Mitchell Hooper is the champion of the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) UK. During the contest on Sept 23-24, 2022, the Canadian strongman successfully captured the first major pro title of his strength career. Hooper is the only second-ever winner of the competition. Evan Singleton won the inaugural edition in 2021. 

Joining Hooper on the podium in Birmingham, England, were former 2020 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Oleksii Novikov and Rauno Heinla in second and third place, respectively. It is Novikov’s 16th finish in the top three in 18 contests since September 2020. Meanwhile, Heinla takes home a top-three result for the first time since the 2022 Força Bruta in February. 

Here are the final standings from this year’s Arnold Strongman Classic UK:

2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK Results

Mitchell Hooper— 79.5 points 
Oleksii Novikov — 71 points
Rauno Heinla — 61.5 points
Pa O’Dwyer — 55 points
Gavin Bilton — 47 points
Paul Smith — 44.5 points
Konstantine Janashia — 43 points
Kim Ujarak— 37 points
Ryan Bennett — 36.5 points
Žydrūnas Savickas— 33.5 points
Louis Jack — 33.5 points
Ervin Toots — 31.5 points
Ben Williams — 27 points
Zake Muluzi — 23.5 points

[Related: How to Do the Goblet Squat for Lower Body Size and Mobility]

Event Breakdown

Here’s a succinct event-by-event breakdown of the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK.

Deadlift

The deadlift for this contest was for reps. The athletes had to pull 370 kilograms (815 pounds) as many times as possible within 75 seconds. The newly-crowned 2022 World Deadlift Champion, Heinla, won this event by locking out a successful eight reps. Hooper (six reps) and Novikov (five reps) followed behind their Estonian peer. 

Rauno Heinla — Eight reps
Mitchell Hooper — Six reps
Oleksii Novikov — Five reps
Kim Ujarak — Four reps
Pa O’Dwyer — Four reps
Gavin Bilton — Four reps
Ben Williams — Three reps
Paul Smith — Three reps
Konstantine Janashia — Three reps
Ryan Bennett — Two reps
Louis Jack — One rep
Žydrūnas Savickas — One rep
Ervin Toots — One rep
Zake Muluzi — One rep

Bag Over Bar

During this event, the respective competitors had to toss five bags with weights ranging from 20 to 28 kilograms (44 to 61.7 pounds) over a bar with a height of four meters (13.1 feet). The athlete with the fastest time for their throws would come out on top. 

A resounding performance from Gavin Bilton, where he tossed all five bags in just over 17 seconds, gave him the Bag Over Bar victory. Hooper (five bags in 18.15 seconds) and Novikov (five bags in 18.35 seconds) followed just behind again. 

Gavin Bilton — Five in 17.21 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — Five in 18.15 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — Five in 18.35 seconds
Rauno Heinla — Five in 18.38 seconds
Pa O’Dwyer — Five in 18.79 seconds
Konstantine Janashia — Five in 19.27 seconds
Kim Ujarak — Five in 19.76 seconds
Ervin Toots — Five in 21.47 seconds
Louis Jack — Five in 24.78 seconds
Ryan Bennett — Five in 26.53 seconds
Zake Muluzi — Five in 47.84 seconds
Paul Smith — Five in 33.81 seconds
Žydrūnas Savickas — Five in 37.90 seconds
Ben Williams — Five in 47.84 seconds

[Related: How to Do the Push-Up — Benefits, Variations, and More]

Arnold Stone Carry

The Arnold Stone Carry tasked the athletes with picking up and carrying two unevenly weighted stones of 136 kilograms (300 pounds) and 164 kilograms (361.5 pounds) for 15 meters (49.2 feet). Whoever had the farthest distance and fastest time (in the event of a distance tie) would win. 

Hooper logged his first event win of the 2022 ASC UK by taking his stones down the course in 34.01 seconds. Notably, Hooper was the only competitor to cover the entire distance with his carry. 

Mitchell Hooper — 34.02 seconds
Žydrūnas Savickas — 14.14 meters
Zake Muluzi — 10.77 meters
Rauno Heinla — 6.19 meters
Oleksii Novikov — 5.32 meters
Pa O’Dwyer — 5.10 meters
Ervin Toots — 4.98 meters
Ryan Bennett — 4.88 meters
Gavin Bilton — 4.81 meters
Paul Smith — 4.45 meters
Konstantine Janashia — 4.27 meters
Louis Jack — 3.68 meters
Kim Ujarak — 3.2 meters
Ben Williams — 1.90 meters

Super Yoke

A strongman staple, the competitors at the 2022 ASC UK carried a 500-kilogram (1,102-pound) yoke 10 meters (32.8 feet) as fast as possible. Hooper won a second straight event, blitzing this segment by taking his yoke the full length in 5.70 seconds. Novikov (8.42 seconds) and Paul Smith (11.09 seconds) tailed behind Hooper. 

Mitchell Hooper — 5.70 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — 8.42 seconds
Paul Smith — 11.09 seconds
Konstantine Janashia — 12.50 seconds
Žydrūnas Savickas — 14.01 second
Rauno Heinla — 14.82 seconds
Ryan Bennett — 18.84 seconds
Pa O’Dwyer — 21.84 seconds
Ben Williams — 22.29 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 25.26 seconds
Zake Muluzi — 32.07 seconds
Louis Jack — 34.58 seconds
Ervin Toots — 46.91 seconds
Kim Ujarak — 3.85 meters

[Related: How to Do the Bent-Over Barbell Row for a Bigger, Stronger Back]

Dumbbell Press

This competition’s dumbbell press was for reps. The eventual victor would be the athlete who could lock out the most reps with a 100-kilogram (220-pound) dumbbell. The event seemed to play right into Novikov’s hands, who finished an impressive eight reps for the win. Though, Hooper and Smith (seven each) nipped on Novikov’s heels with quality performances. 

Oleksii Novikov — Eight reps
Mitchell Hooper — Seven reps 
Paul Smith — Seven reps 
Pa O’Dwyer — Six reps
Ben Williams — Five reps
Gavin Bilton — Four reps
Rauno Heinla — Three reps
Ryan Bennett — Three reps
Kim Ujarak — Two reps
Ervin Toots — Two reps
Louis Jack — Two reps
Konstantine Janashia — Zero reps
Žydrūnas Savickas — Zero reps
Zake Muluzi — Zero reps

Atlas Stones

Is it even a pro strongman contest if it doesn’t close with Atlas Stones? The five stones weighed from 120 to 200 kilograms (264.5 to 440 pounds). The winner is whoever can lift each stone to its podium the quickest. 

Louis Jack won the event when he lifted all five stones in 23.91 seconds. However, a second-place result for Hooper (five stones in 25.74 seconds) was enough to cement his overall victory as the 2022 ASC UK. 

Louis Jack — 23.91 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — 25.74 seconds
Konstantine Janashia — 29.71 seconds
Kim Ujurak — 31.38 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — 31.98 seconds
Rauno Heinla — Four in 19.21 seconds
Pa O’Dwyer — Four in 19.85 seconds
Ervin Toots — Four in 21.02 seconds
Žydrūnas Savickas — Four in 21.34 seconds
Paul Smith — Four in 22.4 seconds
Ryan Bennett — Four in 32.09 seconds
Gavin Bilton — Four in 34.09 seconds
Ben Williams — Three in 14.15 seconds
Zake Muluzi – Three in 16.59 seconds

[Related: The Best Landmine Workouts for More Muscle and Better Conditioning]

In a post on his Instagram, Hooper wrote that winning his first professional title “will take a minute to sink in.” However, as a young and ascending star, Hooper won’t have too much time to reflect on this victory.

Hooper and many of the competitors from this contest will square off in the upcoming 2022 Rogue Invitational on Oct. 28-30 at the Dell Diamond Stadium in Austin, TX.

Featured image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram