Thomas Wren can pull a 4.5 tonne truck, carry a 140kg log and lift a 147kg stone.
The 29-year-old Katoomba man won the Australian Strong Man Alliance Nationals heavyweight (165kg) men’s title in July, and that’s qualified him for Australia’s Strongest Man national competition in Melbourne this week.
The two-day competition involves eight challenges – everything from lifting heavy farm implements overhead to pulling 12-tonne trucks, picking up giant 200kg orbs and repeatedly flipping 200kg poles.
He watched the World’s Strongest Man on TV as a child and has always wanted to take part. Having played representative rugby as a teenager and working as a carpenter, Wren’s active lifestyle and supportive family has now allowed him to pursue that dream. He started actively strength training six months ago – coached by Stephen Kiely in Cranebrook and working out at Plus Fitness gym in Katoomba.
“Since I started I’ve added 30 per cent [more weight] to all my lifts,” Wren said. “It’s training, technique, practice and protection. I wear lifting belts, elbow sleeves … to protect against injury.”
He trains up to three hours a day, six days a week, and has a low carbohydrate, high protein, high fat diet, consuming 4.5-5000 calories a day.
And he loves pushing himself beyond what some people think is possible.
“It’s a good way to show people that you can do extraordinary things,” Wren said.
