Mitchell Hooper, a prominent figure in strength athletics, has successfully reclaimed the title of World's Strongest Man. The 30-year-old Canadian triumphed at the 2026 SBD World's Strongest Man competition held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, narrowly defeating defending champion Rayno Nel from South Africa by a mere two points. Trey Mitchell from the United States secured third place on the podium.
This victory follows Hooper's impressive performance earlier this year, where he won the 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic for the fourth consecutive time. Previously, Hooper made history by becoming the first Canadian to win the WSM title in 2023, and he maintained strong placements with second and third finishes in the subsequent years.
The competition unfolded with intense excitement leading up to the final event. Hooper and Nel entered the Finals as the top two contenders. Nel initially took a commanding lead, winning three events: the Flip and Carry, Deadlift, and Titan's Toss. However, Hooper kept the pressure on with consistent performances, finishing second in each of those events.
On the second day, Hooper gained momentum, tying for second in the Max Log Lift, an event he ultimately won, while Nel finished third. As they approached the final event, the Atlas Stones, Hooper trailed Nel by just two points. In a dramatic finish, Hooper excelled in the Atlas Stones, being the only competitor to successfully lift all five stones, while Nel faltered, finishing fifth.
Reflecting on his win, Hooper remarked, "Sometimes, in strongman, it's not who's the clear-cut best. Sometimes the breaks gotta go your way. I've been extremely lucky to have a number of breaks go my way." This sentiment underscores the unpredictable nature of competitive strength sports.
Catch the Action
For those eager to witness the thrilling events, CBS will broadcast highlights from the competition later this summer, starting on June 20 at 2 p.m. ET.
