One of the other significant feats belongs to Mitchell Hooper, who broke the Dinnie Stones Hold for Time World Record when he held up the titular stones with a combined weight of 325.3 kilograms (732 pounds) for 39.85 seconds on Oct. 30, 2022.

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Hooper’s record came as a product of utilizing replicas of the Dinnie Stones. The original granite iterations are a part of a famed strongman tradition, where athletes from all over the world travel to Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to lift the unevenly weighted implements using a modified deadlift technique.

Heading into the 2022 Rogue Invitational, Mark Felix held the Dinnie Stones Hold for Time World Record with a time of 31.4 seconds. Kevin Faires — who possesses the Dinnie Stones Carry World Record with a distance of 25 feet, eight inches from the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic — actually surpassed Felix first when he held up the stones for 37.58 seconds.

Fresh off a third-place podium result in the main strongman competition, Hooper followed Faires and exceeded his peer with the new record mark — earning $5,000 for his efforts. After winning the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and 2022 Arnold Strongman UK — as well as an eighth-place finish in the 2022 WSM (his debut) — Hooper’s record might be a fitting cherry on top to a prolific competitive year.

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On the flip side, while his Dinnie Stones Hold attempt didn’t last, Faires didn’t leave the 2022 Rogue Invitational empty-handed without a record.

The American strongman broke the Thor’s Hammer Deadlift World Record when he successfully lifted the eponymous implement of 147.4 kilograms (325 pounds). The figure surpasses Martin Licis‘ past mark of 136.3 kilograms (300 pounds) after a 2021 Rogue Invitational victory performance.

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The task of Thor’s Hammer deadlift is simple in practice. The athlete must grip the hammer’s thick vertical handle in one hand and lift it clearly off the ground until they receive a down signal from an official. After working through some lighter implements, the final athletes left standing for an attempt to match the current record were Faires, Licis, and Pavlo Nakonechnyy.

Licis had to bow out first as he was unable to match his own previous record of 136 kilograms (300 pounds). An undisclosed injury suffered during the final event of the main Rogue strongman competition may have played a role. Faires and Pavlo Nakonechnyy would both successfully lift the hammer.

When the final record hammer weight of 147.4 kilograms (325 pounds) came around the bend, Faires finished a lockout after two attempts, while Nakonechnyy couldn’t muster up the requisite strength.

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With his Dinnie Stones Carry World Record in the account, it’s also been a banner year of sorts for Faires. After finishing 10th in the primary Rogue strongman contest, Faires can now claim the Thor’s Hammer and Dinnie Stones Carry World Record. When factored into a 2022 calendar year output that includes two podium finishes in four contests, the 32-year-old athlete seems to be hitting a groove.

Featured image: @rogueinvitational on Instagram

The post Mitchell Hooper Sets Dinnie Stones World Record, Kevin Faires Breaks Thor’s Hammer Deadlift World Record appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Trey Mitchell (second place) and Mitchell Hooper (third place) joined Novikov on the podium. Mitchell’s top-two performance is his immediate follow-up to a win at the 2022 Shaw Classic. Meanwhile, Hooper has yet another podium result in his young career after winning each of the recent 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK competitions. To date, Hooper has failed to qualify for the top three on just one occasion — his debut at the 2022 WSM, where he came in eighth place overall.

Here are the final standings from the 2022 Strongman Rogue Invitational:

2022 Strongman Rogue Invitational Final Standings

1. OIeksii Novikov — 49.5 points (Winner)
2. Trey Mitchell — 48 points
3. Mitchell Hooper — 43.5 points
4. Martins Licis — 37.5 points
5. Pavlo Nakonechnyy — 35 points
6. Bobby Thompson — 27.5 points
7. Maxime Boudreault — 27 points
8. Rob Kearney — 25 points
9. Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted — 22.5 points
10. Kevin Faires — 14.5 points

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To win a major strongman contest, an athlete generally has to be a versatile Swiss Army Knife. Or, in this case, a Ukrainian Army Knife. Novikov won just one event at the 2022 Rogue Invitational, but thanks to an impeccable consistency built around strength and overall conditioning, he finished in the top three in all but one event. Such output is why he eventually stood on top of the podium in Austin, TX.

Here’s an overview of Novikov’s complete performance over six events that helped him capture his first Rogue Invitational title.

Oleksii Novikov Rogue Invitational Event Breakdown

1. Tower of Power — Third place
2. Cyr Dumbbell Press — First place
3. Husafell Sandbag Carry — Second place
4. Rogue-a-Coaster — Third place
5. Yoke Carry-Overhead Log Lift Medley — Fourth place
6. Stones Over Hitching Post — Third place

Novikov’s first Rogue title is the latest in a long line of achievements for the strongman superstar. Most might understandably point to his 2020 WSM title as the crowning moment of his career thus far, but the athlete is also a four-time Ukraine’s Strongest Man (2016-2019). He even won Europe’s Strongest Man for the first time in March 2022. Throw in a Hummer Tire Deadlift World Record from the 2022 Shaw Classic, and it’s been quite the competitive run lately for the Ukrainian athlete.

[Related: How to Do the Trap Bar Deadlift — Variations, Benefits, and Common Mistakes]

Novikov’s victory at the 2022 Rogue Invitational made for a lucrative prize. The win gave the athlete $114,125 in prize money, the most awarded of any strongman contest in the 2022 calendar year.

In a post on his Instagram, Novikov dedicated a “great end” to his competitive season to his countrypeople in Ukraine, who have been fighting off an invasion from the Russian army since February 2022.

“Like all the victories this year, this one is also dedicated to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people; I love you; you are unsurpassed,” Novikov wrote. “Thank you to everyone who put a hand in the fact that I can train in Ukraine, and as a Ukrainian, a bow to everyone who defends my country. We once again proved in the sports arena that we are the strongest.”

Featured image: @rogueinvitational on Instagram

The post 2022 Strongman Rogue Invitational Results — Another Title for Oleksii Novikov appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Chandler Smith and Jeffrey Adler joined Medeiros on the Men’s podium in second and third place, respectively. On the Women’s side, former two-time CrossFit Games champion Annie Thorisdottir (second) and 2022 CrossFit Games Rookie of the Year Emma Lawson (third) finished just behind Horvath.

[Related: How to Do the Trap Bar Deadlift — Variations, Benefits, and Common Mistakes]

Here are the final standings for both divisions at the 2022 CrossFit Rogue Invitational:

2022 CrossFit Rogue Invitational Final Standings — Women

1. Laura Horvath — 760 points (Winner)
2. Annie Thorisdottir — 705 points
3. Emma Lawson — 670 points
4. Ellie Turner — 670 points
5. Gabriela Migała — 645 points
6. Amanda Barnhart — 620 points
7. Kara Saunders — 610 points
8. Alexis Raptis — 580 points
9. Danielle Brandon — 575 points
10. Arielle Loewen — 560 points
11. Manon Angonese — 555 points
12. Dani Speegle — 545 points
13. Emma McQuaid — 535 points
14. Matilde Garnes — 520 points
15. Carolyn Prevost — 410 points
16. Olivia Kerstetter — 360 points
17. Jacqueline Dahlstrøm — 340 points
18. Bailey Rogers — 330 points
19. Anikha Greer — 310 points
20. Andrea Solberg — 225 points

2022 CrossFit Rogue Invitational Final Standings — Men

1. Justin Medeiros — 735 points (Winner)
2. Chandler Smith — 720 points
3. Jeffrey Adler — 715 points
4. Patrick Vellner — 705 points
5. Roman Khrennikov — 690 points
6. Björgvin Guðmundsson — 620 points
7. Jayson Hopper — 615 points
8. Samuel Kwant — 580 points
9. Noah Ohlsen — 570 points
10. Ricky Garard — 555 points
11. Jonne Koski — 550 points
12. Nick Mathew — 535 points
13. Jorge Fernandez — 420 points
14. Cole Sager — 420 points
15. Henrik Haapalainen — 405 points
16. Saxon Panchik — 385 points
17. Scott Tetlow — 365 points
18. Tim Paulson — 335 points
19. Jack Farlow — 325 points
20. Lazar Đukić — 255 points

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Between 10 different events, the CrossFitters at the 2022 Rogue Invitational had quite the strength and conditioning gauntlet to work through throughout the Austin, TX, weekend. Here’s an overview of how Horvath and Medeiros fared from event to event as they captured their respective victories.

Laura Horvath 2022 Rogue Invitational Event by Event Performance

After a slow start, Horvath stormed ahead of the rest of the field when she won four straight events. Horvath performed so well that she had a 75-point cushion entering the final day of the contest and clinched the Women’s Rogue Invitational title with a pair of top-10 performances at the end for the clincher.

1. Texas Trail — Ninth place
2. Ski Bar — 14th place
3. Back Attack — First place
4. DT With a Spin — First place
5. The Turtle — First place
6. The Duel II — First place
7. Texas Oak — Second place
8. Snatch and Press — 19th place
9. The Goblet — Seventh place
10. Heavy Grace — Third place

Justin Medeiros 2022 Rogue Invitational Event by Event Performance

Medeiros’ output at the 2022 Rogue Invitational was largely in line with his usual path to success. The athlete maintained a sterling record of consistency, finishing out of the top 10 in two events just twice while notching top-five results in six separate events.

1. Texas Trail — Fifth place
2. Ski Bar — First place
3. Back Attack — Third place
4. DT With a Spin — Fifth place
5. The Turtle — 12th place
6. The Duel II — First place
7. Texas Oak — 16th place
8. Snatch and Press — Eighth place
9. The Goblet — Seventh place
10. Heavy Grace — Fifth place

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Aside from the general acclaim and prestige of winning a major contest like the Rogue Invitational, Horvath and Medeiros’ exploits earned them quite the lucrative equal cash prize. Both athletes took home $218,868 for their victories. It isn’t the end of the 2022 CrossFit season, but if Horvath and Medeiros wanted to hang up their kettlebells until the 2023 campaign, they’ve certainly earned the right to bask for the time being.

Featured image: @rogueinvitational on Instagram

The post 2022 CrossFit Rogue Invitational Results — Laura Horvath and Justin Medeiros Stand Alone appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 27, 2022, Migała posted a video to her YouTube channel that features her traveling to Hafthor Björnsson’s commercial gym, Thor’s Power Gym, in Kópavogur, Iceland. Her primary mission was to work on her deadlift and sandbag proficiency while being coached by two-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) finalist Stefán Sölvi Pétursson.

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From the moment she stepped out of her car — beaming while speculating if Björnsson is actually as big as his reputation says he is — Migała seemed eager to continue implementing some strongwoman-level training into her general routine. (Note: Björnsson was not in attendance.)

“I’m really happy to learn some new stuff from the best people,” Migała explains to the camera. “So it’s gonna be fun. It’s gonna be really helpful.”

Veering away from her usual CrossFit-centric routine apparently wasn’t easy for Migała. She describes herself as a person who appreciates consistency in her daily planning, making the initial slight transition a little challenging.

“Before I came to Iceland, that was one of my concerns,” Migała said of her reservations about trying a different training style. “I’m the type of person who likes to have everything scheduled. I like my routine. I don’t really like too many changes. Leaving my gym, and my equipment, and my everything was quite stressful. I wasn’t sure about this, especially so close to a competition [the 2022 Rogue Invitational].”

Ultimately, Migała appeared to be won over by the temporary variation after some time. With CrossFit usually involving some measure of strongman events or implements, it appeared she appreciated the different focus. She seemed to believe she acclimated well and that this sort of focus helped her become more versatile.

“It actually turned out to be a really good decision,” Migała says. “It’s really good training because I think, as an athlete, you should be able to adapt to everything and not really be used to doing the same stuff in the same safe space.”

 

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As for her workout, Migała kept it quick, efficient, and effective when it came to the deadlift. That’s because her workout was not centered around pulling heavy weight. Pétursson had Migała refocus and rework her deadlift technique in a healthy manner for improved strength in the long run, and she seemed to appreciate the coaching.

“It’s so different; I think it’d be so much easier if you could start from zero rather than forgetting your old technique after doing it for so many years,” Migała said. “… But, yeah, practice makes perfect.”

Migała would follow the initial deadlift coaching by using the field portion of the gym to lift and re-lift an 80-kilogram (176.3-pound) sandbag. By the end of the workout, Migała shined with excitement about what she was able to accomplish.

“It was the best session from all of the sessions since we came to Iceland,” Migała expressed. “It’s been so beneficial to be able to train with Stefan [Sölvi Pétursson]. He showed a few more cues for [lifting] sandbags … so it’s very good.”

 

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Migała is currently utilizing what she learned in training as a strongwoman at the 2022 Rogue Invitational. Chances are, it might help her round out an excellent performance in Austin.

Featured image: @gabimiga on Instagram

The post CrossFitter Gabriela Migała Takes on a Strongwoman Routine at Thor’s Power Gym appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 22, 2022, Björnsson shared a video on his YouTube channel where he trains and works through a light deadlift session while making a significant career announcement — he will be making a return to sanctioned powerlifting. The athlete disclosed that his first powerlifting appearance since December 2018 will happen on Dec. 3, 2022, but did not clarify what the competition is specifically.

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Judging by Björnsson’s tenor while revealing his return to powerlifting, it seems the athlete will use this first undisclosed meet as a trial run of sorts. He wants to see “how the bar will react” while he lifts raw — a lifting style that can be a far cry from the lifting straps, wraps, and fully-equipped set-up of some strongman events.

In terms of setting reasonable expectations for himself as a powerlifter, Björnsson is aiming high. He wants to record a total of at least 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds). Björnsson’s all-time raw competition best total as a powerlifter is 1,100 kilograms (2,425 pounds) from the 2018 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Thor’s Powerlifting Challenge.

Here’s an overview of Björnsson’s all-time raw competition bests from his powerlifting career:

*Hafthor Björnsson | All-Time Raw Competition Powerlifting Bests

• *Squat — No raw attempt
• Bench Press — 250 kilograms (551.1 pounds)
• Deadlift — 410 kilograms (903.9 pounds)
• **Total — 506 kilograms (1,113.3 pounds)

*Note: According to Open Powerlifting, Björnsson has never recorded a raw squat during an official powerlifting contest.

**Note: According to Open Powerlifting, Björnsson has never competed in a three-lift raw powerlifting meet. This total includes only a bench press and deadlift.

 

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Björnsson’s announcement of a powerlifting return comes on the heels of his “partial” comeback to strongman. In mid-October 2022, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion revealed that he would push to break his own weight-over-bar World Record at the 2022 Rogue Invitational on Oct. 28-30. The current weight-over-bar mark from the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic — which, again, Björnsson owns — is a weight of 56 pounds thrown over a height of 20’2″.

Should Björnsson officially surpass that record figure, he alluded to a future where he may try to break his own deadlift World Record of 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds) from the 2020 World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” series. In the event that the potential goal is successful, Björnsson would naturally be the first-ever strongman to deadlift over 501 kilograms.

 

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For an impeccably strong athlete like Björnsson, it appears he wants to rekindle the passions that pushed him to the top of the strength sports world. At this rate, knowing what Björnsson brings to the table, who’s to say the strongman/powerlifter won’t excel on a consistent level again?

Featured image: Hafthor Björnsson on YouTube

The post Hafthor Björnsson Plans to Make His Competitive Powerlifting Return appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 17, 2022, Björnsson posted a video to his YouTube channel announcing his intention to shelve his boxing endeavors and return to strongman at the 2022 Rogue Invitational. At the same time, the icon revealed he plans to break his weight-over-bar World Record at the Austin, TX, contest on October 28-30, 2022.

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The context behind Björnsson’s new goal as a strongman is simple — he let his peers have time to break his weight-over-bar mark, but he seems to have grown tired of waiting. (Note: Björnsson established the current weight-over-bar World Record at the 2019 Arnold Strongman Classic when he threw 56 pounds over a height of 20’2″.)

“I gave it a few years,” Björnsson explained. “I hoped that someone would break it, but no one was able to. “So, I think it’s about time that I break this World Record. And then, who knows? Maybe I have to come back to strongman and break my own deadlift World Record.”

At the same time, it appears Björnsson losing his passion for boxing may have partly been a motivating factor behind a return to a strongman event.

“​​I’m 33 years old now, turning 34 in November,” Björnsson said. “For me, it was just like, should I spend the last few of my years as an athlete doing something I don’t love, or should I just go and focus on my businesses and focus on the things that I love, like lifting weights?”

[Related: How to Do the Hip Thrust — Variations, Benefits, and Common Mistakes]

The latter part of Björnsson’s clarifying sentiment about his record pursuits is an intriguing prospect.

Should the Icelandic athlete successfully break his weight-over-bar record figure at the 2022 Rogue Invitational, putting his World Record deadlift in front of his mind might be an even more impressive achievement. At the time of this writing, no strongman has ever surpassed Björnsson’s World Record pull of 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds) from the 2020 World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats of Strength” series.

Some in the strongman community believe that 2017 WSM champ Eddie Hall still possesses the “real” mark because his deadlift of 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds) from the 2016 World Deadlift Championships (WDC) occurred at a neutral setting. Whereas Björnsson’s happened at his personal gym in Reykjavik, Iceland. Nevertheless, if he eventually travels down this path, Björnsson does own the official record mark and would be the first strongman to deadlift more than 501 kilograms.

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For this now-active strongman legend in Björnsson, staying away from his calling appeared to be too much of an ask over time. Should he break the weight-over-bar World Record and deadlift World Record in relative succession, it might be a blaring signal that the superstar is truly back where he feels he belongs.

Featured image: @thorbjornsson on Instagram

The post Hafthor Björnsson Intends to Break Weight-Over-Bar World Record at 2022 Rogue Invitational appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 17, 2022, Licis shared a video of himself capturing a 455-kilogram (1,003-pound) block-pull deadlift for four reps. Per the caption of his post, Licis apparently had “plenty more in reserve” even after finishing the set. Notably, Licis did not disclose the precise heights of the blocks. However, judging by the video, they appear to be roughly half the height of the 6-foot-3 strongman’s calves when standing straight up. The athlete wore a lifting belt and lifting straps, and completed the set while donning just his socks.

 

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Licis’ unique deadlift training is part of his preparation for the upcoming 2022 Rogue Invitational. The American strongman is the defending champion of the contest that will take place on Oct. 28-30, 2022, in Austin, TX. According to Strongman Archives, it will also be Licis’ first appearance in a formal competitive strongman setting since he finished in second place to Tom Stoltman at the 2022 WSM.

Licis is one of the more decorated and accomplished active strongmen. His 2019 WSM title aside, the athlete has also never failed to qualify for the WSM finals in five appearances. His overall precedent shows that he usually fares well amongst his peers in other competitions, too.

Here’s an overview of the more significant results from Licis’ illustrious career to this point:

Martins Licis | Notable Career Results

• 2015 America’s Strongest Man — Second place
• 2017-2018 Ultimate Strongman Summermania — First place
• 2018 Giants Live World Tour Finals — Second place
• 2018 Arnold Europe Arnold Pro Strongman World Series — First place
• 2019-2020 Arnold USA Arnold Pro Strongman World Series — First place
• 2019 WSM — First place
• 2019 Giants Live Wembley — First place
• 2021 Rogue Invitational — First place
• 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic — First place
• 2022 WSM — Second place

At the time of this article’s publication, here is the current roster for the latest edition of the strongman Rogue Invitational:

2022 Rogue Invitational Roster

• Martins Licis — Reigning Champion
• Oleksii Novikov
• Rob Kearney
• Trey Mitchell
• Mitchell Hooper
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy
• Maxime Boudreault
• Bobby Thompson
• Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted
• Kevin Faires

 

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This latest deadlift pull might be an example of Licis ramping up his training as he gets set to compete again. Should the strongman successfully repeat as Rogue Invitational champion, it’ll undoubtedly be another impressive notch in the belt for one of the biggest names in strongman.

Featured image: @martinslicis on Instagram

The post Strongman Martins Licis Crushes a Block Pull Deadlift Over 1,000 Pounds for 4 Reps appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Oct. 11, 2022, Hooper shared an Instagram clip of himself completing a raw 488.6-kilogram (1,075-pound) 19-inch deadlift. According to the caption of the Canadian athlete’s post, it’s a new personal record (PR). Hooper wore a lifting belt and lifting straps and completed the pull in his socks.

 

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[Related: 4 Workouts With a Single Dumbbell for Muscle, Fat Loss, and More]

Hooper wrote that he completed his deadlift from a 19-inch position for “strongman reasons.” What he’s alluding to is the 2022 Rogue Invitational, which will take place on Oct. 28-30, 2022, in Austin, TX. At the time of this writing, the contest’s events have not been announced. It appears Hooper is preparing his strength for a related deadlift as a contingency.

The Canadian strongman has shown off plenty of eye-opening training displays of strength in recent months.

In late June 2022, Hooper completed a 425-kilogram (937-pound) raw traditional deadlift for two singles. Roughly a couple of weeks later, in mid-July 2022, the athlete logged a 184-kilogram (406-pound) log press double PR. Then, in mid-September 2022, before a recent spate of competitive success, Hooper completed a 315-kilogram (695-pound) squat for a five-rep PR.

[Related: How to Do the Hack Squat — Benefits, Variations, and More]

Should Hooper transfer his power to Austin and win, it will mark his third consecutive victory in a strongman competition. The athlete previously won his first pro contest at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK in late September. Then, in early October 2022, he followed that performance with his first career victory on the Giants Live circuit at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals. Perhaps even more impressively, if Hooper finishes in the top three again, it will be his sixth straight appearance on a strongman podium dating back to the 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic.

Here’s the current roster of athletes Hooper will try to topple at the 2022 Rogue Invitational:

2022 Rogue Invitational Roster

• Martins Licis — Reigning Champion
• Mitchell Hooper
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy
• Maxime Boudreault
• Bobby Thompson
• Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted
• Kevin Faires
• Oleksii Novikov
• Rob Kearney
• Trey Mitchell

 

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Hooper has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his early strongman career, and it doesn’t seem like he plans to slow down any time soon. At his rapid pace, this 26-year-old phenom could very well cement himself as a prominent fixture in the sport for years to come.

Featured image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram

The post Watch Mitchell Hooper Crush a 488.6-Kilogram (1,075-Pound) 19-Inch Deadlift PR appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

 

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[Related: How to Do the Hack Squat — Benefits, Variations, and More]

In a post on his Instagram page, Melsted expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete at the 2022 Rogue Invitational.

“I can’t wait to do the hard stuff and lift heavy things amongst the strongest of the strongest in one of the biggest competitions out there,” wrote Melsted. “See you all in Austin, Texas, in a few weeks.”

Melsted, 28, has participated in 16 strongman competitions in his professional career. To date, his top highlights might be back-to-back victories in the 2020 and 2021 Strongest Man in Iceland contests. Here’s a short rundown of his noteworthy results:

Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted | Notable Career Results

• 2018, 2021 Iceland’s Strongest Man — Second place
• 2018-2019 Strongest Man in Iceland — Second place
• 2020-2021 Strongest Man in Iceland — First place
• 2020 Iceland’s Strongest Man — Second place
• 2020 Pasaulio Taurė — Second place
• 2021 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Final — 10th place
• 2021 Magnús Ver Magnússon Strongman Classic — Second place
• 2022 WSM Final — Ninth place

 

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Melsted joins a stacked roster of 10 elite strength athletes. The 2022 Rogue Invitational — only the second iteration of the strongman variation — will take place on Oct. 28-30, 2022, in Austin, TX.

At the time of this writing, here is the confirmed roster of strongmen for the 2022 Rogue Invitational:

2022 Rogue Invitational Roster

• Martins Licis (United States) — Defending Champion
• Trey Mitchell (United States)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Maxime Boudreault (Canada)
• Kevin Faires (United States)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) 
• Rob Kearney (United States)
• Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted (Iceland)
• Bobby Thompson (United States)

Former WSM champion (2019) Martins Licis won the inaugural edition of the strongman Rogue Invitational in 2021. Notably, with competitors like two-time defending WSM Tom Stoltman and four-time WSM Brian Shaw not participating in this year’s contest, most of the 2022 Rogue Invitational roster will be making their debut in Texas. Six of the 10 athletes — Melsted, Trey Mitchell, Pavlo Nakonechnyy, Maxime Boudreault, Kevin Faires, and Mitchell Hooper — are first-timers to the competition.

 

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A new mix like this could mean an unpredictable result occurs. In a field where everyone is learning the ropes of the contest, a young dark horse, like Melsted, may potentially push Licis as he tries to defend his title.

Featured image: @eythormelsted on Instagram

The post Strongman Eythór Ingólfsson Melsted Joins 2022 Rogue Invitational Roster as Evan Singleton’s Replacement appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

In a Sept. 28, 2022, Instagram update, Singleton announced that he underwent successful surgery to reattach his biceps tendon. The athlete did not offer a concrete timetable for a full recovery from his injury but alluded to plans to try and compete in the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Evan “T-Rex” Singleton (@evan_trex_strongman)

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Before his surgery, in one of his apparent last heavy lifting sessions for a while, Singleton shared a Sept. 25 Instagram clip of himself powering through some heavy box squats. The athlete completed a 340-kilogram (751-pound) set for three reps.

To outline his future plans in the YouTube video, Singleton maintained that the 2023 WSM will be his “first stop.” Following that, he will intend to get back onto the Giants Live circuit and the 2023 Rogue Invitational. In 2021, he notably won the 2021 Giants Live World Open and the 2021 Arnold Strongman Classic UK — the inaugural edition of the contest.

Depending on Singleton’s recovery and training, he may well return to that high standard of performance come next year. 

Featured image: @evan_trex_strongman on Instagram

The post Strongman Evan Singleton’s 2022 Season is Over After Successful Bicep Surgery appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mitchell Hooper (@mitchellhooper)

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Hooper’s demonstration of leg power is a part of ongoing preparation for his debut at the upcoming 2022 Rogue Invitational. That contest is scheduled to take place on Oct. 28-30, 2022, at the Dell Diamond Stadium in Austin, TX.

In anticipation of the competition, Hooper recently started filming a series on his YouTube channel entitled “Road to the Rogue Invitational.” The first video — shared on Sept. 7, 2022 — features the athlete practicing various traditional events featured in strongman contests. (Note: At the time of this writing, the organizers of the 2022 Rogue Invitational have not announced the events for the contest.)

Hooper ends up lifting Atlas Stones, working through a respective Farmer’s and Sandbag Carry, and even throws in a one-kilometer run on a treadmill for good measure. All in all, Hooper calls his diligent training in the first episode “a good place to start.”

[Related: How to Do the Triceps Kickback for Arm Size]

Here’s the current roster of athletes slated to compete in Austin at the end of October:

2022 Rogue Invitational Roster 

• Martins Licis — Reigning Champion
• Mitchell Hooper
• Trey Mitchell
• Oleksii Novikov
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy
• Rob Kearney
• Bobby Thompson
• Kevin Faires
• Maxime Boudreault
• Evan Singleton

Notably, while defending champion Martin Licis returns to defend his title, two-time reigning World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Tom Stoltman, 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) Luke Stoltman, and four-time WSM champ Brian Shaw each declined their invitations after competing in last year’s edition. Tom Stoltman finished second behind Licis in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rogue Invitational (@rogueinvitational)

[Related: Can You Squat Every Day?]

Three such noteworthy absences mean the 2022 Rogue Invitational field could be wide open for an up-and-comer like Hooper. After a 2022 WSM Qualifying Round blitz and three consecutive podium finishes in this year’s Giants Live Strongman Classic, Giants Live World Open, and Shaw Classic — Hooper may very well be in line to capture his first major international strongman victory. 

The 2022 Rogue Invitational is set to occur on Oct. 28-30 in Austin, TX. 

Featured image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram

The post Watch Mitchell Hooper Cruise Through a 315-Kilogram (695-Pound) Squat for a 5-Rep PR appeared first on Breaking Muscle.