When Strength Looks Different: A Mother’s Reflection on Ryan’s Journey in Texas

“A true champion is not measured by trophies, but by how they face the moments that test their spirit.”

— Zydrunas Savickas

Those words felt especially powerful this weekend as Ryan showed what real strength looks like — even off the platform.

There are moments in life when strength isn’t found in the lift, the podium, or the victory photo. Sometimes, it’s found in the quiet decisions, the painful pauses, and the brave steps taken when no one is watching.

This weekend in Texas, at the OSG World’s Strongest Man, my son Ryan faced one of those moments.

Months of preparation, discipline, sacrifice, and heart had gone into getting him ready for that world stage. Anyone who knows Ryan knows his dedication to the sport, his commitment to pushing the limits of his body, and his unstoppable mindset. So when injury forced him to withdraw, it hit hard. As a mum, your instinct is to fix it, make it better, take the pain away — but some lessons in life and in sport are only learned by going through them, not around them.

And yet, this is where true strength showed itself.

Because the story doesn’t end at the injury.

After stepping back from competing, Ryan didn’t hide away. He didn’t retreat, disappear, or let disappointment swallow him whole.

He showed up.

On Sunday, he sat in the audience — not as a competitor, but as a supporter — cheering on his fellow athletes, celebrating their achievements, and refusing to let frustration overshadow the love he has for this sport. That, to me, is courage in its purest form.

It’s easy to be present when things are going well.

It’s easy to cheer when you’re the one lifting the trophy.

But it takes a different kind of spirit to stand tall when the world feels heavy, and still champion others.

Ryan reminded me — and I hope he reminds you — that setbacks aren’t failures. They’re recalibrations. They’re the body’s way of saying, “Pause. Heal. Refocus.” They’re opportunities to grow stronger, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Lesson in the Pause

So often, we rush to the next goal. The next achievement. The next milestone.

But life, just like lifting, isn’t linear. It’s full of peaks and plateaus, breakthroughs and breakdowns. And sometimes the biggest leaps forward come after the moments that force us to stop.

Injury is painful — both physically and emotionally — but it can also be a teacher.

A reminder to listen.

A reminder to rest.

A reminder that strength is not just about power, but about patience.

To Anyone Going Through a Setback Right Now

Know this:

You are not falling behind. You are being redirected.

You are not weak. You are being rebuilt.

And you are not alone.

If Ryan can sit in a crowd he had hoped to compete with — smiling, cheering, supporting — then you too can rise from whatever is challenging you.

Your journey isn’t over.

Your story hasn’t finished.

This chapter is shaping you for what comes next.

Proud Beyond Words

To my son Ryan:

I am so unbelievably proud of your heart, your resilience, and the man you continue to become.

Not just for the strength you show on the platform, but for the strength you show in life.

Texas wasn’t a finish line.

It was a turning point.

And I know — with every fibre of my being — that you’ll come back fiercer, wiser, and even more unstoppable.

Until then, we keep moving, keep believing, and keep cheering — just like you did.

With love,

TJ Higgs