Tom Stoltman: bullied teen with autism who became three-time World's Strongest Man

Tom Stoltman, who was diagnosed with autism as a child and says he was bullied in school for being different, is now a three-time Worlds Strongest Man. He grew up in Invergordon and has described himself as shy and unhappy with his appearance. As a teenager he weighed about 90kg at 6ft 8in, wore baggy hoodies and says he hit a "crashing point" at 16, switching from football to playing Xbox and eating sweets instead of meals.

His older brother Luke, then a bodybuilder and later a strongman competitor, took him to the gym and taught him free weights; Stoltman says "Autism became my cheat code" because it helped him lock into routine. He trained intensively, changed his diet to protein-rich meals, and joined a strongman gym after watching Luke compete at Scotland's Strongest Man.

Now 31 and weighing 180kg, Stoltman says he eats five times a day, trains around midday and works as a full-time strongman, running a gym with his brother near his home and living with his wife.

Key Topics

Sports, Tom Stoltman, Luke Stoltman, Invergordon, Strongman Competition, Strongman Gym