Tag: Bob Cicherillo
‘Only an Idiot Would Want to Get Rid of 212’: Bob Cicherillo Issues Fiery Response
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo is a revered analyst of the game known for his often hot takes. He isn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers no matter the topic at hand. In a recent video uploaded on YouTube, Cicherillo issued a fiery response against those calling for the end of the Men’s 212 division.
The Men’s 212 class was first introduced as the 210-pound division in 2008. The IFBB experimented with different weight caps before settling on the 212-pound mark in 2011. Since its inception, it has proven to be an increasingly popular category in the sport.
Numerous contenders have made their splash in other divisions, such as Former 212 competitor Hadi Choopan, who created history by winning the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Former 212 Olympia champ Derek Lunsford switched to the Open group last year and scored silver at the Olympia.
There has been a movement questioning the validity of the 212 class in the wake of the success some contenders found in the Open. Bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest suggested that the league remove the category from the Olympia event and add the prize money to the Open section. He believes the top 212 contenders would be able to hold their own against the mass monsters based on the performance of Choopan, Lunsford, and former Olympia king Kamal Elgargni.
Men’s Open standout Iain Valliere isn’t a fan of the 212 either. He voiced his disapproval of the group and theorized contenders should work on developing their abilities to compete in the Open instead. On the other hand, Lunsford argued the 212 needed to stay based on the opportunities it provided athletes who were working their way up.
Bob Cicherillo issues a fiery message for those wanting the 212 division to end
In a recent YouTube video, Bob Cicherillo hit back at those calling for the elimination of the Men’s 212 division.
“There’s some people calling for the demise of the 212,” said Cicherillo. “Let me just clarify that. Those aren’t people those are idiots. Let’s get that clear. Only an idiot would want to get rid of a division that’s been so successful and provides history for people.”
“[212] gave the chance for Joses, Felix Lewis’, and everybody else that we can bring into the discussion an opportunity to turn professional, compete in an even level playing field against people that were within 10 pounds, not 50 or 70 pounds. It’s literally given careers to people. Ask these guys if they want to get rid of it. We provide a platform that people can literally go from one division, they outgrow it and go to another.”
“The Hadi Choopans and Derek Lunsfords, these are guys that were able to transition. If you’re that good god bless go to that but why would we want to get rid of it for the other 99% of guys who have done very well and again has provided contracts, guest postings, starting businesses, representing supplement companies. I’m sure Flex Lewis would have done very well in the Open but it’s a little more impressive when you’re a seven-time Olympia champion.
Bob Cicherillo faced heat for his criticism of former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay two months ago. He remained steadfast in his suggestions to the Egyptian to move on from professional competition and doubled down on it following the conclusion of the 2023 Arnold Classic. The pair made peace weeks later as Ramy indicated no plans to hang up his posing trunks just yet.
Cicherillo believes Ramy would compete at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. He backed Choopan to defeat fellow Open sensation Nick Walker at the event. However, he favored Samson Dauda to triumph over all after his Arnold Classic win.
The 57-year-old extended his support for Kamal Elgargni to add the 2023 Masters Olympia title under his belt last month. He’s confident the former 212 champ has what it takes to come out on top of the show without adding size.
The 212 division has enabled many contenders to make a name for themselves in bodybuilding and it’s hard to imagine what the sport would look like without it given its immense success.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 7 May, 2023 | 12:33 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo on Olympia TV Labeling Athletes ‘Failures’: ‘It Wasn’t Done Intentionally’
Bob Cicherillo is speaking up for the Olympia social media team after a post upset fans over the weekend. In a Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Cicherillo said Olympia’s Instagram post calling Iain Valliere, James Hollingshead, Antoine Vaillant, and Steve Kuclo ‘failures’ was done unintentionally.
After Hadi Choopan captured gold at the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, changes at the top of the Open class became a major talking point. At the show, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay failed to retain his title and dropped to fifth. The podium saw Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker finish second and third. In the aftermath, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo was vocal about the outcome as fans suspected Ramy wasn’t offered a fair shot on stage.
Debate continued following Samson Dauda‘s victory at the Arnold Classic last month. Walker, who placed runner-up, found the results controversial. In fact, fan outrage surrounding Dauda’s win continued to build until Bob Cicherillo got involved. He took to multiple podcasts to explain the judging process. Moreover, he stressed that Dauda won because he possessed a better combination of factors like conditioning, balance, proportions, and stage presentation.
Instagram
Prime Time Muscle is a bodybuilding podcast represented by the Olympia TV YouTube channel. In a recent post made to Instagram, they teased their latest video. However, some fans found the thumbnail and description disrespectful given their use of words such as ‘bust’ and ‘failure.’
Bob Cicherillo on Olympia TV’s Distasteful Post & Fan Outrage: “The Clickbait Stuff Needs to End”
In response to fan backlash, the OlympiaLLC Instagram page deleted the post. The Prime Time Muscle episode was also deleted from YouTube. According to Cicherillo, the choice of words was done ‘unintentionally.’
“For those that have been following the bouncing ball, there was a video put out by our good friends, Terrick and Chris Cormier and Tim Wilkins, they do a show called Prime Time Muscle. They put a video out and it was actually pretty innocuous, if you were actually able to catch the video but it was removed unfortunately, we’ll get to that in a moment.
The title of it was ‘Olympia Threat or Bust?’ Now that was probably where the problem started and ended because it wasn’t really worded proper in my opinion; I think that’s where a lot of this outrage had occurred. In the tag it said Olympia failures or promises. This is inherently where the problem came about, because you can’t judge a book by its cover. The clickbait stuff needs to end.”
“Listen, we’re all in the same biz, we’re all trying to catch someone’s attention but blatantly putting something out just to catch somebody’s attention is not really being – it’s being rather disingenuous. We catch on quick. We’ve all seen podcasts that are no longer on YouTube that have literally made their following by this action, and again, it gets old quickly. You don’t need clickbait if you got good content. I don’t think it was done intentionally, I think it was the wrong verbiage use.”
Cicherillo highlighted that the Olympia is an entity and doesn’t hold opinions regarding the physiques of different bodybuilders. He added that Hollingshead, Valliere, Kuclo, and Vaillant didn’t take the post personally.
“The Olympia is an entity. The Olympia doesn’t make statements unless it’s something pertaining to Olympia. Here’s where Olympia is going to be, here is where VIP tickets will be on sale, that type of stuff. Much like the IFBB Pro League, the IFBB Pro League does not have an opinion when it comes to things of this nature or how good a bodybuilder is.”
“Iain Valliere, great bodybuilder, but a top 10 Olympian a few times; they’re not referencing him as some sort of failure or bust to the Olympia or this isn’t a guy whose lived up to his expectations, they’re giving critique. There’s a few others. We’re not going to play them all. Iain, James Hollingshead, Steve Kuclo – they’re just referencing some bodybuilders and giving some critique to literally get to the next level,” Cicherillo said.
While the video was taken down, Cicherillo said its contents weren’t as offensive as the post made to Instagram.
“So to see the outrage that I’ve seen the other day from the fanbase… you got to check yourselves here people. I’m talking about the fans in particular out there. Don’t take things so personally. This was not an attack on the Olympians. ‘Oh, the Olympia should be ashamed of itself.’ Again, you’re talking about a competition – an entity- they, they Olympia, don’t have an opinion when it comes to individual competition and individual competitors that are in there trying to win a show.”
“I want to make sure it’s clear. Not only is everyone entitled to an opinion but then you have to reference who’s making that opinion and what they’re talking about. I can see clearly that most of you did not watch the video; you saw the title, you assumed what it was all about, and then you got crazy.”
As a result of the fiasco, Terrick El Guindy apologized for the mishap and explained that it was a ‘terrible choice of words.’
“Words are powerful. I learned this over the weekend when I wrote a post to promote the latest episode of Prime Time Muscle. My intention was to analyze whether a few athletes didn’t live up to expectations at the 2022 Olympia. Unfortunately I used the word “failure” when I wrote the post (implying failure to live up to expectations). A terrible choice of words on my part. Olympia athletes are the best in the world!!!! I have reached out to Iain and James to apologize for the poor choice of words. They were both very gracious about it. Bodybuilding fans are passionate. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.” El Guindy posted.
El Guindy’s opinions on the Prime Time Muscle podcast hold weight given his status as a promoter and IFBB Pro League judge. The last time fans heard from him, he offered advice for Nick Walker who he believes to be a future Mr. Olympia winner. El Guindy said if Walker improves the volume of his legs, he’ll never lose to Samson Dauda again.
The latest post from El Guindy and Olympia raises the question of how far media can go to attract attention. As for Cicherillo, he doesn’t believe clickbait content has a place in the sport.
You can watch the full YouTube video below courtesy of Bob Cicherillo’s YouTube channel:
Published: 1 May, 2023 | 11:20 AM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Reacts to 2023 Masters Olympia Roster: ‘Kamal Elgargni Is Going to Be Very Difficult to Beat’
IFBB Pro League athletes rep Bob Cicherillo has become a leading voice in the bodybuilding community. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Cicherillo examined the newly released 2023 Masters Olympia roster and named Kamal Elgargni as a clear-cut favorite.
Cicherillo, who carved out his own career as a Men’s Open pro, remains connected with the sport in a variety of capacities. In addition to his duties as an athletes rep, Cicherillo serves as the commentator for the two biggest bodybuilding shows in the world, Mr. Olympia and the Arnold Classic.
Last year, the Masters Olympia competition announced its return following an 11-year absence. The show is scheduled for August 25-27 at the BT Arena in Cluj Napoca, Romania. Following Jake Wood’s confirmation of the contest, fans immediately began eying potential competitors.
There were suspicions that four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler was preparing for a possible return. However, in a Cutler Cast podcast, he dismissed the idea. Instead, Cutler admitted that he was transforming his physique as a personal goal before turning 50. Fan speculation about entries screeched to a halt on Tuesday when Cutler and head judge Steve Weinberger revealed a complete list of competitors from a total of 10 divisions.
Bob Cicherillo Says Masters Olympia Was Created for Lou Ferrigno: ‘It Was Put Together for Him to Win’
According to Cicherillo, the Masters Olympia was first created specifically for Lou Ferrigno, who was ultimately denied by Golden Era veteran Robby Robinson in 1994.
“That [Masters Olympia history] goes back to 1994. Interestingly, this show was pretty much set up for Lou Ferrigno to make his big comeback. It was no secret that Lou was a big Weider athlete at the time, the biggest if you get into physicalities. He was very close with Joe Weider and he was making a comeback.”
“This was literally put together for Lou to win and he would have won if not for Robby Robinson, The Black Prince who showed up on game day who put it all together, looked phenomenal and when the smoke cleared they just could not deny that Robby was the best on that day and at that show.”
Cicherillo credited Bob Paris as an early influence and gave an overview of former champions who found success on the Masters Olympia stage such as Vince Taylor and Don Youngblood.
“He [Bob Paris] was an early influence in my career and a lot of other people’s, generally regarded as one of the best posers of all time but also one of the best physiques, especially if you’re into the aesthetic look and that type of thing. Interestingly enough, Bob Paris never won a pro show. Ain’t that something?”
“The highest he ever got was a couple third place finishes and he never cracked the top five at the Olympia,” added Cicherillo.
“Alright, 96-2001, the great Vince Taylor, no disputing it, Vince was simply head and shoulders above the rest. What he produced out there, I wouldn’t say a Masters physique, it was a damn good physique whether he was in the Open or the Masters; he was the winningest bodybuilder of all time to that point before that record was ecliped by the great Ronnie Coleman and then eclipsed again by Dexter Jackson. That record will probably never be beat.”
“Don Youngblood spoiled Vince’s party.”
Before breaking down the current contenders slated to compete in August, Bob highlighted the impact Dexter Jackson left on the sport. He also clarified that the Masters Olympia show fell off for several years due to a lack of interest from fans.
“It’s amazing how much his name [Dexter Jackson] seems to come up when talking about bodybuilding history. Listen, Dexter was Dexter, nobody was going to beat him. Now, that was 11 years ago. Again, why are there big gaps in time, why hasn’t the Masters sustained? Well, the Masters is an interesting dichotomy of what the fans want to see versus what’s profitable, what has an ROI, what sells tickets, it’s still business at the end of the day.”
Cicherillo Says Kamal Elgargni Can Win 2023 Masters Olympia at a Lean 215 Lbs
Given his activity levels and current physique, Cicherillo recognizes Kamal Elgargni as a big favorite. However, he also expects Josh Lenartowicz to put on a stellar performance.
“Let’s get into the Open. Now, this is what I was waiting for. I was curious because we’ve heard some names, everybody from Jay Cutler to Johnnie Jackson, my good buddy Jimmy Mentis out there, big shout out Jimmy, a lot of names were going around as possibly coming back, Kai Greene, Phil Heath even right? But the list came out yesterday, none of those guys are in it.”
“But guess who is in it? How about Josh Lenartowicz? We haven’t seen Josh in six or seven years, I don’t know, it’s been a while,” said Cicherillo. “He’s going to present a physique that’s going to be very very competitive. But, he’s got Kamal Elgargni, now Kamal is obviously not one of the bigger guys, he’s a 212 Olympia champion — that goes a long way. That means he’s obviously the best at what he does against other guys in that range.
Now, can he put on a few pounds without losing that physique, because he tends to get a little square when he goes up in weight. He doesn’t need it; he should probably come in no higher than 215 and present a package that’s going to be very difficult to beat. He’s been competing as recently as just this last year, it’s not like he’s coming back after five or 10 years. Kamal is definitely going to be – he’s got a shot at the number one spot,” Bob Cicherillo shared.
The Olympia organizers revealed that $229,000 is on the line, which will be divided among all categories. Some in the sport, such as Victor Martinez, took issue with the prize money and said it would have taken at least $250,000 to entice him to enter.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Legend Dexter Jackson Shares Insane Back Workout, Looking Beastly in Retirement
Kamal Elgargni will aim to capture his first Masters Olympia title in late August. Bob Cicherillo believes Elgargni is the man to beat given his experience and status as a former 212 Olympia winner.
You can watch the full video below courtesy of the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 28 April, 2023 | 1:20 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Wants William Bonac to Retire on Olympia Stage & Explains Samson Dauda’s Rise to the Top
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo often lends his voice to educating bodybuilding fans on the judging of events and more. In a recent interview with Desktop Bodybuilding, Cicherillo talked about William Bonac’s exit plan from the sport and shared his thoughts on the rise of Samson Dauda. Bodybuilding veteran William Bonac has been…
Bob Cicherillo Says Big Ramy Not Taking 2023 Off, Talks Nick Walker vs Hadi Choopan: ‘Hadi at 100% Wins’
Despite initial speculation, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo believes fans will see Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay back on a contest stage in 2023. In a recent interview with Desktop Bodybuilding, Cicherillo said Big Ramy would likely compete at this year’s Olympia and discussed a possible showdown between Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan.
As a two-time Mr. Olympia, fans and bodybuilding veterans expected Ramy to retain his title for the next few years. However, the 2022 Olympia contest was highly competitive and he was unable to defend successfully. Instead, Hadi Choopan secured his first title with Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker taking second and third, respectively. In a shocking turn of events, Ramy dropped to fifth place.
With redemption fueling his next appearance, Big Ramy made a surprise entrance into the 2023 Arnold Classic. Before the event, he received intravenous stem cell injections in hopes of rectifying some of the issues that held him back from success, like his lats, triceps, and lower back. Dr. Khan, who oversaw Ramy’s therapy, believed it would make a difference in the months to come.
And while Elssbiay brought an improved package to Columbus, Ohio, it wasn’t complete enough to stop Samson Dauda from claiming gold. Ramy battled with Shaun Clarida en route to securing fourth. In light of his last two contests, Bob Cicherillo suspected that Ramy’s time on top had come to an abrupt end.
Cicherillo upset fans after admitting Ramy had little-to-no chance of regaining his Mr. Olympia title. He joined Ramy in a one-on-one interview recently, where they discussed the Egyptian native’s future in the sport. During the conversation, Ramy mentioned that he might not return until next year’s Olympia (2024). However, it now appears Cicherillo expects Ramy to make a play for Choopan’s title this November.
Bob Cicherillo Talks Big Ramy 2023 Plans: ‘I Don’t Think He’s Taking the Entire Year Off’
Bob said he misspoke during his recent interview with Big Ramy. He believes Elssbiay will likely compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“You just hit it. What I meant to say was the next Olympia, not really – I consider next year, we all talk in those same terms, it was really just me misspeaking in the way I was putting it. What I meant to say is we’re probably not going to see you until the next Olympia. Now, I think he was thinking the same thing. I don’t think he’s taking the entire year off.
But, you know, he was pretty candid in that interview as you heard. He’s pretty good. You can see there’s a sense of – he doesn’t really know. He’s in some uncharted waters right now which he was pretty much telling everybody, which is he’s going to have to see how his body responds. There has been some notable changes I think we can all see that.”
“We’ve heard he’s done some stem cells and this and that. Listen, there’s no guarantee with those types of things. If it involves nerves, which I think it does, we’ve seen it with bodybuilders over the year, body parts just start to shrink up. It’s a nerve impingement or whatever. Sometimes that don’t come back. If it don’t come back, he’s going to have a very difficult time.”
Cicherillo suspects Ramy will call it a career if he’s not able to ‘get back to where he was.’
“He may not be able to return to form as he said, which is interesting because everyone got on my ass for saying he can’t return to what he looked like basically, so why would he bother. He said the same thing. If he can’t get back to where he was then he’ll hang them up. What champion wouldn’t? Why would you want to come back at 50%? I don’t want to see that not just with Ramy, but I dont’ want to see that with any champion.”
Can Nick Walker Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia If Both Are 100%? Cicherillo Says ‘No.’
Despite Choopan’s latest performance, Cicherillo isn’t convinced he’ll remain champion after the next Olympia show.
“Yeah he just did [beat Nick Walker] it was called last year’s Olympia. Well, listen, Hadi can improve too right? So, I mean listen, Nick – anybody can improve okay, but what you can’t improve is your structure or proportions and that’s where Nick is going to have a tough time against a Hadi and not just Hadi because I believe Hadi is going to have a difficult time repeating this year, if I’m making an early prediction.”
With both men at 100%, Cicherillo says Choopan defeats Walker but reserved Samson Dauda as one of his frontrunners to win 2023 Olympia.
“I already put out there that I think Samson is literally the man to beat. I think it will come down to him and Derek Lunsford and you have some other new guys coming on. So, Nick’s got his work cut out but you can never count Nick out because he’s a workhorse and he’ll work himself to death and all he’s done is improved so you don’t ever count him out but by the same token, we got to keep things real and I got to look at what I see when it comes to structure, shape, symmetry, proportions, muscularity, and display of the muscles — all those factors come into play. Is Nick a contender? Absolutely. Do I think he can beat Hadi? If they are both 100%, No,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
Cicherillo compared Walker to bodybuilding veteran Branch Warren due to their conditioning and freak factor.
“You know what, that’s why we play the game and you’re exactly right. Listen, a guy named Branch Warren who I’m pretty good friends with did pretty good in his career I’d say taking runner-up in Olympia; almost won that, and you know, Arnold Classics and every other title you could possibly get. Branch admittedly over the years, he’s very candid, very blue-collar type of a guy. He just simply outworked everybody.”
In Bob Cicherillo’s recent Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, he took aim at biased coaches and trainers. Some fans argued that Cicherillo has never won an Olympia title therefore he’s not qualified to critique the sport. Cicherillo disagreed and stressed that contests can only be accurately judged live, not by looking at a computer screen.
RELATED: Big Ramy Training Partner Dennis James Calls Out Bob Cicherillo for ‘Misleading’ Comparison
The bodybuilding community is excited to see Ramy’s comeback story, and whether or not Nick Walker can take the throne from Hadi Choopan. Derek Lunsford will also be in the hunt to secure gold and was recently backed by Ronnie Coleman as the next Mr. Olympia.
Check out the full video below, courtesy of the Desktop Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 20 April, 2023 | 7:48 PM EDT
Big Ramy Clears the Air with Bob Cicherillo on Retirement Calls
Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay is on a mission to redeem himself after slipping at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. In a recent video posted on YouTube, Ramy cleared the air with IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo regarding the criticism he received after getting dethroned and his plans ahead.
Former two-time Mr. Olympia Big Ramy has been a regular feature of the Men’s Open division since 2013. He turned heads with his freakish muscle mass and size that overwhelmed many mass monsters in the category. He scored gold at the 2013 New York Pro and retained his title in 2014 while working his way up the ranks. In 2020, Ramy secured his maiden Sandow trophy by dethroning Brandon Curry. He added the second title under his belt at the 2021 Mr. Olympia.
Last season, Big Ramy was looking to extend his lead at the top as he went up against a crop of new talent and proven contenders at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Ultimately, it was Hadi Choopan who knocked Ramy off the throne. Ramy suffered a setback and dropped down to the fifth place.
There was speculation about the possibility of an injury plaguing Ramy on stage in Las Vegas. Ramy did not let the result hold him back as he signed up for the 2023 Arnold Classic. He underwent stem cell treatment in preparation for the show. Dr. Khan reported positive findings after the treatment and expected Ramy to do better in Ohio.
Big Ramy at 2022 Olympia
His coach Chad Nicholls admitted the Olympia prep did not go according to plan. While he entered the event confident, a series of challenges halted the pair from bringing their best form.
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler extended his support for Ramy last month. He lauded Ramy for his impressive package and backed him to potentially pull off a triumphant comeback. In the end, Ramy slotted in fourth place at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Bob Cicherillo counted out Ramy’s chances in the sport aftiner the outcome last month. He stressed the need for Ramy to completely transform his whole physique if he wanted to get back in the judges’ good graces. However, he expressed doubts about the prospect. He doubled down on his take days later when he called on Ramy to step on the sidelines.
The 38-year-old issued a fiery message aimed at the critics who suggested he hang up his posing trunks. He made it clear he was in the game to stay and will not be leaving anytime soon.
Big Ramy clears the air with Bob Cicherillo on calls for retirement
In a recent YouTube video, Big Ramy made peace with Bob Cicherillo in light of their differences regarding his career.
“I hear many things. If somebody can’t give the game 100 percent,” said Ramy. “We have many things in the sport we can do not only the state, but we can support the sport of many things else. But me and Bob agree I can do that if my body responds.”
Ramy faced backlash for missing the guest-posing appearance at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. He confirmed he’d be at this year’s edition a few weeks ago and teased the anticipated showing when asked about his road to the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Maybe in Pittsburgh. Jim offered me to come, being the biggest name in the sport. When you close to him, he’s a great person and supports everyone and I never think I can do disrespect for any reason. Last year what happened, I really feel bad because I miss this show. It’s important for me because I respect this game and the fans.”
Cicherillo believes Ramy is past his best days and argued against giving him false hope about potentially reclaiming the Olympia title.
Ramy may not possess the package that won him the coveted Sandow trophy but he’s ready to give it his all in hopes of adding to his glittering resume.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 16 April, 2023 | 12:53 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Full Interview | Freakiest Bodybuilders, Press Conference Memories, & More
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Bob Cicherillo.
Bob Cicherillo is a former pro bodybuilder who is best known as “The Voice Of Bodybuilding.” He’s been an announcer for many big pro bodybuilding shows, including the Mr. Olympia. He’s also one of the hosts for the Olympia press conference. In general, he has been passionately involved both behind and on stage for the past few decades.
That’s why last year we connected with Bob Cicherillo over a video call to talk about his career, stories from hosting the Mr. Olympia press conference, and his thoughts on the current state of bodybuilding.
Over the past year we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Bob Cicherillo. This uncut full length interview includes topics such as the freakiest bodybuilder he has ever seen, the future of Mr. Olympia under new ownership, and his critique on the current state of physiques in bodybuilding.
Listen To Our Bob Cicherillo Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Bob Cicherillo interview here:
Bob Cicherillo Answers: Who Was The Freakiest Bodybuilder He Had Ever Seen In Person?
Bob Cicherillo has been in bodybuilding for multiple decades. First as a competitor and then as an announcer after his retirement from competing in the sport. He’s been involved first hand throughout many of the biggest moments in bodybuilding history. That’s why we asked him who his pick was for the freakiest bodybuilder he had ever seen in person.
For many younger fans of the sport, they will only be able to see video footage or pictures of past legends in the sport. The difference between a video/photo and seeing a competitor on stage in person can be vast. It’s like seeing a famous painting in an art book and then finally getting to see it in person at a museum. It changes everything about your perspective of that greatness.
So when Bob Cicherillo picks Ronnie Coleman, it may at first seem like the obvious answer. We’ve heard it all before. Ronnie is considered widely to be the freakiest and best bodybuilder to ever compete. But when you hear Bob Cicherillo explain what it was like to be there in person – it reminds us of just how big of a deal it really was at the time.
One of the most interesting details Cicherillo reveals is about his experience seeing Ronnie Coleman in 2003. This is considered by many to be one of Ronnie’s best years competing. Cicherillo describes the moment he first saw Ronnie step on stage. He simply laughed. It wasn’t a laugh of mockery. Far from it. It was laughter because he was dumbfounded. He was shocked into a hysterical stupor due to the pure unreal nature of Ronnie Coleman’s physique.
Bob Cicherillo Answers: The Most Intense Press Conference Fight In The History Of Olympia
Bob Cicherillo has been the voice of bodybuilding for quite sometime. Part of that prestigious title comes in the form of hosting the Olympia press conference each year. This is the one time where all of the top competitors get to sit in one room and try to psych each other out before stepping on stage. It’s always an entertaining event that has led to some truly shocking moments. This is especially true if two feuding rivals happen to be involved in the proceedings. Make no mistake, these moments are no staged. Anything can happen.
The press conference is an open even that is often filmed and released to the public. So many people have seen some of the most intense fights and moments that have occurred. But it’s a totally different thing to be there in person – especially if you’re the one on stage between the fighting bodybuilders.
That’s why we asked Bob Cicherillo to share his inside first hand account of some of the most insane Olympia press conference moments. Which one was the most intense that he had ever witnessed? It may not be surprising to some that he picked Kai Greene and Phil Heath. One of the most memorable and best rivalries in the history of the sport, Kai and Phil certainly knew how to push each other’s buttons.
Wrap Up
Bob Cicherillo holds a wealth of knowledge and history in his head from the many decades as both a pro bodybuilder and a commentator in the sport. That’s why you should check out the full GI Exclusive interview above! We discuss far many more topics than we can recap in this article including the King Kamali vs Craig Titus rivalry, the future of Mr. Olympia, and more!
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