Mitchell Hooper Ranks 4 Strongest Bodybuilders of All-Time Using Powerlifting Criteria

Strongman great Mitchell Hooper has made a career out of his legendary power, giving him insight into some of the most popular lifts. In a recent YouTube video he shared on August 1, 2024, Hooper ranked the top four world’s strongest bodybuilders using powerlifting numbers. 

Having claimed gold at the World’s Strongest Man, The Rogue Invitational, and the Arnold Strongman Classic, there’s no denying Mitchell Hooper’s grasp on the sport. His abilities inside of contests and competitive nature have blossomed into a one-of-a-kind strongman career. 

In his next outing, Hooper plans to test himself at strongman legend Brian Shaw’s 2024 Strongest Man on Earth contest. A stacked lineup of powerful athletes awaits Hooper, who intends to earn gold at the event slated for August 17-18 in Loveland, Colorado. In the meantime, he broke down the lifting records of some of the most iconic bodybuilders to ever step on stage. 

“Bodybuilders are weak… now I’m going to tell you why. I’m going to talk about the strongest bodybuilders of all time and I’m going to talk about how they rank in relation to powerlifting numbers which are the most credible, most reliable sources and I’m going to tell you why bodybuilding and strength, it’s just different styles of training altogether.” 

Mitchell Hooper Ranks 4 Strongest Bodybuilders of All-Time Using ‘Powerlifting Numbers’

Franco Columbu 

Hooper looks at how Franco Clumbu‘s 700-pound deadlift triple at 185 pounds stands up to powerlifting numbers. He competed alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and earned three Mr. Olympia titles in his heyday. 

“In terms of an impressive number for him, he deadlifted 700 pounds three times at a 185 pounds. This is a gargantuan number but always put strength in context. This is gargantuan in a commercial gym but how would it stack up in a strength gym?” asks Mitchell Hooper. 

According to Hooper, Columbu would tie for the 88th-best deadlift of all time. 

“If we look up his weight class and the weight class he would fit into in powerlifting, he’s actually tied for the 88th best deadlift of all time.

Of course, still an incredible weight, still very impressive and not his major goal but no where near being something that we would be exclusively in awe of without some caveats that he’s a bodybuilder and not trying for this.” 

Ronnie Coleman 

Hooper assesses Ronnie Coleman‘s bench press of 495 pounds for five reps, which he equates to a one-rep max of 567 pounds. This would place Coleman 439th of all time. During the 1990s-2000s, Coleman was revered for his strength and collected a total of eight Mr. Olympia titles. 

“Ronnie Coleman. He had some absolutely iconic lifts which are partially iconic because of his energy atmosphere, yeah buddy. But partially because the weights were so insane, they were steel, rusted, they were clanging, just the old school bodybuilding I think so many of us fell in love with and why we went to the gym in the first place.” 

“Let’s look at his best lifts of all time. For bench press, he benched 495 pounds for five reps, this would mean his one-rep max would be about 567 pounds. Five reps is about 87 percent of what your one rep max would be. For bench press, unbelievably there are so many good bench pressers in the world, this would put him 439th all-time with that bench press alone.” 

For Coleman’s 800-pound deadlift double, Hooper explains that it would earn him 322nd on the all-time list. 

“He did an 800-pound deadlift double, this is one of his most iconic videos. This would estimate the one rep max to be 825 pounds, two reps is somewhere around 97 percent of your one rep max. That would put his deadlift at 322nd all-time of his weight class.” 

‘The King’s’ squat would place him 928th when Mitchell compared it to powerlifting numbers. 

“His squat, 800-pound double, and this was in single plus, this was equipped, one-rep max at 825 pounds, the same as the deadlift, estimating 97 percent of his one-rep max at 800 pounds, we’re saying 825, this would put his squat at 928th.” 

Tom Platz 

Looking at Tom Platz‘s squat, Hooper determined that he would place 234th on the all-time list, an impressive feat for the ‘Quadfather.’ Hooper broke Platz’s squat record of 525 pounds for 23 reps by performing a 24th repetition last year. Although he never hoisted the Sandow trophy above his head, Platz led a illustrious career having earned countless Pro show victories. 

“Tom Platz has probably one of the most impressive squat for reps record, which was 525 for 23 reps, that record stood for many many years until a strongman, me, came along and did 24 reps and broke that record but his most impressive heavier set for reps was 635 pounds for 15 reps, this would put his one-rep max at 978 pounds which is unbelievable.” 

“His actual true max that he’s ever done 765 pounds at 230 pounds for the squat. This would put him 234th all-time in his weight class.” 

Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Impressively, Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s bench press would put him 259th on the list of all-time greats. He remains one of the most popular and successful bodybuilders of this generation, having acquired seven Mr. Olympia victories in his prime. 

“The most iconic bodybuilder of all time, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger, not necessarily known for being strong but I think it’s great to put in perspective what an amazing physique you can build without world-class strength genetics. Arnold benched 525 which is unbelievable, but this would only put him 259th all time,” said Hooper. 

However, the former seven-time Mr. Olympia’s squat would be 4,113th of all time, and his deadlift would put him 1,371st on the list. 

“His squat, best ever was 610 and these are numbers stated by Arnold, 610, that would put him 4,113th all-time in the squat. The deadlift max ever was 710 pounds, putting him at 1,371st all-time. Certainly not crazy numbers in terms of strength.” 

While Hooper appreciates the top-tier physiques that have come out of bodybuilding, he believes they are generally weaker than elite athletes who engage in powerlifting or strongman. Taking all of these numbers into consideration, Franco Columbu received the highest ranking of anyone, which was his deadlift. 

RELATED: 12 Strongest Bodybuilders Of All Time

Watch the full video from Mitchell Hooper’s YouTube channel below: 

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