Three world champions across two strength sports — 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Hafthor Björnsson, 2023 WSM Mitchell Hooper, and two-time CrossFit Games champ Justin Medeiros — spent a training session together trading sets of behind-the-neck presses and split jerks.
The behind-the-neck press will be featured at the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) in Columbus, OH, at the start of March. Hooper is the defending champion; Björnsson is seeking his fourth ASC title.
Hooper started the session with squats, top setting at 635 pounds. Björnsson got right to behind-the-neck shoulder presses and was joined by Hooper and Medeiros shortly thereafter. They set up pads and lifted the bar straight from their shoulders overhead to a lockout.
Hooper and Medeiros utilized a split-jerk stance while Björnsson maintained his traditional pressing motion with feet shoulder-width apart. Medeiros advised Hooper to start the press by generating momentum to move the barbell off the shoulders, saying, “See how much rip you can get from the bar without pressing.”
Hooper obliged for several reps before performing a full rep with 225 pounds. Medeiros elaborated on the strategy, “It really helps to learn that pattern of getting that bar to go,” referring to how Hooper could perform the lift with heavier weights, like 400 pounds.
Learning that pattern could help Hooper convert heavier weights with less physical strain. The technique is ultimately intended for efficiency, not stimulus. The goal is move the weight from the starting position to lockout as easily as possible, not train any particular muscle group.
Björnsson took his turn with 455 pounds, which appeared easy for him. Hooper successfully locked out 405 pounds, and Medeiros hit his 315-pound attempt.
Hooper attempted a 315-pound double. Björnsson and Medeiros added 45-pound plates to each side while Hooper locked out the weight to simulate 405 pounds at lockout. Björnsson then performed a triple, suggesting he remains the favorite to score the event win in Columbus.
Featured Image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram
