Mitchell Hooper is poised to make a run at winning his second World’s Strongest Man title in Sacramento, CA, on the week of May 15-18, 2025. The 2023 WSM champion and three-time Arnold Strongman Classic winner has not always been a strongman. He has competed in numerous sports, including bodybuilding, marathon running, and football.
In mid-April 2025, “The Moose” shared what he had learned and applied throughout his journey to where he is today:
Mitchell Hooper’s 3 Must-Know Strength Tips
- Follow a program
- Train in the right environment
- Find mentors
[Related: Why Luke Stoltman Withdrew From 2025 Europe’s Strongest Man]
1. Follow a Program
Hooper expressed that following a structured program is the first key to success, clarifying that he was not being specific about that program in particular.
It just matters that you have [a program].
—Mitchell Hooper
Hooper then went on to highlight structured programs that he felt have been tried and true, such as the Bulgarian system, which calls for numerous lifts with at least 95 percent of a one-rep max, the Conjugate system, popularized by the late Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell, and science-based lifting. Hooper advocated for the ladder because he felt it had worked best for him on his strength journey.
Regardless of the program a lifter was to choose, Hooper said it needs some form of progressive overload and be one that you can stick to consistently without sacrificing other components of your life.
Decide what works best for you; adherence is number one.
—Mitchell Hooper
2. Train in the Right Environment
The 2024 Strongest Man on Earth champion suggested that where you train is also important, and being in the right environment is key to success. Hooper then went deeper into what that meant, emphasizing a positive atmosphere that will leave the lifter excited about what they could do.
Compound session over session eventually…you’ve had so many wins in the gym that you’re in a totally different place.
—Mitchell Hooper
Like finding the right program, Hooper clarified that the “right environment” is up to the individual. There is no blanket answer. Research has verified this to be true as well. (1)
3. Find Mentors
After a program has been instituted and the lifter is in the right environment, Hooper feels the third key to strength success is finding people who have done what you want to do and learning from them. Hooper reflected on his mentors who have helped him progress in his current sport in different ways. Science has shown that having a coach, trainer, or mentor can help lifters improve and see positive changes in motivation, commitment, and enjoyment of the process. (2)
Despite his current status in the sport, he still works with a mentor, Laurence Shahlaei, who will work with Hooper as he prepares for his next competition.
“Yes, he writes my programs, but it’s the support to ensure I’m getting what I need, progressing at the rate I am,” Hooper expressed. “I understand the events, and we go over some strategies. So much more goes into it, but he is my professional mentor.”
When Hooper travels to Sacramento for the 2025 WSM event, he will have to face three-time defending champion Tom Stoltman and 23 more of the best strongmen on the planet. BarBend will provide the latest news and updates about the contest leading up to the big week in California.
More Strongman Content
- Why Size Does Not Always Equal Strength
- 2025 Strongest Man on Earth Events Revealed
- Brian Shaw Announces Strongest Arm on Earth Contest and His Next Arm-Wrestling Supermatch
References
- Wiener-Ogilvie, S., Bennison, J., & Smith, V. (2014). General practice training environment and its impact on preparedness. Education for primary care : an official publication of the Association of Course Organisers, National Association of GP Tutors, World Organisation of Family Doctors, 25(1), 8–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2014.11494236
- Braga-Pereira, R., Furtado, G. E., Campos, F., Sampaio, A. R., & Teques, P. (2024). Impact of fitness coach behavior on exercise motivation, commitment, and enjoyment: A longitudinal study. PloS one, 19(12), e0310931. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310931
Featured Image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram
