3 hours Ago
Mail Sport Extreme: Consistency is key for Mitchell Hooper as 2023 World's Strongest Man comes to Aberdeen for the Rogue Invitational looking to retain his crown Press and Journal Arena hosts prestigious strongman, strongwoman and CrossFit event where athletes compete for a prize purse worth over £1.3m Hooper has placed on the podium in over 90 per cent of his strongman events, despite entering his first major competition just two years ago While the Canadian can't wait for the 'rabid' strongman fans, CrossFitter Emma McQuaid is looking forward to a 'home' event By Blair Condie Published: 08:00, 7 November 2024 | Updated: 08:00, 7 November 2024 e-mail View comments Around 16 years ago, moose were reintroduced into the Scottish Highlands after an absence of around 1,000 years. This weekend, another Moose will find himself in Aberdeen, competing amongst some of the world’s strongest men, women and best CrossFitters from around the globe at the Rogue Invitational.
Canadian Mitchell ‘The Moose’ Hooper is a former World’s Strongest Man, bursting on to the scene in 2022 after a surprise invite to the competition where he finished eighth. Since then, Hooper has dominated the sport; winning the crown in 2023, finishing second this year’s contest to Scotland’s Tom Stoltman and claimed the Rogue Invitational title last year, becoming the only man in history to win all four of Strongman’s most prestigious titles: WSM, Arnold Strongman Classic, the Rogue Invitational and Strongest Man on Earth. Since that first WSM appearance, Hooper has hit the podium in each of his last 21 events, most recently winning the Giants Live in Glasgow, taking the title in eight of his last nine shows.
For Hooper though, the hard work he puts in away from the arena and back in the gym is paying off. Hooper and his WSM trophy, claiming his first title in just his second appearance ‘My whole life is consistent: my training is consistent, my food is consistent, my behaviour consistent and all that leads to consistent results,’ he says. ‘I think some of the other guys might take times of the year where they are a little more relaxed with their diet, train a little less, maybe go on vacation.
I haven’t vacationed in three years - this is my job. ‘With how the schedule shakes out, we don’t have time to take off from the job and that’s the life I’ve accepted for the short-term and it’s borne in the results. ‘I enjoy competing against Tom (Stoltman) but, to me, he’s just another competitor.
He got the best of me at WSM, but I’ve won the other eight previous shows that aren’t that. So I’ve had my redemption over him a couple of times already by the time the Rogue Invitational comes around!’ Despite his towering size of 6ft 3” and 325lbs, Hooper is not all brawn. It’s another aspect of his life which he feels helps him when it comes to competition.
‘I have an undergraduate degree in human kinetics and a masters degree clinical exercise and physiology,’ he says. ‘Having that background, from a performance perspective, injury, biomechanics, strategy, there’s a lot of ways that helps me.’ This will be the sixth Rogue Invitational, the first time the competition will be held outside of America.
Hooper successfully deadlifts 981lbs in the Elephant Bar Deadlift en route to winning the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2023 The Canadian managed three reps in 90 seconds of the 195kg Austrian Log at the same competition Hooper can’t wait to come back to Scotland and anticipates a ‘feral’ crowd, something which, he predicts, the CrossFitters won’t be used to. He adds: ‘Going up to Aberdeen, it looks like the stadium is sold out, so it should be a good environment to compete in. ‘It’ll be good to come to Scotland instead of America for it.
It’ll flip the competition on its head. The CrossFitters are about to learn how rabid the UK strongman fans are, so it’ll be nice to have the crowd flip from previous years and have that support behind us this year.’ Not all CrossFitters, however, see it that way.
Emma McQuaid, six-time Ireland’s Fittest Woman with six appearances at the CrossFit Games, has competed numerous times across the UK and is relishing the chance to compete at the Rogue in front of a ‘home’ crowd after spending much of 2023 on the sidelines with a neck injury. ‘Last year I missed the event and didn’t compete much last season because I had a neck injury, so I was carrying that for a long time, so the sensible thing was to sit it out,’ she admits. ‘(Coming to Scotland), it’s unreal to be back because it’s almost like a home crowd for me with Scotland being so close to home in Ireland, so it’ll be extra special.
McQuaid ranks competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games among her top achievements ‘It’s awesome that the Invitational has come here. As anyone who has experienced the UK or European crowd, it’s better than anything. ‘I’m really excited for the Americans and Australians to come this side of the water and experience the atmosphere the Europeans bring to this sport.
The crowds are going to be absolutely insane for every workout. ‘Honestly, some of my favourite competitions have been Strength in Depth and Filthy 150. There is no crowd like a UK and Irish crowd.
We’ve got a reputation as being a bit more rowdy but for a competition that definitely holds up very well.’ Having represented her country at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, finishing just outside the medals in the 63kg weightlifting category. Though she admits that, from a leaderboard perspective, it was her finest hour, her accomplishments in CrossFit give her most joy; notably taking the prestigious Wodapalooza crown in 2021.
This is set to be her third appearance at the Rogue, coming ninth in 2021 and 13th in 2022, McQuaid accepts that the competition may be ‘seen as Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr’s to lose’ but having spent the last year or so out injured, the 34-year-old is just glad to be back on the big stage. ‘There’s always one or two fitnessy workouts that suit me,’ she says. ‘The last time I did it, in 2022, I had a first and second-placed finish in the lighter style workouts, the gymnastic ones.
So there is always one or two where I can get the chance to shine. But there are the other ones where I’m at the bottom of the field because I’m not the strongest athlete. ‘It’s always humbling to see how far ahead other girls on the strength but you get to see how far ahead you are of them with the fitness and gymnastics stuff.
‘Unfortunately, with my neck injury last year, I’ve done no weightlifting, no strength, because I could barely lift my arms above my head, let alone any weights. So we’re still touching base on finding where I am strength wise. ‘Week on week, I’ve been adding 2.
5-5kg to my weights. Hopefully by the time the Invitational comes around I’ll be at my max lifts. I’m really excited for it because I feel back to my 2022 self, which is quite nice.
’ It is an historic weekend for another reason, however, with the introduction of the strongwoman event. Caity Henninger, from Rogue Fitness, said: ‘We’re especially excited to introduce the Strongwoman competition here. Following a successful showcase at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, it felt like the perfect addition to the Rogue Invitational as part of our commitment to this sport.
Spectators can expect Scottish culture and Aberdeen’s unique spirit to be woven throughout the event. As always, we strive to integrate local culture into our competitions, and this year, we have some surprises planned for both athletes and fans.’ Share or comment on this article: Mail Sport Extreme: Consistency is key for Mitchell Hooper as 2023 World's Strongest Man comes to Aberdeen for the Rogue Invitational looking to retain his crown e-mail Add comment.
