Bradman Houston Edges Tie, Sarah Rainbow Dominates Field At The 2026 Australia’s Strongest Man & Woman
The 2026 Australia’s Strongest Man & Woman competitions delivered a full day of high-level strength action on May 2 in Sydney. With more than two dozen athletes competing across five demanding events, the contest tested every pillar of strongman performance: deadlift power, overhead strength, and moving events under pressure.
By the end of the competition, Bradman Houston and Sarah Rainbow stood atop the podium. But the paths they took could not have been more different.
[RELATED: 2026 World’s Strongest Man Finals Results & Breakdown]
Bradman Houston Wins Tightest Battle of the Night
The men’s division came down to the narrowest of margins. Bradman Houston and Dylan Lockard finished the competition tied at 48 points each, forcing a tiebreaker to determine the champion.
Houston, just 23 years old, ultimately secured the win based on countback criteria. It was a breakout performance against a stacked lineup and signals a serious rise in Australia’s strongman ranks.
Lockard pushed the pace all day and matched Houston point for point, but had to settle for second despite an equally impressive showing.
Men’s Results – 2026 Australia’s Strongest Man
- Bradman Houston — 48 points (winner)
- Dylan Lockard — 48 points
- B.J. Stone — 45 points
- Jordan Osborne — 42 points
- Joshua Sampson — 37 points
- Lachlan Breen — 27 points
- Sam Le Cerf — 23 points
- Deni Omeragic — 20 points
- Jack Jung — 19 points
- Craig Fry — 11 points
- Nathaniel Heazlewood — 5 points
This division highlighted just how competitive Australia’s men’s field has become. A three-point spread separated first and third place, and multiple athletes showed flashes of event-winning strength.
Sarah Rainbow Delivers Near-Perfect Performance
While the men’s division came down to a tiebreak, the women’s side was a one-athlete showcase.
Sarah Rainbow dominated the competition, winning four out of five events and finishing with 69 out of a possible 70 points. It was one of the most commanding performances seen in recent Australian strongwoman history.
From start to finish, Rainbow controlled the pace. Her consistency across all five events made the outcome clear early on, and no athlete was able to close the gap.
This kind of result doesn’t just win a national title. It positions her as a serious contender on the international stage.
Women’s Results – 2026 Australia’s Strongest Woman
- Sarah Rainbow — 69 points (winner)
- Shayna Wirihana — 59 points
- Elly Latemore — 58 points
- Allira-Joy Cowley — 56 points
- Nichole Wight — 47 points
- Camilla Fogagnolo — 42.5 points
- Reiariki Kimitaunga — 42 points
- Shauna Maher — 35 points
- Carly Patterson — 32 points
- Sara Eldridge — 31.5 points
- Katie Martin — 19 points
- Hannahzhazie Kanari — 17 points
- Amy McGuire — 7 points
- Tayla Brown — 4 points
Behind Rainbow, the battle for second and third remained tight, with just one point separating Wirihana and Latemore.
Event One Breakdown — Loading Race Sets the Tone in Sydney
The 2026 Australia’s Strongest Man & Woman competition opened with a fast, unforgiving test: the Loading Race. It’s a classic strongman event, but one that leaves no room for error. Athletes had 60 seconds to move three implements — one keg and two sacks — over 10 meters and load them as quickly as possible.
This event isn’t just about brute strength. It rewards speed, transitions, and composure under pressure. One stumble or slow pickup can cost multiple places.
Men’s Results — Event One (Loading Race)
- Dylan Lockard — 3 in 25.30 s
- Bradman Houston — 3 in 29.61 s
- B.J. Stone — 3 in 30.85 s
- Joshua Sampson — 3 in 32.10 s
- Jordan Osborne — 3 in 39.80 s
- Lachlan Breen — 3 in 48.98 s
- Jack Jung — 2 in 23.50 s
- Sam Le Cerf — 2 in 25.24 s
- Deni Omeragic — 2 in 27.49 s
- Craig Fry — 2 in 28.05 s
- Nathaniel Heazlewood — 1 in 13.60 s
Men’s weights: 120-kg keg, 140-kg sack, 160-kg sack
Lockard’s win here proved important. In a competition that ultimately came down to a tie on points, every event mattered.
Women’s Results — Event One (Loading Race)
- Sarah Rainbow — 3 in 26.00 s
- Allira-Joy Cowley — 3 in 26.20 s
- Elly Latemore — 3 in 27.30 s
- Reiariki Kimitaunga — 3 in 34.40 s
- Shayna Wirihana — 3 in 35.50 s
- Nichole Wight — 3 in 36.90 s
- Camilla Fogagnolo — 3 in 38.10 s
- Shauna Maher — 3 in 40.21 s
- Carly Patterson — 2 in 19.30 s
- Katie Martin — 2 in 19.92 s
- Sara Eldridge — 2 in 20.67 s
- Amy McGuire — 2 in 23.30 s
- Hannahzhazie Kanari — 2 in 24.61 s
- Tayla Brown — 2 in 25.92 s
Women’s weights: 70-kg keg, 80-kg sack, 100-kg sack
Event Two Breakdown — Deadlift Turns Up the Pressure
Event Two shifted the focus from speed and coordination to raw pulling power. The Deadlift followed a rising bar format, with four progressively heavier barbells. Athletes had to move quickly, but also stay composed as the weight climbed.
For the men, the weights ranged from 320 kg up to 380 kg. The women faced 180 kg through 220 kg. With the clock running, it became a race against both the bar and the timer.
Men’s Results — Event Two (Deadlift)
- B.J. Stone — 4 in 38.50 s
- Jordan Osborne — 3 in 19.00 s
- Dylan Lockard — 3 in 44.70 s
- Bradman Houston — 2 in 17.79 s
- Joshua Sampson — 2 in 27.55 s
- Sam Le Cerf — 2 in 31.70 s
- Deni Omeragic — 2 in 36.24 s
- Lachlan Breen — 1 in 17.79 s
- Nathaniel Heazlewood — 1 in 20.79 s
- Jack Jung — No Lift
- Craig Fry — No Lift
Men’s weights: 320 kg → 380 kg
Stone’s performance created clear separation. In an event where most athletes stalled at two or three lifts, completing all four proved decisive.
Women’s Results — Event Two (Deadlift)
- Sarah Rainbow — 4 in 13.10 s
- Elly Latemore — 4 in 13.60 s
- Shayna Wirihana — 4 in 16.40 s
- Allira-Joy Cowley — 4 in 20.93 s
- Nichole Wight — 4 in 31.85 s
- Camilla Fogagnolo — 4 in 35.70 s
- Reiariki Kimitaunga — 4 in 46.85 s
- Carly Patterson — 3 in 16.80 s
- Sara Eldridge — 3 in 29.70 s
- Shauna Maher — 3 in 35.43 s
- Katie Martin — 3 in 40.68 s
- Hannahzhazie Kanari — 2 in 26.30 s
- Amy McGuire — 1 in 21.73 s
- Tayla Brown — No Lift
Women’s weights: 180 kg → 220 kg
Event Three Breakdown — Overhead Medley Separates the Field
By the time Event Three rolled around, fatigue was already setting in. The Overhead Medley tested not just pressing strength, but efficiency and endurance under a 75-second time cap.
Athletes faced four implements — two axles and two logs — each heavier than the last. Much like the deadlift, it was about how far you could go and how fast you could get there.
Men’s Results — Event Three (Overhead Medley)
- B.J. Stone — 3 in 30.30 s
- Dylan Lockard — 3 in 67.50 s
- Jordan Osborne — 2 in 14.85 s
- Bradman Houston — 2 in 23.49 s
- Joshua Sampson — 2 in 29.00 s
- Deni Omeragic — 2 in 63.70 s
- Sam Le Cerf — 1 in 8.49 s
- Lachlan Breen — 1 in 12.24 s
- Jack Jung — 1 in 12.92 s
- Craig Fry — 1 in 19.49 s
- Nathaniel Heazlewood — No Lift
Men’s weights: 140 kg axle → 170 kg log
Stone’s back-to-back wins shifted momentum in the standings. At this stage, he had established himself as the most dangerous athlete in the heavy events.
Women’s Results — Event Three (Overhead Medley)
- Sarah Rainbow — 4 in 31.60 s
- Shayna Wirihana — 4 in 42.20 s
- Nichole Wight — 3 in 21.00 s
- Reiariki Kimitaunga — 3 in 27.20 s
- Allira-Joy Cowley — 3 in 35.79 s
- Sara Eldridge — 3 in 37.90 s
- Shauna Maher — 3 in 40.43 s
- Camilla Fogagnolo — 3 in 45.69 s
- Elly Latemore — 3 in 66.05 s
- Carly Patterson — 2 in 15.62 s
- Katie Martin — 1 in 5.60 s
- Tayla Brown — 1 in 7.30 s
- Hannahzhazie Kanari — 1 in 15.11 s
- Amy McGuire — No Lift
Women’s weights: 70 kg axle → 100 kg log
Event Four Breakdown — Frame Carry Shifts the Momentum
Event Four brought a clear change in pace. After three timed events, the Frame Carry introduced a grind. No clock to beat. Just distance.
Athletes had to pick up a heavy frame and carry it as far as possible. Grip strength, stability, and mental toughness all came into play. One drop, and your run was over.
The men faced a 360-kg frame. The women took on 220 kg. At this stage of the competition, fatigue made every step harder.
Men’s Results — Event Four (Frame Carry)
- Bradman Houston — 36.2 m
- Joshua Sampson — 30.9 m
- Dylan Lockard — 28.1 m
- Jordan Osborne — 19.4 m
- Jack Jung — 10 m
- Lachlan Breen — 5.1 m
- Craig Fry — 0.9 m
- B.J. Stone — 0.8 m
- Deni Omeragic — 0.5 m
- Sam Le Cerf — 0.1 m
- Nathaniel Heazlewood — No Lift
Men’s weight: 360 kg frame
Houston’s win here was more than just points. It shifted momentum at exactly the right time, setting up the dramatic finish that followed.
Women’s Results — Event Four (Frame Carry)
- Sarah Rainbow — 59.9 m
- Elly Latemore — 50 m
- Shayna Wirihana — 47 m
- Allira-Joy Cowley — 43.1 m
- Nichole Wight — 41.7 m
- Sara Eldridge — 40 m
- Camilla Fogagnolo — 40 m
- Carly Patterson — 34.1 m
- Shauna Maher — 27.7 m
- Hannahzhazie Kanari — 20 m
- Reiariki Kimitaunga — 19.5 m
- Katie Martin — 3 m
- Tayla Brown — No Lift
- Amy McGuire — No Lift
Women’s weight: 220 kg frame
Event Five Breakdown — Atlas Stones Decide It All
Everything came down to the Atlas Stones.
After four demanding events, the final test pushed athletes to their limits. Five progressively heavier stones had to be loaded onto platforms within 60 seconds. It’s the traditional strongman finale for a reason. It rewards grit, technique, and the ability to perform under maximum fatigue.
The men faced stones from 160 kg to 210 kg. The women took on 110 kg through 150 kg. By this point, every rep mattered.
Men’s Results — Event Five (Atlas Stones)
- Bradman Houston — 4 in 33.54 s
- B.J. Stone — 4 in 34.70 s
- Dylan Lockard — 4 in 37.90 s
- Jordan Osborne — 3 in 31.54 s
- Lachlan Breen — 3 in 52.49 s
- Sam Le Cerf — 2 in 16.81 s
- Joshua Sampson — 2 in 26.50 s
- Jack Jung — 2 in 30.20 s
- Deni Omeragic — 1 in 11.70 s
- Craig Fry — 1 in 28.24 s
- Nathaniel Heazlewood — 1 in 45.49 s
Men’s weights: 160 kg → 210 kg
Houston’s timing couldn’t have been better. In a competition where he ended tied on points overall, this event win proved decisive.
Women’s Results — Event Five (Atlas Stones)
- Elly Latemore — 5 in 38.19 s
- Sarah Rainbow — 4 in 28.10 s
- Shayna Wirihana — 4 in 30.24 s
- Allira-Joy Cowley — 3 in 24.40 s
- Camilla Fogagnolo — 3 in 36.00 s
- Shauna Maher — 3 in 38.30 s
- Reiariki Kimitaunga — 3 in 40.61 s
- Carly Patterson — 3 in 47.85 s
- Nichole Wight — 2 in 16.20 s
- Hannahzhazie Kanari — 2 in 18.67 s
- Sara Eldridge — 2 in 22.24 s
- Katie Martin — 1 in 7.90 s
- Amy McGuire — 1 in 16.80 s
- Tayla Brown — No Lift
Women’s weights: 110 kg → 150 kg
Latemore’s win stood out, but it wasn’t enough to shake the overall standings.
Final Wrap-Up — Two Champions, Two Very Different Paths
The 2026 Australia’s Strongest Man & Woman competitions delivered two completely different stories.
On the men’s side, it came down to the final seconds of the final event. Bradman Houston held his nerve, secured the Atlas Stones win, and edged out Dylan Lockard on a tiebreaker. It was a breakout moment for the 23-year-old and a clear sign that a new contender has arrived.
On the women’s side, Sarah Rainbow controlled the competition from start to finish. Four straight event wins gave her an unshakable lead, and even with a second-place finish in the final event, her dominance was never in question.
Meanwhile, Elly Latemore proved her ability to challenge at the highest level, closing the show with the only five-stone run of the day.
In the end, the results reflect a growing and highly competitive strength scene in Australia. A rising young champion on the men’s side. A dominant force on the women’s side.
Both champions leave Sydney with momentum. And both now have a clear path toward making an impact on the international stage.
*Featured image via Instagram @australias.strongest
