Masters of strength: Strongman athletes battle to be crowned strongest in the military
The UK Armed Forces Strongest Man and Women competition saw athletes go head to head in a battle to be crowned the strongest men and women in the military.
Up to 48 competitors took on some of the toughest strongman events, from lifting atlas stones to the farmer's carry – each testing a different type of movement.
It was a standout performance in the women's competition from Corporal Paige Atwell, a driver with 6 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, who won the female under 82kg category.
A supportive culture
Cpl Atwell was successful across all events, where she pressed a 52kg log above her head seven times and carried a 150kg super yoke 20 metres in just eight seconds.
She is part of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, which is funded by Sport England.
She said: "Building up strength sets you up for life and I'm really happy with how I've performed.
"It is competitive, but it never feels like you're competing against each other. Everyone supports each other to do better, because we all understand how hard it is to lift these weights."
Competing with the best
Also present at the competition was Corporal Rhys Calland from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who was recently named Europe's Strongest Man and took part in England's Strongest Man earlier this year.
He said: "It's really important for the sport to grow. We're getting more funding for kit and equipment.
"That support has allowed me to train full time and be released from work. I can train twice a day and spend much longer in the gym."
Corporal Matt Tatman is an Army physical training instructor serving with the Royal Marines' 230 Commando Information Exploitation Group in Plymouth.
He was introduced to the strongman discipline through the sport of powerlifting.
He said: "Powerlifting is a static sport, and someone suggested strongman as something that added movement to strength.
"I enjoy the range of activities, and everyone has something that is their best event – I like the atlas stones, because it's just iconic for the sport.
"There's a real crossover over to the fitness a soldier needs. The farmer's carry is the same as picking up a casualty on a stretcher and the yoke is like carrying a very big bergen."
Battlefield strength
Colonel Stu Allen, chair of Army Strongman and Strongwoman, touched on how the sport is helping to build strength on the battlefield
He said: "We're really going from strength to strength.
"It's an inclusive sport that anyone can compete in, and people don't often realise how strong they are until they give it a go. It is an individual sport, but with a strong culture of camaraderie and helping each other to improve.
"The link between strength sports and soldiering is obvious – winning on the battlefield is built on people working as a team and pushing themselves physically and mentally."
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