Tag: 2023 Mr. olympia
Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan’s Craziest Lifts
Ronnie Coleman was revered for his monstrous physique and strength during his bodybuilding career. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman reacted to some of reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan’s most impressive gym lifts.
“What’s going on guys? Big Ron here. I’ve seen my boy Hadi Choopan been doing a lot of work over the years and finally got himself a title. I thought it would only be appropriate if I did some reaction videos to some of his training, so let’s get into this, yeah buddy,” said Coleman.
During his tenure, Coleman dominated the Men’s Open division for nearly a decade. Nicknamed ‘The King,’ Coleman brought unparalleled size, conditioning, and firepower to the world’s brightest stages. He routinely pushed and defeated heavy hitters in the category such as Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone.
Coleman wasn’t just known for his skills on a bodybuilding stage. Throughout his career, he made headlines for recording stunning feats of strength. He’s deadlifted 800 pounds for reps and has leg pressed over 2,300 pounds.
A pioneer of freaky mass, Coleman collected eight Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005. He was well respected for his intense training style which often incorporated heavy weight for a high number of reps. Despite retiring in 2007, Coleman’s impact on the sport is undeniable. Given his experience and expertise, his opinions regarding the Men’s Open division are often sought out.
In the wake of the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, Hadi Choopan claimed gold while Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia champ, finished runner-up. The contest was close and in Coleman’s opinion, Derek Lunsford now has the potential to take out Choopan this November. In his latest endeavor, however, Coleman isn’t looking at the Olympia contest. Instead, he examined some of Choopan’s greatest lifts inside the gym.
Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Blown Away by Hadi Choopan’s Greatest Lifts
The video starts with Choopan performing a series of cable exercises.
“Show me how you got that title, show me all the thickness you got there, let’s go, let’s do this, light weight.”
Then, Coleman reacted to Choopan firing off reps of heavy barbell curls.
“Get them arms as big as possible. That’s a big-armed dude. Let’s go Hadi. Let’s do this. What you got going on? Just playing around in the gym right now,” said Coleman. “Let’s show them how it’s supposed to be done. Yeah, buddy! Big thick chest, big thick arms, lifting that light weight baby, like it ain’t nothing. Ain’t nothing to it but to do it Hadi, you got this.”
Coleman watched Choopan hit huge barbell squats and reps on the leg press machine, an exercise Ronnie was famous for in his prime.
“Let’s go, you got this,” said Coleman. “Hard work always pays off. Now you got the title buddy.”
“Who is going to be the Mr. O in 2023. Those were some impressive lifts. Congratulations on the title Hadi, I’m looking forward to seeing you on the stage later this year. Yeah buddy.”
In retirement, Coleman is a busy man but makes time for fun reaction videos, usually in response to impressive lifts or gym fails. In addition to looking at the Open Mr. Olympia’s latest lifts, Coleman recently assessed four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead’s best feats of power. Coleman was most impressed after Cbum managed to deadlift 600 pounds with relative ease.
Though, it’s not just top-tier bodybuilders that Coleman keeps an eye on. He’s also given his reaction after watching four-time World’s Strongest Man Brian Shaw demonstrate some of his craziest exercises performed on camera. Overall, Coleman was stunned at the strongman’s abilities on the car deadlifts and truck pull.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest approaching in November, fans expect that it will be another unpredictable contest. Choopan will again aim to fend off his teammate Lunsford, third-place 2022 O finisher Nick Walker, and frontrunner Samson Dauda, who recently claimed gold over ‘The Mutant’ at the recent 2023 Arnold Classic show.
RELATED: 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Gives Health & Mobility Update: “My Walking Is About the Same”
You can watch the full video from Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 4:33 PM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show took place on June 25 in Milan, Italy. This competition is a qualifying event for this year’s Mr. Olympia in the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini categories.
Fans are excited for the return of the annual Mr. Olympia show, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. There are fewer months and events to qualify for the most prestigious event of the year. Currently, athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on stage.
Any top three finishers from the last Mr. Olympia show from Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini are automatically invited back for this year’s edition of the event. The winners of each category this weekend will have the opportunity to stand against the reigning 2022 Olympia winners in November.
Ahead of the anticipated showdown, fans highlighted a few Men’s Physique contenders to keep an eye on. Riccardo Croci is hoping to nail down three victories in a row after taking first at the 2023 Tropicarium Budapest Pro and the 2023 Mile High Pro. Should he win this event, he’ll take a Mr. Olympia spot away from someone.
Youcef Djoudi is another competitor brimming with talent to keep tabs on. Djoudi took first at the 2022 Mr. Big Evolution Pro but finished outside the top 15 at Olympia. This will be his first show of the 2023 season.
Lastly, fan-favorite Sidy Pouye will be back in action. He took fourth at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and third at the New York Pro, which was a solid testament to his consistency and skill level. With his eyes on first place, fans were counting down the seconds until he stepped on stage.
Find Out Who Won The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Below:
Men’s Physique: Sidy Pouye
Classic Physique: László Király
Bikini: Molnár Zsófia
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Sidy Pouye
Second Place — Riccardo Croci
Third Place — Jessy Pigury
Fourth Place — Daniel Leone
Fifth Place — Dario Beloli
Sixth Place — Andrea Mosti
Seventh Place — Marcos Iglesias Garcia
Eighth Place — Adama Jammeh
Ninth Place — Fabian Feber
Tenth Place — Luca Biolo
Classic Physique
Winner — László Király
Second Place — Antoine Loth
Third Place — Edwin Owusu
Fourth Place — Adam Bomert
Fifth Place — Damian Kuffel
Sixth Place — Florian Hartiage
Seventh Place — Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Saman Udaya Kumara
Eighth Place — Emanuele Ricotti
Bikini
Winner — Molnár Zsófia
Second Place — Anna Setlak
Third Place — Priscila Leimbacher
Fourth Place — Roberta Mangraviti
Fifth Place — Kristina Brunauer
Sixth Place — Lisa Reith
Seventh Place — Claudia Clemente
Eighth Place — Tatiana Lanovenko
Ninth Place — Patrizia Vaccaro
Tenth Place — Sara Fratella
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Scorecards
Classic Physique
Mens Physique
Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Jay Cutler Breaks Down 2023 Mr. Olympia Top Contenders: ‘Can Andrew Jacked Shock the World?’
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler led a highly decorated career that saw him become a four-time Mr. Olympia. Since moving on from professional competition, he’s turned into a revered figure known for his sharp eye for talent. In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, Cutler shared his breakdown of the top contenders for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
Jay Cutler first made headlines for his monstrous muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the 2000s. He dominated the competition at the 2002 Arnold Classic and racked up two more AC titles in the following years. He developed an intense rivalry with eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, who kept him at bay from the top prize. After four runner-up finishes, Cutler finally dethroned his longtime foe and secured his maiden Sandow trophy. He hung up his posing trunks with four Mr. Olympia wins under his belt.
The Men’s Open division hosts some of the freakiest mass monsters in the world and serves as the marquee category at any bodybuilding event. The division’s landscape continues to evolve with a rise in talent joining the division from around the world.
Former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay got knocked off the top at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last season. Hadi Choopan reigned supreme as the new champion whereas former 212 Olympia king Derek Lunsford stunned the world with a silver in his Open debut. Nick Walker moved up the ranks and rounded out the top three. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada missed the mark and fell out of the top six, meaning he would need to earn an invite to the competition this year.
Andrew Jacked / Instagram
Rising sensation Andrew Jacked is another contender who presented a major threat to the more experienced veterans. Samson Dauda emerged as a budding contender after placing sixth at the previous Olympia event. He further asserted his place in the mix by coming out on top of the 2023 Arnold Classic three months ago.
Slovakian bodybuilder Michal Krizo entered the group with a lot of hype behind him last year. He presented insane arm development along with freakish overall muscularity. He’s coming off a commanding performance in his last outing at the 2023 Empro Classic Pro that saw him score gold last week.
Jay Cutler breaks down top contenders of 2023 Mr. Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Jay Cutler shared his analysis of the top contenders for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler started by praising Krizo’s latest win and identified areas he would like to see improved.
“He was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body, the arms are some of the best in the business and it looked like he made improvements, which I think he did improve from his prior showings. But I don’t know if he came down in size a little bit to gather the condition,” said Cutler. “I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the Olympia.
“He still needs to get more density in the side of the leg, the hamstring, glutes, and the back’s improved but he still… arms are so big. When you have arms that big it kinda takes from the lats unless you’re like a Nick Walker.”
Cutler believes Dauda and Lunsford are the frontrunners for the contest. He also highlighted the danger Choopan and former champ Brandon Curry may present.
“I didn’t want to start counting places because I hated when people did that to me but there’s a lot of good guys. That six to ten is going to be… We just saw Derek and Samson too. They trained together a couple days ago and Derek looks tremendous which he always has and Samson looks tremendous which he has for the past few years. Obviously, the Arnold winner. Question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold, we could keep talking about that.”
“Contention wise, Hadi’s been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me.’ We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”
Derek Lunsford / Instagram
Cutler supports Big Ramy competing at the event
Jay Cutler extended his support for Big Ramy to return and compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He believes Ramy doesn’t have enough time to sit out a year and could perform well if he came in his best form.
“Ramy sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for. He needs to possibly take a step away and I think it’s got a little misconstrued. I hate the fact that Steve Weinberger has kinda been put on the spot because he said basically go back to what you’re doing. I don’t think he ever said like he needs to take the whole year off. I don’t even know how it was said but there’s a lot of controversy right now.
“The point is he just needs to regroup and do what he does best and come in the best of his ability. There’s no real timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take a few years off, his health is really great. I hear his training is really great. He’s had some atrophy compared to years prior on the arms, triceps, I think he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. But he looked great at the Arnold. He could’ve probably placed a little better but I don’t want to discredit the people that did.”
‘Can Andrew Jacked win & shock the world?’ asks Cutler
The 49-year-old praised Andrew Jacked for his immense potential in the sport. He expressed his excitement about watching Andrew go up against Hunter Labrada and others at the nearing 2023 Texas Pro. For Cutler, the biggest question is if Jacked could do enough later this year to win the coveted Sandow trophy.
“I hear great things about Andrew too. The big showdown is going to be Texas. There’s going to be other guys too. I know there’s a lot of international shows but that’s going to be like what, who’s not going to qualify there. Those two guys [Andrew and Hunter] need to be in the lineup because they’re people we’re talking about and the question is, can Andrew come and win the Olympia and shock the world?”
Jay Cutler is currently on a mission to take his physique to the next level as part of the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge for his 50th birthday. He revealed he’s gained 15 pounds in preparation for the challenge earlier this week.
This year’s competition in the Men’s Open division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive. Fans will be waiting in anticipation to see which competitors qualify and who ultimately takes the crown of Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Offers Tips for Sculpting Abs: ‘Remember You’re Trying to Condition Them, Not Build Muscle’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 10:24 AM EDT
Brett Wilkin Eyes Top 10 Olympia Debut, Nick Walker Reveals Plans to Downsize Post-Retirement
American bodybuilder Brett Wilkin is one of the fastest-rising stars in the IFBB Pro League. In a recent appearance on The Mutant and The Mouth, Wilkin shared his ambitions for his maiden Olympia appearance. Fellow competitor Nick Walker opened up about his plans to downsize after retirement and Guy Cisternino revealed the truth behind understanding calcium scores.
Brett Wilkin started out in the Classic Physique division in the early days of his career under the NPC. He earned his IFBB Pro Card as a Classic Physique competitor after a win at the 2018 NPC Junior Nationals. However, he chose to switch to the Men’s 212 class for his Pro debut at the 2019 IFBB Puerto Rico Pro. Then, he made his way to the 2019 Toronto Pro Supershow to make his second and final appearance in the 212 category.
Following the underwhelming performances, Wilkin took to the sidelines and worked hard in the training room to level up his physique. After a two-year hiatus, he returned and switched divisions to make a splash in the Men’s Open group. The decision worked wonders for him as he narrowly missed out on the top prize to Hunter Labrada and placed runner-up at the 2021 Chicago Pro.
Wilkin kicked off his run with a sixth-place finish at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival. He gave fans a look into his gigantic 6,000-calorie diet and supplement stack he utilized to pack on the pounds in the off-season last August.
‘The Butcher’ joined forces with Shaun Clarida for an intense push-day workout in Aug. 2022. He followed that up by partnering with rising sensation Nick Walker for a fierce lower-body training session where they targeted quads weeks later.
Although Brett Wilkin did not earn an invite for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, he continued to work his way up the ranks. He laid out the 4,000-calorie diet he was using to get ready for his next appearance. Then, he collaborated with Hunter Labarda for a sleeve-busting arm workout to get ready for their guest-posing appearance at the 2022 Colorado Cup.
Wilkin amped up his training with a challenging shoulder workout in preparation for earning an invite to the Olympia last October. His hard work paid off as he turned heads with his impressive physique at the 2022 Romania Muscle Fest Pro, where he scored the silver medal. Wilkin finally secured his place in the lineup for the 2023 Mr. Olympia by defeating the competition at the 2022 Bigman Weekend Pro.
Brett Wilkin Shares Positive Update, Says He Never Eats More than 8oz of Protein per Meal
In a recent YouTube video, Brett Wilkin and Nick Walker agreed on their preferred host city for Mr. Olympia contests.
Walker said, “I like Vegas. Now that I’ve done both, Florida and Vegas, I prefer Vegas.”
Wilkin shared positive updates about his health as he gets back to training full force. He revealed he limits protein to 8 oz per meal and detailed his cheat meal philosophy.
“I took the whole week off and now I actually, my body feels good,” said Wilkin. “I went back to the gym today first time. Now going to start doing another push into July and then going down from there.”
“I still do [dirty shakes] just to keep the calories high. It’s not really that dirty. I’m not hungry in the morning even after I do cardio in the morning and stuff. I do a shake in the morning I’ll do like 130 grams of quick oats, 150 grams of blueberries, 35 grams of almond butter, protein powder, water, and then literally just a couple squirts of chocolate to give it more taste. Then the rest of the day is whole foods.”
“I’ve never gone higher than 8 oz of a protein, meats is the highest I’ll go. Just because like my body starts rejecting the protein part of it. So, what I’ll adjust always in the off-season is protein usually stays the same as prep and then I’ll just adjust carbs and fats, just increase those, more so carbs.”
“I’ve never done the cheat day thing. I can’t be somebody that eats like 15,000 calories a day. I would hate that. What I do is I’ll end up having like three or four cheats a week so I just do them on my legs day or my back day. That’s usually like just get Five Guys or some Mexican or something. It’s just I have to stay in caloric surplus.”
Brett Wilkin highlighted the importance of working around the risk of getting injured.
“We also gotta look at injury prevention, not being an idiot, keeping the weight at the point so we can continue to do this week to week because that’s an easy way to shut down the career fast. We’re not Superman anymore.”
Guy Cisternino shares how to understand calcium scores & talks running with Nick Walker
Guy Cisternino shared the truth behind understanding calcium scores properly. He claimed the scores are not a concrete method of predicting issues and explained how the process worked.
“It’s so crazy how the calcium scores go up and down based on… it’s all genetic because I asked my doctor flat out. I’m like doc, listen, is there anything that I’m taking that’s causing the calcium to possibly like, this to happen with bodybuilding drugs and he goes no. He goes, it’s genetic. I asked him if there’s anything I took bodybuilding wise that affected my calcium score, he said no. And I went to two different doctors. Calcium score is not covered under insurance because it’s not a very well-known test. There’s not a lot of research done, it’s a newer test, and they don’t know a lot about it.
“The analogy the doctor gave me, he goes, the problem with the calcium score is we don’t know if the straw is up or down, meaning you could have calcium building up an artery wall but trickling down the side and it could never cause a blockage. Or you could have calcium building straight up that actually is causing a blockage but there’s no real way to tell. That’s the problem. So, the calcium score or the number doesn’t really give any significance.”
Nick Walker revealed his plans to stay around 220 pounds post-retirement. Cisternino recommended he downsize, especially the lower body, to make running easier.
Walker said, “I would like to get more active when I retire.”
“I started running for about three weeks,” replied Cisternino. “I was following a running program, just running a little bit every day. The amount of weight I was dropping just running was f**king absurd. I couldn’t keep weight on just running like intervals in the morning. The weight was flying off me it’s insane. Not only that, trying to run [with big legs] sucks. You’re going to have to downsize a lot if you want to run, run.”
“I’d like to be 220 (pounds),” said Walker. “That would be my goal weight.”
Wilkin targets top 10 finish in Olympia debut
Brett Wilkin expects to go up against a stacked lineup in his first Mr. Olympia appearance and would be content with a top-10 placing.
“Being around long enough now that I’ve learned you also gotta pay your dues man,” said Wilkin. “I can name two guys, probably a few more out there, but I can name two guys that are ever top five in their first Olympia, that’s Phil Heath and Nick Walker recently. It’s one of those things that I got to be realistic and think about last year, Andrew Jacked got what, eighth or ninth place in his first Olympia, things like that. You gotta work your way up. I’m going to prepare. I’m just excited to complete again, go through the diet and then this lineup’s going to be crazy. I don’t think people realize. Last year was what I think 28 to 30 guys. This year there’s only going to be 16 or 17 guys. Think about the shows ahead of us, Chicago, Tampa, Texas, these are going to be stacked. It’s going to be a battle. There’s going to be a lot of guys missing out.”
“I would love to get into the top ten that would be a huge goal for this lineup, first Olympia. I’m not going to be disappointed either way,” continued Wilkin. “It’s just about I need to make a footprint where judges are like oh sh*t, he brought it. And I gotta build from that. First year is about making that footprint, showing that I’m serious, and then I gotta build from that.”
Brett Wilkin collaborated with reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead for a grueling leg workout two months ago. He followed that up by smashing a heavy back workout with renowned coach Joe Bennett last month.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Bodybuilders Brett Wilkin and Iain Valliere Go Through A Killer Quad Workout
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 5:52 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Look Huge in Update During 2023 Mr. Olympia Battle Workout
Preparations for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest are ramping up for Open class talent. In a special Olympia TV production, Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda gave physique updates and pushed each other with a back workout battle/posedown.
“We’re going to have – we need some intensity guys. This is not going to be a show for powderpuff training. It’s going to be hardcore, I want to see everybody going all-out. I mean this – we got to bring it today. You guys ready?” Cormier said.
Many fans believe the Men’s Open division has never been more exciting. There have also been major shake-ups in the category over the last several months. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, a new hierarchy was established after Hadi Choopan claimed gold. After receiving a special invite for the Open class, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford proved himself with a second-place finish. This event also served as Samson Dauda‘s Mr. Olympia debut where he placed sixth.
While Lunsford decided to sit out the 2023 Arnold Classic, Dauda had other plans. With momentum from Las Vegas, Dauda brought his best to Columbus, Ohio, and ultimately defeated finalists Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked to claim gold. Veterans and figureheads of the sport took notice of his Mr. Olympia-winning potential. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo has gone on record saying that Choopan’s biggest threats are Lunsford and Dauda.
Ronnie Coleman, a name that carries a lot of weight in the IFBB Pro League, has suggested that Lunsford will become the next Mr. Olympia champion. He specified that the former 212 winner will likely dethrone Choopan later this year. When tasked with choosing his favorite bodybuilder of this generation, Coleman said it was a tie between Lunsford and Dauda.
Meanwhile, Nick Walker, who also aims to win Mr. Olympia, doesn’t see Dauda as a concern despite losing to him in March. In ‘The Mutant’s’ opinion, the next Sandow trophy will be awarded to himself or Lunsford, depending on who brings better improvements in November. Though, for Samson Dauda, he has never been more confident, and believes with a bigger back, he can become the number one bodybuilder in the world.
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Give Physique Updates & Test Limits with Back Workout Battle
Led by Chris Cormier, Lunsford, and Dauda pushed each other through a series of back workouts. Lunsford believes his back is currently better than Dauda’s. Samson, on the other hand, said he would have won the 2023 Arnold Classic even if Lunsford entered the contest.
“Yeah man, I mean back has always been my strong point. So, I figured we’d get in here today and have some fun,” said Lunsford. “Like I said, I think my back shots are my strong points, so as of right now, I would say yes [my back shots will beat Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia] and I’m prepared to improve it for this year.”
“Bodybuilding is judged on more than just a back shot right, it’s about who is the most complete and that’s what I bring. At the same time, I know I can learn a thing or two like I’ve always done in the past, I’ve taken my opponent’s strengths and made them my own, and use the same strengths to beat them,” said Dauda. “Oh yeah [if Derek Lunsford was at the 2023 Arnold I would have beat him] damn right. I don’t back down for no one.”
Cormier predicted that there would be palpable tension during the training session since they share the same goal of wanting to become Mr. Olympia.
“I think they’re going to have to show each other who is going to be the more dominant competitor on stage. And I think it’s all going to start right here with Olympia Battle 3. I think my man [Samson Dauda] is large and in charge and I think being second at the Olympia [for Derek Lunsford] there’s going to be some tension today,” Chris Cormier said.
Find their full back workout list below:
Lat Pulldown Machine – 4 sets
Barbell Rows – 5 sets
Seated Cable Row Machine – 4 sets
Stiff Arms Pulldown Aka Straight Arms – 4 sets
Chest Supported Low Row Machine – 4 sets
“That’s the bodybuilding mentality,” Lunsford shared. “This is fun for me to come out here, train with the Arnold Classic champion Samson. It’s a big back day.”
“This is the off-season. This is bodybuilding. This is a big man’s game,” said Dauda.
Following the workout, Lunsford and Dauda removed their pump covers for a posedown. They both hit mandatory poses on command before ending the battle.
Even though Choopan hasn’t been competing in the U.S. or guest posing doesn’t mean he’s not attacking his off-season with a chip on his shoulder. Last week, ‘The Persian Wolf’ gave fans a sneak peek into the off-season physique he’s been building. In addition, Choopan continues to push himself with heavy workouts posted on Instagram.
As for Derek Lunsford, he joined his coach Hany Rambod for The Truth Podcast recently. They sat down to discuss anxiety, depression, and obstacles in the way of his 2023 Mr. Olympia prep. Despite some setbacks during the off-season, Lunsford assured his fans that ‘everything is good’ as he eyes the next stage of his preparations.
Many believe Lunsford and Dauda cemented themselves as Mr. Olympia favorites during the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest-posing event. Given their dedication and work ethic, fans look forward to seeing how they fare in Orlando, Florida this November.
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 21 June, 2023 | 11:28 AM EDT
Andrew Jacked Looking Huge and Shredded in Update 9 Weeks from 2023 Texas Pro
All systems are a go for Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, who is eying his 2023 Mr. Olympia invitation in just over two months. In a recent Instagram post, Andrew Jacked shared a physique update ahead of his anticipated return to the 2023 Texas Pro, scheduled for August 18-19.
Andrew Jacked is a rising force in the Open class. His rookie year was astounding as he went on to earn his IFBB Pro card at the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur and then from there, entered and won his first pro show at the Texas Pro. Despite boasting less experience than his rivals, Jacked appeared at ease on stage, and his posing routines have only strengthened over time.
At his debut Mr. Olympia competition in 2022, Jacked proved himself in eighth place while Hadi Choopan claimed gold. Having looked back on the show, Jacked’s former coach, George Farah, mentioned that he overcame adversity on stage with a 102-degree fever. Jacked also managed to defeat some stellar names in the Open such as Michal Krizo, Rafael Brandao, and William Bonac.
Andrew Jacked posing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia (Image via Andrew Jacked Instagram)
Forging ahead, Jacked decided to switch coaches and joined the late Shawn Rhoden‘s former brigade: Chris Aceto and Chris ‘Psycho’ Lewis. Jacked competed at the 2023 Arnold Classic, which served as his one-year anniversary since becoming a pro.
At the event, he pushed Nick Walker and Samson Dauda before finishing third. Even though he didn’t earn gold, Andrew left the show with the Arnold Classic Best Poser Award. And while he’s certainly enjoyed success thus far, Jacked will have to earn his invite to this year’s Mr. Olympia if he wants another shot at the sport’s most celebrated event.
Andrew Jacked Looking at His All-Time Biggest, Shows Off Physique 9 Weeks from Next Show
You can find Jacked’s impressive posing routine from Instagram below:
“Post Cardio Checkin with @therealtechnician and @psychofitness21Few weeks left to resume Camp PsychoLet Them Cook!Yesszzziirrr !!!” Andrew Jacked shared.
As the Texas Pro draws near, the lineup of contenders is coming together and the fans anticipate a thrilling contest. Hunter Labrada, the son of bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada, is eyeing the show as a chance to redeem himself after taking home the lowest Olympia placing of his career in seventh.
Jacked, meanwhile, has shared some optimistic news online after getting his blood work done. The Men’s Open star says his health metrics are on point and actually better than ever. He is confident he can secure his Olympia qualification after falling short in Ohio back in March.
Jacked’s and Samson Dauda’s recent performances have sparked a debate about whether aesthetic physiques are gaining an edge over mass monsters in the sport. Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy argued that competitors who rely on freak factor might get left behind in the years to come.
According to IFBB head judges Steve Weinberger, Andrew Jacked needs work on his lower body. In a special Olympia TV appearance, Weinberger mentioned that if Jacked improves his legs, he will likely be fighting in the first call-out at the next Mr. Olympia. He added that Jacked looked flat at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Andrew Jacked Teams Up With Vlad Suhoruchko For A Rigorous Arm Workout
With just a few weeks until Andrew Jacked ramps up training with Chris Lewis, the 2023 Texas Pro is shaping up to be one of the most exciting contests of the year. Time will tell who comes out on top between Hunter Labrada and Jacked.
Published: 20 June, 2023 | 12:21 AM EDT
Samson Dauda Shows Off Monstrous 327-Lb Physique Guest Posing at 2023 USA Fit Games
Samson Dauda continues to gain momentum in the viciously competitive IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. Over last weekend, Dauda shocked his fans while guest posing at the 2023 USA Fit Games and revealed he’s weighing 327 pounds.
The potential of Dauda was evident from the start of his bodybuilding career. Though, in 2022, he gained considerable momentum. Fans saw him claim a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Arnold Classic and Boston Pro. Making his way to the Olympia for the first time, Dauda exceeded expectations and finished sixth. During the event, he proved himself standing against the former two-time champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, who ultimately slid to fifth.
Without an invite to this year’s Olympia event, Dauda returned to the 2023 Arnold Classic. He faced stiff competition from fellow frontrunners Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked. While some in the sport found the results controversial, Dauda won and earned his way to this year’s prestigious show.
Dauda understands getting past Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford, and champ, Hadi Choopan will be no easy task. In a Muscular Development interview, Dauda explained that the only way he could win 2023 Mr. Olympia gold was by thickening his back. And if his latest guest posing appearance is a sign of his progress, it appears Dauda is in a favorable position to do well at this year’s Olympia.
Samson Dauda Staying Active With Guest Posing in 2023 Off-Season, Shows Off Physique at 327 Lbs
‘Everything is bigger in Texas,’ as was the case with Samson Dauda’s latest guest posing appearance at 327 pounds.
“Guest posing today at @usafitgamesIn Dallas Texas327lbs” Dauda wrote.
In May, he joined a star-studded lineup of Men’s Open guest posers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. Samson shared the stage with Walker, Hunter Labrada, Big Ramy, Shaun Clarida, and Derek Lunsford. In the aftermath, most fans agreed that Dauda and Lunsford stood out as favorites ahead of the next Mr. Olympia.
A month later in April, Dauda took over the stage at the 10x Ben Weider 2023 to guest pose. He looked incredible and still conditioned despite enjoying a rebound period. Given the artistic nature and detail of his posing routines, it’s safe to say his busy schedule is paying off.
Even though he defeated ‘The Mutant’ in Columbus, Ohio, Nick Walker doesn’t seem to be concerned with Samson Dauda ahead of Olympia this year. He has no crystal ball but Walker predicted that 2023 Mr. Olympia will see either himself or Derek Lunsford win gold. It should be noted that eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman believes Lunsford will end Choopan’s reign when they rematch.
Steve Weinberger, who often serves as the head judge for Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias, said that Dauda could push into the top three this year with added back improvements. He specified that Dauda will also need to keep a similar level of size that he presented last December.
RELATED: Samson Dauda ‘Fired Up’ to Bring Shock Factor at 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘There’s Only 1 Result Left to Get’
Meanwhile, other competitors in the Open, such as William Bonac, believe Choopan is likely to defend successfully in November. Nevertheless, should Dauda thicken his back and add more detail, he and his coach Milos Sarcev are confident they could disrupt the lineup and win the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 3:40 PM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Pro India went down from June 16-18 in New Delhi, India. This show is a 2023 Mr. Olympia qualifier and it features four divisions: 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini.
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Winners
212 Bodybuilding: Andrei Melnikov
Classic Physique: Vahid Badpei
Men’s Physique: Bhuwan Chauhan
Bikini: Jil Meret Schmitz
With the next Mr. Olympia show approaching, athletes are on the hunt for their respective invites. This year’s annual event takes place from November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on the Olympia stage. Unlike in 2022, there are fewer months and events available to qualify for the prestigious show. The 212 Bodybuilding winner at the 2022 Sheru Classic India Pro was Hameed Juma, but he’s opted not to compete. Therefore, a new champ will be crowned in the 212 category.
Heading into the contest, fans immediately took notice of three names in the 212 category: Andrei Melnikov, Iran’s Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola, and Edward Kargbo. During prejudging, they all stood out, which left fans very excited to see how the action would unfold in the finals.
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Pro Results
212 Bodybuilding
Like the prejudging segment of the show, the finals were fiercely competitive. Edward Kargbo and Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola made a play for gold with shredded physiques. In the end, the balance, symmetry, and conditioning of Andrei Melnikov earned him victory. He is 2022 Olympia-bound where he will later get a chance to face the reigning two-time champ, Shaun Clarida. In addition, Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola was second.
Winner — Andrei Melnikov
Second Place — Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola
Third Place — Edward Kargbo
Classic Physique
In Classic Physique, Sunmeet Singh Gill, Mikhail Timoshin, and Vahid Badpei battled for supremacy. While Gill and Timoshin brought impressive packages, the proportions of Vahid Badpei sealed the deal as he walked away victorious with the 2023 Sheru Classic title. Mikhail Timoshin finished runner-up.
Winner — Vahid Badpei
Second Place — Mikhail Timoshin
Third Place — Sunmeet Singh Gill
Fourth Place — Deepak Nanda
Fifth Place — Denis Romanov
Sixth Place — Manoj Sarangapani
Seventh Place — Parmeshwar Sharma
Eighth Place — Chand Mondal
Ninth Place — Mehmet Emin Baydilli
Tenth Place — Kirk Anderson
Men’s Physique
Given the skill level of the participants, fans were in for a treat from the Men’s Physique division. During prejudging and the finals, Ali Bilal, Bhuwan Chauhan, and Raj Kumar Paswan dominated the center stage. They took part in a series of comparisons. Even though all men brought impressive physiques, the upper body of Bhuwan Chauhan stole the show. He is now qualified for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest in November. Meanwhile, Raj Kumar Paswan took second.
Winner — Bhuwan Chauhan
Second Place — Raj Kumar Paswan
Third Place — Ali Bilal
Fourth Place — Anik Ghosh
Fifth Place — Gijo John Kurian
Sixth Place — Ajith Raja P.
Seventh Place — Mohammad Javad Sadeghi
Eighth Place — Tua Anh Tran
Ninth Place — Dilip Kumar N H
Tenth Place — Maxime Parisi
Bikini
In the Bikini division, competitors put on a show. There were several contenders in the running for the first call-out. However, during finals, three women stood out on paper: Rukiye Solak, Elizaveta Dementera, and Jil Meret Schmitz. After a few comparisons, Jil Meret Schmitz won the Bikini title with Elizaveta Dementera taking silver.
Winner — Jil Meret Schmitz
Second Place — Elizaveta Dementera
Third Place — Rukiye Solak
Fourth Place — Laura Martinez Manrique
Fifth Place — Dunaevskaia Ekaterina
Sixth Place — Liana Moroz
Seventh Place — Bunluek Sanguanlikhitkun
Eighth Place — Kristina Ivanova
Ninth Place — Karina Aleksashina
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Scorecard
Sheru Classic India 212
Sheru Classic India Classic
Sheru Classic Mens
Sheru Classic Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 2:11 PM EDT
Urs Kalecinski ‘Pumped’ for 2023 Olympia Showdown w/Ramon Queiroz, Says He’ll Cut to 1,800 Calories Daily
German native Urs Kalecinski is determined to bring a bigger and better physique to the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage. In a recent HD Muscle Podcast, Kalecinski discussed the game plan for his next appearance in November and life at 275 pounds.
“It would be cool – the first Classic guy at 300 pounds just for like clickbait reasons. It’s crazy, I don’t remember the last time when I wasn’t hungry,” shared Urs Kalecinski.
Kalecinski, one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars, continues to make strides as a competitor in the Classic Physique division. Fans quickly took note of his tight waist, symmetry, and lower body detail, which are weapons he’s already used to find success in the IFBB Pro League.
In 2021, Kalecinski won the 2021 Tampa Pro, and that victory paved the way for his first Olympia appearance. He was awarded fourth in his debut, something many took as a promising sign of his future. A year later, the 25-year-old earned third at the Arnold Classic, trailing behind two-time winner Terrence Ruffin and his rival, Ramon Queiroz.
Undeterred by that showing, he won the Boston Pro to earn a 2022 Olympia invite. Again, Urs set his sights on Brazilian powerhouse Queiroz and Chris Bumstead. While he brought an impressive physique to last year’s Olympia (2022), Kalecinski finished third. Kalecinski had another shot at taking down Queiroz in Columbus, Ohio, but was unable to claim Arnold Classic gold. With time to prepare for the year’s biggest event, Kalecinski sat down to discuss progress and preparations.
Urs Kalecinski Talks Struggles of Preps, Rivalry with Ramon Queiroz, & Diet Plan for 2023 Olympia
Kalecinski said his prep for 2022 Olympia was one of his easiest but encountered problems turning around two months later for the 2023 Arnold Classic. He mentioned that a bout of food poisoning affected his performance in Ohio.
“This prep [2022 Mr. Olympia] for the Olympia was so easy. You know those preps which doesn’t feel like prepping at all. I had energy till peak week. I was feeling bad because I’m not suffering so hard. I had cheat meals every four days because my metabolism was fire and no problem at all going to the weight limit. And then, what fuc**d up my whole life was the Olympia to the Arnold.
Because it was back-to-back I would say. It was only six or seven weeks. And I can’t do any breaks between it, so I had to keep continuing. My hunger and everything went skyrocketing. Then, imagine, you work your ass off and you don’t have a social life during prep, that’s normal, but then not only the social life but also feeling like dog shit every day. I didn’t have that in my whole life before. When you work so hard and then at the very end, you get fuc**ng food poisoning from chicken when I was flying,” said Urs Kalecinski.
After going to the hospital for blood work, Kalecinski said his coach warned him that a few markers were off. However, the problem was ultimately resolved.
“I went to the hospital, and did my blood work because my coach luckily he has a medical background and he’s very very good with those health things and he knows exactly how to handle this and he says, ‘Okay, some points are not good, like of course, your liver enzymes are not good and your cholesterol is not that good at the end of your prep.
The magnesium and other minerals are not in a good range then we need to stop this.’ Then, I prayed to God, ‘Please let it don’t be like this.’ At the end, it was good. We nailed it perfectly to the weight limit and then to filling back up. I had like three days with 1,000 grams of carbs for the carb-up. And I still wasn’t full at the prejudging.”
To combat Ramon Queiroz and Cbum on stage in November, Kalecinski shared that he bulked up to 275 pounds and looks forward to another meeting.
“It’s so crazy in Classic. It’s all about this one day or one two or three hours. Also in bodybuilding but I think in Classic it’s – it’s a bit harder,” said Urs Kalecinski. “My weight, yeah it’s 275 [pounds].”
“I can battle him [Ramon] and that’s what I’m pumped for this year. The fans and the people are going to see some good battle between us and that’s what I’m shooting for. Getting bigger and better. We’ve made some good improvements and also here – got some motivation back.”
Eventually, Kalecinski plans to cut his diet of 3,500 calories to only 1,800.
“Officially 16 weeks out but I tried to bring my weight down right now because where I want to go,” said Urs. “It’s crazy. I’m always hungry. I’m fuc**ng – yeah it’s crazy [I go from 3,500 calories] to 1,800.”
“That’s like a Bikini girl diet,” replied Antoine Vaillant.
According to Kalecinski, bodybuilders who want to make improvements sometimes need to ‘look like a bag of shit’ in the off-season.
“That’s like I said, that’s always what the people say, [switch to the Open] I swear to God, eight or 10 weeks, you’re going to see it everywhere, Urs is too shredded to be ready on stage. That’s what I like about the old days. Dorian Yates didn’t give a fuc*. I get tons of messages, ‘What happened to your fuc**ng face it’s blown up.’
I’m like, ‘Bro, back in the day everybody looked like this. Come on. It’s just Instagram where you see all the influencers being shredded all year-round but they don’t make improvements. To make improvements you need to look like a bag of shit in my opinion. Not the body, but when your face blows up,” said Kalecinski.
In a recent Olympia TV edition of Prime Time Muscle, esteemed Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy talked about the rivalry between German standouts Kalecinski and Mike Sommerfield. El Guindy went as far as to say that Urs wants to ‘beat the hell out of’ Mike when they meet again on stage.
There’s no denying ‘The Miracle Bear’s’ popularity in the IFBB Pro League. With a new and improved 275-pound physique, fans are curious how Kalecinski will compare to Ramon Queiroz and Classic Physique Olympia king Chris Bumstead later this year.
RELATED: Urs Kalecinski And Jay Cutler Wreck A Potent Back Workout
You can watch the full video from the HD Muscle YouTube channel below:
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 11:53 AM EDT
Samir Bannout Urges Big Ramy to Get Healthy & Backs Derek Lunsford as Most Dangerous at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay left the door open for a new champion to emerge and paid the price for it at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. While many seem to count him out, others believe he could get back in the winning column. In a recent episode of The Muscle Maturity podcast, former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout called on Big Ramy to get his health in order and encouraged him to take a similar approach as Derek Lunsford.
The 2022 season turned out to be one of the most exciting and competitive of any in recent years. Former two-time Mr. Olympia Big Ramy went into the Olympia contest as the betting favorite to retain the title based on his overwhelming muscle mass and size. He was tasked with the challenge to ward off proven veterans like Hadi Choopan and a crop of new talent in rising sensations Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked.
Along with the mass monsters of the Men’s Open class, former 212 Olympia king Derek Lunsford entered as the wildcard after receiving a special invite to test out his abilities in the Open Olympia. In the end, Ramy missed the mark and suffered a crushing defeat. He got dethroned by Choopan and dropped down to fifth place with Lunsford taking silver.
Following the result, fans were quick to bash Ramy and called on him to step away from professional competition. He was hoping to redeem himself at the 2023 Arnold Classic but could not assert his place in the mix of title contention. IFBB athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo theorized Ramy would not be able to win another Sandow trophy unless he completely transformed his physique.
Big Ramy at 2022 Olympia
Ramy hit back at the critics for asking him to hang up his posing trunks. He expressed his passion for the sport and indicated no plans to move on anytime soon regardless of the outcomes. Ahead of his guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, Ramy hinted at the possibility of taking a brief hiatus for the rest of the year.
Big Ramy opened up about his drive to regain his status as the best bodybuilder in the world last month. He believes training with anger helped him amp up the intensity and would ultimately benefit him on stage.
When it was time for his guest-posing appearance, Ramy presented an improved package but got outshined by the likes of Lunsford, Walker, and 2023 AC champion Samson Dauda. Cicherillo admitted Ramy looked better although he was not convinced the improvements were enough.
IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger recommended Ramy take to the sidelines to work on his shoulders, arms, and back muscle development along with his overall proportions.
Samir Bannout urges Big Ramy to get healthy
In a recent Rumble video, Bannout called on Big Ramy to prioritize his health and take some time off to heal the issues. He also suggested Ramy quit using hardcore supplements.
“I think one good year of maintenance training and really work in every way to improve his health in general,” said Bannout. “I talked to Ramy and he said according to doctors that would be in his best interest. It’s really hard for me to say 100 percent but more likely he should take care of his health and take a break from hardcore supplements, you know what I mean? Let his mind and body more healing time.”
Although Bannout wants Ramy to slow down, he doesn’t recommend taking a whole year off.
“If he takes off completely and becomes a couch potato, he’s done.”
Bannout believes following a similar path devised by coach Hany Rambod for Derek Lunsford could benefit Ramy.
“Maybe Ramy should follow similar principle like what Hany’s doing to Derek, maybe he can promote his mass again and get healthier, cleanse his liver and cleanse everything in his body and relax his mind.”
Lunsford has gained a lot of momentum since his last outing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman sees him as the man to dethrone Choopan and called him his favorite bodybuilder of this generation earlier this month.
Bannout shares his most dangerous competitors for 2023 Mr. Olympia
Samir Bannout backed Derek Lunsford as the biggest threat to Choopan’s title at the 2023 Mr. Olympia along with Samson Dauda.
“Hadi will be ready for sure but again it’s not going to be easier, it’s going to get harder because everybody wants him right now. The most dangerous guy would be Derek and then Samson and then who else is dangerous? Nick, Andrew is dangerous, Krizo. Can Krizo do it?”
Earlier this month, Big Ramy confirmed he would not sit out a year and plans to step on the stage for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. His focus is set on bringing a better package and not on the placement he gets.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 16 June, 2023 | 9:11 AM EDT