Health

‘I was bullied in school for being different. At 16, I hit a crashing point’: the awkward kid who became the world’s strongest man

January 19, 2026

Tom Stoltman, now 31 and weighing 180kg, overcame a challenging childhood marked by bullying and autism to become the world's strongest man. After hitting a low point at 16, his older brother encouraged him to start weightlifting, which helped him transform his life and build confidence.

‘I was bullied in school for being different. At 16, I hit a crashing point’: the awkward kid who became the world’s strongest man

Credit: Theguardian

Key Highlights

Tom Stoltman is 31 years old and weighs 180kg.
He was diagnosed with autism as a child and faced bullying in school.
Stoltman began weightlifting at the suggestion of his older brother.
He was previously a skinny teenager weighing 90kg and standing 6ft 8in.
Stoltman is now recognized as the world's strongest man.

Fitness Sport Health Society Mental health Health & wellbeing Life and style Autism Body image Weightlifting

Sources

‘I was bullied in school for being different. At 16, I hit a crashing point’: the awkward kid who became the world’s strongest man

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

‘I was bullied in school for being different. At 16, I hit a crashing point’: the awkward kid who became the world’s strongest man

Key Highlights

Sources

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