On June 29, 2022, strongman Mitchell Hooper accomplished a 425-kilogram (937-pound) deadlift for 2 reps throughout a coaching session. According to Hooper — regardless of obvious restoration and sleep roadblocks on the day of — the deadlift determine is simply 10 kilograms (22 kilos) off of his all-time private finest.

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Hooper’s deadlift coaching is a part of his ongoing preparation for the 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic. The Giants Live group introduced the 26-year-old athlete because the Wild Card addition to the competition in early June 2022. That competitors will happen on July 9, 2022, on the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.

With the occasions for this 12 months’s version official, Hooper’s deadlift progress may come into play on the Axle Deadlift. Hooper possesses a 465-kilogram (1,025.1-pound) axle deadlift from the 2021 Static Monsters Worldwide (SMW) competitors. That is the place he might have first damaged out as an expert strongman with a first-place end.

Hooper’s Ongoing Ascent

Hooper’s invitation to the Strongman Classic got here on the heels of a terrific debut on the 2022 World’s Strongest Man (WSM).

As a close to last-minute addition to the competition, Hooper made essentially the most of his first-ever look by profitable Group 2 in a dominant Qualifying Round blitz. He notably shared his group with four-time WSM Champion Brian Shaw. Hooper ultimately completed in eighth place through the Finals.

Notably, Hooper has acknowledged he’d like to interrupt the present deadlift World Record on the 2022 Giants Live Open and World Deadlift Championships (WDC). 2018 WSM Champion Hafthor Björnsson possesses the official mark to beat with a 501-kilogram (1,104.5-pound) deadlift set on the 2020 World’s Ultimate Strongman (WUS). At the time of this writing, there’s a Wild Card spot open on the contest, however Giants Live has not despatched a proper invitation to Hooper.

There is a $55,000 money prize incentive for anybody who deadlifts 505 kilograms (1,113.3 kilos) to interrupt the World Record. The 2022 Giants Live Open and WDC will happen on August 6, 2022, in Cardiff, Wales.

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A Tall Task

Based on the present area, profitable the 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic shall be no stroll within the park for Hooper.

Some of the extra noteworthy names within the strongman sphere will compete, together with reigning Strongman Classic Champion and former WSM Champion (2020), Oleksii Novikov. Not to be outdone, there’s Chieck Sanou, who holds the Log Press World Record with a carry of 229 kilograms (504.8 kilos) from the 2021 Giants Live World Tour Finals. Mark Felix may also be somebody to look at. He’s coming off a World Record on the Wrecking Ball Hold from the 2022 WSM when he held the ball up for two:20.49.

Here is the total roster:

2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic Roster

• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) — Defending Champion
• Evan Singleton (United States)
• Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
• Chieck Sanou (Burkina Faso)
• Ken McClelland (United States)
• Konstantine Janashia (Georgia)
• Rob Kearney (United States)
• Andy Black (United Kingdom)
• Mark Felix (United Kingdom)
• Spenser Remick (United States)
• Adam Bishop (United Kingdom)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)

Here are the total record of the competition’s occasions:

2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic Events

• Dumbbell Medley
• The Pillars of Hercules
• Farmer’s Carry for Distance
• Axle Deadlift
• Castle Stones

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In a stacked area with no scarcity of difficult occasions, it seems Hooper is greater than able to proceed constructing his popularity as a rising star. The 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic will happen on July 9, 2022, in London, England.

Featured picture: @mitchellhooper on Instagram