Eatonville Native Lucas Hatton Conquers America's Strongest Man Competition
In a thrilling display of strength and determination, Eatonville native Lucas Hatton emerged victorious at the prestigious America's Strongest Man competition held at the Mr. Olympia Expo in Orlando, Florida. The competition featured 12 of the nation's top heavyweight professional strongmen, and Hatton's outstanding performance across six challenging events secured him the coveted title.
Eatonville native Lucas Hatton competing in the axle clean and press with a lift of 440 pounds. Hatton would end up sharing 1st place in this event with competitor Rob Kearney. Both men attempted a lift of 469 pounds, which would have been a new American record, but were unsuccessful. Photo: Beka Strong
A graduate of Eatonville High School, Hatton's journey to becoming America's Strongest Man is marked by a passion for strength sports that traces back to his early years in Eatonville. As a high school athlete, he excelled in both football and track, earning four-year letters and captaining both teams. Hatton's achievements included an appearance in the East-West All-State football game, league MVP on defense, and a remarkable six state medals in track events such as shot put, discus, and hammer.
Reflecting on his high school years, Hatton expressed gratitude to his mentors, Coach Fairhart and Mr. Dawkins. "Coach Fairhart and Mr. Dawkins were probably the biggest influences in my early years of lifting. They have no idea how impactful they both have been on my life," Hatton remarked. These mentors played a crucial role in teaching him the basics and investing time in his development, setting the foundation for his future success.
After his high school endeavors, Hatton continued his athletic journey at Pacific Lutheran University, participating in both track and field and football. His senior season at PLU saw him achieve notable success with first-place finishes in shot put and hammer at the Northwest Conference championships. In addition to his track achievements, Hatton earned first-team All-Northwest Conference honors for offensive line play during his senior year of football.
Hatton's transition to strongman competitions began after his time at PLU. Initially drawn to strength training for sports, he competed in various strength-based disciplines, including Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. The turning point came during the pandemic when he embraced strongman full-time. Hatton recalled, "The pandemic kind of forced me into pursuing strongman full time because it was the only sport still happening during the shutdowns."
Taking a leap of faith, Hatton quit his job of eight years to pursue his dream of becoming a professional strongman. Despite the financial challenges that accompanied this decision, he found fulfillment in coaching over 20 clients and co-owning two gyms, including Dungeon Strength RX in Auburn, one of the top powerlifting and strongman gyms in the country.
His dedication and sacrifices bore fruit as Hatton climbed the ranks in the strongman world. In 2021, he placed fifth at the Amateur Nationals, narrowly missing the podium. The following year, he secured his pro card with a second-place finish at the Amateur Nationals, setting the stage for a series of impressive performances, including a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Official Strongman Games and a second-place finish at the Arnold Amateur World Championships in 2023.
The pinnacle of Hatton's career thus far was his triumph at America's Strongest Man. The two-day competition featured six challenging events, including a max clean and overhead press, a yoke carry, a Ukrainian deadlift machine, a circus dumbbell clean and press ladder, a natural stone loading series, and power stairs. Hatton's consistent top-tier performances, including a first-place finish in the power stairs and natural stone loading series, secured his victory.
In an interview, Hatton shared his gratitude for the support he received and emphasized the significance of his win at America's Strongest Man. "America’s Strongest Man was actually my first professional win and first win since I competed at the local level, so this title means the world to me."
As he continues to pursue his dreams, Hatton invites fans and followers to stay updated on his journey through his Instagram account, @lucas.hatton. With upcoming competitions, including the Official Strongman Games, Hatton aims to qualify for the Giants Live Arena Tour and eventually compete at World's Strongest Man, solidifying his place among the strongest athletes on the global stage.
