“Big Thicket” set the benchmark with a record future competitors will chase.
Written by Chris Colucci
On Sunday, March 5, 2023, the final day of the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH, strength athletes competed in the Rogue Record Breakers series after the Arnold Strongman Classic concluded the day prior. The final competition focused solely on breaking records in specialized events rather than simply earning points to rise above fellow athletes.
In its first appearance at a Rogue Record Breakers event, Trey Mitchell set the Stone Over Bar record with a dominant five-rep performance. Competitors had two minutes to lift a 460-pound (209-kilogram) stone without the assistance of “tacky” for improved grip. Arnold Strongman Classic winner Mitchell Hooper, who attempted the Stone Over Bar prior to Mitchell, achieved a single repetition.
Day 3 | Rogue Record Breakers | Full Live Stream
Mitchell’s record-setting performance earned him a $5,000 prize — his second bonus award of the day after breaking his own Forward Hold record from 2022. During the Forward Hold, Mitchell, again, beat Hooper’s performance in the same event.
Trey Mitchell’s record-setting feats of strength wrap up an otherwise successful weekend for the two-time Shaw Classic winner (2021, 2022). Mitchell placed 4th in the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic, an improvement from his 7th place achievement in the 2022 edition of the contest.
On the first day of the Arnold Strongman Classic, Mitchell won the Austrian Oak Log Lift event. Mitchell displayed phenomenal overhead pressing powering by hoisting the 195-kilogram (430-pound) log for four repetitions. In a possible coincidence, Hooper once again placed just behind Mitchell in the log lift event by completing only three repetitions with the same weight.
Whether the recurring pattern of besting Hooper was chance or a potential foreshadowing of the coming competitive season, it’s clear that Trey Mitchell appears to be headed into the 2023 strongman season ready to continue a powerful output.
Re-Watch the Action
It’s not too late to re-watch the competitors in action. To watch the strongman competitions, head to Rogue Fitness’ YouTube channel. For the bodybuilding events in the Arnold Classic, fans can visit FanMio to purchase the pay-per-view for $59.99. It can be played on any Apple device, as well as on an Android TV, Google TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV.
Featured Image: Rogue Fitness / YouTube
About Chris Colucci
Chris has spent more than 20 years studying health and fitness beginning at a supplement store in the local shopping mall, earning a brown belt in Kenpo Jiujitsu and teaching martial arts to kids and adults, personal training with clients including competitive athletes and 80-year olds, interviewing legends of the strength world, and fine-tuning countless articles from expert coaches. In his “spare” time, he studies late-19th and early-20th century physical culture; takes care of his wife, kids, dogs, and cats; and tries to keep his vegetable garden producing year-round.