World’s Strongest Man winner explains why mysterious Aussie giant Tom Haviland who counts Joe Rogan as his biggest fan could take the title

Reigning World’s Strongest Man champion Mitchell Hooper believes mysterious Australian cult hero Tom Haviland could take the coveted title if he commits to training for next year’s competition.

Haviland, who is 203 cm (6’8″) and weighs 157 kg (346 lb), has become a cult figure in the fitness world with fans such as Joe Rogan saying he has the “strange physique of all time” .

The imposing 37-year-old lives a quiet life on a remote property on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and does most of his work outdoors on his property while wearing the type of workman’s clothing associated with construction workers.

He also distinguishes himself from other strongmen by not only lifting weights, but also carrying super heavy truck parts and rocks while almost always keeping his face hidden.

Haviland exclusively told Daily Mail Australia in January that he is “extremely grateful” for the interest he has received in his training lately, but it is not in his nature to seek the spotlight.

Hooper, a record-breaking strongman, is a big fan of the Australian mountain man and explained exactly how impressive some of Haviland’s lifts are in a recent YouTube video.

The superstar said Haviland is not only strong in one particular area, but can complete amazing lifts in a variety of different movements.

“We lined up pretty well,” Hooper concluded at the end of his video.

“If Tom Haviland became the strongest man in the world, I don’t think he would just compete for the final, I think he would compete for the podium.”

“And I think he could win the title of World’s Strongest Man, if he committed to Strongman (training).”

It is unknown if Haviland would be interested in such a project, as he seems perfectly content training at his Australian property.

“I prefer to keep my posts focused on my training and not me personally,” Haviland told Daily Mail Australia.

‘I include little snippets of my personal life here and there, but I’m a private person and prefer to keep the boundaries of social media and I don’t feel like that takes away from what I’m trying to do.

“I know it seems strange to a lot of people and I can understand it, but it suits me and has worked well so far, so until I can see a reason to change, I will continue to do it this way.”

“I also can’t deny that I am amused by all the speculation about what happened to my face.”

When it comes to why he covers his body in work clothes instead of exercise clothes like tank tops and shorts, Haviland admits it’s a purely practical choice that fits into his life working on a property.

“I’m out in the sun lifting rusty tools, rocks and wood for most of my training, so pants and long sleeves are practical,” he says.

‘I see my training as an extension of whatever manual work I’m doing, so I just stick to the old adage of “train like you play.”

“I also like that it takes some of the focus off the physical/cosmetic aspect and focuses more on performance.”