Evans Nana Ekow Aryee, also known as "Evans the Hulk," is a 26-year-old strongman competitor from Ghana who has made a significant impact in the sport after moving to Belgium. His journey is a testament to perseverance, community support, and the benefits of innovative tools like AIRWAAV.

Starting his strongman career in his early twenties, Evans quickly rose to prominence by winning multiple international and local trophies. Despite Ghana's athletic culture being dominated by soccer, Evans found his calling in strongman, gaining recognition for his impressive feats of strength in prestigious competitions like the Strongman Champions League and the World’s Strongest Man.

Family and community support have been crucial to Evans's success. His advocacy for fitness in Ghana and positive outlook on life have made him a beloved figure. Most recently, Evans competed in the 2024 World's Strongest Man competition in Myrtle Beach, marking his debut and making history as the first man from Ghana to compete at this event.

If you’ve ever seen Evans compete or had the opportunity to talk with him, you’ll quickly realize his bubbly personality, genuine kindness, and passion for strongman. Get to know Evans more with the Q&A below.

Can you walk us through the pivotal moment when you decided to dive headfirst into the world of Strongman?  

Though I never did any competitive sports in my high school days I had always entertained the idea of representing my home country Ghana on a bigger stage. That idea drove me to find where I belonged and in the process, found "the gym", where I initially trained for 8 years before diving into Strongman 3 years ago (during COVID) when all gyms were closed. After training for 2 months, I headed on to my first competition where I came 3rd. That was the exact moment I felt a slight feeling of belonging and concluded I would like to go deeper into this sport. 

What was the spark that ignited your passion for this unique sport, and how did it drive you to where you are today?  

The search for belongingness and the edge of leaving a legacy (thus being the first Ghanaian representing Ghana at the WSM). This drove me through all my competitions to push through any obstacle.  

What aspect of Strongman keeps you hooked and fuels your fire to train and compete at an elite level?  

The dedicated fans as well as brotherhood amongst competitors. In general, the unique community Strongman has created keeps me fueled up and motivated. 

Give us a glimpse into your past training and other sports that have molded you into the elite strongman athlete you are today.  

I have a unique path as I never really had to do any sports before Strongman. But the essence of power bodybuilding in the gym for 8 years taught me resilience and delayed gratification, which I constantly use in Strongman.  

If you had to choose a single Strongman movement as your favourite, what would it be and why?  

The yoke run is my favourite. Because the yoke was the first strongman implement I had and had to train it frequently.   

What’s a moment in your strongman career that you are most proud of?   

Being able to achieve 3 Guinness World Records. 

Can you tell us about a significant setback you have had in your career? How did you overcome it? 

A major setback was when I tore the muscle belly of my right bicep in Glasgow during the world tour final at Giants Live. I had to drop out of the competition which I had significantly prepared for. I overcame it fast as I have been blessed with amazing team members and mates who feed me with loads of positivity during the moment.  

From first encounter to present-day use, how has the AIRWAAV Mouthpiece helped your performance?  

Personally, being able to adjust the mouthpiece and still being able to get in as much oxygen during strongman events has been of maximum help in terms of training hard and being able to give my best in (during prep) and outside of the gym.  

Did you use a mouthpiece prior? If so, what sets AIRWAAV apart from other mouthpieces in the market?  

I have been a mouthpiece lover from the beginning of my power body build days and I even used boxing mouthpieces in the past, which were not too suitable for strongmen as they mostly came in different designs and functionalities. And as compared, AIRWAAV comes in handy specifically for optimum strength generation as well as functionalities. 

Do you have a preference in the PX1 vs the PX2 models? Give us a glimpse on which mouthpieces you prefer and why.   

The PX2 piece is my favourite as I can cross-use it for moving events, and in static events like squats and deadlifts. 

How does the AIRWAAV mouthpiece help you the most? Are there specific movements you feel the most impact while using it?  

The PX2 from AIRWAAV has assisted me throughout strongman medley races and movement. Most significantly helping me in the process of generating maximum effort without restricting my airflow.  

How important is recovery as an athlete? Give us a rundown on how the RX1 Recovery mouthpiece helps you achieve better recovery. 

As an International athlete I spend a lot of time flying in and out of competitions, the Recovery mouthpiece I use when sleeping in planes or napping during the flight process. It helps me get in as much oxygen when sleeping, giving me a better rest when I wake up.  

Do you have any advice or tips for someone looking to start training in strongman?   

Strength is a journey of self-discovery, stay true to yourself and never talk yourself down. Anything you ever wanted is possible. Just keep hanging in and put in honest work and effort.