Gym King x Ross Edgley - The Stoic Games
Created in collaboration with Ross Edgley following his 1,000 mile swim around Iceland, The Stoic Games was built on one core belief, that performance starts in the mind. Inspired by the composure and resilience Ross was forced to develop while battling hurricane tides, freezing waters and relentless fatigue, the event challenged competitors to stay composed under pressure, find their “why”, and keep moving forward when their body is telling them to stop.
The Stoic Games is a mindset-led athletic challenge designed to test resilience, composure and mental toughness under extreme fatigue.
Participants completed seven max-effort disciplines back-to-back, working for five minutes per station with just 30 seconds to transition between each:
-
Max Deadlift (KG)
-
Max Press Ups
-
Max Cal SkiErg
-
Max Cal BikeErg
-
Max Cal Row
-
Max Cal Curved Run
-
Max Reps Wall Ball
Each discipline contributed toward a cumulative 1,000-point target, the benchmark for elite status. In trials, only 1 in 200 competitors reached this mark.
Despite a complete sell-out event, no men’s singles, women’s singles, or women’s doubles athletes hit the 1,000-point threshold. Five men’s doubles teams reached elite status, with the top score hitting an impressive 1,151.
Ross designed the challenge to replicate the mental battle of his Iceland swim, minus the killer whales, freezing storms and 13-foot waves. The goal was never endurance alone, but composure when your body is screaming to stop.
The athlete mix embodied everything Stoic Games stands for. Competitive athletes stood alongside everyday gym-goers, content creators, and individuals returning from injury or surgery. Some hadn’t deadlifted in over four years; others trained heavy lifts daily. One participant competed just five weeks after surgery with minimal preparation.
Every single competitor underestimated the challenge. Many collapsed flat on the floor at the finish line, exhausted, relieved and proud.
The atmosphere inside the arena was insane: part competition, part shared suffering, but defined by 100% support from start to finish. Competitors pushed each other through every station, while Ross stood alongside participants during their max deadlifts, including the heaviest lift of the day: an incredible 300KG.
More than a competition, the day became a shared test of resilience and human potential.
The Stoic Games represent both physical challenge and mental resilience. By creating this event with Ross Edgley, we continue to champion the mindset of discipline, composure and perseverance - empowering individuals to discover strength they didn’t know they had.
