Paul Smith (strongman)
{{short description|English strongman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Paul Smith
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|8|15|df=y}}
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| occupation = Strongman
| nationality = English
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| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| weight = {{convert|130-135|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}
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{{CompetitionRecordSport | Strongman}}
{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{GBR}} and {{ENG}} }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|World's Strongest Man}}
{{CompetitionRecord|Qualified| 2018 World's Strongest Man| }}
{{CompetitionRecord|Qualified| 2023 World's Strongest Man| }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Strongman Champions League}}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2022 SCL England | }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Giants Live}}
{{CompetitionRecord|5th| 2022 Strongman Classic| }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Arnold Classic League}}
{{CompetitionRecord|6th| 2022 Arnold UK| }}
{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|UK's Strongest Man }}
{{CompetitionRecord|2nd| 2021 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2022 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2023 | }}
{{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2024 | }}
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Paul Smith (born 15 August 1994) is an English Strongman from Oldham, Greater Manchester and a 3x times UK's Strongest Man champion.{{cite web |title=Oldham family man crowned UK's strongest man for third time |url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/24407309.oldham-family-man-crowned-uks-strongest-man-third-time/ |access-date=26 April 2025|work=www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk|date=25 June 2024}}{{cite web |title=Paul Smith |url=https://giants-live.com/athlete/paul-smith/?srsltid=AfmBOoruV3soknP0iBTFMTf22flB-yIr-pZPM6ZFlRhiOiZU-jZuEvd9 |access-date=26 April 2025|work=Giants Live|date=15 May 2024}}
Career
Smith was born in Sheffield and played boxing, athletics and parkour during his childhood. When he was fifteen, he started strength training, and competed in his first novice strongman competition a year later. In 2017 he won Ultimate Strongman Junior World Championships held in Canada{{cite web |title=Paul Smith (England) Abhinandana |url=https://www.ultimatestrongman.tv/paul-smith-england/ |website=www.ultimatestrongman.tv |author=Glenn Ross | date=March 1, 2024 | access-date=April 26, 2025}} and participated in his first UK's Strongest Man competition the same year where he won fifth place, and became the champion by 2022 and successfully defended his title in 2023 and 2024.
In his first appearance at World's Strongest Man competition in 2018 held in Manila, Philippines, he participated in the second qualifier group where Brian Shaw and Johan Els made it to the finals. In his second appearance in 2023 he participated in the fifth qualifier group where Trey Mitchell and Evan Singleton made it to the finals.
In 2022 Strongman Champions League England, Smith won second place behind Aivars Šmaukstelis, defeating the likes of Kelvin de Ruiter, Mika Törrö, Travis Ortmayer, Andy Black and Gavin Bilton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.strongmanarchives.com/viewContest.php?id=1301 |title=2022 SCL England |website=strongmanarchives.com|access-date=20 August 2022}}
Personal records
- Equipped Deadlift (with straps) – {{convert|400|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2024 Britain's Strongest Man)
- Log press – {{convert|180|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} (2024 Kaos Strongest Man)
- Axle press – {{convert|150|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} x 4 reps (2022 Britain's Strongest Man)
- Nicol stones walk – 2 stones weighing {{convert|138|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} & {{convert|114|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} for {{convert|23.10|m|ftin}} (2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals) (former world record)
- Atlas stones (heavy set) – 5 stones weighing {{convert|120-200|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} in 38.38 seconds (2022 Britain's Strongest Man)
- Atlas stones (light set) – 5 stones weighing {{convert|100-180|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} in 27.37 seconds (2019 Britain's Strongest Man)
Personal life
Paul is married to Shannon, a fellow strongwoman competitor from North Yorkshire{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/uk-strongest-man-woman-marry-b2234300.html |title=The ultimate ‘power’ couple: Britain’s strongest man and woman tie the knot |website=independent.co.uk|access-date=28 November 2022}} and has a B.Sc in Human biology.{{cite web |title=Paul Smith |url=https://strengthregister.com/coach/paul-smith |website=STRENGTH REGISTER |author=Joseph 'Joey Zasa' Ranchigoda | date=February 17, 2025 | access-date=April 26, 2025}}