Tom Stoltman will not compete in Columbus as he prepares for future competitions.
Strongman Tom Stoltman has been at the top of the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) sport for years now and is looking to stay there during the biggest shows of the year. Stoltman was scheduled to appear at the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic but has announced that he will withdraw from the show to prioritize 2026 WSM events.
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Stoltman did not withdraw his name due to injury. Instead, he wants to focus on other events, specifically the World’s Strongest Man, and competing at the Arnold did not fit into his schedule.
“I want to tell you guys I’m not doing the Arnold Classic in Ohio. I decided to pull out of that and really concentrate on a 12- to 14-week prep for World’s.”
Stoltman regained his World’s Strongest Man title back at the WSM 2024 after finishing as the runner-up in 2023. He is now a three-time champion at the event. Last year, Stoltman finished as the runner-up to Rayno Nel and has his eyes on his fourth title. Stoltman also has wins during Scotland’s Strongest Man (2018, 2019) and the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals. He was one of the favorites to win the Arnold in March but has not decided to sit this one out.
Tom Stoltman Announces Decision To Pull Out Of Arnold
Tom Stoltman is going to begin his prep for the WSM and this was a driving force in skipping the Arnold. Stoltman also shared that he will compete at the Britain’s Strongest Man on Feb. 7.
“There’s not a competition in the way now. I don’t have to kind of peak for Britain’s, go back down, quickly peak, go back down, and compete. Then between Britain’s and World’s, not having that travel, which can really mess you up as well.”
Tom Stoltman went into detail about his plan to train hard for Britain. This was a reason that he has decided to skip the Arnold, along with the time in-between leading up to the WSM.
“Now after Britain’s, I’ve got 14 weeks to kind of have some chill time. We’ve got a few things that we’re going to be doing.
If I wasn’t training like I was for Britain’s, I would have done it and then also, it gets me more time. I think there’s less stress and pressure on me because the Arnold’s this year, I think, would have been more stressful and pressured knowing that I’m really wanting the fourth and then I would have been trying to maybe question things again, trying to go heavier in training because World’s is coming up.”
Stoltman becomes the second competitor to pull out of the Arnold. Former 3x champion Hafthor Bjornsson announced recently that he would withdraw his name as well. Bjornsson explained that he does not want to compete if he is not at his very best. He is recovering from a rotator cuff injury and wants to get back to full strength before entering a competition. Bjornsson still plans to attempt to break his own deadlift world record during the 2026 Enhanced Games in May.
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