Tag: All GI Exclusives
Big Ramy Answers: Do Genetics Play A Big Role In His Physique?
Big Ramy talks about his competition mindset and the power of genetics.
Ever since Big Ramy won the Olympia 2020, we’ve been pouring through our unreleased footage of Big Ramy from Generation Iron 2. Specifically, our sit down interview that only had a few segments make it into the film. There’s no doubt that Ramy’s massive physique lives up to his name – but how much of that is a product of genetics vs hard work? In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy discusses how big a role genetics play into his physique.
When Big Ramy appears on the pro competition stage, he’s immediately noticeable. This is not only due to his massive size but also his massive height. Big Ramy often stands tall as the biggest bodybuilder on stage from every angle. While bigger does not always equal a victory – it’s a powerful tool to have if conditioning can be kept under control.
The conditioning element was Big Ramy’s hardest challenge throughout his career. He finally nailed it in 2020 when he wowed judges and finally earned an Olympia win. Now he’s dead set on keeping that win streak going into 2021 and beyond. But until we see him compete again this year, we are rewinding back to 2017. It was years before his big win when we sat down to interview Ramy.
During that interview, we asked him about the importance of genetics in bodybuilding. How good genetics can provide the edge needed to beat someone out at the Mr. Olympia. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your genetics. That’s why we asked Ramy how big a role genetics play into his physique.
Does his massive size come natural to him due to his genetics? Or does he have to work extra hard through an uphill battle to become true to his name? Based on his answer, it seems that Big Ramy doesn’t think about it much. He simply isn’t quite sure. He does admit that his massive growth happened pretty fast. That his body reacted instantly to his bodybuilding training.
At the same time, he acknowledges that his mind is always focused on one thing – to win the Olympia. This drives him to work harder than he ever has in his life before bodybuilding. His massive physique is a result of that hard work.
Ultimately, Big Ramy doesn’t want to make it seem like he’s naturally the powerhouse bodybuilder folks see on stage. Like every other pro bodybuilder, Big Ramy puts in the work to stand tall as one of the top tier athletes of the year.
Fast forward back to today and we can certainly see the results of that hard work. Big Ramy not only maintained his massive size but was able to bring in his conditioning for an iconic physique. There was no controversy or second guessing. It was clear to the fans and the judges. Big Ramy was the clear Olympia 2020 winner. Whether it was genetics that helped him get there remains to be seen – but underneath it all the hard work always remains.
You can watch Big Ramy talk about his mindset and genetics in our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview above. You can also see Ramy in Generation Iron 2 – available on digital today! Click here or the banner below to stream or download.
Big Ramy: How Working With Different Trainers Was Important To Long Term Success | GI Vault
Big Ramy discusses the differences training in in the USA vs the Middle East and the benefits of trying multiple trainers.
GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage that doesn’t make it into our final films, we’re now releasing them out into the world.
It’s no secret that Big Ramy had tried working with multiple coaches and trainers throughout his career. For some time, he was best known for working with Oxygen Gym. But over the years he also jumped in and out of Kuwait to train with the likes of George Farah and Dennis James. Ultimately, in 2020, he settled back with Dennis James and Chad Nicholls and ultimately earned his first Olympia victory. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details how working with different trainers was vital to his success.
The interview clip featured here is from 2017. This is before he won the Mr. Olympia and before he ultimately left Oxygen Gym for good. But the conversation here, from the cutting room floor of Generation Iron 2, is still a very insightful moment despite how things have changed.
In this clip, Big Ramy discusses the differences of training with Oxygen Gym versus other trainers such as Dennis James and George Farah over in the United States. While Ramy was currently still prioritizing Oxygen Gym at the time – his answer still rings true to potentially how he ultimately found success and won the Mr. Olympia.
While there is value put on loyalty, there is also value in constant growth and education. Big Ramy wanted to always be learning. By experiencing different trainers and coaches, especially big name coaches, he is able to open is mind and education to different training tactics and beliefs.
Big Ramy would take everything he learned into consideration to his ultimate training plan. Many times, he felt ultimately that it was best for him to return to Oxygen Gym. But surely he also took small details of what he learned and applied them to each next step.
That thirst for growth and knowledge is an important lesson for any aspiring pro bodybuilder to learn. Constant adjustments and always challenging your own knowledge of training and dieting is key to success in bodybuilding. One small difference can ultimately be the key to getting an edge over another competitor in the top six on stage.
Years after this interview took place, Big Ramy ultimately left Oxygen Gym for good. He tried out a few more trainers and ultimately, for now, settled with Chad Nicholls and Dennis James. Due to Ramy’s Olympia 2020 victory, we assume this team up will remain.
But the years after this interview showcase that Big Ramy stuck to his words here. He continued to challenge himself, try new trainers, and continue his learning. This lead to his victory and will continue to help him stay dominant in the future.
You can watch Big Ramy break down his answer in full detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also see Big Ramy in Generation Iron 2 – available on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!
Johnnie O. Jackson: Big Ramy Will Comeback Sharper To Be The Clear Olympia 2021 Winner
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Johnnie O. Jackson shares his reaction to the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging and his predictions for the finals.
One of the most talked about moments of the Mr. Olympia 2021 so far was the Men’s Open prejudging. Specifically, that Big Ramy was looking off compared to last year – possibly giving Brandon Curry an opening to take the title. Ramy’s conditioning has always been his weakest point until last year. Was it just a fluke? Johnnie O. Jackson doesn’t think so. In fact – he thinks the finals will show a very different Ramy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Johnnie O. Jackson shares his predictions for the Mr. Olympia finals expecting Big Ramy to improve and win the show.
Brandon Curry has been one of the more consistent bodybuilders over the last few years. Each Olympia he has shown small but important improvements. This eventually led to his big win in 2019 – only to have that taken away by a shockingly improved Big Ramy. Fast forward to the Olympia 2021 and we have quite a battle on our hands.
Big Ramy, in the prejudging, looked noticeably worse in conditioning than he did last year. Brandon Curry, on the other hand, has showcased another year of small improvements. He was sharp and dense. In our Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging analysis we predicted he might have what it takes to win the whole show. That is – if things don’t change within the 24 hour period between the prejudging last night and tonights finals.
The fact of the matter is both of these competitors are incredibly close. Curry seems to have only a slight edge on Ramy. Johnnie O. Jackson believes it is too small of a gap – and that Big Ramy will improve his conditioning and come in sharper for the finals. If Ramy can do that – then he will be “the clear winner” according to Jackson. He goes on to state that Big Ramy’s size, if sharper, will overpower Curry. Whereas Curry doesn’t have much room to be able to improve.
With Brandon Curry’s conditioning already on point – he can’t get even more dry. So that leaves room for two options. He could potentially fade at the finals. Or, as Johnnie O. Jackson stated, he can stay the same – but if Ramy improves it will be lights out for Curry.
This is a very real possibility. Big Ramy was off – but he was far from terrible. The judges still placed him in the top two. It’s well within reason that Ramy can pull off some improvements. It might be just enough to peak perfectly for the finals. Then we have a totally different situation for our outlook of the winner.
You can watch Johnnie O. Jackson’s full comments and predictions for the Mr. Olympia 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Philip Ricardo Jr: Why It’s A Big Deal Mr. America Is Being Televised
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Pro Natural Bodybuilder Philip Ricardo Jr. talks competing in the Mr. America and why it’s a big deal that CBS Sports will televise it.
This weekend holds the Mr. America 2021, the return of a historic bodybuilding event whose history goes all the way back to 1939. Before the Mr. Universe and before the Mr. Olympia – there was the Mr. America. Natural bodybuilding Olympia champion Philip Ricardo Jr. is set to compete in a last minute surprise. Not only that but the Mr. America will be televised by CBS Sport at a later date. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. explains why the Mr. America’s continued return and it being televised is such a big deal for bodybuilding as a whole.
The last time we spoke with Philip Ricardo Jr. – it was during our promotional run for Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life. Our cameras went behind the scenes of the PNBA/INBA natural bodybuilding league to uncover the reality of this openly natural league of bodybuilding. Ricardo Jr. ended up defeating the returning natural bodybuilding Olympia champion – Rob Terry. It was an epic moment that capped off an in-depth exploration of an often misunderstood sport.
Now the new Natural Olympia champion, it seems Philip Ricardo Jr. has another accolade in his sights. The Mr. America 2021. As we stated above, it’s a long running competition (on and off) that is now coming back in full force. In fact, it’s going to be televised on CBS Sports this year.
We spoke to Philip Ricardo Jr. about the Mr. America, his prep, and why it’s so important that the competition will be televised. Despite the IFBB and Mr. Olympia being a massive PPV event – it has been quite some time since the show was broadcast on mainstream television. The Mr. America’s broadcast will be the first time in a very long time that any form of bodybuilding will be on TV.
This may, in part, be due to the Mr. America being completely natural with proven WADA drug testing before the event. While that might put off some bodybuilding fans – Philip Ricardo Jr. believes this is an important distinction. He thinks this is proof that natural bodybuilding can become larger – it can become mainstream and beloved by millions around the globe.
“No only is it drug free and drug tested but it’s televised,” Philip Ricardo Jr. states in our interview. He continues:
“So it’s showing a new movement that it’s becoming mainstream… it’s really showcasing what anyone can really attain to or aspire to if they want to get some notoriety or noticed for being athletic or in good shape.”
Philip Ricardo Jr. is being somewhat modest with his words. It must be noted that it’s been decades since pro bodybuilding in any form has been available to watch on mainstream television. To be connected with such a history competition as the Mr. America is a match made in heaven.
The return of the Mr. America is happening this weekend in Atlantic City, NJ October 8-10. Generation Iron will be reporting on the events and results as they become available. So don’t miss it!
You can also watch Philip Ricardo Jr.’s full comments, including his Mr. America prep, in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Robert Timms’ Physique Will “Blow The Hardness & Tightness Out Of The Water At This Olympia”
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Robert Timms promises something different and next level in his physique at the Olympia 2021.
With just a few days until the Olympia 2021, fans and athletes are getting hyped up for the biggest bodybuilding event of the year. Competitors are in process of tightening in their peak week timing to present the ultimate physique on stage. Robert Timms is a Classic Physique competitor aiming to make big waves at this year’s Olympia. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Robert Timms claims fans should expect “something different” and a next level physique at Olympia 2021.
When it comes to preparing for a competition, Robert Timms washes out all of the white noise. He doesn’t worry about what comments on social media say. He doesn’t care what rival competitors look like in their physique update photos. He only cares about the opinion of two people – his coach and his father.
This is the mindset Robert Timms informed us about during our recent video interview just weeks before the Olympia 2021. Timms has been a top tier Classic Physique competitor – and in its earliest inception as a division – Timms was one of the first pinnacles showcasing what Classic Physique should look like. It makes sense then that his Instagram handle and nickname is “Mr. Classic Physique.”
Despite this, he has yet to win a Classic Physique Olympia title for himself. This isn’t for lack of promise – the Classic Physique division sports some of the most competitive physiques in the entire sport. That’s why this year Robert Timms has adjusted his prep to transform his physique into “something different” – to use his own words. He plans to show a physique that his fans have never seen before in his career.
We asked Robert Timms what his strategy was going into the Olympia 2021. He answered by claiming his goal was to bring something special. A different physique than he’s brought to the stage in years past. To do this – he focused on really bringing in his conditioning. He wants to “blow the hardness and tightness out of the water” as he puts it confidently.
And this isn’t simply confident pre-competition cockiness. Robert Timms has shown some physique updates on his social media in weeks past – and the results are looking spectacular. Many fans have already noticed that he can be a real big threat to the returning champion Chris Bumstead – as well as other high profile competitors such as Breon Ansley and Terrence Ruffin.
Just a few weeks ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger boldly claimed during his Arnold Classic commentary that Classic Physique was the best division of the sport. While many might take offense to his dismissal of Men’s Open, his excitement for Classic Physique is shared by many. The division has proven to be a rousing success.
It’s pleased fans who miss the Golden Era of Physique. It’s also pleasing fans by the sheer competitiveness of the athletes in the division. There’s no doubt that Classic Physique sports some of the most electric face offs on stage. Each year – the Olympia champion is can be seen as a crapshoot. No one competitor, even Chris Bumstead, is a shoe in for the prize. Robert Timms seems to be yet another to throw into the mix.
You can watch Robert Timms go into full detail about his Olympia 2021 strategy in our latest GI exclusive interview segment above!
WATCH: Berry De Mey’s Olympia 2021 Predictions & Analysis
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Berry De Mey breaks down the Mr. Olympia 2021 lineup and makes his predictions.
Berry De Mey is a former pro bodybuilder and an iconic bodybuilding coach. That’s why with only a few days before the Mr. Olympia 2021, we connected with him to get his insight and analysis about the line up. This year is set to be one of the more competitive rosters we’ve seen in quite some time. A clash of the old and the new generations make for what is expected to be an intense and exciting show. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey makes his predictions for the Olympia 2021.
The pro bodybuilding world has been in somewhat of a transition over the past decade. The current generation is getting, well, older and young up-and-coming bodybuilders are starting to hone their skills into formidable opponents. That’s what makes this year’s Mr. Olympia so exciting. We have the likes of Hunter Labrada, Nick Walker, and Iain Valliere going up against veterans such as Big Ramy, William Bonac, and Brandon Curry.
This week, we connected with world famous bodybuilder and trainer Berry De Mey via video chat. With just a few days before this epic Olympia showdown, we asked for his thoughts on the lineup and his predictions for the Men’s Open division. Berry De Mey has his own criteria of what the ideal Men’s Open physique should look like. So he gives his personal opinion – and then a more objective analysis what to expect at Olympia 2021.
Berry De Mey doesn’t sugarcoat it. The hype is real, Big Ramy is a top contender for the Mr. Olympia as returning champion. The truth is that many of the competitors, no matter how much they try, can match Ramy’s size. So long as Ramy keeps up his conditioning and comes in slightly better than last year – he’s a shoe in for the first spot.
That being said, Berry De Mey personally favors bodybuilder Patrick Moore. He believes that Moore hits all of the marks of what he wishes all Men’s Open bodybuilders looked like. He wishes judging would appreciate that kind of aesthetic over mass and size. Rather than a compliment to it.
But this doesn’t mean Berry De Mey thinks Patrick Moore will win the Mr. Olympia 2021. He knows all change happens slow – and so long as most bodybuilders focus more on mass, Moore will look like an outlier in a way that hurts his chances rather than helps. He hopes to see Moore one day become the Olympia champion.
Berry De Mey also points out that there are a lot of hungry talented competitors rising in the ranks competing at the Olympia 2021. Veteran bodybuilders like Brandon Curry and William Bonac are not necessarily guaranteed top 3 spots. If Hunter Labrada, Hadi Choopan, and Nick Walker bring their best – they can overtake the top 5 positions knocking down former champion Brandon Curry into a lower spot.
All in all, this is to say that nothing is guaranteed at the Olympia 2021. This should be one of the more exciting years of the event in quite some time. Will Big Ramy cement himself as a reigning champion for years to come? Or will we have yet another new champion this year. We’ll soon find out this weekend.
You can watch Berry De Mey’s full analysis and breakdown of the Olympia 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mohamed El Emam: Big Ramy Will Be Even Better At Olympia 2021
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Mohamed El Emam answers: Can Big Ramy win again at Olympia 2021?
With less than a week to go before the Olympia 2021, we will soon see if returning champion Big Ramy can retain his title. Ramy has been known for inconsistency in his conditioning from year to year (at least in his past showings over the past decade). Will he be able to remain consistent and show an even more improved physique on stage this weekend? Rising competitor Mohamed El Emam seems to think so. In our latest GI Exclusive, Mohamed El Emam explains why he thinks Big Ramy will appear even better at Olympia 2021.
Mohamed El Emam has been a rising athlete on the pro bodybuilding stage this past year. He battled it out in a number of competitions to earn Olympia qualification. Unfortunately, he fell short – but not for a lack of impressive physique. The competition was fierce and despite some top 5 placings, it wasn’t enough to earn a spot in this weekend’s Olympia.
That’s why during our recent conversation with Mohamed, we asked him as an observer, if he thought Big Ramy can win again. Mohamed El Emam does believe that Big Ramy can pull off a repeat win. The reason he thinks this – is that he believes Big Ramy will have an even better physique than the previous year.
It’s common knowledge among pro bodybuilding fans that judges have a laser focus on the returning champion for Mr. Olympia. It’s not enough for the champion to bring the same winning physique. The judges expect to see an improved physique. This is the challenge an Olympia champion must face. What if they’ve hit a plateau – no matter how perfect? An equal quality physique might get slightly overlooked compared to a hungry competitor that made some incredible progress.
Mohamed El Emam believes that Big Ramy has made that kind of progress. He’s strictly judging based off of physique update photos and video that Ramy has been posting in recent months. From what he can tell – Ramy has not only widened his back and increased his arm size – he’s also tapered in his waist. Of course, physique update photos can be misleading. What’s most important is that Ramy times his peak perfectly with the Olympia weekend.
This is where the excitement comes in. Even the most perfect athlete can run into problems if their timing is even slightly off. When fans watch the pre-judging on Friday night, they’re also aware the competitors have a full 24 hours to try and make adjustments before finals. That 24 hour period is crucial and makes the finals a truly electric event. Some have improved, some have faded. For example, Phil Heath was often known as “Mr. Saturday Night” due to surprising improvements he would make between pre-judging and finals.
Mohamed El Emam has a point though. It’s clear that Big Ramy was the superior physique in 2020. If no other competitor can close that gap and Ramy improves himself – the odds of him coming in off peak this weekend seems unlikely. Ramy’s sheer size gives him an incredible advantage.
You can watch Mohamed El Emam break down his Big Ramy predictions in more detail by watching our GI Exclusive interview segment above!
George Peterson’s Honest Thoughts About His Olympia Men’s 212 Debut
George Peterson opens up about his first ever Men’s 212 showing.
George Peterson has been on quite the rollercoaster ride of a bodybuilding career. He started as a Men’s Open amateur bodybuilding, stepped away from the sport for five years, returned into the Classic Physique division – and then ultimately ended up moving to Men’s 212. 2020 was his Olympia Men’s 212 debut. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, George Peterson ranks his own performance in his first ever Olympia Men’s 212 show.
George Peterson is a dangerous competitor. His physique holds plenty of potential and the makings of a champion. While he has placed well throughout his career, he has yet to earn an Olympia title. This might be in part due to his frequent movement between divisions. Throughout his career – he has battled on stage in three different divisions.
But it seems now that the Men’s 212 division is where George Peterson is going to settle. In a sense, he has used the other divisions as an opportunity to understand his body and see where he fits best. He’s now confident that the Men’s 212 division is where he can perfect his body to his best strengths.
2020 was his Men’s 212 debut at the Olympia. Many fans were hyped to see how he would compare to other long running competitors in that division. Ultimately, George Peterson did not win the title. That honor went to Shaun Clarida in a shocking turn displaying the best physique of his career.
We asked George Peterson how he felt about his contest prep and about his performance at the Olympia 2020. Peterson knows that he still has some work to do in order to win the title – but he’s not discouraged. In fact, he sees his debut as a victory in and of itself.
“Since this was my debut in this division at the Olympia, and boom I’m top 3 in the world already, that there kinda feels like a win in itself.” George Peterson states in our interview. “And now we have something to build on. So now that I’m third in the world the goal for this year is to be number one in the world.”
George Peterson’s confidence and optimism immediately feels like that of a future champion. And rightfully so. Even though Peterson didn’t win the Olympia this year – he placed third. That’s a great achievement for a division Olympia debut. The competition is close and fierce. Peterson is ready for that fight.
We also asked him if he was worried about having to try and take down Shaun Clarida after his impressive win in 2020. Is Clarida beatable in his current state? George Peterson is also not worried about that. In fact, he welcomes the challenge. “No one is unbeatable” he states calmly but confidently. He’s simply going to focus on improving himself and bringing his best package.
You can watch George Peterson’s full comments on his Olympia Men’s 212 debut in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
George Peterson Shares His Secrets For A Wide Back
George Peterson breaks down the key tactics that he uses to build his massive and wide back.
George Peterson is a massive bodybuilder and one of the best in the industry. But what he might be best known for is his extremely wide and massive back. Many have said that competitions are won from the back. While the entire aesthetic and physique of the body must be presentable – may fans (and some say judges) can be most swayed by a powerhouse back. In our latest GI Exclusive, George Peterson shares the specific tactics he’s developed to build a massive back.
Many of you have probably seen or felt a moment like this. The competitors are battling on stage and you’re not quite sure who has the upper hand. They all look fantastic. It’s going to be a close battle. Then suddenly, the mandatory back poses are performed. You’re floored. One bodybuilder stands out with a mammoth batwing back. It envelops all others. You now clearly have a favorite to win the night.
This situation is not uncommon. A well built back is one of the most eye catching muscle groups in a bodybuilding competition. Some even believe that the back is the linch pin to victory. You can be lacking in some small areas so long as your back is supreme.
Some judges, coaches, and gurus have warned against this. That a true champion is a master of their body from head to toe. While this is likely true as a whole – culturally it’s clear that bodybuilding fans love to see a massive and wide back.
That’s why during our conversation with George Peterson, we asked him to share his tips for how to take your back to the next level. Peterson is well known for having one of the most impressive backs in the sport. So what kind of unique insights can he provide to help others chase the glory he’s obtained?
George Peterson was more than happy to share his tactic. He, in fact, shared it with a grin. He explains the key tactics that he has always done whenever working out on back day. It sounds simple – but it’s a focus on muscle movement and mind-muscle connection. It’s that special extra awareness with every rep that can make or break your progress from good back to supreme back.
George Peterson explains that with every single rep of every single back workout you perform. It’s important to stretch wide your chest as full as possible. That’s what George Peterson does. He makes sure that he widens his chest at the peak of each exercises movement. He wants to feel every single back muscle working to achieve each rep.
It doesn’t sound like much – but what is important is to be vigilant throughout the entire workout. It’s easy to go into auto pilot after months of training. Or perhaps, towards the end of your workout you are so exhausted that your mind wanders. George Peterson ensures that he takes his time to stretch full with every rep. It can’t be ignored. It has to be included through to the very end for every workout. Period.
Also in this video, George Peterson details how he does seven back exercises in his workout. “The back is a big set of muscles,” Peterson states in our interview. It requires a lot of attention. He also breaks down his full routine when in competition prep mode. You can follow his full routine from morning to night.
You can watch George Peterson’s full breakdown of his competition prep routine and his secrets to build a wide back in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Ryan Crowley On His Injury & Larry Wheels: “I’d Be Dead If He Wasn’t There”
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Ryan Crowley props up Larry Wheels’ actions immediately after the viral pec tear injury.
Ryan Crowley’s pec tear was the injury heard around the bodybuilding world. In an attempt to lift a bit higher than usual alongside Larry Wheels for a viral video – the worst happened. Crowley’s pec teared right off. He has since been in and out of the hospital slowly recovering. There are those who have commented that Larry Wheels pushed Crowley too far. But Crowley finds that to be furthers from the truth. In fact, he thinks Wheels being there prevented the injury from being worse. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Crowley details how Larry Wheels’ actions helped prevent further injury.
Ryan Crowley’s pec tear injury was a major talking point of bodybuilding in 2021. Bodybuilding fans around the world sent well wishes, contributed to a GoFundMe to help pay hospital fees… and couldn’t stop watching the viral video of the moment the injury occurred. Despite the massive setback – Crowley is confident that he will be back in full form by next year and ready to start making a dent in competitive bodybuilding.
The injury itself was due to a social media video involving both Crowley and the massively popular Larry Wheels. Known for his heavy lifts – the video collab was meant to be a motivational video showcasing the two lifting together. Ultimately, things went south under the serious heavy weight. A pop and a snap later – and Ryan Crowley found himself in a world of pain.
There have been some comments online blaming Larry Wheels for the injury. That he pushed Ryan Crowley too far. During our conversation with Crowley – we asked if he had seen those comments and what his thoughts were. Crowley dismissed the comments – claiming they are simply individuals looking for attention (or perhaps bored looking to instigate arguments online).
In fact, Ryan Crowley believes that Larry Wheels was the sole reason he didn’t get injured further. During the lift, when his pec tore – Larry Wheels held the bar completely stable preventing it from falling onto Crowley. If he was not prepared or strong enough to hold up the bar – it would have hit Crowley with a thud – and possible led to more injury.
“I don’t blame him at all. You know, if anything he saved my life,” Ryan Crowley states in our interview. He goes on:
“I’d be dead if he wasn’t there. If Larry Wheels wasn’t there I would have died for sure… I slid under and he held that bar solid still… that bar doesn’t even move for two seconds. He’s got that 220 kilos in one hand. If I was spotting someone, I would be scared by grabbing that bar that I would tear something. I’m just so lucky he was there. Even if I didn’t die, I’d at least have cracked ribs or worse.”
Ryan Crowley goes on to say that Larry Wheels was also kind enough to also promote and share the GoFundMe campaign raising funds for hospital fees. They ended up reaching past their goal – all thanks to the further exposure made possible by Wheels and his massive following.
You can watch Ryan Crowley’s full comments about Larry Wheels in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!