The couple's wedding was low-key but "the best day ever"
"We did it, baby. World's Strongest Man," Tom shouted down the phone to me from California in June last year. I knew he was going to win, but I still instantly burst into tears of joy and relief.
Due to Covid-19 I had to stay behind at home in the Scottish Highlands, which was tough, but he kept me updated throughout the six days with texts and calls.
For the final, each competitor had to lift giant stones, weighing between 140-210kg, onto raised platforms in the fastest time. He'd handed his phone to an older man who video-called me so I could watch the action live. But the phone was on selfie mode so he recorded his own belly instead of Tom! I was screaming, “Turn the camera around."
While Tom may have been in America without me, both of us had put our heart and soul into every one of his competitions. In fact, my whole life has changed to adapt to the strongman lifestyle.
I didn't know this when I met Tom, at 17, in 2012 at a local music festival. He was a lanky teenager, proudly walking around with his top off, which was a little strange as Scotland is never really hot. All the girls fancied him. I think he liked that I wasn't instantly enamoured because at first I kept fascination to myself.
We shared some friends and so we ended up spending the day together and later swapped numbers. He'd be really cocky my over texts, but when we'd meet up for long walks he'd be shy and awkward. Things happened quite quickly between us. He basically came round once to my parents' house and never left.
We'd only been together a year when he came back from the gym smelling like tyres. When I asked why he said, "Because I'm going to be the World's Strongest Man." He'd been flipping them as part of his initial training. He was hooked.
This story is from the April 25, 2022 edition of New UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 25, 2022 edition of New UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'I loved booze more than my fiancé'
Sarah Pearson spent over a decade in a relationship with alcohol here she tells us what it took for her to break it off and save her life
Coleen's woe as injury hits Wayne move
It's a worrying time for Coleen Rooney as husband Wayne's TV punditry stint on Match Of The Day is put on hold after he hurt his back on holiday
'Your heart breaks over and over'
Two women tell new about the pain of losing their loved ones after they were diagnosed with dementia
My life revolves around Bonnie
Love Island's Laura Anderson chats about her new radio job and honing her organisational skills as a first-time mum
Lisa's 'ready to move on
Lisa Armstrong appears to make peace with her ex-husband Ant McPartlin six years after they split, as she finally feels it's time to make a fresh start
'We almost split after the worst holiday ever
As expert Paul C Brunson prepares for a double dose of TV matchmaking, he reveals that even the pros need help
I want to have my head screwed on'
Reality star Olivia Bowen on the secrets of her happy marriage, her interior design career and exciting life goals
Amanda's 'going all out' to shock
BGT judge Amanda Holden is back on our screens with a new set of racy outfits that show off her fabulous figure to the full
Ricky 'makes Claire laugh'
Ricky Hatton sends Claire Sweeney a loving birthday message as their rumoured romance apparently hots up
VB's mixed feelings on Harper turning 13
As Harper Beckham's 13th birthday approaches, a source tells new that Victoria is feeling emotional about her youngest child growing up