Fifty-five competitors are battling it out at Princes Wharf 1 today in the largest World’s Strongest Tasmanian event ever held.
The competition, now in its eighth year locally, serves as an official qualifier for Australia’s Strongest, with first and second place finishers earning spots at the national championships.
Event MC Chris Meredith said the growing numbers are a sign of the sport’s rising popularity across the state.
“When I first did Strongman in Tassie, I think there was nearly half this,” he said. “It’s growing really quickly in popularity, which is amazing to see,” he told Pulse.
Meredith was originally slated to compete but took on MC duties after injury sidelined him from the competition.
The event showcases unique skills, with athletes lifting awkward, heavy objects in ways rarely seen in traditional weightlifting.
“It’s about lifting the most awkward and heavy things you can,” he said.
The waterfront location at PW1 drew crowds of spectators from the Salamanca Market, with many experiencing this style of competition for the first time.
“Not a lot of people are exposed to this sport,” Meredith said. “It’s good for a lot of people to come and see it.”
Event organiser Nickola Orr coordinated the competition, which featured divisions for novice, intermediate and advanced athletes.
Meredith said recognition matters deeply to competitors who dedicate themselves to a sport with little financial reward.
“A lot of the time, we put our bodies on the line for no glory. You do it because you love it,” he said.
He said increased exposure could help attract sponsors and grow the sport’s profile nationally.
“The more people that get into it, the more people recognise it,” Meredith said. “At the end of the day, it’s why we’re here, we love to do it.”
