World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper Suffers Gym Accident During Rebar Challenge

Strongman competitors endure significant physical strain, including countless abrasions, contusions, and cumulative wear over years, as they repeatedly push their bodies to the outer limits of human capability. In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper—2023 World’s Strongest Man—shared footage of a gym accident that resulted in both a bruised pride and a damaged tooth.

The Incident: Rebar Bending Challenge Goes Awry

The incident unfolded during the filming of Hooper’s latest challenge, where he aimed to replicate vintage strongman feats reminiscent of circus-era displays, including car lifting, card tearing, and hot water bottle inflation. The central focus of the challenge was bending a rebar—a reinforced steel bar—before an audience, though the execution took an unexpected turn.

Hooper quipped, “I guess I was due for a gym fail”, in response to sharing a cringe-inducing clip with his over 300,000 Instagram followers. After warming up with a lighter rod, he displayed confidence by positioning a towel on his head to stabilize his leverage point before attempting the rebar. The steel bar began to flex under his extraordinary strength, with Hooper explaining the technique: “The goal is to have hands positioned at the bottom, touching one another, folding the bar straight in half.”

The Impact: Forceful Rebound Causes Facial Injury

Despite his apparent overconfidence, the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic winner found the initial phase of the task relatively straightforward, with the bar bending easily. However, as he strained to align the ends, Hooper leaned forward, causing the rebar to suddenly spring back. This rebound propelled the bar toward his face, delivering a forceful impact comparable to a professional knockout.

In visible distress, Hooper recoiled nearly instantaneously and required a moment to recover his composure after the shock.

Aftermath: Chipped Tooth and Public Reaction

Post-accident, Hooper disclosed that he had chipped a tooth and expressed uncertainty about whether he had swallowed it; others speculated the tooth had ricocheted toward the floor. A shocked Instagram user inquired, “Was that a tooth?” to which Hooper responded, “Yes,” followed by a sorrowful emoji. Another fan wrote, “Ouch!!”, echoing the universal sentiment of concern.

Critical Safety Reminder

This incident serves as a stark reminder: “Do not attempt this at home.” For the complete footage of Hooper’s vintage challenge attempts and to assess his recovery, please refer below.

[Note: The full video and additional challenges will be available for viewing below.]