TRAFALGAR SQUARE - THE TRIUMPH OF ART
Every so often in my career, strength training takes me somewhere I could never have imagined. One of those moments came when the Commando Temple was invited by the Turner Prize–winning artist Jeremy Deller to take part in a live performance celebrating the 200-year anniversary of the National Gallery.
Deller is known for blending art with history, community, and spectacle. His projects often pull together unexpected groups of people—miners, musicians, reenactors, wrestlers—and place them at the centre of public art. This time, he turned his attention to feats of strength, and the Temple was called to bring the old ways of lifting into one of the most iconic public spaces in the country.
The day started early, with Whitehall shut down. A team of us were tasked with pulling a float all the way from Whitehall up to Trafalgar Square. It was a true test of grit—ropes in hand, leaning forward with the weight of the cart dragging behind us. On the float was my good friend Charlie, transformed into Atlas for the day, carrying a giant mirrored sphere on his shoulders. That image of him ended up splashed across The Telegraph the next morning, which still makes me smile.
When we reached Trafalgar Square, it had been completely cleared out and transformed into a stage. Right there, under Nelson’s Column, we had a set-up of gym equipment, stones, and implements of strength. For my part, I focused on one very specific challenge: the 151-kilo Fullsterkur stone.
The Fullsterkur (meaning “full strength”) stone is an Icelandic test of manhood and ability, rooted in the fishing villages of the past. Fishermen were required to lift stones onto a waist-high ledge before they were deemed strong enough to work the boats. The categories ranged from Amlóði (“weakling”) at 23kg, Hálfsterkur (“half strength”) at 54kg, Hálfdrættingur (“half-carrier”) at 100kg, and finally Fullsterkur at 154kg. Only those who could raise the Fullsterkur stone were considered fit for the heaviest work.
I wanted to honour that tradition by seeing how many times I could lift the 151-kilo replica we had. For two hours, I repped it out—skin tearing, muscles straining, blood dripping. I had to wrap myself mid-session to stop the stone from ripping my hands apart, but I kept going. All of this in front of a live audience that included Britain’s Strongest Man, Paddy Haynes, and Wales’ Strongest Man, Gavin Bilton. It was equal parts exhilarating and brutal.
Around me, friends from the gym showcased Persian meels, kettlebell work, tire flips, and other demonstrations of raw strength. At one point, our gym owner called us all together in the centre of Trafalgar Square to put on a full display for the crowd of thousands. I closed the show by hoisting the Fullsterkur stone and knocking out five solid squats. Later, back between the lines, I added a heavy Zercher squat for good measure.
I’ve never lifted in front of so many people before. The pressure was immense, but it was also a privilege. To perform feats of strength in such a historic place, in collaboration with one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists, was an unforgettable experience.
Most importantly, it shone a light on stone lifting—an old tradition that I’ve always been passionate about keeping alive. For me, that day was about more than just lifting; it was about connecting past and present, strength and art, and showing what human power looks like when put on display in the heart of London.
All images by David Holbrook