Rayno Nel of South Africa won the 2025 World’s Strongest Man title. Notably, he became the first South African to lift the WSM championship trophy. Along the way, he defeated two former champions: Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper, who placed second and third, respectively.

Remarkably, Nel’s debut at WSM was nothing short of historic. Early on, he built a seven-point lead with two events remaining. However, to secure the championship, he needed to place in the top three during the final event—the Atlas Stones.

Importantly, his toughest competitor was Stoltman, widely regarded as one of the greatest stone lifters of all time. The pressure mounted as the final event unfolded, with Nel and his rivals battling for every second.

Ultimately, the competition turned on an unexpected slip by Hooper during his Atlas Stone run. That one-second delay gave Nel the advantage he needed to claim victory.

Finally, Colosseum Strength reported live from Sacramento, California, covering every moment of the 2025 WSM.

Rayno Nel’s 2025 World’s Strongest Man Win Came Down to an Unexpected Detail

Entering the penultimate heat of the Atlas Stones, Mitchell Hooper’s chances of claiming a second World’s Strongest Man title were slim. He needed a perfect run, a mistake from Tom Stoltman, and a major slip from Rayno Nel. During his run against Trey Mitchell, who finished fourth overall, Hooper sprinted to his first stone. After lifting it, his left foot slipped on the ring beneath the stone. These rings keep the stones stable and help athletes get leverage during lifts.

Historically, these rings have never been glued or fixed in place during WSM. Often, the rings stick to the stones when they are loaded or fling off when lifted. Normally, this has little effect on athletes. However, this time was different. Hooper’s ring flew off at just the right angle and landed perfectly where his left foot caught it—just before he could set the stone down. This tiny incident caused him to drop the stone and relift it.

That extra second made all the difference. It allowed Rayno Nel to finish third in the event. That placement was just enough to edge Tom Stoltman by half a point on the overall leaderboard.

Final Atlas Stones Results

Here is how the athletes ranked in the Atlas Stones event, with times and flags:

Notably, Nel beat Hooper by just 0.85 seconds on the four-stone run. That small margin secured Nel’s overall victory.

The Thin Line Between Victory and Defeat

Of course, many small factors influenced Nel’s win. Had any detail shifted, the final standings could have been very different. For example:

Had Stoltman kept his footing during the final Flintstone Press after locking out the weight — or had head judge Magnus ver Magnusson given a slightly different down command — the result might have changed.

Additionally, if Stoltman had held the Hercules Hold just 0.63 seconds longer than his brother Luke, or avoided dizziness during the Stone Medley qualifying round, Nel might not have entered the finals ahead.

Ultimately, the ring slip on Hooper’s Atlas Stone was the moment that tipped the scales. That small, improbable moment is now etched in World’s Strongest Man history as the difference that gave Rayno Nel the championship.

This coverage was provided by Colosseum Strength, reporting live from Sacramento, CA.

Overview

Rayno Nel of South Africa won the 2025 World’s Strongest Man, becoming the first from his country to claim the title. Along the way, he defeated former champions Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper. Early in the competition, Nel built a solid seven-point lead. However, he still needed a top-three finish in the final event, the Atlas Stones, to secure victory. Meanwhile, Stoltman was seen as the biggest threat, known as one of the greatest stone lifters ever. Ultimately, an unexpected slip by Hooper during the stones gave Nel the crucial edge. Therefore, that small moment decided the championship. Finally, Colosseum Strength covered the event live from Sacramento.

Featured Image – Rayno Nel Claimed the 2025 World’s Strongest Man Title Thanks to a Tiny, Unseen Detail– Credit: @Rich Storry, @Theworldsstrongestman (Instagram)