By Austin Pratt | Talon Staff
Tallahassee Community College Assistant Professor of Physical Science Dr. Joseph McNeil regularly competes in a sport he has grown to love: Strongman.
Strongman is a sport that challenges competitors’ strength through various tasks such as pulling a vehicle or carrying an iron bar attached to two refrigerators, according to topednsports.com, an online sports encyclopedia. Some of these objects may weigh as much as 1,100 pounds.
“There is a certain feeling you get when you are falling behind in a competition and you try and do everything to catch back up,” McNeil said. “It makes lifting and moving those heavy weights or stones a lot easier to maneuver.”
Dr. McNeil has competed in four Strongman competitions since moving to Tallahassee in 2021 and has traveled to Central Georgia to compete. To prepare for competitions, he completes a routine of exercises that includes a lot of stretching. Most importantly, he maintains a high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet so he does not feel lethargic.
“Honestly, (it’s) just a lot of fun,” he said. “The Strongman community is very welcoming and encouraging in regards to self-improvement. And during competitions, I really enjoy making new friends and uplifting others to do things physically they have never done before.”
His next competition will be the Osceola Battle in Tallahassee on Dec. 3.
