Tag: 2022 Olympia
2022 Prague Pro Bodybuilding Show Preview: Michal Križo Makes His Pro Debut
The 2022 Prague Pro bodybuilding event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Prague, Czech Republic, and it’s one of the final shows before the Olympia.
There will be six IFBB Pro League contests held at this event, but none have more hype around them than the Men’s Open bodybuilding showdown. And most — if not all — of that has to do with the fact that this is the IFBB Pro League debut of Michal Križo Križánek, a competitor who former Mr. Olympia winners like Jay Cutler and Samir Bannout believe can make some real noise at this year’s Mr. O if he qualifies.
Here’s the full lineup for Men’s Open as of Oct. 28:
2022 Prague Pro Men’s Open Bodybuilding Roster
Kokeny Bela
Pavel Beran
Lewis Breed
Adolf Burghardt
Pavel Cervinka
Chams-Eddine El-Bey
Enrico Hoffmann
Vladimir Iacovlev
Michal Križo Križánek
Ahmad Mahmoud
Milan Sadek
Marian Sramko
Jan Turek
Favorites to Watch
If you’re looking for a cheat sheet of competitors to keep an eye on, here are three with big-time potential to walk away with a win.
Michal Križo Križánek
After being recognized as the number one bodybuilder for the IFBB Elite Pro for several years, Križánek will make his pro debut less than one month after earning his new pro card. If he wins this contest, he will earn a trip to the 2022 Mr. Olympia, scheduled to take place Dec. 16-18, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV.
Since Krizanek is starting his road to the Olympia so late in the season, he wouldn’t be able to earn enough points to qualify through the Olympia Qualification System. In other words, he must win one of the pro shows between the Prague Pro and the end of the season on November 20 to earn a spot at the O.
Milan Sadek
Milan Sadek is one of the veterans of this lineup, having competed as a pro since 2015. He appeared on the Olympia stage as a 212 competitor in 2017, when he placed sixth. And while he hasn’t won a pro show as an Open competitor, this contest could be an opportunity for him to change that. He will just have to counter Križánek’s size with razor-sharp definition and conditioning.
Marian Sramko
This is also Marian Sramko’s pro debut, and he could easily be the dark horse of the bunch. He won the 2021 NPC Worldwide British champion, thanks to his jaw-dropping legs. And his upper body isn’t too bad, either.
Sramko likes to use classic poses in his individual routine, which could impress the judges and push him up the scorecard. The only question for him will be if he can withstand the intensity and pressure that comes with being on a pro stage with an Olympia qualification on the line.
Olympia Qualification System
The second- through fifth-place finishers in all six divisions will earn Tier 4 points in the Olympia Qualification System, and those points can be valuable. The top three in the standings as of November 20 will also move on to the Olympia. The points per position are below.
2nd – 4 points
3rd – 3 points
4th – 2 points
5th – 1 point
[Related: Kings, Chemists, and Oaks — The 10 Best Bodybuilding Nicknames of All Time]
Other Divisions
The lineups for the other five contests (212, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini, and Wellness) are below. In total, more than 70 pros across all six divisions will represent 20 countries. No Americans are in the lineup for this contest.
212 Bodybuilding
Abdulrahman Alkhashti
Steve Benthin
Jamal Changezi
Dawid Cnota
Pasquale D’Angelo
Peter Molnar
Daniel Sticco
Tomas Tabaciar
Jorge Zamorano
Mihoubi Zohir
Classic Physique
George Acheampong
Thomas Baier
Luca Corrado
Petar Duper
Djallel Feidi
Sebastian Guncik
Patrik Herczik
Kelvin Hinde
Jakub Kolinek
Fatih Terzioglu
Andrej Varga
Men’s Physique
Hashem Alfotewi
Omer Bahmed
Tamas Csernoch
Dimitri Desheraud
Furkan Er
Miroslav Juricek
Daniel Leone
Mohamed Magdy
Davide Mazzolari
Andrea Mosti
Abisai Pietersz
Miroslav Priban
Manuel Santalucia
Filip Steflovic
Oskar Tchorzewski
Daniel Tulok
Rafal Zabawa
Bikini
Anastazja Biedka
Andreea Cazaceanu
Martyna Derlat
Valerya Fedorenko
Klaudia Ignasiak
Tatiana Lanovenko
Ottavia Mazza
Zsofia Reka Molnar
Eszter Oczella
Mie Kirstine Rommelhoff
Henrieta Skupekova
Aneta Szoltysek
Allison Testu
Wellness
Aysegul Besli
Mari Carvalho
Leonida Ciobu
Aline Machado Galvao Freitas
Lidia Melero
Anna Mroczkovska
Lexy Oliver
Maria Paulette
Figen Sahin
Clara Sella
Lara Tasharofi
Danai Theodoropoulou
Sabrina Diaz Urdaneta
Michelle Vogelsgesang
Featured Image: KRIZO on YouTube
Jay Cutler Discusses Top Picks For 2022 Olympia: “There Is A Lot Of Good Talent Here”
Jay Cutler believes the top five could look exactly the same as last year.
Jay Cutler has discussed the state of the 2022 Olympia many times in recent months. Whether it is up-and-comers or the overall look of competitors, Cutler has been vocal about the sport of bodybuilding. Recently, Cutler spoke on the biggest show of the year and shared his top five.
Cutler knows a thing or two about the Olympia stage. He is known as one of the best bodybuilders of all-time, totaling four titles over the course of his career. Cutler also finished as the runner-up four times. He had some legendary battles with Ronnie Coleman when they were both in his prime.
The Men’s Open division in bodybuilding has a clear top tier and it showed during the 2021 event. Cutler answered some questions about the upcoming show and believes that it could look the same this time around.
Jay Cutler Speaks On The Overall Talent In Open Bodybuilding
Jay Cutler shared a recent video on his YouTube account going through a Q&A session with fans online. He was answering different questions sent in about the Olympia and of course, fans wanted to know if Big Ramy could be taken down.
Cutler began by discussing Michal Krizo, who is one of the biggest up-and-comers in bodybuilding. He recently made the switch to NPC from IFBB Elite Pro. This is so he can earn his Pro Card and eventually step on the Olympia stage. As of now, Krizo does not have his Pro Card but it could move quickly.
“You see new people popping up every week. This Michael Krizo, who, hasn’t even got his Pro Card yet. I expect him to make a run and possibly be on that stage,” Cutler said.
Cutler believes Krizo could be one of the breakthrough competitors, if he is able to earn a Pro Card. Other than that, there is a lot of talent that could take the next step.
Jay Cutler moved onto individual competitors as questions were sent in. He believes that Nick Walker has the size to in the show but has to work on his conditioning. Cutler also said that Hadi Choopan has the chance to be one of the shorter bodybuilders to win the Olympia.
“I expect Walker to really push this year, I think if he can figure out a little better conditioning, he really could be a big problem.
We love history. As much as we would like to see Ramy win, could Hadi be another shorter bodybuilder like Dexter Jackson to win the Olympia? I am a fan of all of these guys.”
The 2022 Olympia has a chance to be one of the most exciting shows in recent memory if all competitors show up in their best shape. It will be interesting to see if there will be any breakthrough athletes take form.
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For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hadi Choopan Shares Physique Update During Olympia Prep: Can He Take Home The 2022 Title?
Hadi Choopan continues to look extremely conditioned during his prep.
There are many who believe that Hadi Choopan showed up to the Olympia in October in the best shape. It seems as though Choopan is continuing to dominate his prep after sharing a physique update showing off his crazy conditioning and size.
Choopan took to Instagram to share a physique and posing update on Tuesday. In the video, Choopan is seen hitting some of his favorite poses that help him on stage. On stage last year, Choopan made glaring improvements to his physique, which already had him stamped in the top three or four competitors. Now, he is hitting the offseason hard once again in hopes of bringing home the Sandow Trophy.
“My beauty is the creation of God and the help of millions of people”
Is 2022 The Year For Hadi Choopan?
Hadi Choopan made his debut on the Olympia stage in 2019, where he finished third. He returned to the stage in 2020 and dropped one spot before returning to the top-three in 2021. Despite his finish, there are many that believe Choopan should have been crowned champion in October.
Choopan finished third behind Brandon Curry and two-time reigning champion Big Ramy. There is a clear top-tier of competitors and Choopan is part of that group. Hunter Labrada and Nick Walker are looking to insert their names into the conversation after a fourth- and fifth-place finish respectively.
Hadi Choopan shared a physique update back in March where it is clear that he put on some more size. In this update, he has worked on conditioning and is looking absolutely shredded. The work that Choopan puts in cannot be questioned and this puts him in a good position moving forward.
Choopan is coached by Hany Rambod, who has handled some of the top talents in bodybuilding history. This include seven-time Olympia champ Phil Heath. Rambod led the charge of those who believed that Choopan sported the best physique on stage in last year’s competition. Now, the duo will look to take the next step.
Hadi Choopan has remained extremely consistent over the years and continues to make improvements to a championship-caliber physique. It seems as though each physique update shows a competitor getting closer and closer to being stage ready.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The 2022 Olympia Qualified Competitors and Requirements List
A complete list of the currently qualified bodybuilders for the 2022 Olympia weekend – plus a breakdown of the requirements.
The Olympia weekend is the pinnacle of bodybuilding in the IFBB pro league. It’s considered the Super Bowl of the sport. Those who compete in bodybuilding competitions look at the Olympia title as their number one goal. All competitors compete throughout the season to earn points for Olympia qualification – and a chance at the championship crown.
Throughout the season, there are qualification rounds for the Olympia weekend. Qualification can be obtained one of two ways – winning an Olympia qualifying competition or by earning enough points through competition placings throughout the year.
Below are the sets of requirements for each division depending on their number of respective contests.
Divisions With Less Than 25 Contests (Men’s Open, 212, Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique, Women’s Open, Wellness)
Tier One Contests (Arnold Classic USA, Rising Phoenix):
2nd place – 10 points
3rd place – 9 points
4th place – 8 points
5th place – 7 points
Tier Two Contests (Arnold Classic Australia, Arnold Classic Brazil, Arnold Classic UK, Pittsburgh Pro, New York Pro, Tampa Pro, Toronto Pro, Japan Pro, Europa Pro Championships)
2nd place – 8 points
3rd place – 7 points
4th place – 6 points
5th place – 5 points
Tier Three Contests (Chicago Pro, Portugal Pro, Romania Muscle Fest Pro, Legion Sports Fest Pro, Puerto Rico Pro)
2nd place – 6 points
3rd place – 5 points
4th place – 4 points
5th place – 3 points
Tier Four Contests (All other contests)
2nd place – 4 points
3rd place – 3 points
4th place – 2 points
5th place – 1 point
Divisions With More Than 25 Contests (Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini)
2021 Mr. Olympia
4th place – 12 points
5th place – 11 points
Arnold Classic USA
2nd place – 10 points
3d place – 9 points
4th place – 8 points
5th place – 7 points
All Other Contests
2nd place – 5 points
3rd place – 4 points
4th place – 3 points
5th place – 2 points
Here are the list of competitors who are already qualified for the 2022 Olympia. These athletes have already acquired enough points by either placing in the top five of their respective divisions at the 2021 Olympia or earning points by winning qualifiers in the 2022 season.
2022 Olympia Qualifed Athletes
Men’s Open
Nick Walker (USA)
Nathan De Asha (UK)
Mamdouh Elssbiay (Egypt)
Brandon Curry (USA)
Hadi Choopan (Iran)
Hunter Labrada (USA)
Shaun Clarida (USA)
Regan Grimes (Canada)
Samson Dauda (UK)
Rafael Brandao (Brazil)
Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
Joel Thomas (USA)
William Bonac (Netherlands)
Blessing Awodibu (USA)
MEN’S OPEN POINTS:
Justin Rodriguez (USA), 26
Steve Kuclo (USA), 21
Theo Leguerrier (France), 14
Emir Omeragic (Germany), 13
Quinton Eriya (Canada), 11
Maxx Charles (USA), 11
Iain Valliere (Canada), 10
Andrea Presti (Italy), 10
Vitor Hugo Boff (Brazil), 8
Akim Williams (USA), 7
Roelly Winklaar (Curacao), 7
Joseph Seeman (Canada), 7
Thiago Lins Adao (Brazil), 7
Patrick Johnson (Denmark), 6
Eiren Gauley (Canada), 6
William Martins (Brazil), 6
Krystian Wolski (Poland), 5
Vladyslav Sukhoruchko (Ukraine), 5
Sergio Oliva, Jr (USA), 5
Behrooz Tabani Abarghani (Iran), 5
Eric Salazar (USA), 5
Stan de Longeaux (USA), 5
Tonio Burton (USA), 4
Mohamed Shaaban (Egypt), 4
Charles Griffen (USA), 4
Martin Fitzwater (USA), 3
Dani Kaganovich (Israel), 3
Mohamed El Emam (Egypt), 2
Mohammad Alnsoor (Jordan), 2
Mohamed El Fatah Hassan (Egypt), 1
Eduardo Rodriguez (Paraguay), 1
Brent Swansen (USA), 1
212 Division
Derek Lunsford (USA)
Shaun Clarida (USA)
Kamal Elgargni (Libya)
Mohamed El Azim (Egypt)
Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait)
Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
Felipe Moraes (Brazil)
Oleh Kryvyi (Ukraine)
Douglas Connor (US)
David Henry (USA)
Anwar Al Balushi (Oman)
Yunlong Ping (China)
Bryan Balzano (US)
Robert Taylor (UK)
Lucas Silva Coelho (Brazil)
Noel Adame (USA)
MEN’S 212 POINTS:
Abdullah Alsaif (Saudi Arabia), 13
Nathan Epler (USA), 11
Naser Mohamed (Kuwait), 11
Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria), 9
Jafar Ghaffarnezhad Azizi (Iran), 9
Adolphus Quoida (Canada), 8
Sung Yeop Jang (South Korea), 8
Emmanuel Rodriguez (USA), 8
Stephen Didoshak (Canada), 6
Abdulrahman Al Khashti (Kuwait), 6
Derik Oslan (USA), 6
Murat Gonul (Canada), 5
Pasquale D’Angelo (Italy), 5
Ahmed ElWardany (Egypt), 4
Peter Boncardo (Canada), 4
Fabricio Moreira (Brazil), 4
Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola (Iran), 4
Mohamed Al Zahmi (UAE), 4
Hamed Mahmoud Eini (Iran), 4
Vitor Souza de Lima (Brazil), 4
Mohamed El Said (Egypt), 3
Peter Kovac (Slovakia), 3
Felipe Fierro Lobos (Chile), 3
Lin Ching-Chieh (Taiwan), 3
Boaz Henrique Oliveira (Brazil), 3
Andre Luiz dos Santos (Brazil), 3
Daniel Sticco (Italy), 2
Saleh Alturkamani (Kuwait), 2
Yuman Eaton (USA), 2
Giuseppe Zagarella (Italy), 2
Raul Sanchez (Mexico), 2
Wael Mekky (Egypt), 1
Christyan Adonay Gomez Ramos (Honduras), 1
Sami Troudi (UAE), 1
Mustafa Naseem (Egypt), 1
Abdulaziz Almurshedi (Kuwait), 1
Richard Morilla (Philippines), 1
Classic Physique Division
Brady Barnes (USA)
Darren Farrell (Ireland)
Terrence Ruffin (USA)
Georgian Andrei Birica Anghel (Romania)
Robert Wichman (USA)
Michael Daboul (Syria)
Chris Bumstead (Canada)
Breon Ansley (USA)
Peter Molnar (Hungary)
Alex Cambronero (Costa Rico)
Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
Jorge Herrera (USA)
Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi (Spain)
Ruben Lopez Reyes (Spain)
Mehdi Larijani (USA)
Lenny Wicks (USA)
Ahmed El Halawani (Egypt)
Logan Franklin (USA)
Ramon Rocha Querioz (Brazil)
Anthony Casado (Canada)
Kyrylo Khudaiev (USA)
Mateo Vaihu (New Zealand)
Mohamed Amine Fakhfakh (Tunisia)
Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
Junior Javorski (Brazil)
Tony Duong (USA)
Vahid Badpei (Iran)
Darwin Andres Uribe Aristizabal (Colombia)
Lamar Shaw (USA)
Alexander Westermeier (Germany)
Carlos Dommar (USA
Neil Currey (UK)
CLASSIC PHYSIQUE POINTS:
Camilo Diaz (USA), 15
Jesus Rodriguez Sendra (Spain), 14
Abdullah Alsairafi (Kuwait), 12
Jeff Hallenbeck (USA), 11
Hubert Kulczynski (Poland), 10
Dancovea Anderson (USA), 9
Ruben Stouth (USA), 9
Courage Opara (USA), 8
Shane Cullen (Ireland), 8
Romain Ramassamy (Canada), 8
Abdullah Wael Alrabiah (Saudi Arabia), 8
Tommy Clark (USA), 8
Bryan Jones (USA), 7
Jack Connor (UK), 7
Valentin Petrov (Bulgaria), 7
Jordan Plantiko (USA), 7
Justin Badurina (USA), 7
Ramone Haye (Canada), 7
Damien Patrick (USA), 7
Vincent Craine (Ireland), 6
Sabur Favors (USA), 6
Blake Course (Canada), 6
Daniel Costa (USA), 6
Laszlo Kiraly (Hungary), 5
Roberto Martinez Pizana (Spain), 5
Duqann Hilton (USA), 5
Brandon Kidd (USA), 5
Andrew Wilson (USA), 5
Jay Warren (USA), 4
Toto Djong (USA), 4
Kim Santos (USA), 4
Brandon Williams (USA), 4
Jorge Tabet Aleixandre (Spain), 4
Artem Puchkov (Russia), 4
Tywuan Williams (USA), 4
Shivas Higa (USA), 4
Gabriel Zancanelli (Brazil), 4
Jonathan Seok (New Zealand), 4
Fabio Junior Ramos Vale (Brazil), 4
Jason Strayhand (USA), 4
Jeremy Dutra (USA), 4
Michael Johnson (USA), 4
Kelvin Hinde (USA), 4
Tyler Tallent (USA), 3
Aaron Sparenberg (USA), 3
Andrea Mammoli (Italy), 3
Hany Saeed (Egypt), 3
Ramon Taijeron (USA), 3
Pavel Szotkowski (Poland), 3
Hassan Mahdi Abdulreda (Saudi Arabia), 3
Erik Alstrup (Canada), 3
Julian Castano (Colombia), 3
Luis Garcia Martinez (Spain), 3
Grant Pieterse (New Zealand), 3
Yousef Aldosari (Saudi Arabia), 3
Julio Cesar Alimiento Simoes (Brazil), 3
Abdullah Albakri (Saudi Arabia), 3
Mohamed Kazem Zolfaghari (Iran), 3
Ali Shamsghamar (Iran), 3
Jared Keys (USA), 3
Tony Davis (USA), 3
Domenick DiBenedetto (USA), 2
Tyler Johnson (Canada), 2
Yevhenii Mykhailenko (Ukraine), 2
Harold Bright, Jr (USA), 2
Daniel Strong (USA), 2
Ulisses De Andrade (USA), 2
Paul Kanu (USA), 2
Vladimir Sizov (USA), 2
Paulo Henrique (Brazil), 2
Ayham Alaws (Germany), 2
Ahmad Ahmad (Iraq), 2
Michael Kingsworth (New Zealand), 2
Luan de Souza Bento (Brazil), 2
Ahmed Aljar (Saudi Arabia), 2
Abdelkarim Ammari (Morocco), 2
Kenneth Owens (USA), 2
Anthony Barbera III (USA), 2
Derek Duczynski (USA), 1
Jason Theobald (USA), 1
Petar Duper (Italy), 1
Brandon Cooper (USA), 1
James Adams (USA), 1
Shin Kodama (Japan), 1
German Pastor (Spain), 1
Zoheb Razak (New Zealand), 1
Michael Bell (USA), 1
Maycon Viana da Silva (Brazil), 1
Bartley Weaver IV (USA), 1
Omar Khaldi (Morocco), 1
Laconia Seymour (USA), 1
Daniil Famponte (USA), 1
Men’s Physique
Riccardo Croci (Italy)
Jahvair Mullings (USA)
Bhuwan Chauhan (India)
Terrence Teo Kok Hua (Malaysia)
Yousef Al Shaban (Kuwait)
Ryan Terry (UK)
Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
Erin Banks (USA
Diogo Montenegro (Brazil)
Raymont Edmonds (USA)
Carlos DeOliveira (USA)
Daniel Ammons (USA)
Kyron Holden (USA)
Ahmed Shoukry (Egypt)
Balint Nemeth (Hungary)
Alessandro Cavagnola (Italy)
Yukihiro Yuasa (Japan)
Zheyu Zhang (China)
Arya Saffaie (USA)
Vincius Mateus Viera Lima (Brazil)
David Mazzolari (Italy)
Mahmood Al-Maghrabi (Bahrain)
Emanual Hunter (USA)
Hossein Karimi (Iran)
Bong Seok Choi (South Korea)
Imran Khan (Qatar)
Ponpaisan Ruangsangpen (Thailand)
Jason Huynh (USA)
Benquil Marigny (USA)
Myron Griffin (USA)
Fabrizio Dos Santos Silva (Australia)
Sadik Hadzovic (USA)
MEN’S PHYSIQUE POINTS:
Emile Walker (UK), 21
Jeffrey Darko (UK), 12
Antoine Weatherspoon (USA), 12
Joshua Guidry (USA), 10
Ramses Rams (USA), 10
Ikenna Amaliri (USA), 9
Ryan John-Baptiste (UK), 8
Yasser Fernando Chala Blandon (Colombia), 8
Hong Xiao Long (China), 8
Farouq Ishimoto (Japan), 8
Sharif Reid (USA), 8
Daniel Leone (Italy), 8
Mark Robinson (USA), 8
Alexander Toplyn (USA), 8
Shogo Sato (Japan), 7
Andre Smith (USA), 6
Furkan Er (Turkey), 6
Hirokawa Shoichi (Japan), 6
Evan Kanu (USA), 6
Omer Bahmed (Qatar), 6
Chidube Anene (USA), 6
Mehdi Kabbadj (Morocco), 6
Jeremiah Maxey (USA), 6
Romane Lanceford (UK), 5
Youcef Djoudi (France), 5
Felipe Franco (Brazil), 5
Suruqah Shabazz (USA), 5
Andrei Lincan (Romania), 5
Steven Pettis (USA), 5
Charles Paquette (Canada), 5
Joseph Lee (USA), 4
Yashar Anbari (Iran), 4
Alex Woodson (USA), 4
Reynel Chavez Pulido (USA), 4
Corey Morris (USA), 4
Sanad Alsanad (Kuwait), 4
Anton Antipov (USA), 4
Michael Williams (USA), 4
Ali Hussain Jafar (Kuwait), 4
Yoon Sung Lee (South Korea), 4
Bader Alsabri (Kuwait), 4
Joven Sagabain (Philippines), 4
Eddie Lusk III (USA), 4
Ashley Patillo (USA), 4
Antonio Smothers (USA), 4
Viet Doan (Australia), 4
Reuben Glass (USA), 4
Andrea Mosti (Italy), 3
Miroslav Juricek (Czech Republic), 3
Micah Thomas, Jr (USA), 3
Marlon Sanchez (Netherlands), 3
Shun Kaneko (Japan), 3
Ismael Dominguez (Mexico), 3
Rodrigue Chesnier (USA), 3
Vitor Chaves (Brazil), 3
Dawid Wachelka (Poland), 3
Yujin Lee (South Korea), 3
Andre Ferguson (USA), 3
Anderson da Silva Arruda (Brazil), 3
Juan Manuel Gomez (Colombia), 3
Seungho Chae (South Korea), 3
Joshua Eng Cherng Shin (Malaysia), 3
Christopher Barr (USA), 3
Anthony Chinakwe (USA), 3
Joseph Mencel (Australia), 3
Alexis Gonzalez Benitez (Spain), 2
Joquim Camps Angel (Spain), 2
Hachemi Hemza (Algeria), 2
Godfrey Sironda (USA), 2
Edvan Palmeira (Brazil), 2
Denis Gusev (Russia), 2
Rafael Oliveira (Brazil), 2
Hashem Alfotewi (Saudi Arabia), 2
Bum Su Park (South Korea), 2
Karim Esmat Sadek (Kuwait), 2
Nishant Bansai (India), 2
Cam Harris (USA), 2
Franky Yan (USA), 2
Ali Raza (Australia), 2
Tyler James (USA), 1
Febo Gambacorta (Italy), 1
Saint Michael Moodie (Jamaica), 1
Rodney Harvey (USA), 1
Youseff Hassan (Egypt), 1
Mu Ying Zhai (China), 1
Stevelon Dennis (USA), 1
Ammar Shlash (Jordan), 1
Abdulaziz Al-Mohandes (Saudi Arabia), 1
Woo Young Seo (South Korea), 1
Hamad Al Dosari (Bahrain), 1
Mohammad Afroz Khichi (India), 1
Brett Mario Jackson, Jr (USA), 1
Mohammed Al Kindy (Oman), 1
Chevy Phillips (Canada), 1
Women’s Open
Andrea Shaw (USA)
Helle Trevino (USA)
Margie Martin (USA)
Nadia Capostosto (Italy)
MayLa Ash (USA)
Eva Montgomery (USA)
Theresa Ivancik (USA)
Donna Salib (USA)
WOMEN’S OPEN POINTS:
Michelle Jin (USA), 14
Mona Poursaleh (Canada), 12
Stephanie Flesher (USA), 12
Irene Andersen (Sweden), 11
Lisa Kudrey (Canada), 11
Branka Njegovec (Croatia), 6
Tananarive Huie (Canada), 6
Keisha Oliver (USA), 6
Anastasia Leonova (Russia), 5
Saqweta Barrino (USA), 6
Anastasia Korableva (Russia), 4
Yesenia Garcia Speck (Spain), 4
Tiana Flex (South Africa), 3
Felicia Spatarescu (Spain), 3
Ivana Dvorakova (Czech Republic), 3
Sonia Cabre Pasani (Spain), 1
Jade Beverly (USA), 1
Fitness Division
Missy Truscott (USA)
Allison Kramer (USA)
Michelle Fredua-Mensah (UK)
Whitney Jones (USA)
Oksana Grishina (Russia)
Terra Plum (Canada)
Minna Pajulahti (Finland)
Adela Garcia (USA)
Andrea Glass (USA)
Ariel Khadr (USA)
FITNESS POINTS:
Jaclyn Baker (USA), 32
Kate Errington (UK), 21
Tamara Vahn (Canada), 16
Aurika Tyrgale (USA), 9
Abbie Bolton (Canada), 8
Daniella DaCosta (Canada), 7
Corina Harkelarod (USA), 6
Danielle Chikeles (USA), 4
Rene Brosch (USA), 4
Ashley Downes (USA), 4
Giorgia Foroni (Italy), 4
Stephanie Jones (USA), 4
Kimberly Baliutavicius (USA), 3
Abbie Elsner (USA), 3
Corinne Elizabeth Bean (USA), 3
Stacy Dawn (USA), 2
Nicolette Spencer (USA), 2
Susana Beatriz Cacavieli (Argentina), 1
Figure Division
Anna Gasior (Poland)
Cydney Gillon (USA)
Natalia Soltero (Mexico)
Stephanie Gibson (USA)
Bojana Vasiljevic (USA)
Jessica Reyes Padilla (Puerto Rico)
Aksana Yukhno (Belarus)
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz (USA)
Tereza Linhartova (Czech Republic)
Jennifer Zienert (Germany)
Felecia Harris (USA)
Angelita Lopez (USA)
Lola Montez (Canada)
Nicole Zenobia Graham (USA)
LaToyia Farley (USA)
Shanice Abrams (USA)
Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra (Mexico)
FIGURE POINTS:
Erika Morales Morgan (Guatemala), 19
Maryam Bamdad (Canada), 14
Gabriela Linhartova (Czech Republic), 11
Autumn Cleveland (USA), 9
Veronica Gallego Garcia (Spain), 9
Katerina Aninao (USA), 7
Maude Exantus (USA), 7
Martina Yabekova (Canada), 6
Courtney Jacobs (USA), 6
Anna Banks (Poland), 5
Her Un (South Korea), 5
Kim Clark (USA), 5
Yelena Larina (USA), 5
An Da Jeong (South Korea), 4
Sandra Grajales (Mexico), 4
Larhanna Robinson (USA), 4
Asmaa Salimi (Canada), 4
Tarryn Garlington (USA), 4
Sh’Nere Mattise Deas (USA), 4
Zulfiya Bitiyeva (Kazakhstan), 4
Wendy Fortino (USA), 3
Belinda Hope (USA), 3
Annelies Charlotte Fortuin (Netherlands), 3
Oyku Basar (Turkey), 2
Michele da Silva Pinto (Brazil), 2
Alissa Carpio (USA), 2
Paula Ranta (Finland), 2
Militsa Rivera (USA), 2
Thais Cabrices Werner (USA), 2
Shana Malcolm (USA), 2
Olesya Kochura (Russia), 1
Mandy Urner (Canada), 1
Stephanie Koerber (USA), 1
Bree Marsh (USA), 1
Samantha Jerring (USA), 1
Kiah Tiller (USA), 1
Kristen McGregor (Jamaica), 1
Women’s Physique
Sarah Villegas (USA)
Natalia Abraham Coelho (USA)
Brooke Walker (USA)
Anne-Lorranie Mohn (France)
Kristy Cox (USA)
Ivie Rhein (USA)
Rachel Daniels (USA)
Christelle Zarovska (USA)
Marie-Soulange Essoh (USA)
WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE POINTS:
Caroline Alves Dos Santos (Brazil), 15
Barbara Menage (France), 12
Ana Harias (USA), 11
Penpraghai Tiangngok (Thailand), 10
Justine Albert (USA), 10
Alexis Sullivan (USA), 9
Daniely Castilho (Brazil), 9
Ji Hye Lee (South Korea), 8
Emily Renee Schubert (USA), 7
Lisa McLean (Canada), 7
Alex Hall (USA), 7
Marea Henriquez (Netherlands), 6
Maria Redman (USA), 6
Natalie Rae Wolfe (USA), 6
Amanda Peles (USA), 6
Elisama Manuel Benta Zorzetto (Brazil), 5
Eve Gagnon (Canada), 5
Jessica Belt (USA), 5
Orlandina Balan (USA), 5
Jodi Lyons (USA), 4
Ilaria Armeni (UK), 4
Emilija Martic (Canada), 4
Jessica Martin (USA), 4
Rachel Reid (USA), 3
Tina Mauer Guadarrama (USA), 3
Yarelis Ramos Perez (Puerto Rico), 3
Jeanette Johansson (Sweden), 2
Maria Quennie Liberman (Canada), 2
Maria Barba (USA), 2
Alide Oprey (Hungary), 1
Jennifer Faccinto (USA), 1
Layla Ikahihifo (USA), 1
Donna Williams (USA), 1
Wellness Division
Casey DeLong (USA)
Francielle Mattos (Brazil)
Angela Borges (Brazil)
Isabelle Nunes (Brazil)
Giselle Machado (Brazil)
Anna Mroczkowska (Poland)
Yarishna Ayala (Puerto Rico)
Sunny Andrews (USA)
Juliana Mota Esteso (France)
Kassandra Gillis (Canada)
Barbara Cesar (USA)
Julia Chitarra (Brazil)
Marissa Andrews (USA)
Devone Martin (USA)
WELLNESS POINTS:
Jasmine Payne (USA), 13
Leonida Ciobu (Moldova), 10
Lorena Ragusa (USA), 10
Brooke Donnelly (USA), 9
Celeste Morales (USA), 8
Aysegul Besli (Turkey), 7
Emily Azzarello (Canada), 7
Rafaele Zen (Brazil), 7
Maria Paulette Aranguren (Spain), 6
Alexis Rosalia (Mexico), 6
Judian Wilson (USA), 6
Charlene Mas (France), 5
Lisa Christin Meiswinkel (Germany), 5
Michelle Capponi (Switzerland), 5
Amanda Werner (USA), 4
Pamela Bonaccorso (Italy), 4
Alisha Sturkie (USA), 4
Neride Garcia Strey (Spain), 4
Tarcila de Almeida Moura (Brazil), 4
Amanda Rezende (USA), 4
Tracy Williams (USA), 4
Zelma Santos (USA), 3
Devyn Cambre (USA), 3
Carrie Goforth (USA), 3
Rayane Fogal (Brazil), 3
Mariela Peres Carvalho (Brazil), 3
Michele Ibata (Brazil), 3
Mia Samuels (USA), 3
Sheila Martins (USA), 3
Jenny Smith (USA), 2
Luz Rodriguez (Mexico), 2
Martyna Staszewska-Tiu (Poland), 2
Renata Guaraciaba (Brazil), 2
Tatum Schneidmiller (USA), 2
Avis Evans (USA), 1
Michelle Ibata (Brazil), 1
Tatiany Vaillant (Brazil), 1
Laleska Bruschi (Brazil), 1
Figen Sahin (UK), 1
Debora Pereira (Brazil), 1
Kat Williams (USA), 1
Bikini Division
Erika Roxana Marquez (USA)
Jennifer Dorie (Canada)
Elisa Pecini (Brazil)
Ashley Kaltwasser (USA)
Ottavia Mazza (Italy)
Phoebe Hagan (UK)
Lauralie Chapados (Canada)
Francesca Stoico (Italy)
Jourdanne Lee (Canada)
Wiktoria Gasior (Poland)
Ivanna Escandar (Spain)
Allison Testu (France)
Sally-Ann Kato (Japan)
Shenese Case (Canada)
Alessia Facchin (Italy)
Cristiane Silveira (Brazil)
Jennifer Ronzitti (USA)
Danielle Phelps (USA)
Yan Gao (New Zealand)
Maureen Blanquisco (Norway)
Eli Fernandez (Mexico)
Jil Meret Schmitz (Thailand)
Ashlyn Little (USA)
Ha Yeun Kim (South Korea)
Aleksandra Banda (Australia)
Lucia Malavaze (USA)
Sierra Swann (USA)
BIKINI POINTS:
India Paulino (USA), 15
Janet Layug (USA), 14
Noora Mahonen (Finland), 13
Jessica Nicole Dolias (USA), 13
Adair Libbrecht (Canada), 12
Lawna Dunbar (USA), 10
Gessica Brun (Brazil), 9
Ana Maria Vintu (Italy), 8
Elizveta Shmukler (Japan), 8
Stine Hansen (Denmark), 8
Mahsa Akbarimehr (USA), 8
Romina Basualdo (Argentina), 7
Anastasia Gonzalez Andreu (Spain), 7
Marie Isobe (Japan), 7
Diane Brunet (Canada), 7
Lauren Dannenmiller (USA), 7
Erin Stern (USA), 7
Phoebe Hagan (UK), 6
Yuma Kurokawa (Japan), 6
Karen Wall (Canada), 6
Vania Auguste (USA), 6
Hye Kyeong Hwang (South Korea), 6
Maria Goncalves (USA), 6
Liana Giannamore (USA)< 6 Jade-Kelsie Wolfenden (UK), 5 Melissa Carver (Australia), 5 Adrianna Kaczmarek (Poland), 5 Miho Shibutani (Japan), 5 Rukiye Solak (Turkey), 5 Laura Ziv (France), 5 Maria Julia da Silva de Lemos (Brazil), 4 Hope Harper (USA), 4 Jessica Wilson (USA), 4 Adrianne Onofrei (USA), 4 Tatiana Lanovenko (Russia), 4 Matilde Biagini (Italy), 4 Calysta Cornell (USA), 4 Kate Mickleson (New Zealand), 4 A Reum Song (South Korea), 4 Shane DiCicco (Australia), 4 Jessica Jones (USA), 4 Jodie Jean-Yuncker (USA), 4 Peyton Hunton (USA), 4 Carla Garthwaite (USA), 3 Eliana Guzman Reyes (Spain), 3 Evita Breide (Spain), 3 Halanna Jully (Brazil), 3 Elizabet Vang (Faroe Islands), 3 Rachel Linares (USA), 3 Marisa Woo (USA), 3 Chloe Hunter (New Zealand), 3 Ariel Barley (USA), 3 Yeoni Lee (South Korea), 3 Sara Choi (South Korea), 3 Calista McKenzie (Australia), 3 Bridget Bailey (Australia), 3 Gabriella Mohamed (USA), 3 Cheuk Nam Yuen (HKSAR), 2 Cassie Hunter (UK), 2 Denetra Blackshear (USA), 2 Mirian Barbosa (Brazil), 2 Aimee Jacobs (New Zealand), 2 Elisangela Angell (Brazil), 2 Nicole Tan (Australia), 2 Janine Herrera (USA), 2 Theresa Miller (USA), 1 Aneta Szoltysek (Poland), 1 Melanie Cyr (Canada), 1 Danielle Combs (USA), 1 Herlayne Braga (Brazil), 1 Catherine Daniel (New Zealand), 1 Marissa Rivero (USA), 1 Nittaya Kongthun (Thailand), 1 Uchral Byambatseren (Mongolia), 1 Rachael Oberst (USA), 1 Liana Martinez (USA), 1 Hyojung Kim (South Korea), 1 Leslie Billups (USA), 1 Tara Grier (USA), 1 Men’s Wheelchair Harold Kelley (USA) Gabriele Andriulli (Italy) Antoni Khadraoui (Algeria) Adelfo Cerame, Jr (USA) Tyler Brey (USA) Tory Jones (Canada) MEN’S WHEELCHAIR POINTS: Bradley Betts (USA), 9 Chad McCrary (USA), 8 The date for the 2022 Olympia will be held on December 15-18th, 2022. Stay tuned. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
Jake Wood Might Require “Doctor’s Clearance” For Bodybuilders To Compete At Olympia
Jake Wood continues to attempt to make the sport of bodybuilder a safer environment.
Olympia President Jake Wood has been an advocate of safety moving forward. The sport of bodybuilding. He has spoken out about possible changes and plans that could be coming in the future. Recently, Wood revealed another plan that includes athletes getting clearance from a doctor before competing at the biggest competition of the year.
Wood joined The Menace Podcast on the Muscle and Fitness YouTube page to discuss the current happenings in bodybuilding. This includes the recent deaths that have happened around the bodybuilding world. This has caused Wood to reconsider some aspects and one could be getting some outside help from doctors.
“I thought about it, you know. What about at the Olympia? What if we said, “Hey before you come, you need to get a doctor’s clearance just like the NFL does at the beginning of the season?” We could do that.”
Of course, this is just discussion at this point and it would require some planning by Jake Wood. During the interview, it was suggested that this could begin as early as amateur level for bodybuilders. Before earning their pro card, competitors could get checked out before receiving their step forward.
“I think that would be a step in the right direction, as long as it’s done correctly. Of course, who established the criteria and what are they testing for and when do you say that it’s no good. I mean, when do you say you failed the test?”
The bodybuilding world lost George Peterson prior to the 2021 Olympia and this was a huge shock. Unfortunately, it was not the only loss and Wood has been speaking out in order to make the sport safer.
In August, Alena Kosinova passed away while preparing for the Europa Pro. This is when Jake Wood made a statement on the future.
“I AM DEEPLY SHAKEN BY THE LOSS OF ALENA. I AM NOT ONE FOR EMPTY WORDS. INSTEAD OF MAKING POSTS I’M MAKING CHANGES. I HAD A PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH JIM AND TYLER MANION THIS MORNING AND WE’RE ALL SICKENED BY THIS TURN OF EVENTS. WE AGREED THAT CONDITIONING IS OVER EMPHASIZED IN THE JUDGING CRITERIA AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. I WILL PUSH FOR CHANGE IN ALL DIVISIONS,” Jake Wood said following the death of Kosinova.
It is unknown how Jake Wood could put together a set of rules to enforce this. It does not seem as simple as a doctor’s clearance. This is a plan that might not be put into motion but the face that Wood mentioned it is telling.
It is clear that the sport needs to become safer. This was a difficult year with many losing their lives and Wood is part of a group that believes it will change.
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Jay Cutler On Flex Lewis’ Olympia Status: ‘I Think He Definitely Deserves A Special Invitation’
Jay Cutler believes Flex Lewis has earned the right to compete at the Olympia.
Jay Cutler knows a thing or two about the Olympia competition. When he speaks on the subject, people listen and he recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding Flex Lewis‘ status for the 2022 show. Cutler believes that Flewis has earned the right to be given a special invitation come December.
There is still plenty of time for Lewis to gain qualification or receive an invitation. The conversation has sparked already and many do not understand why Lewis is not in just yet. Lewis has a lifetime invitation to compete at the Olympia but only in the 212 division, which he has won seven times in his career. He has since switched to Men’s Open.
Flex Lewis received a special invite to compete at the 2020 Olympia. He was forced to miss this show because of an injury that was not revealed. Lewis wanted to return in 2021 but personal issues kept him off the stage. Now, he will have to work his way back in 2022.
Jay Cutler, who is a four-time Olympia champion, weighed in on this topic during a recent episode of Cutler Cast. This is a podcast where Cutler discusses the recent topics in bodybuilding with guests. In this episode, he discussed Lewis’ current situation and how important it would be if he was able to compete this year.
“They gave him the invite two years ago. He couldn’t do it, he had health issues or whatever. I understand; he’s a seven-time 212, and we always talk about like, I hate saying Mr. Olympia because it’s confusing for people right? People say he’s a seven-time Mr. Olympia, but it’s totally different. He won his class, it’s a different class, it’s not the open Mr. Olympia. I think he definitely deserves a special invitation.”
Jay Cutler compared the current situation surrounding Flex Lewis to Kai Greene, who received many invitations over the years but has turned them all down. Cutler explains how this should be Lewis’ last invitation before he must earn the right by winning a show.
“I feel that if he does not compete this year, they should not give him another one. They gave one to Kai Greene for years and he just wouldn’t take it. If anyone deserves it, it’s him.”
The question remains, how would Flex Lewis fare after years away from the stage? Especially in Men’s Open. While it is still just February, Lewis has a chance to earn qualification to the Olympia and answer the question. Until then, he can still receive an invitation at some point.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2022 Olympia Will Return To Las Vegas On Dec. 16-18
The biggest bodybuilding competition of the year now has a date and location as the Olympia returns to Las Vegas.
The 2022 Olympia now has everything in place. Following the 2021 event, it was announced that the competition would move back to Las Vegas. Now, the official dates have been announced.
On Friday, Olympia Productions President Dan Soloman shared a video announcing the date for the Olympia. Soloman took to Instagram to say that the 2022 event will take place from Dec. 16-18 in Las Vegas.
““For those of you that haven’t heard, the Olympia Weekend in 2022 will be held right here in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood the weekend of December 16th, 17th, and 18th. And I have to be honest with you guys, the things we have planned this year are going to absolutely blow your mind.”
The Olympia will return to Sin City after two years in Orlando. Olympia production was sold to Jake Wood by American Media Inc. in 2020. Because of the pandemic, there were certain restrictions that did not allow the competition to take place in Nevada. This led to the 2020 and 2021 shows taking place in the Sunshine State.
The change did not affect Big Ramy. He won back-to-back titles in Orlando and has solidified himself as one of the best bodybuilders in the world. Brandon Curry has finished as the runner-up in each of the last two competitions after being crowned champion in 2019, which was the last show to take place in Las Vegas.
There are currently 11 divisions that compete at the biggest event of the year. This includes Wellness, which made its Olympia debut in 2021. Men’s Open continues to be the highlight of the weekend a d competitors have already started competing in order to qualify for the 2022 Olympia. So far, there are 12 athletes who have already earned qualification by either winning a show or finishing top five in Men’s Open in 2021.
Rafael Brandao (2021 Romania Muscle Fest Pro winner)
Hadi Choopan (3rd place in 2021)
Shaun Clarida (2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro winner)
Brandon Curry (runner-up in 2021)
Samson Dauda (2021 EVLS Prague Pro winner)
Nathan De Asha (2021 Yamamoto Pro Cup winner)
Mamdouh Elssbiay (2021 Olympia champion)
Angel Calderon Frias (2021 Bigman Weekend Pro Spain winner)
Regan Grimes (2021 KO Pro Egypt Winner)
Hunter Labrada (4th place in 2021)
Joel Thomas (2021 Toronto Pro Supershow winner)
Nick Walker (5th place in 2021)
Competitors will have plenty of chances to qualify in 2022. There are no more Men’s Open competitions currently planned this year. The next one is set to take place during the 2022 Arnold Classic on March 3-6 in Columbus. Athletes now have a date to target for the 2022 Olympia.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Shaun Clarida Looking To Compete In Both Men’s Open And 212 Olympia in 2022
Shaun Clarida could be pursuing two Olympia titles next year.
Heading into the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro, one of the big stories was Shaun Clarida preparing to make his debut in Men’s Open. The former 212 Olympia champion made the announcement in the week leading up to the competition. After a victory, Clarida wants to explore the opportunity of competing in two divisions during next year’s Olympia.
In a recent interview, Clarida discussed how he wants to use his qualification to the 2022 Olympia in both divisions. This would have to be approved before he was able to make it happen.
“I would absolutely love the opportunity to do that. I would love to talk to Jim (Manion), Tyler (Manion), Jake (Wood), whoever is in charge of making that decision, and hopefully they would allow me to do that. That would be amazing,” Clarida said.
“Obviously we’re going to be at the show regardless, but with the improvement’s we’re going to make this coming year, obviously the goal is to get my title back at 212, but I would love to really push myself and see what I can do in the Open Olympia this year. It’s definitely a decision that the higher ups are going to have to make, I’m going to respect whatever decision they decide to go with, but yeah if they allowed me the opportunity to do that, to cross over and to move, you bet your ass I’m gong to do that.”
Shaun Clarida continued by saying he was not sure which division he would choose if he was unable to compete in both. There are reasons for Clarida to choose either division and this will be the big question leading up to the show next year if he is unable to appear in both.
Clarida won the Olympia 212 back in 2020. He was the favorite coming into this year’s competition but finished second to Derek Lunsford. It seems obvious that Clarida would want to get his title back as soon as possible. On the other hand, competing in Men’s Open is the pinnacle of the sport and Clarida already showed that he can stack up.
When Clarida first made his announcement, he mentioned that it was not a permanent change and he did not plan to leave 212. Now that he has a competition victory in Men’s Open under his belt, it will be interesting to see if that notion changes.
The 2022 Olympia will take place in December of next year in Las Vegas. Clarida has earned his qualification and is planning to be present on stage. The question will remain, which division will he compete in?
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