The annals of strongman history are rife with titanic figures, whose exploits in strength have captivated and enthralled fans worldwide. However, one question perennially lingers: who, among these giants, truly stands as the greatest? With many of the sport’s legends never having competed concurrently, any attempt at a conclusive answer was often shrouded in speculation and uncertainty. Yet, in 2023, Mitchell Hooper, the newly crowned World’s Strongest Man, endeavored to bring some clarity to this debate. By comparing his own impressive feats to those of strongman luminaries Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall, Hooper embarked on an analytical journey, meticulously dissecting the performances to offer fans a fresh perspective on this age-old debate.

Mitchell Hooper’s Analytical Dive

2023’s World’s Strongest Man, Mitchell Hooper, sought to bring some clarity to this long-standing debate. The rising star decided to juxtapose his own career milestones with those of two preeminent figures in Strongman lore: Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall. Their legacies, combined with Hooper’s recent accolades, make for an intriguing triangle of strength prowess.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Evolution Athletics (@evolutionathleticsgear)

YouTube Series: A Tale of Titans

Choosing YouTube as his platform, Hooper recently initiated a series that has already caught the collective imagination of the strength community. With diligent research, he extracted seven events that showcased identical feats of strength across the three athletes. These events, thus, formed the basis of a hypothetical contest. And while the methodology might seem straightforward, the outcomes have added a fascinating dimension to the debate on who truly is the strongest.

The Comparative Titans: Hooper’s Tribute to Bjornsson

Mitchell Hooper, a name ascending rapidly in the echelons of strongman prowess, recently took a moment to reflect on the legacies carved out by his predecessors. Hafthor Bjornsson, widely known not just for his incredible strength but also his on-screen exploits, emerged as a focal point in Hooper’s discourse. With a reverence that underscores his deep admiration for Bjornsson, Hooper offered insights into the remarkable careers of both athletes, sharing comprehensive statistics that traced their respective journeys in the realm of Strongman. It wasn’t just a cold comparison; it was a heartfelt tribute to the Icelandic giant’s influence on the sport.

“Thor has 62 International contests and 28 wins. We compare that to me, I have 12 contests and five wins. We both have the one WSM (title), but Thor in 2018 is highly regarded as the strongest person to ever live.”

The Pinnacle of Strength: Hooper vs. Bjornsson Event by Event

1. The Deadlift Duel: A Test of Raw Power In the inaugural event of their theoretical face-off, the Max Deadlift stood as the towering challenge. Despite the deadlift being a signature strength of Hooper, the scales tilted in Bjornsson’s favor. After all, Hafthor’s indomitable grip on the All-Time World Record, a staggering 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds), sets him apart in this discipline. To put into perspective, Hooper’s personal best remains an impressive 475 kilograms (1,047.2 pounds), but it falls short of Bjornsson’s record-setting feat.

2. Duel of Shoulders: The Log Press Showdown Moving on to the second event, the Log Press for reps beckoned, serving as a platform where both giants showcased their shoulder strength. The stipulations were clear: an identical log weighing in at 195 kilograms (429.9 pounds). The result was a dramatic stalemate. Both Hooper and Bjornsson powered through three repetitions, underscoring their closely-matched prowess in this event.

3. The Race of Titans: Yoke Carry Dominance In the third event, the spotlight shifted to the Yoke Carry, an event where Hooper’s dominance is often undisputed. At some juncture in their illustrious careers, both athletes took on the challenge of ferrying a 500-kilogram (1,102.3-pound) yoke across a 20-meter stretch. It was here that Hooper managed to edge out Bjornsson. Clocking a swift 11.06 seconds, Hooper managed to outpace Bjornsson’s time of 11.99 seconds, claiming this event as his own.

“I think this goes to show you how good Thor was. Because for him to be that close on the event that I consider to be my best by quite a margin, that shows you how good of a competitor he really is.”

4. The Test of Speed: Arnold Strongman Classic Frame Carry In the next event, the spotlight turned to the Arnold Strongman Classic Frame Carry, a blend of sheer strength and agility. Here, Bjornsson’s prowess shone through. Hafthor blitzed through with a blistering time of 11.80 seconds. In contrast, Hooper, despite a commendable effort, completed the task in 14.61 seconds, seeding this point to Bjornsson.

5. Duel of the Shoulders, Part Two: The Max Dumbbell Press Face-off The stage then set for another test of upper body strength – the Max Dumbbell Press. Both athletes had showcased their skills in this event in prestigious competitions. Mitchell Hooper, at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, pressed an impressive 140 kilograms (309 pounds) overhead. Meanwhile, Bjornsson’s personal best stood slightly lighter at 136 kilograms (299.8 pounds). This slight edge gave Hooper the point, further intensifying their imaginary showdown.

“I will put another caveat here. The max dumbbell that he did, that setup, didn’t really demand him to do the most he could ever do. I am sure that if he had tried more in his prime, he could have done more. But, he didn’t.”

6. Racing Against Time: The Intricacies of the Loading Race The Loading Race is notorious for its variability and the multifaceted challenges it presents. In Mitchell Hooper’s envisioned face-off, he looked to the iconic WSM Loading Race as the standard. With five distinct implements to load, precision, strength, and speed come into play. Here, Hafthor Bjornsson showcased his elite caliber, completing his best race in a mere 31.22 seconds. In contrast, Hooper, despite his commendable efforts in other events, trailed behind with a time of 38.31 seconds, conceding this round to the Icelandic giant.

7. The Final Showdown: Mastery of the Atlas Stones No Strongman competition feels complete without the iconic Atlas Stones, and Hooper’s theoretical contest was no exception. As the finale, this event is not just about lifting; it’s about endurance, technique, and the heart to finish strong. Bjornsson, known for his stone-lifting prowess, completed his best run with five stones in a swift 26.8 seconds. Hooper, while impressive in his own right, logged a time of 36.9 seconds. This final event solidified Bjornsson’s dominance in their imaginary duel.

“What people don’t realize about Thor and Stones is that he was an absolute menace in stones. There is no chance that I could ever touch him on stones even on my best day.”

Event-by-Event Breakdown: Hooper vs. Bjornsson

1. Max Deadlift: A testament to raw power, this event saw Hafthor Bjornsson emerge as the victor, thanks to his world-record lift.
2. Austrian Oak Log Lift: In a display of sheer shoulder strength and technique, both athletes proved evenly matched, resulting in a tie.
3. Yoke Carry: Speed and stability were crucial. Mitchell Hooper showcased his dominance in this event, securing a win.
4. Arnold Frame Carry: A test of grip strength and speed, Bjornsson clinched another victory with his impressive time.
5. Max Dumbbell Press: Demonstrating power and balance, Hooper outshined Bjornsson with a heavier lift.
6. Loading Race: Agility and endurance came into play. Bjornsson’s speed ensured his triumph in this round.
7. Atlas Stones: The ultimate test of full-body strength and technique saw Bjornsson prevail once again.

Final Tally: In this imagined showdown, Hafthor Bjornsson emerged as the overall winner, underscoring his legendary status in the world of Strongman.

Watch a Video Of Prime Thor Vs Rookie Hooper:

“All up, he is better than I am when he was at his best. There is no shame in that… Nothing but admiration and respect for everything he did.”

Mitchell Hooper’s Prospective Battle with Hafthor Bjornsson

With Hafthor Bjornsson’s recent announcement of his return to Strongman, fans are in for a treat. The 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic promises to be an arena of legends, possibly witnessing a head-to-head clash between Mitchell Hooper and Bjornsson. While their imagined showdown gave a taste of what could be, an actual competition between the two would be a spectacle, a must-watch for every strength sport enthusiast.

The Imminent Showdown: Hooper vs. Hall

In another hypothetical match-up, Mitchell Hooper measured his might against the beast from Britain, Eddie Hall. Hall’s rivalry with Bjornsson is legendary, and it’s intriguing to project where Hooper fits in this pantheon of strength.

The Max Deadlift, a staple of strength competitions, was once again the starting event. Eddie Hall, recognized worldwide for his astounding 500-kilogram lift, remained uncontested. Hooper, despite his prowess, couldn’t match up to Hall’s record-setting achievement in this event. The showdown promised to be as electrifying as Hall’s historic rivalry with Bjornsson.

“This is an easy win for Eddie. Probably the most iconic lift of all time when he deadlifted 500 kilograms in 2016.”

Hooper vs. Hall: The Austrian Oak and Super Yoke Showdown

Mitchell Hooper’s detailed analysis brought the strength community to the edge of their seats. In the Austrian Oak event, Eddie Hall’s inability to complete even a single rep on the massive 205-kilogram implement played in Hooper’s favor. Given Hooper’s past performance with the 195-kilogram log, he confidently awarded himself the point.

When it came to the Super Yoke event, a favorite of Hooper’s, a direct comparison was finally possible. Both strongmen faced off, in theory, with a hefty 450-kilogram yoke. Here, Hooper’s incredible time of 9.84 seconds edged out Hall’s equally impressive 10 seconds, adding another win for the Canadian.

Frame Carry and Dumbbell Press: Hooper’s Analysis Continues

The Arnold Strongman Classic Frame Carry saw another victory for Hooper. Eddie Hall, despite his unparalleled strength, never managed to finish the course, while Hooper did.

In the Max Dumbbell Press event, comparison was, once again, not straightforward. Hall achieved a lift of 124 kilograms using a Cyr Dumbbell, while Hooper managed to press 140 kilograms with a different dumbbell variant. The point went to Hooper, but with this victory came a moment of introspection, prompting him to share further insights.

“He did a 124-kg Cyr Dumbbell, which is probably harder than the Larger Dumbbells… I do have him on max weight, but that is probably closer than the numbers indicate.”

Static Strength vs. Speed: Hall and Hooper’s Loading Race

Eddie Hall, often referred to as a ‘static monster’, may have excelled in pure strength events, but when it came to dynamic challenges like the Loading Race, he was somewhat outpaced. Such events are staples in Strongman competitions, hence Hooper found it imperative to include them in their imaginary face-off. Eddie Hall clocked in at 47 seconds for five implements, lagging behind Hooper’s best by almost ten seconds.

Atlas Stones: Hall’s Edge Over Hooper

The concluding event, the iconic Atlas Stones, offered a more intricate comparison. Eddie Hall’s fastest time was recorded at 24 seconds, but this was achieved using a lighter set of stones. Hooper, in contrast, tackled a heavier set and completed it in 36 seconds. In the spirit of fairness and respect for Hall’s prowess, Hooper graciously conceded this point to him.

Face-off Summary: Mitchell Hooper vs. Eddie Hall

1. Max Deadlift: Hall triumphs over Hooper. 2. Austrian Oak Log Lift: Advantage goes to Hooper. 3. Yoke Carry: Hooper secures the win. 4. Arnold Strongman Classic Frame Carry: Another point for Hooper. 5. Max Dumbbell Press: Hooper outshines Hall. 6. Loading Race: Hooper excels, taking the win. 7. Atlas Stones: Hall dominates with a faster time.

Overall Tally: Mitchell Hooper emerges as the victor in this hypothetical face-off.

“That being said, I think he could do some things that could be much more impressive than what I can do… He pushed the sport a long way with that 500-kg deadlift… He did 32 International competitions and won three, I’ve done 12 and I won five.”

Watch a Video of Rookie Mitchell Hooper Vs Prime Eddie Hall:

Hooper’s Meteoric Rise in Strongman

Mitchell Hooper’s audacity to juxtapose his performance with legendary strongmen like Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall speaks volumes about his prowess. Drawing parallels to such icons when he has graced the sport for merely a year is noteworthy. His debut year is being hailed by many as one of the most phenomenal rookie years in Strongman history.

As he basks in the recognition, Hooper’s journey is far from its pinnacle. With the 2023 Rogue Invitational and 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals on the horizon, fans and critics alike eagerly anticipate his performance. Beyond these events, the sky is the limit for this rising star, and the strength community will undoubtedly be watching his every move.

Overview

Mitchell Hooper, the reigning World’s Strongest Man, undertook a unique endeavor in 2023. He compared his own strongman career to that of legends Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall, aiming to shed light on the perpetual debate of who stands as the greatest strongman of all time. Through meticulous analysis, he dissected their performances in seven key events, offering fresh insights into this age-old discussion. This quest for clarity unfolded on YouTube, captivating the strength community and sparking anticipation for potential real-world showdowns.

Featured Image @eddiehallwsm, @thorbjornsson (Instagram)