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 the 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 towards 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 Drive Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The win has garnered him loads of consideration, and it might have even been a life-changing second for the Kansas Metropolis, Missouri native.
“There’s an adjustment to my life after profitable this title, being consciously conscious of how I symbolize this title.”
Boniello joined the army in 2011 when he was 18 years outdated, which was the start of the trail he took that led him to the U.S. Air Drive Academy in Colorado Springs as a firefighter, the place he nonetheless serves as we speak. 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 all the time had a ardour for lifting weights,” he stated. “I additionally performed soccer and wrestled. There was all the time that crew side but additionally a aggressive side too. If one man in your crew benched 315, you then needed 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 keeping with 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, that means no specialised assistant tools was used.
When requested about why he selected powerlifting, Boniello defined, “I all the time needed 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 varied 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 slightly intimidated by the numbers I wanted to compete the occasion. Some went nicely, some didn’t due to the dearth of expertise, however it gave me an concept 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 would serve him nicely in future contests. He loved the method, however there was a mission on his thoughts.
“The World’s Strongest Firefighter was on the high of my checklist. I needed 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 towards 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 Fireplace Hydrant Loading occasion with weighted hydrants, just 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 duty that comes with it, and he’s embracing that problem.
“I’m going to do my greatest to symbolize 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.”
Though he’s pleased with this title, Boniello now has his sights set on different objectives. He noticed what Burton has achieved since he earned his title in 2023, together with qualifying for the 2026 Arnold Strongman Basic, 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 need to do different exhibits and see the place I stand towards the very best underneath 105-kilogram strongmen on the 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 needed to assist make it simpler for future athletes seeking to compete by sharing some newbie ideas.
Get snug coaching – “Get your palms on as a lot strongman tools as you may to see what you’re good at and never good at.
Embrace Challenges – “Once you join your first contest, be certain 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 nicely but.”
Make the Better of What You Have – “Thankfully, I’m able to prepare some days at work. I purchased loads of my tools on Fb Market, however I don’t have Atlas Stones. Sandbags work for that as nicely. If you are able to do the identical motion patterns, it will possibly assist.”
