Men's Health May 22, 2026 0 Comments

Unveiled: The Deadlift Duel Between Hafthor Björnsson and Mitchell Hooper That’s Shaking the Strength World—How to Watch Every Electrifying Lift!

What if the future of athletic competition looked a little different—where the toughest strength champs throw caution and rules aside to see who’s really got the muscle to match their mettle? Welcome to THE ENHANCED GAMES, a bold and brazen performance drug-friendly showdown that’s stirring up quite the storm, and trust me, it’s not your average race or rep count. This Memorial Day weekend, Las Vegas plays host to 50 elite competitors smashing it across swimming, track, weightlifting, and strongman events, with none other than The Killers providing the soundtrack (because of course they are). But if you’re a strength junkie like me, all eyes will be glued to the epic deadlift duel—Hafthor Björnsson, deadlift kingpin for over a decade, versus Mitchell Hooper, the unstoppable powerhouse. No drug tests, just pure raw strength, and a cool $250,000 riding on the barbell. Ready to see records shattered and egos tested? Hang tight, this isn’t just a competition — it’s a heavyweight battle for the ages. LEARN MORE

2 min read

THE ENHANCED GAMES, the performance drug-friendly athletic competition that has whipped up equal amounts of interest and controversy, will host its inaugural series this Memorial Day weekend on May 24. The event will feature 50 athletes across four disciplines (swimming, track, weightlifting, and strongman), along with a concert by The Killers (it is happening in Las Vegas, after all).

The strongman competition will be of particular interest to strength sports fans. There will be a one-on-one, winner-take-all deadlift between two of the most dominant figures in the space, Hafthor Björnsson and Mitchell Hooper. The pair will trade pulls to determine who is the strongest deadlifter in the world with no pharmacological restrictions. The winner takes the title—and $250,000.

Björnsson holds the official record for the deadlift—and has for the entire decade. He first broke the 500 kilogram mark in 2020 in a controversial event at his home gym amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Five years later in July 2025,Björnsson pulled 505 kilograms at a sanctioned event, cementing his status as the world’s top deadlifter. Since then, he’s re-broken his record, and the mark stands at 510 kilograms (1124 pounds). He’s called his shot for the Enhanced Games: he’ll aim to add another five kilos to his record for 515 total.

Hooper is no slouch either. He’s been one of the most successful strongman athletes of the past half-decade, with four consecutive Arnold Strongman Classic wins and two World’s Strongest Man titles, including this year’s in April. Hooper’s max competition deadlift is 475 kilograms (1047 pounds), so he hasn’t reached the same heights as Björnsson—but the nature of the competition means audiences will see him lifting in an entirely different context.

How to Watch the Enhanced Games Deadlift Competition

There are multiple options to watch the competition live. You can stream the event from a number of providers, including Roku, YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick. Broadcasts for the opening ceremonies begin on Sunday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, then events kick-off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men’s Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.