Teen strongman is crowned champ
He competed against participants, aged between 20 and 35, and easily lifted the required weights that crowned him champion.
The Official Strongman Games is a festival of strength that brings together nearly 400 of the top strongmen and strongwomen athletes from Africa.
Local lad Jean Du Plessis (17) from Umtentweni was last year crowned South Africa’s and Africa’s strongest in the under 80kg novice category.
Overall, the athletes competed for the strongman title across multiple divisions at the competition held in Rustenburg.
Jean is now in Grade 12 at Suid Natal High.
He competed against participants aged between 20 and 35 and easily lifted the required weights that crowned him champion.
Jean broke the deadlift record by lifting 230kg to 240kg
He also competed in the atlas stone event, where athletes load heavy circular stones onto a platform; here, he lifted 110kg.
In the axle press event, Jean lifted 80kg and did six reps. Axle press is a weightlifting exercise or event where a thick bar with heavy weights on each end is lifted from the ground to an overhead position.
He also took part in the farmer’s walk, where he carried 100kg and earned second place. In the loading medley category, Jean lifted a 110kg barrel and was the only competitor who could get it over the ring.
“My brother Ruben inspired me as he was crowned the second strongest in Africa in 2023 and the third strongest in Africa in 2024 under his category. I am hoping to break the junior deadlift record once again till it can’t be broken. I enjoy strongman sports and one day would love my name to be in the books with many legends. I would like to thank everyone who helped me become the champion, especially my trainer, Selvan Naidoo from One Up Fitness in Umtentweni,” said Jean.
