Invergordon athlete determined to claim World Strongest Man hat-trick next week
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TOM Stoltman is in confident mood that he can win a hat-trick of World Strongest Man championships as he prepares to defend his title next week.
The 28-year-old from Invergordon will look to become the World's Strongest Man for the third year in a row when he begins his defence at Myrtle Beach in North Carolina on Wednesday.
Stoltman along with his older brother Luke (38), will be competing at the World's Strongest Man which takes place between Wednesday, April 19 and Sunday, April 23.
He is now putting in final preparations at his gym in Invergordon for the event before heading to the United States on Saturday.
He says he is happy with the form he is in, going into the event as he looks for another successful title defence.
"Things are going as well as they can be," says Stoltman.
"I have had five weeks training for the event and done everything I can to get myself in the right shape and get myself out there.
"I am in 100 per cent shape, things couldn't be better for me going into the event.
"I am going out there in the best shape possible to compete at the World Strongest Man."
Stoltman is aiming to become only the seventh man in history to win the World Stongest Man title at least three times.
He would also become the first British athlete to win the title three times if he is successful next week.
Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland holds the record of winning World Strongest Man five times.
Stoltman says he wants to go down as one of the great World Strongest Man athletes and says winning a third title will go a long way to cementing that place.
"My original dream was to win one, but now I have put myself in a situation where I can go and win three in a row," says Stoltman.
"If I can do that, I think I can put my place down and cement myself as one of the greats of Strongman at just 28.
"I will be doing everything in my power to win it."
Stoltman claimed victory by a massive 10.5 points last year to win his second title.
He says he expects tough competition next week, but is only focussed on his own form rather than looking at who his main rivals will be.
"Thirty athletes will be at the World's Strongest Man for a reason, but I don't think about anyone else or what they are doing," says Stoltman.
"I am only there to do my job, whatever the other 29 people do is entirely up to them.
"I know that I am better than all those guys who are going to be out there.
"I will do what I do best and go and win it."
Stoltman has laid a reputation as one of the greatest Atlas Stone lifters of all time, securing both world titles by lifting all five stones in the quickest time in the last event of the final.
But he says he has focussed his training to be competitive in all of the events he will be taking part in to ensure a successful defence.
"I have been preparing for all the events with increased intensity and giving 100 per cent focus," he said.
"Obviously the Atlas Stones is my best event, but I am still ensuring I put maximum training to those as anything can happen.
"You can't leave any stone unturned in terms of preparation, I am just ready to go out there and give it my all and go out and battle."
Stoltman says it is also great to have his big brother Luke back at the world championships and says he would love it if they both ended up on the podium next Sunday.
"Luke has competed in the finals in the past and I think it is his turn to get on to the podium.
"He has a job to do as well and we are both looking to get on the podium."
