In a video posted on his YouTube page on Nov. 13, 2023, Hooper tried the seven-time Mr. Olympia winner’s iconic back and biceps workout. Needless to say, the high-volume style of training gave the Canadian strongman an even deeper appreciation for Schwarzenegger’s accomplishments.

Always up for a challenge, Hooper tested his upper-body strength and stamina via a series of back and biceps exercises that left his muscles thoroughly taxed. Paying homage to arguably the most popular bodybuilder ever to live, it didn’t take long for the talented strongman to understand the differences between how athletes from each sport benefit from their specific training modalities.

Hooper kicked off the session with four back exercises before finishing up with several curl variations. The workout begins about 40 seconds into the video.

Wide-Grip Pull-Up

Tipping the scales at about 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, Hooper recruited his lats to lift his sizable frame to the top of the assisted pull-up machine. Going with a wide grip led to enhanced lat engagement and allowed the Ontario native to better utilize his rhomboids and trapezius muscles.

After completing his second set, Hooper took a look at some of Schwarzenegger’s best lifts, which included a 498-pound (226-kilogram) bench press and a 709.9-pound (322-kilogram) deadlift. Despite not being overly impressed by those numbers, Hooper acknowledged that bodybuilders have a distinct advantage in one key area.

“Upper body strength is disproportionally good in bodybuilders because their muscle mass is so high up there,” he explained. “I don’t know what that is. Maybe strongmen should do a lot more upper body accessory work than we do because bodybuilders are so strong comparatively.

Following that brief rest period, Hooper wrapped up the first portion of the workout by completing three more sets of wide-grip pull-ups.

T-Bar Row

Next, Hooper went with a variation of one of Schwarzenegger’s favorite exercises: the T-bar row. Starting with three 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plates, the big man explosively pulled and squeezed each rep, noting that his upper-body strength isn’t on the same level as his lower body.

“Like 80 percent of everything we do is quad, hamstring, glute,” Hooper said about strongmen. “Leg drive, if you’ve got that, you’re going to do very well.”

Subsequent sets of T-bar rows included heavier loads, which forced the Canadian athlete to use his core and legs to maintain stability throughout the movement.

Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

Hooper then went over to the dumbbell section to perform single-arm rows. A classic back exercise that’s great for building thickness, he made quick work of 130-pound (59-kilogram) dumbbells for his first two sets. However, just because it looked easy doesn’t mean Hooper enjoyed this part of the workout.

“I think this might be my least favorite exercise,” he explained. “The difficulty is a lot in your core, not a lot in the actual pulling. So it’s like a core workout with an arbitrary dumbbell movement.”

Still, Hooper pushed (or in this case, pulled) on to finish two more sets with the same weight, making sure to maintain a neutral spine as he completed the heavy dumbbell rows.

Close-Grip Lat Pulldown

The final back exercise of the workout put Hooper’s lats to the ultimate test. Having already accepted the reality that he would be “sore as hell” the next day, he mustered up the energy to complete four sets of close-grip lat pulldowns. Hooper leaned back slightly during the movement, pulling the handle down to just above chest level.

Once he finished on the cable machine, he moved on to the second half of his session.

[Related: The Best Arm Workouts for Beginners, With Dumbbells, and More]

Biceps Circuit

With about 20 minutes left to train, Hooper wrapped his biceps in blood restriction cuffs, which have been shown to help increase hypertrophy. (1) Although he performed fewer working sets than Schwarzenegger’s protocol, Hooper still achieved an excellent muscle-building stimulus.

Aiming to hit his biceps from multiple angles, the reigning WSM completed four rounds of a four-part circuit that included the following exercises:

• Standing Barbell Curl — Used a 70-pound (31.8-kilogram) curl bar
• Barbell Preacher Curl — Used the same 70-pound (31.8-kilogram) curl bar
• Alternating Dumbbell Curl — Used 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) dumbbells
• Concentration Curl — Used 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) dumbbells

By the time he cranked out his final rep, an exasperated and vascular version of Hooper seemed happy with the pump he achieved during the expedited biceps session.

Schwarzenegger-Style Back and Biceps Workout

Here’s a complete breakdown of the Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired back and biceps workout Hooper performed.

• Wide-Grip Pull-Up — 5 x 8-12
• T-Bar Row — 5 x 8-12
• Single-Arm Dumbbell Row — 4 x 8-12
• Close-Grip Lat Pulldown — 4 x 8-12
• Standing Barbell Curl — 4 x 8-12
• Barbell Preacher Curl — 4 x 8-12
• Alternating Dumbbell Curl — 4 x 8-12
• Concentration Curl — 4 x 8-12

While you shouldn’t expect to see Mitchell Hooper enter a bodybuilding show anytime soon, the fact he’s willing to try different styles of training and share his honest feedback shows why he’s one of the more well-respected and popular strength athletes today. Already a world-class strongman, anything he does to improve in other areas will only make him a more fierce competitor moving forward.

Featured Image: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube

References

1. Wortman RJ, Brown SM, Savage-Elliott I, Finley ZJ, Mulcahey MK. Blood Flow Restriction Training for Athletes: A Systematic Review. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jun;49(7):1938-1944. doi: 10.1177/0363546520964454. Epub 2020 Nov 16. PMID: 33196300.

The post Mitchell Hooper Tackles Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Brutal Back and Biceps Workout appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

The showdown between an American squad led by 2019 World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis and a British side headlined by legendary English strongman Eddie Hall featured seven events during a single-day competition that took place on Nov. 18, 2023, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. After watching their home team claim the crown in 2022, UK fans witnessed Team USA put together a winning effort that included a record-setting performance by Kevin Faires in the latest show from the Giants Live World’s Strongest Man Arena Tour.

Both teams had a mix of female and male athletes squaring off in a series of challenges that tested their strength, power, and conditioning. Teams earned three points for an event win, with a bonus point given to the team that had the top overall performer in each of the first six events. Despite a furious comeback attempt by Hall’s squad, Singleton — winner of both the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic and the 2023 Giants Live World Open — sealed the victory for the Americans by hoisting a 551-pound (250-kilogram) weight onto the final step of the “Power Stairs.”

Here are the full results from the seven events, along with an overview of what each entailed.

Event 1: Sandbag Steeplechase

Each competitor had to pick up a sandbag and move quickly to drop it over a hurdle set at the 10-meter point. After retrieving it from the other side, the athlete had to go another 10 meters before heaving it onto a table placed at the 20-meter mark. Men worked with 330.7 pounds (150 kilograms), with women using 220.5-pound (100-kilogram) sandbags.

Team USA won the Sandbag Steeplechase by a sizable margin of nearly 35 seconds for a total of four points.

Team USA (Total Time — 2:39.39 seconds)

• Inez Carrasquillo — 18.20 seconds
• Rob Kearney — 21.39 seconds
• Nadia Stowers — 22.69 seconds
• Kevin Faires — 20.44 seconds
• Erin Murray — 19.59 seconds
• Spenser Remick — 21.39 seconds
• Inez Carrasquillo — 18.19 seconds
• Evan Singleton — 17.56 seconds (bonus point)

Team UK (Total Time — 3:13.87 seconds)

• Andrea Thompson — 33.57 seconds
• Gavin Bilton — 17.66 seconds
• Lucy Underdown — 32.47 seconds
• Mark Felix — 29.63 seconds
• Donna Moore — 24.43 seconds
• Luke Stoltman — 18.00 seconds
• Rebecca Roberts — 19.99 seconds
• Tom Stoltman — 18.12 seconds

[Related: The Best HIIT Workouts With Bodyweight, With Kettlebells, and More]

Event 2: Farmer’s Walk

A classic strongman event, the Farmer’s Walk featured 40 meters of a grueling test of grip strength and endurance. The female athletes worked with 198.4 pounds (90 kilograms) in each hand, with the males carrying 308.6 pounds (140 kilograms) on each side.

Team USA defeated Team UK in the second event thanks to another top performance by Singleton that gave his squad a second bonus point.

Team USA (Total Time — 3:04.90 seconds)

• Inez Carrasquillo — 21.68 seconds
• Spenser Remick — 23.26 seconds
• Nadia Stowers — 34.25 seconds
• Martins Licis — 21.12 seconds
• Erin Murray — 24.65 seconds
• Kevin Faires — 20.36 seconds
• Gabi Dixson — 21.48 seconds
• Evan Singleton — 18.10 seconds (bonus point)

Team UK (Total Time — 3:13.65 seconds)

• Andrea Thompson — 21.87 seconds
• Gavin Bilton — 25.17 seconds
• Lucy Underdown — 26.55 seconds
• Luke Stoltman — 20.11 seconds
• Donna Moore — 32.53 seconds
• Tom Stoltman — 19.94 seconds
• Rebecca Roberts — 20.87 seconds
• Mark Felix — 26.61 seconds

[Related: 11 Loaded Carry Variations Worth Trying]

Event 3: Axle Deadlift

A test of deadlift proficiency had the men use 793.7-pound (360-kilogram) axles — a weight that proved incredibly challenging. Meanwhile, the women put together some impressive totals utilizing 485-pound (220-kilogram) axles.

Team UK secured the win over Team USA by five total reps on the back of a bonus point-earning showing by Lucy Underdown.

Team USA (Total Reps — 23 reps)

• Gabi Dixson — 10 reps
• Nadia Stowers — Six reps
• Rob Kearney — Four reps
• Evan Singleton — Three reps

Team UK (Total Reps — 28 reps)

• Lucy Underdown — 13 reps (bonus point)
• Andrea Thompson — Eight reps
• Gavin Bilton — Four reps
• Tom Stoltman — Three reps

[Related: 7 Tips to Perfect Your Deadlift Form]

Event 4: Circus Dumbbell

Arguably the most technically difficult event on the schedule, the Circus Dumbbell tested the athletes’ explosive power and coordination with an overhead press. Licis smartly used his joker card to maximize the potential point haul for his squad — and the move paid off.

Team USA won by three total reps, with Singleton earning his third bonus point by topping all competitors with seven reps. The joker card allowed the Americans to earn double the points.

Team USA (Total Reps — 22 reps)

• Nadia Stowers — Four reps
• Inez Carrasquillo — Five reps
• Rob Kearney — Six reps
• Evan Singleton — Seven reps (bonus point)

Team UK (Total Reps — 19 reps)

• Donna Moore — Four reps
• Andrea Thompson — Six reps
• Luke Stoltman — Six reps
• Gavin Bilton — Three reps

[Related: 8 Overhead Press Variations for Stronger Shoulders]

Event 5: Wrecking Ball Hold

First held at the Giants Live Strongman Open earlier this year, this event tested the athletes’ grip power and willpower. Kevin Faires, who placed ninth at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, cemented his place in strongman history books by setting a World Record by keeping the wrecking ball in place for nearly two minutes.

However, Team UK still emerged victorious thanks to 18-time WSM competitor Mark Felix recording a highly impressive time of his own that gave his squad the decisive edge.

Team USA (Total Time — 4:01.84 seconds)

• Gabi Dixson — 6.84 seconds
• Nadia Stowers — 46.01 seconds
• Kevin Faires — 1:53.00 seconds (World Record)
• Evan Singleton — 1:15.99 seconds

Team UK (Total Time — 4:23.30 seconds)

• Lucy Underdown — 46.43 seconds
• Rebecca Roberts — 57.47 seconds
• Gavin Bilton — 1:02.02 seconds
• Mark Felix — 1:37.38 seconds

[Related: The 10 Best Medicine Ball Exercises for Power, Conditioning, and More]

Event 6: Tug of War

Eddie Hall confidently used his joker card in an old-fashioned tug-of-war contest. The three-part battle started with separate showdowns between four-person male and female teams and concluded with an eight-a-side mixed-gender dual.

Unfortunately for Team USA, all three rounds went to Team UK, who closed the gap to just three points heading into the last event.

Pull 1: Women

Team UK (Moore, Roberts, Thompson, and Underdown) defeats Team USA (Carrasquillo, Dixson, Murray, and Stowers)

Pull 2: Men

Team UK (Bilton, Felix, L. Stoltman, and T. Stoltman) defeats Team USA (Kearney, Licis, Remick, Singleton)

Pull 3: Mixed

Team UK (Moore, Roberts, Thompson, Underdown, Bilton, Hall, L. Stoltman, and T. Stoltman) defeats Team USA (Carrasquillo, Dixson, Murray, Stowers, Faires, Kearney, Licis, and Remick)

[Related: Australian Strongman Smashes World Record by Pulling 44,753-Pound Crane]

Event 7: Power Stairs

The last event had three men and two women alternate carrying a weight each to the top of a set of stairs. While the men worked with 496-pound (225-kilogram) and 551.2-pound (250-kilogram) weights, the women used 275.6-pound (125-kilogram) and 286.6-pound (130-kilogram) weights.

Between having a 1.5-second head start due to their three-point lead and executing the challenge with excellent technique, Team USA stormed to the top of the stairs and secured the World’s Strongest Nation title.

[Related: The 8 Best Upper Body Pulling Exercises]

Ultimately, all the athletes showcased tremendous class and respect for one another while putting their bodies on the line for the sake of national pride. With the teams splitting the first two matchups, the third iteration of the World’s Strongest Nation should be even more competitive. Only time will tell whether Team USA can become the first back-to-back winners in the contest’s brief history.

Featured Image: Giants Live Strongman / Instagram

The post Team USA Topples Team UK for 2023 World’s Strongest Nation Title appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

In a video posted on his YouTube page on Nov. 16, 2023, Hooper 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 in the gym.

Besides boasting an incredibly muscular and symmetrical physique, The King earned plenty of praise for his ability to train with the strength of a powerlifter (which Coleman was at one point). Known for working with extremely heavy weights and pushing himself to the point of failure, Coleman set personal records in some staple lifts that still seem unfathomable years later, including military pressing 315 pounds (143 kilograms) for 12 reps and squatting and deadlifting 800 pounds for two reps. Combining that powerbuilding approach with a high-protein diet and an ultra-disciplined lifestyle helped the Louisiana native collect 26 IFBB pro show wins, including eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005.

However, even for Hooper, who became the fourth person to win WSM and the Arnold Strongman Classic in the same year 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 first back exercise.

The three-part workout begins around the 1:05 mark of the video.

Conventional Deadlift — 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) for two reps

Coleman famously completed two reps of an 800-pound conventional deadlift in the 2000 documentary Ronnie Coleman: The Unbelievable. For most people, replicating that feat would be downright impossible. Yet for Hooper, who has pulled 1,000 pounds, matching Coleman’s best deadlift didn’t present much of a challenge.

The 28-year-old started with a warm-up set of 575 pounds (260.8 kilograms), showcasing picture-perfect form by driving his hips forward during the lockout phase. Before performing his next set, Hooper pointed to the peanut tattoo on the inside of 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 pounds (310.7 kilograms), the accomplished strongman raised the stakes and attempted to hit 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) twice just as Coleman did more than two decades 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 pounds (233.6 kilograms) for 10 reps

Six years after setting his deadlift PR, Coleman smashed 10 reps of barbell bent-over rows with a total of 515 pounds (233.6 kilograms) in 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 same level of confidence about being able to match Coleman’s bent-over row record as he did during the deadlift. Starting with a warm-up set of 405 pounds (183.7 kilograms) that already looked challenging, Hooper added another 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms) to the barbell.

“It’s funny how this is a really light deadlift, but when you pick it up and you’re now in the context of “you have to row it” the feeling is completely different,” he explained during his rest period.

Ultimately, Hooper didn’t even attempt to match the weight Coleman used in his prime. Instead, he topped out at eight reps of 455 pounds (206.4 kilograms) before moving on to the final exercise.

[Related: Legendary Ronnie Coleman Explains the Four Bodybuilding Poses That Built His Career]

T-Bar Row — 505 pounds (229 kilograms) for 12 reps

The session concluded with Hooper trying to go toe-to-toe with Coleman’s T-bar row record of 12 reps of 505 pounds (229 kilograms) set in 2006. He began with an easy warm-up set of 315 pounds (142.9 kilograms), which set the stage for a short discussion about the impact of lifting heavy.

“It’s a reality that every strength athlete has to face — that if you push yourself to the limit over and over and over it can result in long-term damage,” Hooper explained. “All you’re doing is shifting risk profiles. It’s important to recognize that pushing yourself to the limit does increase the risk of certain musculoskeletal issues down the track but it also completely diminishes the risk of others.

After sharing his insight about the dangers of training to the extreme, 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 close to matching one of his icons.

The winner of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition maxed out at 10 reps of 405 pounds (183.7 kilograms), proving that The King truly was (and still is) on another level.

Featured Image: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube

The post Mitchell Hooper Attempts 3 of Ronnie Coleman’s Heaviest Lifts Ever appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Showcasing his range of skills across five grueling events, the two-time World’s Strongest Man captured the coveted title on Oct. 21, 2023, in front of a gregarious Glasgow crowd that proudly cheered on both Tom and his older brother, Luke Stoltman, who were born and raised roughly 200 miles north in Invergordon, Scotland. Although New Zealand’s Mathew Ragg came agonizingly close to besting the younger Stoltman brother, Ragg ultimately finished three points behind the champion for a hard-fought second-place finish.

Here are the final standings from the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals:

2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals Standings

1. Tom Stoltman (UK) — 54.5 points
2. Mathew Ragg (New Zealand) — 51.5 points
3. Mitchell Hooper (Canada) — 46 points
4. Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine) — 42.5 points
5. Luke Stoltman (UK) — 40.5 points
6. Gavin Bilton (UK) — 34 points
7. Ondřej Fojtů (Czech Republic) — 27.5 points
8. Tyler Cotton (USA) — 22 points
9. Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland) — 22 points
10. Eddie Williams (Australia) — 21 points
11. Conor Curran (UK) — 16.5 points
12. Evans Aryee (Ghana) — 6 points (Withdrew after second event)

Event Breakdown

Tom Stoltman undoubtedly stole the show with a dominant all-around outing that saw him secure victories in three of the five events. However, he certainly wasn’t the only strongman who shined.

Here’s a detailed event-by-event breakdown of the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals.

Event One: Max Log Lift

The competition kicked off with a classic strongman event that tested the athletes’ upper-body strength and power. To little surprise, Tom Stoltman took home top honors in the Max Log Lift, becoming the only man to successfully overhead press a 463-pound (210-kilogram) log. Meanwhile, Mitchell Hooper, Pavlo Kordiyaka, Luke Stoltman, and Tyler Cotton each earned 9.5 points by locking out 440.9 pounds (200 kilograms).

Although he did not participate in the overall competition, Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou delivered the most impressive rep of them all by pressing 507.1 pounds (230 kilograms) to set the Log Lift World Record. Sanou also held the previous record, 504.8 pounds (229 kilograms), which he set at the 2021 edition of the contest.

1. Tom Stoltman — 463 pounds (210 kilograms)
2. Mitchell Hooper — 440.9 pounds (200 kilograms)
3. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 440.9 pounds (200 kilograms)
4. Luke Stoltman — 440.9 pounds (200 kilograms)
5. Tyler Cotton — 440.9 pounds (200 kilograms)
6. Mathew Ragg — 410.1 pounds (186 kilograms)
7. Ondřej Fojtů — 410.1 pounds (186 kilograms)
8. Gavin Bilton — 374.8 pounds (170 kilograms)
9. Eddie Williams — 374.8 pounds (170 kilograms)
10. Evans Aryee — 374.8 pounds (170 kilograms)
11. Pa O’Dwyer — No Lift
12. Conor Curran — No Lift

Event Two: Sandbag Steeplechase

A staple in Giants Live competitions, the second event required the athletes to pick up, carry, and throw two 330.7-pound (150-kilogram) sandbags over a waist-high pole. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, they then had to go around to the other side of the pole, lift the sandbags again, and load them onto a platform.

Proving he had the right combination of brute strength and fleet feet, Tom Stoltman took home his second straight victory by completing the course in just under 30 seconds. He narrowly edged out 2023 Europe’s Strongest Man Pavlo Kordiyaka, who finished in second place by just over half a second.

1. Tom Stoltman — 29.92 seconds
2. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 30.48 seconds
3. Mathew Ragg — 31.41 seconds
4. Luke Stoltman — 33.62 seconds
5. Ondřej Fojtů — 34.44 seconds
6. Mitchell Hooper — 34.63 seconds
7. Conor Curran — 35.30 seconds
8. Gavin Bilton — 36.81 seconds
9. Pa O’Dwyer — 36.84 seconds
10. Tyler Cotton — 37.76 seconds
11. Evans Aryee — 38.22 seconds
12. Eddie Williams — 42.16 seconds

Event Three: Axle Deadlift

The third event revolved around the good ol’ deadlift. Only in this case, the weight was loaded onto an axle — a thicker, stiffer, and more difficult implement to utilize compared to a standard barbell. Competitors had to perform as many repetitions as possible with 771.6 pounds (350 kilograms), and for the first time on the day, Tom Stoltman didn’t finish ahead of the pack.

Six-time New Zealand’s Strongest Man Mathew Ragg starred in this deadlift challenge, pulling off eight reps and securing the maximum amount of points. Overall, only four of the 12 competitors completed at least five reps.

1. Mathew Ragg — Eight reps
2. Tom Stoltman — Seven reps
3. Mitchell Hooper — Seven reps
4. Gavin Bilton — Five reps
5. Pavlo Kordiyaka — Four reps
6. Luke Stoltman — Four reps
7. Ondřej Fojtů — Four reps
8. Pa O’Dwyer — Four reps
9. Eddie Williams — Four reps
10. Tyler Cotton — Three reps
11. Conor Curran — Three reps
12. Evans Aryee — Withdrew

Event Four: Conan’s Wheel

The penultimate event proved to be the most challenging for the eventual champion. Conan’s Wheel required the strongmen to pick up a metal beam fixed to a center point and spin it around as far as possible without letting it hit the floor. After finishing in first in two of the first three events, Tom Stoltman slipped to fifth.

On the other hand, Mathew Ragg continued to build momentum from the Axle Deadlift, completing almost two and a half revolutions (845 degrees) before bowing out. The New Zealand native needed every step to secure a narrow victory, as Mitchell Hooper came within four degrees of a first-place tie, settling for second with 841 degrees. Pavlo Kordiyaka (820 degrees) and Ireland’s Pa O’Dwyer (756 degrees) were the only other competitors who surpassed two full revolutions.

1. Mathew Ragg — 845 degrees
2. Mitchell Hooper — 841 degrees
3. Pavlo Kordiyaka — 820 degrees
4. Pa O’Dwyer — 756 degrees
5. Tom Stoltman — 618 degrees
6. Gavin Bilton — 608 degrees
7. Luke Stoltman — 562 degrees
8. Ondřej Fojtů — 553 degrees
9. Conor Curran — 506 degrees
10. Eddie Williams — 471 degrees
11. Tyler Cotton — 425 degrees

Event Five: Castle Stones

The final event featured five gargantuan stones ranging from 264.6 pounds (120 kilograms) to 440.9 pounds (200 kilograms). In a test of both strength and coordination, the athletes had to pick each one up and load it onto a platform in the fastest time possible. Four of the five strongmen completed the circuit, but Tom Stoltman shockingly needed less than 20 seconds to secure his spot atop the podium.

While Mathew Ragg did well to load all five Atlas stones in 28.81 seconds, he finished nearly 10 seconds behind. Luke Stoltman and Gavin Bilton also succeeded in getting that 440.9-pound stone onto the platform. However, the former took nearly double the time as his brother to accomplish that feat.

1. Tom Stoltman — Five in 19.23 seconds
2. Mathew Ragg — Five in 28.81 seconds
3. Luke Stoltman — Five in 37.56 seconds
4. Gavin Bilton — Five in 41.64 seconds
5. Mitchell Hooper — Four in 19.32 seconds
6. Eddie Williams — Four in 23.71 seconds
7. Pavlo Kordiyaka — Four in 25.94 seconds
8. Tyler Cotton — Four in 29.13 seconds
9. Pa O’Dwyer — Four in 50.11 seconds
10. Ondřej Fojtů — Three in 42.16 seconds

By winning three of the five events — including one in exceedingly dominant fashion — Tom Stoltman left no doubt about who deserved to stand atop the podium at the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals. Still, it’s safe to say that Mathew Ragg raised some eyebrows by pushing the champion to the brink in what essentially amounted to a two-man race for the title. With the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational right around the corner on Oct. 27-28, let’s see if Stoltman keeps the train rolling.

Featured Image: @giantslivestrongman / Instagram

The post Scotland’s Own Tom Stoltman Takes Home Title at 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals With Dominant Performance  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Considered one of the front-runners for the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals, the former professional wrestler suffered a significant setback in September 2022 when he tore his right distal biceps tendon during a training session. The injury not only knocked Singleton out of competing in a contest in which he finished third overall in 2021, but it also prevented him from making his first appearance at the Rogue Invitational.

However, more than a year removed from undergoing surgery to reattach his biceps tendon, Singleton has proven he’s still a force to be reckoned with by adding two titles to his strongman resume over the last few months. Coming off victories at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic and the 2023 Giants Live World Open, the Pennsylvania native has plenty of confidence about his chances of winning the 2023 Rogue Invitational, which will take place from Oct. 27-29 in Round Rock, Texas.

As part of their “Road To The Invitational” series, Rogue Fitness spotlighted Singleton’s comeback campaign in a video posted on their YouTube channel on Oct. 18, 2023.

After making it clear that he wants to be the World’s Strongest Man and win the upcoming Rogue Invitational, Singleton left no doubt about his desire to become the face of the sport he’s competed in since 2018.

“I want the average, casual viewer to think of strongman and picture me,” he said emphatically. “That’s what I want.”

Singleton, who stands 6-feet, 6 inches tall and weighs about 351 pounds (159 kilograms), played “every sport at least once” growing up. Although he didn’t shift his focus to strongman until a serious head injury forced him to retire from pro wrestling, he credited his diverse athletic background with giving him the skills that have helped him become a standout in the strength sports world.

And despite having to call it quits on his WWE dream, Singleton learned some valuable lessons that have carried over to his current line of work.

“A lot of my mentality, my attitude, my aggression, I got all of that from wrestling,” he explained. “There is something that drives me to be better than what I was yesterday and to be better than my competition, to be stronger than anything that I run into.”

Fully healed from the injury that left him unable to compete in 2022, Singleton showcased his impressive upper body strength by practicing the Fingal’s Fingers and Log Press. Both movements require strong shoulders, triceps, and core. Supersetting the movements in succession also challenges competitors’ cardiovascular conditioning.

Singleton sounded quite optimistic about his chances of winning that event at the Invitational, as he believes his cardio and ability to lift the Fingal’s Fingers and heavy log should put him in an advantageous position.

On the other hand, the humble competitor highlighted that he needs to work on his clean technique to prepare for the Axle Press — an exercise he hasn’t worked on in over two years.

“I’m going to really fine-tune and really work on the clean so that it’s efficient, it’s precise, and it’s accurate every single rep so I can conserve as much energy for the press,” Singleton explained. “If I get it to my shoulders, it’s going up.”

Singleton admitted that the movement “felt hard” during his training session. However, he was only 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms) away from the expected competition weight, which means he may still have a shot at taking home top honors in the event.

“I am coming in the most complete and the hungriest that I’ve ever been in my life,” Singleton said. “I am pushing as hard as I can to give everything that I can on competition day, and there isn’t anybody that’s going to stop me.”

Overall, the 31-year-old seems mentally and physically prepared to do some serious damage at Dell Diamond later this month. With a pair of recent wins under his belt and an opportunity to secure at least one more before 2023 comes to a close, don’t underestimate T-Rex’s chances of leaving the Lone Star State as the Rogue Invitational’s strongman champion.

Featured Image: Rogue Fitness / YouTube

The post After Torn Biceps Tendon Forced Him to Miss 2022, Evan Singleton Has Big Plans for 2023 Rogue Invitational  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle that’s taken several months and plenty of patience to rehabilitate, Björnsson unveiled his comeback plan by announcing that his first strongman competition will be in March at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC).

The three-time ASC winner (2018-2020) and 2018 World’s Strongest Man champion delivered more details about his health status and competition schedule in a video posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 14, 2023.

Björnsson, who will turn 35 in November of 2023, stated that he will make his return at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic, which will take place during the weekend of March 1-3 in Columbus, Ohio.

“A lot of you guys might think it’s too soon, too heavy, and that’s okay,” Björnsson explained. “I’m going to the show with the mindset that I’m going to do my best, and I want to go and try my best against the best in the world … In my opinion, the Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio is one of the toughest shows with the best athletes in the world.”

Although he’s still not fully healed from his pec injury, the 2023 International Sports Hall of Fame inductee said he’s “back to 100 percent training” and has been performing staple loaded carry movements like the yoke walk, farmer’s walks, and the frame carry.

“I’m even going to throw in some [log press] soon,” Björnsson said. “So things are definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m feeling awesome.”

In addition to the Arnold Strongman Classic, “The Mountain” has two more events penciled into his schedule for next year: the 2024 Arnold Strongman UK and the 2024 Rogue Invitational.

Björnsson won’t get a much of a break once he makes competes at the ASC in early March, as the Birmingham, England-based Arnold Strongman UK competition will take place just two weeks later.

Although the March 15-17 competition won’t be quite as big as the US version, there shouldn’t be any shortage of star power across the pond. Björnsson hinted that 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic champion Mitchell Hooper, who Björnsson currently considers the best in the world, will compete in the contest. That could set the stage for an epic showdown between the iconic athlete and the reigning World’s Strongest Man.

Björnsson unsurprisingly also has his sights set on showcasing his strength and power at Rogue’s preeminent event. As a sponsored athlete who accomplished his goal of setting a record at the 2022 Rogue Invitational by throwing a 25.5-kilogram (56-pound) Scottish Highland Games weight over 6.17 meters (20 feet, 3 inches), he has ample motivation to perform at an elite level again.

“I think by the time I’ll be competing at Rogue Invitationals I should be back to a very good strength point,” Björnsson said. “So I should be able to push very hard at that show and I should be very competitive and a good threat. I think I’d be a good threat at the Arnolds anyways — with my experience, with my background, I’m a threat at any show, but I’m also giving the guys competing nowadays huge respect.”

With the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational scheduled for Oct. 27-29, Björnsson should have roughly a year to get ready for another record-setting outing. But with 2023 winding down, he faces a pivotal five-month stretch to prepare for a successful showing at his first strongman competition since his last official competitive appearance when he took home the title at Iceland’s Strongest Man in August of 2020.

Featured Image: Hafthor Bjornsson / YouTube

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To emerge victorious, participants like Novikov and 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper must go through a grueling gauntlet of six challenges over the course of the two-day contest. And with competition date inching closer, Rogue Invitational officially released the full lineup of strongman events on Oct. 10, 2023.

Day One (Friday, Oct. 27, 2023)

The first day of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational will feature three events, all of which will test the athletes’ strength, power, and conditioning. Here’s a breakdown of each event, starting with an ultra-demanding deadlift challenge that made its debut in 2022.

Event 1: Tower of Power – Deadlift for Reps

Rogue ramped up its annual strongman competition a year ago by putting together the Tower of Power event. Ukrainian former powerlifter Pavlo Nakonechnyy proved to be the most proficient at the newly unveiled event by completing 12 reps of 18-inch barbell deadlifts during the 60-second time allotment.

As if lifting 900 pounds (408 kilograms) as many times as possible in one minute wasn’t challenging enough, competitors had to deal with much different leverages due to the height of the tower platform. Back again for the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational, this event should bring the best out of Nakonechnyy and 2023 North America’s Strongest Man Trey Mitchell, who completed 10 reps in his first encounter with the Tower of Power. Starting the day with a deadlift for reps competition will certainly set the tone for event No. 2.

Event 2: The Iron Bull Sled Pull

No specifics were provided about this event. However, sled pulls are undoubtedly one of the most popular feats of strength fans enjoy watching, especially when vehicles are involved.

Event 3: Ultimate Log Medley

Although we don’t know exactly what the Ultimate Log Medley will entail, the 2022 Rogue Strongman Invitational included an event called “Yoke Carry, Overhead Log Lift Medley” that consisted of carrying a 1,000-pound (453.5-kilogram) yoke for 50 feet, followed by performing three reps of an overhead press with a 360-pound (163-kilogram) log. Mitchell Hooper easily outpaced the rest of the pack by completing the circuit in just 32.69 seconds.

Meanwhile, 2022 Canada’s Strongest Man Maxime Boudreault took another 14.1 seconds to wrap up the No. 2 spot. If the final event of the first day of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational features the log press again, that could be a chance for 2022 America’s Strongest Man Bobby Thompson to earn some valuable points. Coming off consecutive third-place finishes at the Arnold Strongman Classic, Thompson showcased his upper-body strength at the 2023 event by hitting three reps of a 430-pound (195-kilogram) log press on the Austrian Oak challenge, which tied for second with Hooper.

Day Two (Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023)

Day Two of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational will kick off with another event that captivated last year’s audience and wrap up with one that could have some CrossFit inspiration behind its name.

Event 4: Rogue-A-Coaster

Just like the competitors, the Round Rock crowd will be locked in for 90 seconds during the dynamic Rogue-A-Coaster event. Particularly taxing on the lats and rear delts, it takes pull day to another level — and then some. The athletes will start their Saturday morning by sitting at the bottom of a section of a rollercoaster and attempting to pull 600 pounds (272 kilograms) worth of sandbags loaded onto a cart up to the top and dump them over within the 90-second limit.

This 54-inch incline rope pull didn’t pose much trouble for Nakonechnyy (38.51 seconds) or Novikov (39.04 seconds) in 2022. However, neither could outdo 2021 Rogue Strongman Invitational champion Martins Licis (33:83 seconds), who will not be at this year’s event.

Event 5: Apollon’s Wheels

No specifics were provided about this event. However, it’s safe to say all the participants should have some idea of what’s to come.

Made famous by French strongman Louis “Apollon the Mighty” Uni, Apollon’s Wheels was his 366-pound (166-kilogram) barbell loaded with a pair of railway car wheels. Featuring a thick diameter of nearly two inches, it requires excellent grip strength just to handle the bar. It takes incredible coordination to power clean it off the floor and get it into a front rack position And it takes serious strength to press that weight overhead.

The fifth event (also named Apollon’s Wheels) at the 2018 Arnold Classic Strongman Classic utilized a replica reproduced by Ivanko Barbell Company that weighed 400 pounds (181 kilograms). Hafþór Björnsson, who went on to win the World’s Strongest Man title later that year, took home first place by performing four full reps of a clean and press in the two-minute timeframe. Rogue certainly seems to be paying homage to the famous barbell in 2023 based on the name of the penultimate event.

Event 6: The Duel

“The Duel II” was an elimination-style, multi-round event at the 2022 CrossFit Rogue Invitational that consisted of a legless rope climb, 10 overhead squats, and a sandbag carry. Although CrossFit and Strongman competitors may not cross paths often, the final event of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational could have a similar feel as “The Duel II” but with a different array of exercises and much heavier loads.

Complete 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational Roster

• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Trey Mitchell (USA)
• Luke Stoltman (UK)
• Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Bobby Thompson (USA)
• Tom Stoltman (UK)
• Evan Singleton (USA)
• Maxime Boudreault (Canada)

Novikov’s campaign to become a back-to-back Rogue Strongman Invitational champion will come down to his ability to dominate both new and repeat events. Whether he can fend off the likes of Hooper and Mitchell remains to be seen when the strongest men in the world reunite at Round Rock.

Featured Image: @rogueinvitational / Instagram

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No stranger to showcasing his rare strength and power, the 33-year-old didn’t just edge out Fast, either. Instead, Steffens raised the bar significantly by successfully pulling a 44,753-pound hydraulic crane a distance of 16.4 feet to set the new world record.

A native of Adelaide, South Australia, Steffens smashed the previous mark by 15,903 pounds (7,213 kilograms) after spending six months specifically preparing for the event. Because Guinness World Records rules stipulate that a challenger must be in a seated position, he focused his training efforts on his back and arm muscles.

Steffens has spent quite a bit of time working on developing upper-body strength and endurance over the last few years. After all, he had to overcome a ruptured left biceps in 2019 that required 12 weeks of surgery and rehab. The strength coach and decorated strongman competitor suffered the same injury in his right biceps in 2021, which forced him to “start at square one and rebuild” yet again.

Thanks to a support network of healthcare professionals, Steffens put himself on a path to pull off the record-setting feat. And as if doing it once wasn’t enough, he performed the stunt again at the 2023 Royal Adelaide Show, raising just over $25,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation by pulling a giant purple crane aptly named “Barney.”

Steffens started his career at the age of 21 before retiring from competitive strongman in 2018 to shift his focus to performance-based events like plane pulls, train pulls, and crane pulls. And just like the enormous vehicles he works with, he requires a tremendous amount of fuel for optimal performance.

“What a normal person has daily for their man dinner, I have every three hours,” Steffens said.

A typical breakfast includes six to eight eggs, four pieces of toast, fruit, and a protein shake. Every three hours after that, Steffens eats a meal consisting of a portion of chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or kangaroo, some vegetables, and a large serving of rice or pasta. Following that type of nutrition plan provides the decorated strongman with sufficient protein for muscle growth and recovery, as well as carbohydrates to support high-intensity activities that are anaerobically demanding.

Expect Steffens to continue with that approach as 2023 comes to a close. Despite owning two Guinness World Records titles (he achieved the fastest 20-meter by a three-person tower with fellow Australians Shani Stephens and Josh Strachan in 2021), he has “big plans” in the coming months to take on other challenges and raise more money for charity.

And as long as he stays healthy, don’t be surprised to see Steffens set another world record sooner than later.

Featured Image: Jordan Steffens / Instagram

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The 2018 World’s Strongest Man and three-time winner of the Arnold Strongman Classic made headlines in February of 2023 when he officially came out of retirement. However, just two months later, Björnsson encountered a serious setback in his quest to prove his dominance again when he tore his pectoral muscle during a powerlifting competition held at Thor’s Power Gym in Kópavogur, Iceland.

Nearly six months since suffering the injury that forced him to alter his training plans, Björnsson shared a video on his YouTube channel on Sept. 21, 2023 detailing his decision to take his career in a different (but familiar) direction.

“As of now, because of the injury, I feel like it’s the smartest decision for me to step away for a little bit, keep training, keep building up the static strength,” Björnsson explained. “Then at some point later on in my journey, maybe a year from now, two years from now, three years from now, I might pick it back up.”

This isn’t the first (or likely the last) time the 2023 International Sports Hall of Fame inductee has switched his athletic priorities. After earning a reputation as an all-time great strongman, Björnsson retired from the sport in August 2020 and subsequently competed in both boxing and powerlifting.

Although he didn’t fare quite as well in the ring, the experience of changing sports provided some important perspective.

“When I decided to do powerlifting in the first place, after being in boxing for two years, I set my goals so high and I was getting strong so fast that my body wasn’t ready for it, and that’s why I got injured, in my opinion,” Björnsson said. “I need to be smart with my training. I need to give myself more time to build up that static strength.”

After providing his rationale for putting his powerlifting aspirations on pause, the legendary competitor gave a simple explanation behind his decision to return to strongman.

“The main reason is just because I have so much love for the sport,” Björnsson said.

Motivated to make a successful comeback, the man known for portraying “The Mountain” in the television series “Game of Thrones” plans to take a patient approach to the process. Björnsson said he will take things at his own pace as he prepares to compete again.

“I’m obviously going to set big goals for myself, but when I’m going to go into a competition I’m going to do my best,” he explained. “What that means is I’m not going to be chasing a man, chasing a record, chasing something right away. I need my body to get used to the heavy lifting. I need my tendons to get stronger, and that just takes time overall.”

Despite being three years removed from his last strongman contest — a championship title at Iceland’s Strongest Man in August of 2020 — it might not be long before Björnsson captures his 39th victory in the sport.

Once he returns to active status and competes again, he would be automatically qualified to enter the 2024 World’s Strongest Man thanks to his status as a former champion. Of course, if that occurs, the Iceland native would face a tall task to take down reigning winner Mitchell Hooper, who became the first Canadian-born victor in April 2023.

But if Björnsson wins his second World’s Strongest Man title six years after earning his first, that might just be the most impressive accomplishment of his decorated career.

Featured Image: Hafthor Björnsson / YouTube

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Wrixson approached the stiff bar, which was loaded with oversized “wagon wheel” plates and elevated on boxes, before securing her “figure eight”-style lifting straps to the bar. After taking a few seconds to prepare for the moment, she began the pull and immediately stood tall with the weight. Once she locked out, the judge gave a down command, and she received cheers from the crowd watching. She was also wearing a weightlifting belt and a deadlift suit.

Wrixson and Ohio’s Strongest contest promoters have referred to this lift as a “World Record.” Breaking Muscle reached out to the promoters for confirmation and it was determined that there had been no heavier lift recorded in competition before Wrixson’s attempt. Breaking Muscle found no such lift, performed by a strongwoman in her weight class, being recognized as a World Record as well. So, unless another competitor or organization can provide evidence to the contrary, Wrixson’s lift may go down as the heaviest documented 18-inch deadlift performed by a U64KG strongwoman athlete.

Wrixson had quite a day, overall, at this contest. Less than an hour before she performed her deadlift, she had also scored a Circus Dumbbell lift of 62.9 kilograms (138.8 pounds). Promoters also called this lift a World Record and, again, no other documented record for this lift before Wrixson was found. This event included an amateur competition as well as separate events for record attempts. Wrixson only took part in the record-setting portion.

The entire show had significant meaning for locals in the area because it served as tribute to “Warrior Princess” Nora Sabella, a nine-year-old girl who recently passed away following her third cancer diagnosis and a total of five years of treatment. According to promoters of the Ohio’s Strongest contest, Wrixson said she was extra motivated for her lifts because there was a 50-cent per pound donation riding on her deadlift.

Featured Image: @ladyarik_ulveskare on Instagram

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However, it appears he hasn’t let those priorities affect his training and the former champion may be poised to return to strength sports in the near future. Licis posted an Instagram reel of himself deadlifting 365 kilograms (804 pounds) for three reps while training in Wreck It Gym in El Segundo, CA.

Licis was wearing knee sleeves and using lifting straps, but he didn’t have on a deadlift suit or even a weightlifting belt for added support. Using a “rolling start,” Licis dipped his hips low and rolled the bar away from his feet before pulling the bar in toward his legs and locking out the first rep with no trouble. After he returned the weight to the floor, he rolled it out and back in again for rep number two. He repeated that motion one more time for his final rep. The champion strongman made the third rep looked so easy, he possibly could’ve done another rep (or more) if he wanted to.

According to the caption of the post, this set meant more to Licis than a standard work set. It served as notice to a fellow WSM and ASC champion, Mitchell Hooper, that he may be on his way back to competing next year.

“I promised [2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper] that if I could start repping this weight, it would be a good sign for me competing again next year,” he wrote, adding a biceps and fist bump emoji. “So alright buddy, it looks like I’ll be back. Just gotta keep it slowly creepin’ up for the [Arnold] strongman classic and beyond. I’m excited!”

The 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic is set to take place on Mar. 1-2, 2024 in Columbus, OH. If Licis makes it to that contest, and if Hooper chooses to defend his title, then the two most recent ASC champions would be trading lifts in Columbus to potentially determine the 2024 champion. 

There was already buzz for that contest because three-time ASC winner and 2018 WSM Hafthor Bjornsson had announced he would come back from a short-term retirement to attempt winning a fourth title in 2024. His first three titles came in 2018, 2019, and 2020. However, Bjornsson suffered a pec tear during a powerlifting meet in April 2023. His recovery and preparation status for the 2024 ASC is currently unknown. If Bjornsson was to compete alongside Licis and Hooper, then every champion from 2018 to 2023 would be on the roster for the contest. There was no ASC held in 2021.

As for Licis, he is already slated to return as the captain for Team USA in the 2023 World’s Strongest Nation (WSN) contest on Nov. 18, 2023. The UK team captain will once again be 2017 WSM Eddie Hall, whose team won the 2022 WSN. Licis has not competed in a strongman contest since the loss.

Featured Image: @martinslicis on Instagram

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In February 2023, Shaw announced that this year’s Shaw Classic would mark his retirement from competing in professional strongman contests. Shaw won the inaugural Shaw Classic in 2020 and was runner-up to Trey Mitchell in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the contest.

The 2023 Shaw Classic saw athletes compete in eight events over the two-day contest: Log Medley, Max Hummer Tire Deadlift, Wheelbarrow/Arm-Over-Arm Medley, Bag Toss, Car Leg Press, Atlas Stones, Standing Bench Press, and Fingal’s Fingers/Power Stairs Medley.

Shaw claimed victory by winning both the Car Leg Press and Standing Bench Press, while placing second in the Atlas Stones and Max Hummer Tire Deadlift. The 2023 Shaw Classic podium was rounded out with runner-up Mitchell Hooper (2023 World’s Strongest Man) and third place contestant Tom Stoltman (2021-2022 World’s Strongest Man).

Shaw began as a strongman winning his first amateur contest, the 2005 Denver’s Strongest Man. He would go on to have a legendary professional career spanning 16 years, from 2007 to 2023, while tallying up a total of 29 wins and 15 runner-up placings across 68 competitions.

Brian Shaw Strongman Career Highlights

• World’s Strongest Man — Four-time winner: 2011, 2013, 2015-2016
• Arnold Pro Strongman World Series — Four-time winner: 2015-2018
• Strongman Super Series — Four-time winner: 2009-2010 (two contests per year)
• Arnold Strongman Classic — Three-time winner: 2011, 2015, 2017
• Forca Bruta — Three-time winner: 2013, 2015-2016
• Shaw Classic — Two-time winner: 2020, 2023
• America’s Strongest Man — Two-time winner: 2013, 2016

At 41 years old, Shaw’s competition days may be over, but it’s clear he’s going to be a mainstay in Strongman. He’s made it clear that he plans to continue organizing his eponymous contest each year, helping to grow the strength sport by offering a stage for elite athletes. No doubt he’ll also carry on as an example for strongmen and strongwomen competitors looking to follow in his massive footprints.

Featured Image: SHAWSTRENGTH / YouTube

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