Latest news with #MitchellHooper
CTV News
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Open Air Dunlop kicks off Troubadour Festival
The Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series draws thousands to downtown Barrie, Ont., on June 14, 2025, for headliner Canadian country artist Dean Brody. Dunlop Street in downtown Barrie will once again be closed for Open Air Dunlop and the Troubadour Festival later Saturday evening. Downtown Barrie BIA along with the Barrie Foodbank got things started Saturday morning with the help of the world's strongest man Mitchell Hooper. CTV's Sarah Freemark interviews the worlds strongest man Mitchell Hooper CTV's Sarah Freemark interviews the worlds strongest man Mitchell Hooper (CTV NEWS/ Sarah Freemark) Hooper, pushed a van full of food down Dunlop to help raise money and donations for the Barrie Foodbank. Classics in the Park also returns to downtown Barrie Saturday along Open Air Dunlop and in the park across from Meridian Place. Classics in the Park Classics in the Park returned to downtown Barrie for Open Air Dunlop (CTV NEWS/ Luke Simard) Brandon Valley, president of Barrie Thunder Classic said its the second time Thunder Classics have made their way to downtown during Open Air Dunlop. 'We changed the name a little bit to give some heritage to our show that used to be here in the park,' said Valley. Hundreds of vehicles are lined up throughout Heritage Park and along Dunlop Street and Valley hopes the younger generation is taking notice. 'It's very important because when we're gone, we need the next generation of caretaker to take these things and keep this tradition going, because this is there's a lot of history here, not only of North American cars, but also with cars from all over the world,' said Valley. Michael Bartley has a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado and said Classics in the Park is one of the best. 'The location can't be beat, of course, near the waterfront and all the other activities going on it makes it a really well-rounded show for everyone, including people who are not necessarily car enthusiasts,' said Bartley. Bartley added its important for classic cars to be appreciated. 'Especially for people in our age group it's nostalgic for us to have something that goes back years and years,' said Bartley. 'In our younger days, we were driving these vehicles as kids and it's nice to have them back again.' Setting the stage for the second Troubadour Festival of the summer headlined by The 99s. The outdoor music series kicks off at 6:00 p.m. with a local artist showcase including alt-rock band Goofus, folk-rock Sydney Riley + The Bog Bodies, and Dorene, an indie duo from Tottenham. The 99s will take the stage around 8:30 p.m. with hits and covers from bands like Tina Turner, ABBA, and Avril Lavigne.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Who won World's Strongest Man 2025? Full results, finishing order, and placings from Sacramento
THE 48th annual World's Strongest Man has concluded after a thrilling four days in Sacramento. We'll bring you the full finishing order below from this year's tournament, or check out our live blog for all the reaction from the 2025 edition of WSM. 1 World's Strongest Man 2025 full results Final 1 Rayno Nel (RSA)...47pts 2 Tom Stoltman (UK)...46.5pts 3 Mitchell Hooper (CAN)...43.5pts 4 Trey Mitchell (USA)...38.5pts 5 Paddy Haynes (UK)...32pts 6 Ondrej Fojtu (CZE)...27pts 7 Shane Flowers (UK)...21.5pts 8 Pavlo Kordiyaka (UKR)...25pts 9 Luke Stoltman (UK)...21.5pts 10 Eddie Williams (AUS)...20.5pts Group stage leaderboard Group 1 1 Tom Stoltman (UK)...22.5pts 2 Eddie Williams (AUS)...17.5 3 Thomas Evans (USA)...11.5 4 Jaco Schoonwinkel (RSA)...11.5 5 Austin Andrade (MEX)...11 Group 2 1 Mitchell Hooper (CAN)...20.5pts 2 Paddy Haynes (UK)...18 3 Bryce Johnson (USA)...11.5 4 Wesley Derwinsky (CAN)...11.5 5 Mathew Ragg (NZL)...10.5 Group 3 1 Rayno Nel (RSA)...22pts 2 Shane Flowers (UK)...18 3 Lucas Hatton (USA)...14.5 4 Evans Nana Aryee (GHA)...13.5 5 Mateusz Kieliszkowski* (POL)...5 Group 4 1 Trey Mitchell (USA)...20pts 2 Ondrej Fojtu (CZE)...19 3 Macime Boudrealut (CAN)...16 4 Tristain Hoath(CAN)...15 5 Luke Richardson** (UK)...1 Group 5 1 Luke Stoltman (UK)...20pts 2 Pavlo Kordiyaka (UKR)...18.5 3 Nick Guardione (USA)...16.5 4 Andrew Flynn (UK)...15 5 Evan Singleton** (USA)...1 *Withdrew before fifth event due to illness **Withdrew during Loading Medley due to biceps injury What is the World's Strongest Man 2025 prize money? The exact prize fund for this year's competition is yet to be revealed, but reports suggest that it could be higher than the 2024 winnings. Tom Stoltman pocketed $100,016 for lifting last year's crown, according to reports. But the total prize pot was reportedly a record-breaking sum of $263,200. Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, we could see a further increase on top of the big bucks earned by winners in previous years. Prize money is also given to the runners-up for their efforts and cash is distributed among the top performers.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
World's Strongest Man 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Latest updates and standings as British star Tom Stoltman eyes FOURTH title
THE final day of the World's Strongest Man 2025 is here! British athlete Tom Stoltman is eyeing a FOURTH title in five years as he looks to go within one of equalling Mariusz Pudzianowski 's astonishing record. Shane Flowers. 2023 Strongman winner Mitchell Hooper is one of the main contenders looking to take Stoltman's crown.
Malay Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Breaking stereotypes: The ‘gentle giants' of the World's Strongest Man competition
SACRAMENTO, May 18 — Eddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends. In his spare time, he lifts enormously heavy weights as he competes to be the world's strongest man. Some people think weightlifters are 'a lot of angry people who just like to throw weight around,' the 420-pound (190-kilogramme) Australian told AFP, but 'I can be, you know, a happy person, and still be able to lift heavy weights.' Dripping with sweat after a Stone Medley — that is lifting very heavy stones — Williams insisted there is no contradiction between strength and likability. His wife Hannah agreed. 'They're these gentle giants that are just so lovely, such beautiful human beings that are caring, and they're all cheering for each other,' she said. They were in the California capital for the 'World's Strongest Man' competition, taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Human colossuses like Williams, with sculpted backs, impossibly muscled arms and rippling thighs, compete by lifting objects up to twice their own weight — or more. Mitchell Hooper, a 29-year-old former champion who has a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology, agreed that people have a mistaken idea about competitive weightlifters. People think 'that we're uneducated meatheads,' said the 320-pound Canadian, whose nickname is 'Moose.' But, he added, 'a lot of guys have higher education, and we train to compete strongly, because we just like to challenge ourselves.' One man who clearly wanted to destroy stereotypes was American Rob Kearney, who dyed his hair and beard in rainbow colours for the competition and calls himself 'the world's strongest gay man.' Kearney, 33, a former competitor attending the event in Sacramento, said he wanted to 'break some of those stereotypes of what (people) think masculinity is.' 'Strength isn't just the amount of weight we can deadlift,' he said. 'Strength is all about who you are as a person, how you hold yourself and how you support others.' Rayno Nel of South Africa (right) and Lucas Hatton of the US (left) compete in the Titan's Toss competition on day two of qualifying at the 'World's Strongest Man' competition on May 16, 2025 in Sacramento, California. — AFP pic A struggle of titans The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California. The concept has remained the same but, over the years, the sport has gained investors and enthusiasts, becoming more professional: eight world records have been set here in the last 14 years. The names of the individual events — the 'Titan's Toss,' 'Atlas Stones,' 'Flintstone Barbell' and 'Hercules Hold' — convey the magnitude of the challenges. To build the enormous strength necessary, nutrition is vital, said 30-year-old Rayno Nel, a South African beginner in such competitions. Nel, who took up the sport after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, puts in long nights at his gym while following a complicated eating schedule aimed at providing him with 6,000 calories a day in meat and vegetables. That takes sacrifice, he said, while quickly adding, 'I love it.' Once the competition is over, Nel plans to grab a burger and a beer. But for these Samsons — some over 6-feet-6 (two meters) tall — it's not all about food and exercise. Concentration and focus are also essential, said Odd Haugen, 75, a former competitor. 'You've got to be really ready,' he said, 'because it's really heavy!' Tom Stoltman of Great Britain competes in the Natural Stone Medley during the qualifying round at the 'World's Strongest Man' competition on May 16, 2025 in Sacramento, California. — AFP pic 'In pain every day' Hooper, who was catching his breath after throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 12-foot-high bar, acknowledged to AFP that there are downsides to being one of the world's strongest men. 'You wake up in pain every day. You're constantly sore. You don't fit in normal spots. You have to wear a sleep apnea machine. You're always hot. You're always sweating.' But, he added, 'the upsides are pretty cool.' Those include the enthusiastic fans, friends and family members who explode with joy when their favourite lifter manages a feat, or suffer along with him if he falls short. Power lifting is a competitive discipline, but the sense of camaraderie in the arena is clearly felt. Competitors watch their rivals intently, cheering them on, shouting and clapping. Such support, Kearney said, is the perfect refutation of all the stereotypes. 'When you see two men embrace each other and cheer for each other and support each other,' he said, 'it really shows just what strength means.' — AFP
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Gentle giants': World's strongest men defy stereotypes
Eddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends. In his spare time, he lifts enormously heavy weights as he competes to be the world's strongest man. Some people think weightlifters are "a lot of angry people who just like to throw weight around," the 420-pound (190-kilogram) Australian told AFP, but "I can be, you know, a happy person, and still be able to lift heavy weights." Dripping with sweat after a Stone Medley -- that is lifting very heavy stones -- Williams insisted there is no contradiction between strength and likability. His wife Hannah agreed. "They're these gentle giants that are just so lovely, such beautiful human beings that are caring, and they're all cheering for each other," she said. They were in the California capital for the "World's Strongest Man" competition, taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Human colossuses like Williams, with sculpted backs, impossibly muscled arms and rippling thighs, compete by lifting objects up to twice their own weight -- or more. Mitchell Hooper, a 29-year-old former champion who has a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology, agreed that people have a mistaken idea about competitive weightlifters. People think "that we're uneducated meatheads," said the 320-pound Canadian, whose nickname is "Moose." But, he added, "a lot of guys have higher education, and we train to compete strongly, because we just like to challenge ourselves." One man who clearly wanted to destroy stereotypes was American Rob Kearney, who dyed his hair and beard in rainbow colors for the competition and calls himself "the world's strongest gay man." Kearney, 33, a former competitor attending the event in Sacramento, said he wanted to "break some of those stereotypes of what (people) think masculinity is." "Strength isn't just the amount of weight we can deadlift," he said. "Strength is all about who you are as a person, how you hold yourself and how you support others." - A struggle of titans - The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California. The concept has remained the same but, over the years, the sport has gained investors and enthusiasts, becoming more professional: eight world records have been set here in the last 14 years. The names of the individual events -- the "Titan's Toss," "Atlas Stones," "Flintstone Barbell" and "Hercules Hold" -- convey the magnitude of the challenges. To build the enormous strength necessary, nutrition is vital, said 30-year-old Rayno Nel, a South African beginner in such competitions. Nel, who took up the sport after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, puts in long nights at his gym while following a complicated eating schedule aimed at providing him with 6,000 calories a day in meat and vegetables. That takes sacrifice, he said, while quickly adding, "I love it." Once the competition is over, Nel plans to grab a burger and a beer. But for these Samsons -- some over 6-feet-6 (two meters) tall -- it's not all about food and exercise. Concentration and focus are also essential, said Odd Haugen, 75, a former competitor. "You've got to be really ready," he said, "because it's really heavy!" - 'In pain every day' - Hooper, who was catching his breath after throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 12-foot-high bar, acknowledged to AFP that there are downsides to being one of the world's strongest men. "You wake up in pain every day. You're constantly sore. You don't fit in normal spots. You have to wear a sleep apnea machine. You're always hot. You're always sweating." But, he added, "the upsides are pretty cool." Those include the enthusiastic fans, friends and family members who explode with joy when their favorite lifter manages a feat, or suffer along with him if he falls short. Power lifting is a competitive discipline, but the sense of camaraderie in the arena is clearly felt. Competitors watch their rivals intently, cheering them on, shouting and clapping. Such support, Kearney said, is the perfect refutation of all the stereotypes. "When you see two men embrace each other and cheer for each other and support each other," he said, "it really shows just what strength means." pr/bbk/acb/st
