Arnold Schwarzenegger congratulates gay strongman Rob Kearney on his marriage

Openly gay professional strongman Rob Kearney got married and came first in a strongman competition over the weekend – and was even congratulated by Arnold Schwarzenegger for the feat.

Kearney took first place at the 2019 Arnold Pro Strongman contest in Melbourne and then married his long term boyfriend Joey Aleixo on March 17.

Schwarzenegger shared in the celebrations and posted a photo of himself with Kearney and Aleixo on Twitter, saying: “I think this is a first: winning the @arnoldsports Strongman and getting married in the same weekend. Congratulations guys. I was honoured to celebrate with you.”

“I think this is a first: winning the @arnoldsports Strongman and getting married in the same weekend. Congratulations guys. I was honoured to celebrate with you.”

– Arnold Schwarzenegger

Kearney also took to Instagram to share the news of his marriage, saying: “So we did a thing. We didn’t tell many people, but on March 17 2019, @worlds_gayest_strongman and I got MARRIED!!

“To call this man my husband is a dream come true and he is and always will be my soulmate. I am so excited to start this new journey as a married couple and my heart has never been so full of love.”

Meanwhile, Aleixo said that he will “never forget” the day he married his “best friend.”

Rob Kearney came out as gay in 2014

Kearney came out as gay in 2014 to an overwhelmingly positive response from fans and followers.

When he was 25, he placed second in the World’s Strongest Man competition – and revealed in the same year that he was gay and had a boyfriend.

Rob Kearney and Joey Aleixo on their wedding day (Instagram)

By coming out when he did, Kearney became the first openly gay competitor at an international professional Strongman competition.