Graham Hicks
Graham Hicks (born 15 November 1985) is an English strongman competitor and powerlifter from Morecambe, Lancashire.[1] He won the 2019 Britain's Strongest Man competition, having placed second in 2014 and 2018, and competed as a finalist in the 2020 World's Strongest Man.[2] Hicks is recognized as the United Kingdom's top raw powerlifter with a competition total of 1,100 kg, including personal bests of 440 kg squat, 270 kg bench press, and 405 kg deadlift in wraps.[3] He holds the British record for log press at 215 kg and has earned bronze medals in Europe's Strongest Man events.[4] In addition to his athletic career, Hicks operates as a professional coach and maintains an engineering role in design support.[2]
Early Life and Background
Youth Sports and Initial Interests
Born on November 15, 1985, in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, Graham Hicks demonstrated an early aptitude for physical activities.[2] As a youngster, he was an enthusiastic sportsman, with football serving as his principal pursuit.[2] This interest dominated his recreational time during adolescence, reflecting a conventional path for many young males in northern England toward team-based athletic endeavors.[2] In his early twenties, Hicks diverged from football, redirecting his energies toward gym-based training that emphasized hypertrophy and strength development, initially aligned with bodybuilding principles.[2] This shift, occurring around 2005–2007, marked the onset of his exposure to heavier resistance exercises, setting the stage for his later specialization in strength disciplines.[2] By age 25, a friend's invitation to experiment with strongman implements catalyzed his formal entry into the sport, beginning with competitions in the under-105 kg category in 2010.[2]Entry into Strength Sports
Powerlifting Foundations
Graham Hicks entered competitive powerlifting in 2018 as a means to enhance his static strength, particularly for overhead pressing demands in strongman events. His initial foray focused on deadlift-only competitions under the British Powerlifting Union (BPU), reflecting a targeted approach to building foundational pulling power. On October 13, 2018, at the Andy Bolton Deadlift Challenge in England, Hicks competed raw in the deadlift event, achieving a lift of 405 kg to secure first place in a field of elite lifters.[2][3] Building on this success, Hicks participated in a second deadlift-only event on October 12, 2019, again under BPU auspices, where he lifted 380 kg raw for second place, demonstrating consistency in high-volume pulling under fatigue.[3] His first full powerlifting meet came later that year on November 2, 2019, at Big Dogs 4 in Australia under ProRaw Powerlifting, equipped with wraps. Weighing 162 kg, Hicks totaled 1,100 kg—squat 440 kg, bench press 270 kg, deadlift 390 kg—establishing a British record for the highest total and placing second overall.[2][5] These performances underscored Hicks' raw potential in barbell lifts, with the 1,100 kg total remaining a benchmark for UK powerlifting prowess. His powerlifting phase, spanning just two years, yielded personal bests that translated directly to strongman gains, including improved lockout strength for events like log press.[6] Despite the brevity, Hicks earned recognition as the UK's top powerlifter by total, prioritizing compound movement proficiency over prolonged specialization.[7]Strongman Career
Domestic Competitions and Rise
Hicks began his strongman career in the under-105 kg category, competing in the 2010 North of England's Strongest Man where he placed seventh.[2] In 2011, he dominated the division by winning both England's Strongest Man under-105 kg and Britain's Strongest Man under-105 kg, establishing early domestic success through consistent performances in events like log presses and deadlifts.[2] Transitioning to the open weight class in 2012, Hicks debuted at Britain's Strongest Man in Colchester, England, on May 26, finishing fourth out of 19 competitors and earning qualification for the World's Strongest Man.[1] His progression continued with a fifth-place finish at the 2013 Britain's Strongest Man in Gateshead on August 3, followed by a runner-up position at the 2014 event in Doncaster on March 15, where he demonstrated superior static strength in overhead lifts.[1] Despite an eighth-place result in 2015, Hicks rebounded to third at the 2017 Britain's Strongest Man in Doncaster on January 28.[1] Hicks achieved second place again at the 2018 Britain's Strongest Man, setting the stage for his breakthrough victory in 2019.[2] On January 19, 2019, at the Britain's Strongest Man in Sheffield, England, he won the open title, outperforming competitors including Adam Bishop and Tom Stoltman through dominant performances in pressing events, such as a 200 kg log press.[1] [2] This triumph marked the pinnacle of his domestic rise, solidifying his status as a top UK strongman after years of podium finishes and highlighting his specialization in overhead strength.[2]International Performances
Hicks first gained international exposure at the 2012 and 2013 World's Strongest Man qualifiers, though specific placements were outside the top positions leading to group stages.[2] In 2014, he achieved a third-place finish in WSM Group 5 held in Los Angeles, California, on March 29, demonstrating competitive static strength in events like the log press.[1] That year, he also competed at Giants Live Hungary in Budapest on June 21, placing sixth out of 12 athletes.[1] Additionally, Hicks secured third place at the 2014 Europe's Strongest Man in Leeds, a major event attracting global competitors despite its UK hosting.[2] In 2015, Hicks participated in WSM Group 2 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on April 26, finishing sixth out of six.[1] He returned to international competition in 2017 with appearances in the Strongman Champions League (SCL), including 11th place at SCL FIBO in Cologne, Germany, on April 8; third place at the SCL World Overhead Lift Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, on May 20, where his log press prowess was evident; and fifth at SCL Holland's Next Level in Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands, on June 17.[1] In 2018, he qualified for WSM Group 3 in Manila, Philippines, on May 6, placing fifth out of six.[1] Hicks' strongest international showing at the World's Strongest Man came in 2020, when he advanced to the finals in Bradenton, Florida, ultimately placing 10th overall after withdrawing from some events due to injury.[2][1] He also competed at the 2019 SCL Log Lift World Championships, winning the event with a lift of 192.5 kg.[8] In 2021, Hicks entered the inaugural Shaw Classic in Estes Park, Colorado, on August 28, finishing 11th out of 16.[1] Following a period focused on domestic recovery, he returned internationally in 2023 at WSM Group 3 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on April 20, securing fifth place out of six.[1] In 2025, Hicks marked a career highlight by winning the SCL Poland event in Gdańsk on August 23, his first international victory in six years and only overall international win across 22 appearances.[1] Later that year, he placed 14th at SCL USA in Sandusky, Ohio, on September 20, and sixth at SCL Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on October 19.[1] These results underscore Hicks' persistence in overhead pressing and deadlifting disciplines, though inconsistent qualifying for WSM finals beyond 2020 reflects challenges against elite global fields.[1][2]| Event | Date | Location | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSM Group 5 | March 29, 2014 | Los Angeles, USA | 3rd/6 |
| Giants Live Hungary | June 21, 2014 | Budapest, Hungary | 6th/12 |
| WSM Group 2 | April 26, 2015 | Putrajaya, Malaysia | 6th/6 |
| SCL FIBO | April 8, 2017 | Cologne, Germany | 11th/14 |
| SCL World Overhead Lift Championships | May 20, 2017 | Kaunas, Lithuania | 3rd/12 |
| SCL Holland's Next Level | June 17, 2017 | Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands | 5th/14 |
| WSM Group 3 | May 6, 2018 | Manila, Philippines | 5th/6 |
| Shaw Classic | August 28, 2021 | Estes Park, USA | 11th/16 |
| WSM Group 3 | April 20, 2023 | Myrtle Beach, USA | 5th/6 |
| SCL Poland | August 23, 2025 | Gdańsk, Poland | 1st/12 |
| SCL USA | September 20, 2025 | Sandusky, USA | 14th/14 |
| SCL Dubai | October 19, 2025 | Dubai, UAE | 6th/12 |
Signature Events and Techniques
Hicks is renowned for his exceptional performances in overhead pressing events, particularly the log press, where he set the British record of 220 kg at the 2020 Europe's Strongest Man competition.[2] This lift underscored his static strength prowess, enabling him to secure victories in the World Log Lift Championships in both 2014 and 2017.[2] In the 2019 Britain's Strongest Man, he completed 8 repetitions with a 150 kg log, a standout effort that contributed to his overall win.[2] His deadlift capabilities represent another signature strength, highlighted by a 405 kg official lift at the 2018 BPU Andy Bolton Deadlift Challenge, alongside training sessions featuring doubles at 450 kg.[2] Hicks employs a conventional deadlift stance rooted in his powerlifting background, prioritizing explosive pulls from the floor to maximize leverage in strongman formats, including elevated and max-effort variations.[9] In log press technique, Hicks focuses on controlled cleaning of the implement to the rack position followed by strict pressing, often incorporating paused reps and volume work at submaximal loads to build shoulder stability and drive, as demonstrated in preparatory sessions for events like Europe's Strongest Man.[10] This methodical approach, blending powerlifting precision with strongman adaptation, allows him to handle awkward bar paths effectively, minimizing energy loss during transitions.[10]Records and Achievements
Personal Bests in Key Lifts
Graham Hicks established his powerlifting personal bests in equipped competition, achieving a British record total of 1,100 kg at Pro Raw Big Dogs 4 in Victoria, Australia, on an unspecified date in 2019, consisting of a 440 kg squat, 270 kg bench press, and 405 kg deadlift (the latter set at the 2018 BPU Andy Bolton Deadlift Challenge).[2] In strongman events, Hicks' overhead pressing strength stands out, with a British record log press of 220 kg set outdoors at the 2020 Europe's Strongest Man.[2] He has also deadlifted 420 kg in standard competition and 499 kg in the Hummer tyre deadlift event.[2] His conventional deadlift personal best reached 470 kg at the 2023 World Deadlift Championships.[11]| Lift Type | Weight (kg) | Context/Event | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squat (equipped) | 440 | Powerlifting | 2019[2] |
| Bench Press (equipped) | 270 | Powerlifting competition | 2019[2] |
| Deadlift (equipped) | 405 | BPU Andy Bolton Deadlift Challenge | 2018[2] |
| Powerlifting Total (equipped) | 1,100 | Pro Raw Big Dogs 4 (British record) | 2019[2] |
| Log Press | 220 | Europe's Strongest Man (British record) | 2020[2] |
| Deadlift | 420 | Strongman competition | Unspecified[2] |
| Hummer Tyre Deadlift | 499 | Strongman event | Unspecified[2] |
| Conventional Deadlift | 470 | World Deadlift Championships | 2023[11] |