National title for vegan strongman

The event was heavy for athletes under the 90 kg event.

• First was 120 kg log overhead for reps.  Tom got 4 to tie second.
• Next was Deadlift.  Three  reps with a 230kg Axle followed by 7 at 270kg and he tied second again.
• The Farmers Walk was 135kg for 3x10m and Tom completed it in 23s to take third.
• Event four was 300 kg Yoke followed by 120 kg Sandbag carry.  He blasted through this event in 16 seconds to take the win.
• This left him with a chance of winning as he entered the last event, Sandbag to Shoulder: 100, 110, 120, 130kg,  Edging it in 23s Tom won the event and the competition.

“I’m chuffed with the result” said Tom, a vegan strength coach who has competed nationally and internationally.  “Winning this competition required 9/10 performances across the board. The field were so close on lots of events, so any small hiccup would have cost me plenty of points and the win.”

Coach Butts turned vegan in November 2020, “purely for animal ethics and not wanting to contribute to animal agriculture”.

He eats around 3700 calories per day, which includes around 200 g of protein, above the 2g per kilogram of bodyweight often advised for strength athletes.

“This is my first win in an untested competition” he added “and I hope to continue collecting trophies in the untested scene, proving it can be done by a natural vegan athlete.”