Tag: Strongman
Eddie Hall Learns Posing from Pro Coach Ahead of Anticipated Bodybuilding Debut
Strongman legend Eddie Hall is well-respected in the fitness community for his superhuman strength and athletic abilities. Although he moved on from professional competition years ago, he continued expanding his creative footprint in sporting ventures. In a YouTube video, Hall shared a posing session led by pro coach Emma Heineman ahead of his highly anticipated debut in bodybuilding.
Eddie Hall enjoyed a highly successful career as a strongman athlete. He dominated the UK regional scene in the 2010s and earned his first qualification to the World’s Strongest Man competition in 2012. He racked up several national titles working his way up at the WSM ladder over the next five years. In 2016, Hall created history by becoming the first person to deadlift 500-kg (1,102lbs) and finally secured the coveted WSM title in 2017. He doesn’t compete actively now but serves as a lead ambassador for the sport.
The English star boxed fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson in a match billed ‘The Heaviest Boxing Match in History.’ The two titans clashed for six rounds last year with Bjornsson getting the nod on the judges’ scorecards. Although there were talks of another outing, they decided against it. As a result of the loss, Hall was forced to tattoo Thor’s name on his foot.
Hall teamed up with iconic Strongman Brian Shaw for a grueling shoulder workout last November. The former rivals pushed each other in training as Shaw took the lead in guiding Hall through his home gym. Aside from strongman, Hall announced his plans to switch to competitive bodybuilding earlier this year.
The decision to body-build was made possible after Hall witnessed the incredible physiques of reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champ Chris Bumstead and former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay in December 2022.
‘The Beast’ is furiously training for his next athletic venture. He smashed a heavy chest workout with his son Maximus and influencer Jesse James West a few months ago. Then, Hall joined forces with IFBB Pro bodybuilder Jamie Christian-Johal for a taxing back workout and later reunited for an epic chest workout.
In addition to training, Hall is open about his nutrition. Eddie Hall reflected on eating about 15,000 calories a day to compete at the highest level during his Strongman career. He said his limit was reached after consuming more than 20,000 calories in a single day.
As of late, Hall enlisted the help of legend Jay Cutler for an upper body workout in hopes of adding some much-needed knowledge to his bodybuilding repertoire. The four-time Mr. Olympia praised Hall’s work ethic while offering tips on maximizing the pump.
Eddie Hall learns posing from pro coach ahead of anticipated bodybuilding debut
In his latest undertaking, Eddie Hall shared a posing session where he was guided by professional coach Emma Heineman in preparation for his debut in competitive bodybuilding.
Hall weighed in at 175 kgs (386 pounds) and revealed the front lat spread as his favorite pose. He started with a front-facing pose while Heineman guided him through the maneuvers.
“What I’m finding is, Strongman is just moving A to B as efficiently as possible,” said Hall. “You don’t really think about what muscles you use. With bodybuilding, I’m slowing it down and I’m like right activate this muscle. You can literally feel muscles you haven’t usually used before kick in and they’re just growing like crazy.”
“I actually like the front lat spread.”
Eddie Hall The Beast (via YouTube)
Eddie Hall continues to impress by showing off steady physique updates. He collaborated with Men’s 212 legend Flex Lewis for a laborious arm workout session recently. He’s scheduled to captain Team UK for the upcoming 2023 World’s Strongest Nation contest, set for Nov. 18 in Liverpool, England.
RELATED: Strongmen Brian Shaw and Eddie Hall Crash Planet Fitness for Hilarious Leg Workout
Based on his latest posing session, Hall is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations for bodybuilding and fans are excited to see the physique he displays on stage.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 26 May, 2023 | 1:20 AM EDT
2023 Shaw Classic Updates: New Competitor, Arm Wrestling Matches & More Revealed By Brian Shaw
The 2023 Shaw Classic competition is growing in anticipation, as it is set to be a truly historic Strongman show for multiple reasons. For one, this will be the final pro Strongman contest for the 4x WSM Brian Shaw, who is also the host of the eponymous contest. However, in a new update video posted on YouTube, Brian has revealed some new information about the 2023 Shaw Classic. This includes the change of the lineup and the addition of arm wrestling matches to the show.
Firstly, Brian Shaw revealed that the 2023 Shaw Classic will be more than just a Strongman competition, but instead an Expo. This will increase the enjoyment of all visitors, as they will have the chance to meet some celebrity figures.
“The Expo is going to be amazing. There’s been a lot of work that’s been put into this. We are going to have a ton of guest speakers that are going to be presenting for free. So, this Expo is for free on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A couple of the confirmed guest speakers are Ed Cohen, Joe Kenn, and Jujimufu. The list is going to be long. We’ll have male and female speakers.”
Addition Of Grip Events & Arm Wrestling To 2023 Shaw Classic
The next thing Brian Shaw addressed was the tedious pause between Strongman events and how he plans on utilizing that time. So, he has two ideas, first one being an addition of two grip events, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. In addition, elite grip athletes will come in specifically to perform these two events and entertain the fans while Strongmen rest.
“Between these strongman events at the Shaw Classic, people are hoping to have a little bit more entertainment. So, we have listened to that. I’ve had these different ideas, and I feel like we’re going to test them out. So, number one, we’re going to have two different grip events. We’re going to have a bunch of ‘grip experts’, guys that are very high level in grip, come in and compete in two different events. So, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.”
However, grip events on their own are not enough to fill out the repertoire for two days of competition. So, Brian is organizing two major arm wrestling matchups with some big names from that scene. The names are not known yet, as they have not officially been paired, but Brian hopes to satisfy both Strongman and Arm Wrestling fans. In addition, he predicts that this will be the biggest arm wrestling event so far in terms of live audience.
“We are going to add arm wrestling this year. So, this is going to be something new. The goal is to have two different matches. One on Saturday as a part of the contest, and one on Sunday as a part of the contest. So, I’m working on everything on the back side of that and then getting the matches actually confirmed because we want to have really competitive matches that are entertaining, exciting, and hopefully appeal to all of the Strongman fans that will be there in attendance, as well as everybody from the arm wrestling world as well. To my knowledge, this will be the biggest live audience that has ever watched an arm wrestling match in person.”
Graham Hicks Replaced by Pavlo Kordiyaka
Going through the actual Strongman portion of the 2023 Shaw Classic, Brian Shaw revealed that Graham Hicks will not appear. He was originally named as a part of the roster, but he has since withdrawn. An incredible replacement has been found for him, as the 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man, Pavlo Kordiyaka, will step in.
“One update to this list is that Graham Hicks has pulled out of the contest. So, he will not be competing, unfortunately. To take Graham’s spot, we have confirmed Pavlo Kordiyaka. Amazing performance from Pavlo this year at the World’s Strongest Man.”
Reveal of The Final Competitor For The 2023 Shaw Classic
In addition, when Brian Shaw originally revealed the lineup, he confirmed fifteen athletes and left one pending. That was because the sixteenth and final competitor was not able to confirm his arrival at that time. However, he has now been given the green light and Brian revealed that the man in question was Mateusz Kieliszkowski. The Polish Strongman has had an incredible start to his career, but has unfortunately encountered a lot of setbacks during the past few years.
“In the sixteenth spot, we have Mateusz Kieliszkowski. So, Mateusz is confirmed now. What I will say is that he is having some treatment done on his knees. That was his biggest concern about confirming for this contest. He ended up kind of tweaking both of his knees with the stone throw event at the Arnold Classic this year. So, that was unfortunate. He is getting treatment on them, he feels like he’s going to be ready to go.”
Finally, just as a precaution, Brian Shaw has revealed who the reserve for the 2023 Shaw Classic will be. He has gone for Gavin Bilton who got his first International victory just a few days ago as well.
Watch the video here:
Related: Brian Shaw Announces Events For 2023 Shaw Classic
2023 Shaw Classic Full Lineup
Brian Shaw is excited and optimistic about the upcoming 2023 Shaw Classic, hoping that it will attract a large and enthusiastic audience, making it a sold-out event. This competition will take place on August 19-20. So, there is still time to prepare. However, although it is just the fourth edition of the show, it seems that it will be one of the biggest contests this year.
Published: 25 May, 2023 | 3:17 PM EDT
2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia Results – Gavin Bilton Claims His First International Win
Although the biggest Strongman competitions of the year have already concluded, the season is still extremely active. With many competitions taking place around the globe, one stood out over the past weekend, as the most thrilling action took place in Europe. Specifically, the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia took place in the city of Zrenjanin on May 20th.
The Strongman Champions League (SCL) features a lot of incredible athletes, but the competition in Serbia stood out due to Gavin Bilton. Also known as “The Bull”, Gavin is known as a major Strongman figure, but this was the first International win in his career so far.
Gavin Bilton did not have an easy job in Serbia, as he had some fierce rivals chasing him from the start. However, two event wins out of five were enough to take the top spot, as his performance resulted in 56 points overall.
Fatih Karaca finished in second place, but he even had a realistic chance to win the competition. Going into the final event, Fatih was in the lead, as he had 0.5 points more than Gavin Bilton. However, a disappointing eight place finish in the final event ruined Fatih’s chances of winning the show.
2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia Leaderboards
Gavin Bilton — 56 points
Fatih Karaca — 52.5 points
Kelvin de Ruiter — 49 points
Andrea Invernizzi — 46 points
Peter Juhasz — 44.5 points
Evans Nana — 37 points
Nemanja Tasic — 36 points
Dado Stroil — 35.5 points
Jarkko Mehtälä — 34.5 points
Jonathan Cotton — 23 points
Hristo Muskov — 20 points
Andy Black — 5 points
Ervin Toots — 1 point
Related: Gavin Bilton Victorious At 2021 UK’s Strongest Man, Lucy Underdown Sets New World Record
Event One — Truck Pull
The Truck Pull was a fantastic way to start off the 2023 SCL Serbia, as athletes raced to pull the 15,000-kilogram truck as fast as possible. The Turkish representative, Fatih Karaca, was the quickest man to cross the given 25-meter distance, having performed the task in just 30.46 seconds. However, in an extraordinary set of circumstances, Kelvin de Ruiter finished in second, just 0.01 seconds behind Fatih.
Fatih Karaca — 30.46 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 30.47 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 35.35 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 36.37 seconds
Dado Stroil — 36.4 seconds
Evans Nana — 36.56 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 39.18 seconds
Jarkko Mehtälä — 39.25 seconds
Andy Black — 39.3 seconds
Jonathan Cotton — 47.39 seconds
Peter Juhasz — 54.87 seconds (Tied-11th)
Nemanja Tasic — 54.87 seconds (Tied-11th)
Ervin Toots — 57.81 seconds
Event Two — Farmer’s Walk
The 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia continued with the iconic Farmer’s Walk event. It tasked the participants with lifting and carrying 150-kilogram implements for a length of 50 meters.
Peter Juhasz of Hungary displayed the best combination of grip strength and quick feet, as he completed the course in just 23.69 seconds. Fatih Karaca further solidified his impressive start with a second place finish, which he earned by crossing 50 meters in 26.25 seconds. Kelvin de Ruiter finished just behind Fatih, with a time 0.59 seconds slower than his.
Peter Juhasz — 23.69 seconds
Fatih Karaca — 26.25 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 26.84 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 30.84 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 33.53 seconds
Evans Nana — 34.63 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 48.4 seconds
Dado Stroil — 47.1 meters
Jonathan Cotton — 46.3 meters
Nemanja Tasic — 42 meters
Jarkko Mehtälä — 25 meters
Andy Black — Withdrew
Ervin Toots — Withdrew
Event Three — Viking Press
The third event of the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia was a true test of shoulder and upper body strength. The event tasked the athletes with performing as many overhead press repetitions as possible with 160 kilograms and a 60-second time cap.
Gavin Bilton stood out as the greatest overhead presser on the roster, beasting through 13 reps without much struggle. He was followed by Andrea Invernizzi who had 12 reps, and Peter Juhasz who had 11.
Gavin Bilton — 13 reps
Andrea Invernizzi — 12 reps
Peter Juhasz — 11 reps
Fatih Karaca — 10 reps (Tied-fourth)
Jarkko Mehtälä — 10 reps (Tied-fourth)
Kelvin de Ruiter — 9 reps
Evans Nana — 6 reps
Nemanja Tasic — 5 reps (Tied-eighth)
Dado Stroil — 5 reps (Tied-eighth)
Jonathan Cotton — 4 reps
Hristo Muskov — 0 reps
Event Four — Hercules Hold
The Hercules Hold is known for being a test of grip and determination, which is why it was picked for the 2023 SCL Serbia. The goal was to hold the two pillars for as long as possible.
Being the most experienced in the group with regards to this event, Gavin Bilton easily outperformed the remainder of the competitors. His final time came out to 36.62 seconds, which is 8.31 seconds more than his closest rival, Fatih Karaca. Representing the host country, Serbian Nemanja Tasic placed third with just 0.22 seconds less than Fatih.
Gavin Bilton — 36.62 seconds
Fatih Karaca — 28.31 seconds
Nemanja Tasic — 28.09 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 26.18 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 25.28 seconds
Dado Stroil — 22.09 seconds
Peter Juhasz — 18.87 seconds
Jonathan Cotton — 14.03 seconds
Evans Nana — 10.58 seconds
Jarkko Mehtälä — 3.73 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 1.62 seconds
Event Five — Super Yoke
For the final event of the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia, the athletes had to perform a Super Yoke. However, while the concept looked as usual, people were used instead of weights. So, four people sat on each Super Yoke and athletes had to carry them for a distance of 25 meters.
Once again boosted by the home crowd, Nemanja Tasic sprinted his way towards an event victory, finishing the Super Yoke in just 16.25 seconds. Jarkko Mehtälä was the next fastest to finish with a time of 17.03 seconds, while Peter Juhasz rounded up the top three with 18.26 seconds.
Nemanja Tasic — 16.25 seconds
Jarkko Mehtälä — 17.03 seconds
Peter Juhasz — 18.26 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 19.51 seconds
Evans Nana — 19.68 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 19.98 seconds
Dado Stroil — 23.66 seconds
Fatih Karaca — 24.59 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 28.68 seconds
Jonathan Cotton — 42.87 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 52.35 seconds
Related: Mitchell Hooper Breaks Tom Platz’s 1992 Legendary Squat Record With 24 Reps of 525 Lbs
While Gavin Bilton is 34-years-old and already a popular Strongman athlete, he has only been competing for four years. Therefore, it is understandable that he just recently claimed his first international victory at the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia. If everything falls into place, this could set off a chain reaction of success, opening the doors to countless victories for Gavin in the years to come.
Published: 24 May, 2023 | 9:35 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
Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Graphic Footage Of His Successful Pec Tear Surgery
A month has passed since Hafthor Bjornsson tore his chest during the bench press portion of a powerlifting competition. Ever since then, he has been working on making his recovery as perfect as possible which would shorten the time needed to come back. This included some intense methods, like infrared light exposure, cryotherapy, and more. However, all of this led to the most important moment of Hafthor’s recovery, which was the surgery.
Hafthor Bjornsson recently published a new video on his YouTube channel which covered a span of a few days. It started off with Hafthor preparing for his surgery using some of the aforementioned methods, but it also displayed clips of Hafthor’s surgery, as well as a segment of him lying in a hospital bed after everything was done.
Related: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Doctor’s Update on Pec Tear Ahead of Surgery: ‘Swelling is Getting Worse’
Hafthor Bjornsson’s Surgery
Hafthor Bjornsson started off his video by completing his final round of cryotherapy and specially made recovery shakes, while also expressing gratitude for everyone who assisted him in this process. He then revealed that the pain in his chest and arm has dialed down drastically and that he only feels a bit bruised.
“It’s actually crazy how good I feel in my arm, like I can move it without any pain. The pain level I have right now is zero. If I press my arm I just feel a little bruised, that is all. Obviously, I am cautious, I am trying not to put my arm in any weird positions.”
While talking to his surgeon over the phone, Hafthor Bjornsson explained how he was excited to undergo surgery, presumably because it marked an important moment in his recovery process.
“I am looking forward to everything, which is kind of weird, but I am actually very excited for it.”
After 2 days of preparation, Hafthor Bjornsson woke up on the third day ready to undergo surgery. With everything prepared, Hafthor was put to sleep by one of the best anesthesiologists around. A clip from the surgery, which lasted for a couple of minutes, was then uploaded to his YouTube channel.
Since Hafthor Bjornsson was under the influence of anesthesia, he was not able to communicate as well following the surgery. So, his doctor took over the video to explain what happened.
“Everything went perfect, no problems, absolutely great. It was tough, but we have been preparing for seven days waiting for this. Really happy with how it went.”
While talking to Hafthor, the surgeon explained that they did everything in their power to enable the 2018 World’s Strongest Man to come back properly. They understand that his priority is to regain his strength, so everything was addressed to the smallest detail.
“Not only is his mass large, but his goals are large. So, he needed a special approach in terms of keeping him safe… I did a heavy duty type of repair so it will help him have the best chance of recovery.”
Seeing Hafthor’s injury first-hand, the surgeon explained to him how severe it was and what needed to be done.
“Yes his pec was totally torn, and Yes it was torn mostly muscular. But, I used a couple of different types of graphs that reinforce the muscle, recreated the tendon, and reattached it using some heavy duty anchors.”
Luckily for Hafthor Bjornsson, his doctor went an extra step in ensuring his comfort, as not a lot of additional treatments will be needed after this surgery. He will, however, only need to take care of his wound for some time.
“The good news about your incision is that you don’t need to do anything to it. It is covered with a special waterproof dressing. You don’t need to do anything about it.”
Watch the video here:
Warning: The graphic footage of Hafthor’s surgery starts at the 16:30 mark, and ends at the 18:17 mark.
Related: Mike O’Hearn & Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Use Tom Platz-Inspired Workout for Ligament Strength
Hafthor Bjornsson originally hoped to set a new All-Time World Record in powerlifting by the end of this year, before transitioning to Strongman next year. However, everything will be delayed now, as Hafthor is expected to put out a follow-up video explaining what his expectations for the recovery process moving forward will look like.
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 2:56 PM EDT
Jesse James West Pranks Eddie Hall With 675-lb Deadlift Using Fake Weights
English Strongman icon Eddie Hall first made a name for himself with his crazy feats of strength in competition. Although he stepped away from competing years ago, he continued to expand his footprint in the fitness world. In a recent video uploaded on YouTube, Jesse James West pranked Hall by recording some massive lifts using fake weights.
Eddie Hall kicked off his professional Strongman career in 2010 with a dominant win at England’s Strongest Man contest. He worked his way up the ranks and qualified for the World’s Strongest Man competition for the first time in 2012. He was at the height of his powers for the 2016/17 season when he set a new World Record on the deadlift of 500-kg (1,102-lb) and secured the coveted WSM title.
Hall took on fellow Strongman legend Hafthor Bjornsson inside the boxing ring in a bout billed ‘The Heaviest Boxing Match in History’ in March 2022. He dropped weight preparing for the contest and presented a leaner look. However, he failed to get the nod on the judges’ scorecards.
Earlier this year, Eddie Hall took inspiration from former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and reigning four-time Classic Physique champion Chris Bumstead’s performances at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and announced his switch to competitive bodybuilding. He plans to make his debut in late 2024 at a weight of around 320 pounds (145.1-kg).
Eddie Hall teamed up with IFBB Pro bodybuilder Jamie Christian-Johal for an intense back workout to get ready for the move four months ago. The duo collaborated again for a laborious chest training session weeks later. Then, Hall performed a brutal back workout to improve his physique.
The 35-year-old opened up on the challenges of competing at the highest level in Strongman three months ago. He revealed he’d consume about 15,000 calories a day and even wolfed down 20,000 calories in a single day once. He stressed the importance of proper recovery for optimal performance.
Eddie Hall joined forces with legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler for a grueling upper body workout two months ago. The four-time Mr. Olympia praised Hall’s work ethic after mentoring him through the session. Hall later partnered with powerlifting sensation Larry Wheels, who’s preparing for his Classic Physique debut; they took part in a taxing shoulder workout.
Internet sensation Jesse James West amassed a huge following on social media with his entertaining content centered around fitness. Besides playing pranks, he tries out different workout plans, gyms, and diets. He put the nine tenets of ancestral living to the test by trying to live like Liver King for over two days under the guidance of the man himself last August.
Jesse James West Pranks Eddie Hall with Fake Weights
In a recent YouTube video, Eddie Hall got tricked by Jesse James West into believing the latter recorded some insane lifts when he was actually using fake weights.
Jesse started with Squats using weights as follows:
1. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 45lbs2. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 135lbs3. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 225lbs4. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 315lbs5. Fake Weight: 405 lbs, real weight: 315lbs (Prank begins)6. Fake Weight: 455 lbs, real weight: 365lbs7. Fake Weight: 495 lbs, real weight: 315lbs
Bench Press using weights as follows:
1. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 135lbs2. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 225lbs3. Fake Weight: 315 lbs, real weight: 225lbs (Prank begins)4. Fake Weight: 365 lbs, real weight: 275lbs5. Fake Weight: 405 lbs, real weight: 225lbs
Deadlift using weights as follows:
1. Fake Weight: 0 lbs, real weight: 135lbs2. Fake Weight: 225 lbs, real weight: 135lbs (Prank begins)3. Fake Weight: 315 lbs, real weight: 225lbs4. Fake Weight: 405 lbs, real weight: 315lbs5. Fake Weight: 495 lbs, real weight: 315lbs6. Fake Weight: 585 lbs, real weight: 405lbs7. Fake Weight: 675 lbs, real weight: 405lbs
West played a similar prank on bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman earlier this year. He misled the eight-time Mr. Olympia into thinking he lifted 700 pounds on the squat before revealing he used fake weights for the stunt. He also collaborated with top strongman contenders Luke and Tom Stoltman for a Strongman-style training session three months ago.
Although Hall was aware of the possibility fake weights could be involved, West’s acting skills convinced him otherwise.
RELATED: Eddie Hall Explains How Exercise Helped Him Manage His ADHD: ‘I Was Definitely a Victim of That’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 7:42 PM EDT
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events Revealed
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic is the next major Strongman competition, as it will take place on July 8th, 2023, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The one day competition is set to be one of the most entertaining shows of the year as the competitors are preparing to battle in front of the sold out arena. It was already revealed that this year will feature the greatest roster of athletes so far, but now the five events for the competition have been announced on Giants Live’s Instagram.
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will only last one day, so having to perform five events in a row will be brutal for the competitors. Nonetheless, one-day competitions are known to be the most exciting, as athletes do not approach the competition with too much calculation. Instead, they may go all out and give everything they have from the beginning to the end.
The Strongman Classic’s five events have now been revealed. Athletes can begin preparing to give it all they’ve got.
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events
Nicol Stone Carry
Super Yoke
Axle Deadlift
Viking Press
Castle Stones
Related: Eddie Hall & Martins Licis Revealed as Captains for 2023 World’s Strongest Nation
Event One — Nicol Stone Carry
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will open up with one of the most painstaking events in the sport, the Nicol Stone Carry. The athletes will be tasked with picking up and carrying two stones for the maximum distance possible. The heavier stone will weigh 138 kilograms (304 pounds), and the lighter stone will weigh 114 kilograms (251 pounds). So, the total will come out to 252 kilograms (555.5 pounds).
Kevin Faires is without a doubt the main favorite for this event, as he holds the World Record of 24 meters. However, Mitchell Hooper has also proved quite good in events similar to this one. So, surprises may happen.
Event Two — Super Yoke
Moving onto the second event, the athletes will find themselves under the Super Yoke, which will most likely weigh in excess of 400 kilograms (881 pounds). They will pick up the Super Yoke and once again carry it for distance. This will be especially hard after the Nicol Stone Carry, since both are based on endurance.
There is a plethora of quick athletes in the lineup, but the most notable ones are Mitchell Hooper, Oleksii Novikov, and Evan Singleton. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone else takes the win.
Event Three — Axle Deadlift
Marking the midway point of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic will be the Axle Deadlift. Although the weight for the deadlift has not been specified, it is likely that Giants Live will load it with a certain weight and task the athletes with performing as many repetitions as possible.
This is another event where there is no clear favorite, as many of the participants are incredible deadlifters.
Event Four — Viking Press
The penultimate event will shift the focus on the upper body strength, as the Viking Press will task the athletes with completing as many reps of an overhead press on a custom built machine. The weight for this event has not been revealed.
There is one clear favorite for this event and it is the Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou. His shoulder strength is unparalleled, as he holds multiple World Records. The next greatest overhead presser in the lineup seems to be Luke Stoltman.
Atlas Stones
As is the case in the majority of Giants Live competitions, the Atlas Stones will be the final event of the 2023 Strongman Classic. It is arguably the most iconic Strongman event in history, featuring a series of progressively heavier stones which have to be lifted onto their platforms as quickly as possible.
Again, Tom Stoltman is the obvious favorite in this event, as it is difficult to imagine him not winning. The rest of the field, however, is similarly strong for this event, which makes it possible for any athlete to claim second place.
Related: Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Brian Shaw’s Most Insane Strongman Lifts: ‘Holy Sh*t’
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Roster
Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso)
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
Luke Stoltman (Scotland)
Eddie Williams (Australia)
Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
Tom Stoltman (Scotland)
Evan Singleton (USA)
Rongo Keene (Australia)
Spenser Remick (USA)
Kevin Faires (USA)
Oleksii Novikov was the champion at the 2022 Strongman Classic, but he will have an extremely difficult task defending his title. He is now accompanied by two more WSM champions, Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper, with a bunch of other pumped up Strongmen. The athletes now know what the events will be. So, it remains to be seen who prepares the best.
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 6:41 PM EDT
Eddie Hall & Martins Licis Revealed as Captains for 2023 World’s Strongest Nation
Giants Live has announced exciting news regarding one of their competitions later this year. This event is called 2023 World’s Strongest Nation, and it will be held in Liverpool, England on November 18th, 2023. This competition will feature two nations, “Team UK” and “Team USA”. However, someone has to be there to lead the teams, which is why Eddie Hall and Martins Licis will be captains of their own teams.
This will be the second edition of the 2023 World’s Strongest Nation contest, as the same two countries battled in 2022 as well. In addition, both Eddie Hall and Martins Licis were also the captains of Team UK and Team USA last year as well. However, the original captain for Team USA was supposed to be Robert Oberst, but he withdrew for unknown reasons and Licis took over the role.
Eddie Hall and Martins Licis now have some time to analyze and think about who the members of their teams will be. Both men will choose four men and four women who will compete for the glory of their nation.
Related: Nick Best Reveals How a Bench Press Injury Saved His Life from Cancer
During last year’s clash between Teams UK and USA we got to see some exciting events and mind-blowing feats of strength. The most notable one came from Gabi Dixson who put up an incredible performance during the Hercules Hold event. Gabi managed to outperform the majority of athletes in this event, including both men and women. The only athlete she could not beat was the legendary Mark Felix, who held the pillars 20 seconds longer than her. However, she still beat the likes of Martins Licis, Kevin Faires, and Gavin Bilton.
The 2022 World’s Strongest Nation competition ended with Team UK outperforming Team USA. Accordingly, it is reasonable to expect that Team USA will make additional roster changes this year. However, the full lineups will also be revealed soon enough.
Eddie Hall and Martins Licis have both shown their great abilities as leaders, but that is mostly due to their incredible careers. Both men have been crowned as the World’s Strongest Man, Hall in 2016 and Licis in 2019.
Eddie Hall was also the first man to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds), but the record was later broken by Hafthor Bjornsson. A few years later, the resentment between Hall and Bjornsson grew and they arranged a boxing match. Hall lost on a decision from the judges and began a new chapter in his life. He is now preparing for his bodybuilding debut which is scheduled to take place in late 2024.
On the other hand, Martins Licis is still a very active Strongman athlete who has won eight major competitions during his career, including one in 2022. He came out victorious in the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic, and took part in some more competitions during the year. However, once the 2022 season concluded, Martins decided to temporarily stop competing. He stated that he won’t take part in any competitions in 2023, but he was still lured by the captain’s role in the 2023 World’s Strongest Nation competition.
Related: Strongman Brian Shaw Shows Off Superhuman Strength By Rolling Up Frying Pan
After witnessing the impressive inaugural edition of the World’s Strongest Nation competition, it is safe to say that this year’s event will be equally thrilling and captivating. Eddie Hall and Martins Licis have also proven to be great captains and showmen. So, they will make sure to make their duel as entertaining as possible.
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 3:24 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
Nick Best Reveals How a Bench Press Injury Saved His Life from Cancer
Powerlifting and strongman veteran Nick Best made a name for himself with his unreal feats of strength. He has recorded some huge lifts over the years and seen some world records as well. So, over the years, Nick has also experienced some incidents in the gym. However, one particular incident turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In a recent appearance on the Shaw Strength podcast, Best opened up on how an unsuccessful bench press attempt helped detect cancer in his body and save his life in time.
Nick Best first rose to fame in powerlifting. He started off proving his potential by winning the USAPL National Powerlifting Championships in the 125-kg category in 1996 and 1997 along with the WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships. After some years as a powerlifter, Best transitioned to Strongman. Moreover, he emerged as a budding strongman contender in 2010 when he came out victorious in the All-American Strongman Challenge. The win earned him qualification for the Arnold Strongman Classic, where he finished ninth. He then regularly qualified for the World’s Strongest Man over the last decade.
In November 2021, Best left the fans stunned by performing a massive 500-pound (226.79-kg) deadlift for 50 reps at the age of 53. He also detailed a grueling back day workout after the age-defying stunt to motivate his followers further. Then, he joined forces with legendary Strongman contender Brian Shaw, a four-time World’s Strongest Man winner, for an intense back training session at bodybuilding icon Flex Lewis’ gym in Las Vegas.
Best and Shaw strengthened their partnership with another monstrous workout in January 2022. The duo went through a series of heavy exercises targeting the upper body along with a huge 500-lb bench press. They collaborated again for a tough lower-body training session a month later. They also crushed a gigantic 480-lb hip thrust exercise as part of the grueling leg day workout.
Nick Best / Instagram
Best created history by setting two WRPF Masters World Records at the 2022 WRPF FQ Classic 2 powerlifting contest a year ago. He managed to squat 372.5 kilograms (821.5 pounds) and lock out 337.5 kilograms (744 pounds) on the deadlift. He also equaled the Total World Record in the 140-kg weight class.
The 54-year-old smoked an enormous 700-lb (317.5-kg) 13-inch deadlift for eight reps in July 2022. He followed up by improving to 10 reps of 700 pounds on the 13-inch deadlift at the 2022 Clash of the Masters, where he took bronze.
Nick Best smashed a 600-lb (272-kg) deadlift for 16 reps five days before his 54th birthday last November. He then announced he’d step away from professional Strongman competition after 16 glittering years in the game.
Nick Best reveals how a bench press fail saved his life
In a recent episode of the Shaw Strength, Nick Best revealed how a failed bench press attempt helped him discover an underlying health issue that saved his life.
“My wife’s an ER nurse and so nothing really phases her unless it’s really serious,” said Best. “She’s kind of looking at me, watching me breathe and she’s seeing the spasm, and she’s like we better go get that looked at. Let’s get you to the ER. We went in the next 30 minutes. I couldn’t take deep breaths until they gave me the muscle relaxants to get my diaphragm from spasming, just real shallow short breaths. They told me we need to get a CT scan to make sure there’s no internal bleeding.
The guy was kinda feeling around, poking up in the top part of my rib cage and he goes like I don’t know. We need to get some film on it. Kelly’s like okay fine let’s do it just be safe. Turns out I had a hematoma, which isn’t the end of the world, that’s going to heal and go away. Both sides of my ribs are bruised because the rib cage gives and where it stops giving that’s where I got the injuries so it was right in my serrates. It wasn’t very pleasant.
Got through that and he brought this other doctor in, my wife knows him, he’s not someone that messes around when he comes into the room, it’s usually something serious. He goes, we’ve had an incidental finding and that’s when they found the tumor in my kidney. He says there’s a growth in your kidney, it’s completely inside the kidney but you need to go get another CT scan in two days because they gave me contrast and they can’t do that back to back.
Two days later, we got another CT scan and in which time, got the film, an appointment scheduled, and a couple weeks later, he sent me for another CT scan because look we have a mass there, can’t tell if it’s a cancerous tumor or fatty tumor. We’re going to need to get a biopsy stuff like that, went in for another CT scan, got a better look at it then he sent me for a biopsy but couldn’t get me comfortable because they laying on my belly, got to go through the back, where it was sitting out of my kidney. They were going to have to go through my lung into the kidney. The doctor said we can’t do this today. It just hurt so bad on the ribs they couldn’t. I couldn’t move at all because the needles.
“They’re going off the CT scans but the doc’s concern is it could be a fatty tumor in which case if it was they could go in cauterize blood vessels in the kidney that are supplying the fatty tumor in and it’ll go away. So, you can’t tell the difference. I’m like doc with an MRI be able to be enough of a view in a 3D view to give you a better idea whether it’s fat or something else. He goes yeah the MRI will work so we went in again. I got an MRI and this is all within a month.”
Nick Best is still going strong despite being in his mid-50s. He scored a heavy 600-lb (272.2-kg) deadlift for 15 reps at the 2022 Olympia expo last December. With everything he has done so far, Nick is without a doubt still one of the strongest men in the world.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 2:01 PM EDT