Two Weymouth men competing at this year's World’s Strongest Man
The pair are currently competing at this year’s competition in the US
England’s top two strongmen, both from Weymouth, have started competing at this year’s World’s Strongest Man competition.
Lifelong friends, Shane Flowers and Kane Francis are proudly waving Dorset’s flag against 28 other strongmen from around the world.
Kane Francis told us: “Having two guys out of thirty in the world from the same small town is unheard of and we’re just keen to represent our little corner of Dorset.”
Both men say they have unfinished business with the competition having missed out previously.
In 2022, Shane injured his foot in the group stage of the main event and was forced to withdraw.
Meanwhile, Kane received a call-up as reserve in 2023 and travelled to the Myrtle Beach showpiece only to miss out on competing.
He said: “Last year really lit a fire under me and has made me want to prove that I deserve to be there.
“My goal this year without putting too much pressure on myself is to make the ‘stone off’, if I achieve anything else after that or I somehow make the final then that'll be the icing on the cake.”
Shane Flowers is the highest-ranked Englishman in the competition while Kane Francis places narrowly behind in second.
Kane added: “We grew up in the same area, we've trained together and he Flowers was even once my coach at one point so there is no one more competitive with each other than me and him and I think that's a big reason we’ve reached the heights we have.”
The winner of each of the five groups gains automatic qualification to the grand finale, with second and third facing the dreaded Atlas stones in a play-off to determine the second qualifier.
“Even though we are friends, there’s no friendship after the whistle goes,” Kane said. “May the best man win and whoever goes through the other will just support them for the rest of the competition.”
Both athletes have tasted success recently however, Shane set a world record in the bag toss - an event in which competitors hurl six 20+kg sandbags over a 4.5-metre bar – at Britain’s Strongest Man in February.
Whilst Kane Francis podiumed in 6 of the 13 international strongman competitions he participated in last year.