Mitchell Hooper recently got back to winning ways, which made him even more determined to train hard and chase more success. In turn, while preparing for his next appearance, Mitchell managed to achieve a new personal record in the squat, where he managed to lock out 392.2 kilograms (864.7 pounds).
Mitchell Hooper had to fill the barbell to its capacity in order to set a new personal record, since he loaded nine 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plates on each side. On the other hand, he used a lifting belt and knee wraps to perform the lift.
Moreover, Mitchell Hooper made the 392.2-kilogram (864.7-pound) squat look very easy, despite it being a PR for him. This is good news, as it indicates that Hooper will likely further improve in time for the 2024 Strongest Man On Earth competition. It is set to take place on August 17-18, with the squat being one of the events.
Watch the lift here:
Mitchell Hooper Ranks Himself Among Greatest Squatters in History
Firstly, Mitchell Hooper explained the difference between squats performed while wearing different types of equipment. He revealed that wearing knee sleeves is the simplest type of squat, while the use of knee wraps can help squat more weight but is also more complicated to use.
Following that, Mitchell Hooper revealed his list of the top five greatest squatters in history. However, he did specify that the list is in no particular order.
Ed Coan
The first athlete that Mitchell Hooper mentioned was none other than the legendary Ed Coan. Known for arguably being the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) in powerlifting, Coan boasted some impressive squatting power.
“I’m going to start with who I think is the most legendary and iconic to people in the sport, and this is Ed Coan.
Ed is not a tall guy or an overly large guy. He competed in the 100-kg weight class, and his best squat in competition was 947-lb (429-kg)… We are talking about an excess of 4x bodyweight squat, at not an incredibly light bodyweight, which is absurd.”
Ray Williams
The list of all-time greatest squatters could not have passed without including the man who holds the World Record. That is none other than Ray Williams, who is, to this day, the closest man to squatting 500 kilograms (1,102.3 pounds) raw.
“Ray absolutely shattered the scene in natural drug-tested IPF in sleeves… He squatted over 1,000 pounds raw, just sleeves and a belt like you would see a traditional person in a gym. He also did this on a standard power bar, not a squat bar. So it wasn’t just the strength to complete the lift, but also the strength to stabilize.
Andrey Malanichev
Andrey Malanichev is another man who ranks highly on Mitchell Hooper’s list, as he is easily one of the most accomplished powerlifters in history. He set a dozen All-Time World Records, won multiple elite competitions such as the “Big Dogs” and “Cup of the Titans”, and, most notably, performed some insanely heavy squats.
“He is probably the best powerlifter of all time when it comes to untested wrapped… His best squat is 1,058 pounds (479.9 kilograms).”
Hafthor Bjornsson
One of the greatest Strongman athletes in history, Hafthor Bjornsson, also found his place in Mitchell Hooper’s top five, as the Canadian had nothing but words of praise for his rival. Hafthor has a history in powerlifting, which is why the squat is one of his greatest events. Interestingly, Hooper and Bjornsson will go head-to-head in the squat at the 2024 Strongest Man On Earth, which will truly be a battle of the giants.
“He is not a squat specialist, he is 6-feet 8-inches, and he has to move the body a very long way, which does not tend well to squatting heavy. He completed a 420-kilogram (925.9-pound) squat, but what was more impressive was, I believe, 455 or 456 kilograms (1,005 pounds) which he did squat and was red-lighted on depth.
It wasn’t absurd; it was very, very close to being a reasonably good lift. For a man who is 6- feet 8-inches, that is an absolutely absurd achievement.”
Tom Platz
While all the other athletes on the list got their place due to their tremendous squat strength, Mitchell Hooper also decided to add bodybuilding legend Tom Platz because of his unbelievable squat endurance. His leg workouts have made him one of the most iconic bodybuilders in history, with the squat being his go-to exercise. Interestingly, Hooper has previously attempted and beaten Tom’s legendary 525-pound (238.1-kilogram) Squat AMRAP challenge.
“Tom was not a particularly large guy, but he could do some insane sets of squats. In his most iconic Tom Platz Squat Challenge, he did 525-lb for 23 reps. For context, I am probably 1.5x his bodyweight and I nearly killed myself going for 24 reps.”
Mitchell Hooper concluded the list by saying that he would not even crack into the top five, as he is squatting just shy of 900 pounds. However, he plans on increasing the number in a few weeks when he is in peak shape for the 2024 Strongest Man On Earth.
Watch the full video here:
Related: Mitchell Hooper Discusses If Ronnie Coleman Could Have Won World’s Strongest Man Title in His Prime
Mitchell Hooper finished in second place at last year’s Strongest Man On Earth competition. However, judging by how his preparation is going, he is definitely one of the favorites for the win this year. This would be a great addition to his resume, as he has already won the WSM, Arnold Strongman Classic, and the Rogue Invitational.
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