Morecambe's Graham Hicks has a new year's resolution to once again become Britain's strongest man.
Graham, who won the Britain's Strongest Man title in 2019, spoke to Beyond Radio exclusively from his gym at Hest Bank where he and his wife Kimber-Lee both train for strength competitions.
The 24-stone strength athlete has rebounded from serious injuries to return to active competition and says: "I'm the strongest I've ever been, probably the strongest guy in the world at the minute, statically.
"I want to try to win the Britain's Strongest Man again on January 28 in Sheffield.
"If I can get fit, I'll be hard to beat."
LISTEN to our interview with Graham Hicks
Dad-of-three Graham reached the World's Strongest Man final in 2020 but tore his bicep, then returned only to tear his groin too.
After 18 months of gruelling rehabilitation, he believes he's ready to take on the country and the world once again.
Last weekend, Graham was part of Team UK who defeated Team USA in a unique strong men and women competition in Liverpool to become the 'World's Strongest Nation'.
The 37-year-old won the 'deadlift for reps' category, lifting 360kg with seven repetitions, just short of the world record of eight reps.
Graham said the mixed event, held under the banner of 'Giants Live', "has never happened before" and the women "were more impressive than the guys".
Team UK was captained by former World's Strongest Man and film star Eddie 'The Beast' Hall, who was making his comeback to strongman competitions.
Graham's record for deadlifting is 1,000lbs (454kg) and he aims to chase down Hall's world record of 500kg in 2023.
Kimber-Lee, pictured below with Graham, is also currently training for a powerlifting competition this weekend, hoping to qualify for the British championship.
The couple run the Infinity weightlifting gym which has been open for a year in the former VVV health club on the Coastal Road at Hest Bank.
Graham has also been coaching people in strength training, having taken a two-year break from his regular engineering job at BAE Systems to focus on his strongman career.
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