Strongman Tom “The Albatross” Stoltman has come through with a very special form of entertainment for all his fans stuck in quarantine.
Scottish strongman Tom Stoltman has set a new world record for lifting the heavy Atlas Stone. He lifted a 630.6 lbs (186 kg) stone to complete the impressive achievement. The entire event was filmed at a a gym — emptied of spectators, of course — with only Stoltman and his personal fitness team using the equipment. The contest was judged live via satellite by former pro strongman Zydrunas Savickas, who helped confirm the authenticity of the feat. Take a look at the incredible footage below for yourself.
Wow! What an incredible lift. It just goes to show you that even in a remote and socially distant world, it’s still possible to make headway with your goals. Tom Stoltman has been competing in strongman competitions for quite awhile now and clearly had his heart set on the Atlas stone record. He went out there and got it, circumstances be damned.
The Atlas stones are, of course, one of the most iconic and enduring challenges associated with Strongman games. They’re named for the Greek titan of endurance, Atlas, who famously carried the weight of the entire Earth on his shoulders. Strongmen perform a similarly impressive feat when they carry the massive stone balls, which can weigh up to 350 lbs in a typical situation, up to the altar and place them down. Obviously, Tom Stoltman’s 630 lbs Atlas stone is far beyond the average, but that’s why they call it a world record.
Having a judge verify the results over telecast was also a big deal for Stoltman. Obviously, many athletes have still been training and attempting various world record titles. Hafthor Bjornsson, for example, clearly thinks he’s beaten Eddie Hall’s world record based off a self-reported assessment of some lifts he did while alone. Verification is obvious critical to the success and integrity of any challenge to a standing record, so it’s important to find a way for judges to be able to witness the event and describe it, even if they can’t physically be there due to issues of health and safety.
What’s truly important here is that Stoltman has done something amazing, and he’s done it during a global pandemic that has all but tanked the US economy, with some countries in Europe expected to follow. The man is a tried and true winner who remains focused on his goals and marches to them with a single-minded determination. We should all follow his example and not let quarantine discourage us from pursuing our goals to the highest possible degree. You never know what you’ll be capable of until you try. Think about where you could get if you were willing to push this hard and let the video be a powerful reminder of that motivation. You can do this.
