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Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek: Slovakian Super Freak!
By Ron Harris
Immediately following the 2017 Olympia Weekend, the IFBB split into two different organizations. One became the IFBB Pro League, headed by NPC President Jim Manion and based in Pittsburgh. The other would be known as the IFBB Elite League, helmed by Rafael Santonja in Spain. All the top pro stars remained loyal to Manion, while the Elite League had to discover new talent for their events. It wasn’t long before a massive young man from Slovakia emerged as their star: Michal Krizanek from Slovakia, known better by his nickname of Krizo. At 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, Krizo had a rare combination of mass, shape, and symmetry, with full, round muscle bellies and a small midsection. This was a freak with aesthetics, and he would go on to dominate the Elite events for five years with little real opposition. Those of us who truly love the sport want to see the very best men in the world onstage every year at the Mr. Olympia, and Krizo’s absence was a sore point. How would he compare to Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan and the rest of the top men at the O? I feared we would never get to see that showdown, and felt it was a shame. But thankfully, Michal himself was the one who ultimately decided he needed to be on the Olympia stage. In the final quarter of 2022, he earned his pro card, won his pro debut, and did in fact stand on the Mr. Olympia stage. Though he wasn’t the immediate threat to the Sandow title that many hoped he would be and landed in 12th place, it was clear that his potential was still largely untapped and that he could very well be a force to reckon with at the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. I spoke with him just before that Mr. Olympia debut.
Michal, when you first met your longtime coach, Alex Hlobik, you weren’t interested in bodybuilding. You wanted to compete in bench press meets, right?
Yes. That was in 2017. I had been training for over 10 years already because I started at the age of 15. It was always just because I enjoyed it. Getting onstage wasn’t something that interested me, but I always respected those guys.
Which bodybuilders did you see photos or videos of that inspired you when you were younger?
There were a lot of the pros from the ‘90s who inspired me, and then later I really liked the physiques of Dennis Wolf and Phil Heath.
When you started training, did you ever think you could look the way you do now?
I wanted to be big like the guys I looked up to, but I never thought I would be able to get so much size. I don’t even think I’m big enough yet right now.
Alex, Michal came to you wanting to be a powerlifter. How did you know bodybuilding was where he really belonged?
[Alex] We had only been working together with me coaching him for one month, and already he had made substantial changes and improvements. Michal was already 102kg (224 pounds) with very good shape, and he looked better than many men who had been competing for years.
WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE TRAINING VIDEO FROM MICHAL "KRIZO" KRIZANEK PRESENTED BY SCITEC NUTRITION
[embedded content]
Was his physique basically a smaller version of what we see now?
[Alex] No, not exactly. There were a few muscle groups that were not very developed, such as his chest and hamstrings. We had to work on those and bring them up before he could start competing. It didn’t take long, though. He entered and won his first contest that same year.
Michal, you have some of the biggest arms in the sport right now. Were they always big?
Genetically they were always big, meaning that from the time I began training they always grew very quickly. In fact, when I started lifting, my arms were really the only part of me that grew.
What’s the biggest your arms have ever measured?
61 centimeters.
For my fellow Americans out there, that’s a little over 24 inches! Let’s talk about your competition history. You started off as a pro in the IFBB Elite League, and I think you won 13 out of 14 pro shows you entered?
I think it was 14 out of 15. That time I got fourth place.
You were so dominant, how the hell did you get fourth place?
I was totally exhausted from having competed in a few shows, and to be honest I had temporarily lost my motivation. I should have skipped that contest.
We all fantasize about winning, but were you starting to feel like it was too easy for you in the Elite League because you were winning all the time without anyone to really challenge you?
I would not say that any of my victories was easy.
If that’s the case, why did you finally decide last year to earn your IFBB Pro League pro card and compete there instead?
It was my dream, and I believe the dream of every bodybuilder, to compete in the Mr. Olympia. And back to what you said, I would have more motivation as a competitor in the Pro League because that’s where the best in the world compete.
I know that as a fan of the sport as well as a journalist, it bothered me that you were as good as you are and we never got to see you stand next to champions like Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, and Hadi Choopan. Is that what you wanted, to have a chance to be compared to them?
Yes, of course! If you want to be the best and be known as the best at what you do, you have to beat the very best, which is what they represent.
Were you surprised or upset that even though you had won over a dozen pro shows, you had to start all over again as an amateur to win your IFBB Pro League pro card?
No. I never expected or asked for special treatment or an exemption. I was not a pro in that organization, so I had to earn that status like everybody else.
People were critical of your condition at both that Amateur Olympia win in Italy and your pro win in Prague because it seemed as if you were saving your best for the Olympia.
Yes, and they were correct. There was no reason to be 100 percent in Italy because I knew what I needed to get that win. The plan all along was to get better for Prague, and then peak 100 percent for the Mr. Olympia.
In your first visit to the USA, you went to New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles and met up with some of the legends of the sport like Steve Weinberger, Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev, and Flex Lewis to pose for them so they could take a look. They all rated your potential as sky-high. What was it like hearing praise from people of that caliber?
I was very nervous each of those times before I would pose for them. Every time, I kept looking at myself in the mirror and I didn’t feel I looked good. I was off all gear at that point and not looking as full or hard. But I am happy and grateful that they all took the time and for their kind words.
Milos and Jay both said that you don’t only have size, but also excellent muscle detail and maturity, which we don’t see a lot of lately. Is there some special training style you attribute that quality to?
I can’t really say for sure. I do train very hard and I squeeze the muscles very hard on all the reps.
You look like a very strong guy. Do you still train very heavy, or have you changed to more moderate weights now that you already have so much mass?
I did train very heavy in the past because I still needed a lot more size. Now I train with better technique, and I am focused on improving specific body parts. I have a little saying, “you have to talk to your muscles.”
It probably doesn’t translate that well from Slovakian, but we call it a mind-muscle connection. Which areas on your physique do you consider to be your strong points and which areas do you still feel need to improve?
I need to improve everything. A true bodybuilder is never content with what he sees in the mirror. He will always see something that can be better.
I would argue that at least your arms are as good as they ever need to be.
Maybe my arms, yes, I only train them once a week.
You were a huge news item throughout much of 2022 in our industry. Did you know you were that popular outside of Europe?
No. I don’t pay much attention to that type of thing.
Do you feel a lot of pressure to win because of all the expectations on you?
Not from all over, mainly from my own country. They really want me to represent them well. Also, it was a very long year of prepping.
I’m trying to remember if there has ever been another Slovakian athlete in the Mr. Olympia before you.
Yes, Jaroslav Horvath did the Mr. Olympia once and was in the lightweight category three times in the early years at the Olympia when the weight limit was 202 pounds, before it became 212. But he did the Mr. Olympia in 2002, so that means I am the first Slovakian on that stage in 20 years.
When Do We See Krizo next?
Michal hasn’t committed to any contests for 2023 as of this writing, but he does have a general idea. “I will have to pick smart,” he said. “I wasn’t happy with my conditioning at the 2022 Mr. Olympia because I know I can come in more conditioned than that. I was already too tired.” He goes on to give his fans something to look forward to. “I’d like to do the Arnold UK. I’ll definitely do the EVLS Prague Pro, but this time it’s two weeks after the Olympia instead of before it as it was last year. I plan on choosing two or three shows to qualify, because there is no guarantee that I would win the very first one.”
Part of the ‘New Guard?’
The recent Arnold Classic showed that a new breed of pro bodybuilding is rising to the top of the heap: tall men with plenty of size yet also with shape, symmetry, and proportion. Both Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked exemplify this new ideal, and this bodes very well for Michal Krizanek. He matches up perfectly in this group, and I wouldn’t be surprised if only a short time from now, most of the top men at the Mr. Olympia possess that combination of height, size, and pleasing shape and structure. Is Krizo a future Mr. Olympia champion? Only time will tell, but the future looks very bright for this new addition to the IFBB Pro League.
Instagram @ifbb_pro_michalkrizokrizanek
//www.youtube.com/@krizoyoutube" >YouTube: KRIZO
Contest History
Note: Professional competitions prior to 2022 were with the IFBB Elite League, and all pro appearances thereafter are with IFBB Pro League.
2018 Elite Pro Spain - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Czechia - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Austria - Winner
2018 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2018 Elite Pro World Benidorm - Winner
2019 Elite Pro Malta - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Africa - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2019 World Pro Championships - Fourth Place
2019 Elite Pro Cancun - Winner
2020 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2021 Elite Pro Mr. Universe - Winner
2022 Amateur Olympia Italy - Super Heavyweight and Overall
2022 EVLS Prague Pro - Winner
2022 Mr. Olympia - 12th Place
Milos Sarcev Rates Krizo
“I’ve been in this business for 40-something years, and talent like this doesn’t show up very often. He is 186cm, really, really thickly muscled, pleasing, round muscle bellies, high quality – and as Jay Cutler said to his coach, “He has striations upon striations of high-quality muscle.” Structurally he is not the widest, but neither was Phil Heath, right? He is actually wider than Phil Heath, those round shoulders and the craziest arms you can possibly think of. Great legs; hamstrings, quads, calves, everything is there. As we all noticed, he is not super wide, he doesn’t have that crazy V-taper and needs to improve the back. A little more width and a little more thickness and it would immediately make him a top contender for the Mr. Olympia title. His arms are like I have never seen before. His front double biceps pose is like Photoshop happening in front of your eyes, it’s really mind-boggling.”
Jamie ‘The Giant’ Christian on Krizo
“Michal Krizo joins the list of taller bodybuilders that will seemingly do very well in the NPC and IFBB Pro League. To name a few more; Andrew Jacked, Quinton Eriya, Sergio Oliva Jr. and obviously myself – the Giant, Steve Kuclo, and Regan Grimes. There are more and more bodybuilders in the 6-foot-tall region now, which is fantastic for myself – and bodybuilding in general, I think.”
scitec nutrition® Stack
100% WHEY PROTEIN PROFESSIONAL
Ron Harris got his start in the bodybuilding industry during the eight years he worked in Los Angeles as Associate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Magazine” show in the 1990s. Since 1992 he has published nearly 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and fitness magazines, making him the most prolific bodybuilding writer ever. Ron has been training since the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boston area. Facebook Instagram
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[embedded content]
Top
Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek: Slovakian Super Freak!
By Ron Harris
Immediately following the 2017 Olympia Weekend, the IFBB split into two different organizations. One became the IFBB Pro League, headed by NPC President Jim Manion and based in Pittsburgh. The other would be known as the IFBB Elite League, helmed by Rafael Santonja in Spain. All the top pro stars remained loyal to Manion, while the Elite League had to discover new talent for their events. It wasn’t long before a massive young man from Slovakia emerged as their star: Michal Krizanek from Slovakia, known better by his nickname of Krizo. At 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, Krizo had a rare combination of mass, shape, and symmetry, with full, round muscle bellies and a small midsection. This was a freak with aesthetics, and he would go on to dominate the Elite events for five years with little real opposition. Those of us who truly love the sport want to see the very best men in the world onstage every year at the Mr. Olympia, and Krizo’s absence was a sore point. How would he compare to Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan and the rest of the top men at the O? I feared we would never get to see that showdown, and felt it was a shame. But thankfully, Michal himself was the one who ultimately decided he needed to be on the Olympia stage. In the final quarter of 2022, he earned his pro card, won his pro debut, and did in fact stand on the Mr. Olympia stage. Though he wasn’t the immediate threat to the Sandow title that many hoped he would be and landed in 12th place, it was clear that his potential was still largely untapped and that he could very well be a force to reckon with at the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. I spoke with him just before that Mr. Olympia debut.
Michal, when you first met your longtime coach, Alex Hlobik, you weren’t interested in bodybuilding. You wanted to compete in bench press meets, right?
Yes. That was in 2017. I had been training for over 10 years already because I started at the age of 15. It was always just because I enjoyed it. Getting onstage wasn’t something that interested me, but I always respected those guys.
Which bodybuilders did you see photos or videos of that inspired you when you were younger?
There were a lot of the pros from the ‘90s who inspired me, and then later I really liked the physiques of Dennis Wolf and Phil Heath.
When you started training, did you ever think you could look the way you do now?
I wanted to be big like the guys I looked up to, but I never thought I would be able to get so much size. I don’t even think I’m big enough yet right now.
Alex, Michal came to you wanting to be a powerlifter. How did you know bodybuilding was where he really belonged?
[Alex] We had only been working together with me coaching him for one month, and already he had made substantial changes and improvements. Michal was already 102kg (224 pounds) with very good shape, and he looked better than many men who had been competing for years.
WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE TRAINING VIDEO FROM MICHAL "KRIZO" KRIZANEK PRESENTED BY SCITEC NUTRITION
Was his physique basically a smaller version of what we see now?
[Alex] No, not exactly. There were a few muscle groups that were not very developed, such as his chest and hamstrings. We had to work on those and bring them up before he could start competing. It didn’t take long, though. He entered and won his first contest that same year.
Michal, you have some of the biggest arms in the sport right now. Were they always big?
Genetically they were always big, meaning that from the time I began training they always grew very quickly. In fact, when I started lifting, my arms were really the only part of me that grew.
What’s the biggest your arms have ever measured?
61 centimeters.
For my fellow Americans out there, that’s a little over 24 inches! Let’s talk about your competition history. You started off as a pro in the IFBB Elite League, and I think you won 13 out of 14 pro shows you entered?
I think it was 14 out of 15. That time I got fourth place.
You were so dominant, how the hell did you get fourth place?
I was totally exhausted from having competed in a few shows, and to be honest I had temporarily lost my motivation. I should have skipped that contest.
We all fantasize about winning, but were you starting to feel like it was too easy for you in the Elite League because you were winning all the time without anyone to really challenge you?
I would not say that any of my victories was easy.
If that’s the case, why did you finally decide last year to earn your IFBB Pro League pro card and compete there instead?
It was my dream, and I believe the dream of every bodybuilder, to compete in the Mr. Olympia. And back to what you said, I would have more motivation as a competitor in the Pro League because that’s where the best in the world compete.
I know that as a fan of the sport as well as a journalist, it bothered me that you were as good as you are and we never got to see you stand next to champions like Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, and Hadi Choopan. Is that what you wanted, to have a chance to be compared to them?
Yes, of course! If you want to be the best and be known as the best at what you do, you have to beat the very best, which is what they represent.
Were you surprised or upset that even though you had won over a dozen pro shows, you had to start all over again as an amateur to win your IFBB Pro League pro card?
No. I never expected or asked for special treatment or an exemption. I was not a pro in that organization, so I had to earn that status like everybody else.
People were critical of your condition at both that Amateur Olympia win in Italy and your pro win in Prague because it seemed as if you were saving your best for the Olympia.
Yes, and they were correct. There was no reason to be 100 percent in Italy because I knew what I needed to get that win. The plan all along was to get better for Prague, and then peak 100 percent for the Mr. Olympia.
In your first visit to the USA, you went to New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles and met up with some of the legends of the sport like Steve Weinberger, Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev, and Flex Lewis to pose for them so they could take a look. They all rated your potential as sky-high. What was it like hearing praise from people of that caliber?
I was very nervous each of those times before I would pose for them. Every time, I kept looking at myself in the mirror and I didn’t feel I looked good. I was off all gear at that point and not looking as full or hard. But I am happy and grateful that they all took the time and for their kind words.
Milos and Jay both said that you don’t only have size, but also excellent muscle detail and maturity, which we don’t see a lot of lately. Is there some special training style you attribute that quality to?
I can’t really say for sure. I do train very hard and I squeeze the muscles very hard on all the reps.
You look like a very strong guy. Do you still train very heavy, or have you changed to more moderate weights now that you already have so much mass?
I did train very heavy in the past because I still needed a lot more size. Now I train with better technique, and I am focused on improving specific body parts. I have a little saying, “you have to talk to your muscles.”
It probably doesn’t translate that well from Slovakian, but we call it a mind-muscle connection. Which areas on your physique do you consider to be your strong points and which areas do you still feel need to improve?
I need to improve everything. A true bodybuilder is never content with what he sees in the mirror. He will always see something that can be better.
I would argue that at least your arms are as good as they ever need to be.
Maybe my arms, yes, I only train them once a week.
You were a huge news item throughout much of 2022 in our industry. Did you know you were that popular outside of Europe?
No. I don’t pay much attention to that type of thing.
Do you feel a lot of pressure to win because of all the expectations on you?
Not from all over, mainly from my own country. They really want me to represent them well. Also, it was a very long year of prepping.
I’m trying to remember if there has ever been another Slovakian athlete in the Mr. Olympia before you.
Yes, Jaroslav Horvath did the Mr. Olympia once and was in the lightweight category three times in the early years at the Olympia when the weight limit was 202 pounds, before it became 212. But he did the Mr. Olympia in 2002, so that means I am the first Slovakian on that stage in 20 years.
When Do We See Krizo next?
Michal hasn’t committed to any contests for 2023 as of this writing, but he does have a general idea. “I will have to pick smart,” he said. “I wasn’t happy with my conditioning at the 2022 Mr. Olympia because I know I can come in more conditioned than that. I was already too tired.” He goes on to give his fans something to look forward to. “I’d like to do the Arnold UK. I’ll definitely do the EVLS Prague Pro, but this time it’s two weeks after the Olympia instead of before it as it was last year. I plan on choosing two or three shows to qualify, because there is no guarantee that I would win the very first one.”
Part of the ‘New Guard?’
The recent Arnold Classic showed that a new breed of pro bodybuilding is rising to the top of the heap: tall men with plenty of size yet also with shape, symmetry, and proportion. Both Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked exemplify this new ideal, and this bodes very well for Michal Krizanek. He matches up perfectly in this group, and I wouldn’t be surprised if only a short time from now, most of the top men at the Mr. Olympia possess that combination of height, size, and pleasing shape and structure. Is Krizo a future Mr. Olympia champion? Only time will tell, but the future looks very bright for this new addition to the IFBB Pro League.
Instagram @ifbb_pro_michalkrizokrizanek
//www.youtube.com/@krizoyoutube">YouTube: KRIZO
Contest History
Note: Professional competitions prior to 2022 were with the IFBB Elite League, and all pro appearances thereafter are with IFBB Pro League.
2018 Elite Pro Spain - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Czechia - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Austria - Winner
2018 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2018 Elite Pro World Benidorm - Winner
2019 Elite Pro Malta - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Africa - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2019 World Pro Championships - Fourth Place
2019 Elite Pro Cancun - Winner
2020 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2021 Elite Pro Mr. Universe - Winner
2022 Amateur Olympia Italy - Super Heavyweight and Overall
2022 EVLS Prague Pro - Winner
2022 Mr. Olympia - 12th Place
Milos Sarcev Rates Krizo
“I’ve been in this business for 40-something years, and talent like this doesn’t show up very often. He is 186cm, really, really thickly muscled, pleasing, round muscle bellies, high quality – and as Jay Cutler said to his coach, “He has striations upon striations of high-quality muscle.” Structurally he is not the widest, but neither was Phil Heath, right? He is actually wider than Phil Heath, those round shoulders and the craziest arms you can possibly think of. Great legs; hamstrings, quads, calves, everything is there. As we all noticed, he is not super wide, he doesn’t have that crazy V-taper and needs to improve the back. A little more width and a little more thickness and it would immediately make him a top contender for the Mr. Olympia title. His arms are like I have never seen before. His front double biceps pose is like Photoshop happening in front of your eyes, it’s really mind-boggling.”
Jamie ‘The Giant’ Christian on Krizo
“Michal Krizo joins the list of taller bodybuilders that will seemingly do very well in the NPC and IFBB Pro League. To name a few more; Andrew Jacked, Quinton Eriya, Sergio Oliva Jr. and obviously myself – the Giant, Steve Kuclo, and Regan Grimes. There are more and more bodybuilders in the 6-foot-tall region now, which is fantastic for myself – and bodybuilding in general, I think.”
scitec nutrition® Stack
100% WHEY PROTEIN PROFESSIONAL
Ron Harris got his start in the bodybuilding industry during the eight years he worked in Los Angeles as Associate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Magazine” show in the 1990s. Since 1992 he has published nearly 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and fitness magazines, making him the most prolific bodybuilding writer ever. Ron has been training since the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boston area. Facebook Instagram
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Click here to view the article.
By Ron Harris
Immediately following the 2017 Olympia Weekend, the IFBB split into two different organizations. One became the IFBB Pro League, headed by NPC President Jim Manion and based in Pittsburgh. The other would be known as the IFBB Elite League, helmed by Rafael Santonja in Spain. All the top pro stars remained loyal to Manion, while the Elite League had to discover new talent for their events. It wasn’t long before a massive young man from Slovakia emerged as their star: Michal Krizanek from Slovakia, known better by his nickname of Krizo. At 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, Krizo had a rare combination of mass, shape, and symmetry, with full, round muscle bellies and a small midsection. This was a freak with aesthetics, and he would go on to dominate the Elite events for five years with little real opposition. Those of us who truly love the sport want to see the very best men in the world onstage every year at the Mr. Olympia, and Krizo’s absence was a sore point. How would he compare to Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan and the rest of the top men at the O? I feared we would never get to see that showdown, and felt it was a shame. But thankfully, Michal himself was the one who ultimately decided he needed to be on the Olympia stage. In the final quarter of 2022, he earned his pro card, won his pro debut, and did in fact stand on the Mr. Olympia stage. Though he wasn’t the immediate threat to the Sandow title that many hoped he would be and landed in 12th place, it was clear that his potential was still largely untapped and that he could very well be a force to reckon with at the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. I spoke with him just before that Mr. Olympia debut.
Michal, when you first met your longtime coach, Alex Hlobik, you weren’t interested in bodybuilding. You wanted to compete in bench press meets, right?
Yes. That was in 2017. I had been training for over 10 years already because I started at the age of 15. It was always just because I enjoyed it. Getting onstage wasn’t something that interested me, but I always respected those guys.
Which bodybuilders did you see photos or videos of that inspired you when you were younger?
There were a lot of the pros from the ‘90s who inspired me, and then later I really liked the physiques of Dennis Wolf and Phil Heath.
When you started training, did you ever think you could look the way you do now?
I wanted to be big like the guys I looked up to, but I never thought I would be able to get so much size. I don’t even think I’m big enough yet right now.
Alex, Michal came to you wanting to be a powerlifter. How did you know bodybuilding was where he really belonged?
[Alex] We had only been working together with me coaching him for one month, and already he had made substantial changes and improvements. Michal was already 102kg (224 pounds) with very good shape, and he looked better than many men who had been competing for years.
WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE TRAINING VIDEO FROM MICHAL "KRIZO" KRIZANEK PRESENTED BY SCITEC NUTRITION
[embedded content]
Was his physique basically a smaller version of what we see now?
[Alex] No, not exactly. There were a few muscle groups that were not very developed, such as his chest and hamstrings. We had to work on those and bring them up before he could start competing. It didn’t take long, though. He entered and won his first contest that same year.
Michal, you have some of the biggest arms in the sport right now. Were they always big?
Genetically they were always big, meaning that from the time I began training they always grew very quickly. In fact, when I started lifting, my arms were really the only part of me that grew.
What’s the biggest your arms have ever measured?
61 centimeters.
For my fellow Americans out there, that’s a little over 24 inches! Let’s talk about your competition history. You started off as a pro in the IFBB Elite League, and I think you won 13 out of 14 pro shows you entered?
I think it was 14 out of 15. That time I got fourth place.
You were so dominant, how the hell did you get fourth place?
I was totally exhausted from having competed in a few shows, and to be honest I had temporarily lost my motivation. I should have skipped that contest.
We all fantasize about winning, but were you starting to feel like it was too easy for you in the Elite League because you were winning all the time without anyone to really challenge you?
I would not say that any of my victories was easy.
If that’s the case, why did you finally decide last year to earn your IFBB Pro League pro card and compete there instead?
It was my dream, and I believe the dream of every bodybuilder, to compete in the Mr. Olympia. And back to what you said, I would have more motivation as a competitor in the Pro League because that’s where the best in the world compete.
I know that as a fan of the sport as well as a journalist, it bothered me that you were as good as you are and we never got to see you stand next to champions like Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, and Hadi Choopan. Is that what you wanted, to have a chance to be compared to them?
Yes, of course! If you want to be the best and be known as the best at what you do, you have to beat the very best, which is what they represent.
Were you surprised or upset that even though you had won over a dozen pro shows, you had to start all over again as an amateur to win your IFBB Pro League pro card?
No. I never expected or asked for special treatment or an exemption. I was not a pro in that organization, so I had to earn that status like everybody else.
People were critical of your condition at both that Amateur Olympia win in Italy and your pro win in Prague because it seemed as if you were saving your best for the Olympia.
Yes, and they were correct. There was no reason to be 100 percent in Italy because I knew what I needed to get that win. The plan all along was to get better for Prague, and then peak 100 percent for the Mr. Olympia.
In your first visit to the USA, you went to New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles and met up with some of the legends of the sport like Steve Weinberger, Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev, and Flex Lewis to pose for them so they could take a look. They all rated your potential as sky-high. What was it like hearing praise from people of that caliber?
I was very nervous each of those times before I would pose for them. Every time, I kept looking at myself in the mirror and I didn’t feel I looked good. I was off all gear at that point and not looking as full or hard. But I am happy and grateful that they all took the time and for their kind words.
Milos and Jay both said that you don’t only have size, but also excellent muscle detail and maturity, which we don’t see a lot of lately. Is there some special training style you attribute that quality to?
I can’t really say for sure. I do train very hard and I squeeze the muscles very hard on all the reps.
You look like a very strong guy. Do you still train very heavy, or have you changed to more moderate weights now that you already have so much mass?
I did train very heavy in the past because I still needed a lot more size. Now I train with better technique, and I am focused on improving specific body parts. I have a little saying, “you have to talk to your muscles.”
It probably doesn’t translate that well from Slovakian, but we call it a mind-muscle connection. Which areas on your physique do you consider to be your strong points and which areas do you still feel need to improve?
I need to improve everything. A true bodybuilder is never content with what he sees in the mirror. He will always see something that can be better.
I would argue that at least your arms are as good as they ever need to be.
Maybe my arms, yes, I only train them once a week.
You were a huge news item throughout much of 2022 in our industry. Did you know you were that popular outside of Europe?
No. I don’t pay much attention to that type of thing.
Do you feel a lot of pressure to win because of all the expectations on you?
Not from all over, mainly from my own country. They really want me to represent them well. Also, it was a very long year of prepping.
I’m trying to remember if there has ever been another Slovakian athlete in the Mr. Olympia before you.
Yes, Jaroslav Horvath did the Mr. Olympia once and was in the lightweight category three times in the early years at the Olympia when the weight limit was 202 pounds, before it became 212. But he did the Mr. Olympia in 2002, so that means I am the first Slovakian on that stage in 20 years.
When Do We See Krizo next?
Michal hasn’t committed to any contests for 2023 as of this writing, but he does have a general idea. “I will have to pick smart,” he said. “I wasn’t happy with my conditioning at the 2022 Mr. Olympia because I know I can come in more conditioned than that. I was already too tired.” He goes on to give his fans something to look forward to. “I’d like to do the Arnold UK. I’ll definitely do the EVLS Prague Pro, but this time it’s two weeks after the Olympia instead of before it as it was last year. I plan on choosing two or three shows to qualify, because there is no guarantee that I would win the very first one.”
Part of the ‘New Guard?’
The recent Arnold Classic showed that a new breed of pro bodybuilding is rising to the top of the heap: tall men with plenty of size yet also with shape, symmetry, and proportion. Both Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked exemplify this new ideal, and this bodes very well for Michal Krizanek. He matches up perfectly in this group, and I wouldn’t be surprised if only a short time from now, most of the top men at the Mr. Olympia possess that combination of height, size, and pleasing shape and structure. Is Krizo a future Mr. Olympia champion? Only time will tell, but the future looks very bright for this new addition to the IFBB Pro League.
Instagram @ifbb_pro_michalkrizokrizanek
//www.youtube.com/@krizoyoutube" >YouTube: KRIZO
Contest History
Note: Professional competitions prior to 2022 were with the IFBB Elite League, and all pro appearances thereafter are with IFBB Pro League.
2018 Elite Pro Spain - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Czechia - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Austria - Winner
2018 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2018 Elite Pro World Benidorm - Winner
2019 Elite Pro Malta - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Africa - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2019 World Pro Championships - Fourth Place
2019 Elite Pro Cancun - Winner
2020 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2021 Elite Pro Mr. Universe - Winner
2022 Amateur Olympia Italy - Super Heavyweight and Overall
2022 EVLS Prague Pro - Winner
2022 Mr. Olympia - 12th Place
Milos Sarcev Rates Krizo
“I’ve been in this business for 40-something years, and talent like this doesn’t show up very often. He is 186cm, really, really thickly muscled, pleasing, round muscle bellies, high quality – and as Jay Cutler said to his coach, “He has striations upon striations of high-quality muscle.” Structurally he is not the widest, but neither was Phil Heath, right? He is actually wider than Phil Heath, those round shoulders and the craziest arms you can possibly think of. Great legs; hamstrings, quads, calves, everything is there. As we all noticed, he is not super wide, he doesn’t have that crazy V-taper and needs to improve the back. A little more width and a little more thickness and it would immediately make him a top contender for the Mr. Olympia title. His arms are like I have never seen before. His front double biceps pose is like Photoshop happening in front of your eyes, it’s really mind-boggling.”
Jamie ‘The Giant’ Christian on Krizo
“Michal Krizo joins the list of taller bodybuilders that will seemingly do very well in the NPC and IFBB Pro League. To name a few more; Andrew Jacked, Quinton Eriya, Sergio Oliva Jr. and obviously myself – the Giant, Steve Kuclo, and Regan Grimes. There are more and more bodybuilders in the 6-foot-tall region now, which is fantastic for myself – and bodybuilding in general, I think.”
scitec nutrition® Stack
100% WHEY PROTEIN PROFESSIONAL
Ron Harris got his start in the bodybuilding industry during the eight years he worked in Los Angeles as Associate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Magazine” show in the 1990s. Since 1992 he has published nearly 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and fitness magazines, making him the most prolific bodybuilding writer ever. Ron has been training since the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boston area. Facebook Instagram
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Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek: Slovakian Super Freak!
By Ron Harris
Immediately following the 2017 Olympia Weekend, the IFBB split into two different organizations. One became the IFBB Pro League, headed by NPC President Jim Manion and based in Pittsburgh. The other would be known as the IFBB Elite League, helmed by Rafael Santonja in Spain. All the top pro stars remained loyal to Manion, while the Elite League had to discover new talent for their events. It wasn’t long before a massive young man from Slovakia emerged as their star: Michal Krizanek from Slovakia, known better by his nickname of Krizo. At 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, Krizo had a rare combination of mass, shape, and symmetry, with full, round muscle bellies and a small midsection. This was a freak with aesthetics, and he would go on to dominate the Elite events for five years with little real opposition. Those of us who truly love the sport want to see the very best men in the world onstage every year at the Mr. Olympia, and Krizo’s absence was a sore point. How would he compare to Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan and the rest of the top men at the O? I feared we would never get to see that showdown, and felt it was a shame. But thankfully, Michal himself was the one who ultimately decided he needed to be on the Olympia stage. In the final quarter of 2022, he earned his pro card, won his pro debut, and did in fact stand on the Mr. Olympia stage. Though he wasn’t the immediate threat to the Sandow title that many hoped he would be and landed in 12th place, it was clear that his potential was still largely untapped and that he could very well be a force to reckon with at the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. I spoke with him just before that Mr. Olympia debut.
Michal, when you first met your longtime coach, Alex Hlobik, you weren’t interested in bodybuilding. You wanted to compete in bench press meets, right?
Yes. That was in 2017. I had been training for over 10 years already because I started at the age of 15. It was always just because I enjoyed it. Getting onstage wasn’t something that interested me, but I always respected those guys.
Which bodybuilders did you see photos or videos of that inspired you when you were younger?
There were a lot of the pros from the ‘90s who inspired me, and then later I really liked the physiques of Dennis Wolf and Phil Heath.
When you started training, did you ever think you could look the way you do now?
I wanted to be big like the guys I looked up to, but I never thought I would be able to get so much size. I don’t even think I’m big enough yet right now.
Alex, Michal came to you wanting to be a powerlifter. How did you know bodybuilding was where he really belonged?
[Alex] We had only been working together with me coaching him for one month, and already he had made substantial changes and improvements. Michal was already 102kg (224 pounds) with very good shape, and he looked better than many men who had been competing for years.
WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE TRAINING VIDEO FROM MICHAL "KRIZO" KRIZANEK PRESENTED BY SCITEC NUTRITION
Was his physique basically a smaller version of what we see now?
[Alex] No, not exactly. There were a few muscle groups that were not very developed, such as his chest and hamstrings. We had to work on those and bring them up before he could start competing. It didn’t take long, though. He entered and won his first contest that same year.
Michal, you have some of the biggest arms in the sport right now. Were they always big?
Genetically they were always big, meaning that from the time I began training they always grew very quickly. In fact, when I started lifting, my arms were really the only part of me that grew.
What’s the biggest your arms have ever measured?
61 centimeters.
For my fellow Americans out there, that’s a little over 24 inches! Let’s talk about your competition history. You started off as a pro in the IFBB Elite League, and I think you won 13 out of 14 pro shows you entered?
I think it was 14 out of 15. That time I got fourth place.
You were so dominant, how the hell did you get fourth place?
I was totally exhausted from having competed in a few shows, and to be honest I had temporarily lost my motivation. I should have skipped that contest.
We all fantasize about winning, but were you starting to feel like it was too easy for you in the Elite League because you were winning all the time without anyone to really challenge you?
I would not say that any of my victories was easy.
If that’s the case, why did you finally decide last year to earn your IFBB Pro League pro card and compete there instead?
It was my dream, and I believe the dream of every bodybuilder, to compete in the Mr. Olympia. And back to what you said, I would have more motivation as a competitor in the Pro League because that’s where the best in the world compete.
I know that as a fan of the sport as well as a journalist, it bothered me that you were as good as you are and we never got to see you stand next to champions like Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, and Hadi Choopan. Is that what you wanted, to have a chance to be compared to them?
Yes, of course! If you want to be the best and be known as the best at what you do, you have to beat the very best, which is what they represent.
Were you surprised or upset that even though you had won over a dozen pro shows, you had to start all over again as an amateur to win your IFBB Pro League pro card?
No. I never expected or asked for special treatment or an exemption. I was not a pro in that organization, so I had to earn that status like everybody else.
People were critical of your condition at both that Amateur Olympia win in Italy and your pro win in Prague because it seemed as if you were saving your best for the Olympia.
Yes, and they were correct. There was no reason to be 100 percent in Italy because I knew what I needed to get that win. The plan all along was to get better for Prague, and then peak 100 percent for the Mr. Olympia.
In your first visit to the USA, you went to New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles and met up with some of the legends of the sport like Steve Weinberger, Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev, and Flex Lewis to pose for them so they could take a look. They all rated your potential as sky-high. What was it like hearing praise from people of that caliber?
I was very nervous each of those times before I would pose for them. Every time, I kept looking at myself in the mirror and I didn’t feel I looked good. I was off all gear at that point and not looking as full or hard. But I am happy and grateful that they all took the time and for their kind words.
Milos and Jay both said that you don’t only have size, but also excellent muscle detail and maturity, which we don’t see a lot of lately. Is there some special training style you attribute that quality to?
I can’t really say for sure. I do train very hard and I squeeze the muscles very hard on all the reps.
You look like a very strong guy. Do you still train very heavy, or have you changed to more moderate weights now that you already have so much mass?
I did train very heavy in the past because I still needed a lot more size. Now I train with better technique, and I am focused on improving specific body parts. I have a little saying, “you have to talk to your muscles.”
It probably doesn’t translate that well from Slovakian, but we call it a mind-muscle connection. Which areas on your physique do you consider to be your strong points and which areas do you still feel need to improve?
I need to improve everything. A true bodybuilder is never content with what he sees in the mirror. He will always see something that can be better.
I would argue that at least your arms are as good as they ever need to be.
Maybe my arms, yes, I only train them once a week.
You were a huge news item throughout much of 2022 in our industry. Did you know you were that popular outside of Europe?
No. I don’t pay much attention to that type of thing.
Do you feel a lot of pressure to win because of all the expectations on you?
Not from all over, mainly from my own country. They really want me to represent them well. Also, it was a very long year of prepping.
I’m trying to remember if there has ever been another Slovakian athlete in the Mr. Olympia before you.
Yes, Jaroslav Horvath did the Mr. Olympia once and was in the lightweight category three times in the early years at the Olympia when the weight limit was 202 pounds, before it became 212. But he did the Mr. Olympia in 2002, so that means I am the first Slovakian on that stage in 20 years.
When Do We See Krizo next?
Michal hasn’t committed to any contests for 2023 as of this writing, but he does have a general idea. “I will have to pick smart,” he said. “I wasn’t happy with my conditioning at the 2022 Mr. Olympia because I know I can come in more conditioned than that. I was already too tired.” He goes on to give his fans something to look forward to. “I’d like to do the Arnold UK. I’ll definitely do the EVLS Prague Pro, but this time it’s two weeks after the Olympia instead of before it as it was last year. I plan on choosing two or three shows to qualify, because there is no guarantee that I would win the very first one.”
Part of the ‘New Guard?’
The recent Arnold Classic showed that a new breed of pro bodybuilding is rising to the top of the heap: tall men with plenty of size yet also with shape, symmetry, and proportion. Both Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked exemplify this new ideal, and this bodes very well for Michal Krizanek. He matches up perfectly in this group, and I wouldn’t be surprised if only a short time from now, most of the top men at the Mr. Olympia possess that combination of height, size, and pleasing shape and structure. Is Krizo a future Mr. Olympia champion? Only time will tell, but the future looks very bright for this new addition to the IFBB Pro League.
Instagram @ifbb_pro_michalkrizokrizanek
//www.youtube.com/@krizoyoutube">YouTube: KRIZO
Contest History
Note: Professional competitions prior to 2022 were with the IFBB Elite League, and all pro appearances thereafter are with IFBB Pro League.
2018 Elite Pro Spain - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Czechia - Winner
2018 Elite Pro Austria - Winner
2018 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2018 Elite Pro World Benidorm - Winner
2019 Elite Pro Malta - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Africa - Winner
2019 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2019 World Pro Championships - Fourth Place
2019 Elite Pro Cancun - Winner
2020 Arnold Classic Europe - Winner
2021 Elite Pro Mr. Universe - Winner
2022 Amateur Olympia Italy - Super Heavyweight and Overall
2022 EVLS Prague Pro - Winner
2022 Mr. Olympia - 12th Place
Milos Sarcev Rates Krizo
“I’ve been in this business for 40-something years, and talent like this doesn’t show up very often. He is 186cm, really, really thickly muscled, pleasing, round muscle bellies, high quality – and as Jay Cutler said to his coach, “He has striations upon striations of high-quality muscle.” Structurally he is not the widest, but neither was Phil Heath, right? He is actually wider than Phil Heath, those round shoulders and the craziest arms you can possibly think of. Great legs; hamstrings, quads, calves, everything is there. As we all noticed, he is not super wide, he doesn’t have that crazy V-taper and needs to improve the back. A little more width and a little more thickness and it would immediately make him a top contender for the Mr. Olympia title. His arms are like I have never seen before. His front double biceps pose is like Photoshop happening in front of your eyes, it’s really mind-boggling.”
Jamie ‘The Giant’ Christian on Krizo
“Michal Krizo joins the list of taller bodybuilders that will seemingly do very well in the NPC and IFBB Pro League. To name a few more; Andrew Jacked, Quinton Eriya, Sergio Oliva Jr. and obviously myself – the Giant, Steve Kuclo, and Regan Grimes. There are more and more bodybuilders in the 6-foot-tall region now, which is fantastic for myself – and bodybuilding in general, I think.”
scitec nutrition® Stack
100% WHEY PROTEIN PROFESSIONAL
Ron Harris got his start in the bodybuilding industry during the eight years he worked in Los Angeles as Associate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Magazine” show in the 1990s. Since 1992 he has published nearly 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and fitness magazines, making him the most prolific bodybuilding writer ever. Ron has been training since the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boston area. Facebook Instagram
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SUBSCRIBE TO MD TODAY
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VISIT OUR STORE
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