The Arnold Strongman Classic UK has kicked off with a bang, with the first-ever tie to mark the day. The opening event in the men’s category was the Austrian Oak, which involved pressing and repping with a heavy log. In the end, Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper and American rookie athlete Lucas Hatton closed the event with a tie.
The Austrian Oak calls for lifting any one of the available two weight variants. The logs weigh 429.9 lbs (195 kg) and 385.81 pounds (175 kg). According to their capacities, athletes can lift either log and perform reps with them. The one with the greater weight and the most reps wins the round.
Hatton walked in first and, with butter-smooth moves, performed three reps with the 429-pound log. Hooper came in later for the same log and also managed three reps before tapping out. In the end, when even legends like Hafthor Bjornsson couldn’t perform more than one rep, both the strongmen raced through the roster to win the round.
“Thank you, guys; this is like a dream for me.”
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While Hooper has gradually grown into a pro at the sport, with consistent wins under his belt, Hatton is relatively a rookie. The American previously won the title of America’s Strongest Man in 2023 and immediately impressed everyone with his prowess. If he performs as well as he did on Day 1, the veterans could have someone to watch out for.
Bjornsson, on the other hand, is looking strong and wants to save his energy for the entire show. His performance peaked towards the second round with an effortless Timber Carry attempt. Fans are hopeful that he might come back in full force during day 2’s events.
Currently, all eyes are glued to Hooper and Bjornsson. However, looking at the performances on day 1, Hatton could steal the limelight with his new energy and strength.
Mitchell Hooper leads day 1 with roaring success at the Arnold Classic UK
Day 1 ended with Hooper’s dramatic win in the second round. The Timber Carry witnessed Bjornsson, Bobby Thompson, and Hooper’s finest performances. The Icelandic athlete excelled at deadlifting, making Timber Carry a child’s play for him. He almost finished two laps of the field before setting the frame down.
To win, the Canadian had to finish two whole laps, and he successfully did so in style. Hooper had thirty seconds to spare after the completion of his first lap. He ended up stopping in between to chalk up for a better grip before finishing just in time to win the round.
