Phil Blechman

1 week ago | barbend.com | Phil Blechman

The 2025 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championships took place in Drammen, Norway, from May 17-25, 2025. The competition featured raw and equipped powerlifting for each IPF weight class in men’s and women’s divisions. Looking to connect with fellow fitness lovers like you? Head over to the BarBend Community Forum to ask questions, share advice, and talk all things training.

2 weeks ago | barbend.com | Phil Blechman

Rayno Nel of South Africa is the 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). Nel entered as a WSM rookie and left with a legacy. Rayno Nel — 47 pointsTom Stoltman — 46.5 pointsMitchell Hooper — 43.5 points[Stay Tuned: 2025 World’s Strongest Man Live Results & Leaderboard]Looking to connect with fellow fitness lovers like you? Head over to the BarBend Community Forum to ask questions, share advice, and talk all things training. In hindsight, Nel’s journey to the history books isn’t surprising.

2 weeks ago | barbend.com | Phil Blechman

The 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Finals came down to the Atlas Stones. The podium was determined entering the event — Rayno Nel, Mitchell Hooper, and defending WSM champion Tom Stoltman would stand next to each other during the award ceremony. The question was who would stand where. The Atlas Stone event featured five stones weighing 140 to 210 kilograms. The athlete who loaded all five stones in the fastest time won.

2 weeks ago | barbend.com | Phil Blechman

The 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Finals begins its final day of competition with the Flintstone Press Max, not seen since the 2022 WSM contest when 2020 WSM champion Oleksii Novikov set a WSM record of 246 kilograms. Rayno Nel held a seven-point lead atop the overall leaderboard over Mitchell Hooper and a nine-point lead over defending WSM champion Tom Stoltman. The latter two would need a miracle or a disaster for Nel to overcome that point deficit.

2 weeks ago | barbend.com | Phil Blechman

The 2025 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest has been a compilation of roller-coaster storylines. From Luke Richardson and Evan Singleton sustaining injuries at the same spot in the contest’s opening event and having to withdraw, to Trey Mitchell locking out a 500-kilogram partial deadlift, to Eddie Williams setting a WSM record in the Hercules Hold, to WSM rookie Rayno Nel taking the contest by storm and claiming a nine-point lead on the overall leaderboard with only two events to go.