World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper is pulling back the curtain on his peptide regimen, revealing the specific compounds he credits for his unprecedented competitive success and rapid injury recovery. The Canadian strongman made history by winning World’s Strongest Man, the Arnold Classic, and the Rogue Invitational all in 2023.
In a recent YouTube video, he openly discussed three key peptides that have become integral to his performance protocol.
BPC-157 for Injury RecoveryÂ
“BPC-157 has gained huge Traction in the last little while and it actually originates in the human gut,” Hooper explains. This peptide, which the body produces naturally, shows “consistent positive effects for various injury types both traumatic and systematic for a plethora of soft tissues.”
For Hooper, whose sport involves constant physical trauma, this has proven invaluable. He recounts tearing his hamstring in August with severe bruising, yet recovering in just a week and a half to win a competition in October—a timeline he describes as “magic.” The peptide is legal in Canada but has been banned in the United States.
TB-4 for Tissue Regeneration and Immune Support
Thymosin Beta-4, Hooper’s second peptide choice, originates from the thymus and “stimulates the production of T cells which has a very important role in the immune system.”
Beyond immune function, TB-4 “plays an important role in tissue repair” through a complex mechanism involving actin binding that “promotes cell migration which induces mobilization migration and differentiation of stem cells which forms new blood vessels and regenerates the tissue.” Hooper notes this provides similar benefits to stem cell therapy, albeit less potent.
Tesamorelin as a Growth Hormone
The third component of Hooper’s stack is Tesamorelin, “a growth hormone releasing analog that can increase IGF-1.” Crucially, this peptide offers growth hormone benefits without directly injecting growth hormone.
Hooper says it is capable of growing “any organ in your body,” making it incredibly dangerous. Tesamorelin instead “activates a growth hormone receptor hormone which leads to synthesis and release of growth hormone,” primarily reducing visceral fat and “increasing bone tendon stiffness and increasing muscle size.”
Results and Cautions
Hooper’s personal results speak volumes: “My body composition has gotten a lot better and I haven’t had to take other steps that might be more negative to my health.”
However, he’s transparent about the risks, calling peptide use “a bit of Russian Roulette” due to limited long-term research. He emphasizes that “100% you have to speak to an expert first” and stresses the importance of regular blood work monitoring. The use of peptides remain banned in tested sports and carry potential side effects including nausea, blood pressure fluctuations, and joint pain.
