Rayno Nel, born on May 9, 1995, is a South African professional strongman competitor. Nel is the reigning World's Strongest Man (WSM) champion, winning the title in 2025, and is the first person from South Africa, the African continent, and the Southern Hemisphere to achieve this feat. Before his strongman career, Nel was a rugby player for the Central University of Technology (CUT Ixias) and Free State Cheetahs. He also holds an engineering degree.
Nel's strongman journey began in 2023, and he quickly rose to prominence by winning South Africa's Strongest Man in 2023 and 2024, as well as the Arnold Classic Africa title. He has dominated in multiple Strongman Champions League (SCL) events, including victories in Holland, Africa, and the SCL World Finals. In November 2025, he defended his SCL world title in Upington, South Africa, breaking the Shield Carry World Record and the SCL Hercules Hold Record. Although he was forced to withdraw from the Arnold Strongman Classic, Nel's recent achievements cement his status as one of the world's strongest athletes.
