WEYMOUTH strongman future star Kane Francis has revealed he intends to carve his own path to World’s Strongest Man after being inspired by close friend Shane Flowers.

Fellow Weymouth athlete Flowers qualified for the famed event in May after a whirlwind year, which included winning England’s Strongest Man last August.

Flowers was then involved on the Giants Live tour, claiming a seventh and a fourth and taking an impressive fifth in Europe’s Strongest Man.

However, he was forced to withdraw from World’s Strongest Man in Sacramento, California, after injuring his foot in competition.

With Francis supporting Flowers throughout his journey, watching his friend has whetted the appetite for his own tilt at reaching the top.

Third place in England’s Strongest Man, after just seven months of training, could be just the beginning.

“I don’t want to do anything off the back of what Shane’s done,” he told Echosport.

“But ultimately, to get to exactly where he is is what I want to do. He competes now in the Giants Live, that’s how you get to World’s Strongest Man.

“Anyone who does the sport, that’s the ultimate goal. You want to be at the top of the game.

“Me and Shane have always trained together and the fact that he’s gone there and done it, it gives you hope that it is possible.

“It’s another level but I believe I can get there one day. If I can come third in the country after seven months, what can I do in a couple of years?”