The World’s Strongest Firefighter competitors is a strongman/strongwoman occasion that units out to do what the title says – discover the strongest firefighter on the planet. Since 2020, this contest has grown from a lineup of six males to over 100 rivals, and has included ladies for the final two years. It is likely one of 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 Pageant, and the winner was Frank Boniello, a firefighter for the US Air Pressure Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The win has garnered him lots of consideration, and it might 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 signify this title.”
Boniello joined the navy 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 world they serve. Boniello works as a driver operator, also called an engineer. One other commonality is that they have to be ready for something and keep in the most effective form attainable. 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 crew facet but additionally a aggressive facet 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 navy.”
That aggressive drive led Boniello to the powerlifting platform. Based on Open Powerlifting, Boniello competed from 2017 to 2022, and he thrived within the sport. His finest lifts so far are a 606-pound squat, a 430-pound bench press, and a 700-pound deadlift, all uncooked, that means no specialised assistant gear was used.
When requested about why he selected powerlifting, Boniello defined, “I at all times 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 somewhat intimidated by the numbers I wanted to compete the occasion. Some went nicely, some didn’t due to the shortage 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 might 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 listing. I needed to carry out higher there and see how I may 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 yr, 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 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 attain 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 finest to signify what they stand for and what we will see this competitors develop to,” he stated proudly. “We’re going to attempt to maintain taking this competitors ahead.”
Though he’s pleased with this title, Boniello now has his sights set on different targets. He noticed what Burton has executed since he earned his title in 2023, together with qualifying for the 2026 Arnold Strongman Basic, and that impressed him. Successful 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 towards the most effective below 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 trying to compete by sharing some newbie ideas.
Get comfy coaching – “Get your fingers on as a lot strongman gear as you’ll be able to to see what you might be good at and never good at.
Embrace Challenges – “If you join your first contest, be sure that it has occasions you want and that you are able to do, however don’t be afraid to tackle these occasions you’ll be able to’t do as nicely but.”
Make the Better of What You Have – “Happily, I’m able to practice some days at work. I purchased lots of my gear 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 could possibly assist.”