Considering he conquered the Arnold Strongman Classic, Rogue Strongman Invitational, Strongest Man on Earth contest, and Giants Live World Tour Finals, it might seem unfathomable that Mitchell Hooper could take his game to another level.
But as the most successful year of his strongman career comes to a close, it’s clear the Canadian native has big plans to make 2025 even more memorable than 2024.
Already boasting elite strength, agility, and athleticism, the 29-year-old’s somewhat svelte physique (at least by strongman standards) should look more menacing in the coming months. On Nov. 18, 2024, Hooper announced he hired a bodybuilding coach in the first video of his “Becoming a Mutant” series on his official YouTube channel.
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When you set the gold standard by winning four of the most prestigious competitions in your sport in a single year, it would be easy to rest on your laurels. However, Hooper has the exact opposite attitude heading into what he calls a “change of season,” rather than an offseason.
- “It’s time for me to cut a bit of weight, add a bit of muscle, and come into next season with a better body composition,” the 2023 World’s Strongest Man explained.
To help navigate the muscle-building process and push him to a new level, Hooper hired his training partner, Matt, who’s also a national-level bodybuilding competitor and coach. And it hasn’t taken long for the big man to learn a painful lesson on the difference between training for strongman vs. bodybuilding.
- “We’re a few days into this, and we started with back and that’s sore as sh*t,” Hooper said. “Then went to legs and they’re even more sore as sh*t, so I’m slowly destroying the body part by part.”
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Mitchell Hooper’s Bodybuilding-Style Shoulder Workout
The duo kicked off the first episode of “Becoming a Mutant” with a grueling shoulder workout featuring more intensity and volume than Hooper’s accustomed to. Here’s an overview of the exercises performed during the session:
- Incline Hammer Chest Press — 3 sets of 6-10 reps (warm-up); 2×12 working
- High-Incline Dumbbell Shoulder Press — 2 sets of 8-10 reps (warm-up); 2×12 working
- Dumbbell Lateral Raises — 4 sets of 12-15 reps
- Machine Shoulder Press — 1 set of 8-10 reps; 1 set of 12-15 reps (back-off)
- Rear Delt Machine — 3 sets of 12-15 reps
- Alternating Biceps Curls — 3 sets of 8-10 reps
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Curious about his chances of competing in a physique-focused sport, Hooper threw a hypothetical curveball at his coach, asking him to rate his bodybuilding potential if he lost “40 pounds of pure fat.”
Although 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda shouldn’t have to worry about the Strongest Man on Earth coming for his crown, Hooper’s coach believes his client/training partner could do well on a local level.
“Conditioning is everything, so if you got absolutely peeled you’d probably have more muscle than anyone there,” he explained.
However, there’s a catch.
“Things like joint size and the things that make you as good as you are at strongman would probably hinder you in bodybuilding,” Hooper’s coach highlighted.
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One advantage Hooper does have heading into this new chapter is his intimate knowledge of how the human body works thanks to his kinesiology degree and years of hands-on experience. Having nearly torn his biceps off the bone during the Rogue Invitational, the accomplished strongman delivered some expert insight as he worked through a set of curls.
“You’re not going to do a controlled biceps curl and rip off a biceps that wasn’t going to come off anyway,” Hooper explained. “That regular movement is going to help clear inflammation and strengthen the tendon.”
Between his desire for greatness and his willingness to try different training styles, the sky’s the limit for Hooper. If 2024 seemed like the pinnacle of success, don’t be surprised if next year turns out even better for someone who already has a stacked resume.
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Featured Image: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube
