Scottish strongman Tom Stoltman is set to join the cast of the BBC program Gladiators, marking a new challenge for the three-time World's Strongest Man champion.
Stoltman, who stands 6ft 8ins and weighs up to 400lbs, will face members of the public in the arena. He is known for his incredible strength, athleticism, and determination, having dominated the strongman circuit on the world stage. He previously smashed the world record for lifting five Atlas stones, completing the feat in 16.01 seconds with stones weighing between 220 and 397lbs.
Stoltman, nicknamed 'The Albatross' for his large arm span, expressed his excitement about the opportunity. "This is a dream opportunity and I’m incredibly proud to become a Gladiator," he stated. "I’ve spent my life pushing myself to see what I can achieve and joining this incredible show is the next challenge. I’m excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena but, most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges."
The Invergordon-born athlete becomes the first Scot to win the World's Strongest Man title and will join fellow Scot Sabre, also known as Sheli McCoy, on the show. Stoltman's specific Gladiator name and appearance are yet to be revealed by producers.
Filming for the new season of Gladiators is scheduled to begin in Sheffield later this month, with the series expected to return to BBC One in 2027. One of the events Stoltman might participate in is 'The Duel,' where a contender and a Gladiator battle on a high podium.
Stoltman's journey into strongman began after his brother, Luke Stoltman, encouraged him to try weight training. Initially more interested in football, Tom Stoltman found his passion for strongman events after competing in his first competition at age 18, where he placed fifth in a Scotland's Strongest Man qualifier.
He has also spoken about managing autism, noting how sport helped him gain confidence and connect with others after struggling socially in his youth. "I struggled in school, would lock myself in my room and didn’t have any friends," he recalled. "Then I found sport, first football and then the gym and I started to get more confidence, talking to more people and loving what I was doing."
