Tag: mitchell hooper
Stan Efferding, Strongman Mitchell Hooper Talk Nutrition Tips, Dirty Bulking, And Supplement Intake
Mitchell Hooper once again proved himself after retaining his title at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic. Now, in a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper and Stan Efferding sat down to discuss their best practices for nutrition and supplementation. Mitchell Hooper has established himself as a formidable force in the world of Strongman. The Canadian-based athlete […]
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Mitchell Hooper Shares Intense Blood Flow Restriction Workout for Strength
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper has quickly made a name for himself as one of the strongest athletes on the planet despite being in only his second year of competing. While a lot of factors helped him reach this point, in a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Hooper shared some tips and an intense workout using blood flow restriction to boost strength.
Mitchell Hooper emerged as one of the fastest-growing strongman competitors last year and quickly claimed his place among the best. He got the opportunity to participate in the 2022 World’s Strongest Man after Rauno Heinla withdrew from the contest. Hooper proved his potential by dominating the qualifying stages of the event, beating the likes of iconic Strongman Brian Shaw in the process.
Following a strong debut, Hooper scored back-to-back bronze medals at the 2022 Shaw Classic and Rogue Invitational. Then, he made his way to the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and placed on top of the podium. His next outing saw him secure the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic title just a few months ago.
Hooper earned the biggest win of his career against a stacked lineup at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man three months ago. He turned in an impressive performance and defeated former champions Shaw, Novikov, and Tom Stoltman. The 27-year-old then called for the development of a comprehensive ruleset for the athletes after winning the 2023 WSM. He recalled his experience and identified problems he faced given the ambiguity in the show’s guidelines.
Hooper offered his ‘non-negotiable’ supplements and opened up on using alcohol and sugar for recovery two months ago. He encouraged his fans to add creatine and protein supplements.
Mitchell Hooper crushed a challenging endurance workout where he performed a 465-pound squat for 20 reps around two months ago. He followed up by breaking bodybuilding veteran Tom Platz’s 1992 legendary squat record. Platz set the bar high at 23 reps but Hooper managed to squeeze out 24 reps to get ahead of the original record. He followed up by challenging himself to strongman legend Eddie Hall’s notorious ‘Death by Deadlift’ set.
Hooper gave fans a look into his supplement stack last month. Along with the supplements, he detailed the protein shake he consumes for gaining muscle and the pre-workout slushy that gets him energized for training.
Mitchell Hooper Shares Intense Blood Flow Restriction Workout for Strength
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper explained the benefits of using blood flow restriction training for muscle endurance.
“It’s simply restricting how much blood can get out,” said Hooper. “It’s not saying no blood out because no blood out means that your arm will literally start to explode but it means limiting how much can get out, meaning that we are going to start starving our muscles of oxygen. Why would we want to do that? Every time we put a stimulus into the body, we agree going to get a response. In this case, the response to starving the muscle, is going to be the adaptation to improved capacity in the absence of oxygen.
“We are going to increase the number of oxidative enzymes pulling the oxygen from the bloodstream into the muscle. A great way to work with the cuffs is you could have your session finish, as a finisher if you will, and you have up regulated enzymes for the next time you go do a session. You’re going to be capable of more thanks to the up regulation of those enzymes.”
He suggested using a Saga arm cuff in order to restrict blood flow to the muscles.
Moreover, Hooper laid out an intense blood flow restriction workout for building strength.
“First and foremost, I would never use these on a set below five. Anything heavy, these are not going to be appropriate. But these are going to be very good for building muscular endurance so I would do this towards the end of a session when I’m doing higher volume accessory work. These are also very useful to get a stimulus from the muscle with lower weight. This is a way to handle more volume with lower neural fatigue and handle more volume if you’re recovering from injury. So, something I would do to build a little bit of muscular endurance and capacity or into a competition where we had high volumes of, say an overhead press, is I would set up a little circuit with lighter weights to get a stimulus local to my arms.”
“We’ve got two 50-pound dumbbells and two 25-lb dumbbells. I’m going to do a set of 15 bench press, set of 15 curls, set of 15 skull crushers. I’m going to repeat that three times and take a 30 second rest between each round. Without these guys on, this would be absolutely no problem for me, it wouldn’t even qualify as a workout.”
Hooper’s blood flow restriction workout:
Flat Bench Dumbbell Press
Standing Dumbbell Curl
Skull Crushers
*Perform 15 reps of each and repeat for 3 sets with 30 seconds of rest in between rounds.
Blood flow restriction exercise is a great option for folks who may not be able to do high-intensity workouts or prefer a different approach. It’s a safe way to enhance muscle strength, power, and function, while also boosting aerobic endurance
Mitchell Hooper provided fans with a look into his day about three weeks ago. There he revealed his regular training and diet regimens, as well as how he balances out his workouts with his work. He opened up about his mental health challenges and suicidal thoughts days later on a podcast with Flex Lewis.
Hooper recorded a huge 463-lb bench press PR for three reps while in prep for the upcoming 2023 Shaw Classic last week. Then, he joined forces with seven-time Men’s 212 champion, Flex Lewis, for a grueling shoulder workout.
Based on the latest update, it’s clear Hooper utilizes a range of training methods to stay ahead of the game and fans will be excited to see him perform at the Shaw Classic later this year.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 4:01 PM EDT
Flex Lewis Takes Strongman Mitchell Hooper Through Insane Shoulder Workout for Max Gains
Despite his retirement from bodybuilding, Flex Lewis‘ love for the sport is undeniable anytime he’s inside his home gym, The Dragon’s Lair. In a recent bodybuilding/strongman collaboration, Lewis led the reigning World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper through a challenging shoulders training session.
Lewis is a decorated IFBB Pro and the most successful 212 Bodybuilding athlete of all time. From 2012-2018, ‘The Welsh Dragon’ dominated his class at the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition. During his tenure, Lewis managed to defeat Hadi Choopan (current Mr. Olympia), Derek Lunsford, Shaun Clarida (current two-time 212 Olympia), and other veterans en route to building his legacy.
Last May, Lewis decided to retire. The decision was difficult for Lewis to accept considering he had been teasing a move into the Men’s Open division for some time. Instead, Derek Lunsford received a special invite last year, which he cashed in to take second place in his Open debut on the Olympia stage.
In the strongman world, Mitchell Hooper reigns supreme. Hooper won 2023 Arnold Strongman gold in March. Riding high, he took that momentum to the crown jewel of strongman competitions – The World’s Strongest Man. At the event in April, Hooper won first and defeated Tom Stoltman and Oleksii Novikov in an exciting battle. Currently, Hooper is in preparations to compete at the upcoming 2023 Shaw Classic, taking place Aug. 19-20.
This isn’t his first interaction with Flex Lewis either. Hooper joined Lewis for a deep Straight Outta the Lair Podcast earlier this month. Hooper was candid and spoke honestly about mental health. Switching gears, Lewis gave Hooper a look into the bodybuilding world with a brutal workout.
Flex Lewis Puts Strongman Mitchell Hooper Through Shoulder-Blasting Workout
Find a list of the exercises used by Lewis and Hooper below:
Standing Lateral Raise machine (dropset to failure)
Seated Shoulder Press Machine (2 sets to failure)
Forward Lean Pec Deck Fly (superset/ with Reverse Pec Fly)
Standing Lateral Raise machine (dropset to failure)
For machine standing lateral raises, Lewis said ‘spike at the top’ of the movement and prioritize control. He shared that bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates taught him that neglecting the negative is one of the biggest mistakes lifers make.
“Spike at the top, there we go. It feels like you’re driving through. There’s somebody inside that shoulder that’s trying to fucking punch through. That’s the connection at the top. Yes, control,” Flex Lewis explained.
“No [these are not working sets]. A lot of guys in general when they come to the gym it’s not me saying anything about, we’re talking about generalizations of guys that want to progress in bodybuilding. Almost always, they neglect the negative. There’s zero control. Dorian Yates told me that is going to be one of your best friends. Control the negative. You’re truly fighting that negative mindset of zoning out. In this case, sideways, up, hold, control, 3, 2, 1, up.”
Lewis believes ‘fighting the negative’ is essential to unlocking shoulder gains.
“I’m zoned out completely and truly fighting the whole negative and I can feel everything fighting themselves, every little muscle tissue,” added Lewis. “Let’s do a little drop set, we’ll do 200, down to 140, down to 100 [pounds].”
Seated Shoulder Press Machine (2 sets to failure)
On the seated shoulder press machine, Hooper was impressed with Lewis’ endurance and strength. He believes strongmen can ‘take a page’ from bodybuilders inside the gym.
“You guys [bodybuilders] when you take everything and make it strict. You would beat us [strongmen] in a lot of things. That would beat anyone in strongman but if you took it and put it to a log where you actually use your body to drive,” said Mitchell Hooper. “There’s a page we can take from your guys’ book though. If you get that strong training bodybuilding. You train bodybuilding as a 10-15% of your workout, there’s good evidence to say that muscle thickness is just going to win at a certain stage.”
“I was going to help you, but he didn’t fucking help me so I thought fuck this guy. What I find is what a lot of people do especially with rear delts, they will put an ungodly amount of weight on and everything just goes to shit. You’ll see there’s no correct form. Everything is not fluent,” said Lewis.
Forward Lean Pec Deck Fly (superset/ with Reverse Pec Fly)
Lewis and Hooper finished with a forward lean pec deck fly before calling it a day. Hooper was toasted after the workout and impressed with the pump.
“For us bodybuilders when we are doing a back double biceps, this is what’s going to be lighting up every last separation. Superset. Killer,” said Lewis. “Squeeze the front delts and drive, and squeeze.”
“It’s amazing how you lean into and there’s no chest at all,” said Hooper.
“You feel it in the front delts?” asks Lewis.
“Yeah, it’s lighting up,” responded Hooper. “I’m burnt.”
Hooper isn’t resting on his laurels despite having nailed down two of the most prestigious titles in strongman. He continues to showcase his strength in preparation for the Shaw Classic. The last time fans saw him in action, Hooper turned heads with a 463-pound bench press for a three-rep personal record.
Even outside of strongman, the wins for Hooper keep stacking up. Months ago, he broke Tom Platz’s legendary 1992 squat-off record, which stood at 525 pounds for 23 reps. Hooper surpassed him by one rep for a total of 24.
This wasn’t the first bodybuilding/strongman workout collaboration. Last year, Men’s Open talent Nathan De Asha joined former WSM champs/brothers Tom and Luke Stoltman for a special training session. In addition, Flex Lewis teamed up with Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall for an arms workout. Hall is currently in preparation for his move to bodybuilding in the Classic Physique division. He’s shared physique updates ahead of his anticipated debut.
While bodybuilding training differs from strongman training, Hooper was blown away by the intensity of Lewis’ workout in the end.
RELATED: A Look into World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper’s Day
You can watch the full video from Mitchel Hooper’s YouTube channel below:
Published: 14 July, 2023 | 11:08 AM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Scores a 210-kg (463-lb) Bench Press Three-Rep PR In Preparation For 2023 Shaw Classic
The Canadian Strongman Mitchell Hooper is arguably the biggest name in the sport at this moment in time. He earned this status despite only competing for a year and a few months, since he has already accumulated success that many weren’t able to achieve in over a decade of competing. He often methodically trains for competitions in which he plans to take part, which is also the case with his current preparation for the 2023 Shaw Classic. In order to perform at the highest level possible, Hooper has turned to bench press training, which has resulted in a new 210-kilogram (463-pound) three-rep personal record.
One of the events at the 2023 Shaw Classic will be the standing bench press. So, having not trained this exercise as frequently as needed beforehand, Mitchell Hooper is now pushing his limits in the hopes of making this a successful event for him. In turn, Hooper completed a training session with his coach Laurence “Big Loz” Shahlaei. During this, we saw him press 210 kilograms (463 pounds) for three reps with nothing but elbow sleeves to aid him. This marked the heaviest three-rep bench press that Mitchell has ever done, signaling that some improvement has been made.
“I’m probably the most nervous about this one (Bench Press) at the Shaw Classic. I don’t think I’m a good bench presser. I think a lot of my overhead strength comes from my legs.”
Mitchell Hooper’s coach noticed that his power on the bench press is great, but that his technique could get better. So, he advised him to create tension in the legs and the whole body. Another tip Big Loz gave to Hooper was to “squeeze” the arms rather than “punching” through the motion.
Watch the lift here:
Mitchell Hooper completed the lift at the 13:10 time mark in the YouTube video.
Related: 2023 WSM Mitchell Hooper Attempts Eddie Hall’s Infamous ‘Death By Deadlift’ Set
Mitchell Hooper recently competed at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, where he ended up taking third place. However, he was in the lead for the majority of the competition. Hooper now reflected on the performance and revealed that he is not satisfied, despite getting the bronze medal.
“The longer the third place sits with me, the longer I fu**ing hate it. Losing really doesn’t really sit right with me…”
Mitchell Hooper’s Full Workout
Bench Press
Log Lift
Sandbag Throw
Chest Press
Mitchell Hooper took part in 11 International competitions and won five of them. However, he is currently on a streak of ten consecutive podium finishes, proving that he is always a contender for the title.
Hooper’s greatest achievement so far was winning the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. However, another notable mention was his victory at the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Mitchell Hooper has been active on social media as well, revealing everything about his journey to becoming the World’s Strongest Man. This includes mental health struggles, a look into a day of his life, the supplements he uses, as well as some iconic strength challenges.
Related: 2023 WSM Mitchell Hooper Shares ‘Non-Negotiable’ Supplements, Alcohol & Sugar for Recovery
Mitchell Hooper was on a mind-blowing streak this year, winning three competitions in a row this year already. He will be looking to add some more titles to his name by the end of the year since he plans on making a few more appearances. His main focus currently is the 2023 Shaw Classic, which is evident by the fact that he set a new 210-kilogram (463-pound) bench press three-rep PR. This competition will take place on August 19-20, so just over a month remains.
Published: 12 July, 2023 | 7:20 PM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Speaks Out About His Struggle With Mental Health And Suicidal Thoughts
Mitchell Hooper is coming off one of the greatest rookie years in the history of Strongman. So, many people wonder what exactly it is that makes him such an incredible athlete. Well, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man recently sat down with another champion, the 7x Mr. Olympia in the 212 class, Flex Lewis. The pair conducted a two hour podcast on Lewis’ YouTube channel where they touched on numerous topics, including mental health struggles, the benefits of winning big competitions, the sacrifice needed to become the best, and more.
Mitchell Hooper Talks About Reaching The Top
Mitchell Hooper opened up by explaining what his thought process was going into the 2023 World’s Strongest Man. Despite winning the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic shortly before, Mitchell still did not think his chances of winning the title were large.
This comes due to the fact that the events at the 2023 WSM were not the ones that Hooper excels in usually. However, he still managed to put in an effort and win the competition.
“It was, if you know the events and you know what I’m good at, it was a more than perfect performance… In my estimation, I probably have three or four more chances at the most to win, and the odds that all of those go perfectly are very low. So, I thought I had about a 25% chance.”
Related: ‘I Was in Serious Danger’: Mitchell Hooper Breaks Down 2023 World’s Strongest Man Win
Mitchell Hooper was then asked how he managed to achieve the greatest thing in Strongman after just one year in the sport. He revealed that experience has benefited himself the most, as he now knows how to approach different events and develop a tactic for the competition.
“I don’t know if I’m that much stronger than I was 12 months ago, but I’m just a much smarter athlete. Obviously, the strength creeps up over time, but it’s just execution. I think that’s the important thing, your performance can vary a little bit physically, but psychologically your coils have vast differences in performance.”
Mitchell Hooper also believes that he is extremely gifted in the genetic department, since he has been able to succeed in multiple sports. Even in Strongman, he has not sacrificed his health, family life, business, or similar stuff, but still came out on top. However, Hooper believes that he has to give back to the sport due to this.
“I haven’t sacrificed as much as a lot of other guys. I haven’t given up areas of my life that other guys have given up. I have my health, I have business outside of Strongman, I’ve got a good relationship with my family, and I still spend time with them every week… It’s a responsibility to give back…”
How It Feels To Be a Champion
However, even after getting some money from Strongman, while also gaining fame, Mitchell Hooper is still most proud of being the greatest in the world at one particular sport.
“I am actually one. Number one. Just winning is not important to me, just to reiterate, but just the knowledge that you’re at the pinnacle of the world in anything is ridiculous.”
Mitchell Hooper’s Mental Health
Despite being in a comfortable place currently, Mitchell Hooper reveals that he experienced very difficult hardships during his career. This comes regarding his mental health, as Hooper opened up on the podcast, touching on a topic that he has not even talked about with his family.
“Going into Arnolds, it was probably one of the most difficult times of my life. I’d speak to my coach a couple times a week, and if you watch him going up to me after, you can see that I’m fighting back tears. And it’s not tears of joy, it’s tears because there were times I didn’t think I was gonna make it here.”
Mitchell Hooper then reflects on the past year in Strongman, revealing that he did not feel as good mentally as his success would make it seem. However, many people look from the outside and comment on his character and life without really knowing anything.
“You’re getting assessed by people on your character who don’t know you… Mental health-wise I probably haven’t had the year that a lot of people would expect… I am a victim of my own success.”
Mitchell Hooper revealed that his mental health problems have almost pushed him overboard before, as he was thinking about the worst outcome possible.
“The hardest bit of all of this is that I know that my family listens to this, and this is stuff that I’ve never spoken about before. But, I’ve sat by myself in the bathroom, looking up train schedules like when I could go to the train track,” Hooper states, further explaining “Like looking up a train schedule of when I could go lie on the tracks.”
This was not the only time when Mitchell Hooper was prepared to take his life, as he prepared everything once more, but luckily talked himself out of it at the last second.
“I had a rope, I drove into the woods and I was sitting there and thinking ‘am I going to do this or am I not’. Also learning about tying it correctly, and knowing how to do it all, and looking at the trees thinking which one should I choose. Eventually I said if I’m not there (the basketball game) it will raise concern.”
Mitchell Hooper states that the moment when he decided to not take his life and go to the basketball game was one of the most powerful feelings he has ever had. Furthermore, he compared his situation with people who attempted to take their life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge, but changed their thoughts after surviving.
“You’ll never be sure that it is not what you want to do, as in the moment when you decide that you don’t do it. It is almost a classic thing. Every person who survived off of the Golden Gate Bridge has said ‘As soon as my feet left the bridge, I didn’t want to do it’”
However, Mitchell Hooper found that accomplishing stuff, whether that is in sport, business, or just helping people, helps him sort out his mind.
“The more fulfilled I am, the less likely it is to happen. And fulfillment is not happiness.”
Watch the full podcast here:
Related: A Look into World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper’s Day
Mitchell Hooper is currently on a win streak, having won all three competitions in which he took part this year. However, he is focusing on other aspects of life apart from Strongman as well, as he has been doing some bodybuilding workouts, collaborating with CrossFit athletes, and taking on some fun challenges in the gym.
Published: 3 July, 2023 | 2:05 PM EDT
A Look into World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper’s Day
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper has quickly established his place as one of the strongest athletes on the planet. While he doesn’t have a lot of competitive experience yet, he’s already scored some of the biggest wins in the sport. So, many people wondered what exactly he does to achieve such great success. In response, Hooper gave fans a look into his daily routine in a recent Muscle & Strength video on YouTube,
Mitchell Hooper grew up playing a wide variety of team and individual sports before finding his passion for Strongman. He first gained attention for his unreal strength after he got the opportunity to replace Rauno Heinla, who withdrew, at the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition. Hooper used the opportunity that was given to him by dominating the qualifying group stages, beating Strongman legend Brian Shaw. After an amazing debut, Hooper got invites for other prestigious competitions. So, he then made his way to the 2022 Shaw Classic and placed third there.
The relentless Canadian came out on top of the 2022 Arnold Pro Strongman World Series UK in his next outing in September 2022. Hooper followed this up with another commanding victory at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals. In his next contest, the 2022 Rogue Invitational, Hooper finished third and set a new World Record on the Dinnie Stones Hold event.
Hooper amped up his training following the third-place finish and returned with a vengeance at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International contest, where he handily dispatched the competition for first place. He extended his lead by scoring gold at the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic en route to the 2023 World’s Strongest Man event.
The 27-year-old was last seen in action at the 2023 WSM two months ago. He faced an intense challenge from former champions Tom Stoltman and Oleksii Novikovm, who were eager to get gold once again. However, Hooper took the lead early on and managed to retain it to win his maiden WSM title, the biggest win of his career. Immediately after the competition, Hooper returned to the gym for a bodybuilding-style workout as his first training session back.
Mitchell Hooper opened up on his experience competing at the 2023 WSM weeks ago. He went through the events and took issue with the lack of a proper ruleset for the show, which led to some confusion among the competitors. Then, he followed up by revealing his non-negotiable supplements a month ago. He also provided ways to use alcohol and sugar to boost recovery.
Hooper left the fans stunned with his insane endurance last month. He crushed a heavy set of 465 pounds squats for 20 reps to level up his conditioning ahead of his next show. Next, he smashed Tom Platz’s 1992 legendary squat record by pulling off 24 reps of 525-pound squats.
A Look into World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper’s Day
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper gave fans a look into his daily routine, including an insight into his business, training, and diet. While he does not follow a strict dietary plan, he targets getting enough protein and calories with good food choices.
Breakfast – 8 am.
Morning shake: Milk, 2 1/2 Canadian maple whey isolate, 4-5 Aussie bites (little grain raisin bites)
“The priority for my morning routine is just to get food in as quick as possible,” said Hooper.
“Every meal I’ll try to get anywhere between 65 and 80 grams of protein. That’s my priority and wherever things fall after that, just try to keep it good food for the most part.”
Work – 9 am. Hooper is the director at Longevity Nexum Exercise Physiology.
“I find the work that I do at the clinic more rewarding than what I do as a Strongman in a way because that there is a certain element in winning WSM that inspires people to get moving, but it is a whole another world when you see the individual in front of you. Helping them get to a place where they are much healthier.”
Lunch – 2 pm. He consumes a lot of caffeine, about 1.5 grams a day. His meal consisted of a turkey sandwiches as well as garlic, tomatoes, spinach, and more side dishes.
Daily macro goals: 330g protein, 5,500 calories.
Workout – 4 pm. He had pre-workout and consumed Snickers with a feed meal of 500-600 calories mid-workout. During the workout, Hooper trained the bench press, incline dumbbell bench, front raises, cable face pulls, and dips.
Post-Workout – 5.30 pm. Smoothie of bananas, mango, pineapple, strawberry, and a full brick of yogurt with 2 scoops of protein, coconut, and milk.
Mitchell Hooper took on strongman icon Eddie Hall’s notorious ‘Death by Deadlift’ set challenge a month ago. While he did not level Hall’s record, he feels energized and declared his plans to try it out again in the near future.
Hooper detailed the anabolic protein shake, pre-workout slushy, and supplement stack he utilized to become the World’s Strongest Man two weeks ago.
His latest offering provides insight into the day of the World’s Strongest Man and will surely benefit fans looking to get stronger.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 1 July, 2023 | 10:19 AM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Reveals His Anabolic Protein Shake, Pre-Workout Slushy & Supplement Stack to Win World’s Strongest Man
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper has enjoyed a stellar run at the highest level of the sport. Although he’s been competing for only one year, he’s already claimed the most prestigious title, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man. He was able to achieve this due to multiple factors. So, in a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Hooper revealed the anabolic protein shake, pre-workout slushy, and the supplement stack he used to win the WSM.
Mitchell Hooper first emerged as a budding Strongman athlete when he got the chance to compete at the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition after the withdrawal of Rauno Heinla. Despite not competing at all beforehand, Hooper displayed unreal strength to come out on top of the qualifying group stages over veteran Brian Shaw. Next, he rounded up the top three at the 2022 Shaw Classic and followed up by handily dispatching the competition to win the 2022 Arnold Pro Strongman World Series UK.
Hooper continued to work hard in the off-season and returned triumphant at the Giants Live 2022 World Tour Finals. Then, he set his sights on the 2022 Rogue Invitational. Hooper ended up taking the bronze medal, but also left the fans stunned with his freakish strength, having set a new World Record on the Dinnie Stones Hold.
Earlier this year, Hooper got back in the winning column with a strong performance at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International competition. A few days after the victory, he scored a new PR of 420-kg (925.9-lb) on the raw deadlift in training. His workouts kept amping up as he demolished an insane 770-kg (1,697.6-lb) raw leg press for eight reps in prep for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic. His training yielded him the outcome he wanted as he won the top prize at the aforementioned show three months ago.
Mitchell Hooper / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
Mitchell Hooper went up against a stacked lineup of proven veterans and fellow rising stars at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man two months ago. He established his lead early and got the biggest win of his career in only his second WSM appearance. Following the impressive win, he called for the development of a comprehensive ruleset for the show.
The 27-year-old detailed some of his ‘non-negotiable’ supplements and gave his take on how alcohol and sugar can affect recovery last month. While there are risks to overusing either substance, Hooper believes moderate consumption of sugar and alcohol won’t derail progress in the training room. Instead, they can be much more beneficial in regard to relaxing before a big day.
Even after the 2023 WSM win, Hooper is still boasting his crazy endurance levels. So, he performed a huge 465-lb (211-kg) squat for 20 reps to level up his conditioning. Then, he broke bodybuilding icon Tom Platz’s 1992 legendary squat record by performing 24 reps of 525 pounds.
Mitchell Hooper reveals supplement stack that won him the World’s Strongest Man
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper shared the supplement stack that helped him secure the 2023 WSM and Arnold Classic titles.
Hooper listed whey protein, pre-workout, weight gainer, and creatine as part of his supplement stack.
“I’ll start with my bread and butter which is whey protein,” said Hooper. “That’s obviously going to help you recover and it’s a really quick and easy way for you to get your protein.
“Second thing that’s a mandatory in my stack is my pre-workout… It’s one of those things I don’t find a necessity but it’s certainly something that helps you when it comes to energy.”
“Next in my stack is a bit of weight gainer.”
“And the last thing on my stack is creatine. I have said this time and time again. Creatine is the number one most important thing you need to get the most out of your training.”
“This is the stack used to win World’s Strongest Man and to win the Arnold.”
Mitchell Hooper (Credit: Todd Burandt / World’s Strongest Man)
Hooper shares his staple anabolic protein shake & pre-workout slushy
Hooper revealed his morning protein shake to build muscle along with the ice-cold pre-workout smoothie he consumes to energize himself.
“At the moment, we’re in prep for Royal Albert Hall. I’m losing a bit of weight being a bit fitter so we’re going berries.”
Anabolic protein shake:
2 scoops of Diesel Mint Chip Whey Isolate
1 cup skim milk
2 scoops creatine (10g)
About a cup of Frozen mixed berries
Peanut butter (optional)
Chocolate chips (optional)
Macro Breakdown: 60g protein, 28g carbs, 1g fat.
Pre-workout slushy:
Water
1 and a half scoop of ALTRD State (pre-workout)
1 scoop iPREP
Vitamin C
Cubed ice
Mitchell Hooper challenged himself by taking on strongman icon Eddie Hall’s renowned ‘Death by Deadlift’ set last month. He used slightly heavier plates, a lifting belt, and lifting straps to perform the exhausting set. Although he couldn’t level Hall’s record, he indicated plans to try out the challenge again in the near future.
Hooper’s latest offering provides insight into the preparations of the World’s Strongest Man and will motivate fitness fans to try out similar supplements in their training.
You can watch the full video below.
Discover comprehensive coverage of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition at our WSM coverage hub, featuring exclusive interviews, final results, event recaps and in-depth analysis: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
Published: 14 June, 2023 | 6:08 PM EDT
2023 WSM Mitchell Hooper Attempts Eddie Hall’s Infamous ‘Death By Deadlift’ Set
Mitchell Hooper is a man who loves a good challenge, which is evident by the videos he shares on YouTube. Just one week ago, Hooper attempted and successfully completed the “Tom Platz’s 525-pound Squat Challenge“, but he has already upped the ante. In his most recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper attempted to perform Eddie Hall’s “Death By Deadlift” set.
Eddie Hall was the first man to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds) back in 2016. That same year, during his prime, Eddie invented the “Death By Deadlift” set. The goal of the set was to start the first rep with only one plate on each side of the barbell. Then, another plate was added to each side, and he performed the rep without rest. This process was repeated until there were ten plates on each side, or 420 kilograms (926 pounds) in total.
Once the top weight was reached, the spotters took out one plate from each side, with Hall performing reps until only one plate was left on the barbell.
So, Eddie Hell performed one rep with each of the following weight increments: 60-kg / 100-kg / 140-kg / 180-kg / 220-kg / 260-kg / 300-kg / 340-kg / 380-kg / 420-kg / 380-kg / 340-kg / 300-kg / 260-kg / 220-kg / 180-kg / 140-kg / 100-kg / 60-kg.
Even in his prime, this set left Eddie Hall completely exhausted and on his knees. In fact, in 2021 Hall referred to this as his “most impressive deadlift session” ever.
Mitchell Hooper’s “Death By Deadlift” Attempt
Mitchell Hooper first gave credit where credit is due and revealed that he recognizes Hall as one of the greatest ever. This also meant that Hooper understood just how difficult this feat of strength is.
“There is no losing in a way because this is such a ridiculous feat… This is against probably, arguably, the best deadlifter of all time…
However, while Eddie Hall used 20-kilogram plates, Mitchell Hooper opted for 45-pound plates which are 0.4 kilograms heavier each. So, his set was even more difficult than Hall’s original one.
“I’m not interested in tying records. We are going to be using the pound plates… meaning we are going to be working up to 428 kilograms.”
Mitchell Hooper also attempted to replicate Hall’s setup as much as possible, opting to use only a lifting belt and lifting straps, as well as a standard barbell.
“It looked like Eddie did it on a gym bar, a standard barbell. So, it would be cheating to do it on a deadlift bar… I’m going to do it with figure eights (lifting straps) like he did.”
Mitchell Hooper started the set off very strongly, but his attempt stopped once he successfully locked out the second-to-last ascending repetition. So, once it was time to put on the final plate on each side, plates started sliding off from his barbell, and the “Death By Deadlift” challenge concluded.
“It’s attempt one. I reckon it is there. I was having some strap issues, but I think it is there… 380-kg was a grinder. It felt better than I anticipated… I’ll definitely go again. I’ll definitely have another crack at some stage.
Mitchell Hooper does not consider this attempt a failure, purely due to the level of difficulty it carries. His performance was still impressive, but a lot of reps were still left in the set.
“Just to reiterate, this is an attempt at probably the greatest deadlift strength feat, in my opinion, of all time. This is up there with 500 and 501 (kilograms).”
Watch the video here:
Related: Mitchell Hooper Shows Off Impressive Endurance Levels With a 465-lb (211-kg) Squat For 20 Reps
Although Mitchell Hooper did not manage to successfully complete Eddie Hall’s deadlift set, his Strongman career shows that he is the perfect candidate for this incredible feat. Since he began competing in Strongman a year ago, Hooper has participated in 10 international competitions, winning five of them. His most notable victories are the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic and 2023 World’s Strongest Man.
Mitchell Hooper has gained a reputation for being a record-breaker. So, he will give his all to succeed in performing the “Death By Deadlift” set once again. One thing is certain, whenever Mitchell attempts this challenge again, he will make sure to put on a performance for the history books.
Published: 30 May, 2023 | 10:11 AM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Breaks Tom Platz’s 1992 Legendary Squat Record With 24 Reps of 525 Lbs
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper is one of the fastest-rising strength sports athletes around. He’s coming off a historic first-place performance at the 2023 Worlds Strongest Man, held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In a recent YouTube video, Hooper broke bodybuilding icon Tom Platz’s legendary 525-pound squat record of 23 reps with 24 reps.
Mitchell Hooper first gained attention for his insane strength after he dominated the qualifying group stages of the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition. He followed up with back-to-back bronze medals at the 2022 Rogue Invitational and 2022 Shaw Classic. He scored gold at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International contest as well.
Following the win, Hooper achieved a new PR (personal record) with a 420-kg (925.9-lb) raw deadlift in a training session. He left the fans in awe of his unreal strength by smashing 770-kg (1,697.6-lb) raw leg pressses for eight reps in preparation for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic. His intense training methods paid off as he secured the title impressively two months ago.
Hooper claimed the biggest win of his career at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man last month. He set his lead early in the opening stanza and extended it further on day two. He created history by becoming the first Canadian to win the coveted WSM title, defeating the likes of former champ Oleksii Novikov and Tom Stoltman.
Bodybuilding legend Tom Platz made a name for himself with his stellar lower body development and conditioning. While he moved on from professional competition decades ago, his passion for working out persists. He showed off his jacked quads after changing his diet and training regimen at the age of 67 last month.
Platz set the squat challenge record of 525 pounds for 23 reps in 1992 in Essen, Germany. He accomplished this epic feat in a head-to-head matchup against Fred Hatfield, who squatted the same weight for 11 reps. This iconic competition was popularly known as the ‘Great American Squat-Off.’
Many have attempted to break the record. Powerlifter Bradon Gulch took on the challenge earlier this month. Matt Wenning broke Platz’s record of 23 reps with 24, however, wasn’t able to match ‘The Quadfather’s’ total weight lifted of 525 pounds.
Mitchell Hooper breaks Tom Platz’s squat challenge record
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper surged past Tom Platz’s record on 525-lb squats. Hooper used a lifting belt and wore knee sleeves during the challenge.
“At the 1993 FIBO show, Tom Platz and Fred Hatfield had a squat-off and in the squat-off, they did 525 for reps. Tom Platz set the record at 23 which is a record that stood all the way up until about eight months ago when Matt Wenning went and did 24.”
“It’s going to be difficult. There’s a lot of anxiety around doing that many reps that heavy.
“It gets really challenging at first to squat due to my shoulder mobility.”
“It actually got to a point where just standing with the weight was the challenge. I was losing my balance just trying to stay upright.”
Hooper performed a warm-up set, did a second set of 495 pounds, and finally got to 525 pounds. He didn’t seem too confident before the lift as he recognized the challenge of the task ahead of him.
He performed the squat with proper technique and form at a quick pace for the first 10 reps before taking a brief pause. He continued to get five more reps in and took another quick break before squeezing out a few more reps without breaking form. He appeared to struggle in the last five reps as he began to breathe heavily and had his legs shaking from the load. In the end, he managed to perform 24 reps.
Mitchell Hooper got back to training days after his win at the 2023 WSM. He utilized a bodybuilding style workout to ease his way back into training strongman.
Hooper opened up about his experience competing at the contest weeks ago. He called for a proper ruleset to ensure fair competition and to avoid confusion at the events. Hooper also recently laid out his must-have supplements along with his take on consuming alcohol and sugar for recovery.
He crushed 20 reps on 465-lb squats over a week ago. His latest achievement shows Hooper is continuing to improve and will likely return stronger than ever.
Hooper’s amazing squat set showcases why he’s the current WSM. The strength and endurance required for that many reps are top-notch, and his quads will need some good recovery time.
RELATED: Tom Platz Reflects on Training ‘Unknown’ Dorian Yates: “He Surpassed Everything I Taught Him”
Hooper is making serious strength gains based on the latest performance. He will look to defend the WSM title successfully next year. Given his young age, he has the potential to add many more records to his glittering resume.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Shows Off Impressive Endurance Levels With a 465-lb (211-kg) Squat For 20 Reps
Canadian Strongman Mitchell Hooper has proven to be one of the fastest-growing stars in the game. He has had an amazing first year in the sport and is now coming off an impressive performance at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, held Apr. 19-23. However, Hooper recognized that his endurance and conditioning need some more improvement. So, in a recent post made on Instagram, Hooper crushed a heavy set of 465-pound (211-kilogram) squats for 20 reps in the hopes of improving his conditioning.
Mitchell Hooper first gained attention for his superhuman strength in 2022 when he got the chance to participate in the World’s Strongest Man competition after Rauno Heinla pulled out. He made the most of the opportunity with a strong performance, finishing eighth in his maiden showing.
Following the event, Hooper got some more experience and went on a very dominant run. He ended up turning in one of the best rookie seasons ever. Amongst all, he defeated former 2020 WSM champ Oleksii Novikov to take home the top prize at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK last September. Then, Hooper scored another gold at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals.
In his next appearance, Hooper took bronze and added a new World Record to his glittering resume at the 2022 Rogue Invitational. He generated a ton of momentum moving forward toward his second WSM appearance. There was still more work to be done though. So, he showed off his unreal strength by lifting 771.6 pounds (350-kg) on the squat raw for two reps earlier this year. About two weeks later, Hooper stunned the competition to win the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International title.
Mitchell Hooper (Credit: Todd Burandt / World’s Strongest Man)
Hooper continued to progress in the training room. His next achievement was a massive PR of 925.9-pound (420-kg) raw deadlift.
Besides his crazy power, Hooper regularly educates his fans on techniques. Most notably, Mitchell gave his take on performing deadlifts properly with four different kinds of barbells three months ago and followed up by providing tips on Loading Medley and Front Carry.
After completing a few seminars, Mitchell Hooper smoked a massive 1,697.6-lb (770-kg) raw leg press for eight reps in preparation for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic. His hard work paid off as he emerged victorious at the event two months ago.
The 27-year-old was brimming with confidence going into the 2023 World’s Strongest Man show last month. Although he went up against a lineup of proven veterans, there was no stopping him. He established his lead early in the contest and came out on top of a close-fought war with Tom Stoltman and Oleksii Novikov. Following the outcome, Hooper opened up on taking inspiration from the likes of Strongman icon Brian Shaw and others in an exclusive interview with Fitness Volt.
Mitchell Hooper (Credit: Todd Burandt / World’s Strongest Man)
Mitchell Hooper crushes 465-lb (211-kg) squat for 20 reps
In a recent Instagram post, Mitchell Hooper performed an insane set of 465-lb (211-kg) squats for 20 reps. He explained how this workout routine should level up his conditioning levels.
“465lbs (211kg) x20,” wrote Hooper. “I wasn’t happy with the direction my conditioning was heading through Arnold’s and worlds. It didn’t cost me, but I know I could be better.”
Mitchell Hooper returned to the training room for a bodybuilding-style workout after the 2023 WSM victory. In addition, after clearing his mind, Mitchell reflected on his experience competing at the event and called for the development of a rule set.
A week ago, Hooper laid out his must-have supplements along with a breakdown of how alcohol and sugar play into the recovery process.
Given the latest training update, it’s clear Hooper is taking no days off and will likely return stronger than ever in his next planned outing.
Published: 14 May, 2023 | 4:56 PM EDT
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