Have you ever wondered if the world’s strongest man can keep up with the internet’s latest bodybuilding sensation? Former World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper has looked to answer this very question as he tries the 22-year-old internet sensation’s three-exercise chest workout, pushing himself to the limit.

The Arnold Strongman champ posted a video on his YouTube channel showcasing him delving into the regime. Before starting out, Hooper said, “Sam Sulek has taken the fitness world by storm,” praising Sulek for his raw content and insane physique. Afterward, he declared that he’d be replicating Sulek’s intense chest workout, starting with the incline bench press. The plan was to hit failure on every set.

The session included three specific exercises. The incline Smith machine bench press, chest cable flies, and pec deck. The video kicked off with five sets to failure on the incline Smith machine bench press, with Hooper aiming for 6 to 8 reps per set. “First set, I hit 14 reps, then added more weight. We’re looking to reach failure around six reps, but we’ll see how it goes,” the strongman explained.

The strongman pushed through the first set, but found it challenging. “It’s hard work. With the Smith machine, there’s nothing you can do other than push harder,” he noted. After four grueling sets, he moved on to the next exercise, already feeling the fatigue setting in. He performed the exercises on 365 lbs plates and did 7 reps.

As Hooper revealed, Sulek prefers the Smith machine over the free bench due to its controlled plane, which focuses purely on muscular tension. For those training for size, the Smith machine is recommended, while the free bench press is better for building overall strength. The workout further continued with five sets of chest cable flies to failure.

Mitchell Hooper attempts a few bodybuilding poses

“I don’t do these often, so I feel it in my biceps as much as my chest,” Hooper admitted, noting that the orientation of the pulley matters more than the weight itself. The final exercise was one set to absolute failure on the pec deck, targeting 12 to 15 reps. “This movement is uncomfortable for me,” Hooper revealed. Despite the discomfort, the strongman powered through, completing the intense chest workout.

At the end of the video, he headed to the posing room, attempting a few bodybuilding poses. “Posing is actually so tiring,” he remarked, struggling to hold a vacuum pose. Reflecting on his physique, he mused, “I reckon I’m about 30 lbs off bodybuilding shape. Could I step on stage at 290?”

After replicating Sam Sulek’s chest workout, the strongman confessed that he was exhausted but impressed. What do you think of Hooper’s captivating content and his latest bodybuilding workout routine?