The Classic Physique division is one of the most popular and fastest-growing divisions in bodybuilding. It has attracted a plethora of talent since its debut in 2016. In a recent Instagram post, Stephane Matala shared an impressive physique update four weeks from the upcoming 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal.
Classic Physique was introduced in 2016 to provide a platform for athletes who wish to bring back a Golden Era look. It enables competitors to present a refined blend of muscularity and density without going too far in terms of size, an attribute often favored in the Men’s Open class today. Danny Hester created history by becoming the first-ever Classic Physique Olympia champ. After the crowning of Hester, athletes got a better idea of the physique the judges were looking for.
Former two-time champ Breon Ansley emerged as the second winner after Hester but got dethroned by Canadian bodybuilder Chris Bumstead in 2019. Once Bumstead took the throne, there was no stopping him. The reigning four-time Olympia winner proved to be a dominant champion who has yet to be defeated since taking the throne. He’s also one of the most popular bodybuilders on the planet.
Bumstead’s fame helped take the division to new heights and attract a ton of new talent. Going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia, German sensation Urs Kalecinski and Brazilian standout Ramon Rocha Queiroz were thought to be major threats to Bumstead. Eventually, ‘CBum’ triumphed over all and won his fourth Olympia title in a row.
Now, another potential future contender Stephane Matala is working his way up and has generated a lot of hype behind him.
Stephane Matala shares an impressive update ahead of the Classic Physique contest
In a recent Instagram post, Classic Physique competitor Stephane Matala shared an impressive physique update four weeks from the 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal, scheduled for July 9 in Estoril, Portugal.
Matala went through a strong posing routine with somber music to paint an artistic picture. He displayed refined muscle quality, shape, and definition along with striations in his upper body. It’s clear Matala is genetically gifted and some argue he has a structure similar to Ramon Dino.
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari believes the Classic Physique division is preserving the art of bodybuilding in an era obsessed with mass and size. With the addition of Kalecinski, Ramon Dino, and other rising competitors in the Classic Physique, it’s shaping up to be an exciting time for the division.
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The golden standard Bumstead set for the Classic Physique division has been unbeatable so far and it remains to be seen how Matala will fare in higher-level competitions.