America’s Strongest Firefighter Zachary Mills is Prepared for the World Stage

Muhammad Ali as soon as stated, “The combat is gained or misplaced distant from witnesses—behind the traces, within the health club, and on the market on the highway, lengthy earlier than I dance below these lights.”

Whether or not the occasion is a combat, recreation, or a energy contest, that fact nonetheless stays. Ali by no means set foot in Bobcat Health Heart in Hinton, WV, however as you stroll onto the ground within the weight room of this facility, the spirit of “The Best” undoubtedly resides there. Simply because the winter air may very well be felt outdoors that morning, the vitality of the grind was felt all through the area as Beckley, WV firefighter Zachary Mills was loading plate after plate onto a barbell for his opening train of the day.

“Working as much as 655 (kilos) as we speak,” Mills stated calmly. Mills could also be a firefighter by commerce, however he’s additionally a strongman competitor, and each of his passions have collided because of his victory on the 2025 America’s Strongest Firefighter competitors. Mills took the 220-pound class title and now has his eyes set on a good greater championship, the World’s Strongest Firefighter contest.

“The larger the gang, the extra amped I get and the heavier stuff I can choose up.”

The WSFF can be held on the weekend of Mar. 6-7 on the Arnold Sports activities Pageant in Columbus, OH. What began as a enjoyable option to increase cash for California firefighters has turn out to be its personal world-class strongman championship occasion. Many firefighters from around the globe can be there with many extra followers watching, cameras and lights on him, and difficult weights making ready to be lifted.

There can be coefficients to find out scoring, which means that there aren’t any weight courses separating the athletes. Women and men can be vying for the victory. Which will look like lots of strain, however Mills confirmed that’s the solely means for the diamond to indicate itself. This contest wasn’t one thing he stumbled upon; it was a purpose for him.

“I’ve been to the Arnold a number of completely different years and watched it,” he shared. “After I grew to become a firefighter, I made a decision to take an opportunity to do it.”

Early Classes From the Firefighting Grind

The preliminary motivation for Mills could also be a prestigious championship, however the true cause he places in sweat fairness at Bobcat Health Heart is the job itself. He could not have desired to be a firefighter when he was a child, however that modified after he personally suffered fourth diploma burns on his legs and never solely needed to put out the hearth himself however take himself to a hospital.

“I used to be capable of get better from that, however I additionally was at a degree in my life after I wanted to discover a profession.”

Earlier than Mills joined the hearth division, he additionally caught Lyme’s illness shortly after recovering from the burns. It was at this level that he determined to begin coaching. His preliminary connection to health got here by means of Spartan races. The bodily health take a look at he needed to take was extra cardio-based, and his coaching paid off.

Mills later obtained into powerlifting and needed to pursue the game of strongman as nicely after seeing a meet held by promoter Paul Mouser in Morgantown, WV. A few of his fellow firefighters questioned why he centered on energy a lot. They obtained their reply once they noticed Mills put his energy to good use. His skill to choose up heavy hundreds and transfer them rapidly proved to be an asset that they might depend on within the occasion of an emergency.

“All of it overlaps rather well, whether or not it’s carrying somebody out of a fireplace or dragging hose. The actually helpful energy carries over a lot better than the energy from a barbell.”

How Strongman Coaching Builds Actual-World Power

It wasn’t lengthy after Mills started competing that he noticed success. His first win got here on the West Virginia State Championships within the Novice class. He then went to the Virginia State Championships as an Open competitor and claimed bronze. He then went north to Maryland and took their state title and in addition gained the Viking Halloween contest.

His first highway bump got here on the 2023 Nationwide Championships, the place he completed twenty eighth. The next 12 months, he moved all the way in which as much as ninth. 2025 can be his breakout 12 months. He not solely gained that 12 months’s Strongman Shifting Traditional, however he took gold on the America’s Strongest Firefighter as a 100-kilogram competitor.

“The World’s Strongest Firefighter can be my subsequent competitors.”

Mills has not solely gotten lots of consideration in his residence state however on social media as nicely. Individuals have been reaching out asking for recommendation, vitamin steering, or simply to say he evokes them. His inside circle and people round him at residence and work have been rallying round him as nicely.

“It’s been lots of encouragement,” he stated proudly. “They even gave me tools to coach with on the hearth division. I couldn’t ask for extra.”

Mills will be the one below the lights, however he’s the primary to confess he isn’t alone on this endeavor. Working below the steering of coaches John and Heather Parker of Anomaly

Power Programs, Mills has not solely maintained his strengths but additionally improved in different elements of his strongman recreation.

Many individuals have requested him for recommendation about coaching and whether or not they need to take into account strongman as a sport for them. Whether or not the purpose is to compete or not, Mills defined that coaching in that type may very well be helpful, and that’s why he’s an advocate fo rit.

“Simply get began. Go discover one thing that’s awkward and heavy. Decide it up and stroll with it. Any of that stuff will switch over, and for those who’re a firefighter, it might even assist carry a sufferer out of a burning constructing. The stronger you’re and simpler you’ll be able to choose up that individual, the extra doubtless you’ll save a life.”

Zachary Mills’ Strongman Firefighter Deadlift Exercise

The exercise that follows is one which Mills has been utilizing throughout prep within the Mountain State for his huge weekend within the Buckeye State. Weights and energy are primarily based on Price of Perceived Effort (RPE). Do that if energy is a precedence for sport, work, or on a regular basis residing

• Banded Again Extension – 3 units of 12 reps (RPE 6)
• Security Squat Bar Seated Good Mornings – 2 units of 20 reps (RPE 6)
• Deadlifts – 3 units of 5 reps (RPE 7)
• Snatch Grip Rows (fingers on or simply outdoors energy rings) – 3 units of 8 reps (RPE 6)
• Alternating Dumbbell Hammer Curls – 3 units of 15 reps (RPE 7)
• Clayborns – 3 units of 10 reps (RPE 7)

*Relaxation as wanted between units.

You’ll be able to observe Mills on Instagram @firebreathing_strongman.