America’s Strongest Firefighter Zachary Mills is Ready for the World Stage
Muhammad Ali once said, “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” Whether the event is a fight, game, or a strength contest, that truth still remains. Ali never set foot in Bobcat Fitness Center in Hinton, WV, but as you walk onto the floor in the weight room of this facility, the spirit of “The Greatest” definitely resides there. Just as the winter air could be felt outside that morning, the energy of the grind was felt throughout the space as Beckley, WV firefighter Zachary Mills was loading plate after plate onto a barbell for his opening exercise of the day. “Working up to 655 (pounds) today,” Mills said calmly. Mills may be a firefighter by trade, but he is also a strongman competitor, and both of his passions have collided thanks to his victory at the 2025 America’s Strongest Firefighter competition . Mills took the 220-pound class title and now has his eyes set on an even ...