Vegan Tom Butts Wins His Third Straight World Natural Strongman Title

Vegan strongman Tom Butts has done it again. The Briton won the under-90kg class at the Natural World's Strongest Man championships in Galway, Ireland, this weekend, making it three world titles in three years, Plant Based News reports.

Butts faced 23 rivals across seven events over two days at the University of Galway, and for a long time it looked like the streak was over. His grip gave out after 31 seconds holding 160kg in the Hercules Hold, his most-feared event, and he finished it in 17th place, 11 points behind his closest rival, Jakub Navratil of Czechia.

He clawed back a point by the end of day one. On day two he equaled his personal best with a 150kg axle clean and press for a share of first, won the bag toss, and then took the title in the final event, the sandbag load, when the pressure he put on Navratil caused the Czech to stumble on the last leg, Viva! reports. Butts said afterwards:

This year there was a huge expectation to win, from the outside world, the strongman community, and from myself. 2023 and 2024 were all about desiring the win, this year was dreading a loss.

Butts went vegan around five years ago, mainly for the animals, and fuels his training with plenty of carbs and protein from staples like oats, rice and potatoes. He competes for the Vegan Strong PlantBuilt team and was blunt about what this win means:

People think you need meat to be strong. I'm living proof that's just not true. Three world titles. All natural. All powered by plants.

Butts first won the Natural World’s Strongest Man title in 2023 and retained it last year. His PlantBuilt teammates won 48 golds at Mr. America last autumn, and the list of strong vegans keeps growing, from Patrik Baboumian to the ’Vegan Badass’ strongman.

Powered by plants, and proud to fly the vegan flag.