sports
January 19, 2026
‘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
As a boy, Tom Stoltman was diagnosed with autism and bullied at school. When he became depressed in his teens, his older brother, a bodybuilder, suggested a trip to the gym
TL;DR
- Tom Stoltman was diagnosed with autism as a child and experienced bullying, leading to depression in his teens.
- His older brother, a bodybuilder, introduced him to the gym, which helped him overcome his struggles.
- Inspired by his brother's strongman competitions, Tom pursued the sport, using his autistic traits for focus and routine.
- He transformed his body over 10 years, now weighing 180kg and competing as a full-time strongman.
- Stoltman has won the World's Strongest Man competition three times.
- He now views his past differences as a superpower, feeling proud of his mental toughness and physical strength.
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