When “The Beast” speaks, you listen.
Especially if the topic of discussion is his signature lift.
As the first man to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds), Eddie Hall understands better than anyone what it takes to complete a historic pull. So, even though Mitchell Hooper can also claim to be a record-setting strongman, he needs to be all ears if he wants to blaze past The Beast and Hafthor Björnsson for the heaviest deadlift of all time.
On Oct. 29, 2024, Hooper posted the first video in his “Road to 505” YouTube series featuring a bold proclamation from the reigning Strongest Man on Earth and a keen observation from Hall that could help unseat “The Mountain” from his throne.
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Mitchell Hooper Makes Bold Guarantee
With a World’s Strongest Man title (2023), back-to-back wins at the Arnold Strongman Classic, and a recent victory at the 2024 Giants Live World Tour Finals, Hooper has his sights set on becoming the first person in history to pull off a 505-kilogram deadlift.
As any champion would, he announced his next career goal with such certainty that it seems like a matter of when, not if, he’ll set another world record.
I have 100% confidence that if I can pull 1,000 pounds without a suit, I will be able to pull 505 [kilograms] in a suit.
Interestingly, Hooper included Björnsson in his personal quest to hit 505 KG. Although no date has been set, the two will square off in a Max Deadlift event in 2025 to see if either man (or both) can hit that benchmark.
Having built a robust resume of his own, Hooper offered a friendly reminder for any potential doubters.
If I’ve proven anything in the past few years of my strongman career, if I say I’m going to do something, ultimately it gets done.”
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Eddie Hall Identifies Area for Improvement
Episode 1 of the “Road to 505” series ended with a few words of wisdom (and a key callout) from Hall, who certainly seems confident in Hooper’s chances of making history in 2025.
“I honestly believe you could send Mitchell Hooper twice around the planet, take him to Australia, put him in a tent for a week, feed him nothing but rice and he could still 505 in the near future,” Hall remarked.
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While Hooper won’t have to deal with those type of obstacles, he may have a small roadblock to overcome—at least in Hall’s eyes. “If he worked off his speed off the floor a little more, I think that 505 would fly up. It’s just that little sticking point he’s got,” Hall said.
While some lifters need to improve their lockout, getting the barbell off the floor faster can be a challenge for others. This makes accessory exercises like deficit deadlifts particularly useful, as you can improve your range of motion, as well as your lower- and upper-back strength, to execute a more powerful pull.
Will Hafthor Björnsson Spoil Hooper’s Deadlift Dreams?
The inevitable Hooper vs. Björnsson battle will be fascinating to watch. After all, while the former has been on a major hot streak, the latter looks more like his old self by the day.
On Oct. 19, Björnsson hit a two-rep, 430-KG deadlift PR in training.
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If he continues his upward trajectory heading into the 2024 Rogue Strongman Invitational, that could set the stage for an even stronger 2025.
Only time (and perhaps some coaching assistance from Hall) will tell whether Björnsson or Hooper will finish first in the race for 505.
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Featured image: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube
