Tag: Big Ramy
Following Big Ramy Olympia Win, Egyptian Preacher Forbids Bodybuilding
“I am not saying no to sports, but the rules of the Sharia ought to be respected when doing so… Awrah for men includes the body parts between their navel and knees, and it’s the entire body for women, except for their face and hands,” Rushdy said.
“I advise young men not to practice bodybuilding because of this and women should not participate in any competition that requires them to show parts of their bodies.”
While Abdullah Rushdy’s statements and issued fatwa is a very big deal – it’s not representative of all of Egypt. This is clear in the celebration videos that have gone viral upon Big Ramy returning to Egypt. It is also unclear whether or not Rushdy’s statements will affect Ramy’s personal outlook on bodybuilding. But Rushdy’s statements coming so close to an Egyptian bodybuilders iconic pro bodybuilding win has created a mini storm of attention for the time being.
If anything, this just further proves that Big Ramy’s rise to prominence in pro bodybuilding has had a massive impact for the Egyptian community. While bodybuilding might not be a mainstream sport in the United States – it is a deeply passionate sport across the globe. Ramy has stated that he will continue to reign as Olympia for years to come – it will be interesting to see if this brings more controversial attention in the years ahead.
Big Ramy Never Before Seen Pics From Trainer Chad Nicholls
Trainer Chad Nicholls has released never-before-seen pictures of Big Ramy prior to 2021 Olympia.
Big Ramy is coming off his second-straight victory at the Olympia just a few weeks ago. Entering the 2021 competition, the Egyptian bodybuilder was viewed as the favorite and a competitor who might be unbeatable. It was a close battle on stage but Big Ramy ended up winning once again. Leading up to the competition, his training regimen might not have been strict.
Big Ramy has been working with trainer Chad Nicholls. We did not see many physique updates leading up to the competition and that is because preparation did not begin until three months before Big Ramy was set to step on stage. He remained in great shape but Nichols revealed that he was 327 pounds at the time the pictures were taken.
During the Olympia press conference, Big Ramy weighed in at 305 pounds. He looked rock-solid on stage and it looked like a physique that was training all year. That was not the case.
“Here are 3 never before seen pics of 2x Mr. Olympia @big_ramy – these were check-in pics taken August 1, 2021 – after only one month of training – his weight is approximately 327 – we started this year‘s Olympia prep July 1 – up until this point he had not trained since the Olympia on December 19, 2020 – let that sink in for a minute – in my opinion it was one of the most amazing preps I’ve ever seen for what he was able to accomplish in a short period of time – next year will be interesting because the game plan has already been put in motion and he will train for the next 14 months to defend the title and to show some thing extraordinary.”
Nicholls shares that Big Ramy did not train from December 2020 when he won his first Olympia until July 2021. This is shocking and when looking at the shape that he was in, quite surprising. This might be why Big Ramy’s victory was a bit controversial this year.
In 2020, there was no doubt who the champion was. This time around, many believed that there were competitors in better shape. Brandon Curry finished second this year while Hadi Choopan was third. There were talks that Choopan was in the best shape and had the best conditioning this year. In the end, it was Big Ramy who celebrated for a second-straight year.
Nicholls continued by saying that Big Ramy will be training for 14 months leading up to next year’s competition. This should make fans excited about what they could see in 2022.
“At the end of the day I love my job but I’m also a Bodybuilding fan I love the contest part of it but the photos leading into the show these never before seen pics are the ones that I love to see and hopefully you will enjoy them as well – I will try and post pics from every couple of weeks leading into the show.”
Big Ramy has said that he will defend his title for years to come. If he trains around the calendar, he will be even more difficult to take down.
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Big Ramy Celebrated Upon Arrival In Egypt Following Olympia Victory
Big Ramy received the proper welcome upon returning to Egypt after winning the Olympia.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, is now a couple weeks removed from successfully defending his title at the Olympia. This was his second-straight victory which now has him solidified at the top of bodybuilding. Big Ramy recently returned home to Egypt and was welcomed back in a big way.
Big Ramy took to Instagram to show off the welcome he received when he arrived at the airport. The EgyptAir crew setup a display of balloons welcoming him back. He was then asked to hang around for some pictures with a crowd that was gathered to see him.
This welcome was no surprise given the level that bodybuilding has risen to around the world. The sport is becoming huge in other countries and this includes Egypt. In fact, this is one area where bodybuilding is beginning to really take off. To have a competitor the level of Big Ramy represent the country means a lot and it shows.
The welcome he received this year is similar to what Big Ramy was greeted with a year ago. In 2020, Big Ramy took home his first Olympia title by defeating 2019 champion Brandon Curry. He has now topped Curry in each of the previous two competitions and he will continue to defend his title.
Big Ramy was greeted by the pilot and staff once they landed. He had to be escorted through the airport because of the crowds that gathered to see him. This continued once he left the airport and went outside. He has become a hero in Egypt and it has shown with the attention he has been receiving.
Last week, it was announced that Big Ramy’s hometown of Kafr El Sheikh would have a square named after him. It is clear that there will continue to be recognition for Big Ramy’s accomplishments and rightfully so.
There was a bit of controversy following this year’s competition. There were many that believed Hadi Choopan was the best conditioned athlete on stage. This might have made some question the victory but that should not be the case. He entered the competition at 305 pounds of muscle. Big Ramy continued to be the perfect blend of mass and conditioning.
Big Ramy has made it clear that he will continue to defend his title for years to come. His reputation is solidified and he has a chance to build on it. Either way, he is already a hero in his home country and that is worth plenty.
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Big Ramy To Have Square Named After Him In Hometown Of Kafr El Sheikh
Big Ramy will be honored properly by his hometown in Egypt.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, has taken over the world of bodybuilding. He is coming off his second-straight Olympia victory and this has gained attention all over the world.
Bodybuilding is a growing sport around the globe and this includes Egypt, where Big Ramy is from. He has always been a competitor with great expectations and he has been reaching them lately. This began in 2020 when he defeated 2019 Olympia champion Brandon Curry to gain his first title. Last weekend in Orlando, it was the same outcome. Now, Big Ramy is getting the proper recognition from his hometown.
On Tuesday, CairoScene announced that Big Ramy’s hometown of Kafr El Sheikh will name a square after him to honor him. This is one of the highest honors that can be given.
“BIG RAMY TO HAVE SQUARE NAMED IN HIS HONOUR IN HOMETOWN OF KAFR EL SHEIKH.
After winning the coveted Mr Olympia title For the second year in a row, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay is set to receive the highest of honours, with the Governor of his hometown, Kafr El Sheikh, announcing that the city’s largest square will be named after him.”
Big Ramy has been a long representative of Egypt and has not forgotten about where he comes from after his success. Because of this, his hometown has decided to honor him and they will do so for many reasons.
Not only will there be a square named after him but Big Ramy will have the biggest square in the city named after him. It goes without saying that Big Ramy has seen plenty of success on stage but he has also been a role model for many in Egypt.
“Big Ramy has been highlighted as an example for Egypt’s youth, his persistence and determination leading him to global fame in bodybuilding. Born in Kafr El Sheikh in 1984, he started his professional career in 2010, before going on to win a number of international bodybuilding competitions before reaching the zenith of his career, being crowned Mr. Olympia – first in 2020, then again this year.”
Big Ramy has now competed in eight Olympia competitions. It took him six to reach the pinnacle and now that he is there, he will be difficult to defeat. Prior to the 2020 Olympia, Big Ramy began working with Dennis James. The two built a physique that was up to championship level. They got together once again leading up to the 2021 competition and this was a roaring success.
Big Ramy has taken his performance to the next level and that is only going to continue. He is a mass monster that enters with great conditioning every time he steps on stage. The work that Big Ramy has been able to do has gained worldwide recognition and it is well-deserved.
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Big Ramy Shares Prep Videos Leading Up To 2021 Olympia
Big Ramy exposed videos of routines leading up to the 2021 Olympia.
Heading into the 2021 Olympia, there was one name to beat. Reigning champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay entered Orlando as the favorite to repeat and was viewed as unbeatable by some. Well, that proved to be true as Big Ramy is now a two-time champion on the sport’s biggest stage.
Big Ramy entered the weekend just over 300 pounds, which was revealed during the Olympia press conference. He did plenty of work to build his muscular physique to championship level and he did the same work with his routines.
Leading up to the competition, Big Ramy made sure to perfect his posing routines. This is important on the night of the finals and Big Ramy put on a show once again. He perfected his craft by performing three posing sessions everyday. The first came after cardio and before breakfast. Dennis James posted the first routine to his Instagram page.
“2,5 weeks out mandatory posing practice.
Every day first of 3 posing sessions immediately after cardio before breakfast. @big_ramy @[email protected]”
Big Ramy was able to beat out Brandon Curry for the second-consecutive year. Curry, who was crowned champion in 2019, continues to be one of the best competitors in the world. The work that Big Ramy has put in has put him at the top of the game.
This was apparent on his Instagram page leading up to the Olympia. James has been training Big Ramy and together, the two built a physique that is going to be difficult to beat for years to come. This is the goal of the Egyptian bodybuilder and it could happen by continuing the proper work in the gym.
Dennis James is a former IFBB professional bodybuilder. He competed in eight Olympia competitions, finishing as high as 4th in 2003. His last Olympia appearance came in 2010 and his final competition was the 2012 Masters Mr. Olympia in 2012. James put together a string of two victories in 2009 at the Tampa Pro and the Europa Super Show.
Now that he has transitioned, James has a strong competitor in Big Ramy. He really burst onto the scene in 2017 after winning the Arnold Classic Europe and finishing second at the Olympia. He first competed on the biggest stage in 2013 and has now taken over.
Big Ramy has claimed that he will continue to defend his title for years to come. This is not surprising given his current success and the notion that he will be impossible to defeat. One thing we know for sure if that Big Ramy will put in the necessary work leading up to competitions and that is something that will keep his conditioning at the level it needs to be.
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‘Sandow Is Home’: Big Ramy Says He Will Retain Olympia Title For Years To Come
Big Ramy confirmed that he will defend his title for years to come in recent Instagram post.
Entering the 2021 Olympia, there was a belief that no one could take down defending champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. On Saturday night, that was made clear as Big Ramy took home his second-straight title on the biggest stage in bodybuilding. Now, the Egyptian bodybuilder will focus on the upcoming years.
Big Ramy took to Instagram over the past couple of days to celebrate his victory at the 2021 Olympia. Most recently, he posted to say that he will be defending his title for years to come.
“Sandow is home and it will remain here for a very long time ، Thank you to all my fans around the world ، i made it because of your love and support.”
Can anyone take down Big Ramy at his peak? He entered the 2021 Olympia weighing in at 305 pounds, as said by a scale during the Olympia press conference. He is a mass monster that has retained an incredible physique at an enormous size. This is difficult to take down on stage but there are plenty of competitors that can compete.
Brandon Curry, who is a former Olympia champion, was the clear No. 2 behind Elssbiay at this year’s competition. He ended up taking second place while Hadi Choopan finished with the bronze medal. Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada rounded out the top five.
Competitors like Walker and Labrada are thought to be the future of bodybuilding because of their age and success to this point. With that being said, Big Ramy is not done defending his title and he believes that he can keep it for the upcoming competitions.
Big Ramy competed in his first Olympia in 2013 where he finished in eighth place. He climbed to second by 2017 but quickly fell to sixth place the very next year. Since then, Big Ramy has been at the top of the sport and has shown that during the Olympias.
The Men’s Open division is considered the top of the game and it is clear who the name to beat is. Big Ramy has claimed that winter is here and that has certainly been the case over the previous two years. If he stays at the top of his game, Big Ramy will be difficult to defeat anytime soon.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Big Ramy Looks Back In Detail About His First Ever Bodybuilding Competition | GI Vault
The current Mr. Olympia champion, Big Ramy, shares his experience competing in bodybuilding for the first time.
In December 2020, Big Ramy finally achieved what fans had been hoping for the past decade – he won the Mr. Olympia. Earlier in 2017 during the filming of Generation Iron 2, we sat down for an hour long interview with Big Ramy going through his origins through to the present of his bodybuilding career. Majority of this was not able to make it into the final film. That’s why to celebrate Ramy’s big Olympia victory, we are releasing uncut segments of never before seen footage. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details the first time he ever competed in a bodybuilding competition.
Everyone has to start somewhere – even Mr. Olympia champions. Big Ramy is a bodybuilder who has had hype behind his name for quite a few years now. But his story goes even further back into the early 2000s. In the extended clip above, Big Ramy details his origins from the son of fishermen through to his first ever bodybuilding competition.
When we interviewed him for Generation Iron 2, it was just before his epic display at the Olympia 2017. This is the year he placed second just behind Phil Heath. He was on top of the world and ready to prove his massive size can be matched with equally matched conditioning. While he fell short – he eventually made good on his promise last year with his big win.
But his experience starting out in bodybuilding was very different than the mammoth athlete we know today. He threw himself into the sport as an opportunity to find bigger success. While training and building muscle is a great first step – you learn a lot from actually stepping on stage and seeing the competition.
Big Ramy was ready to become a pro bodybuilder but he realized that he had a lot of improvements to do after standing beside other competitors. Specifically, he was embarrassed by his thin legs.
Instead of discouraging him, it drove him to try harder. He saw a real future in going pro and making bodybuilding his main career. Of course, his path towards learning and success would require a roller coaster path of twists and turns. Discovering Kuwait and Oxygen Gym provided him with basically a bodybuilding bootcamp.
While this help provide a foundation and extreme growth over his career, he ultimately moved on to try other coaches and other gurus in perfecting what works best for his body. Adapting and reacting is key towards improving and moving up amongst the top athletes in bodybuilding. That’s exactly what Big Ramy did and it paid off in full.
With all of that in mind, watching Big Ramy reflect on his first every bodybuilding competition just reminds us how far he’s come. How nothing is guaranteed. How only a select few through incredible hard work (and a little bit of luck) become the legends we see today.
Some believed that Big Ramy was too inconsistent to ever really win the Mr. Olympia. Others thought it was inevitable for him to reign as Olympia champion. If Ramy decided to play it safe and stick with being a fisherman, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
You can watch Big Ramy reflect back on his early years and his first ever bodybuilding competition in our GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also watch Generation Iron 2 on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!
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!
Big Ramy Is The Mr. Olympia 2021 Champion In Repeat Victory
Big Ramy wins the Mr. Olympia 2021.
For a moment there, it seemed like Big Ramy might not retain his Mr. Olympia title. During the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging Friday night, Ramy looked off with his conditioning. Fans worst fears were realized – his inconsistent condition was rearing its ugly head again. But just like so many amazing Olympia stories – Ramy sharpened up by Saturday night and reminded us why he’s champion in the first place. It’s no longer a fluke – Big Ramy is the Mr. Olympia 2021 champion.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, more commonly called Big Ramy, had been a fan favorite to win the Mr. Olympia for years now. True to his name, he brings a level of size that is hardly seen by even the top pro bodybuilders currently competing. Due to his massive size, some fans even hoped he would be the second coming of Ronnie Coleman.
Big Ramy represented the pinnacle of a growing bodybuilding Mecca coming out of Kuwait. Though originally from Egypt, Ramy moved to Kuwait to train in Oxygen Gym – a location known for transforming pros into massive titans. Over the years, many pro bodybuilders moved temporarily to Kuwait for a reboot to their training. This included Mr. Olympia 2019 champion Brandon Curry.
But the initial hype behind Big Ramy did not come to fruition immediately. With ever year, Ramy showed bigger and bigger muscle during his prep leading up to the competition. But with each year he would fall short. Most notably, his conditioning was often criticized as the reason he could not bring in an Olympia victory. As of today, that all changed.
Big Ramy’s first Mr. Olympia competition was in 2013. He placed eight just a few notches below the top 6 highlights. But even with the lower placing, he immediately turned heads. His mammoth size was hardly seen in current crop of competitors. It wasn’t long before the hype train build up steam. Fans were clamoring – with time, will he become a powerhouse reigning champion?
Over the following years, Ramy improved in placing with each Olympia competition. This came to a head at the Mr. Olympia 2017 where Big Ramy placed 2nd.
It was at this competition that his promise seemed to turn into a reality. For what seemed like the first time in forever, Phil Heath actually appeared threatened. With his massive size, Big Ramy looked like a real possibility to win standing next to Phil Heath.
The competition was so close that many fans believed that Big Ramy was the rightful winner. Similar to the 2007 Mr. Olympia with Victor Martinez, the competition became controversial for potentially making the wrong call.
With Big Ramy so close to victory in 2017 and Phil Heath appearing to slightly fade – fans were excited more than ever before the Mr. Olympia 2018. Anticipation was in overdrive as fans expected to see an even more improved Big Ramy. With his conditioning issue seemingly under control – victory was just around the corner.
This would not end up being the case. In 2018, Big Ramy dropped down to a disappointing 6th place at the Mr. Olympia. His conditioning was off and he appeared to fade as the competition went on. Fans were so disappointed that Big Ramy himself issued an apology immediately after the event.
Shortly after, Big Ramy quit Oxygen Gym and changed his entire training regimen. Under a new trainer, Neil Yoda Hill, he aimed to take a new approach towards prepping for the Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately, more bad news was on the horizon as Big Ramy announced in 2019 that he would not compete in the Mr. Olympia. Original reports of injury seemed to be the reason behind his absence – though he initially denied these reports. After a lackluster appearance in 2018, fans were disappointed to see him miss a full year.
Of course, this story ultimately has a happy ending. It seems his year break helped further improve Big Ramy’s physique. Still sporting incredible size and a renewed conditioning – Ramy towered over the competitors at the Mr. Olympia 2020 and finally won the title.
Fast forward to 2021, the question now wasn’t whether Big Ramy will be a champion – but if he can remain a reigning champion. There has been a streak of one off Olympia champions as of late – it started with Shawn Rhoden followed by Brandon Curry. Would Ramy suffer the same fate? We now know the answer is a resounding no. But it wasn’t a straight shot to get there.
When Big Ramy appeared at the Olympia 2020 – it almost seemed obvious that he would be champion. He was so on point and stood out among all other competitors. This year, however, his conditioning seemed off compared to last year. In a top two face off during the prejudging – Brandon Curry was so on point it seemed he could exploit Ramy’s weakness and take the big win.
But a lot can change between the prejudging and the finals. Unlike many competitions throughout the year – Men’s Open have a full day between the two phases. Big Ramy was able to improve his conditioning. Combine that with his massive size and there was no way Brandon Curry could match up. It was a close battle overall. It was electric, exciting, and ultimately a well won victory.
For the full Mr. Olympia 2021 results – you can check out our coverage right here.