Tag: 212 bodybuilding
Hidetada “Hide” Yamagishi, 50, Shows Off Ripped Physique 6 Weeks from 2023 Masters Olympia
Hidetada Yamagishi is hell-bent on delivering an Olympia title to his home country of Japan. In a recent Instagram post, “Hide” revealed a ripped physique update less than two months from his anticipated return to the 2023 Masters Olympia show, Aug. 25-27, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
During the 2000s, Yamagishi was a trailblazer in the IFBB Pro League, having made a name for himself in not one but two divisions during his prime. While building a career in the Open and 212 Bodybuilding, his blend of conditioning, fullness, and balance propelled him to some of the sport’s biggest stages, like the Mr. Olympia.
Despite his inability to win an Olympia title, Yamagishi pushed some of the best. That includes seven-time 212 Olympia kingpin Flex Lewis. In 2015, Hidetada took third to fellow standout Jose Raymond and Lewis at the Mr. Olympia show, which serves as the highest placing of his career. Some of Yamagishi’s best career victories include the 2010 Europa Show of Champions, the 2014 Tampa Pro, the 2016 Arnold Classic 212, and the 2019 Europa Dallas.
Yamagishi is no stranger to the spotlight. He’s graced the pages of various magazines, such as Weekly Playboy, Tarzan, and Ironman Japan, where he showcased his muscular build. Hidetada has also appeared in workout demonstration videos and has taken part in Japanese-aired TV shows.
Last year, Yamagishi decided to step away from the sport. During his hiatus, he built a successful YouTube channel. In Yamagishi’s opinion, the stars aligned for his comeback this year. The 2023 Masters Olympia contest announced its return following an 11-year absence. And coincidentally, Yamagishi just turned 50 years old. With that in mind, Yamagishi is more motivated than ever to finally nail down a coveted Olympia title.
Hidetada Yamagishi Looking Incredible 6 Weeks from 2023 Masters Olympia
Check out Yamagishi’s latest posing session below:
“6 weeks out @mastersolympiaofficial” Hide Yamagishi shared.
Initially, fans had hoped to see former four-time Mr. Olympia icon Jay Cutler compete at Masters Olympia. Over the course of several months, Jay has taken steady measures to transform his physique. While he is aiming to get in the best shape of his life since 2013, he stressed that he had no desire to return to a competition stage.
Longevity in bodybuilding has become a major talking point, and fans take notice when they see athletes who have succeeded in preserving their bodies. One such talent is Golden Era’s Tom Platz. He recently wowed fans online with a look at his ripped quad development at 68 years old.
Other veterans of the sport have done a stellar job of staying in great condition as well, like Lee Labrada. Labrada routinely shares training advice, strategies, and tips for longevity. He believes bodybuilding is the closest thing athletes have to a ‘fountain of youth.’ To this day, fans can’t believe Lee Labrada’s youthful appearance at 63.
RELATED: 65-YO Bodybuilder Reflects on 36-Year Long Career Ahead of 2023 Masters Olympia
This isn’t Hidetada’s first progress update in preparation for the Masters Olympia event. In April, he showed off the physique he was working with ahead of his rigorous prep. With the contest taking place in late Aug., Yamagishi is working relentlessly to bring his absolute best in his return.
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 7:21 PM EDT
Breon Ansley Says to Expect ’10 More Lbs of Muscle Mass’ on His Frame in 212 Debut
Breon Ansley enjoyed an illustrious career as a Classic Physique competitor with two Mr. Olympia wins. He’s currently gearing up to make a splash in the Men’s 212 division. In a recent interview with OlympiaTV, Ansley shared his thoughts on the target weight and strategy he plans to use for a successful debut in the 212 category.
Breon Ansley first gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, detail, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Classic Physique division. Although he dabbled in the 212 class early in his career, he ultimately chose to compete in the Classic Physique division. He dominated the competition at the 2017 Mr. Olympia to win his first Sandow trophy and added a successful title defense the next year along with an Arnold Classic title. In 2019, he got dethroned by reigning four-time Olympia champ Chris Bumstead who has firmly held onto the crown since.
Following a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Arnold Classic, Ansley announced his plans to move on from the Classic Physique division. He was working on bringing a revamped package for his final Classic appearance and indicated a potential move to the 212 group.
Ansley teamed up with popular fitness personality Mike O’Hearn for a fierce arms workout in preparation for the 2022 Mr. Olympia last October. Then, he demolished a heavy upper-body training session utilizing a rest-pause technique and followed up with a brutal leg workout in the final stages of his prep.
Breon Ansley / Instagram
Being the only competitor to defeat ‘CBum’ on the Olympia stage, Breon Ansley was determined to repeat history and reclaim the title. He revealed his desire to change divisions was based on the weight cap restriction he was forced to follow in Classic Physique.
In the end, Bumstead retained his title and Ansley dropped to fourth place. Following the event, the pair buried the hatchet after sharing a six-year-long rivalry on stage in a candid exchange.
Breon Ansley shares the target weight for a move to the 212 division
In a recent YouTube video, Breon Ansley shared the weight he’s aiming for in his 212 class debut.
He believes adding roughly 10 pounds to his frame could help him present a new look.
“I don’t need to be a lot bigger,” said Ansley. “If I’m doing the calculations of where I’m at now and where I’d need to be to be as sharp as a tack when it comes stage time, I’d probably say that’s going to be around 200 pounds. That’s quite a bit of more pounds when you’re talking about around 10 more pounds of muscle mass when it’s able to formulate properly and not have to suffer the loss of muscle like it was with Classic. I think it’s going to be around 200, maybe even 205. I think it’s going to be quite a different look.”
Ansley reveals the strategy for the switch to 212
Without the restriction of his previous weight cap, Ansley is confident he will look his best as he won’t need to sacrifice any muscle mass.
“Now that I’m really going to be able to see my true potential, my true density that I have been lacking over the past two years in Classics so as far as density that they might outmatch me on, I’m going to have to disagree because I think once I’m able to not lose muscle, not lose a single solitary pound of muscle and hold onto all my muscle from all these hard ass Chris Cormier years of training then the density factor… remember I’m just as old or even older than some of these guys so my maturity is right there with them and I think that I can outmatch theirs. I can definitely beat theirs and dominate as far as maturity and density.
“I’m going to be a lot sharper now that I’m not going to have to lose muscle. I’m going to be able to get sharp, refined by holding onto muscle instead of losing it. You thought I was sharp and in fairly great conditioning in Classic, just wait till you see now the sharpness and the lines that I’m going to be able to display in the 212 division now that I can hold onto muscle and not kill myself with hours and hours of cardio.”
He declared his ambitions to score gold at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yes, I am winning it in 2023.”
Breon Ansley gave fans a look into his full day of eating in the 2023 off-season last month. He added that he consumes one meal of his choice per day and laid out the diet he was utilizing to pack on the pounds before entering prep for his next show.
It remains to be seen whether Ansley receives a special invite, otherwise, he would need to qualify for the next Mr. Olympia by winning a 212 show. Either way, fans will be excited to see how he stacks up in the new division.
RELATED: Breon Ansley Shares Mass Building High Volume Leg Workout
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 11:51 AM 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
2023 Musclecontest Sao Paulo Pro Results — Felipe Moraes Wins
The 2023 Musclecontest International Sao Paulo Pro is one of four bodybuilding contests taking place this weekend (May 20). This show served as a Mr. Olympia qualifier for the 212 Bodybuilding category.
Athletes currently have until October 9 to secure their respective invitations to the upcoming Olympia competition, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Unlike last year’s calendar, IFBB Pro bodybuilders have fewer months to guarantee passage to the prestigious event.
As it stands, Esdras da Paz Alves will aim to take gold home for his native country of Brazil. However, to lay claim to this weekend’s title, he’ll have to get through 212 powerhouse Christyan Gomz, who finished fifth at the 2021 Musclecontest Brazil event.
2023 Musclecontest Sao Paulo Pro Results
212 Bodybuilding
Winner — Felipe Moraes
Second Place — Drey Pereira
Third Place — Elivelton Morais
Fourth Place — Joao Paz
Fifth Place — Gustavo Bico
Sixth Place — Crystian Gomes
2023 Musclecontest Sao Paulo Pro Scorecard
2023 Musclecontest Sao Paulo Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 20 May, 2023 | 11:49 PM EDT
2019 Mr. Olympia Qualified Competitors list
2019 Mr. Olympia Qualified Competitors list: Shawn Rhoden (USA) Phil Heath (USA) Roelly Winklaar (Curacao) William Bonac (Netherlands) Brandon Curry (USA) Dexter Jackson (USA) Clarence De Vis (Belgium) Maxx Charles (USA) Point System: Cedric McMillan (USA), 16 Luke Sandoe (UK), 14 Nathan de Asha (UK), 8 Lucas Osladil (Czech Republic), 7 Pavel Beran (Czech Republic), 6…