Tag: Strongman
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
2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man & Woman Results — Louis Jack and Izzy Tait Take Gold
The 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man & Woman competitions took place on July 2nd at the Grangemouth Stadium, in Scotland. In total, it gathered 12 men and eight women who battled for the title of Scotland’s greatest. Being a one day competition, the men and women took part in five events each. In the end, Louis Jack won the title for the third time, while Izzy Tait came out victorious among the women for the first time.
2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man Leaderboards
The 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man competition began in a sour way for Louis Jack, but he quickly caught up to Chris Beetham, the overall winner at the time. Louis then won the last event and overtook Beetham in the final moments of the competition to take the title.
Louis Jack — 54 points
Chris Beetham — 53 points
Callum Crozier — 50 points
Stephen Jackson — 36 points
Lee Walker — 32.5 points
Connor Monaghan — 32 points
Scott Milne — 29 points
Liam Goldie — 23 points
Peej Greenhough — 23 points
Leon Patterson — 14.5 points
Robert McMillan — 13 points
Mikey Wilson — 4 points
2023 Scotland’s Strongest Woman Leaderboard
The women’s class was quite different from the man’s one since Izzy Tait did not encounter much resilience from her rivals. She won the title with 4.5 points more than the second-place finisher Laura Baxter.
Izzy Tait — 37 points
Laura Baxter — 32.5 points
Hayley Black — 23 points
Steffi Murray — 20.5 points
Sammy Mayhew — 20.5 points
Anastasia Papas — 17.5 points
Dianne Gaughan — 14.5 points
Rosslyn Cole — 13.5 points
Related: 2023 UK’s Strongest Woman & Man Results — Rebecca Roberts & Paul Smith Take Gold
Men’s Event Recap
Duck Walk For Time
The first event of the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man competition challenged the men to perform a duck walk with a 200-kilogram (440-pound) implement. The length of the course was 60 meters, while the time limit was 75 seconds.
Only one man, Chris Beetham, completed the entire course in the allotted time, so he won the event, with other competitors ranked based on the longest distance covered. Callum Crozier finished second after crossing 53 meters, with Scott Milne crossing 52.5 meters to finish in third.
Chris Beetham — 60 meters in 74.59 seconds
Callum Crozier — 53 meters
Scott Milne — 52.5 meters
Stephen Jackson — 49.6 meters
Louis Jack — 47.96 meters
Leon Patterson — 44.2 meters
Robert McMillan — 43.7 meters
Connor Monaghan — 43.42 meters.
Mikey Wilson — 43.4 meters
Liam Goldie — 30.2 meters
Lee Walker — 30 meters
Peej Greenhough — 27.2 meters
Car Deadlift For Reps
Two athletes at a time performed the Car Deadlift for repetitions while facing one another. The objective was to complete as many reps as possible while lifting the car, which weighed 310 kilograms (683.4 pounds).
With so many outstanding deadlifters on the team, the battle for first place was tight. However, Callum Crozier’s 14 reps were enough to secure him the maximum points. Scott Milne got extremely close with 13 reps, with third place going to Louis Jack with 11 reps.
Callum Crozier — 14 reps
Scott Milne — 13 reps
Louis Jack — 11 reps
Chris Beetham — 10 reps
Connor Monaghan — 8 reps
Robert McMillan — 7 reps
Stephen Jackson — 6 reps
Lee Walker — 5 reps (Tied-eighth)
Leon Patterson — 5 reps (Tied-eighth)
Peej Greenhough — 3 reps
Liam Goldie — No lift
Mikey Wilson — (Withdrew)
Block Press Medley
Four metal blocks weighing 80-90-100-110 kilograms were placed in front of the athletes and the goal was to complete as many of them in the shortest time possible.
Only two men finished all four blocks, Louis Jack and Chris Beetham. However, Louis was much quicker, finishing 32 seconds faster than Chris.
Louis Jack — Four in 42.72 seconds
Chris Beetham — Four in 74.86 seconds
Callum Crozier — Three in 64.14 seconds
Peej Greenhough — Two in 26.89 seconds
Scott Milne — Two in 34.01 seconds
Lee Walker — Two in 37.37 seconds
Connor Monaghan — Two in 48.06 seconds
Liam Goldie — Two in 75 seconds
Stephen Jackson — One in 14.91 seconds
Leon Patterson — One in 40.45 seconds
Robert McMillan — withdrew
Truck Push
The objective of the penultimate event at the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man was to push an 8,000-kilogram (17,637-pound) truck for a distance of 20 meters and then pull it back for another 20 meters. The time limit was 75 seconds.
No one completed the event, but Louis Jack covered the most distance with a result of 31.7 meters. Lee Walker and Chris Beetham had a close battle for second, with Lee only crossing 0.4 meters more to place higher.
Unfortunately, this event also saw Scott Milne and Leon Patterson injure their Achilles tendons, which caused them to withdraw.
Louis Jack — 31.7 meters
Lee Walker — 24.8 meters
Chris Beetham — 24.4 meters
Liam Goldie — 23.6 meters
Stephen Jackson — 20.8 meters
Callum Crozier — 20.74 meters
Connor Monaghan — 20.4 meters
Peej Greenhough — 16.28 meters
Scott Milne — Withdrew
Leon Patterson — Withdrew
Atlas Stone Medley
The final event of the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man competition was the classic Atlas Stones. Featuring a series of stones weighing 110-115-130-145-160 kilograms, the competitors raced to lift them as fast as possible.
Louis Jack was absolutely incredible in the final event, finishing all five stones in just 21.18 seconds. While performing the Atlas Stones at the same time as Louis, his direct rival for the title, Chris Beetham, finished 30 seconds later.
Louis Jack — Five in 21.18 seconds
Chris Beetham — Five in 51.05 seconds
Callum Crozier — Four in 18.09 seconds
Stephen Jackson — Four in 24.06 seconds
Lee Walker — Four in 25.01 seconds
Connor Monaghan — Four in 31.77 seconds
Liam Goldie — Four in 40.71 seconds
Peej Greenhough — Three in 23.12 seconds
Women’s Event Recap
Duck Walk For Time
The first event of the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Woman competition was the same as the men’s, but they used a lighter implement weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds).
Only Laura Baxter, the 2022 champion, completed the entire 60 meters and even finished 25 seconds before the time limit ran out. Izzy Tait came in second, having carried the implement for 53 meters. Hayley Black got 8 meters less and finished in third.
Laura Baxter — 60 meters in 51.36 seconds
Izzy Tait — 53 meters
Hayley Black — 45 meters
Sammy Mayhew — 43.35 meters
Rosslyn Cole — 43.3 meters
Anastasia Papas — 39.74 meters
Steffi Murray — 37.5 meters
Dianne Gaughan — 29.03 meters
Deadlift For Max
One of the most simple events came in next at the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Woman, as the women had to deadlift as much weight as possible. The only pieces of additional equipment allowed apart from the basics were lifting straps.
Laura Baxter hoped to get her second event win of the day, but Izzy Tait spoiled her plans with a humongous 250-kilogram deadlift. Laura’s max came out to 240 kilograms, meaning she finished in second.
Izzy Tait — 250 kilograms
Laura Baxter — 240 kilograms
Hayley Black — 200 kilograms
Steffi Murray — 200 kilograms
Dianne Gaughan — 200 kilograms
Rosslyn Cole — 200 kilograms
Sammy Mayhew — 180 kilograms
Anastasia Papas — 180 kilograms
Log Lift For Reps
With a 70-kilogram (154-pound) metal log in front of them, the women attempted to perform as many reps as possible in a 75-second time limit for the third event of the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Woman.
Izzy Tait was mind-blowingly dominant in this event, completing 18 reps while her closest rival, Steffi Murray, locked out 11 repetitions. In addition, with Laura Baxter finishing in fifth place, Izzy built up a sizable lead in the overall leaderboards.
Izzy Tait — 18 reps
Steffi Murray — 11 reps
Dianne Gaughan — 9 reps
Sammy Mayhew — 8 reps
Laura Baxter — 7 reps (Tied-fifth)
Hayley Black — 7 reps (Tied-fifth)
Rosslyn Cole — 3 reps
Anastasia Papas — No lift
HorneTop Hold For Time
The penultimate event of the 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Woman competition was a true test of grip. The women gripped one implement in each hand and held it for as long as possible.
Anastasia Papas displayed her incredible strength and endurance by holding the implements for 90.03 seconds. For reference, Izzy Tait finished second, having held the same implements for 29 seconds less than Anastasia.
Anastasia Papas — 90.03 seconds
Izzy Tait — 61.37 seconds
Laura Baxter — 58.41 seconds
Hayley Black — 49.83 seconds
Steffi Murray — 48.82 seconds
Sammy Mayhew — 27.98 seconds
Rosslyn Cole — 21.78 seconds
Dianne Gaughan — 18.4 seconds
Atlas Stone Medley
The final event of the women’s class was also identical to the men’s with the only difference being a lighter set of Atlas Stones. For women, they weighed 70-85-100-115-130 kilograms.
Laura Baxter won the final event with confidence, but it was way too late to disrupt Izzy Tait’s title charge. Izzy finished in second place with a time 20 seconds slower than Laura’s, which was enough for her to get the crown of 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Woman.
Laura Baxter — Five in 29.77 seconds
Izzy Tait — Five in 49.3 seconds
Sammy Mayhew — Four in 22.9 seconds
Anastasia Papas — Four in 25.11 seconds
Hayley Black — Four in 28.29 seconds
Steffi Murray — Four in 50.08 seconds
Dianne Gaughan — Four in 68.49 seconds
Rosslyn Cole — Three in 34.6 seconds
Related: Strongwomen Izzy Tait & Sam Taylor Set a 454-kg (1,000-lb) Tandem Deadlift Guinness World Record
The 2023 Scotland’s Strongest Man & Woman competitions were among the best yet, with a variety of amazing athletes in both divisions. We got to see some impressive feats of strength, close battles, and more thrilling moments. Unfortunately, some injuries were also reported, but that’s to be expected when you’re a Strongman or a Strongwoman.
Published: 11 July, 2023 | 9:39 AM EDT
Strongman Nick Best Squats 803-lb (365-kg) For The 27th Year In a Row
Many people view aging as a destructive process since their physical appearance deteriorates in every aspect. However, there are many personalities in fitness who prove that this does not have to be the case. There is one legendary Strongman athlete in particular who has put up incredible feats of strength for decades and is not stopping even at 54 years old. The man in question is Nick Best, as he has just squatted over 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) for the 27th consecutive year.
Nick Best recently partnered up with the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, Mitchell Hooper, for a training session. They decided to perform a training session consisting of squats and deadlifts, both of which are Nick’s strengths.
Nick Best and Mitchell Hooper first warmed up with a few progressively heavier sets. Nick opted to perform the squats with knee wraps, while Hooper decided to go raw. In turn, Hooper only built up to a single with 704 pounds (320 kilograms) after which he decided to stop. Nick then loaded 803 pounds (365 kilograms) and grinded it out.
Nick then revealed that this was the 27th year in a row that he has squatted this much weight.
“That makes 27 years now. The first time was in 1996.” said Best.
“This streak started when I was one year old,” replied Hooper.
Watch Nick Best’s squat here:
*Nick Best performed the squat at the 5:00 timestamp of the video.
Related: 54-YO Nick Best Sinks a 771-lb (349.7-kg) Squat With Knee Wraps In Training
Mitchell Hooper also asked Nick’s opinion on the issue of people complaining about their bodies before they reach the age of 30. Nick’s response was straightforward since he has demonstrated for multiple decades that hard work is the key to success.
“They are bullshi**ing. Put in the work.” said Best.
This 803-pound (365-kilogram) comes just a few months after Nick Best underwent a surgery to remove his kidney. This medical process is called nephrectomy and was done to him due to cancer. Luckily, his cancer was revealed on time, as the doctors noticed it after Nick came in to check his ribs after a failed bench press. So, it was definitely not easy to recover from the surgery, but he is already squatting over 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms).
It is also important to note that Nick performed this squat despite no longer being a professional Strongman athlete. He retired from the sport in November of 2022, but still maintains an incredible physical shape. He is mostly focusing on the squats and deadlifts, as he also pulled 15 reps with 600 pounds (272.2 kilograms) at the 2022 Mr. Olympia Expo shortly after retiring.
Related: Nick Best Smashes a 600-lb (272-kg) Deadlift for 16 Reps 5 Days Before Turning 54
Nick Best has left the topic of taking part in powerlifting competitions open and his incredible 803-pound (365-kilogram) squat makes a comeback look promising. His most recent powerlifting performance was at the 2022 WRPF FQ Classic 2 where he managed to set two WRPF Masters World Records. So, if he does take part in another competition, Nick could set some more records.
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 5:06 PM EDT
Strongwoman Inez Carrasquillo Secures Victory and Sets Log Lift World Record of 145.8-kg (321.4-lb) at 2023 Rainier Classic
Inez Carrasquillo has been competing professionally in Strongwoman for less than two years, but she quickly became one of the biggest names in the sport. In addition to putting up some impressive results, she is now raising the bar for herself and for the entire Strongwoman scene. Most recently, Inez claimed a brand new achievement for herself, having set a 145.8-kilogram (321.4-pound) Log Lift World Record.
Inez Carrasquillo took part in the 2023 Rainier Classic, which took place on July 8-9, 2023, in Burien, Washington. One of the events on the first day was the Log Lift for max weight, where Inez managed to set a new World Record with a 145.8-kilogram (321.4-pound) lift.
Andrea Thopson was the previous record holder in the Log Lift event, having set the record back in October of 2022. The record was set during the 2022 World Log Lift Championships. However, Inez has now moved the mark by 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds). The video of Inez’s Log Lift was shared on her Instagram.
“321.4lbs. I am so damn proud of myself. My first, but not last, world record. ???”
Watch Inez Carrasquillo’s lift here:
Related: Strongwoman Inez Carrasquillo Sets A 315 lbs (142.9 kg) Unofficial Log Clean & Press World Record
Inez Carrasquillo followed up her World Record with some more impressive performances across other events, which earned her first place at the 2023 Rainier Classic. Second-place went to Gabi Dixson, while Angelica Jardine wrapped up the podium with a third-place finish.
Inez Carrasquillo is climbing the ranks in Strongwoman, with this being her third major victory. She has also gotten some great placings in the biggest competitions in the world, most notably earning a bronze medal at the 2022 World’s Strongest Woman competition. Now, with some more experience under her belt, Inez is becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Inez Carrasquillo was also a powerlifter before coming into Strongwoman. Although her career was brief, Inez won three USPA competitions and put up very respectable lifts. However, she found Strongwoman more thrilling.
After coming into the sport, Inez Carrasquillo revealed that she is autistic and that she found inspiration in the 2x World’s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman, who is autistic as well. Likewise, Inez is now becoming a role model for people around the world.
Related: Strongwoman Inez Carrasquillo Hits Front Squat PR of 350 Lbs (158.8 kg) + 60 Lbs (27.2 kg) In Chains
Inez Carrasquillo has previously revealed that she wants to become the World’s Strongest Woman, and hopes to achieve it as soon as possible. She is currently looking stronger than ever, especially after setting a new Log Lift World Record. With some titles to her name, Inez will go into the remainder of the season extremely confident. So, there is no telling what her limits will be.
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 9:29 AM EDT
Eddie Williams & Trey Mitchell Set World Records at 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic took place on July 8th at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, and saw Evan Singleton claim the title overall. The competition was extremely tense from start to finish, with multiple competitors displaying incredible strength. In addition, we got to witness two World Records set by Eddie Williams and Trey Mitchell. So, despite not winning, these two men walked away satisfied with their new achievements.
Eddie Williams — Nicol Stone Carry World Record
The first World Record was set immediately at the start of the competition, as the Nicol Stone Carry was the first event. However, with the previous world record holder competing as well, it was very surprising to see that Eddie Williams would be the one setting a new one.
Kevin Faires set the previous record at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals, where he carried the Nicol Stones for a distance of 24.61 meters.
The goal of the Nicol Stone Carry is to carry the two iconic stones for the maximum distance possible. One stone weighs 114 kilograms (251 pounds), and the other one comes out to 138 kilograms (304 pounds). Each stone has a handle made of metal rings, which makes carrying them much more difficult since they are incredibly uncomfortable.
Four men managed to outperform the old Nicol Stone Carry World Record, but Eddie Williams was the one who carried it the furthest. His distance came out to 31.66 meters, which is now the World Record mark.
Related: 2023 Giants Live World Open Events Revealed — Introduction of Wrecking Ball Hold
Trey Mitchell — Viking Press World Record
Trey Mitchell was the man who set the second World Record of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic. He did so in the Viking Press event, where a weight of 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds) was used, and the goal was to perform as many reps as possible.
Paul Smith, who was able to lock out 13 repetitions at the 2023 Giants Live Britain’s Strongest Man, previously held the record for this activity. However, six men at the Strongman Classic beat that mark, with Trey Mitchell performing the best.
Trey Mitchell initially completed 19 repetitions, but the judge disallowed one of them. So, his final score came out at 18 repetitions, which was enough to break the record and beat all the other competitors as well.
Related: 2023 Official Strongman Games Events Revealed
Trey Mitchell finished in fourth place at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, while Eddie Williams finished just behind him in fifth. Both men were performing extremely well, but they could not match the two WSM champions, Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper, or Evan Singleton.
Trey Mitchell will now continue training for the 2023 Shaw Classic, since he is the reigning 2x champion. So, winning the third title in a row will be a huge goal for him. Breaking the World Record can only boost his morale and motivation, making him a force to be reckoned with at the Shaw Classic. On the other hand, Eddie Williams proved himself as well. So, he could start getting invites to other major competitions in the future as well.
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 7:19 PM EDT
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Full Results — Evan Singleton Wins
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic took place on July 8th 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. It was undoubtedly one of the biggest competitions of the year, featuring two WSM champions and nine more elite Strongman athletes. Lasting only one day, the Strongman Classic consisted of five events, after which Evan Singleton was crowned as the champion.
Evan Singleton was consistently good throughout the entire competition, but he secured the title in the final moments of the competition. He finished in the top three across all five events, while his rivals had at least one event in which they dropped a significant amount of points. So, Evan only jumped to first place on the final event, the Atlas Stones.
Tom Stoltman finished in second place, just 0.5 points behind Evan Singleton. Although the victory was almost his, he fell short and took home the silver medal.
The man who spent the most time in the lead, Mitchell Hooper, dropped down to third-place after a relatively bad performance on the Atlas Stones. It seemed like it would be smooth sailing for Hooper after three events, but the momentum quickly shifted on the final two events.
Gavin Bilton was also supposed to be competing as a replacement for Pavlo Nakonechnyy, but he could not make it to the competition because of an unspecified family emergency.
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Lineup
Evan Singleton (USA) — 47 points
Tom Stoltman (Scotland) — 46.5 points
Mitchell Hooper (Canada) — 43 points
Trey Mitchell (USA) — 33.5 points
Eddie Williams (Australia) — 32 points
Luke Stoltman (Scotland) — 28 points
Spenser Remick (USA) — 27 points
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine) — 22.5 points
Kevin Faires (USA) — 22 points
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso) — 19 points
Rongo Keene (Australia) — 5.5 points
Related: 2023 UK’s Strongest Woman & Man Results — Rebecca Roberts & Paul Smith Take Gold
Event One — Nicol Stone Carry
The Nicol Stones are one of the legendary events in Strongman, as the athletes have to carry one in each hand for the maximum distance possible. The heavier stone weighs 138 kilograms (304 pounds), while the lighter stone weighs 114 kilograms (251 pounds). However, the handles for each stone are just simple metal rings which cause a lot of pain for anyone performing the event.
We got to see Eddie Williams set a Nicol Stone Carry World Record in the first event of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, as four men beat the previous mark of 24 meters set by Kevin Faires at the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals. However, out of the four that outperformed the record, Eddie Williams of Australia carried it the furthest, dropping the stones at a length of 31.66 meters.
Eddie Williams — 31.66 m
Mitchell Hooper — 26.66 m
Evan Singleton — 25.25 m
Kevin Faires — 24.82 m
Tom Stoltman — 20.87 m
Luke Stoltman — 19.53 m
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 17.34 m
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 16.14 m
Rongo Keene — 12.5 m
Spenser Remick — 6.95 m
Trey Mitchell — 5.73 m
Event Two — Super Yoke
The second event of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic was the Super Yoke, which weighed 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms). This implement was carried for a distance of 20 meters, with the athletes racing to get the quickest time.
The 2023 WSM, Mitchell Hooper, did not let anyone get close to him in the Super Yoke event, as he was the only man to break the 10-second barrier. The next quickest man was Evan Singleton, who finished 2.35 seconds behind Hooper. Tom Stoltman finished in third with a time of 12.21 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — 9.84 s
Evan Singleton — 12.19 s
Tom Stoltman — 12.21 s
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 13.42 s
Spenser Remick — 14.45 s
Luke Stoltman — 14.87 s
Eddie Williams — 15.36 s
Trey Mitchell — 17.47 s
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 20.11 s
Kevin Faires — 20.16 s
Rongo Keene — 31.20 s
Event Three — Deadlift
The third event of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic featured a Deadlift for reps event. While there were many options, the organizers opted to use an axle barbell and load it with 360 kilograms (793.7 pounds). Then, the athletes had to perform as many reps as possible.
Mitchell “The Moose” Hooper claimed his second event win of the day and set up a decent foundation for himself going into the final two events. He was the only man to perform seven repetitions, which earned him the max 11 points possible.
Finishing behind Hooper was the 2021 & 2022 WSM, Tom Stoltman with six reps. The third place was then shared by two US representatives, Trey Mitchell, and Evan Singleton, as they both locked out five reps.
Rongo Keene had to pull out from the competition after the deadlift event, with his doctors determining that it was best for him to withdraw since he was suffering from illness.
Mitchell Hooper — 7 reps
Tom Stoltman — 6 reps
Evan Singleton — 5 reps
Trey Mitchell — 5 reps
Eddie Williams — 3 reps
Luke Stoltman — 3 reps
Kevin Faires — 3 reps
Spenser Remick — 2 reps
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 2 reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 1 rep
Rongo Keene — 1 rep
Event Four — Viking Press
The penultimate event of the competition was the Viking Press, a well known piece of equipment in Strongman made to perform a standing shoulder press. The weight of the Viking Press was 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds), with the goal being to perform as many reps as possible.
Trey Mitchell walked out onto the stage and performed 18 repetitions on the Viking Press for a new World Record.
This event also saw Evan Singleton and Tom Stoltman tie for second with 17 reps each. This was extremely important for both, as they narrowed the distance in points between them and Mitchell Hooper who got 3.5 points less than them.
Iron Biby withdrew after this event for unknown reasons, but he was seen limping away after the Viking Press.
Trey Mitchell — 18 reps
Tom Stoltman — 17 reps
Evan Singleton — 17 reps
Spenser Remick — 15 reps
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 15 reps
Mitchell Hooper — 14 reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 13 reps
Luke Stoltman — 11 reps
Kevin Faires — 9 reps
Eddie Williams — 7 reps
Event Five — Castle Stones
The final event in the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic was the Castle Stones. The athletes were tasked with lifting and placing five progressively heavier stones on their platforms, ranging from 120 kilograms (264.5 pounds) to 200 kilograms (440 pounds).
Although heat and humidity made the Castle Stones event much harder for everyone, Tom Stoltman still put up a mind-blowing time of 20.29 seconds for all five stones. This secured him the maximum points and made him jump from third to second place overall.
Evan Singleton was the most surprising athlete on the Castle Stones, as he was the only other man apart from Tom to complete all five. This put him in first place overall, as he finished with 0.5 points more than Tom overall.
Mitchell Hooper only got three stones, failing to grip the fourth stone. This might be due to multiple reasons, but it looked like his tacky (glue placed on forearms) got less effective due to the heat in the arena.
Tom Stoltman — 5 in 20.29 s
Evan Singleton — 5 in 25.18 s
Trey Mitchell — 4 in 22.21 s
Eddie Williams — 4 in 25.75 s
Spenser Remick — 4 in 27.47 s
Luke Stoltman — 3 in 12.80 s
Mitchell Hooper — 3 in 16.19 s
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 3 in 23.07 s
Kevin Faires — 1 in 25.40 s
Related: Strongman Evan Singleton Discusses Mental Health With Eddie Hall: ‘I’ve Tried To Kill Myself More Than Once’
Evan Singleton has been excelling as a Strongman this year, having competed twice and put up incredible performances both times. Back in April, Evan made it to the WSM Finals for the first time ever and placed fifth overall. Now, he added another International victory to his resume, making it his fourth overall. He has finally reached his peak shape after years of falling just short. So, hopefully he will ride the momentum and continue contending for the biggest titles in the sport.
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Strongwoman Lucy Underdown Crushes 280-kg (617.3-lb) Deadlift Four-Rep PR In Training
Lucy Underdown is easily the greatest deadlifter in the sport of Strongwoman, but one factor that makes her better than everyone is her hunger for improvement. Despite being on top of the deadlift charts, Lucy is still training harder than everyone. So, she often breaks records and sets new PRs, which was the case with her recent training session. Lucy landed a new 280-kilogram (617.3-pound) four-rep deadlift personal record (PR), and shared the video on Instagram.
Lucy Underdown performed the 280-kilogram (617.3-pound) four-rep deadlift with a conventional stance, as sumo is not allowed in Strongwoman. Regarding the equipment, she only used a lifting belt and a pair of lifting straps. Lucy did have some trouble placing all of the weight plates onto the barbell since the sleeves were loaded to their full capacity. However, she had spotters on each side of the bar to make sure that any plates that slide off are pushed back on.
“I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather and I’m going into a few days away so I’m very happy to have hit this as a PB”
Watch Lucy Underdown’s lift here:
Related: Lucy Underdown Pulls a 302.5-kg (667-lb) Unofficial Strongwoman Deadlift World Record in Training
Lucy Underdown has a very busy schedule ahead of her, since she plans on taking part in three competitions in the near future. The first one will be the 2023 Official Strongman Games European Championships on August 11-13. She will then take part in the 2023 Giants Live Britain’s Strongest Woman just over one month later, and wrap it up at the 2023 England’s Strongest Woman competition shortly after.
Lucy Underdown has already made one appearance this year at the 2023 UK’s Strongest Woman competition. She put up a sensational performance, despite narrowly losing the title to Rebecca Roberts in the final event of the competition. Regardless, she displayed one of the greatest lifts in the history of Strongwoman, having set a new Deadlift World Record of 305 kilograms (672.4 pounds).
Although Lucy Underdown is currently in great shape, she has also been one of the greatest athletes in the sport for some years now. She started competing in 2020 and got noticed for her impressive static strength. Still, she narrowly missed out on winning titles, but secured podium finishes in nearly all of her appearances.
However, in 2022 Lucy made quite a statement by winning Arnold’s UK Strongwoman Pro and England’s Strongest Woman. So, she now hopes to extend her list of titles and will have a few chances to do so this year already.
Related: Strongwoman Lucy Underdown Deadlifts 617lbs Ahead of 2022 UK’s Strongest Woman Contest
Judging by her new 280-kilogram (617.3-pound) four-rep deadlift PR, Lucy Underdown could soon reach a stage where she is able to perform multiple reps with 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds). Lucy’s remarkable improvement in deadlifts is evident, showcasing her dedication and potential for achieving even greater milestones in the future.
Published: 6 July, 2023 | 9:25 AM EDT
Powerlifting & Strongman Legend Don Reinhoudt Passes Away At 78
Strongman and powerlifting are now well-established sports, but it took them some time to reach this point. Just a few decades ago, these sports were in the development phase, with some incredible athletes pushing them onto the main scene. One of those was Don Reinhoudt who lured many fans into both sports with his incredible feats of strength. Tragically, Don has passed away at the age of 78-years-old.
The cause of Don Reinhoudt’s passing is currently unknown, but many powerlifting and Strongman athletes, like Ray Williams and Laurence “Big Loz” Shahlaei, have shared the news on Instagram, confirming that the unfortunate news is real.
“I was lucky enough to talk to Don a couple of times, and he was incredibly kind and a real gentleman with so many stories to share” wrote Big Loz.
“ I chased his records for most of my early lifting career. It is men like Don that made powerlifting the amazing sport it has grown into today,” wrote Ray Williams.
Related: Eddie Butler, Legendary Strongman Commentator & Rugby Player, Passed Away At 65
Don Reinhoudt’s Life and Career
Don Reinhoudt was born on March 5th, 1945, in Brocton, New York. He went on to have very successful teen years, becoming an All-League basketball player, an All-Western New York football player and an All-Western shot putter. In addition, Don was also a college football player, a part of the varsity track team, and also competed in Olympic Weightlifting. So, it is clear that Don was a man of many talents.
Powerlifting
Don Reinhoudt excelled the most in two sports, the first being powerlifting. He began powerlifting in 1969 and after some training, he made his debut at the 1972 AAU Men’s World Powerlifting Championships. He finished in third place, just behind his two idols, John Kuc and Jim Williams.
After that, Don Reinhoudt took part in eight more competitions and won all of them. Most notably, he won four consecutive IPF Men’s World Powerlifting Championships from 1973-1976.
Don Reinhoudt set dozens of National and World records during his time in powerlifting, some of which stood for multiple decades.
Strongman
After finishing his career in powerlifting, Don Reinhoudt’s incredible strength was recognized by Strongman organizers. So, he was invited to compete in the first-ever edition of the World’s Strongest Man competition in 1977. Having lost over 100 pounds of bodyweight just one year before, Don declined, but revealed that he would compete in 1978.
The year 1978 rolled around and so did the second edition of the WSM. So, Don took part in the competition and was leading the pack until the final event – the tug of war. Unluckily, he lost balance and ended up losing to Bruce Wilhelm, who also won the competition in 1977.
Don Reinhoudt remained determined and came back in 1979 to compete at the WSM once again. This time he ended up taking the title, becoming only the second man in history to hold the most prestigious calling in Strongman.
Related: Every Winner of The World’s Strongest Man Competition Since 1977
Even after wrapping up his official career in Strongman and Powerlifting, Don Reinhoudt continued impressing people with feats of strength like picking up people with his teeth, hammering nails in wooden boards with his bare hands, and more. So, with everything that Don has accomplished in his career, he will be an inspiration for generations to come.
Fitness Volt is expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Don Reinhoudt. May he rest in peace.
Published: 5 July, 2023 | 9:25 AM 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