A student from Cheshire College – South & West has been crowned the UK’s strongest college athlete after a dominant performance in a national strength competition run by AoC Sport.
Troy, who studies at the College’s Ellesmere Port campus, secured the title at The Strongest 2026—a nationwide contest designed to identify and celebrate the most powerful student athletes across further education.
The competition, which ran from October 2025 through to March 2026, attracted entrants from colleges across the UK. In the opening stage, competitors submitted one-repetition maximum lifts in the deadlift and overhead push press, with the highest performers progressing to a live final hosted at Runshaw College.
A number of Cheshire College students advanced through the initial stages, demonstrating the strength and depth of talent within the College’s sport provision, before taking on the country’s best at the final.
Finalists faced a series of gruelling strongman-style challenges, including the Axle Deadlift for Reps, Log Press for Reps, Sandbag to Shoulder, and a combined Farmers Walk into Yoke Walk—testing not only strength but endurance and mental resilience.
Troy, excelled in the finals, completing 16 reps of a 210kg deadlift—out-lifting the second-place competitor by eight reps—and was crowned AoC Sport’s Strongest 2026.
Speaking after his win, Troy said:
” I just went in there knowing I was going to win, and I did win with all the support of my friends and teachers, if it wasn’t because of them victory wouldn’t have been possible, so forever thankful for their support ”
Ruth Szolkowska, Vice Principal for Innovation, Curriculum and Quality at Cheshire College, added:
“We are immensely proud of Troy’s achievement, as well as the efforts of all our students who competed in this year’s competition. To have multiple students reach and perform at this level is a testament to their commitment and the strength of our sport programmes. Troy’s performance in the final was outstanding and shows what can be achieved through hard work, focus and determination.”
Cheshire College – South & West offers a range of sport courses and opportunities for students to compete and succeed at the highest levels.
For more information on Sports courses at Cheshire College, visit www.ccsw.ac.uk.