Rayno Nel

Rayno Nel

Personal information
Nationality	South African
Born	(1995-05-09) 9 May 1995 (age 31) Upington, South Africa
Occupation	Strongman
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	148 kg (326 lb)
Spouse	Married
Medal record Strongman Representing  South Africa World's Strongest Man 1st 2025 World's Strongest Man 2nd 2026 World's Strongest Man Rogue Invitational 8th 2025 Rogue Invitational 3rd 2026 Rogue Invitational Giants Live 4th 2025 Strongman Classic 3rd 2026 Strongman Classic Strongman Champions League 1st 2024 SCL Holland 1st 2024 SCL Africa 1st 2024 SCL World Finals 1st 2025 SCL Italy 1st 2025 SCL Holland 1st 2025 SCL World Finals Siberian Power Show 4th 2024 Siberian Power Show Africa's Strongest Man 1st 2023 Africa's Strongest Man 1st 2024 Africa's Strongest Man South Africa's Strongest Man 1st 2023 South Africa's Strongest Man 1st 2024 South Africa's Strongest Man

Rayno Nel (born 9 May 1995) is a South African strongman competitor from Krugersdorp. He is the 2025 World's Strongest Man champion and the first winner of the title from South Africa, the continent of Africa and the southern hemisphere.

He is also a two times Africa's Strongest Man, two times South Africa's Strongest Man and the defending Strongman Champions League world champion.

Career

Nel started his career as a Rugby player, playing for the Central University of Technology and Free State Cheetahs. In 2023, he tried strongman by participating in South Africa's Strongest Man competition, where he emerged victorious. With back-to-back victories, he was invited to the Siberian Power Show and the Strongman Champions League to compete alongside other leading international athletes.^{[citation needed]}

Despite a foot fracture which occurred in event two, he placed fourth at 2024 Siberian Power Show and then went on a dominant run, winning 2024 SCL Holland, 2024 SCL Africa and 2024 SCL World Finals.

In 2025, Nel was given a wildcard invite to the 2025 World's Strongest Man Competition. In a group filled with seasoned pros, such as 2x podium finisher Mateusz Kieliszkowski and runner up at the Arnold Strongman Classic Lucas Hatton, he won his group and proceeded to defeat both former champions Mitchell Hooper and Tom Stoltman in the final to win the World's Strongest Man.^{[citation needed]}

After his victory at WSM, Nel recorded two further victories over successive weekends at the Strongman Champions League, SCL Italy and SCL Holland.

Nel made his debut on the Giants Live circuit in July 2025, finishing 4th at the Strongman Classic behind Evan Singleton, fellow South African Jaco Schoonwinkel and Paddy Haynes.

Having come 8th at the Rogue Invitational at the start of the month, Nel claimed his 9th international title in November 2025 at the SCL World Finals in his native Upington, South Africa. Nel won six of the seven events, breaking multiple SCL records in the process, to win his sixth successive SCL meet.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2026, Nel came 2nd at World's Strongest Man narrowly missing out on the title to Mitchell Hooper.^{[citation needed]} He followed this up with a 3rd place finish at the Giants Live Strongman Open at the Royal Albert Hall in July.

Personal records

• Deadlift (for max) – 400 kg (882 lb) × 5 reps (2026 World's Strongest Man)
• Elevated Wheel Deadlift (from 18 inches) – 490 kg (1,080 lb) (2025 World's Strongest Man)
• Log press (for max) – 200 kg (441 lb) (2026 World's Strongest Man)
• Log press (for reps) – 150 kg (331 lb) × 7 reps (2024 SCL Africa)
• Flintstone barbell push press (behind the neck) – 188 kg (414 lb) (2025 World's Strongest Man)
• Squat (for reps) – 317.5 kg (700.0 lb) × 13 reps (2026 World's Strongest Man)
• Atlas Stones – 5 stones weighing 120 to 200 kg (265 to 441 lb) in 47.72 seconds (2024 SCL Holland)
• Natural Stone loading (low platforms) – 4 rocks weighing 160 to 210 kg (353 to 463 lb) in 17.19 seconds (2024 SCL World Finals) (World Record)
• Shield Carry – (World Record) (2025 SCL World Finals)
• Hercules Hold – (SCL Record) (2025 SCL World Finals)
• Steinstossen (SCL version) – 75 kg (165 lb) for 3.20 metres (10 ft 6 in) (2024 SCL World Finals)
• Truck pull – 16,000 kg (35,274 lb) over 25 meters in 33.34 seconds (2024 SCL Holland)

Competitive record

Winning percentage: 62.50%
Podium percentage: 81.25%

Personal life

Nel balances his athletic training with a full-time career as an electrical engineer.

Prior to his strongman career, Nel was a competitive rugby union player. He served as the captain of the CUT Ixias university rugby team for three consecutive seasons in the Varsity Cup and later played professionally as a flanker for the Free State Cheetahs.

Filmography

References