Mitchell Hooper has once again proven why he’s the man to beat in modern Strongman — and this one, he says, meant more than any before.
The Canadian powerhouse secured his third consecutive Rogue Invitational title over the weekend in Aberdeen, Scotland, cementing his dominance with a blend of precision, power, and mental steel. But in a new YouTube video released after his win, Hooper revealed that this year’s victory went far beyond the podium.
READ MORE: Full Rogue Invitational 2025 Strongman & Strongwoman Results
“This is the first strongman show that means more to me than strongman,” he said. “And for that reason, this is the most important victory of my career in my opinion.”
Over two days of elite competition, Hooper managed to hold off Trey Mitchell and Scotland’s own Tom Stoltman to claim the $100,000 top prize. He opened strong on the Wagon Wheel Deadlift and closed in style with a flawless performance in Mon’s Meg — but as it turns out, his weekend wasn’t without adversity.
“I launch into the power drive and the first step that I take, the first time I hit the bag, my right foot, I just feel a big crack and I thought I’d put my foot through my shoe,” Hooper explained. “Then since my foot was broken, I later found out… but I finished at a really good time.”
Despite suffering the injury mid-event, Hooper pushed through the pain to take second on the Power Drag and held his lead heading into the Atlas Stones — a discipline he’d never before used to clinch a title. With the help of painkillers and a few words of encouragement from fellow athletes, he sealed the deal with a composed, clinical run.
“My execution on stones was perfect,” he said. “I came either first or second on that stone run, and man, flood of emotions after.”
For Hooper, the emotional weight of the weekend stretched beyond physical performance. In his video, he opened up about a difficult few months off the competition floor, describing daily online abuse, personal turmoil, and a battle to rebuild confidence.
“Over the past 6 months, I’ve gone through uh a lot. I’ve got uh death threats most days in my inbox… and that’s on top of the more important personal turmoil,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to really fight through something.”
That fight — and his ability to emerge stronger — made Aberdeen more than just another trophy.
“The personal victory of knowing that I can make it through uh a lot… and come back the best in the world is a massive point of pride for me,” Hooper said.
Even with a broken foot, Hooper’s focus never wavered. “It almost felt like it was supposed to happen,” he admitted. “It almost felt like the last thing — just one more thing that I won’t let get in my way.”
The three-time Rogue Invitational champion now plans to take time to heal, but mentally, he says he’s in the best place of his career. “Moving forward to next year, I’m going to be something completely different to what I’ve been before,” he said. “Mentally, I now have the confidence that I don’t need to be at the top and hold the top to be there and to exist there.”
Hooper closed his message by thanking fans — both those who support and those who doubt him — for fueling his fire. “If you want to cheer against me, cheer loud,” he smiled. “It’s proven to be an uphill battle to cheer against me and it’s my job to keep that an uphill battle.”
Hooper’s words capped a defining chapter in his career and another statement performance on Strongman’s biggest stage. Foot injury or not, the reigning World’s Strongest Man continues to set the standard — and, as he put it best, “Feet don’t matter.”
Fans were quick to flood Hooper’s video with praise, with one person commenting: “You are a true champion. Life is not about winning, it is about coming back when things don’t go your way.”
A second added: “So proud of what you accomplished this past weekend and you’re right to be proud of yourself too. It’s great to hear that you’re in such a good place again.”
On the women’s side, Inez Carrasquillo delivered a dominant performance of her own to capture back-to-back Rogue Invitational titles. The American powerhouse claimed three event wins across the weekend and never finished outside the top three, showcasing explosive pressing strength and unmatched speed through the moving medleys.
Carrasquillo’s commanding form secured her the women’s $100,000 prize and confirmed her status as one of the sport’s most complete athletes — a fitting parallel to Hooper’s continued reign on the men’s side.
Featured image credit: YouTube/MitchellHooper/Instagram/@rogueinvitational (Screenshots)
