Tag: 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow
Iain Valliere Fires Back at Critics after 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Win
Canadian bodybuilder Iain Valliere is coming off a sensational performance at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow, which wrapped up this past weekend. After dropping a step at the last Mr. Olympia, he managed to get back to his winning ways. In a recent Instagram story, Valliere issued a fiery response to critics for taking issue with his latest win.
Iain Valliere first gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, size, and symmetry as a Men’s Open competitor in 2015. He kicked off his run in the IFBB Pro League with a top-five finish at the Toronto Pro Supershow and continued to work his way up the ranks. In 2020, Valliere scored his first win at the 2020 New York Pro and cracked the top ten at the 2020 Mr. Olympia. He extended his run further by securing back-to-back gold at the 2021 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro en route to taking seventh at the Mr. Olympia competition.
Last year, Valliere missed the mark at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and fell out of the top ten. Following the contest, he revealed there were problems peaking for the show, which resulted in his physique looking visibly off on the stage in Las Vegas last December.
Valliere was determined to turn things around and got to work in the off-season. He parted ways with former coach Patrick Tuor to reunite with coach Matt Jansen for the season. Then, he targeted a return at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow earlier this year.
Iain Valliere / Instagram
Three months ago, Valliere gave fans a look into the changes and progress he made under Jansen. He revealed he tipped the scales at a lean 280-pounds. Also, he incorporated deadlifts and started following a high-protein diet in prep for the contest.
Iain Valliere reported positive updates nine weeks from the Toronto Pro Supershow. He was following a low-calorie diet in prep and was confident he could shed over 25 pounds in four weeks as he inched closer to the event since he kept his off-season weight at a reasonable level.
Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy heaped praises on Valliere’s immense potential in the sport last month. Guindy called on him to work on his back and calves development to improve his chances of being a major threat at any competition.
Valliere laid out the diet and supplements he utilized to get ready in the final two weeks before the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow. Then, he sent warning shots to his competition with a ripped physique update days later.
In the end, Valliere’s hard work paid off as he came out on top of the contest with a stunning performance on June 4. He managed to defeat the likes of Hassan Mostafa and Ross Flanagan to punch his ticket to the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
Iain Valliere fires back at critics after the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow win
The organizers of the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow uploaded the results on Instagram. Many took to the comments section to voice their disapproval of the outcome and criticized Valliere.
“Hassan was robbed of this one,” wrote a user.
Another chimed in, “Hassan looked way better and I’m an iain fan. Of course they’d give it to the Canadian if it was close though.”
“Hassan should be the winner wtf,” commented another.
“Wow.. i am a fan of Iain but I really thought Hassan would take the W. I do think Iain makes a better competitor for the Olympia though,” a user wrote.
“Okay he won because he is a canadian ! no calves no lower lat no chest no tricep!!???” responded another.
In a recent Instagram story, Iain Valliere issued a fiery response to haters criticizing his victory at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow. He followed up with another story showing the scorecards and declared his ambitions to get back in the top eight at Mr. Olympia.
Credit: Iain Valliere (via Instagram story)
Credit: Iain Valliere (via Instagram story)
Iain Valliere’s coach Matt Jansen gave his take on the result and his student’s progression on Instagram.
“I want to put this weekend for @iainvalliere into perspective,” wrote Jansen. “
Iain and I started first working together first with training only in the fall of 2015, this then transitioned into full coaching in early 2016.
When I recall Iain’s goals at that time, sure he wanted to be an Olympian…go on to place well there and all that but I clearly remember his main goal being to win Toronto one day.
2016 his physical body wasn’t yet there and I believe he placed 7th that year in our first attempt.
2018 was Iain’s first pro win but still no Toronto pro title.
In 2019 we returned now with a pro win and an Olympia under his belt and he placed second. Here I fumbled the peak and this loss I hold on me, one that eats me up to this day or at least through this past weekend knowing we left one on the table and more importantly one that was very important to Iain.
Shortly there after Iain and I stopped working together, athletes come and go but I’ve had a few athletes leave that really stung and this was one of them. I was going through some personal things at the time and I really felt us no longer working together could have really been avoided if I were able to be more present but I just simply wasn’t.
Now we enter into this season, after the Olympia Iain and I spoke and we committed to getting back to what we used to do that worked so well. We discussed two qualifiers for this year pros and cons of both (the biggest con being less time to improve as we took a true health phase) but in my heart I knew what Iain’s choice would be. So about 12 weeks out of Toronto we committed to this show after a very brief off season.
This win wasn’t just another win. It was accomplishing a goal, checking off a mark that we set out to do in 2016 that was left unfinished and also building back confidence in an athlete whose confidence had been lost. Iain has won bigger shows than what was won this weekend, he’s placed high at the two most important bodybuilding shows of the year, but sometimes you just can’t put a price on what accomplishing a goal to do for an athlete regardless of how long it took. Iain you did it this weekend and you did it with straight 1s.”
RELATED: Samir Bannout: Iain Valliere Denying Calf Injections Is ‘Bullsh** It Totally Damages The Area’
Whether some agree with the decision or not, Iain Valliere has guaranteed his right to perform at 2023 Mr. Olympia where he will look to redeem himself among the very best of the Men’s Open category.
Published: 6 June, 2023 | 4:09 PM EDT
2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Results (LIVE UPDATES)
This weekend is a feast for bodybuilding fans as seven events will light up the stage across the globe. But the one that stands out from the rest is the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow, where 10 divisions will showcase their best physiques on June 4. The categories are as follows: Men’s Open, 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Men’s Wheelchair, Women’s Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini, Women’s Physique, and Wellness. The Fitness division is the only pro division that will not be featured in this show.
Amateur winners who earn their pro cards on Saturday, June 3, will also have the opportunity to compete in this contest.
Last year, men’s open bodybuilder Mohamed Shaaban claimed victory in Toronto and secured his spot at the Olympia. However, he won’t be defending his title this year as he is absent from the Men’s Open lineup. That leaves the door open for some powerful contenders who are eager to claim gold and the coveted Olympia invite.
The winner of this weekend’s show will join the elite group of athletes who have qualified for the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition, which will take place in Orlando, Florida from Nov. 2-5. The clock is ticking for those who want to make it to the biggest show of the year, as they have until October 9 to earn their tickets.
As the highest-ranking Mr. Olympia finisher, Iain Valliere enters this contest as the favorite. However, Ross Flanigan recently scored gold at the 2023 Musclecontest California Pro, and he’s eager to go two-for-two this weekend.
In addition, fans expect Hassan Mostafa to contend for gold as he won back-to-back competitions in 2022 at the Orlando Pro and Puerto Rico Pro. While he didn’t make it to the Olympia stage for health reasons, the Egyptian native is aiming to make an appearance this year. Other notable entries include Joe Seeman, Slavoj Bednar, and Jangmin Lee.
2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Winners
Men’s Open: Coming Soon!
212 Bodybuilding: Coming Soon!
Classic Physique: Coming Soon!
Men’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Men’s Wheelchair: Coming Soon!
Women’s Bodybuilding: Julia Whitesel
Figure: Lola Montez
Bikini: Eil Fernandez
Women’s Physique: Emilija Martin
Wellness: Sandra Colorado Acal
2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Results Breakdown
Men’s Open
Coming Soon!
212 Bodybuilding
Coming Soon!
Classic Physique
Coming Soon!
Men’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Men’s Wheelchair
Coming Soon!
Women’s Bodybuilding
Winner — Julia Whitesel
Second Place — Teresa Ivancik
Third Place — Tananarive Huie
Fourth Place — Melina Perron
Figure
Winner — Lola Montez
Second Place — Manon Dutilly
Third Place — Jodi Boam
Fourth Place — Lauren Martin- Stow
Fifth Place — Dalila Algeria
Bikini
Winner — Eil Fernandez
Second Place — Adair Libbrecht
Third Place — Maxine Somov
Fourth Place — Brittany Gillespie
Fifth Place — Kateryna Kauffman
Women’s Physique
Winner — Emilija Martin
Second Place — Romana Skotzen
Third Place — Amandine Kolly
Fourth Place — Alyssa Coppolino
Fifth Place — Nathalee Thompson
Wellness
Winner — Sandra Colorado Acal
Second Place — Kristen Briadwell
Third Place — Emily Azzarello
Fourth Place — Anne-Marie Gobeill
Fifth Place — Lauren Barton
2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Scorecards
Coming Soon!
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 4 June, 2023 | 5:05 PM EDT
2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Preview & Athletes to Watch
The bodybuilding calendar will see a total of seven events take place this weekend. However, the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow is the biggest and will feature 10 divisions on June 4: Men’s Open, 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Men’s Wheelchair, Women’s Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini, Women’s Physique, and Wellness.
Last year, the 2022 Toronto Pro Supershow saw Mohamed Shaaban win gold and an Olympia invitation. While it appears Shaaban is preparing for a competition, his name was excluded from the Men’s Open competitors list. Nevertheless, this weekend’s show is stacked with talent as a few major players are expected to be in the running for gold.
Whoever emerges with the win this weekend will earn an invite to compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition, which is scheduled for Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Currently, athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their passage to the biggest show of the year. Find a full athletes list and detailed breakdown of the Men’s Open and 212 Bodybuilding contests below.
2023 Toronto Pro Supershow Offical Athlete Lineups
Men’s Open
Iain Valliere
The Men’s Open division will headline this weekend’s attraction and plenty of names have caught the attention of fans. In 2020, Valliere claimed the prestigious title of New York Pro champion and got 7th in Olympia. He carried that momentum into the next year, securing back-to-back victories at the Texas Pro and Tampa Pro, as well got 7th again at the Mr. Olympia contest.
As the highest-ranking Olympian (11th), Iain Valliere enters this show as the odds-on favorite. He won the Vancouver Pro last year en route to performing on the Olympia stage.
Hassan Mostafa
The field of talent is deep, and Hassan Mostafa, who went undefeated last season, is determined to once again earn his invite to Mr. Olympia.
In 2019, Mostafa made an impressive entrance onto the bodybuilding scene, securing third place at the Indy Pro. With his remarkable size, he showed great potential, but he knew there were areas for improvement. Over the years, he diligently worked on sculpting his physique, achieving a shredded look. In 2021, Mostafa consistently placed in the top three at competitions like the New York Pro, California Pro, and Puerto Rico Pro.
Although he finished 13th at the 2021 Olympia, Mostafa didn’t stop there. In the year 2022, he impresses everyone by winning the Orlando Pro and Puerto Rico Pro. Unfortunately, Hassan Mostafa was unable to participate in the 2022 Olympia due to health reasons.
He offered a very promising physique update just days before taking to the event this weekend, leaving fans even more excited for the showdown.
Ross Flanigan
Meanwhile, momentum is on the side of Ross Flanigan. He performed exceptionally well at last weekend’s 2023 Musclecontest California Pro, where his conditioning led him to victory against ”Beef’ Stu Sutherland, Serigo Oliva Jr., and 2023 NY Pro winner Tonio Burton.
Joe Seeman
Joe Seeman also took part in the 2023 New York Pro, though found himself in fourth. He’s on the hunt for a Mr. Olympia invite this year and hopes to reach his goal by claiming a pro show victory against a stiff Open lineup.
Jangmin Lee
Contender Jangmin Lee plans to make a statement this weekend. While he made one appearance last year in the IFBB Pro League, he capitalized on the opportunity. Lee finished first at the NPC Regional Chan Classic.
Slavoj Bednar
Another threat this weekend was Slavoj Bednar. He’s remained very active in 2023 and has competed at three contests so far: Arnold Classic Brazil (10th), New York Pro (12th), and the California State Pro (5th).
Slavoj Bednar
Ross Flanigan
Eiren Gauley
Mike Hulusi
Hossein Kalateh
Sahar Kazes
Jangmin Lee
Jason Lowe
Morgan MacDonald
Hassan Mostafa
Joe Seeman
Robin Strand
Iain Valliere
212 Bodybuilding
Sung Yeop Jang
Heading into this weekend, there was notable hype behind a pair of contenders. Last year, Sung Yeop Jang competed at just one show but showed immense promise with an aesthetic and shredded physique. Ultimately, he finished fifth at the 2022 New York Pro, won by Noel Adame.
Hwang Shin
As for Shin, he’s making his 212 debut and also participated in a single show last year, which saw him earn fifth at the Monsterzym Pro in the Men’s Open, an event which was won by Mohammad Alnsoor.
Piotr Borecki
Chris Buhr
Ming Chun Hon
Sung Yeop Jang
Hwang Shin
Nate Telow
Jordan Wise
Classic Physique
Edgard John Augustin
Maurice Burgess
Gregory Dawson
Javier Duarte
Ali Emre
Carl Gauthier
Farzad Ghotbi
Shane Makan
Tyler Okowinsky
Samuel Paquin
Josue Isai Cortes Vargas
Dimitri Williams
Men’s Physique
Austin Belanger
Bhuwan Chauhan
Rodrigue Chesnier
Julian Colley
Gary Cooper
Francisco Alberto de la Cruz
Rory Gissing
Harrett Jenkins
Mehdi Kabbadj
Clarence Lau
Daniel Rabiela
Jason Alan Robinson
Mario Stewart
Serge Victor
Men’s Wheelchair
Tim Caldwell
Jack McCann
Jason Metcalf
Bryan Williams
Women’s Bodybuilding
Tananarive Huie
Theresa Ivancik
Melina Perron
Julia Whitesel
Figure
Dalila Alegria
Desiree Alferes
Jodi Boam
Theresa A. Dekker
Manon Dutilly
Amanda Jessica Elliott
Sally Forse
Nelly Gonzalez
Giselie Heathcote
Lauren Martin-Stow
Taylor Mauro
Lola Montez
Nina Paulus
Carmen Garcia Penalver
Nora Prado
Tamika Robinson
Paige Sabedra
Bikini
Eli Fernandez
Brittany Gillespie
Racquel Hutchinson
Nikki Kiani
Adair Libbrecht
Maritza Romano Pacheco
Sophia So Wai Pik
Ayleen Santander
Maxine Somov
Courtney Ustrzycki
Women’s Physique
Josefa Paloma Barba Bedolla
Alyssa Coppolino
Georgina D’Abreo
Leona Lynn Gairy
Cara Kerluck
Amandine Kolly
Wai Chun Virginia Kwok
Emilija Martic
Angela Noury
Renee Reefschlaeger
Diana Schnaidt
Romana Skotzen
Kyna Squarey
Nathalee Thompson
Wellness
Sandra Colorado Acal
Emily Azzarello
Lauren Barton
Anne-Marie Gobeil
Winglam Lee
With 10 Olympia invitations on the line and plenty of prize money, pressure is mounting for athletes to ensure their presence on this year’s Olympia stage. Given the prestige of the Toronto Pro, fans expect the winner of the Men’s Open division to do some damage in November.
RELATED: Iain Valliere Shares Shredding Diet 2 Weeks from 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow
All roads lead to the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan, who continues to train tirelessly in preparation for his first title defense later this year.
Published: 2 June, 2023 | 12:22 PM EDT
Iain Valliere & Hassan Mostafa Show Off Peeled Updates Before 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow
The bodybuilding season is in full swing as competitors have until October 9 to earn a Mr. Olympia invitation. In a pair of Instagram posts, Iain Valliere and Hassan Mostafa showed off their latest progress just days before competing at this weekend’s 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow.
As a Men’s Open talent, Iain Valliere quickly garnered attention in the league courtesy of his dry conditioning and wide back. Last year, Valliere earned his Mr. Olympia invite following an intense battle with fellow standout Antoine Vaillant at the 2022 Vancouver Pro.
Holding on to 280 pounds, Valliere targeted his best look at last year’s Mr. Olympia but was met with heavy resistance in 11th place. In the aftermath, Valliere was open about his performance and said problems with sodium contributed to the lackluster showing. Nevertheless, Valliere made it clear he would come back stronger.
With improvements being his number one priority, Valliere has taken measures in the gym, such as reintroducing deadlifts into his workout routine. He also rejoined his former coach Matt Jansen, who is responsible for training a host of top-tier athletes some of which include Nick Walker, Shaun Clarida, and Quinton Eriya.
If Valliere wants to earn his 2023 Mr. Olympia invite, he’ll need to get past Hassan Mostafa this weekend. Mostafa is riding momentum following a successful season last year. He earned back-to-back first-place finishes at the 2022 Orlando Pro and Puerto Rico Pro.
Before getting the chance to step on the Olympia stage, Mostafa was forced to withdraw due to a health scare. He told fans that another prep could have caused further damage to his kidneys so he didn’t want to risk his wellbeing. While he wasn’t able to perform at Olympia last December, Hassan plans to make up for lost time this year if he earns his qualification.
Iain Valliere and Hassan Mostafa Look Absolutely Shredded Days from 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow This Weekend
In two posts, Valliere updated fans on his current condition less than a week before taking to the stage. Given his hardness and muscle detail, many fans have labeled Valliere the frontrunner this weekend. He enters the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow as the highest-raking Olympian.
Mostafa continues to improve year to year. Given his success in 2022, the bodybuilding community wouldn’t be surprised if Mostafa secured the win. Considering his vascularity and detail, it appears the show in Toronto will come down to who brings the best balance of conditioning and symmetry.
Aside from training, both men have kept followers updated on their nutrition. Last week, Valliere shared a shredding diet he’s using to bring his best package possible to his home country. It consisted of six meals, which were all high in protein.
Whether it’s the off-season or Ramadan, Hassan is solely dedicated to improving as a bodybuilder. He’s also working with Chad Nicholls, a bodybuilding coach who trained legends like eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and two-time winner Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Hassan Mostafa Shares Killer Quads Workout
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia show in less than six months, athletes are focused on prepping for the event or qualifying. Should Hassan Mostafa or Iain Valliere earn their invite this weekend, they will have a shot at knocking Hadi Choopan off the throne in November.
Published: 31 May, 2023 | 11:46 AM EDT
Iain Valliere Shares Shredding Diet 2 Weeks from 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow
Canadian bodybuilder Iain Valliere is a promising Men’s Open contender who many believe to be in the mix of Olympia title contention. Although he missed a step in his last appearance, he’s determined to turn things around and get back on track. In a recent YouTube video, Valliere shared his shredding diet two weeks from the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow.
Iain Valliere started competing as a Men’s Open contender in the IFBB Pro League in 2015. He turned in several strong performances in national competitions such as the 2016 Vancouver Pro and Toronto Pro Supershow. In 2018, Valliere extended his run with back-to-back fourth-place finishes at the Indy Pro and Vancouver Pro. The victories earned him an invite to the Mr. Olympia contest, where he placed 14th.
Valliere continued to work his way up the ranks. He narrowly missed out on gold at the 2019 Toronto Pro Supershow. While he did not make it to the Olympia in 2019, he maintained his consistency with top-four placings at the Vancouver Pro and Tampa Pro. He scored the top prize at the 2020 New York Pro and finished seventh at the Mr. Olympia. Then he earned the 2021 Texas Pro and 2021 Tampa Pro titles and got seventh at the Olympia.
Last season, Valliere came out on top of the 2022 Vancouver Pro and entered the Mr. Olympia brimming with confidence. However, he missed the mark on stage in Las Vegas last December. He finished 11th. Following the result, he opened up on his challenges with peaking for the show.
Valliere made the case for eliminating the Men’s 212 division earlier this year. He explained that the 212 should be absorbed by the Open class given the rise in contenders switching divisions as some have found success including former 212 Olympia champ and Open runner-up Derek Lunsford and Shaun Clarida.
Iain Valliere revealed he left Patrick Tuor to rejoin coach Matt Jansen two months ago. He believes the reforged partnership would put him in a better place for his return at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow. Then, he showed off a jacked physique update where he weighed 280 pounds and detailed his new diet and training plan under Jansen.
Iain Valliere shares the full day of eating 2 weeks out from the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow
In a recent YouTube video, Iain Valliere shared his full day of eating and supplements he’s using two weeks out from the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow.
“We’re just about to have meal one getting all my digestive supplements and we got our betaine, digestive enzymes, digestive gut health and the zinc,” said Valliere. “I’m taking all these with my first and last meal. Two caps and the zinc carnosine. I’ve been doing one of these with every meal. Then dosing this tube instead of doing two once or twice a day I’m just taking one with all six of my meals.”
Valliere’s full day of eating
Meal 1: 220g extra lean ground beef, 140g rice
Meal 2: 220g chicken, 140g rice, green beans
Meal 3 (pre-workout): 250g fish, 100g rice, kale with RTD pre-workout
Intra-workout: 2 scoops of EAAs
Meal 4 (post-workout): 250g white fish, 150g Yukon or yellow potato, kale with 10g of glutamine, 5g creatine
Meal 5: 250g fish, greens (broccoli and green beans), 10g oil
Meal 6: 250g steak, asparagus, and cucumber
Iain Valliere is certain he’s in a good spot going into the upcoming contest. He revealed not much had changed in his preparations under Jansen but hinted at the possibility of a revamped drug protocol in the final stages of prep.
Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy praised Valliere for his impressive physique and work ethic earlier this month. Guindy highlighted a need for Valliere to level up his back and calves along with his posing skills. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old has focused on keeping his weight under control in the 2023 off-season. Valliere gave fans an update on his progress going into his next outing where he promised his best look yet.
Valliere appears confident about his chances at the upcoming 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow. He will aim to earn an invite to Olympia, taking place November 2-5 later this year.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Iain Valliere Talks Atrophy in Lats, Says Big Ramy’s ‘Muscle Volume’ Led to ‘Severe’ Nerve Damage
Published: 26 May, 2023 | 11:33 PM EDT