Barbel Nomad
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Yo, yo! What’s up, strength warriors? It’s Barbell Nomad here, and today we’re diving into one of the most insane rises in strength sports history. We’re talking about Mitchell Hooper, the Canadian powerhouse who just took the crown at World’s Strongest Man 2023.
Now here’s the wild part: Hooper’s not your typical giant with a lifetime of lifting. The guy’s just 27 years old, stands 6'3", and weighs around 320 pounds. In the world of strongman? That’s almost average.
He calls himself “only relatively huge,” but don’t let that fool you. This guy knocked out 29 other beasts from 14 different countries, including 2022 champ Tom Stoltman and the legendary Brian Shaw, all while dominating with intelligence, speed, and straight-up brute strength.
Barbell Nomad's got your back—let’s unpack how this rise to the top is shaking the world of strongman.
So, who is this Canadian phenom? Mitchell Hooper is a strength athlete with an academic edge. He’s got a master’s degree in exercise physiology, which means he doesn’t just move weight—he understands it. Before he ever touched a log press, Hooper was deep in the world of human performance, biomechanics, and movement science.
But here’s what makes his journey wild: the dude went from bodybuilding, the dehydrated, tanned, strike-a-pose type of bodybuilding, to distance running before finally turning up in Strongman. He played golf and hockey, then tried college football in 2013, but by 2014, he had put on nearly 90 pounds. Then, in 2015, he flipped the switch, shed, and carved out a stage-ready physique.
Next chapter? Marathons. Yep, at 220 pounds, he ran his first marathon in Ottawa in 2016, clocking a crazy good 3:24 finish. This guy went from benching to jogging, and still had gas in the tank. It wasn’t until recently that he walked into the strongman arena, and everything changed.
By the time 2023 rolled around, Hooper wasn’t just showing up—he was owning it. He crushed podiums all year long, and then in April 2023, at the World’s Strongest Man competition in South Carolina, he stepped up against the best on Earth and won. That’s not just a trophy. That’s history.
It was only his second time competing at WSM—and he beat out some of the greatest names in strongman history. The event, watched by over 220 million people worldwide, has been turning strongmen into global stars for 45 years. And this year? Mitchell Hooper became that star.
Training and Preparation Style
What makes Hooper a threat isn’t just his strength—it’s his brain. He built his whole style around efficiency, mobility, and injury prevention. He’s not just pushing iron for the sake of it; he’s training smart with intelligent volume, sports science, and movement mechanics at the core of his program.
He dominates the staples like deadlifts, log press, yoke carries, and atlas stones, but also maintains killer conditioning. That’s rare in Strongman. The way he trains lets him last through grueling events without gassing out—and that edge is how he dismantled the field at WSM 2023.
And when people get weird about strongman diets, Hooper keeps it real. He’s not the guy slamming 50 chicken breasts and pizza towers in a sitting. For him, it’s not about eating for the show—it’s about fueling performance. He said it himself: the obsession with diet can be overblown.
He stayed consistent through every event, taking podium finishes and hammering down victories like a machine. He had primed himself by the time he hit World’s Strongest Man. He dominated classic strongman events like the vehicle pull, stone loading, and deadlift ladder—and did it with that calm, clinical energy he’s become known for.
What Sets Hooper Apart from Other Champions
Mitchell Hooper isn’t just a lifter—he’s a strategist. While others rage their way through lifts, Hooper stays cool, calculated, and focused. His background in biomechanics means every rep is efficient, and every movement has a purpose.
He's not out here trying to be the biggest body in the room. He’s trying to be the smartest, healthiest, and most complete Strongman there is. That long-term mindset—one that values performance and health—is what separates him.
And fans? They love the guy. He’s active online, posts real training advice, shares behind-the-scenes moments, and doesn’t hide behind his ego. Just real talk from a guy who’s walking the walk.
His YouTube channel and media presence are exploding, not just because he’s a champ but because he’s teaching people how to get better, safer, and stronger. He’s proving you can lift massive, perform elite, and still be grounded and relatable.
With the kind of momentum he’s built in just two short years, the future’s looking stacked. Mitchell Hooper isn’t just the World’s Strongest Man—he might be the smartest one ever to hold the title.
He defeated 29 elite athletes from 14 countries, including reigning champ Tom Stoltman and four-time winner Brian Shaw.
How big is Mitchell Hooper?
He stands 6'3" and weighs around 320 pounds, making him relatively average in size compared to other elite strongmen.
What’s Mitchell Hooper’s background?
He’s a former golfer, hockey player, college football athlete, bodybuilder, and marathon runner—and he holds a master’s in exercise physiology.
Now here’s the wild part: Hooper’s not your typical giant with a lifetime of lifting. The guy’s just 27 years old, stands 6'3", and weighs around 320 pounds. In the world of strongman? That’s almost average.
He calls himself “only relatively huge,” but don’t let that fool you. This guy knocked out 29 other beasts from 14 different countries, including 2022 champ Tom Stoltman and the legendary Brian Shaw, all while dominating with intelligence, speed, and straight-up brute strength.
Barbell Nomad's got your back—let’s unpack how this rise to the top is shaking the world of strongman.
Who Is Mitchell Hooper?
But here’s what makes his journey wild: the dude went from bodybuilding, the dehydrated, tanned, strike-a-pose type of bodybuilding, to distance running before finally turning up in Strongman. He played golf and hockey, then tried college football in 2013, but by 2014, he had put on nearly 90 pounds. Then, in 2015, he flipped the switch, shed, and carved out a stage-ready physique.
Next chapter? Marathons. Yep, at 220 pounds, he ran his first marathon in Ottawa in 2016, clocking a crazy good 3:24 finish. This guy went from benching to jogging, and still had gas in the tank. It wasn’t until recently that he walked into the strongman arena, and everything changed.
Rapid Rise in the Strongman World
2022 was Hooper’s strongman debut, and he came out swinging. It was his first time at World’s Strongest Man, and he already landed a top-10 finish. Most athletes would kill for that after years in the game.By the time 2023 rolled around, Hooper wasn’t just showing up—he was owning it. He crushed podiums all year long, and then in April 2023, at the World’s Strongest Man competition in South Carolina, he stepped up against the best on Earth and won. That’s not just a trophy. That’s history.
It was only his second time competing at WSM—and he beat out some of the greatest names in strongman history. The event, watched by over 220 million people worldwide, has been turning strongmen into global stars for 45 years. And this year? Mitchell Hooper became that star.
Training and Preparation Style
What makes Hooper a threat isn’t just his strength—it’s his brain. He built his whole style around efficiency, mobility, and injury prevention. He’s not just pushing iron for the sake of it; he’s training smart with intelligent volume, sports science, and movement mechanics at the core of his program.He dominates the staples like deadlifts, log press, yoke carries, and atlas stones, but also maintains killer conditioning. That’s rare in Strongman. The way he trains lets him last through grueling events without gassing out—and that edge is how he dismantled the field at WSM 2023.
And when people get weird about strongman diets, Hooper keeps it real. He’s not the guy slamming 50 chicken breasts and pizza towers in a sitting. For him, it’s not about eating for the show—it’s about fueling performance. He said it himself: the obsession with diet can be overblown.
Key Competitions and Wins Leading to the Title
Before grabbing gold at WSM, Hooper was already stacking Ws. His first-place debut at the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2023 set the tone for what was coming. That’s one of the most prestigious contests in the world, drawing elite talent from all corners.He stayed consistent through every event, taking podium finishes and hammering down victories like a machine. He had primed himself by the time he hit World’s Strongest Man. He dominated classic strongman events like the vehicle pull, stone loading, and deadlift ladder—and did it with that calm, clinical energy he’s become known for.
What Sets Hooper Apart from Other Champions
Mitchell Hooper isn’t just a lifter—he’s a strategist. While others rage their way through lifts, Hooper stays cool, calculated, and focused. His background in biomechanics means every rep is efficient, and every movement has a purpose.
He's not out here trying to be the biggest body in the room. He’s trying to be the smartest, healthiest, and most complete Strongman there is. That long-term mindset—one that values performance and health—is what separates him.
And fans? They love the guy. He’s active online, posts real training advice, shares behind-the-scenes moments, and doesn’t hide behind his ego. Just real talk from a guy who’s walking the walk.
Influence and Legacy So Far
Already, Hooper is redefining what it means to be a strongman. He’s showing the world that you can be analytical, leaner, and faster—and still reign supreme. He’s inspiring lifters everywhere to train smarter, think critically, and respect the science behind strength.His YouTube channel and media presence are exploding, not just because he’s a champ but because he’s teaching people how to get better, safer, and stronger. He’s proving you can lift massive, perform elite, and still be grounded and relatable.
What’s Next for Mitchell Hooper?
Hooper’s just getting started. Next stop? Defending his WSM title, stacking more wins at the Arnold Strongman Classic, crushing the Giants Live circuit, and maybe even stepping up as an ambassador for health-focused strength training.With the kind of momentum he’s built in just two short years, the future’s looking stacked. Mitchell Hooper isn’t just the World’s Strongest Man—he might be the smartest one ever to hold the title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Mitchell Hooper beat to win World’s Strongest Man 2023?He defeated 29 elite athletes from 14 countries, including reigning champ Tom Stoltman and four-time winner Brian Shaw.
How big is Mitchell Hooper?
He stands 6'3" and weighs around 320 pounds, making him relatively average in size compared to other elite strongmen.
What’s Mitchell Hooper’s background?
He’s a former golfer, hockey player, college football athlete, bodybuilder, and marathon runner—and he holds a master’s in exercise physiology.
