Engineer aims to lift world strongman title

A strongman says he aims "to win" when he represents England in the World's Strongest Masters Championships in Florida.

James Merry, who lifts Atlas stones that weigh up to 200kg (31st 7lb), admitted he was "still shocked" after he received an invitation to take part in the competition in November.

The 41-year-old engineer from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, secured his place when he won England's Strongest Masters (40+) last year.

"When I got the email [about representing England], I couldn't believe it. I'm still shocked that I've been invited to it," said Merry.

"You don't really think you're worthy enough for something like that."

Merry is now training four days a week for about three hours each session at Titan's Lair gym in Rushden.

He plans his sessions around his family and his full-time job at Milex Engineering, an industrial door services company in Corby.

"Training is going extraordinarily well, really well," he said. "It's taken a massive incline from my last competition. I'm not messing around. I'm going to win."

When he is preparing for a competition, Merry estimates he eats about 6,000 calories a day.

His carbohydrate intake includes bagels with jam and peanut butter, and he drinks about five litres (nine pints) of water.

Merry became interested in being a strongman during the Covid lockdown. He turned his empty garage into a home gym and used specialist equipment, like logs, yokes, which are large steel frames with weights on the end, and large, heavy stones.

The strongman contests involve lifting and moving heavy, awkward objects such as logs, sandbags and tyres.

Two years after starting, Merry entered his first competition in Boston and finished second.

He later moved into Natural Strongman, where he set a world record for a deadlift and later won England's Strongest Man and finished second in the UK and Ireland competitions.

His wife Natalie Merry said: "We are all incredibly proud of James for everything he has achieved so far with his strongman.

"To be able to represent England at Worlds in America is another goal he has smashed and we couldn't be any prouder of him!"

His daughter Lily, 17, added that his dedication and passion "inspire [her] every day".

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