Vegan Strongmen Claim Gold and Silver at European Championships

The federation is known for its strict anti doping stance, with competitors tested and steroid use prohibited.

Silver in the 72 kg Category

Competing in the 72 kg division, James Hamilton described the event as “my best competition performance to date”, praising Natural Strongman for “pushing the boundaries and growing the weight category scene.”

His performance across six brutal events showed consistency, resilience, and technical precision:

• Axle/Log Press (100 kg/100 kg) — tied for 1st

• Axle Deadlift (230 kg) — tied for 2nd

• Yoke + Sandbag Carry (280 kg + 100 kg) — tied for 1st

• Sandbag Toss — 3rd

• Circus Dumbbell (40–60 kg) — 2nd

• 100 kg Sandbag Loading for Reps — secured overall 2nd place

James partly credited his preparation to a balanced vegan diet built around accessible foods.

“I was getting a lot of my protein from cheap meat alternatives, with salads, bean chillis and fruit to round things out. In the days before the competition and between events I topped up on simple carbs like dried fruits, orange juice and granola bars to fuel my performance.”

Domination of the 90 kg Category

In the 90 kg class, Hamilton’s friend Tom Butts delivered a commanding performance, taking Gold.

The events mirrored the 72 kg category but with heavier weights:

• Log and Axle Press (120 kg) — tied for 1st

• Axle Deadlift for Reps (270 kg) — 1st

• Yoke + Sandbag Medley (320 kg + 120 kg) — 1st

• Sandbag Toss — 1st

• Circus Dumbbell (50–80 kg) — 1st

• 130 kg Dash, Carry and Load — a new PB with 8 reps and event win.

“I did quite fancy the full sweep of event wins. Bag loading was my first ever banker event when I started strongman — 8 reps for a new PB was a great way to finish the day.”

Tom is no stranger to success, having won multiple Natural Strongman titles and even claiming Britain’s Strongest Man at 90 kg in untested competition.  He was in good company on the podium, vegan Ben Gillespie took Bronze.

A Growing Vegan Presence in Strongman

The achievements of Hamilton and Butts add to a rising wave of vegan strength athletes proving their power on national and international stages. As more competitors thrive on plant based diets, the long standing myths about veganism and strength continue to fall away.

Their results at the European Championships are not just personal victories — they’re part of a broader shift in the sport, showing that elite performance and vegan ethics can go hand in hand.