Song man to strongman

How a former NZ Idol built a home-made gym and became Australia’s strongest man. By Lee Umbers.

‘ To be a strongman you have to be able to pull a truck, lift stones, move weird objects.’ RONGO KEENE

FORMER New Zealand Idol singing sensation Rongo Keene has hit the top of the charts across the Tasman – as a competitive strongman.

The 29-year-old from the Hawke’s Bay township of Mohaka has won the 2016 Australia’s Strongest Man competition.

Keene pulled trucks, deadlifted a car, heaved a 180kg stone and repeatedly pressed a 140kg log to claim victory in the contest in Melbourne last weekend.

‘‘I’ve been spending years training for this moment. . . and all the hours and hard work,’’ Keene said.

‘‘So when it came to getting the trophy, everything I visualised all came to reality. And the feeling that I got, I can’t explain it, the feeling of joy.’’

He won four of the six events held over two days, including being the fastest to carry a 440kg yoke on his back for 20 metres (11.02 sec).

The win qualifies him with a pro card for the strongman event at March’s Arnold Classic Australia, where legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to appear.

Keene, who lives in Kalgoorlie in West Australia, was a finalist in season two of the NZ Idol reality-TV music talent hunt, only got into strongman training four years ago.

His strongman wins include 2014 WA’s Strongest Man, 2015 Australian Log Lift Open Champion and 2015 Singapore’s Strongest Man Open Champion. His aim is to compete at the World’s Strongest Man competition.

Keene, who bench presses around 220kg, trains five times a week for two-hour ‘‘very, very intense’’ sessions.

‘‘To be a strongman you have to be able to pull a truck, lift stones, move weird objects,’’ Keene said.

‘‘I had to build my own gym in Kalgoorlie, in a shed. It’s called The Dungeon. I’ve got Atlas stones, trucks, yokes.’’

At 185cm, he was 105kg when he first started training. He’s now ‘‘150kg – of power’’.

He eats six meals a day to keep up his size.

‘‘I couldn’t tell you how many calories, but for breakfast I’ll wake up and have maybe 8 eggs, a meal and a protein shake – that’s the first meal. And then it just continues from there.

‘‘I might have a whole chicken and some salad or some potato for lunch. You have to fuel the body for the amount of weights we’re lifting.’’

Performing as Rongo Brightwell, Keene made it to the final of the 2005 season of NZ Idol, finishing in sixth place behind winner Rosita Vai.

‘‘I was 17 years old. I’d gone from the farm life to all of a sudden I’m in Auckland in front of cameras but the experience for me was something that I’ll never forget,’’ he said.

Asked if he was going to do any more singing, he said with a laugh: ‘‘Maybe at a karaoke bar now and then.’’

‘‘I only sing to my kids and my wife really,’’ he said