Sunderland coach lifts his way to Britain's Strongest Man victory

A Sunderland coach has lifted, thrown and carried his way to glory in Britain’s Strongest Man.

Tom Owens, 32, was victorious in the u105kg category at the Britain’s Strongest Man 2024 competition, held by Official Strongman at Kaos Strength Gym in Preston at the weekend.

The coach, who trains four times a week at New Level Gym in Pallion Industrial Estate, qualified for the national contest after winning his category at England’s Strongest Man earlier this year.

Competing against some of the strongest men in the country, he won four of the five events: the max bag toss of 34kg, 340kg deadlift for six reps, 135kg axle for five reps, 150kg in each hand farmer’s walk and sandbag loading from 130kg to 160kg.

It’s the latest achievement for Tom, who grew up watching strongman competitions on TV.

The sportsman, who lives in Seaham, worked as a PT and ended up bodybuilding after finding a gym in Sunderland he liked.

He joined the New Level Gym as a customer and enjoyed its supportive community so much, he soon became a coach there.

Speaking about his latest win, he said: “It was great, I think I was one of the favourites going in there after England’s Strongman. Ireland’s Strongest Man actually ended up coming second and Scotland’s Strongest Man came third.

“I felt confident going in there, but you never know what’s going to happen. Fortunately, everything went perfectly. I’ve become a little bit more known after England’s Strongest Man, it feels quite surreal walking into a place where people know who you are already, but the support has been great.”

Many of the New Level Gym members came to cheer Tom on in Preston, with others watching on the live stream.

“The community the owners have built around that gym is amazing,” he said. “Everyone is so supportive of each other. If someone is going in for a big lift, the whole gym freezes to support them.”

Tom gets little rest ahead of his next big competition, heading to Germany for the world championships in three weeks and then competing in Europe’s Strongest Man in August.