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| Nationality | South African | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1995-05-09) 9 May 1995 Upington, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Strongman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 148 kg (326 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Married | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Rayno Nel (born 9 May 1995) is a South African strongman competitor from Krugersdorp.[1][2] 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.[3]
Career
Nel started his career as a Rugby player, playing for the Central University of Technology and Free State Cheetahs.[4] 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.
Despite a foot fracture which occurred in event two, he placed fourth at 2024 Siberian Power Show[4] and then went on a dominant run, winning 2024 SCL Holland,[5] 2024 SCL Africa and 2024 SCL World Finals.[6]
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.
After his victory at WSM, Nel recorded two further victories over successive weekends at the Strongman Champions League, SCL Italy[7] and SCL Holland.[8]
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.[9]
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.
In April 2026, Nel came 2nd at World's Strongest Man narrowly missing out on the title to Mitchell Hooper.
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)[10]
- Shield Carry – (World Record) (2025 SCL World Finals)[11]
- Hercules Hold – (SCL Record) (2025 SCL World Finals)[11]
- 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: 71.43%
Podium percentage: 78.57%
Major Competitions
| Year | Competition | Placing | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | World's Strongest Man | 2nd | Myrtle Beach, United States | Narrowly missed the title to Mitchell Hooper by less than a point.[12] |
| 2025 | SCL World Finals | 1st | Upington, South Africa | Successfully defended his SCL World Champion title in front of a home crowd; set a new Shield Carry world record.[13] |
| 2025 | Rogue Invitational | 8th | Aberdeen, Scotland | |
| 2025 | Giants Live Strongman Classic | 4th | London, England | |
| 2025 | SCL Holland | 1st | Doetinchem, Netherlands | |
| 2025 | SCL Italy | 1st | Crema, Italy | |
| 2025 | World's Strongest Man | 1st | Sacramento, United States | First rookie to win since 1997, and the first winner from South Africa and the African continent.[14] |
| 2024 | Africa's Strongest Man | 1st | South Africa | |
| 2024 | South Africa's Strongest Man | 1st | Mossel Bay, South Africa | Successfully defended his national title. |
| 2024 | SCL World Finals | 1st | Secured his first Strongman Champions League World title.[15] | |
| 2024 | SCL Africa | 1st | ||
| 2024 | SCL Holland | 1st | Nel's international debut and first SCL victory. | |
| 2024 | Siberian Power Show | 4th | Placed 4th despite suffering a foot fracture during the second event. | |
| 2023 | South Africa's Strongest Man | 1st | Rustenburg, South Africa | Won the title in his rookie strongman season. |
Personal life
Unusually for an elite strongman, Nel balances his rigorous athletic training with a full-time career as an electrical engineer.[16]
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.[17]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | World's Strongest Man | Himself – Competitor | 1x Champion |
| 2026 | Battle of the Beasts | Himself – Competitor |
References
- Conny Ekholm (1 January 2025). "RAYNO NEL". Strength Result. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- "Rayno Nel". Strongman Archives. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- "USN fuels Rayno Nel, Africa's Strongest man". www.dischemlivingfit.co.za. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- "CUT captain crowned world champion". Gerrit Kelin Els for www.ruggas.co.za. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- Vedad Tabakovic (27 June 2024). "2024 Strongman Champions League Holland Results — Rayno Nel Victorious in His Debut". Fitness Volt. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- "Rayno "Rhino" Nel wins SCL 2024 Finals". Strongman Champions League. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- "Strongman Archives - 2025 SCL Italy". www.strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- "Strongman Archives - 2025 SCL Holland". www.strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- "Strongman Archives - 2025 Giants Live Strongman Classic". www.strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- "STRENGTH RECORD, Section 08 - Stonelifting (Irregular stones)". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- "RAYNO NEL CROWNED 2025 STRONGMAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WORLD CHAMPION". dsac.gov.za. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "Rayno Nel - Strongman Archives". Strongman Archives. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "RAYNO NEL CROWNED 2025 STRONGMAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WORLD CHAMPION". dsac.gov.za. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "McKenzie congratulates Rayno Nel on historic victory at 2025 World's Strongest Man competition". South African Government News Agency. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "Rayno Nel Looks Back At a Life-Changing Year as World's Strongest Man". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "Rayno Nel - Giants Live". Giants Live. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "CUT Captain Crowned World Champion". Ruggas.co.za. Retrieved 14 June 2026.