Strongman's 'surreal' step up to world stage

Jake Aspinall, right, pictured with his coach John Lees

A strongman who came last in a local competition four years back has said "it's a bit surreal" to now be preparing to compete on the world stage.

Jake Aspinall, from Standish, Wigan, will heading to Utah in the US to take part in the World Strength Games next May.

The 34-year-old said he was invited to take part in the event, involving athletes from around the world, by one of the organisers who contacted him via his social media account.

Jake said: "It is a bit surreal as I have only ever done local level gym competitions."

He will face challenges that will include a truck pull, a car deadlift, carrying a 184 kg stone and a log flip.

He said he came last in a local strongman competition in Atherton, Greater Manchester, four years ago.

"I competed in Liverpool's strongest man in May and came joint third," he added.

Jake said his love of the sport came from watching the World's Strongest Man on TV as a child.

He trains for around 15 hours a week alongside his job as an assembly worker at Leyland Trucks.

He said his dream would be to turn professional, but he could not do any of this without the support of his wife, who he described, along with his three-year-old daughter Sophie, as his biggest supporters.

"It's not easy but she allows me to follow my dream," he said.

Jake said he was grateful for the support of his trainer and physio John Lees and the gym he attends in Atherton.