Power, Pain, and Records: AIRWAAV Athletes Take the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic
The Arnold Strongman Classic is a top-tier competition, pushing the world’s strongest athletes through a demanding series of events. This year, AIRWAAV athletes delivered standout performances, proving their dominance on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Mitchell Hooper Secures a Historic Three-Peat
Mitchell Hooper made history by claiming his third consecutive Arnold Strongman Classic title, joining an elite group of athletes—including Brian Shaw and Hafþór Björnsson—who have won the event three times. Only Žydrūnas Savickas, with a record eight Arnold Strongman Classic wins, has achieved more.
Leading up to the event, Hooper faced injuries, but that didn’t stop him from delivering a dominant performance. In his recap of the competition, he shared his behind-the-scenes thoughts on each event and how he pushed through adversity.
With this victory, Hooper has now secured every major title in the sport, including:
- World's Strongest Man
- Strongest Man on Earth
- Three Arnold Strongman Classic titles
- Two-time Rogue Strongman Invitational Champion
- Arnold Strongman Classic UK Champion
Mitchell Hooper continues to prove that he is the strongest man on the planet, cementing his legacy in strength sports.
Tom Stoltman: Learning from the Arnold to Prepare for WSM
Two-time World’s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman, faced a challenging weekend at the Arnold. He struggled to get into the right mindset and didn’t perform to his own standards on the first day. However, true to his champion mentality, he reset mentally for Day 2, determined to finish strong.
While the Arnold didn’t go as planned, it has fueled his fire heading into the 2024 World’s Strongest Man competition. Stoltman is now laser-focused on defending his title and aiming for his fourth WSM victory. He remains the man to beat and will be returning with a vengeance.
Bobby Thompson: A Deadlifting Powerhouse
AIRWAAV athlete Bobby Thompson showed his raw strength at the Arnold Strongman Classic, finishing 8th overall. His biggest highlight came in the Elephant Bar Deadlift, where he pulled a staggering 986 lbs., reinforcing his reputation as one of the top deadlifters in the sport. But Strongman competitions aren’t just about lifting big—they come with their fair share of battle scars. During the Big Jerk event, Thompson hit his head, suffering a concussion, yet pushed through to finish the competition. In a sport where injuries are almost a guarantee, Thompson proved once again why he belongs among the best.
Maxime Boudreault: Battling Through Injury
- North America’s Strongest Man (2024)
- Canada’s Strongest Man (2022)
- 3rd place – 2021 World’s Strongest Man
Maxime has proven time and time again that he can compete with the best, and once recovered, he’ll be back stronger than ever.
Sam Belliveau: Setting a Strongwoman World Record
In the Strongwoman division, Sam Belliveau made history at the Animal Cage, setting a new world record by pressing a 200-lb overhead dumbbell. Her incredible strength and technical precision were on full display as she raised the bar for female strength athletes worldwide.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic was an unforgettable weekend for AIRWAAV athletes. With AIRWAAV mouthpieces helping these elite athletes maximize their breathing efficiency, recovery, strength, and endurance, expect even bigger performances in the months ahead.
Next stop: World’s Strongest Man! Stay tuned for more updates on your favorite AIRWAAV athletes.
