A man from Barrie owns the World's Strongest Man title.
Mitchell "The Moose" Hooper captured the trophy at the 2023 World's Strongest Man competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The gruelling competition took place from April 19th to the 23rd, with Hooper coming out on top and being the first Canadian ever to hold the title.
"It's a victory for me, my friends, my family, the people around me, but also for Canada to finally have the world's strongest man ... in the home country," Hooper told Barrie 360.
"The Moose," standing 6'3" and weighing 320 lbs, was humble when talking about his win.
"I'm really lucky to be able to be in the position to even have the chance to go to something like this, never mind win it," Hooper said. "And to be the first Canadian to win it, and to be only the fourth person ever to win the [Arnold Strongman Classic] and [World's Strongest Man] in the same year, it's quite a surreal feeling."
A new champion is crowned, a legend says goodbye
The Barrie native finished the competition almost five points ahead of second place, Tom Stoltman - who won the previous two years.
Hooper was also up against Brian Shaw, a four-time winner of the competition, and veteran in the sport, who finished seventh this year and announced it would be his final time at World's Strongest Man.
"I would just say that I'm honoured to be able to carry through what those guys have started," Hooper said when reflecting on Shaw and other pioneers. "It's certainly becoming a fast-growing, evolving sport and if I can play a small role in pushing it forward, then I'm very happy to do so."
What's next for the champ? Hooper says he's eyeing up a grand slam victory to complete his 2023 campaign.
The gauntlet entails winning the Arnold Strongman Classic (Hooper did so in March), World's Strongest Man (Hooper just achieved), the Shaw Classic in August, and the Rogue Invitational in October.
With Hooper needing two more wins, he says it's back to the gym to prepare for the next.
"I'll look to be the first person ever to close out all four in a year."
Banner image via SBD World’s Strongest Man Facebook page
