Rayno Nel (former Cheetahs loose forward) crowned 'World's Strongest Man'

On Sunday (18 May), former Cheetahs loose forward Rayno Nel was crowned the 'World's Strongest Man' during his debut in the competition, becoming the first African to hold the title.

The 30-year-old, 148kg South African edged defending champion Tom Stoltman by just half a point in the two-day final to claim the title in Sacramento, California.

It was the first victory by a rookie at the event since 1997.

It's reported that Nel, an electrical engineer, only started proper strongman training in 2022.

"To represent South Africa in any way whatsoever, it feels surreal," Nel told USA Today.

"I mean, we're a small country with a lot of struggles. To have something like this — I know it means a lot to my people," say reports.

The South African Government also gave Nel a shout-out on their social media platforms.