Two of Australia’s strongest athletes are in Samoa this week to promote strongman and support athletes competing at this weekend’s Pacific Strongest competition held in Apia, from 9am Saturday 7 June behind the Central Bank of Samoa building.
Eddie Williams and Jaden Laing are in Samoa as special guests of the event, and took time out to visit Taula Beverages. They will be joining local and regional competitors at Samoa’s most ambitious strongman competition to date.
Williams, a two-time Australia’s Strongest Man, holds multiple world records.
Last month, he set a new Hercules Hold world record at the 2025 World’s Strongest Man, holding 159 kilograms in each hand for 1 minute and 22.14 seconds.
In 2023, he set the Nicol Stone carry world record at London’s Royal Albert Hall, carrying the massive granite stones for 31.66 metres – a feat unmatched in strongman history.
In 2018, he pulled an 8-tonne FV102 Striker tank over 10 metres in 36.65 seconds at the Arnold Pro Strongman event in Melbourne, securing a Guinness World Record in the process.
Williams has also built an international profile through appearances on Australia’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent: The Champions, combining strength with live vocal performances that drew global media attention.
Laing, who recently placed third at the 2025 Australia’s Strongest Man under-105kg competition, has built a large following as one of the sport’s most visible online personalities with his viral comedy skits and behind-the-scenes training content attracting over 900,000 followers on TikTok and 600,000 on Instagram.
Laing also appeared as a contestant on Australian Survivor: Titans v Rebels, where his physical presence and strategic game saw him reach the jury stage.
Spectators will be treated to a full programme of strength events, but one of the highlights will see athletes attempt to pull a Samoan wooden bus. These colourful buses, widely recognised as a symbol of Samoa’s tourism identity, will serve as a unique local twist on the classic strongman vehicle pull.
For Strongman Samoa co-founder Misa Peter Anae, seeing athletes of this calibre in Apia reflects the momentum behind the sport. “We’ve got real talent developing locally, and this shows that Samoa can not only produce strong athletes but also host international competitions at a high level,” he said.
Misa acknowledged the support of local sponsors including the Samoa Tourism Authority and Taula Beverages3, who share the same goal of putting Samoa on the map for events like this.”
BearWell’s Pacific Strongest takes place at 9AM, Saturday 7 June behind the Central Bank of Samoa building in Apia. Entry is free to the public.
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