Mitchell Hooper spoke out about concerns he had heading into the competition.
The World’s Strongest Man organizers have responded to concerns voiced by a former champion.
Mitchell Hooper, the 2023 champion, shared different areas of concern heading into the 2025 competition. This includes payout timelines, the burden on families, and issues with sharing event details. After comments were made, the organizers of the competition addressed some of these issues and will make changes.
The 2025 WSM is scheduled to take place from May 15-18. It will take place in Sacramento for the first time since 2022. The event moved to Myrtle Beach in 2023-24 but will move back West in the coming year. With the event moving back to California in May, there will be ideal conditions for both athletes competing and fans that make the trip to watch the event live.
Mitchell Hooper Addresses Changes Made
Major concerns addressed by Mitchell Hooper included a 90-day prize money payout timeline and the fact that family and friends of competitors were responsible for travel and ticket costs.
The organization will now make a $1,500 payment to each competitor prior to leaving the event. This will help athletes cover different expenses ahead of the show. There will also be four complimentary passes given to each athlete.
Mitchell Hooper is also doing his own fundraising. His brands are donating 15% of proceed while his coaching business will donate 30%. Hooper will also match the total amount raised, which right now is over $12,000 from brands and sponsors. Hooper’s goal is to set aside $1,000 for each WSM competitor to help with different expenses.
“If I benefit disproportionately from the sport and can use that to help some guys who don’t benefit as much, that’s what I’d like to do so that’s why I was tied to my businesses.”
Mitchell Hooper is currently preparing to take down the all-time deadlift world record. He shared that it will go down at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships on Sept. 6 in Birmingham, England. This is where Eddie Hall previously set his record.
Hafthor Bjornsson currently holds the world record deadlift using a standard bar at 501kg. He broke Eddie Hall’s record of 500kg, becoming the second man ever to reach this mark. Bjornsson has held this record for years now and it has been something that he has gone back and forth with Hall about. Hooper wants to put all talking to an end and set his own mark.
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