Truck-pulling contest draws 12 strongmen to Misrata as organisers plan training club
Second annual event in Libya’s Misrata showcased heavyweight athletes pulling trucks as organisers aim to formalise training opportunities
Heavyweight athletes competed in a truck-pulling contest in the Libyan city of Misrata on 15 September 2025, organisers said, with a dozen competitors taking part in the second edition of the event.
Twelve athletes entered the competition, which organisers described as the second consecutive year the city has hosted the challenge. The event featured multiple attempts to pull a truck across a set course, with a prize fund awarded to top finishers.
Organisers said they plan to open a dedicated club to provide regular training and coaching for people who wish to take up the discipline, aiming to create a more formal pathway for competitors. Video coverage of the competition, released by the event’s organisers, shows the winners and the prize distribution but did not disclose the full details of the purse in accompanying materials.
Event coordinators canvassed local interest in strength competitions and noted that the contest sought to test raw strength, technique and endurance in a public setting. The contest attracted participants from the surrounding region; organisers have not released an official breakdown of competitors’ home cities or weight classes.
The Misrata truck-pulling contest follows a small but growing pattern of specialised strength and endurance events staged in North Africa in recent years. While officials have not given figures for attendance or economic impact, the announcement of a training club signals an effort to institutionalise the sport locally and offer sustained opportunities for athletes to prepare and compete.
Organisers said plans for the new club remain in development and that they will provide further details about membership, coaching staff and training schedules once arrangements are finalised. They also indicated they intend to stage the contest again next year, continuing the event as an annual test of strength in Misrata.
Media from the day show competitors handling the repeated pulls and the physical strain involved in moving a heavy vehicle by harness. Organisers encouraged interested athletes to follow forthcoming announcements about the training programme and future competitions in the city.