Andrew Flynn wins UK's Strongest Man for second time

Andrew Flynn has been crowned the UK's Strongest Man for the second time, cementing his place at the top of the sport. The win came after a gruelling competition in which Flynn lifted a 160kg stone five times, a weight roughly equivalent to a large, fully grown male panda. Speaking after his victory, Flynn said the title was prestigious but admitted that staying on top requires relentless effort. "It is 365247, the food, the diet, the training. It all goes into one," he said, adding that he juggles a full-time job and two children alongside his training.

Flynn, who has been lifting weights since the age of 13 and competing in strongman events for 12 years, said he trains four days a week, often in his garden to fit around family life. His family are a constant presence at competitions, cheering him on. "They are literally at all the competitions I go to," he said. "My kids absolutely love it, my wife loves it as well."

The 400kg deadlift is the heaviest lift he has ever attempted, and he completed it three times just two weeks before the competition. He acknowledged that the world record of 500kg is likely out of reach for now, but added: "Never say never."

Looking ahead, Flynn has set his sights on the Britain's Strongest Man title and eventually the World's Strongest Man. "I hope to be Britain's strongest man and make it to the big world stage," he said. His latest victory, achieved in front of his family, marks another milestone in a career built on consistency and a love for the sport. As he put it: "I love it. I wouldn't do anything else, and even if it wasn't on the big stages, I'd still be training."