimate Strongman England’s Strongest Man.
One soldier has recently been named Europe's Strongest Man. Corporal Rhys Calland, who serves with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, won the title at a competition in Doncaster this month. He is the first serving member of the armed forces to compete at European level in the men's open category.
Rhys says his confidence has been bolstered by the growing recognition of strongman within the Army.
"It's really important for the sport to grow. We're getting more funding for kit and equipment," he says.
"That support has allowed me to train full time and be released from work. I can train twice a day and spend much longer in the gym," adds Rhys.
Building battlefield strength
Colonel Stu Allen, chair of Army Strongman and Strongwoman, said that personnel of “all ages, ranks and sizes” were taking part.
“We’re really going from strength to strength,” he said. “It’s an inclusive sport that anyone can compete in, and people don’t often realise how strong they are until they give it a go. It is an individual sport, but with a strong culture of camaraderie and helping each other to improve.
“The link between strength sports and soldiering is obvious – winning on the battlefield is built on people working as a team and pushing themselves physically and mentally.”
“The link between strength sports and soldiering is obvious – winning on the battlefield is built on people working as a team and pushing themselves physically and mentally.”