AN ARM wrestler has beaten a world-famous favourite and returned home with gold.

Tom Holland, aged 23, part of Slough Slammers wrestling club, competed in the Rochefort International Championships in Belgium, on July 24 and 25, beating Matthias Schlitte ‘Hellboy’ in the 75kg category.

Mr Holland, from Cippenham, gained victory and won gold after a tough battle with Hellboy – a 14-time world champion from Germany.

Mr Holland said: “I was hoping to come in the top three but I wasn’t expecting to get gold. In the first match Schlitte beat me, so I had to really up my game. It’s my biggest achievement so far.”

The British competitor also gained silver in his left arm at 80kg against a Hungarian champion. A total of 11 countries took part in the competition. Mr Holland's next contest will be the British Championships in Lancashire on August 8.