A former Fraserburgh Academy pupil returned to his day job yesterday after securing an international strong man title.
Ewan Massie won the world’s strongest man under 90kg crown in Finland, at the weekend, seeing off competition from around the globe in the process.
Mr Massie, who is an investment manager in Edinburgh, was joined by his family and girlfriend, Eleanor Bainbridge, at the Strongman Champions League event in Vaasa.
They watched as he battle through the pain barrier in an array of improbable feats of strength to secure the title in what is the lightest strongman category.
Unwilling to move up the weight catergories to compete in the heavier under 105 or well-known and more televised “open” class the victory he has chosen the victory as the perfect moment to bow out at age 24.
He said: “I think the victory is still sinking in. I’m really glad I’ve won it and achieved my goal.
“The title is the highest achievement I can get in the under 90kg strongman competition.
“I don’t want to move up any weight classes and, because I’ve done it, I’ve decided that I’m now going to retire from international competitions.”
Mr Massie was one of 23 competitors battling it out over three events which included the frame carry, Viking press and box lifting.
The field was cut down to 12 going into Sunday’s final and the points he had secured the day before put him in a strong position.
Strongman competitions offer few opportunities to take it easy, however, and Mr Massie had to fight through the pain to give himself the best possible chance of securing the international crown.
He said: “The first event of the final was a Mercedes van deadlift, for maximum repetitions in 60 seconds.
“I was in the last pair because it goes in reverse order and I just went all out because I had it in my mind that I needed to win that event to give me a good chance of winning the overall competition.
“My hands were all torn up, but I just ignored the pain to lift it 17 times and come out on top.
“That put me in with a good chance.”
The first place that followed bettered his fourth and third-place finishes in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
Mr Massie’ winnings included a cash prize, an iPad, two trophies and a sword.