Early Life and Athletic Background
Mitchell Hooper was born on September 29, 1995, in Midhurst, Ontario, Canada. Long before he became a dominant force in the strongman world, Hooper had a diverse athletic upbringing. Over the years he engaged in multiple sports: marathon running, bodybuilding, football, golf, and even some recreational hockey. This foundation of varied physical disciplines laid the groundwork for his later versatility in strength athletics.
Educationally, Hooper pursued studies in human movement and exercise science. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Guelph, then went on to complete a master’s in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Sydney. Before massive international success, he worked as a strength and conditioning coach — for example, with the KW Titans, a professional basketball team in Canada — and later opened his own kinesiology/physio clinic in Barrie, Ontario. According to Hooper himself, he originally dipped his toes into strongman training simply to better understand clients wanting strength training; he never initially set out to become a world champion.
His background — a mixture of endurance (marathons), aesthetic/discipline (bodybuilding), and sports requiring different athletic skills — gave him a unique blend of mobility, stamina, coordination, and strength that would later serve him well in the unpredictable and varied tests of strongman competitions.
The Unexpected Ascent: 2022 — The Breakthrough Year
Hooper made his major international debut in 2022 at the World’s Strongest Man (WSM). In what many expected to be more of a learning experience, he shocked the strongman world by topping his qualifying group — even beating established veterans such as Brian Shaw.
He finished 8th overall in the final — impressive for a debutant. But rather than resting on that, he used it as a springboard: later in 2022, at the Rogue Invitational, he placed third, winning two events (Sandbag Carry and Yoke Carry / Log Lift medley) and setting a world record in the Dinnie Stone Hold during the “Rogue Record Breakers.” He also claimed victory at the UK version of the Arnold Strongman Classic UK that year, among other strong showings.
That rapid accumulation of high-level results transformed Mitchell Hooper seemingly overnight — from a dark horse to a credible contender for the very top of the sport.
The Year He Conquered the World (and the Rise of “The Moose”)
2023 turned out to be a historic, almost meteoric season for Hooper. First, he captured the Arnold Strongman Classic title in Columbus — not by winning multiple events, but through extraordinary consistency. He placed no lower than third in every event across the competition, and with that steadiness, out-scored his rivals. When asked about his approach, Hooper casually remarked, “Nothing that happened surprised me.”
A month later came the crowning achievement: Hooper became the first Canadian ever to win the World’s Strongest Man title, claiming first place at the 2023 WSM competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In the final, Hooper dominated — finishing either 1st or 2nd in five of the six events.
But he didn’t stop there. Later that same season, he won the 2023 Rogue Invitational, narrowly edging out top competitors in a tightly contested battle.
By the end of 2023, Hooper had claimed victory in the sport’s biggest titles — marking one of the most dominant debut-to-champ seasons in strongman history.
His nickname, “The Moose,” had by now become widely recognized among fans and fellow athletes — a nod to his raw power, towering stature, and Canadian heritage.
Beyond 2023: Cementing a Legacy and Building a Brand
Hooper didn’t treat 2023 success as a peak — he used it as a launchpad. In 2024, he defended multiple major titles, holding onto his place as arguably the most dominant man in modern strongman.
His dominance is not solely about brute strength. What sets him apart is versatility: despite not being the heaviest competitor, his combination of static strength, speed, technique, and conditioning allows him to excel in dynamic events like yoke carries, loading races, and moving under heavy weights. He leverages his background in exercise physiology and biomechanics: his training, recovery, and approach to competition is more methodical and science-based than many of his peers.
Off the field, Hooper founded the brand Lift Heavy Be Kind (LHBK) — a philosophy and lifestyle that merges strength culture with compassion. The brand offers fitness apparel and merch, but more importantly, aims to promote a positive gym culture rooted in respect and community. Alongside that, he runs an online coaching platform under “Team Moose,” offering science-backed training programs for strength athletes and everyday lifters. Through these ventures, Hooper strives to reshape how strength training is perceived — not as brute force alone, but as an intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive lifestyle.
As of 2025, Hooper has racked up an impressive streak: podium finishes in more than 20 consecutive international competitions across the world’s top events. His best lifts — including massive deadlifts, log presses, axle presses, and atlas stones — read like a checklist of strongman supremacy.
What Makes Hooper Exceptional: Strength, Strategy, and Science
When many imagine a “strongman,” they picture sheer mass and brute force. Hooper challenges that stereotype. At roughly 320–325 pounds (around 145 kg) and standing about 6’3″ (1.91 m), he might not be the absolute largest competitor — yet his success stems from a more nuanced formula.
- Balanced athletic past: Hooper’s experience in endurance sports, bodybuilding, and team sports gave him a foundation of mobility, stamina, and coordination — traits often overlooked in strength sports.
- Scientific approach: With academic training in exercise physiology and kinesiology, he applies principles of biomechanics, recovery, and long-term health to his training — allowing him to avoid many pitfalls of burnout or injury common among strength athletes.
- Consistency over flash: Rather than relying on one explosive lift or event, Hooper emphasizes doing well across all events — even if it means never winning a single event in a competition. That all-around consistency has been key to his wins.
- Mental composure and discipline: His calm, calculated approach — evident in interviews and how he frames competitions — seems to give him an edge in high-pressure situations.
This blend of intelligence, versatility, and raw strength has helped Hooper redefine what it can mean to be a top-tier strongman in the 21st century.
Beyond Strength: Identity, Influence, and Impact
Mitchell Hooper isn’t just a competitor — he’s a brand, a coach, and sometimes, a role model (or lightning rod for debate) for the broader fitness community.
Through Lift Heavy Be Kind and his coaching platforms, Hooper promotes a vision of strength that’s approachable and sustainable, not destructive. He encourages lifters to value long-term health, recovery, technique, and community. For many younger athletes and gym-goers, that’s a refreshing alternative to the “lift heavy at all cost” mindset that often dominates strength culture.
His rapid rise — from relative unknown to arguably the world’s top strongman — shows how an intelligent, disciplined, multi-dimensional approach can outpace traditional powerlifting-style specialization. For another generation of athletes, Hooper’s path offers a blueprint: don’t just chase raw numbers — build a well-rounded athletic profile, invest in biomechanics and recovery, and stay consistent.
Challenges, Criticisms and What’s Next
Of course, being at the top has its downsides. Some in the strongman community question whether Hooper’s style — which sometimes prioritizes efficiency, speed, and technique over brute size — undermines the “purist” notion of strongman as purely about strength and mass.
Moreover, maintaining the level he’s achieved is no small task. The physical and mental demands, diet, recovery, and constant training can take a toll even on someone with his scientific background. The pressure to stay at the top — from fans, sponsors, and himself — could be a double-edged sword.
But if one thing is clear: Hooper views strongman not just as sport, but as a mission. Between competing, coaching, building his brand, and shaping gym culture, he seems driven to leave a legacy — not just in trophies, but in the broader fitness landscape.
As of 2025, Hooper remains active, competing, coaching, and influencing. The question now is not just whether he can remain on top — but whether he can push the boundaries of what strongman can be: more scientific, more sustainable, more inclusive.
Final Thoughts: The Rise of a Modern Strongman
Mitchell Hooper’s story stands out for more than just the weight he lifts or the titles he wins. It’s a story of transformation — from a young Canadian athlete dabbling in marathons, bodybuilding, and occasional sports, to a world-beating strongman with a master’s degree in exercise physiology, a coaching business, and a growing global following.
In an era where strength sports are rapidly evolving — with better science, smarter training, and wider participation — Hooper represents a new archetype: not just “strong,” but “smart-strong.” He challenges old stereotypes, showing that athleticism, versatility, and intellectual understanding can be as powerful as raw muscle mass.
For fans of strength sports, fitness enthusiasts, or anyone curious about what it takes to reach the absolute top — Mitchell Hooper’s journey offers a blueprint: find balance, cultivate discipline, prioritize recovery, train intelligently, and stay consistent. And maybe, with enough dedication and methodical work, the “Dream Stronger” mantra is more achievable than it seems.
