Strongman star Mitchell Hooper has offered fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the controversial and heavily-discussed Enhanced Games — and the experience looked unlike anything typically seen in professional sport.
In a newly released video, Hooper walked viewers through the athlete areas, training facilities, competition setup, and even took part in a tongue-in-cheek swimming challenge where he jokingly claimed a “world record” performance.
From recovery technology to custom-built lifting areas and massive production setups, Hooper made it clear early on that the event was aiming to separate itself from traditional sporting competitions.
“Hey, the enhanced games are here, and I’m going to show you behind the scenes of the coolest strength event potentially in the history of the world and also what real athlete treatment looks like,” he said.
The tour began inside the athlete recovery and treatment areas, which Hooper described as being available around the clock for competitors.
He showcased massage stations, physiotherapy areas, red light therapy equipment, electrical stimulation tools, Hyperice massage guns, and immersive recovery technology designed to help athletes unwind between events.
“This is athlete treatment. This is super cool and novel for us, novel for the weightlifters, novel for the swimmers,” Hooper explained.
The athlete dining setup was also highlighted, with meals apparently tailored specifically to competitors’ needs.
“We’ve got a low-sodium option on the right for the weightlifters trying to cut weight. We’ve got normal options on the left and um breakfast, lunch, dinner all sorted,” Hooper said.
The video then moved into the training areas, where Hooper revealed custom Enhanced Games-branded lifting platforms and plates, alongside fully equipped warm-up facilities that were accessible 24/7.
“On top of the coolest, most equipped hotel gym that we’re going to show you in a little bit, we’ve got this guy 24/7 available to us,” he said while showing rows of lifting platforms and racks.
As preparations continued, Hooper headed into media duties before eventually arriving at the competition venue itself — a setting he repeatedly described as unlike anything he had experienced before in sport.
“Time for behind the scenes of the coolest stadium in the history of strength sports,” Hooper said as he entered the venue.
The setup combined a swimming pool, track area, huge lighting rigs, giant screens, and large-scale production infrastructure designed primarily for online viewing audiences.
“Pretty intimate venue in terms of live spectators, but production for online’s insane,” Hooper explained.
He also pointed out the atmosphere surrounding the venue, with Las Vegas landmarks visible from the open-air setup.
“The environment here is going to be absolutely mental,” he added.
Hooper later ventured into what organisers reportedly call “the underworld” — the warm-up zone underneath the main competition floor where athletes would prepare before events.
The area included a 60-metre sprint track for runners alongside dedicated lifting stations for the strength athletes.
“And each of these are going to have our own lifting platform. But this is where we’re going to get warm to make things happen,” he explained.
But while the event itself was clearly the centrepiece of the video, one of the standout moments came when Hooper decided to challenge himself in the pool.
The strongman jokingly targeted a swimming “world record” in the 50 metres, making repeated references to attempting to become the first Enhanced Games swimming record-holder.
“I’m going to swim the 50 and see if I can’t set the first Enhanced Games 50m world record for $1 million,” he joked.
When asked whether he had warmed up beforehand, Hooper replied: “Uh, yeah. I’ve been in Vegas heat for the last 2 hours. I’m warm, baby.”
After diving from the blocks, Hooper completed the swim in a time of 34 seconds — immediately leading to celebrations and jokes about setting a record.
“Woo. World record. Hey, 34 seconds. Man. All right. That’s good,” he said after finishing the swim.
One person poolside then joked: “Would you hazard to guess that that’s a 300lb plus world record?”
Hooper quickly embraced the moment: “There you go. Official time. World record plus 300lb. Enhanced games 2.0.”
The video ended with Hooper encouraging fans to follow coverage of the event, revealing that future streams would be available across multiple platforms.
Featured image credit: Mitchell Hooper / YouTube
