Vegan Hercules takes podium in strongman nationals

Bradie Crandall finished second that Natural USA’s Strongest Man (u105 kg) in what he described as “a difficult lesson in attention to detail”.

Coming close to taking the title, he missed out despite some super strong performances.

• He clean and pressed a 280 lb (170 kg) axle for reps, winning the event with 5 reps.
• Bradie was second in the deadlift ladder, with 2 reps on the last 635 lb (288 kg) lift.
• The farmer’s hold is not his favourite; two more seconds would have placed him above his main rival.
• Joint first on the sandbag to shoulder ladder saw him lift the final 300 lb (135 kg) bag twice.
• Next was his favourite, and he carried a 725 lb (330 kg) yoke for 75 feet for the win.
• Last was the max distance sandbag carry, where he’s completed 400 feet in training. The decision to try to go fast early led to a poor grip on the bag and he finished fifth.  This left him in second overall.

“I started a new job this week so the fact I was sleep deprived, sick, and had to weigh in on the morning of the comp was out of my control. What WAS in my control was my execution which fell short. Strongman is as much a mental game as it is a physical one at this level.”

The second place qualifies Bradie for World’s Strongest Natural Man in Glasgow, Scotland.

The competition is the latest in a series of great strongman results from the former powerlifter who won the 2023 US Powerlifting Nationals, breaking four state records in the process.

Dr Crandall works in developing climate change solutions and this led him to go vegan in 2017.

“Animal product consumption was at fundamental odds with my work to address the climate crisis” he says.

We look forward to him returning to the World’s Strongest Natural Man with the enthusiasm and determination we’ve come to expect from him.