Mitchell Hooper is the year’s Strongman Classic winner after a historic performance on Saturday in London.
After finishing in the top three at the Strongman Classic in 2022 and 2023, he finally can claim the title.
Hooper set the tone early in the competition, setting a world record in the axle press at 218kg. The competition in the axle press wasn’t exactly close as the second-place finishers, Tom Stoltman and Pavlo Kordiyaka, each put up 195kg.
Hooper then finished first in the 360kg axle deadlift with eight reps, narrowly edging out Matthew Ragg in second place. Hooper’s eight reps tied the world record for the axle deadlift.
While Kordiyaka couldn’t best Hooper in Saturday’s action, he still managed to beat his own world record in the Conan’s Wheel with a run of 1035 degrees. Hooper finished just behind him at 836 degrees.
Hooper’s second-place finish in the Conan’s Wheel was one of the only events where he didn’t land at the top of the leaderboard, as he set a world record in the wrecking ball hold just a moment later. Hooper held the 267kg sphere for 118.72 seconds.
Hooper struggled in the castle stones, finishing 11th in that event as Stoltman finished atop the leaderboards, but with such a large gap it didn’t impact his standings.
Hooper finished the day with 49 total points to take the win and Stoltman came in second with 47 points. An impressive day from Kordiyaka saw him finish in third.
It’s been an impressive year for Hooper, who won the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic, the Arnold Pro Strongman World Series and finished second in the World’s Strongest Man competition.
