The World’s Strongest Man champion, Tom Stoltman, has joined the cast of the hit TV show Gladiators.
The 6ft 8in athlete, who weighs 400 pounds, will face the contenders in the fourth series of the BBC programme, which will air next year.
Stoltman, from Invergordon, Scotland, has won the World Strongest Man competition three times and last triumphed in 2024.
He will start filming later this month in Sheffield, and his Gladiator name and costume will be revealed in the coming weeks, according to the BBC.
He 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.
‘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.’
Filming for the new series begins in Sheffield this month, with Tom joining the formidable line-up of Gladiators, as Contenders once again prepare to face the ultimate test of speed, strength and endurance.
The 32-year-old was diagnosed with autism at the age of five and faced bullying at school because of his condition.
Ahead of his debut in Gladiators, he said he hopes to encourage others not to see it as a barrier to reaching their goals.
Speaking after his last World’s Strongest Man victory, he said: ‘Winning the title is special because it proves that having autism, having this super power as I call it, you can do special things.
‘I just want to let people know you can do anything you want to do. It doesn’t have to be World’s Strongest Man.
‘You can go and be a footballer, you can be a runner, you can be anything you want. That’s what I say to kids and adults who have kids with autism.
‘You should let them do their dream, and if they don’t get there, then they have tried their best, but never, ever say they can’t do it.
‘That’s why I am so thankful for my family, because they let me live this dream, and this autism that I have turned into a super power has been very powerful.’
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