'Heated Rivalry' Star Hudson Williams Shares Total-Body Workout Routine Focused on Building Glutes

Hudson Williams, a 24-year-old Canadian actor known for portraying Canadian hockey superstar Shane Hollander in Crave/HBO's Heated Rivalry, has opened up about his fitness routine in a recent feature. The series, a gay hockey romance that has captured widespread attention in LGBTQ+ pop culture, follows the intense relationship between rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Williams and Connor Storrie respectively. Williams demonstrated his workout at the Men's Health Fitness Hub, emphasizing a focus on building and maintaining his glutes, which he humorously referred to as having an "M. O. to upkeep."

The actor, who has been weight training since childhood—starting around age six under his father's guidance—prioritizes total-body sessions lasting 45 minutes to an hour. He aims for five workouts per week but adjusts to three during busy travel periods. "My workout is always total body just because depending on when or if I can't get into the gym, I just like to know I've hit everything, "Williams explained in the accompanying video. This approach ensures comprehensive training efficiency, particularly as he prepares for intensified demands in season two.

Williams'routine includes several key exercises: Dumbbell Chest Fly for chest width, Lying Dumbbell Curl targeting biceps, Bulgarian Split Squat for glutes and legs, Seated Single-Arm Cable Row , Overhead Triceps Extension , Cable Lateral Raise for shoulders, and Dragon Flag for core strength. He noted specific techniques, such as avoiding excessive depth in chest flies to protect shoulders and using lighter weights for Dragon Flags to maintain form: "You go lighter than you think."

For his role, Williams drew inspiration from real hockey players like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, praising their dedication: "They're just good guys. .. they eat and breathe one thing, and that's hockey." Initially, showrunner Jacob Tierney suggested portraying Hollander as "wiry strong"or like he "drinks beer strong, "typical for hockey players. However, observing co-star Storrie's physique—"look like underwear models"—shifted Williams toward a more sculpted build.

Looking ahead, Heated Rivalry has been renewed for a second season, with filming set to begin in summer 2026. Williams shared ambitious goals: "I want to get bigger, juicier, thicker—I want to get big ass shoulders. .. I want to put on 10 pounds of muscle." He aims to match or exceed Storrie's season one size, joking, "I think that guy is just going to eat so much protein that he's going to ascend and he's going to show up like an Olympia—Mr. Olympia." The duo trains together, fostering a competitive yet supportive dynamic centered on glute and overall muscle growth.

This revelation comes amid Heated Rivalry's cultural dominance, resonating with LGBTQ+ audiences for its authentic portrayal of queer romance in sports. Williams'candid discussion of body maintenance highlights fitness as integral to embodying characters in queer-centered media, promoting person-first approaches to health and representation for gay men and broader LGBTQ+ communities. Coverage has appeared across fitness and entertainment outlets, underscoring the event's appeal.