Tag: 2023 Mr. olympia
Chris Bumstead Says He Has No Injuries & Credits Iain Valliere for Not Fuc*ing Up His Health w/Steroids
Chris Bumstead is already eying preparations for his potential fifth Classic Physique title at the Mr. Olympia contest. In a recent Straight Outta the Lair podcast with Flex Lewis, Bumstead detailed his split from Iain Valliere, discussed his current supplementation, and 2023 off-season.
In 2019, Chris Bumstead brought an undeniable look which led to him defeating the two-time Classic Physique Olympia titleholder, Breon Ansley. Despite the explosive popularity of the division, no one from the Classic Physique category has been able to stop Cbum’s reign.
Prior to laying claim to his fourth title last December, Bumstead was dealt his fair share of adversity. Roughly 12 weeks before 2022 Olympia, he and his long-time training partner, Iain Valliere, decided to part ways. Instead, Bumstead would join Hany Rambod for his title endeavor. And while he performed with a torn bicep on stage, Rambod successfully guided the Canadian native to another victory.
With four Classic Physique Olympia titles in his arsenal, Bumstead has quickly become one of the most recognizable faces in the sport on social media, second to only Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 2023 Mr. Olympia show is approaching in less than six months, which prompted Cbum to update fans on his current progress before battling to become a five-time champion.
Chris Bumstead ‘Feeling Great,’ Says ‘Supplements Are Low,’ Talks 2023 Off-Season: ‘Pushing Training and Putting Size On’
While his supplements are ‘low,’ Bumstead says he never looked better at this stage before starting a prep.
“That’s still to come [true off-season] so I’m eating right, training right, supplements are low. Just focusing on doing everything the best I can right now with the travel. Then, when I come back I have one more trip to Italy, when I come back from that in June, I’m going full tilt and locking everything in and focusing on it.
This is the best I’ve looked at this point in a year even. I’ve always taken a lot of time off, like complete time off. Not even in the gym, taking nothing barely eating, losing too much weight. Okay, let’s not go that hard and just take a little bit of time off,” Bumstead shared.
Looking ahead, Bumstead says his health is in order and he has no injuries.
“The second I started pushing training I started putting size back on. I maybe need to put on another five pounds to be a little heavier than I was last year even. I’m in a great spot right now, I feel healthy, body feels young, no injuries, knock on wood.”
Some believe taking time off is a disservice to Bumstead, but he sees it as essential to his growth and longevity as a bodybuilder.
“I think it’s helped me a lot [stem cell therapy]. It’s hard to say and I try not to push it on people it’s expensive. I don’t say you need to do this to be healthy. You don’t, but someone with an autoimmune condition which is all about inflammation and systemic stem cells flush your inflammation so that’s been super helpful for me.”
“I focus on my time off that I take, people might think it’s a deficit, but everyone in the top four at the Olympia did the Arnold. They took a few weeks off and jumped into prep. Their bodies are beat up. I’m getting younger. I’m taking time off resting staying healthy. I feel good, I’m really holding on to that and that allows you to compete longer.”
Bumstead: ‘I Didn’t Fu** Up My Health and Do Too Much Drugs Because of Iain Valliere’
According to Bumstead, Iain Valliere is the reason for his success at a young age. He added that Valliere motivated him to train harder and advised him not to use excessive amounts of steroids.
“Iain is the reason I was able to be successful at a young age. I came into that first show I did, won, and climbed so quick, and the reason I didn’t fu** up my health and do too much drugs, do too much stupid shit in the beginning of my bodybuilding career was because of Iain,” Bumstead said.
“He was the reason I always trained with someone that was lifting two plates more than me on anything. So I pushed myself to be stronger and better. Iain was always stronger and bigger than me. He pushed me and he’s the reason I got to where I was in my career. I’m super grateful for him. I don’t think I’d be where I am without him, at least at this young. That was a really tough decision to leave, to make that call, it was really hard.”
“We came to a decision it would be best for both of us,” Bumstead added. “I was talking to Hany and he just talked to me about Derek Lunsford, how he had a crazy mental and physical transformation, 180, now he’s just crushing it. We were talking about that, mindset, he’s worked with business CEO people on training and mindset. He’s focused a lot on mental. I didn’t even tell him that’s what I was super interested in.”
After going their separate ways, Cbum explained that he started talking to Hany Rambod after the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro.
“He’s a maniac, super outgoing, extroverted, I’m a little more quiet sometimes, that’s why I flow with people crazy like that. We clicked off then. I held that in my back pocket. I was worried to pick someone because it’s a family. You’re bringing someone into your family. A lot of trust very intimate moments, very serious.
Held off for a while before asking Hany to coach me, it was August three and a half months out. I asked him to coach me, he thought I meant mentally help him, I kind of worded myself weird, you know, ‘Could you maybe help me with that,’ then we talked again and I told him I meant coach me fully. He said, ‘Oh, I need to think about that.’ He put me on hold, yeah, motherfuc**r,” said Bumstead.
This isn’t the first time that Bumstead has opened up about some of his struggles in the sport. In a recent Don’t Be Sour podcast, Bumstead discussed the pressures of being a dominant champion. His goal is to exit the sport on top but highlighted that the fear of losing motivates him to continue.
Chris Bumstead is set to return on stage at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, taking place Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Fans look forward to seeing him face off against the rising contender, 2023 Arnold Classic winner, Ramon Queiroz.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead: “I Brought My PEDs Down & It Allowed Me to Have to Train Harder”
You can watch the full video below from Flex Lewis’ YouTube channel:
Published: 22 May, 2023 | 2:59 PM EDT
2023 New York Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)
The 2023 New York Pro is the third most important event on the IFBB Pro League calendar and will take place this weekend, May 20, 2023, in Teaneck, New Jersey. This show served as a qualifier for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest taking place in November.
A total of nine divisions will be in attendance including Men’s Open, Classic Physique, 212 Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness.
Last year’s 2022 New York Pro champion, Blessing Awodibu, will not compete at this year’s event. Therefore, a new champion in the Open class will be crowned. In addition, Nick Walker took New York Pro gold in 2021 but has opted not to compete in favor of making improvements for November.
Whichever athlete comes out on top in their division this weekend will have the opportunity to face the reigning Olympia winner of their category. As far as the Men’s Open division is concerned, fans expect Tonio Burton and ‘Beef’ Stu Sutherland to put on a show, who have both shared consistent progress photos through the entirety of their preps.
2023 New York Pro Winners
Men’s Open: Coming Soon!
Classic Physique: Michael Daboul
212 Bodybuilding: Kerrith Bajjo
Men’s Physique: Ryan Terry
Women’s Bodybuilding: Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
Figure: Coming Soon!
Bikini: Coming Soon!
Wellness: Gisele Machado
2023 New York Pro Results
Men’s Open
Coming Soon!
Classic Physique
Contenders from the Classic Physique division delivered an exciting contest. While Junior Javorski and Alexander Westermeir brought impressive physiques, Michael Daboul’s thin skin and conditioning were too hard to ignore. Just like in Pittsburgh, Michael Daboul walked off stage with another trophy and cash prize.
Winner — Michael Daboul
Second Place — Junior Javorski
Third Place — Alexander Westermeier
Fourth Place — Camilo Diaz
Fifth Place — Eric Abelon
212 Bodybuilding
During prejudging, fans and the judges acknowledged it was a battle between Jason Hebert, Diego Guerra Montoya, and Kerrith Bajjo. While Montoya and Hebert brought an impressive level of muscle density, Kerrith Bajjo’s deep separation in his quads and abs guided him to victory at the 2023 New York Pro.
Winner — Kerrith Bajjo
Second Place — Diego Guerra Montoya
Third Place — Jason Hebert
Fourth Place — Jose Marte
Fifth Place — Sung Yeop Jang
Men’s Physique
Ryan Terry entered this competition with a chip on his shoulder, having recently placed runner-up to Corey Morris at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last weekend. During prejudging and through the finals, he was pushed by Vitor Chavez and Sidy Pouye. Despite impressive efforts by the finalists, Ryan Terry’s chest and back detail closed the show.
Winner — Ryan Terry
Second Place — Vitor Chavez
Third Place — Sidy Pouye
Fourth Place — Daniel Ammons
Fifth Place — Juan Manuel Gochez
Women’s Bodybuilding
Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique
Winner — Natalia Abraham Coelho
Second Place — Emily Schubert
Third Place — Joseli Schoenherr
Fourth Place — Yuna Kim
Fifth Place — Ann Gruber
Figure
Coming Soon!
Bikini
Coming Soon!
Wellness
Winner — Gisele Machado
Second Place — Tefani-Sam Razhi
Third Place — Lili Dong
Fourth Place — Edna De Souza
Fifth Place — Daisha Johnson
Sixth Place — Carol Cantarero
2023 New York Pro Scorecards
Coming Soon!
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Published: 20 May, 2023 | 6:24 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo on 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: ‘Was Big Ramy Better? The Answer Is No.’
Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo is back to discuss the guest posing lineup in Pittsburgh last weekend. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Cicherillo took a closer look at Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s chances of a successful comeback to the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage. In addition, he examined some of the sport’s top Open competitors who also guest posed at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro.
Since Phil Heath‘s seven-year reign as Mr. Olympia, Open class athletes have struggled to hold on to the sport’s most coveted title. After the late 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden took the honor, the Sandow changed hands again. In 2019, Brandon Curry claimed gold but would surrender it to Elssbiay in 2020.
As Ramy proceeded to win a pair of titles, confidence about his future grew. Ronnie Coleman, who is tied for most Mr. Olympia wins ever with Lee Haney, assumed Ramy would comfortably defend for years to come. However, he was outmatched on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage and fell to fifth. Ramy later vowed to come back better than ever. His coach, Chad Nicholls, shared his grim take on Ramy’s prep last year, and said just about ‘everything went wrong.’
Elssbiay entered the 2023 Arnold Classic and took fourth place. Cicherillo, who also serves as the announcer for the Arnold and Mr. Olympia shows, suggested that Ramy’s best days were behind him.
Unlike last year, Ramy appeared in Pittsburgh for a star-studded guest posing appearance. He was joined by last year’s Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida. In his latest endeavor, Cicherillo gave his thoughts on the lineup and opened up on Big Ramy’s potential for redemption.
Bob Cicherillo Breaks Down 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: ‘Derek Lunsford & Nick Walker Did Not Disappoint’
Overall, Bob Cicherillo was impressed with the lineup. He thought Derek Lunsford set a precedent last year in Pittsburgh, which nudged other competitors to stay conditioned in the off-season this time around.
“These guys were in pretty good shape, I got to give it to everybody. I got to credit that to Derek Lunsford because he did show up in shape last year and he showed up in shape this year too. Still the best-conditioned guy at this point, we’re six months out… but I think it inspired the other guys to be a little bit closer to in-shape if you will again, for the off-season, nobody is expecting somebody to be ripped to the bone of course. If you’re ripped to the bone six months out, you got bigger problems. Everybody was in pretty good shape. It’s funny, you could almost put them in order from their guest posing appearance.”
“Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker did not disappoint, again, in great condition, great shape for being off-season, he’s [Nick] put on a lot of, we’ll call it off-season weight. Not fat, none of these guys were. Samson Dauda did not disappoint either. He’s over 300 pounds or reported close to 300 pounds now, he’s a little bit taller than Big Ramy who did show up everybody.”
As for Big Ramy, Cicherillo thought he looked wide but failed to show any improvements since his last two contests.
“That’s right, Big Ramy made it in. So, all of the conspiracy theorists have to find something else to point your finger to. Big Ramy was there and he was big, now the question is… was he better? The answer is… no. I thought he looked good, I thought some of the same problems are still evident. Whether that gets fixed throughout the year, whether he decides to compete, we’re only going to see, time will tell.
The arms do look a little bit down in size, the back I didn’t think looked much different. He’s big as a house folks, there’s a reason they call him Big Ramy. He is the widest guy in bodybuilding bar none. For any height, I don’t care, Andrew Jacked’s taller, he’s a big boy too, but nobody’s got Big Ramy width. I don’t know if that helps him at this point. I don’t know if it’s the shoulders that are so big that make his arms look smaller if there’s some issues going on with that, but he was in good shape,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
In addition to those mentioned, Cicherillo praised Hunter Labrada, who is currently in prep to compete at the upcoming Tampa Pro and Texas Pro.
“He didn’t disappoint. The fans love him and he’s as gracious as it gets. So Hunter Labrada was there. Hat and all, you know it’s a show when Hunter is there and the cap is on that head of his. Hunter is a good sport. I give him a lot of credit for that. Hunter looked good. Hunter is in shape and Hunter needs to qualify.”
In addition to Bob’s critiques of the Open class, Olympia TV came under fire recently after judge Terrick El Guindy labeled a few athletes as ‘busts’ and ‘failures’ in a social media post. In response to fan backlash, Cicherillo chimed in and said it wasn’t done intentionally, but stressed that the ‘clickbait stuff needs to end.’
Elssbiay reassured his fans of his future in a Muscle and Fitness interview recently, where he appeared fired up to win back his title at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest on Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. Time will tell if Big Ramy can reclaim the throne and become a three-time champion.
RELATED: Bob Cicherillo Wants William Bonac to Retire on Olympia Stage & Explains Samson Dauda’s Rise to the Top
Watch the full video below from Bob Cicherillo’s YouTube channel:
Published: 19 May, 2023 | 3:58 PM EDT
Big Ramy Says He’s Training ‘Angry,’ & Working Harder Than Anybody for 2023 Mr. Olympia
Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations for 2023 Mr. Olympia. In a recent interview with Muscle and Fitness, Ramy laid out his game plan for the current season and said he’s using anger as fuel to regain his title.
In 2022, Elssbiay was on top of the world, representing the Mr. Olympia brand with a pair of Sandows. He entered last year’s Olympia as a favorite but was ousted from the throne by Hadi Choopan. Some thought Ramy was overlooked, but ultimately, the judges awarded him fifth place. Steve Weinberger, who served as the head judge at the contest, suspected Ramy was suffering from injuries as many noted that his lats, arms, and back were missing detail.
Big Ramy brought his best physique possible to the 2023 Arnold Classic on short notice. He finished fourth but presented a remarkably better package. In the aftermath, fans and even Bob Cicherillo predicted Ramy’s time on top had come to an abrupt end.
Unlike last year, Ramy fulfilled his obligation to guest pose at the recent 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. Despite hinting at sitting the year out, it appears the former two-time champion has changed his mind. He shared that he’s working harder than ever to re-cement his status as the best in the world.
Big Ramy Says He’s Training ‘Angry,’ & Working Harder Than Anybody for 2023 Mr. Olympia
Big Ramy thanked his fans for their loyalty and discussed the route he’s taking to win back his Mr. Olympia title.
“I’m really excited like always. I have to do one thing: working hard, I do that for a reason always but this year I do it because everyone knows if you lose one time, it’s never the end. If you have that, if God gives you a chance to fight for the next step and nothing broke you, you can get that one more time.”
“Everyone, the people, it’s like us… I mean, we must give the people the fans, it’s like listen, our advice… we can give to them, working hard, working hard you have to do in your life. If anything comes after working hard, you did fine. You have more than what you had in your pocket.” ‘
“Truthfully it’s a good thing when you get the [Mr. Olympia] trophy but what’s better than that is getting the love and respect from the people.”
“Even this year when I lost, [my fans in Egypt] had my back, I’m really thankful they did that. Again, they understand what I’ve been working for all this year. I’m working because I have to give them dreams in their life and that’s great,” said Big Ramy.
When asked about his mentality this year, Ramy said he’s angry because he’s not the best in the world and added that his emotions have helped him train harder.
“I think we’ll have a nice competitors lineup right now and the lineup is getting more stronger. That makes me very excited to be in this lineup again and work harder than anybody. No, it’s not anger because you lost it’s angry because you want to be the best in the world. That can give you a chance to work hard. I told my friends today, maybe you get angry, but the anger doesn’t break you, it makes you fight more.”
In light of his last two performances, bodybuilding veterans are indifferent about Big Ramy’s future. Cicherillo serves as a commentator at Mr. Olympia, and he labeled Samson Dauda and Derek Lunsford as equal threats to Choopan’s title.
Meanwhile, 2022 Olympia top-three finisher Nick Walker is under the impression that Choopan won’t repeat as champion later this year. He anticipates a battle with Lunsford for gold. Dauda, who bested Walker in Ohio, made it clear that he wins the show hands down if he brings an improved back.
RELATED: Lee Priest Offers Take on Big Ramy Retirement Pressures, Says to Act in Films like Martyn Ford
With so many twists and turns last year, fans are eager to see stars from the Men’s Open go to war in November. Should Big Ramy regain his title in 2023, he will share the honor of winning back Mr. Olympia with Jay Cutler.
Published: 19 May, 2023 | 11:31 AM EDT
Hany Rambod Talks Enhanced vs Natural Athletes & Steroid Abuse: ‘You Can’t Run PEDs Forever’
Renowned bodybuilding guru Hany Rambod has cemented his status as one of the greatest coaches in the sport. He boasts a stellar roster of athletes that have won nearly two dozen Olympia titles under his guidance. In a recent episode of The Truth podcast, Rambod shared his thoughts on how natural and enhanced athletes might differ in the off-season and cautioned against the constant use of PEDs performance-enhancing drugs).
Over the last two decades, Hany Rambod has helped shape top talent in multiple divisions such as the Men’s Open, Figure, and Men’s Physique. He guided the likes of Phil Heath and Jay Cutler during their days of professional competition. His unique training methods helped Heath become a dominant champion with seven Mr. Olympia wins in a row and also helped Cutler during his illustrious career.
In addition to the Open contenders, he assisted in Jeremy Buendia’s rise to the top of the Men’s Physique Olympia. He also played a role in helping Nicole Wilkins and Jenny Lynn win Figure Olympia.
Rambod presently serves as a coach for former 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford, four-time Classic Physique Olympia winner Chris Bumstead, and reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan. He gave fans a look into his signature FST-7 (fascia stretch training) style legs workout with Choopan in preparation for the 2022 Mr. Olympia last November.
Bumstead is one of the more recent athletes to join Rambod. He teamed up with ‘The Pro Creator’ after splitting with his longtime coach and Men’s Open contender Iain Valliere last season. Considering the incredible track record of Bumstead, many believed Rambod was under a ton of pressure to deliver results. In the end, Bumstead added the fourth title under his belt whereas Choopan won the Mr. Olympia while Lunsford slotted in second in his Open debut.
Following the event, Hany Rambod opened up on working with ‘CBum’ in the final stages of his preparations for about 12 weeks. He also stayed in communication with Valliere leading up to the contest. Over time, Cbum and Rambod built a close bond.
Rambod gave his take on training Choopan and Lunsford at the same time earlier this year. He compared the experience to the time he worked with Heath and Cutler in their heydays. To deal with the problem, he just focused on bringing the best out of both athletes as individuals.
Hany Rambod Talks Natural vs Enhanced in Off-Seasons
In a recent YouTube video, Hany Rambod shared his thoughts on the differences in off-season preparations for a natural and enhanced bodybuilder.
“When it comes to natural and unnatural, I think people try to break it down a little differently. The key is, off-seasons should be just dependent on what you are going through at the time,” said Rambod. “It shouldn’t be because you’re natural or not, it’s just that you gotta listen to your body. If you are an enhanced athlete, you’re going to go through a set time of off-season that usually has to do with either a training cycle or a PED cycle and you can’t just keep running PEDs forever.”
Rambod Torches PED Abusers: “For Those That Are, Shame on You”
Rambod warned those using PEDs and encouraged being conservative with protocols.
“For those that are, shame on you. You’re not doing your body any justice. You’re creating excessive wear and tear to your organs but you’re also not allowing your body to actually benefit from taking gear. That’s why it’s called a cycle. You don’t stay on it perpetually because if you do, you end up actually having reduced amounts of benefit from what you’re taking.”
He stressed the importance of balancing out PEDs and cautioned against their adverse effects.
“It’s an addiction to the look, the feel, the endorphins are heightened because of the hormones. So, know your place and know what these are for; recovery. When you’re doing PEDs and you’re balancing that out, you’re trying to get away with taking the least amount of gear to get the best benefit so that’s why you build sleep, supplements, diet, active therapy all around it. You don’t make your PEDs the base of anything. You just sprinkle it in like seasoning to help with recovery.
“If you do that you’re going to get the best out of your gains and being able to take the longevity of your body so you’re not going to have problems down the road with your kidneys, liver, and everything else that goes along with the destructive effect of PEDs.”
“What you need to do is balance things out and add in for additional recovery and not build it as the base foundation of any program,” he added. “The more that you do the lesser your career is going to last.”
Hany Rambod expressed his excitement for Lunsford’s guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last week. Lunsford left the fans stunned with his monstrous package on stage and goes into the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia as one of the frontrunners. Samson Dauda, who claimed gold at the March’s Arnold Classic is also considered a threat.
RELATED: Hany Rambod on Big Ramy’s 2022 Olympia 5th Place Finish: ‘His Physique Looked ‘Faded/Watery’
Rambod’s latest offering will certainly help educate fitness enthusiasts and competitive bodybuilders on the proper way to incorporate PEDs into their prep.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 19 May, 2023 | 9:45 AM EDT
Ramon Queiroz Unveils Massive 251-Lb Physique Update in 2023 Off-Season, Crushes Chest Workout
Rising Brazilian star Ramon Queiroz is on a mission to win his first Classic Physique Olympia title later this year. In a recent YouTube video, Queiroz pushed through a chest workout and shared a physique update.
Queiroz has quickly become one of the biggest names in his respective division, courtesy of his popping biceps, thin waist, and sharp conditioning. He gained steam in the IFBB Pro League following his second-place finish at the 2021 Europa Pro Championships. In his Olympia debut, he finished fifth.
Forging ahead with a huge following, Queiroz took to the 2022 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Ultimately, he came close to gold but was denied the title by two-time champion Terrence Ruffin. Nevertheless, fans instantly recognized Queiroz as a future threat to four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead.
Last December’s Mr. Olympia contest saw Bumstead secure another Classic Physique title. However, before Ramon got the chance to step on stage, he was nearly disqualified after initially missing the height/weight cap requirement. Since the Classic Physique weight cap is based on an athlete’s height, some have argued that taller competitors such as Bumstead have a distinct advantage over shorter competitors.
Back in March, Queiroz won his first Classic Physique Arnold Classic title. En route to the victory, he defeated Germany’s Urs Kalecinski and Alex Cambronero. Given his recent victory, many fans have dubbed him a promising contender for the biggest show of the year.
251-Lb Ramon Queiroz Showcases Intense Chest Training Session & Impressive Physique Update
Find a list of the exercises used by Queiroz below:
Despite pushing each other on stage, Bumstead and Queiroz aren’t opposed to teaming up in the training room. Shortly after the 2023 Arnold Classic, they joined hands for a laborious back workout, which featured six movements.
While Bumstead has been eying retirement for quite some time, it’s uncertain when he’ll actually pull the trigger on his career. He made it clear that he will assess his physique and mental outlook year-by-year, but as of right now, his sole focus is on winning a fifth Classic Physique Olympia title. Should he decide to stop competing, many believe Queiroz becoming an Olympia winner is a foregone conclusion.
Considering his success in Ohio, Ramon Queiroz is the leading man to upset Cbum in November. Since Bumstead still has room to grow in Classic Physique, fans have questioned whether or not the weight/height cap should be adjusted to offer a more even playing field for other competitors.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead Opens Up on Pressures of Being Dominant: “I’m Afraid That I’m Going to Lose”
Watch the full video below from the Max Titanium YouTube channel:
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 1:04 PM EDT
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, one of the most prestigious contests on the IFBB Pro League calendar, will kick off its festivities on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. Historically, this show has become a major attraction and is backed by NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion. With six bodybuilding categories competing for gold, the winners will guarantee their right to contend on this year’s Mr. Olympia stage.
A number of returning champions have taken to the east coast looking to stake their claim as the best. Natalia Abraham Coelho, the reigning 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia, three-time Olympia Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser, and Wellness Arnold Classic winner Kassandra Gillis will be in attendance eager to nail down another major bodybuilding title.
Fans are also looking forward to a star-studded lineup of Open class guest posers, who are set to light up the stage on Saturday. You can find the complete roster of athletes competing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below:
Official 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Athletes Roster & Preview
Classic Physique
In the Classic Physique category, a few names jumped out on paper in the lead-up to the event. Michael Daboul is a two-time Arnold Classic UK champion and known for bringing consistently shredded packages. Daboul capped off his season last year finishing 10th at 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Camilo Diaz also has ambitious plans to assert himself as a title contender in his Pittsburgh Pro debut performance. Fans expect a strong showing from Danili Famponte as well after he won the 2023 Charlotte Pro and took third at the Fitworld Pro. He’s qualified for the 2023 Olympia, so he’s aiming to take a invite away from his competition.
Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Edgard John Augustin
Brandon Cooper
Luca Corrado
Michael Daboul
Camilo Diaz
Daniil Famponte
Callum Hinze
Eric Wildberger Lisboa
Eddie Lusk III
Dion Merrill
Jason Orellana
Kendahl Richmond
Rob Van Sant
Randy Watson
Alexander Westermeier
Jay Yount
Men’s Physique
The evolution of the Men’s Physique category will be on full display this weekend. Fans have highlighted a few frontrunners, like Ryan Terry. Terry turned in a seventh-place finish at 2022 Olympia, where Erin Banks won his first Men’s Physique title. Meanwhile, Ali Bilal will look to win in Pittsburgh after securing ninth behind Terry in Las Vegas. Benquil Marigny is also riding momentum after picking up gold at the 2023 St. Louis Pro a few weeks ago.
Dustin Alvis
Michael E. Anderson
Christopher Barr
Lucas Basilio
Michael Bell
Ali Bilal
Stevelon Dennis
Furkan Er
Matthew Gelia
Brett Mario Jackson
Melvin Keihn
Jacques Lewis
Benquil Marigny
Joseph Mencel
Gage Moran
Corey Morri
Vincenzo Palescandolo
Sidy Pouye Spain
Nathaniel Presley
Puwanat Putoya
Jamil Rogers
Leon K. Smith
Ryan Terry
Marcus L. Wesley
Women’s Physique
Fans look forward to seeing Natalia Abraham Coelho back in action, who upset Sarah Villegas for the Women’s Physique Olympia title last December. Given her ability to come in shredded to the bone, fans expect a dominant package from the reigning champ.
Sabrina Berish
Candice Carr
Natalia Abraham Coelho
Sarah Crail
Marie-Solange Essoh
Ann Gruber
Carrie Hughes
Amandine Kolly
Diana Schnaidt
Joseli Schoenherr
Emily Schubert
Becky Short
Michele Steeves
Jennifer Taylor
Kasia Topor
Patricia Watson
Figure
In the Figure category, Natalia Soltero hopes to deliver fireworks. She placed fifth at the 2022 Figure Olympia contest, which saw Cydney Gillon secure her sixth consecutive title. Soltero also finished fifth at last year’s Arnold Classic Figure International.
Lynn Centino
Madison Dinges
Manon Dutilly
Ashley Radiance Fuller
Sandy Hill
Ashley Howells
Erika Morales Morgan
Nina Paulus
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Paula Ranta
Cherish Richardson
Paige Sabedra
Natalia Soltero
Jennifer Zienert
Bikini
Ashley Kaltwasser is a winning machine and hopes to add another trophy to her collection this weekend. At the 2022 Olympia competition, she took third place, proving that she’s still a viable contender and very capable of stringing together high-quality performances. Kaltwasser enters this competition having won the Pittsburgh Pro title four times (2013,2014,2016,2019).
Marnie Al-Saraf
Vania Auguste
Romina Basualdo
Aimee Delgado
Malu Duarte
Valerya Fedorenko
Karene Gonzalez
Brittany Hamilton
Nicole Hermanson
Peyton Hunton
Ashley Kaltwasser
Priscila Leimbacher
Lexus Redmond
Kathy Seitz
Nedjie Thompson
Petra Voldanova
Jessica Wilson
Wellness
Arnold Classic Wellness International titleholder Kassandra Gillis plans to continue her success on Saturday. She’s already won a contest this year at the 2023 Vancouver Island Showdown Pro and earned her Olympia invite. With that in mind, she hopes to win her first Pittsburgh Pro title this weekend.
Emily Azzarello
Anna Banks
Claire Cochet
Rayanne Collins
Lili Dong
Kassandra Gillis
Gisele Machado
Tefani-Sam Razhi
Jaqueline Huescas Rios
Alyssa Serna
Jennifer Zollars
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Lineup
On top of six contests, some of the sport’s best Men’s Open competitors will guest pose in Pittsburgh this weekend. The stage will feature 2021 Arnold Classic winner, Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, 2022 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada.
Last year, Walker and Lunsford stole the show guest posing at the Pittsburgh Pro. Lunsford served as a backup replacement for Big Ramy who no-showed the event. At the gathering, fans enjoyed exciting performances from Brandon Curry and Hunter Labrada. It also laid the foundation for Lunsford to receive a special invitation to compete in the Open class for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, which he followed through on with a second-place finish.
RELATED: Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Fans are counting down the hours until Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro show. In addition to contests, the elite athletes in the Open class will also showcase their skills through guest posing. This will allow them to gain momentum and attract attention before they compete in the 2023 Mr. Olympia later in November.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 1:26 PM EDT
Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Excitement for the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro continues to build as a star-studded lineup is expected to guest pose at the event this weekend. In a recent The Truth Podcast, Hany Rambod previewed the show and provided off-season updates from Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Chris Bumstead.
Months before last year’s Mr. Olympia contest, Rambod’s pupil Derek Lunsford stole the show at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. He guest posed alongside other Open class talents without appearing undersized, having gone toe-to-toe against the likes of Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, and Hunter Labrada.
In light of Derek’s dominant showing in Pittsburgh, many believe it prompted Olympia officials to award him with a special invitation to compete in the Open category. After accepting the honor last September, Lunsford wasted no time in asserting himself as a title contender.
At the 2022 Mr. Olympia event, Hadi Choopan claimed gold after finally blending together an immaculate balance of size, muscularity, and hard conditioning. Unlike in years prior, champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay fell short on stage in fifth while Lunsford, who debuted in the Open class, walked away in second.
With the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing show taking place this weekend (May 13-14), Rambod took a closer look at the gathering. In addition, he discussed the off-season progress of Lunsford, Choopan, and Bumstead.
Hany Rambod Talks Hadi Choopan Training at 100% & Derek Lunsford Not Having Size Limitations
Before starting a prep, Rambod mentioned that he sometimes implements a ‘dry run’ where he manipulates water, sodium, and carbohydrate intake. He added that Lunsford was attempting to keep his weight controlled last year, but that won’t be the case this weekend.
“Now, if you’re four or six weeks out, that’s a whole different story. I have done that in the past, where it’s four to six weeks out and someone is guest posing and we do what we call a dry run. What we do is a manipulation of maybe water, carbs, sodium, to get to know the person’s body. I have done that in the past.”
“Like I said, [last year] it was definitely low calories, low carbs, and all of the things that made him in better shape. Theoretically, he’s not going to be in as good of shape because he’s not trying to keep his weight down. Where last year, they’re like why did he look so good, it was because he was trying to keep his weight down. No weight control [now].”
Hany says the Pittsburgh Pro sets up the rest of the bodybuilding calendar. Following the guest posing obligation, Rambod plans to lay out more aggressive game plans for Lunford, Choopan, and Bumstead.
“Pittsburgh is a whole different story, the great thing about Pittsburgh, with Phil, Jay, Ronnie, I’ve been going to Pittsburgh for 25 years. It’s one of the places where you get to see guys that are getting ready for shows that just want to jump on stage or you have people that are just the top five, you see Gunter, Ronnie, Jay, Kai, and you’re just like, ‘Whoa.’”
“Yes, Derek is guest posing. Yes, he is guest posing. He’s been doing a lot of appearances but he hasn’t guest posed. I think he’s ready to take his shirt off finally,” says Hany Rambod. “Not usually, but because of where we’re at in the season, I do like my athletes looking a certain way by this time in terms of where we’re at and we reverse-engineer from the Olympia backward, and now that the Olympia is a little sooner this year, four or five weeks… it is something I use as a gauge.”
“Derek is going to be coming out here so we can kick off the season and we will see where he’s at when he gets to guest pose and see what everyone looks at and be able to assess where we need to be from here and how we can make adjustments but so far everything is going very well with his previous check-ins, same with Chris. I think it was the first time he [Bumstead] has never done off-season check-ins before,” added Rambod.
According to Rambod, the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan is now training at 100% intensity.
“I’ve spoken to Hadi, he’s now back to training 100% or what I consider 100%, he’s really pushing himself hard, can’t wait to get together with him again.”
Rambod Says Chris Bumstead’s Bicep is Healed and They Are Looking to Hit New ‘Milestones’
Rambod believes Bumstead’s stem cell therapy treatment helped his torn bicep. He finished the conversation by stressing the need to keep all of his athletes within striking distance for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
“I just don’t think he trained. I don’t think he trained period. I think he literally took months and months off before he was able to train,” said Rambod. “He did stem cells and a bunch of therapy on it [his biceps] and he trained and was able to get back up to 100% fairly quickly even then I told him to take it easy, you don’t want to reinjure yourself. But getting all the guys in striking distance to start the prep is really what it’s all about at this point.”
“You need to hit those milestones and make sure you’re tracking it properly.”
In a previous appearance on his podcast, Rambod discussed Nick Walker’s potential as an IFBB Pro. Speaking with Fouad Abiad, Rambod underlined Walker’s love and loyalty for bodybuilding, expressing that he ‘lives the sport 24/7.’
Fellow coach and guru, Chris Aceto, rendered his thoughts on the guest posing gathering in Pittsburgh. He anticipates an on-stage battle between Lunsford and Big Ramy given the strengths of their respective physiques. Regardless, he stressed that the Pittsburgh guest posing event is an opportunity to leave an impression with judges months from Olympia.
A packed lineup will take over Pittsburgh this weekend, including Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, Samson Dauda, Derek Lunsford, Big Ramy, and Shaun Clarida. If the spectacle is anything like last year, bodybuilding fans will have a lot to talk about in the lead-up to 2023 Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Hany Rambod: Coaching Hadi Choopan/Derek Lunsford at 2022 Olympia Felt Same As Training Jay Cutler/Phil Heath
Watch the full video below from Hany Rambod’s YouTube channel:
Published: 11 May, 2023 | 5:01 PM EDT
Natha De Asha Targets Goals for 2023 Olympia & Showdown With Samson Dauda: ‘I’m Heavier I’ve Ever Been’
UK-based Men’s Open powerhouse Nathan De Asha is mapping out his respective 2023 bodybuilding season. In an interview with Muscular Development, De Asha discussed training, injuries, diet, Samson Dauda, and his game plan for qualifying for this year’s Mr. Olympia.
“Yeah, I’ll be fuc**ng rock hard, I’ll be fuc**ng rock hard [If I meet Samson Dauda again],” De Asha shared discussing this year’s Olympia contest.
Despite his recent hiatus, Nathan De Asha is a proven force as a Men’s Open competitor courtesy of his massive arms, popping chest, and capped shoulders. He enjoyed a stellar 2021 season which saw him claim back-to-back titles at the Europa Pro Championships and Arnold Classic UK. En route to earning gold in the U.K., De Asha defeated a lesser-known Samson Dauda, who has since gone on to find great success in the league.
De Asha’s momentum in Europe wouldn’t stop in his native country as he made an appearance at the 2021 Yamamoto Cup, once again laying claim to the top prize, and in the process, outpointing bronze-finisher Samson Dauda as well as runner-up Roelly ‘The Beast’ Winklaar on the scorecards.
While De Asha has been nursing a pair of shoulder injuries for some time, it appears a comeback is on the horizon this year. The Open bodybuilding star joined Giles Thomas for an honest interview about where he intends to take his career in the coming months.
Nathan De Asha Lays Out Aggressive 2023 Mr. Olympia Campaign; Talks Battling Samson Dauda
De Asha’s goal is to win a number of pro shows in Europe to prevent other contenders from making their way to the Olympia stage.
“All these new pros coming through… saying the old guard is gone, my intention this year is to get all these new apparently top five Olympias, take their fuc**ng Olympia spots away. So I’m going to Spain, few Brazilians are going, I’ll beat them. Go to Spain and hopefully go to Italy and see where we’re at, maybe France also, one of them, maybe one or two of them.”
Even though he’s been away from competition for only one year, De Asha is convinced fans and competitors have forgotten the physique he’s capable of crafting. He added that he’s happier and the heaviest he’s ever been in the 2023 off-season.
“People think I’ve been gone for years in this sport, I’ve only missed a year. I’ve missed one year you know what I mean. People think you’re never coming back but I’m here to show them it’s possible. And you know obviously, all the guys… I’ll just smoke them again mate, it’s just one of those things. I think people forget what I can bring.”
“I’m happy and heavier I’ve ever been before,” said De Asha. “I don’t like him as a person but I like his physique I’ll be honest. I don’t like him as a person but you have to like his physique. I was a bit mad the way – I don’t understand the judging to be totally honest at the Arnold. Why? I don’t see why Nick Walker got second if Samson won it, you should have put Andrew Jacked second, I would have anyway.”
“Seeing him doing well for himself, I congratulate him it’s probably the best Samson I’ve seen on stage, probably the biggest I’ve seen him, 290 pounds or something – absolutely massive. He and Milos are doing great things together. Hopefully, he can bring it to the Olympia this year,” added De Asha.
De Asha Address Bicep Tears, Training Details & Diet
De Asha revealed his training intensity will ramp up at the end of May. He’s been careful during training sessions to avoid additional injuries.
“We been like training end of May, June, started getting back to training hoping we can qualify this year’s Olympia. We know we can qualify doing a late show. Obviously thought of Patrick Jordan, he got behind me and told me things to do. I’ve been to the Pinatta studios and they got some new machines. They have this new incline biceps curl, didn’t like it,” added De Asha. “I was careful, I felt my ankle, literally felt like I snapped me arm, I said I’m not happy, it’s sore, it’s sore. They keep telling me to go through, go through. Kept on trying to do that shit, and came home the next day in agony.”
Despite some depression, De Asha said he’s gotten over his injuries and is determined not to let the adversity affect his mental outlook.
“Yeah it was a big deal [to overcome that injury] but I never took it serious. A lot of these guys, their heads go because that’s all he got mate. They take it so serious. For me, I’m good at it, and its something I like doing. A lot of guys take it serious and it gets to them. I’m not going to lie I was depressed because I didn’t go to the Olympia the year before, I didn’t believe I would have been the strongest at Olympia, and then I was like, ‘Fu** I should have done it,’ and this and that. But that year, 2021, was more about the money rather than placing in the Olympia.”
As far as nutrition is concerned, De Asha plans to start taking his diet more seriously in July.
“I need a bit more work but it’s coming. I just got to keep plugging a lot. I think I start dieting in July probably.”
One of the last times fans heard from De Asha, he discussed the controversial compound trenbolone. The popular drug has become a common tool used in the fitness and bodybuilding sectors. Despite its reputation for altering the mood, De Asha prefers the powerful compound because it makes him feel stronger year-round.
With a constantly changing Men’s Open division, Nathan De Asha would certainly be a wildcard should he qualify for the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Given his history with Samson Dauda, fans would love nothing more than to see the two square off on stage again.
RELATED: Nathan De Asha Tests Himself With A Killer Shoulder Workout
Watch the full YouTube video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel:
Published: 10 May, 2023 | 1:48 PM EDT
Nick Walker Signals Intensity Shift in Training/PEDs for 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘Growing Now, Strength is Up’
Nick Walker has set his sights on the 2023 Mr. Olympia title as his off-season efforts are well underway. In a recent Mutant and the Mouth podcast, Walker discussed his diet and game plan to take the title from the reigning champion Hadi Choopan in November.
“I feel great. Now that recovery is better, oh my God, fantastic,” Walker said regarding the next stage of his off-season.
Impossible to ignore, Nick Walker emerged as a Men’s Open frontrunner after winning the 2021 New York Pro and Arnold Classic consecutively. His freakish muscle mass, size, and hardness set him apart from his contemporaries. Though perhaps his massive arms were his biggest claim to fame, so much so, his biceps have even been compared with icon and Mr. Olympia kingpin Ronnie Coleman. With considerable momentum, Walker entered his first Mr. Olympia and finished fifth.
Instead of defending his Arnold Classic title, ‘The Mutant’ stuck to the sidelines in favor of making improvements to his physique, most notably to his waistline. Having taken full advantage of his 2022 off-season with an appearance at the Pittsburgh Pro guest posing spectacle, it was evident Walker was a favorite at the Olympia contest, which was hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hadi Choopan would raise gold above his shoulders at 2022 Mr. Olympia, but Walker still left with his head held high after earning third place and the Olympia People’s Champ Award. In a quick turnaround, the 28-year-old made a splash at the 2023 Arnold Classic and despite his status as a favorite, he lost to Samson Dauda, which admittedly, was a difficult outcome for Walker to accept.
Nick Walker Targets 20-Week Prep But ’12-Week Mark, That’s When It’s Really Game Time’
Typically, Walker’s preps start at 20 weeks but says the intensity of his diet and training change at 16 weeks, and then intensifies again at the 12-week mark.
“I usually always start the prep 20 weeks out which is kind of just like getting in the groove. Okay, not necessarily strict exactly but this is kind of where we’re headed, 16 weeks out, we dry up a little more, and then you get to the 12-week mark, and that’s when it’s really game time.”
“My waist honestly can say I don’t think my waist has changed much at all,” Walker said regarding his progress. “I’m not overeating, I’m trying – I don’t feel the need to where I have to eat so much food to pack on size and I think that plays a big role. Like I said, we’re eating enough where it’s going to put me in a surplus to give me the energy I need to get stronger make improvements in the gym that need it but not just blow up everywhere. I don’t need that anymore. I think that it keeps the waist obviously a little tighter. It just helps.”
“I’d rather start prep and my weight barely budges… you know, because you know you’re in a good fuc**ng spot right now.”
Nick Walker said his strength is rising and his physique is growing. He specified that his food intake hasn’t drastically changed but they are reintroducing supplements and steroids.
“Off-season really just kind of officially started now, so just training, growing now,” said Walker.
“Now officially means what did you start incorporating the drugs, did you increase the food?” asked Guy Cisternino.
“Yeah, pretty much. Supplements got incorporated now, food is a little bit higher. Training volume is starting to increase a little bit for me. Weight, right now, I’m 280,” added Walker. “My protein doesn’t really change, like after the Arnold even after the Olympia when we did a quick little rebound, it’s 224 grams, which is like eight oucnes, it doesn’t change.
Honestly, since we did start the off-season now, incorporating supplements, the food hasn’t drastically changed from what it was prior because he kind of wants to see what does what and then we’ll start going up in the food. The food is already… you know I’m eating enough to where my recovery is fine, training performance is fine, strength is going up, food wasn’t necessarily the issue but I’m doing say average 5, 600 grams of carbs a day right now for me. My fats are around 80 [grams] he’s pretty big on fats right now. Strength is going up,” said Walker.
At his heaviest weight where he pushed over 300 pounds, Walker said it wasn’t that bad, but he didn’t feel great. This season, however, his focus is not on acquiring more muscle tissue.
“Even when I was 300 and that was pretty fuc**ng heavy for me, I felt like crap, but it wasn’t that bad,” said Walker. “I definitely had moments but it wasn’t that bad.”
Guy Cisternino and Walker hope to train with Dorian Yates in Canada in the next few weeks after Nick guest poses in Pittsburgh.
“We live Wednesday to Pittsburgh because I guess I’m guest posing at the Pittsburgh Pro. She’s going to fly back here, but I’m driving back down with them to Canada – it’s a 5-hour drive, I’m going to be there for like two weeks when I get there that following weekend it’s that Fit Log, or some big thing in Canada, a fit expo or something, we’ll stay another week and doing a lot of content for them [HD Muscle] and then I’ll come back.”
“I was thinking maybe you and Dorian and those guys were out there, I really wouldn’t want to drive, if I was going to go do it I’d take a quick flight over there,” said Cisternino. “I thought that would be pretty cool, me and you could link up and do that to [train and do content with Dorian Yates].”
Walker hasn’t stopped training even though he’s competed at two shows in the last six months. He recently demonstrated a grueling chest and triceps workout that involved seven different movements. Just last week, the Open star demolished a push day workout where he offered insight on how to maximize gains during the training session.
RELATED: Samir Bannout Tells Nick Walker to Hire Frank Zane as Posing Coach for 2023 Mr. Olympia Win: ‘Fix Front Lat Spread’
As one of the most popular and beloved Open bodybuilders in the league, fans would love to see Walker push the current champion Hadi Choopan at the next Mr. Olympia contest, which is slated to take place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida.
Watch the full YouTube video below, courtesy of Nick Walker’s Channel:
Published: 9 May, 2023 | 11:46 AM EDT