Strength sports fans flocked to Myrtle Beach, SC, April 23-26 for one of the closest World’s Strongest Man competitions in recent memory. They also saw a new champion win the title for the fourth year in a row. 2023 winner Mitchell Hooper 2025 winner Rhyno defeated Nel in a tough competition to win the second WSM championship of his career.
Hooper’s second win in the event comes after winning his fourth consecutive Arnold Strongman Classic title in March and before that at the 2025 Rogue Invitational. It’s his 10th major title in his short career, and if there’s ever been a debate about who’s the best in the sport, “Moose” feels the debate is over.
“I am the best in the world. I have been going for four years in five years. And the reason for this is that I came to a show ready to win.”
How Hooper Overcame a Torn Meniscus: Injury, Strategy and Fortitude
Hooper’s preparation for this competition was heavily influenced by Arnold’s preparation. He confirmed that he tore his meniscus in preparation for the contest and then aggravated it during the Oak Press Austria event of the contest. Although he still won, his preparation for the World’s was still in jeopardy.
“I couldn’t run; I couldn’t walk properly. I was very, very worried about my knee. After that, my back started moving because of the compensation.”
Hooper called on the buzzer and told his trainer that he was focusing on “getting strong in the gym” because he knew how to do things and didn’t want to further damage his training.
“It probably would have been smarter that way. I might have come in fresher; I might have lasted longer,” Hooper said. As expected, he had no problem in qualifying and making it to the finals. He and defending champion Nell were the top two finalists of the weekend. Surprisingly, three-time winner Tom Stoltman struggled early in the race and couldn’t make it through. This essentially made the weekend a two man race.
Hooper stated, “I looked at the list and thought, ‘I really have a chance to get away with this.’
Easier said than done, it turned out. The first day of the final consisted of three events; Flip and Carry, Deadlift for reps and Titan’s Toss. The first two events were about movement and static power, both of which could have caused more damage to Hooper’s knees. The Titan Shootout featured various weights that had to be thrown over a pole that got higher as the event progressed. Hooper was known as a master technician, and these events were strong for him. However, Nel won all three and Hooper finished second or tied for all three.
Hooper entered the final day of competition in second place, but he had too much invested to give up at this point. This investment went beyond training and nutrition alone.
“I got my physio out and I’ve had more treatment in the last three days than I’ve had in the last three years.”
Hooper even received lidocaine injections in both knees early this morning. This is nothing new for him or others in the sport, which is not known for its longevity with a few rare exceptions.
“I feel like five years in this sport has made me look 30 years old because of how I feel when I wake up in the morning.”
And it’s not as lazy in preparation as Hooper; quite the opposite. He pays attention to every single detail, from what he eats to how he trains and even what he uses during competitions, such as AIRWAAV the mouth he feels when he helps her on the race floor.
“AIRWAAV is one of the few things I don’t train or compete without. It helps me breathe better, fight harder and helps me stay locked in when it matters most,” said Hooper. “The world’s most successful man takes every advantage you can find, and that’s one of my interests.”
The support of his family, watching from the sidelines, was stronger than the pain he was dealing with on this final day of competition. It started with the Max Log Lift, the same type of event that aggravated his injury at Arnold. Hooper placed second with a lift of 209 kilograms (460 pounds). Trey Mitchell of the USA actually lifted four more kilos to win the race. Nel took fourth place in this event. This was the door that Hooper had to open in the final event, Atlas Stones.
Atlas Stones is a strong tradition. The men must lift slowly heavy stones to their platform in the fastest time, up to 60 seconds. These huge round stones weighed between 140 and 210 kilograms (308 and 462 pounds).
Mitchell also won the event, but he was so far behind Hooper and Nel that the best he could do was third place, which he managed. Now Nell and Hooper are fighting for the title. Both men could only complete four of the five stones, but Hooper did it in less than seven seconds. As soon as he confirmed his finish, his arms went up in victory and his family joined him on the racetrack to celebrate. He probably still felt the pain afterwards, but what he felt at the moment was very strong.
“It’s not hard to avoid (pain) when my kids and my family are here watching. You have to do it.”
What’s next for Hooper after his second WSM title?
Despite what many casual fans think, the sport of strength is more than just a competition. There are numerous organizations and competitions around the world, and the elite of sports often compete so that they can continue their careers and make a living.
Hooper is already focused on future races, but knows some of those plans will have to be put on hold due to his further knee injury.
“I definitely need to get that knee scanned because if I were a betting man I’m sure I’ll need surgery.”
Injuries and recovery are the nature of a beast that is strong, and Hooper has already invested a lot in this journey, both physically and mentally. Whether he will be able to compete in events like the Strongman Classic at the Royal Albert Hall in London later this year remains to be seen, but the only Canadian to win the World’s Strongest Man award now holds two of those awards. He’s focusing on that now, knowing that when he returns to competition, his biggest rivals in the sport will be waiting.
“It’s hard, I haven’t seen him and Tom in a long time having so many fights.”
Follow Hooper on Instagram @mitchellhooper and subscribe to his YouTube channel to see more of his experiences in Myrtle Beach.
