The World’s Strongest Man takes his best shot at matching the legend’s lifting records.
Although he competes in a vastly different sport, Mitchell Hooper can appreciate the superhuman strength and sheer determination it took for Ronnie Coleman to turn into essentially the most decorated bodybuilder of all time. While the reigning World’s Strongest Man can toss around kettlebells and overhead press heavy logs with relative ease, he needed to eat a proverbial slice of humble pie after attempting to match a few of the eight-time Mr. Olympia winner’s best lifts.
In a video posted on his YouTube page on Nov. 16, 2023, Mitchell took on the improbable challenge of performing a Coleman-inspired back workout that included three basic exercises using loads that gave him a newfound appreciation for the living legend’s accomplishments within the gym.
More from Breaking Muscle:
Besides boasting an incredibly muscular and symmetrical physique, The King earned loads of praise for his ability to coach with the strength of a powerlifter (which Coleman was at one point). Known for working with extremely heavy weights and pushing himself to the purpose of failure, Coleman set personal records in some staple lifts that also seem unfathomable years later, including military pressing 315 kilos (143 kilograms) for 12 reps and squatting and deadlifting 800 kilos for 2 reps. Combining that powerbuilding approach with a high-protein weight loss program and an ultra-disciplined lifestyle helped the Louisiana native collect 26 IFBB pro show wins, including eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005.
Nonetheless, even for Hooper, who became the fourth person to win WSM and the Arnold Strongman Classic in the identical yr back in April 2023, Coleman’s training style seemed well beyond his capabilities. Still, the Canadian strongman showed he’s no slouch by making easy work of the primary back exercise.
The three-part workout begins across the 1:05 mark of the video.
Conventional Deadlift — 800 kilos (362.9 kilograms) for 2 reps
Coleman famously accomplished two reps of an 800-pound conventional deadlift within the 2000 documentary Ronnie Coleman: The Unbelievable. For most individuals, replicating that feat can be downright inconceivable. Yet for Hooper, who has pulled 1,000 kilos, matching Coleman’s best deadlift didn’t present much of a challenge.
The 28-year-old began with a warm-up set of 575 kilos (260.8 kilograms), showcasing picture-perfect form by driving his hips forward through the lockout phase. Before performing his next set, Hooper pointed to the peanut tattoo on the within his left ankle and noted that he got it to pay homage to Coleman’s “Ain’t nothing but a peanut” signature catchphrase.
After a final warm-up set of 685 kilos (310.7 kilograms), the achieved strongman raised the stakes and attempted to hit 800 kilos (362.9 kilograms) twice just as Coleman did greater than twenty years ago. Unsurprisingly, Hooper had no trouble matching The King’s best deadlift, completing two clean reps.
[Related: 7 Tips to Perfect Your Deadlift Form]
Bent-Over Row — 515 kilos (233.6 kilograms) for 10 reps
Six years after setting his deadlift PR, Coleman smashed 10 reps of barbell bent-over rows with a complete of 515 kilos (233.6 kilograms) within the 2006 documentary Ronnie Coleman: Relentless. A taxing exercise that targets your lats, spinal erectors, glutes, hamstrings, and scapular stabilizers, this row variation requires excellent core strength to execute safely.
Despite his strongman background, Hooper didn’t have nearly the identical level of confidence about having the ability to match Coleman’s bent-over row record as he did through the deadlift. Starting with a warm-up set of 405 kilos (183.7 kilograms) that already looked difficult, Hooper added one other 50 kilos (22.7 kilograms) to the barbell.
“It’s funny how this can be a really light deadlift, but if you pick it up and also you’re now within the context of “you might have to row it” the sensation is totally different,” he explained during his rest period.
Ultimately, Hooper didn’t even try and match the burden Coleman utilized in his prime. As an alternative, he topped out at eight reps of 455 kilos (206.4 kilograms) before moving on to the ultimate exercise.
[Related: Legendary Ronnie Coleman Explains the Four Bodybuilding Poses That Built His Career]
T-Bar Row — 505 kilos (229 kilograms) for 12 reps
The session concluded with Hooper attempting to go toe-to-toe with Coleman’s T-bar row record of 12 reps of 505 kilos (229 kilograms) set in 2006. He began with a simple warm-up set of 315 kilos (142.9 kilograms), which set the stage for a brief discussion concerning the impact of lifting heavy.
“It’s a reality that each strength athlete has to face — that should you push yourself to the limit again and again and over it could possibly end in long-term damage,” Hooper explained. “All you’re doing is shifting risk profiles. It’s essential to acknowledge that pushing yourself to the limit does increase the chance of certain musculoskeletal issues down the track however it also completely diminishes the chance of others.
After sharing his insight concerning the dangers of coaching to the intense, Hooper shifted his focus back to the corner of the gym for what turned out to be his final set of T-bar rows. As was the case with the bent-over rows, Hooper didn’t come near matching one among his icons.
The winner of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition maxed out at 10 reps of 405 kilos (183.7 kilograms), proving that The King truly was (and still is) on one other level.
Featured Image: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube