After winning the strongman title at the Arnold Sports Festival 2024, Mitchell Hooper is targeting more glory. A few weeks after his win in March, Hooper engaged in a 455-pound Axle Press, while sending a warning. One might think that 455 is where he would stop, but he has now gone one step further.

Taking to his Instagram, Hooper posted a video of him practicing his lifts for The Strongman Classic 2024 in July. The former World’s Strongest Man is aiming to break the world record for the Axle Press at the upcoming event. And by the looks of it, he may have a very good shot at doing it.

In the video, Mitchell Hooper tried out the Axle Press again. Stepping past his earlier attempt, Hooper lifted a staggering weight of 476 pounds, which is equal to the previous world record held by Eddie Hall. It is also just two pounds behind the current world record, which belongs to Burkina Faso’s Cheick Al-Hassan Sanou aka Iron Biby.

“3 weeks from @giantslivestrongman world record attempt (currently 217kg). I’m coming,” wrote the power lifter in the caption. After lifting the weight, Hooper seemed so excited that he threw the barbell onto the pads, with it bouncing pretty high, and had to rush to control it.

The current Axle press record was set at the Strongman Classic event on 24 July 2021. Back then, Iron Biby eclipsed Eddie Hall, when he lifted 478.4 pounds. Hooper’s obsession with breaking the world record was also seen on March 24, when he uploaded a video on Instagram doing 455lbs (206kg) Axel Press with the caption, “The axle world record is not safe.” Given that he has leveled up since then, it may be a matter of time before he breaks the record.

The strongmen are scheduled to return to the Royal Albert Hall in London on July 13, 2024. Hooper will be going head-to-head with the current World’s Strongest Man Tom Stoltman of Scotland, Evan Singleton, and Mathew Rig.

With this field, the competition will be intense, but the way Hooper is going, his fans will be confident of him breaking the world record. On his Instagram post, the comment section was filled with fans left in awe at his lift.

“Will have a new Axle world record before GTA 6,” Fans left stunned by the barbell drop

A strongman fan witnessed Hooper’s lift and hinted at the fact that Hooper’s record was definitely on the way when compared to a much-awaited video game release. “We will have a new Axle world record before GTA 6.“ Despite the last version of the Rockstar Games-helmed GTA having released in 2013, fans have had to endure a long wait for the next edition to roll out. Comparing achievements with GTA 6, has, therefore, become a meme on social media. 

An admirer of the Canadian powerhouse showcased his support for him writing, “Gonna crush that record!” Hooper’s recent achievement is remarkable. But it is a different thing to do in competition. This was something Eddie Hall mentioned when Iron Biby broke his record. After congratulating him for his feat, Hall wrote, “I’ve seen him do 230kg in training at his home gym, but this is where it counts.” Can Hooper get his game up at the Royal Albert Hall, when it matters?

Meanwhile, a fan wrote, “I’m sorry Mitch but is there anything you can’t bloody do? that’s insane!“ That question is surely valid, as Hooper’s isn’t just a one-trick pony. He has scored mammoth PRs in deadlifts, hummer tire deadlifts, and log lifts. Hooper has one of the biggest deadlifts in strongman history, with a personal best of 475kg/1,047lb. He also has a log lift of 195kg/430lb for 3 repetitions. Thus, the world record may not out of his grasp come July 13.

Another fan commented on the barbell thrown by the Strongman and mentioned it as one of “The scariest crash pads in strongman.“ The barbell bounced to some height after Hooper dropped it, which was quite the sight to see.

Hooper’s feat also drew a superhero reference as a fan wrote, “A spine made of that stuff iron man’s suit is made of.” On 2 March, Hooper won the Arnold Strongman Classic competition for the second year running. Although Stoltman edged him out for the World’s Strongest Man title in May, Hooper is not to be underestimated.

The two-time Arnold Classic Strongman winner is keen to make history with a record and win the Giants Live Strongman Classic. Will he be able to pull it off? Let us know in the comments.