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Gavin Bilton

Nickname The Bull Date of birth 23/10/1988 Country United Kingdom Height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Weight 205kg (452lbs)
About Gavin Bilton

Life

Gavin “The Bull” Bilton is Wales’s Strongest Man, and a four-time World’s Strongest Man competitor. Hailing from Caerphilly in South Wales, Bilton is a former professional rugby player and has twice stood on the podium at Giants Live, placing 2nd at both the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Man and Strongman Open.

Bilton is one of the most popular strongmen on the international scene and has made tremendous progress over recent years towards achieving his goal of winning the World’s Strongest Man title and emulating his fellow countryman, Gary Taylor. Gavin was a former infantryman, serving in the Welsh Guards for 13 years, including two operational tours of Afghanistan.

Career

Gavin’s rugby playing career saw him play at several top clubs, including London Irish, Newport and Swansea. A second row, Gavin was unusually strong for a rugby player, even at a slender (by comparison!) playing weight of 120kg/264lb. After 3 years in the Welsh Premiership, Gavin began to focus on gaining weight and strength and soon entered, and won, his first strongman contest.

The Bull took a couple of years to emerge from the shadow of fellow Welshman Ben Brunning, who beat Bilton to the Welsh title in 2018 and 2019. Once domestic competition restarted in 2020, following the covid lockdown, Bilton had begun to compete internationally, finishing 8th at the 2020 Europe’s Strongest Man, and qualifying for his first World’s Strongest Man competition after capturing the UK crown.

Retaining his UK title in 2021, Gavin returned to WSM and competed regularly on the Giants Live Arena Tour. Overcoming some health issues which stopped him competing for a while, he once again qualified for World’s in 2022 and at the World Open, in his home country of Wales, he placed 5th overall and established a new Welsh record in the deadlift 0f 425.5kg (938lb).

2023 would be an excellent year for The Bull, beginning with his runner-up finish to Adam Bishop at Britain’s Strongest Man. At World’s Strongest Man, he produced his best performance to date in the heats, narrowly missing out on a finals qualification after reaching the stone-off against Luke Stoltman. A Strongman Champions League victory in Serbia was followed by a second-place finish at the Strongman Open in Cardiff, raising his deadlift record to 430kg (948lb).

Best Title

Aside from his Welsh and UK titles, Gavin’s best win came at the Strongman Champion’s League contest in Zrenjanin, Serbia. Defeating Turkey’s Fatih Karaca and Kelvin de Ruiter of the Netherlands, he claimed a 3.5-point victory having taken event wins in the Viking Press and Hercules Hold.

At the 2023 Strongman Open in Cardiff, Bilton’s second place finish is arguably his best international result. Evan Singleton took the title, but Gavin’s consistent performance and brilliant stone run in the final event saw him move ahead of Rob Kearney and Luke Stoltman to clinch silver.

Competition Results

  • World’s Strongest Man:
    • 2023 – 3rd in heat
    • 2022 – 4th in heat
    • 2021 – 4th in heat
    • 2020 – 5th in heat)
  • Europe’s Strongest Man:
    • 2023 – 11th place, 2022 – 11th place, 2021 & 2020 – 8th place
  • 2023 Britain’s Strongest Man – 2nd place,
  • Giants Live:
    • World Tour Finals: 2023 – 6th place, 2021 – 6th place
    • Strongman Open: 2023 – 2nd place, 2022 – 5th place, 2021 – 6th place
    • Strongman Classic: 2022 – 8th place, 2021 – 8th place
  • Wales’s Strongest Man:
    • 2023, 2022 & 2021 – Winner
    • 2019 & 2018 – runner up
  • Strongman Champions League:
    • 2023: Portugal – 3rd place, Serbia – winner
    • 2022: Gibraltar – 7th place, England – 3rd place, Holland – 3rd place
  • 2023 Shaw Classic – 11th place
  • UK’s Strongest Man:
    • 2021 & 2020 – winner, 2022 – 3rd place, 2019 – 4th place

Best Lifts

Competition Lifts

  • Deadlift: 430g (948lb – Welsh record)
  • Hummer Tyre Deadlift: 431kg (950lb)
  • Silver Dollar Deadlift: 460kg (1,014lb)
  • Log lift: 170kg (375lb)
  • Axle press: 170kg (375lb)

Media

Gavin has become a fan favourite and is well known on the strongman scene from his appearances at World’s Strongest Man and the Giants Live WSM Arena Tour events, all of which are aired over the festive period on Channel 5, in the UK.

Gavin has guested on the Giants Live Strongman podcast, where he discussed his ambitions in strongman and his fascinating background with hosts Radzi Chinyanganya, Colin Bryce and Darren Sadler.

Bilton’s social media presence is a growing one and he can be located on Facebook under the name Gavin “The Bull” Bilton. Similarly, on Instagram, he can be found under @gavin_the_bull_bilton, where he has some 51k followers.

Videos of Gavin Bilton

5:09

22 year-old Strongman wins Overhead Event!

22 year-old Strongman wins Overhead Event!
4:39

Tom Stoltman | 3x World’s Strongest Man!

Tom Stoltman | 3x World’s Strongest Man!
14;08

This ending is 1 in 1000.000! Europe’s Strongest Man 2024

This ending is 1 in 1000.000! Europe’s Strongest Man 2024
2:20

5 lifts in 41.28 seconds! 41 year-old wins Deadlift Event!

5 lifts in 41.28 seconds! 41 year-old wins Deadlift Event!
5:32

Head to head DEADLIFT BATTLE | Europe’s Strongest Man 2024

Head to head DEADLIFT BATTLE | Europe’s Strongest Man 2024
10:14

The most painful event in strongman!

The most painful event in strongman!
6:15

Tom Stoltman wins NEW EVENT Blacksmith Medley | BSM 2024

Tom Stoltman wins NEW EVENT Blacksmith Medley | BSM 2024
6:44

Tom Stoltman | Britain’s Strongest Man 2024 – Highlights

Tom Stoltman | Britain’s Strongest Man 2024 – Highlights
15:05

Did we just witness the HEAVIEST strongman competition of all time?!

Did we just witness the HEAVIEST strongman competition of all time?!
1:14:38

World’s Strongest Nation 2023: UK vs USA

World’s Strongest Nation 2023: UK vs USA
3:49

UK vs USA | WORLD’S STRONGEST TUG OF WAR

UK vs USA | WORLD’S STRONGEST TUG OF WAR
3:07

WORLD RECORD | Kevin Faires | 260kg/573lb Wrecking Ball Hold

WORLD RECORD | Kevin Faires | 260kg/573lb Wrecking Ball Hold
17:31

Did we just witness the most impressive WORLD RECORD of all time?

Did we just witness the most impressive WORLD RECORD of all time?
8:15

Conan’s Wheel pushes Strongmen to the LIMIT!

Conan’s Wheel pushes Strongmen to the LIMIT!
16:27

Road to 505 powered by Gymshark | EP 7 | The STRONGEST deadlifters on the planet

Road to 505 powered by Gymshark | EP 7 | The STRONGEST deadlifters on the planet
20:11

Road to 505 powered by Gymshark | EP 6 | BEHIND THE SCENES

Road to 505 powered by Gymshark | EP 6 | BEHIND THE SCENES
11:56

Road to 505 powered by Gymshark | EP1 | Gavin Bilton

Road to 505 powered by Gymshark | EP1 | Gavin Bilton
2:01

Gavin Bilton wants to become the WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN

Gavin Bilton wants to become the WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN
16:46

IRON BIBY broke AXLE PRESS World Record

IRON BIBY broke AXLE PRESS World Record
13:55

Conan’s Wheel FULL EVENT + WORLD RECORD | Europe’s Strongest Man 2023

Conan’s Wheel FULL EVENT + WORLD RECORD | Europe’s Strongest Man 2023
9:43

Europe Strongest Men 2023 – 350kg/771lbs Deadlift FOR 9 REPS!

Europe Strongest Men 2023 – 350kg/771lbs Deadlift FOR 9 REPS!
12:16

Load & Push FULL EVENT at Europe’s Strongest Man 2023

Load & Push FULL EVENT at Europe’s Strongest Man 2023
5:12

UNBELIEVEABLE 882 Pound Frame Carry WORLD RECORD

UNBELIEVEABLE 882 Pound Frame Carry WORLD RECORD
2:57

Strongman Sensation SHANE FLOWERS Smashes 1350kg deadlift ladder!

Strongman Sensation SHANE FLOWERS Smashes 1350kg deadlift ladder!
19:28

BEHIND THE SCENES: Events training with Britain’s Strongest Men!

BEHIND THE SCENES: Events training with Britain’s Strongest Men!
5:49

WORLD RECORD | Estonian Giant 360kg Axle Deadlift for 9 Reps!

WORLD RECORD | Estonian Giant 360kg Axle Deadlift for 9 Reps!
2:54

10 MUST FOLLOW Strongman Gym Rules for 2022!

10 MUST FOLLOW Strongman Gym Rules for 2022!
20:50

NEW BRITISH RECORD! Hixxy Vs Page at the 2020 World Log Championships

NEW BRITISH RECORD! Hixxy Vs Page at the 2020 World Log Championships
1:28

STRONGMEN try impersonate ARNOLD!

STRONGMEN try impersonate ARNOLD!
3:22

STOLTMAN teaches Strongmen SCOTTISH! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

STOLTMAN teaches Strongmen SCOTTISH! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
4:33

GIANT SPRINTS with 200kg Shields

GIANT SPRINTS with 200kg Shields
5:32

1000lbs CAR CARRY | Welsh Strongman COLAPSES! 😲

1000lbs CAR CARRY | Welsh Strongman COLAPSES! 😲
8:00

Axle Deadlift RECORD at Europe’s Strongest Man 2021

Axle Deadlift RECORD at Europe’s Strongest Man 2021
3:06

NEW LOG PRESS RECORD? – The GIANTS Answer!

NEW LOG PRESS RECORD? – The GIANTS Answer!
6:08

Giants VIKING PRESS dogfight!

Giants VIKING PRESS dogfight!
6:13

TAKE THE PAIN! GIANTS take on 30kg Hammer!

TAKE THE PAIN! GIANTS take on 30kg Hammer!
3:44

Is 505KG Possible? – The GIANTS Answer!

Is 505KG Possible? – The GIANTS Answer!
3:48

CROWD POWER! 🔥 Welsh Bull GUTSY Strongman Classic Frame Carry

CROWD POWER! 🔥 Welsh Bull GUTSY Strongman Classic Frame Carry

Frequently asked questions about Gavin Bilton

How old is Gavin Bilton?

Gav Bilton is currently 35 years old, he was born on 23 October 1988.

Who did Gavin Bilton play rugby for?

Bilton played Premiership Rugby and also rugby for the army plus at Bridgend, Swansea and Newport.

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