Bolton-le-Sands strongman becomes world champion in South Africa

A strength coach from Bolton-le-Sands is celebrating after being crowned world champion in Ultimate Strongman.

Josh Lancaster took the title for the U90kg class at the Ultimate Strongman World Championship in Benoni, South Africa, defeating strength athletes from around the world.

The event was livestreamed across the globe and Josh shared the podium with athletes from Zambia and Slovakia.

He took home the gold medal after competing in deadlift, overhead medley, farmer walk, yoke into sandbag load, and stone run.

"For years I’ve said I believe I’ll be a world champion someday," said Josh, posting on his 'Josh Lancaster Strongman' Facebook page after his victory.

"Today that became true and it feels so good to achieve something difficult, just because I wanted to.

Josh Lancaster

"I’ve said for a while that when I’m strong enough, I’m ready to take an international title. What I mean by that is that I felt ready to relish the pressure of being expected to place well, and not crumble/choke. I’ve been able to visualise myself on top of podium for a while…then then when these events dropped I felt it was a calling and that I was going to be tough to beat if I could managed a 9/10 performance on each event.

"When asked my goals, for years I’ve been saying I want to be a world champion and fully believed it.

"This self belief has helped me navigate through some tough times - just over nine months ago I had my bicep tendon surgically reattached. Not once did I lose sight of the goal (the injury helped me find another gear I didn’t know I had!).

"My arm is still recovering and may take up to 18 months to heal as well as it can."

Josh completely ruptured his distal biceps tendon while lifting a 170kg natural stone at the Peak District Highland Games.

"Many people told me my strongman career was over," he said.

"I underwent surgery at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and began what was expected to be an 18-month rehabilitation.

"Despite that prognosis, I returned to elite competition around nine months after surgery, finishing runner-up at Britain's Strongest Man Under-90kg.

"Just one month later, around the 10-month mark, I travelled to South Africa and won the Ultimate Strongman Under-90kg World Championship.

"For me, the title wasn't just about becoming world champion—it was proof that a major setback doesn't have to define the outcome.

"Alongside competing, I work full-time as a strength coach, helping people become stronger, perform at their best and, in many cases, return to peak performance following injury. My own recovery has reinforced many of the principles I coach every day."