Rayno Nel is one of the most exciting Strongmen to watch, which is why many were waiting in anticipation to see him compete at the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic on March 6-7 in Columbus, Ohio. However, with less than two weeks left until the competition, Rayno was forced to withdraw from the prestigious competition.
The reports of Rayno Nel’s decision to withdraw from the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic were first shared by Laurence ‘Big Loz’ Shahlaei and his wife, Liz. They posted a YouTube video talking about the situation and revealing information they received from Rayno himself.
According to Big Loz and his wife, Rayno Nel was recently hospitalized after contracting salmonella. This put his appearance under a big question mark, but he still analyzed the situation day by day before making the ultimate decision. However, having lost 17 kilograms (37.5 pounds) of bodyweight in such a short timeframe, Rayno decided to withdraw from the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Check out Big Loz’s video here:
Rayno Nel quickly rose to fame in the sport of Strongman, showcasing incredible athletic ability and reaching the top very quickly. His background in rugby definitely played a big role, as Rayno’s speed and power proved to be one of his greatest attributes. His path in rugby was unexpectedly stopped by a severe knee injury. However, he ended up finding his way to Strongman, where he quickly became a star.
Rayno Nel’s biggest success in Strongman so far was his win at the 2025 World’s Strongest Man competition. He was making his debut at the show and became the first rookie to win gold since 1997. Later in the season Rayno also won the 2025 Strongman Champions League World Finals.
Nel has taken part in a total of 12 major Strongman competitions since 2023 and has won nine of them. So, he boasts a very impressive win rate, making it clear why many believed he could dethrone Mitchell Hooper at the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Rayno Nel is not the first man to withdraw from the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic, since Hafthor Bjornsson, Tom Stoltman, and Luke Richardson have cancelled their appearances as well. On the other hand, Rebecca Roberts is the only woman to pull out of the 2026 Arnold Strongwoman Classic.
Related: 2025 Strongman Champions League Italy Results — Rayno Nel Secures Victory
With Rayno Nel out of the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic, a total of nine competitors remain. It is unclear if his spot will be given to someone else, but as of now, the lineup consists of eight USA representatives and one Canadian athlete. So, it remains to be seen if Hooper can defend his title or if someone will manage to break his winning streak. On the other hand, hope remains that Rayno Nel will get back to his best in time for the 2026 World’s Strongest Man competition.
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