Tag: Big Ramy
Mr. Olympia 2021 Prejudging: The Revenge Of Brandon Curry Threatens Big Ramy
Brandon Curry looks on point against Big Ramy’s slightly off conditioning during the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging.
Friday night of the Olympia 2021 ends with a climactic cliffhanger. After a series of exciting finals – the very last event of the night was the Mr. Olympia prejudging. The best Men’s Open bodybuilders battled it out on stage for the most prestigious award in the sport. Ultimately, the prejudging came down to an ultimate face off. The returning champion Big Ramy vs the former champion Brandon Curry. It was an incredibly close match. Based on what we saw tonight – Brandon Curry very well might reclaim his Mr. Olympia title.
Of course, much can change between tonight and the finals. The competitors have a full 24 hours to make adjustments, tighten up, and prove themselves one last time on Saturday night. The battle was so close between Big Ramy and Brandon Curry – that even the slightest change could effect the outcome.
Much like the Men’s 212 prejudging – this year’s Mr. Olympia had an incredible talented and stacked lineup. It just might be one of the most tense competitions for the Men’s Open in years. Beyond the top two contenders – many up-and-coming younger competitors had a real moment to shine. And also showed off just how threatening they can become in future years. The top 5 looks to be very different than the typical names we’ve seen on the list in past years. That just shows how impressive this year’s lineup really was.
Let’s break down in our full Mr. Olympia prejudging and analysis report:
Mr. Olympia 2021 Pre-Judging Breakdown
After a round of random group comparisons, we kicked off the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging callouts in earnest with the judges initial featured choices for the top six. The expected Big Ramy, Hadi Choopan, Brandon Curry, and William Bonac were brought into the fold here. It was also exciting to see that relative newcomers Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada made their way into this lineup. Both had plenty of hype throughout the season – and their hard work seems to be paying off.
Big Ramy and Brandon Curry were squarely placed in the middle of this lineup. It was somewhat unfortunate to see William Bonac pressed off into the sidelines of the lineup. A competitor who once landed second at the Mr. Olympia and is a former Arnold Classic champion – his physique couldn’t keep him in step with the center highlighted competitors.
1st Callout Lineup
Nick Walker
Hadi Choopan
Hunter Labrada
William Bonac
Mamdouh Elssbiay
Brandon Curry
The Mr. Olympia 2021 second and third callouts went as expected – with follow up competitors battling it out for presumed rankings below sixth place. Many of these athletes also sported incredible physiques – but in the biggest competition of the year, athletes who would have otherwise landed wins found themselves facing off in lower callouts.
Roelly Winklaar found himself in the second callout. After a rough year of missing other big competitions – many fans hoped to see him in a new and improved form for a big placing. But it seems yet another missed opportunity for a fan favorite mass monster.
2nd Callout Lineup
Roelly Winklaar
Iain Valliere
Akim Williams
Mohamed Shaaban
Justin Rodriguez
James Hollingshead
3rd Callout Lineup
Andrea Presti
Patrick Moore
Regan Grimes
Hassan Mostafa
The Mr. Olympia 2021 fourth callout was an interesting one. It brought back some top competitors into the fold for what looked like a battle for sixth place. Bodybuilders Roelly Winklaar, Akim Williams, Mohamed Shaaban, and James Hollingshead all duked it out to claw up in the standings.
These competitors will be athletes to keep our eyes on during the finals tomorrow. With a full 24 hours to prepare in between the two nights – these four could shift into the top five if they place their cards right.
4th Callout Lineup
Akim Williams
Roelly Winklaar
Mohamed Shaaban
James Hollingshead
It was clear that we were working our way back up to the front of the pack. The fifth callouts seemed to focus on all but the top two competitors of the night. This is a very dangerous pack of athletes. As we’ve said before, with so much time between the two nights – this is where a lot of the placings can get shifted around by the awards ceremony tomorrow. Who of these competitors will earn the third spot? And can any of them inch past the current top two?
Fifth Callout
Nick Walker
William Bonac
Iain Valliere
Hadi Choopan
Hunter Labrada
Ultimately the entire Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging was building up to this next moment. In a two way duel – Big Ramy and Brandon Curry battled it out in a final top two callout. Big Ramy has been inconsistent with his conditioning throughout his career – and unfortunately he seemed to bring a quality of sharpness that was slightly off compared to last year. Still an extremely impressive and dangerous physique – this kind of slight slip could be all it takes to lose rank as returning champion.
It doesn’t help that Brandon Curry has remained consistent as ever. Curry has always slowly improve year after year – and 2021 is no different. Brandon cannot match up to Big Ramy’s size – but his conditioning and structure were fantastic. This is the kind of steady improvement that can take advantage of even the slightest drops in quality seen on Ramy.
Ultimately, it was a blow for blow final callout. Every other pose seemed to favor one competitor over the other back and forth. This battle is incredibly close. Add the additional 24 hours to get things into tighter shape – and this is anyones ballgame. At the moment, we would place a slight lead onto Brandon Curry. Could this be a comeback for our former champion? Only time will tell.
Until then, stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for our continued updates and coverage of the Olympia 2021.
Big Ramy Weighs In At 305 LBS (With Clothes) During Olympia 2021 Press Conference
Olympia 2021 press conference: Big Ramy jumps on the scale weighing in at 305 pounds.
The Olympia 2021 press conference is always an exciting tip of the iceberg for bodybuilding’s biggest event of the year. Rivals trade barbs, hype builds to an amazing level, and there’s always a surprise or two. For example, this year – a scale was brought on stage for an impromptu weigh-in. Big Ramy stepped on the scale and weighed in at 305 pounds.
The Olympia 2021 press conference was a bit different this year. Instead of the entire roster of athletes sitting at tables with mics – the competitors were brought out in groups based on division. One of the most exciting moments of the conference was the Men’s Open group – which brought out Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan, William Bonac, and returning champion Big Ramy.
Big Ramy, of course, is best known for his signature size. The question on many fans minds going into this competition – will Ramy bring in even more size? Or will he trim down in order to further improve conditioning? The question was put to rest Thursday afternoon – as conference host Bob Cicherillo brought out a literal scale to weight Ramy on the spot.
Big Ramy, for his credit, was candid about his size before the scale was brought out. He claims to be weighing in at 290 pounds. Definitely the higher end of the spectrum for Men’s Open – but nothing limit breaking. Bob Cicherillo wanted to put Ramy’s words to the test. A scale was brought out onto the stage and an impromptu weigh-in was conducted.
The scale revealed Big Ramy weighing in at 305 pounds. Of course, he was still wearing a full suit, shoes, and holding a microphone. Can that account for 15 extra pounds? That might be a bit much – but it lands him close to where he claims to be regarding his weight.
While this might not be an official 100% accurate weigh-in – it does show us that Big Ramy is still holding onto his signature size. Will this hurt his conditioning this year? We’ll soon find out on Friday night’s pre-judging. Ramy’s conditioning has been inconsistent in years past. Perhaps his Olympia 2020 showcase was the key that unlocked his struggles. But we won’t know for sure until he wins another Sandow trophy. That’s what makes this year so important for Ramy. He needs to prove that he is not a one time fluke but a reigning champion.
Upon revealing his clothed weight of 305 pounds, William Bonac had some strong opinions to share. “Let’s see if the weight can help you,” Bonac chimed in as Ramy was stepping off the scale. Bonac is known for his smaller stature compared to the likes of Brandon Curry or Big Ramy. This has always been a sticking point for critics – could Bonac ever beat Ramy (while on point) due to the limitations of his size? Bonac doesn’t seem worried. His words seem to imply he thinks he can out-condition the returning champ.
But all of this is just talk. It’s fun, it’s exciting, it gets the crowd going. But until we see them side by side on stage tomorrow night – we won’t know the true chances each of these athletes have.
Generation Iron will continue to cover the Olympia 2021 all weekend – including tonight’s Meet The Olympians alongside the pre-judging and finals both Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned and make sure to visit our official Olympia 2021 coverage page.
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!
Iain Valliere: There Are Only Two Ways To Beat Big Ramy At Mr. Olympia 2021
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Iain Valliere breaks down the two approaches to beating Big Ramy ahead of the Mr. Olympia 2021.
We are less than one week away from the biggest bodybuilding event of the year – Mr. Olympia 2021. This will be Big Ramy’s first chance to defend his champion status. Will he prove his win to be more than just a fluke? Or will he be another athlete to join the one and done list of single Olympia champions? Only time will tell – but in the meantime we spoke with qualified Olympia competition Iain Valliere on whether or not Ramy can be defeated. He thinks it’s a tough mountain to climb – but there is a slim margin to beat Ramy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Iain Valliere details the only two ways that Big Ramy can be defeated at the Mr. Olympia 2021.
In 2020, Big Ramy showcased the greatest physique of his career. For the first time ever, his conditioning matched his enormous size. This made him a powerhouse and nearly unstoppable. Returning champion Brandon Curry could not hold up – nor could seven time former Olympia champion Phil Heath. Ramy was fully realized. It earned him a spot on the short list of Olympia champions.
It’s been a near year since that epic victory. We are just under a week before the Mr. Olympia 2021. This is our first time to see Big Ramy on stage competing again. Traditionally, Big Ramy’s biggest weakness has been the consistency of his conditioning. One year he will be close to on point. The next he would be completely off point. Just because Ramy won a Mr. Olympia title doesn’t mean the consistency problem will be fixed.
That being said, Big Ramy’s impressive physique in 2020 might also signal he has learned what is needed to keep his conditioning consistent. We’ll soon find out this weekend. During our conversation with fellow Olympia competitor Iain Valliere – we asked his take on Big Ramy’s physique and how he could be potentially toppled from his throne. The way Valliere sees it, there are only two viable tactics for defeating Big Ramy.
The first is to beat him in size. If a competitor can show up with insane size and conditioning to at the very least match Big Ramy – then he can lose the title. The second tactic is to look at Ramy’s weakness and exploit them. This means that a bodybuilder would focus less on size and more on absolute superior conditioning and aesthetics. Iain Valliere thinks that no competitor is currently poised to succeed with the first tactic. This leaves only conditioning and aesthetics as the superior route to defeat Ramy.
“I think there’s two ways to beat Ramy,” Iain Valliere stated in our interview. He continued:
“It’s going to come down to either a guy with really really crazy shape like a Brandon or a Nathan but compiled with really good conditioning. Or it’s going to come down to someone bigger with better conditioning. I don’t see anyone being bigger than Ramy so I think the way to beat Ramy is with detail and shape. I think trying to be bigger than the biggest guy is insanity.”
Looking back at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, Iain Valliere saw Brandon Curry as the closest competitor to take down Big Ramy.
“I think someone like Brandon last year could have closed that gap if his conditioning was a little better. Because he has the shape, he has the symmetry, he has that silhouette of, like, a very very dominant bodybuilder with the bubbliness and flow and tiny waist. Where he was just a little subpar was his conditioning in comparison [to Big Ramy]”
Iain Valliere goes on to state that Brandon Curry is still a superb athlete and is only critiquing his physique in comparison to Big Ramy. In fact, Iain Vailliere even takes himself out of the equation – stating that he is not in the right place to beat someone like Ramy at this year’s competition.
So it seems, according to Iain Valliere, the Mr. Olympia 2021 title will teeter on two factors. How on point Big Ramy is with his conditioning and how on point a rival competitor can raise the bar to exploit Ramy’s weaknesses. It all hangs on the delicate blade of a knife.
You can watch Iain Valliere’s full breakdown on tackling Big Ramy at Mr. Olympia 2021 by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Big Ramy’s Top 10 Training Tips
No one hits the gym hoping for mediocre results.
You go in wanting to get the maximum benefit out of every workout. Here are 10 training tips, courtesy of Mr. Olympia Big Ramy, so you can get the greatest benefit from every one of your workouts.
Tip #1 – Warm up with cardio
Even when I’m bulking, I always do a few minutes of cardio to warm up before training. This facilitates blood flow to the muscles and helps prevent injury.
Tip #2 – Listen to music
The right music playlist can help you get fired up for a big lift and keep you motivated during a brutal workout. I personally like to listen to rock and heavy metal when I’m training. You’ll find Metallica, Tool, System of a Down and Korn on my workout playlists.
Tip #3 – Set goals
Setting goals helps trigger positive new behaviors and helps keep you focused. I always set goals for myself to ensure I am getting stronger and making progress. Setting goals like adding 30lbs to your bench press in 12 weeks is a good way to ensure that you keep making progress and stay motivated.
Tip #4 – Remember to train your legs
Legs are the largest and strongest muscle group in your body. Because of this, squats, deadlifts and other heavy leg exercises will release massive amounts of testosterone, IGF-1 and growth hormone. As a result, not only will your legs benefit, but your other muscle groups will as well.
Tip #5 – Stick to free weights
Even though modern gyms are full of complex, high-tech machines, they will not build a solid foundation of muscle mass the same way that free weights will. Dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells are the best when it comes to building muscle, especially for a beginner.
Tip #6 – Prioritize Sleep
One of the most essential bodybuilding tips is to allow your body time to recover. Aim for 8-9 hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble falling asleep, try developing a night time routine or try a natural sleep supplement. The one I personally use is called Sleep Juice made by Enhanced Labs.
Tip #7 – Change is good
It’s good to change up the way you’re doing exercises in the gym (stance, grip, angles, sets/reps, technique, etc.). You’ll always do the basics exercises, but the way that you execute them needs to include variations. This is an excellent tool for progression in your training and overall physique.
Tip #8 – Find a coach/training partner
The biggest improvements in my physique occurred while training with people who were more knowledgeable or stronger than me. There’s always something new to learn so find someone knowledgeable and make them your coach or training partner.
Tip #9 – Fuel your workouts
Eat protein before and after you weight train. Protein consumed 60-90 minutes before you train will help induce a muscle-building effect from the training stimulus. Consume the same amount of protein within 30 to 60 minutes after your workout combined with some carbohydrate — and creatine if you decide to take that.
Tip #10 – Use a good pre workout supplement
A well formulated pre-workout supplement will turn a good workout into a great one. I teamed up with Enhanced Labs to create my own pre-workout called Ramy’s Rage. Give it a try, I use it before every workout!
Wrap Up
Big Ramy knows exactly what is required to maximize his training and performance. These 10 tips can greatly influence your gains so you see that massive strength and size like Mr. Olympia himself.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Big Ramy Instagram
Big Ramy Looks Massive and Shredded at 322Lbs Ahead of the Olympia
Big Ramy is looking super impressive at a solid 322lbs.
Ahead of the Olympia it appears that Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay is looking ready to defend his crown. A recent update of the 2020 Mr. Olympia shows a well conditioned 322lbs behemoth ready to take on the competition.
As the 2021 Olympia draws closer, more and more fans have been wondering about the 2029 champion. Where has he been? What does his physique look like? Is he even in shape to defend his title? The bottom line is, where is Big Ramy and why hasn’t he been hyping up his return to the stage?
In this social media era many have becomes spoiled. Where back in the day we had to wait until a magazine dropped to get an update on a bodybuilder, athletes frequently update their social media pages consistently. So when Big Ramy went radio silent after his Olympia victory, many were confused as where the champion faded off to.
But Big Ramy isn’t the kind of man who just disappears and stops training. On the contrary. It appears that Big Ramy has been training hard and continuing to dial in his conditioning.
Next Level Physique
A recent post from Chad Nicholls shows the 2020 Olympia champion in tip top condition. The post is of Big Ramy performing a back lat spread that looks insanely impressive. You can also tell how conditioned he is from his vascularity.
Big Ramy is in truly impressive condition there’s no doubt about it. The post states that he’s weighing in at a massive 322lbs as well.
It’s clear that all the work Big Ramy has been doing has been paying off. Working with Dennis James and Chad Nicholls has been a clear recipe for success. The Egyptian bodybuilder was in truly impressive shape for the 2020 show and looks to be following that trend in 2021. Nicholls posted never before seen photos of Big Ramy prior to his 2020 victory that shows their work bearing fruit.
Throwback Thursday – never before seen pic of @big_ramy on December 16, 2020 – This pic is right before meal five – This was the process before every meal see where he’s at and make adjustments.
There’s no question; if Big Ramy brings the same conditioning as last year, he’s walking away the 2021 Mr. Olympia.
What do you think of Big Ramy and his 322lbs shredded physique?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Big Ramy Looks Massive In Preparation For 2021 Olympia
The 2020 Olympia champion looks primed to compete for another title this year.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, put on a show during the 2020 Olympia and was able to take home the title. This was his first title and looks ready to try and make it back-to-back in October.
Big Ramy is usually one of the biggest competitors when he steps on stage. He has an incredible physique with massive legs that puts him in position to win any competition he takes place in. There have been some critiques but he is looking like he is making adjustments ahead of the 2021 Olympia.
In preparation for the biggest competition of the year, Big Ramy is looking insane in training.
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Big Ramy appeared in the 2017 Olympia and performed well against Phil Heath, a seven-time champion. He finished second in this competition before falling to sixth the very next year. He did not compete during the 2019 Olympia and Brandon Curry took home the prize. In 2020, Big Ramy was able to top both Curry and Heath.
Since becoming a pro in 2012, Big Ramy has won five competitions. This includes his first as a pro at the 2013 New York Pro. He has competed in seven Olympias thus far so he knows what to expect heading in. If Big Ramy is at his best, he will be difficult to beat.
There is no doubt that Big Ramy will be in a position to win once again but it will not be easy. There is a long list of talented competitors that have already qualified. This includes Curry and William Bonac, who said he wants to beat Big Ramy at his best. When these athletes take the stage, there will be plenty of size and Big Ramy could lead the way. Coming off a victory last year, there is plenty of momentum and confidence this time around.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Matt Jansen Answers: Did Big Ramy Cement Mr. Olympia As A Size Game?
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Matt Jansen believes that Big Ramy further cemented Mr. Olympia as a battle of size… but there’s one wild card catch.
Matt Jansen is the trainer who has been working with Nick Walker during his rising success. Walker has been compared to Dorian Yates and his size is being praised as he continues to improve and prepare for the Mr. Olympia. With Big Ramy’s win in 2020, it seems he is further raising the bar when it comes to muscle mass. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we ask Matt Jansen if Big Ramy has cemented Olympia as a game of size – and how that may help Nick Walker’s future.
During our conversation with Matt Jansen, we asked him how he first got into bodybuilding and coaching. What brought him to the place he is today – now known as an iconic modern coach responsible for fantastic physiques? Jansen goes into detail about his past as a bodybuilder and how his entire world was changed when he started focusing on a new training strategy that included a bigger focus on rest.
This change of pace opened Matt Jansen’s mind towards the power of coaching and training knowledge. He later then became mentored under Neil Hill – which began his path towards becoming the coach and trainer he is today. He’s now coaching one of the most threatening up-and-comers in the pro league – Nick Walker.
Nick Walker is a bodybuilder who brings unprecedented amounts of mass for his age. Still in his 20s, he already looks like a mass monster who had been training well into his 30s or 40s. Of course, he still has improvements to go – but he already has become highlighted as a big contender in the sport.
That’s why we also asked Matt Jansen about Big Ramy’s win at the Mr. Olympia 2020. Ramy represents true mass monster size unseen since Ronnie Coleman. While he has struggled to match the same kind of sharp conditioning that made Ronnie Coleman one of a kind – Ramy pulled it together for a truly rewarding physique last year.
Does Big Ramy’s win finally put the nail in the coffin when it comes to size? Has the Mr. Olympia proper become a battle for the most shockingly massive bodybuilder with good conditioning?
Matt Jansen believes so – and also jokingly admits that this will help Nick Walker’s future at the Mr. Olympia. If judges will all be pairing up competitors against Big Ramy in the center – having mass monster size will be of huge importance.
But Matt Jansen does also admit that the mass monster battle is not 100% set in stone. There is one wild card that can change the way judges lean – whether it be this Mr. Olympia or down the line. Matt Jansen believes that Shawn Rhoden presents a smaller but immensely aesthetic physique that can still overcome the likes of Big Ramy. Of course, Rhoden is not able to compete as of Mr. Olympia 2021.
If Shawn Rhoden were able to compete – Matt Jansen believes it can skew the Olympia lineup to favor both aesthetic and mass monster equally. Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia before against many mass monsters larger than him. He has the talent to do it again.
Alas, we don’t know when or if that will ever happen at this point. So for now it seems mass monster size will dominate as Big Ramy returns as the Olympia champion. Of course, the joy of competitive sports is that anything can happen. Nothing is set in stone – but for now Matt Jansen is feeling good about Nick Walker’s future pairing up against the likes of Big Ramy.
You can watch Matt Jansen speak in detail about his coaching origins, Big Ramy, and the Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Samir Bannout Answers: Is There A Middle East Movement Dominating Bodybuilding?
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Samir Bannout analyzes the rise of Middle Eastern bodybuilders and the future of bodybuilding champions.
Samir Bannout has the distinction of being the first Middle Eastern bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia. A lot has changed since then. The rise of the camel crew and an exceptional focus put on bodybuilders who train in Dubai has increased the dominance of Middle Eastern pro bodybuilders. Most recently, Big Ramy, hailing from Egypt, won the Mr. Olympia title. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout analyzes whether or not this is a Middle East movement that will dominate bodybuilding for years to come.
Samir Bannout is proud to be the first Middle Eastern bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia. He also has stayed extremely passionate and focused on the sport of bodybuilding ever since his retirement. Event today, he dedicates himself to further helping improve and educate new generations of bodybuilders to support the sport. So what does he think of the rise of Dubai as a mecca for bodybuilding? And of Big Ramy’s win at the Mr. Olympia 2020? Does he see this as a true movement of Middle Eastern bodybuilding?
Samir Bannout admits that there has been a cultural shift in competitive bodybuilding. Dubai has become a hot spot for bodybuilders. While not all of them are actually from the Middle East, Dubai has become a new mecca that promises unreal transformations for competitors who train there. Brandon Curry is the most notable man to train in Dubai, transform his physique, and become a Mr. Olympia champion.
But of course, this new sort of mecca is also benefiting competitors from the Middle East. Big Ramy is now our current Mr. Olympia champion and we’ve seen the likes of Hadi Choopan and Kamal Elgargni show extreme dominance in the sport.
Samir Bannout is unsure if this is a true long term movement though. He points out that bodybuilding has always been a very diverse and international sport. He’s personally seen many rising bodybuilders across a variety of countries that have him excited for the future of the sport.
On top of that, the past year of pro bodybuilding was marred by COVID-19.Big Ramy certainly deserved the Mr. Olympia and showed his best physique. But there will always be a “what if” about 2019 and 2020. We have no idea how the virus affected the top pros personal lives and training. Samir Bannout believes that perhaps 2021 will be bigger indicator. Will Big Ramy and Hadi Choopan continue to thrive at this year’s Mr. Olympia?
During this interview clip, Samir Bannout also talks about his own success as being the first Middle Eastern Mr. Olympia – and reflects on whether not he retired too soon. As he had mentioned previously, he felt slighted by the sport after his 6th place finish in 1984. This got into his head and took the fun out of the sport. He often wonders if he could have stuck with it and eventually moved past the negativity.
You can watch Samir Bannout talk about the rise of Middle Eastern bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Melvin Anthony: How To Beat Big Ramy At The Mr. Olympia
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Melvin Anthony breaks down how Big Ramy needs to be more than “a little off” to lose Mr. Olympia. He needs to be knocked out.
After many years of close calls, Big Ramy has finally become the Mr. Olympia champion many fans hoped he would be. Now with the 2020 Olympia under his belt, he’s entering the biggest competition of the year as a returning champion. Will he be hard to defeat? Or will his past challenges with conditioning plague him in 2021? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melvin Anthony details what it will take for Big Ramy to lose the Mr. Olympia 2021.
During our conversation with Melvin Anthony, we asked if he had watched the Mr. Olympia 2020 last year. He does indeed continue to follow bodybuilding and was incredibly impressed by Big Ramy’s physique. He believes that the athlete certainly deserved the champion title.
But what does the future hold for Big Ramy? Will he continue to reign as champion or another one shot champion? Melvin Anthony doesn’t claim he can read the future – but he does look back at past champions to predict what it will take for Big Ramy to be defeated.
Melvin Anthony knows one thing is certain, an Olympia champion almost always maintains some sort of reign and repeat victories. There are exceptions and the past few years actually showcased that in the form of Shawn Rhoden and Brandon Curry. That being said, the majority of bodybuilders who win Mr. Olympia go on to win multiple in a row.
So while this is not a guarantee for Big Ramy, Melvin Anthony believes that it will take more than him being “a little off” to lose the title. Judging is meant to be as objective as possible. At the end of the day, though, it’s a subjective sport. Judges will see Big Ramy differently than in previous years. He’s no longer a competitor hungry to win his first Olympia, he’s now a returning champion.
So Melvin Anthony believes that the only way Big Ramy will lose is if he is defeated by a “knock out.” What he means by this is that either Ramy has to make significant mistakes to his physique or someone has to show up with a next-level physique than we’ve seen so far. Big Ramy has a lot of mass on his side – but his conditioning is where he has struggled in the past. No one will be him on pure mass alone – so all other competitors will need to be more perfect than they ever have been in order to surpass Ramy. Or again as we mentioned earlier – Big Ramy would have to make a huge mistake.
Melvin Anthony acknowledges that everyone on the stage has a great challenge ahead of them. Big Ramy has the pressure of either matching his 2020 physique or making it even better. The other competitors all need to try and contend with Ramy’s massive size.
You can watch Melvin Anthony speak in full detail about Big Ramy and the future of Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!