Under a relentless 40°C heatwave and the glare of a burning Spanish sun, Matthew Riddall, the world-renowned strongman performer and coach known as the Tenerife Viking, powered to a commanding second-place finish at the Móstoles Strongman Championship in Madrid on 31st May, 2025.
Competing against men more than 20 years younger than him, the 43-year-old Brit turned up the heat in more ways than one, holding his own across several brutal events held during the hottest part of the day!
“Most of them had youth, I had discipline, scars, and 20 years of suffering under the bar,” Riddall said. “This heat was just one more opponent. And like the rest, it didn’t stop me.”
Strength Under Fire
The Móstoles crowd watched in awe as the Tenerife Viking dominated the arena in the early afternoon sun. From monstrous deadlifts on burning pavements to enduring heavy carries under intense dehydration, he showed once again why he’s one of Europe’s most feared strongmen.
With cameras rolling and a live crowd braving the furnace-like atmosphere, Riddall stayed composed, pulling massive weight with surgical precision, even as others wilted in the heat.
2nd Place Podium Finish
At the end of a long, hot competition, Riddall secured 2nd overall, outclassed only by a younger competitor on points, but he left the crowd and media clear on who embodied grit and legacy.
He continues to capture attention far beyond the strongman circuit. Fresh from his performance on Britain’s Got Talent, where he hoisted a platform of celebrities (including KSI and Ant & Dec), the Tenerife Viking is now as much a symbol of resilience and transformation as he is of power.
