- Tyler Cotton is a professional strongman and former powerlifter, known for his achievements in strength sports, including winning his pro card at the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2020.
- “Conan’s Wheel” is a strongman event involving a weighted bar carried in a circular motion, testing endurance and strength; Cotton has competed in events featuring this apparatus.
- Born in the United States, Cotton was inspired by his father’s weightlifting and began powerlifting with his brother Jonathan before transitioning to strongman around 2017.
- His notable strongman achievements include titles like North Dakota’s Strongest Man (2017) and a top 5 finish at the Official Strongman Games (2019).
- As of April 17, 2025, recent updates on Cotton’s career are limited, but his goals include competing at the World’s Strongest Man and Strongman Champions League finals.
Background and Early Life:
Tyler Cotton grew up in an environment where strength was celebrated, watching his father lift weights in their family barn. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for strength sports. While his exact birthplace is not widely documented, his brother Jonathan’s biography suggests ties to New Jersey and later Colorado, which may apply to Tyler as well.
Powerlifting and Strongman Career:
Cotton began powerlifting in his early twenties, achieving world-class status with personal bests like a 755 lbs deadlift and a 685 lbs squat (with wraps). Around 2017, he transitioned to strongman, quickly rising through the ranks with titles such as Iowa’s Strongest Man (2017) and New York’s Strongest Man (2018). His 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic win marked a significant milestone, earning him professional status.
Connection to Conan’s Wheel:
Conan’s Wheel, a grueling strongman event, involves carrying a heavy bar in a circular path, a challenge Cotton has likely faced in competitions like the South Texas Strongest Man/Woman (2020). His strength and endurance make him well-suited for such events, though specific records for his performance on Conan’s Wheel are not detailed in available sources.
Current Status:
As of April 17, 2025, Cotton remains an active strongman competitor with ambitions to compete at the highest levels, including the World’s Strongest Man. Limited recent data suggests he continues to train and compete, building on his impressive track record.
Tyler Cotton: From Powerlifting Prodigy to Strongman Sensation
In the world of strength sports, few athletes embody the raw power and relentless determination of Tyler Cotton. A professional strongman and former world-class powerlifter, Cotton has carved a formidable legacy through his achievements in competitions across the globe. Known for his prowess in events like Conan’s Wheel a grueling strongman challenge that tests endurance and strength Cotton’s journey from a barn in the United States to international strongman stages is a story of passion, perseverance, and familial bonds. As of April 17, 2025, his career continues to inspire, with ambitions to conquer the pinnacle of strongman competitions like the World’s Strongest Man.
Early Life: A Spark Ignited in the Barn
Tyler Cotton’s love for strength athletics was kindled in his childhood, watching his father lift weights in their family barn. This rustic setting, filled with the clank of iron, became the crucible where his passion for lifting was forged. While specific details about his birthplace are not widely documented, his brother Jonathan’s biography mentions roots in New Jersey and a later move to Colorado, suggesting Tyler may share a similar background. The influence of his father’s dedication to training instilled in him a work ethic that would propel him to the elite levels of strength sports.
Growing up, Tyler was not just a spectator but an eager learner, absorbing the nuances of lifting from his father’s example. This early exposure set the stage for a career that would see him dominate both powerlifting and strongman, driven by a desire to push his physical and mental limits.
Powerlifting Career: Rising to World-Class Status
In his early twenties, Tyler Cotton, alongside his brother Jonathan, embarked on a powerlifting journey that would establish them as world-class athletes. Powerlifting, with its focus on the squat, bench press, and deadlift, provided the perfect platform for Tyler to showcase his raw strength. His personal bests are a testament to his prowess: a raw squat of 525 lbs, bench press of 451.9 lbs, and deadlift of 755 lbs, totaling 1505 lbs. When using wraps, his squat reached an impressive 685 lbs, contributing to a total of 1862.9 lbs.
Tyler’s competition history is equally impressive, including participation in prestigious meets such as the USPA Worlds, Fall Classic, National Powerlifting Championships, and Colorado State Powerlifting Championships. These events, spanning the early 2010s, highlighted his ability to perform under pressure and compete against the best in the sport. His world-class status in powerlifting laid a strong foundation for his later transition to strongman, where his strength would be tested in new and dynamic ways.
Transition to Strongman: Embracing a New Challenge
Around 2017, Tyler and Jonathan Cotton made a pivotal decision to explore strongman competitions, drawn by the sport’s diverse and demanding events. Strongman, unlike powerlifting, requires not only brute strength but also endurance, agility, and mental fortitude, with events like Conan’s Wheel, atlas stones, and farmer’s walks pushing athletes to their limits. This transition marked a new chapter in Tyler’s career, one that would see him rise rapidly through the ranks.
The brothers’ entry into strongman was met with immediate success. Their powerlifting background provided a solid base, but it was their adaptability and competitive spirit that set them apart. Tyler’s first strongman competition, around 2017, ignited a passion that would take him across the globe, competing alongside his brother in some of the sport’s most prestigious events.
Strongman Career Highlights: A Trail of Triumphs
Tyler Cotton’s strongman career is a tapestry of remarkable achievements, reflecting his dominance and versatility. His accolades, as detailed :
- 2017: Won North Dakota’s Strongest Man and Iowa’s Strongest Man, establishing himself as a formidable newcomer.
- 2018: Claimed the title of New York’s Strongest Man and secured 2nd place at USS Nationals, a significant achievement in a highly competitive field.
- 2019: Set the USS axle clean and press national record, won Strongman Champions League Laukaa’s Strongest Man in Finland, and finished in the top 5 at the Official Strongman Games, showcasing his international caliber.
- 2020: Achieved a career-defining milestone by winning his professional card at the Arnold Strongman Classic, cementing his status as a pro strongman.
These accomplishments highlight Tyler’s ability to excel in the diverse challenges of strongman, from lifting massive logs to carrying heavy loads in events like Conan’s Wheel. His performance in the South Texas Strongest Man/Woman competition in 2020, which included a max Conan’s Carry event, underscores his suitability for such grueling tasks.
Tyler’s personal records in strongman further illustrate his strength: a max deadlift of 374 kg (825 lbs) at the 2021 America’s Strongest Man and a max log lift of 200 kg (441 lbs) at the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals.
Conan’s Wheel: A Test of Grit and Endurance
Conan’s Wheel, a signature strongman event, involves carrying a weighted bar attached to a pivot point in a circular motion, testing an athlete’s grip, core strength, and endurance. Described as “physically punishing” by Grinder Gym, the event requires competitors to carry loads of 300-400 kg for up to 90 seconds, as outlined by World Strongman. Tyler Cotton’s participation in competitions like the South Texas Strongest Man/Woman, which featured Conan’s Wheel, highlights his ability to tackle such demanding events. While specific records for his performance on Conan’s Wheel are not detailed, his overall strength and competitive history suggest he is well-equipped for its challenges.
Current Goals and Future Aspirations
As of April 17, 2025, Tyler Cotton remains an active competitor with ambitious goals. He has expressed a desire to compete at the Strongman Champions League world finals, the World’s Strongest Man, and the Arnold Pro,. These aspirations reflect his commitment to reaching the pinnacle of strongman, where he aims to compete against the sport’s biggest names. While recent updates on his competitions are limited, his track record and ongoing training, as evidenced by social media posts like a 355 lbs log press for six reps, suggest he continues to push his limits.
Personal Life: A Brotherhood Forged in Iron
Tyler Cotton shares a close bond with his brother Jonathan, a fellow strongman competitor who won the USS Nationals in 2018. The brothers’ shared journey, from powerlifting to strongman, has been a source of mutual support and motivation. Jonathan’s biography mentions living in Colorado with his family, and while it’s unclear if Tyler resides there as well, their frequent collaborations in competitions worldwide highlight their strong partnership. Tyler’s Instagram, offers glimpses into his training and competitive life, connecting him with fans and fellow athletes.
Beyond his athletic pursuits, little is known about Tyler’s personal life, but his dedication to strength sports and his family’s influence are evident. His father’s legacy as a lifter and his brother’s companionship have been integral to his success, creating a narrative of familial strength that resonates with fans.
Legacy and Impact
Tyler Cotton’s journey is a powerful reminder that passion and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements. From his early days in powerlifting to his rise as a professional strongman, he has consistently defied expectations, earning titles and records that place him among the sport’s elite. His story inspires aspiring athletes, particularly those drawn to the raw intensity of strongman events like Conan’s Wheel. As he continues to chase his dreams, Tyler Cotton remains a symbol of what it means to be truly strong both in body and in spirit.
Table: Key Milestones in Tyler Cotton’s Career
| Year | Achievement | Event/Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Early 2010s | Achieved world-class powerlifting status | USPA Worlds, National Championships |
| 2017 | Won North Dakota’s Strongest Man | State Strongman Competition |
| 2017 | Won Iowa’s Strongest Man | State Strongman Competition |
| 2018 | Won New York’s Strongest Man | State Strongman Competition |
| 2018 | 2nd Place | USS Nationals |
| 2019 | Set USS axle C&P national record | Strongman Champions League |
| 2019 | Won Laukaa’s Strongest Man | Strongman Champions League |
| 2019 | Top 5 Finish | Official Strongman Games |
| 2020 | Won Pro Card | Arnold Strongman Classic |
| 2021 | Max Deadlift: 374 kg (825 lbs) | America’s Strongest Man |
| 2023 | Max Log Lift: 200 kg (441 lbs) | Giants Live World Tour Finals |