Tom's not your typical professional strongman. He lives in the forests of Queensland, Australia, and stands at an imposing 6’8” and 400 pounds. While some athletes spend years in commercial gyms and perfecting their technique, Tom has carved his own path. His gym? A mountain one, with equipment that’s far from specialized. But let me tell you, despite not having the "perfect" setup, this guy has the kind of raw strength that would put most top-level strongmen to shame. When I watch his feats of strength, I’m amazed. He’s capable of 600-pound close-grip bench presses in work boots and jeans, which is something most would struggle to pull off with proper form, let alone at that weight.
Imagine doing that with a pause long enough to count in a federation like the IPF — that's some serious strength. The man’s not built for benching, but he absolutely crushes it. And don’t even get me started on his deadlift. He pulled 1,000 pounds from a 16-inch height, and if he used a belt, I believe he’d be in the 1,100-pound range. That’s world-class strength right there. But the thing that really blows me away is his squatting. He pulled off a 340-kilo Zercher squat, holding the weight in the crook of his elbows.
This type of movement is not only insane for its sheer weight, but the pressure on his upper back is off the charts. It’s something I don’t think any other strongman has been able to do at his level. Tom is strong in every aspect — from farmers’ walks to yoke presses, to those eccentric bicep curls with 235 pounds (I wouldn’t even try that for fear of tearing something!). His overhead press is also world-class, and all of this is done with minimal equipment and no fancy gear — no wrist wraps, no elbow sleeves, just raw power.
Now, Tom doesn’t want the attention. He keeps his face hidden from his social media posts, but his strength speaks for itself. If I’m being honest, I think if he ever set his sights on competing in World's Strongest Man, he could absolutely win it. He’s got all the strength and none of the fuss. And that’s what I find so interesting — a guy who isn’t looking for recognition, but just lifts because he can.
I’ve often thought about meeting up for a strength session. No face, no gimmicks — just pure power. It’d be amazing to link up and see just how strong this guy really is in person.