The World’s Strongest Firefighter competitors is a strongman/strongwoman occasion that units out to do what the identify says – discover the strongest firefighter on this planet. Since 2020, this contest has grown from a lineup of six men to over 100 rivals, and has included ladies for the final two years. It is among the solely contests that enables women and men to compete in opposition to one another within the finals, with weight classes and a coefficient scoring system to assist decide the winner.
The 2025 version of this contest was held in Columbus, OH as a part of the Arnold Sports activities Competition, and the winner was Frank Boniello, a firefighter for the USA Air Pressure Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The win has garnered him loads of consideration, and it could have even been a life-changing second for the Kansas Metropolis, Missouri native.
“There may be an adjustment to my life after successful this title, being consciously conscious of how I characterize this title.”
Boniello joined the army in 2011 when he was 18 years previous, which was the start of the trail he took that led him to the U.S. Air Pressure Academy in Colorado Springs as a firefighter, the place he nonetheless serves at this time. The one distinction between a federal firefighter and a full-time firefighter in a metropolis or city is the realm they serve. Boniello works as a driver operator, often known as an engineer. One other commonality is that they have to be ready for something and stay in the best shape possible. That got here simple for Boniello as a result of he has been energetic since highschool.
“I at all times had a ardour for lifting weights,” he stated. “I additionally performed soccer and wrestled. There was at all times that staff side but additionally a aggressive side too. If one man in your staff benched 315, you then wished to do extra. I simply stored that drive all through my profession within the army.”
That aggressive drive led Boniello to the powerlifting platform. In response to Open Powerlifting, Boniello competed from 2017 to 2022, and he thrived within the sport. His greatest lifts to this point are a 606-pound squat, a 430-pound bench press, and a 700-pound deadlift, all uncooked, which means no specialised assistant gear was used.
When requested about why he selected powerlifting, Boniello defined, “I at all times wished to see what I used to be able to and push my very own limits.”
The Journey in Strongman Begins
Previous to his starting in strongman, Boniello stated the closest expertise he had was doing numerous actions for normal bodily preparedness. His very first introduction to the game was when he entered the World’s Strongest Firefighter contest in 2023.
“I made a decision to compete within the Open class as a middleweight competitor,” he recalled. “I used to be somewhat intimidated by the numbers I wanted to compete the occasion. Some went properly, some didn’t due to the dearth of expertise, but it surely gave me an thought of what I wanted to do.”
Boniello discovered a brand new itch and began scratching it by coming into extra native occasions and gaining the expertise that might serve him properly in future contests. He loved the method, however there was a mission on his thoughts.
“The World’s Strongest Firefighter was on the prime of my checklist. I wished to carry out higher there and see how I might do with the time I ready for it.”
Boniello returned to the 2024 WSF contest, which was the primary to incorporate ladies and the Wilks system to permit all athletes to face one another. He positioned fifth in that contest and noticed the highest spot in his sights.
Quick ahead one 12 months, and Boniello discovered himself battling for the win in opposition to 2024 champion Marcus Waugh for the title. The finals included three occasions, an Ambulance Tire Axle Bar overhead press for reps, a silver greenback theme deadlift with ascending weight for every rep accomplished, and a Hearth Hydrant Loading occasion with weighted hydrants, much like the Atlas Stones in strongman comps.
Boniello was constant sufficient to defeat Waugh by six factors to take the championship and the axe that comes with it from promoter Arnold Schwarzenegger. Boniello was proud to realize this objective, however he additionally is aware of that there’s a accountability that comes with it, and he’s embracing that problem.
“I’m going to do my greatest to characterize what they stand for and what we are able to see this competitors develop to,” he stated proudly. “We’re going to attempt to preserve taking this competitors ahead.”
Regardless that he’s happy with this title, Boniello now has his sights set on different objectives. He noticed what Burton has carried out since he earned his title in 2023, together with qualifying for the 2026 Arnold Strongman Traditional, and that impressed him. Profitable a contest like this has opened his eyes on what he’s able to, and he feels able to discover that potential.
“I wish to do different exhibits and see the place I stand in opposition to the most effective beneath 105-kilogram strongmen on this planet. I’m having a lot enjoyable in strongman.”
Tricks to Put together for Your First Strongman Contest
Boniello is a world champion now, however he was a newcomer to his sport at one time. He wished to assist make it simpler for future athletes trying to compete by sharing some newbie suggestions.
Get comfy coaching – “Get your palms on as a lot strongman gear as you may to see what you’re good at and never good at.
Embrace Challenges – “While you join your first contest, make sure that it has occasions you want and that you are able to do, however don’t be afraid to tackle these occasions you may’t do as properly but.”
Make the Better of What You Have – “Happily, I’m able to practice some days at work. I purchased loads of my gear on Fb Market, however I don’t have Atlas Stones. Sandbags work for that as properly. If you are able to do the identical motion patterns, it could assist.”