Strongman Tom Stoltman muscles in on 'dream' Gladiators role

Published: 18:58, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 18:58, 20 July 2026 Scottish strongman Tom Stoltman is set to put his superhuman strength to the test after joining the cast of Gladiators. The three time World’s Strongest Man champion is set to join the likes of Apollo, Electro and Nitro in facing off against members of the public in the hugely popular BBC programme. And the 6ft 8ins athlete looks set to be no push over for those wanting to be crowned Gladiator champion, measuring in at as much as 400lbs. Stoltman smashed the world record for lifting five Atlas stones, looking effortless as the Scot picked up the large concrete spheres weighing between 220 to 397lbs in just 16.01 seconds. As one of the most successful strongmen in history, he has dominated the sport on the world stage with his incredible strength, athleticism and determination. But entering the Gladiators arena will be an altogether new challenge for Stoltman. The 32-year-old said: ‘This is a dream opportunity and I’m incredibly proud to become a Gladiator. ‘I’ve spent my life pushing myself to see what I can achieve and joining this incredible show is the next challenge. Scottish strongman Tom Stoltman is relishing joining the cast of Gladiators  The three-time World’s Strongest Man champion is set to join fellow Scot Sabre (Sheli McCoy) ‘I’m excited to bring my strength, determination and personality to the arena but, most importantly, I want people watching to feel inspired to believe in themselves and take on their own challenges.’ Known on the strongman circuit as The Albatross due to his sizeable arm span, the Invergordon-born star became the first Scot to win the World’s Strongest Man title. But Stoltman’s Gladiator name and what he will look like in the programme remains a mystery, with producers having promised to reveal these details in due course. One of the events Stoltman could be facing off against the general public with on the programme include the dual, the event which sees the contender and gladiator battle to knock each other off a high podium. Filming begins in Sheffield later this month, with the BBC One series set to return in 2027. Tom became the first Scot to win the World's Strongest Man title He has previously told of the intense training regime needed to stay so strong, and how he consumes as much as 10,000 calories a day to keep up with the demands it produces. Stoltman was encouraged to take up weight training by his brother Luke – a fellow strongman known as The Highland Oak – but was not overly interested because of his love for football. But when he completed his first competition, one which saw him come fifth in a Scotland’s Strongest Man qualifier at the age of 18, he got the bug for the strongman events. He has also previously told how ‘Autism is a big part of my life’, and how he has managed the effects of the condition. Stoltman said: ‘I struggled in school, would lock myself in my room and didn’t have any friends. ‘Then I found sport, first football and then the gym and I started to get more confidence, talking to more people and loving what I was doing.’