Kearney is a two-time American log lift record holder, with a best lift of 476lb (216kg) in 2020.[5]
Career
Kearney was part of the Cheerleading team in high school and started training in CrossFit. But he found that he was better at heavy lifting, and joined the powerlifting team at college.[6][7]
When he was 21, Kearney won 2013 North American Strongman National Championship, and turned professional. He was placed 2nd at 105kg America's Strongest Man in 2014 and 2015.[8] He shared first place with Vidas Blekaitis at 2016 Log Lift World Championships with a lift of 446lb (202kg).[8] In 2019 Log Lift World Championships, he broke Robert Oberst's American national log lift record with a lift of 472lb (214kg) and extended it to 476lb (216kg) during World's Ultimate Strongman feats of strength series.[5]
In 2019, Kearney won the Arnold Australia held in Melbourne, Australia.[12] He also qualified for the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2020, finishing in joint-6th place.[13] He also competed in 2022 and 2023, and achieved his best result with a 5th place finish in 2022. Kearney took part in the 2021 and 2022 Rogue Invitational, finishing in 6th and 8th place respectively.[14]
Despite only standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing under 300lb (136kg),[15] Kearney was award the title “Pound for Pound Strongest Man in the World” by Official Strongman Games in 2020.[16]
Personal records
Deadlift(with suit and straps) – 970lb (440kg) (2019 World Deadlift Championships)
Elephant barDeadlift(Raw with straps) – 921lb (418kg) (2020 Arnold Strongman Classic)
Double T Squat(with suit) – 961lb (436kg) (2022 Arnold Strongman Classic)
Log press – 476lb (216kg) (2020 World's Ultimate Strongman - Feats of Strength series) (Former American Record)
→ Kearney has also done 480lb (218kg) during training.
Inver Stone press – 300lb (136kg) (2020 Arnold Strongman Classic) (Joint-World Record)
Other works
In 2022, Hachette Book Group published Strong, a children's picture book about Kearney's journey and identity.[17] The book was the result of a collaboration with author and LGBTQ+ activist Eric Rosswood.[18]
Kearney was a coach at HWPO Training where he was responsible for its strength training program.[19]
Personal life
Joey and Rob Kearney in 2022
Kearney is the first openly gay professional strongman, calling himself the "world's strongest gay".[1][20] He came out as gay in 2014.[21] He lives near Springfield, Massachusetts with his husband Joey,[18] whom he married in 2019.[22]
Kearney was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2021, for which he underwent surgery.[23] He also suffered a ruptured triceps tendon in 2020 while attempting a new world record in log lift on World's Ultimate Strongman, which forced him to withdraw from the 2020 World Strongest Man.[24]
Kearney was an ambassador for fitness clothing brand Gymshark.[2]
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