Tag: Bodybuilding
Hunter Labrada, Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov & Keone Pearson Shine in Recent Guest Posing
The IFBB Pro League has arguably never been more loaded with talent. In a collection of Instagram posts, fans were blown away by recent guest posing appearances from Hunter Labrada, Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov, and Keone Pearson.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition approaching, athletes are on a mission to secure their qualifications. They have until the October 9 deadline. One competitor who has yet to earn his invite is Hunter Labrada, son of bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada.
Last year at the Mr. Olympia show, Labrada slipped placings. However, in 2022 he encountered difficulties as he dropped to seventh. In the aftermath, Labrada mentioned that problems arose with his prep and peak.
Moreover, fans and judges alike took notice of his washed-out midsection, which prevented him from placing higher. That hindrance is something Hunter has worked diligently on to fix. In addition to gut health shakes, he regularly practices vacuum poses for abdomen control. He and his father announced that Hunter planned to compete at the 2023 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro on the horizon. With five weeks away, Hunter appears to be close if not, at his all-time best.
Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov, meanwhile, traveled a different path en route to becoming an IFBB pro. Last year he switched from the IFBB Elite Pro League to the NPC (just like Michal Krizo). He wasted no time in earning his IFBB Pro card at the 2022 Musclecontest International Brazil Nationals. Vito, who has gone viral several times online for his freaky physique, has ambitious plans this year like Hunter.
Good Vito has kept fans updated on his progress before his next show. Considering his jaw-dropping physique updates, many consider him a frontrunner heading into the 2023 European Pro Championships in nine weeks.
And the 28-year-old Keone Pearson is another big name in the sport ready to dominate. Having found success in the Classic Physique division, fans are excited to see Pearson’s continued transformation in 212. He plans to compete in the 2023 Texas Pro in approximately five weeks. En route to the big day, Pearson has let fans in on his 3,500-calorie diet.
Hunter Labrada Looking Massive in Guest Posing Appearance
Check out Labrada’s recent guest posing appearance at the 2023 NPC South Central USA.
Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov Guest Poses, Falls Off Stage, and Reportedly Hospitalized
During Good Vito’s guest posing obligation at the 2023 Musclecontest International Brazil, his freaky muscularity and huge arms/quads were on full display. However, when he attempted to exit the stage by jumping off from the front, he appeared to injure himself.
Keone Pearson Teases Statue-Esque Physique While Guest Posing Before 2023 Olympia
Keone Pearson is five weeks from taking to the stage in Texas. You can find clips from his latest guest posing session at the NPC Twin Cities Open below:
All three of these competitors are after the same thing: a ticket to the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia contest – the biggest bodybuilding show of the year. There is no point system now so athletes who intend to enter Mr. Olympia must win a pro event. This year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia will take place in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Having re-introduced deadlifts back into his workout routine, Labrada is optimistic about his chances in Texas, where he’s expected to face the reigning champion, Andrew Jacked. They actually competed against each other at Olympia last year with Hunter getting the upper hand.
Should Good Vito prove successful in getting an Olympia invite, many in the sport already see him as a promising threat. Top Men’s Open competitor Iain Valliere told Fouad Abiad during a recent Bro Chat Podcast that most athletes from North America are afraid to stand against Vito on stage.
Keone Pearson’s balance, muscularity, and symmetry have also gotten the attention of some big names in the sport, such as former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout. While Bannout thought Pearson had the tools to win the 2022 Olympia show, he ended the contest in sixth.
RELATED: Samson Dauda Shows Off Monstrous 327-Lb Physique Guest Posing at 2023 USA Fit Games
Time will tell if Hunter Labrada, Good Vito, and Keone Pearson earn invites. Regardless, fans are in store for some epic contests in the weeks to come as 2023 Olympia inches closer.
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 3:36 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford Shares Full Day of Eating + Supplements 4 Months from 2023 Mr. Olympia
Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia champion, is turning up the intensity with 17 weeks until his next competition. In a YouTube video, Lunsford shared a full day of eating and discussed the cardio training strategies he recently implemented from his coach Hany Rambod.
“The cleaner the diet, the better. Mentally, I don’t think it helps mentally, if anything you’re going to be craving more sweet stuff or more food, or you’re just going to want to fall off the plan,” Lunsford explained.
If anyone has learned the importance of capturing a moment on stage, it’s Derek Lunsford. Last May, he single-handedly asserted himself in the Open class discussion with an explosive guest posing appearance. He posed alongside top-tier talent at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro such as Nick Walker, former Olympia Brandon Curry, Hunter Labrada, and Quinton Eriya.
Instead of residing in the 212 to collect titles as Flex Lewis did, Lunsford accepted a special invite to compete in the Open Mr. Olympia last year. Lunsford’s arrival in the category was a big moment for the sport. When he first stepped on stage, the crowd watching gasped as Lunsford hit an iconic front relaxed pose.
In a turn of events, the former champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was removed from his throne. Lunsford fought Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan in the finals. And while the contest was considered very close, his teammate, Choopan, secured the win. With a sterling debut in the Open class, fans, and even Lunsford’s rivals, believe it’s only a matter of time before he claims a Mr. Olympia title.
Lunsford opted to forgo March’s Arnold Classic in favor of making improvements to his physique. His last appearance was at this year’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing event, where he stood alongside a crop of title contenders such as Samson Dauda, Walker, Big Ramy, Shaun Clarida, and Labrada. Now, with less than four months until the biggest show of the year, Lunsford is sharing his latest prep diet/supplementation.
Derek Lunsford Sticks to 5 Whole Food Meals and Protein Shakes to Fuel His 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep
Below, you can find the common food plan Lunsford sticks to on a daily basis.
“I don’t just eat like for your body, for your mind. I feel it’s obvious that adding extra condiments and sweeteners is not necessary to result in a better physique. That’s pretty obvious, people can argue it but I just don’t believe it.”
Meal 1
250 grams egg whites
3 oz of chicken
100 grams of oats
EVOGEN Greens
Meal 2
steak
white rice
EVOGEN shake
Meal 3
chicken
white rice (cup and a half)
hot sauce
EVOGEN GDA (for digestion)
Post-workout
Smores post-workout protein shake
EVOGEN Carnigex
Meal 4
chicken
white rice (cup and a half)
hot sauce
EVOGEN GDA (for digestion)
Meal 5
steak or preferably salmon (for Omega 3 fatty acids)
white rice
Cardio Update, Derek says Hany Rambod Wants Him Walking 5x Per Week for 20-25 min
Before wrapping up his meals for the day, Lunsford opened up about his cardio and possible workout collaborations with Samson Dauda and Nick Walker.
“Yeah, the cardio that we’re doing. We talked a couple days ago. The cardio he wants me doing right now is five days a week basically. Just go for a walk, 20-25 minutes. I figure, you know what, if I’m not going to be on a treadmill or machine cardio, my pace probably won’t be quite as fast. I’m not trying to slow down or anything like that.
But when you’re on the machine you can make sure you’re going at a certain speed and keeping a certain heart rate when you’re walking freely like this, unless you have a Fitbit or an Apple Watch tracking your heart rate, it’s a little harder to gauge exactly what your heart rate is. As long as you’re going at a fairly decent pace and you can feel your heart rate coming up,” Derek Lunsford said.
Since Lunsford has shared training sessions with ‘The Mutant’ and Dauda in the past, he figures he may run it back with them soon.
“That’s a good idea [I should reach out and train with Nick Walker]. I haven’t trained with him in a while actually. Then, we just did the Olympia battle with Samson so, I don’t know, maybe if he’s available I’ll hit him up.”
Oftentimes, fans see their favorite bodybuilders on stage but forget about the daily sacrifices they endured along the way to step on stage. Lunsford has been open about some of those obstacles. In a deep interview with his coach Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast, Lunsford touched on how he’s been dealing with anxiety and depression throughout his latest season. He emphasized that balancing his personal and professional duties has been the biggest challenge.
With eyes shifting to the 2023 Mr. Olympia show taking place in November, bodybuilding veterans are beginning to talk about possible favorites. If you asked eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman who the next champion will be, he’d say Derek Lunsford. Not only that but ‘The King’ has stated that his favorite bodybuilder of this generation is Lunsford.
As for Nick Walker, he’s not sold on Hadi Choopan’s dominance. He recently said that the next title will be decided following a battle between himself and Lunsford. Another former Arnold Classic champion, William Bonac, disagrees with Walker. He says Hadi Choopan will likely retain his title later this year.
With Lunsford’s commitment and discipline to his craft, it’s hard to imagine he won’t bring an improved look to the upcoming show. There is still plenty of time for other athletes to qualify, but many are in agreement that Lunsford is one of the biggest threats heading into Florida in Nov.
READ MORE:
Watch the full video on Derek Lunsford’s YouTube channel below:
Published: 10 July, 2023 | 12:03 PM EDT
2023 Musclecontest International Brazil Pro Results and Scorecards
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2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal Results and Scorecards (Live Results)
The 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal took place in Estoril, Portugal on July 9. This event featured a total of nine divisions including Men’s 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Open, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Women’s Bodybuilding, Figure, Women’s Physique, and Wellness.
As of this year, there are fewer months to earn an invite to the next Mr. Olympia contest. Currently, athletes have until Oct 9. The 2023 Mr. Olympia competition is scheduled for Nov. 2-5 inside the Orange County Convention Center. Outside the Men’s Open, the top three finishers from last year’s Olympia (2022) are automatically invited back to this year’s contest.
2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal Winners
Men’s Open: Andrea Presti
Men’s 212 Bodybuilding: Roman Lushchenko
Classic Physique: Antoine Loth
Men’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Bikini: Coming Soon!
Women’s Bodybuilding: Coming Soon!
Figure: Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Wellness: Coming Soon
2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal Results
Men’s Open
Roman Fritz and defending champ Andrea Presti were both in the running for first during prejudging and finals. They put on a great contest and kept fans quite intrigued. Judges favored the conditioning, separation, and x-frame of Andrea Presti.
He last competed at the Empro Classic Pro where he narrowly took runner-up to Michal Krizo. Meanwhile, Roman Fritz took fifth at the same Empro Classic Pro contest. Ultimately, Andrea Presti won the show and is now a three-time Mr. Big Evolution Pro champion.
Winner — Andrea Presti
Second Place — Roman Fritz
Third Place — Emir Omeragic
Fourth Place — Krystian Wolski
Fifth Place — Petar Klancir
Sixth Place — Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
Seventh Place — Laszlo Szmereka
Eighth Place — Alessandro Orri
Ninth Place — Lionel Beyeke
Men’s 212 Bodybuilding
During prejudging, Marco Sarcone stood out with exceptional conditioning. His last contest came in dominant fashion at the 2022 Worldwide Amateur Olympia in first place. He battled against Roman Lushchenko today. Lushchenko’s last show came in first at the Amateur Olympia Spain in 2019. They put on a good contest but Roman Lushchenko got his hand raised and secured first place.
Winner — Roman Lushchenko
Second Place — Marco Sarcone
Third Place — Nasser Sayed
Fourth Place — Lucas Coelho
Fifth Place — Daniel Sticco
Sixth Place — Miguel Angel Angustia Fontenla
Seventh Place — Ayat Najd Bagheri
Eighth Place — Gabor Berek
Ninth Place — xx
Tenth Place — Jorge Zamorano Avila
Classic Physique
During prejudging and finals, it was a battle between Stephane Matala, who is known for great conditioning and striations, and Antoine Loth. Loth last competed at the 2023 Poland Pro where he took fifth. In the end, the conditioning and experience of Antoine Loth helped him secure the Classic Physique title in Portugal.
Winner — Antoine Loth
Second Place — Stephane Matala
Third Place — Miguel Malimo
Fourth Place — David Martinez Campos
Fifth Place — Adam Bomert
Sixth Place — Emanuele Ricotti
Seventh Place — Lucas Guido
Eighth Place — Florian Hartlage
Ninth Place — Pedro Ferreira
Tenth Place — Luca Corrado
.
Men’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Bikini
Coming Soon!
Women’s Bodybuilding
Coming Soon!
Figure
Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Wellness
Coming Soon!
2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal Scorecards
Coming Soon!
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners! We look forward to seeing you all compete on the Olympia stage this November!
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 5:09 PM EDT
Dorian Yates Shares ‘Opposite Approach’ to Diet that Keeps Him Ripped at 61
Legendary bodybuilder Dorian Yates set a new bar for the Men’s Open division with his insane physique. Although he hasn’t competed in decades, he maintains a high level of personal fitness. In a recent post made on Instagram, Yates reveals his unique “opposite approach” to dieting that has helped him maintain a ripped physique at the age of 61.
Dorian Yates made a name for himself with his impressive muscle mass, size, and definition and boasted one of the best back developments of all time in the Men’s Open division. He pioneered the sport in the UK and emerged as the biggest bodybuilding superstar out of the region. He won his maiden Sandow trophy at the 1992 Mr. Olympia and went on a dominant run to become a six-time champion.
Yates used the high-intensity training techniques of Mike Mentzer and Arthur Jones to craft his physique. He would go near failure in every training session instead of following a fixed number of sets and reps traditionally adopted by bodybuilders.
The 61-year-old carried his passion for fitness into his later years. He left the fans stunned with a jacked physique update where he performed a workout on a beach in Brazil earlier this year. Then, he listed barbell rows with an underhand grip as the exercise of his choice to build a barn door back months later.
Yates opened up on his training frequency in the prime of his career two months ago. He revealed he’d workout four days a week for Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend and the made case against squats being an essential part of every training program for muscle growth.
Having pushed his body to the limit, Yates picked up several injuries over the years. He started using stem cell therapy two months ago and reported his inflammation went down and his shoulders got better after 30 days of being on the treatment plan. As for the progress in his elbow and knee, he indicated it would take a few more weeks before he feels a significant change.
Dorian Yates gave fans a look into the two-exercise ab routine he utilized to win six Mr. Olympia titles last month. He would time the workout after shoulders and triceps and go to failure in two sets of bodyweight crunches and reverse crunches each. He followed up by laying out the chest workout regimen that helped him build a full chest.
Yates showed off his shredded abs in a physique progression snap two weeks ago. He compared photos of himself at age 22 and now, boasting clear abs throughout nearly 40 years.
Dorian Yates Credits Shredded Physique to Intermittent Fasting at 61
In a recent Instagram post, Dorian Yates shared the diet he follows to stay ripped at the age of 61.
“Intermittent fasting, quite the polar opposite approach to eating than I was used to 30 years ago when I’d be eating every two hours!” said Yates. “
But for the past few years, I’ve been practicing intermittent fasting.
I’ve experienced numerous benefits, and have researched pretty much every approach to dieting.
“Intermittent fasting works extremely well for myself.
I’m now pursuing my health goals and optimising for longevity as opposed to bodybuilding.
Read my latest blog where I go into why I adopted intermittent fasting, the benefits, how you can potentially use it when trying to build muscle and more.
But the best diet for health goals may not be the same as the best for trying to build maximum muscle.”
Intermittent fasting, a popular and scientifically supported diet approach, involves periods of extended fasting where individuals refrain from consuming food. This trendy method has gained recognition for its potential benefits, including weight loss, muscle gain, blood sugar regulation, and activation of anti-aging genes.
Dorian Yates stressed the importance of using extracurricular training in addition to lifting weights for boosting recovery and offered some of the exercises he’s utilizing to enhance longevity earlier this month.
Yates revealed the approach he used for his diet to get ready for competition days ago. While he would go down to 3,500-4,000 calories in prep, he once cut down to 2,500 calories for his debut.
His latest update will inspire many fans to give intermittent fasting a chance for improving their fitness game.
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 2:59 PM EDT
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge List Best Backs & Legs in Bodybuilding History
Bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier has found a place as a respected analyst since moving on from professional competition. He amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience stemming from his decades of work in the sport. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Cormier and Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy listed the best backs and legs in bodybuilding history.
Chris Cormier first gained attention for his massive muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division in the 90s. He placed fourth at the 1994 Arnold Classic and turned in a strong performance to get a sixth-place finish in his Mr. Olympia debut in 1994. While he did not win the contest, Cormier was a consistent top-eight finisher and scored two bronze medals. He hung up his posing trunks after a final outing at the 2007 Montreal Pro Classic.
Earlier this year, Cormier heaped praises on 2022 Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan for his insane consistency in the last five years. He believes Choopan is one of the hardest-working athletes and could defend the title successfully with his refined conditioning and posing abilities.
El Guindy and Cormier made the case against the need to get glute implants and injections in bodybuilding as it could create imbalances, which would result in docked points. The pair broke down the immensely successful careers of the two winningest athletes in bodybuilding, Dexter Jackson and Ashley Kaltwasser three months ago. Cormier ranked Jackson’s resume at the top due to the fierce competition he went up against in fewer shows than available today.
Cormier extended his support for budding Open contender Michal Krizo to become a major force in the near future two months ago. Based on Krizo’s raw look, Cormier is convinced he could be a title contender if he continued to improve at a decent rate.
Last month, Cormier lauded reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead for his immense success and analyzed his chances in the Open class. He argued Bumstead could battle it out in some poses and warranted a special invite to compete in the Open Olympia.
Chris Cormier picked the arms of Robby Robinson as the greatest ever along with his crazy biceps peak while El Guindy favored the arms of seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath last month.
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge List Best Backs in Bodybuilding History
In a recent YouTube video, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy shared their thoughts on the competitors who had the best back muscle development of all time. The duo agreed on former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout having the best back, ahead of legendary bodybuilders like Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, and Phil Heath.
“If you’re going to go with the best backs, I’d say the ‘Lion of Lebanon.’ When I started competing, he was the Mr. Olympia at the time,” said Cormier. “It was 1983, he won the Olympia and I didn’t think it was real because being a teenager. You’re looking at all the striations, the Christmas tree so deep all across the lats.
“Ali Malla was another one who had an awesome back from back in the day, the back double bicep along with that, every shot from the back looked like it was pasted on, like Plato actually pasted on. I didn’t think those triceps were real because I didn’t know that you can get those little lines.”
“Then you gotta go with Lee Haney. He also had a magnificent back, him and Dorian Yates. Robby Robinson had the back double not so much the last bit but the back double. Flex Wheeler had a crazy back double bicep. Then, there was also Ronnie Coleman. You can not ever speak about this without Ronnie Coleman.”
El Guindy said, “Ronnie Coleman 1999 back double biceps and back lat spread, Dorian Yates 1993 back double biceps and back lat spread, Mohammed Benaziza 1991 Night of Champions, black lat spread and very thick on the back double bicep. Let’s mention guys that didn’t win shows, didn’t become legends, such as Joel Stubbs, he had an incredible back double bicep. In terms of quality, it’s hard to beat Samir Bannout.
“Let’s not forget about one of the guys that people don’t appreciate, stop right now and start appreciating Phil Heath. Phil Heath 2013 back double biceps might be one of the prettiest things you’ve ever seen.”
Cormier & El Guindy on Best Legs Ever
‘The Real Deal’ and El Guindy gave their takes on the competitors who brought the best legs in the history of bodybuilding. They agreed on ‘The Quadfather’ leading the list with Cormier in the mix as well.
El Guindy said, “With back you can go many directions but with legs only one; big, shredded, massive, dense, and it hasn’t gotten better. It’s the only guy in the world with those legs, Tom Platz. Paul De Mayo possibly second, Chris Cormier, and then you got Branch Warren had legs for days.
“2013 Big Ramy’s legs with all that separation, incredible. 2022 Big Ramy without the separation not incredible,” he continued. “Tom Platz is number one for me. Maybe Chris tied with Paul De Mayo and Branch Warren but they were different styles of legs.”
El Guindy added Coleman but Cormier did not agree. They believe there is no clear contender with massive legs in contemporary bodybuilding.
“I’m also going to say Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath. One time I saw Phil Heath guest posing in Los Angeles and his legs looked massive.”
“Renel Janvier had the glutes, quads, fibers all over,” said Cormier. “You didn’t have to say Ronnie Coleman because he started out with some of the smallest legs in the sport and ended with some of the biggest legs in the sport. Dorian had big legs in certain poses, not all around. He had the calves obviously., It wasn’t just the quads, it was overall density of the leg and his whole body, the back, the whole shot was just crazy.”
El Guindy added, “I’d like to see more legs from Nick Walker. That’s one of the things. Nick Walker is known for his muscularity on top. He needs more flaring quads to minimize the waist. At this point in this generation, we don’t have anybody specific that we go has wow huge legs.”
Two weeks ago, Chris Cormier and El Guindy backed rising Open sensation Andrew Jacked’s chances at dominating the sport for the next few years. They identified 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda as the biggest threat standing on Jacked’s way to glory.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 12:09 PM EDT
2023 Musclecontest Patriots Challenge Pro Results and Scorecards
On Saturday, July 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada, nearly 20 Bikini talents stormed the stage at the 2023 Musclecontest Patriots Challenge Pro looking to earn gold, a cash check, and bragging rights. This show served as a qualifier for the upcoming Olympia contest.
As it stands, competitors have until Oct 9 to guarantee passage to this year’s Olympia show. Among those competing is three-time Bikini Olympia queen Ashley Kaltwasser. While she has already earned her ticket to Olympia, she’s here to block others from attending. In addition, if Kaltwasser proves successful this weekend, she will make history by becoming the only bodybuilder to ever win a total of 40 IFBB Pro League shows.
Aside from Kaltwasser, Ruth Montes is after gold. She already competed at four shows this year. In her last outing, Montes took eighth place at the 2023 Mile High Pro. Ashley Hampton is another viable threat eager to do some damage on stage. She last made a statement at the Charlotte Pro back in April where she finished fourth.
2023 Patriots Challenge Pro Results
Bikini
Winner — Ashley Kaltwasser
Second Place — Ashley Hampton
Third Place — Michelle Billett
Fourth Place — Mia Bartschi
Fifth Place — Marioly Galarza
Sixth Place — Ariel Barley
Seventh Place — Maya Astabie
Eighth Place — Rudie Guerrero
Ninth Place — Hazel Hernandez
Tenth Place — Viviana Salazar
2023 Patriots Challenge Pro Scorecard
FitnessVolt congratulates the winner!
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 3:15 AM EDT
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Results and Scorecards
On Saturday, July 8, Austin, Texas will host the 2023 Republic of Texas Pro show. This event is set to feature competitors from the Men’s Physique, Bikini, and Wellness categories. The champions of these contests will qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia competition. This year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia takes place from Nov. 2-5 in Orlando Florida, inside the Orange County Convention Center. Athletes have until October 9 to earn their respective invites.
Heading into this weekend, fans have highlighted a few names in the Men’s Physique division. Jeremy Potvin is among them. He demonstrates a great display of balance and brings a full chest to the stage in each outing. His last appearance came in second at the 2022 Chicago Pro.
Steven Cao is another top name competing this weekend. Cao’s last show saw him also take silver in a close battle at the DC Pro. Lastly, Ramses Rams will be in attendance, who has put forth a very busy schedule this year. His last competition saw him take second at the 2023 Mile High Pro. Whoever emerges with the win, will have a shot at facing reigning Men’s Physique Olympia Erin Banks later this year.
As far as Bikini talent is concerned. Fans expect a big performance from Jordan Fisher who is riding high off a commanding victory at the 2023 Dallas Pro. She will face India Paulino who last stepped on the Olympia stage in 2022 but wasn’t able to place. Meanwhile, Lexus Redmond is a tenacious competitor and will aim to capture gold after her runner-up show at the Dallas Pro.
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Winners
Men’s Physique: Jason Huynh
Bikini: Lexus Redmond
Wellness: Frida Paulsen Stern
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Jason Huynh
Second Place — Jeremy Potvin
Third Place — Jahvair Mullings
Fourth Place — Ramses Rams
Fifth Place — Steven Cao
Sixth Place — Mehdi Kabbadj
Seventh Place — Rhyan Clark
Eighth Place — Alex Newell
Ninth Place — Mario Stewart
Tenth Place — Karim Hawash
Bikini
Winner — Lexus Redmond
Second Place — India Paulino
Third Place — Adair Libbrecht
Fourth Place — Jordan Brannon
Fifth Place — Tara Grier
Sixth Place — Jordan Fisher
Seventh Place — Maria Acosta
Eighth Place — Rachel M. Linares
Ninth Place — Alexandra Vatthauer
Tenth Place — Sabra Young
Wellness
Winner — Frida Paulsen Stern
Second Place — Renee Jewett
Third Place — Tracy Williams
Fourth Place — Carrie Goforth
Fifth Place — Debora Paula de Oliveira
Sixth Place — Mia Samuels-Menjivar
Seventh Place — Michelle Ibata
Eighth Place — Victoria Puentes
Ninth Place — Gabriela Cadena
Tenth Place — Nuannaree Sriwaralak
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Scorecards
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners. We look forward to seeing you all shine on the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage!
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 3:03 AM EDT
Flex Wheeler on Getting Bigger: ‘If Your Frame Can’t Handle It, It’s A Big Mistake’
Kenneth ‘Flex’ Wheeler is a major inspiration for bodybuilders, having cemented a legendary career during the 1990s and 2000s. In a recent Olympia TV video, Wheeler and Bob Cicherillo discussed a few topics like athletes hanging around too long, and chasing size unnecessarily.
Wheeler is widely regarded as one of the best bodybuilders to ever compete despite a lack of Mr. Olympia titles. He’s a four-time Arnold Classic winner and brought an unparalleled level of detail, proportions, and aesthetics to the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. In addition to his round muscle bellies and slim waist, Wheeler bested some great competitors in his prime, such as Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Chris Cormier.
Looking back on his career, even Ronnie Coleman admits he wouldn’t be where he is today had it not been for Wheeler. Coleman has appeared in interviews and explained that Wheeler introduced him to his long-time trainer, Chad Nicholls. In the years that would follow, Coleman became a dominant eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder whose size was chased by the entire division.
Wheeler has been open with fans about his on-stage battles with Coleman. In an interview with Jay Cutler on the Cutler Cast Podcast, Wheeler reflected on his second-place finish to Coleman in 1998. In hindsight, Wheeler said he was ‘green’ back then, and could have done more both in terms of nutrition and training.
In his latest undertaking, Wheeler joined Bob Cicherillo to discuss athletes who delay retirements. In addition, they examined competitors who are obsessed with adding size at the cost of their physiques.
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo Answer Why Bodybuilders Delay Retirement: “We Are Extreme Athletes”
Flex accepts that he didn’t retire on top and mentioned that he wasn’t looking for an ‘exit strategy’ during the prime years of his career.
“You know, unfortunately, I didn’t get there yet. I felt that I achieved one of my best ever in 1999 at the English Grand Prix. Then, you know, it didn’t go well because I started getting sick. I still was like in a developing stage that I thought I had more in the tank and when I got sick that just changed everything and it changed my ability to compete.
I wasn’t even looking at an exit strategy. Look at Ronnie, Ronnie existed a lot longer after I left. I was looking like I had at least that much time that they did. I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was thinking about I have a third gear to get to and I’m only in second gear,” said Flex Wheeler.
According to Cicherillo, many athletes stick around too long, such as Ronnie Coleman. Seldom do bodybuilders retire on top, like Lee Haney or Lee Priest did.
“I think Ronnie hung out one show too long, you know, Dave I think honestly hung out one show too long, to me, the perfect scenario is you get to write your own story,” added Cicherillo. “We don’t see that a lot. We don’t see a lot of people that write their own ticket off. Yeah, Lee Haney. We haven’t seen that in years.”
“You know, Bob I think it’s because we’re extreme athletes. You look at someone great like Muhammad Ali, you look at that belief, you still have it until someone comes along and proves you don’t. You still believe that. You look at every great. You look at the great Michael Jordan, he came back after going to baseball, he thought he had game going to baseball, it was like nah, this game changed you ain’t no good at baseball. Then, when he came back to basketball, you had Kobe, the younger version of him,” explained Wheeler.
Wheeler & Cicherillo Talk Bodybuilders Being Obsessed with Size & Getting Bigger
Wheeler believes athletes are over-concerned with size and adding tissue instead of focusing on getting better. He said most young competitors nowadays would benefit from losing 15 pounds.
“It’s dysmorphia, especially in our sport, a distorted vision is what I called it and I had it. I never thought I was big enough, I always wanted to put on more size. But it’s not putting on more size, it’s getting better. And bigger doesn’t always mean better, sometimes better is just better.”
“In our sport, it’s probably one of the worst examples that we always feel that we have to get bigger, especially when we turn pro, oh I got to compete with the big boys I better get bigger. That’s always a mistake, especially if your frame can’t handle it.”
“I would almost argue if young men lost 15 pounds of muscle he’d be a more competitive bodybuilder and a more dangerous bodybuilder too,” added Wheeler.
This isn’t the first time that Flex Wheeler has cautioned athletes about adding size. Last year, before the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Wheeler told Wiliam Bonac to avoid chasing the champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s muscularity as it could ultimately work against him. In the end, the last Mr. Olympia contest was determined mostly by the conditioning and balance of Hadi Choopan‘s physique.
And it’s not just Wheeler who is calling for less size in the Open. In April, bodybuilding veteran Tony Pearson joined The Menace Podcast to discuss the role of size in Men’s Bodybuilding. He believes it’s not about size and argued the category should focus more on the lines of a given physique.
While size obviously factors into the upper echelons of the Men’s Open, Flex Wheeler is confident most athletes could find success 15 pounds lighter. He continues to stress that bigger isn’t always better in the world of bodybuilding.
RELATED: 57-yo Flex Wheeler Inspires With Leg Press Workout Using Prosthetic Leg
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 2:58 PM EDT
Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Sets a Massive 860-lb (390-kg) Deadlift Two-Rep PR
The professional bodybuilding scene has seen quite a few strength freaks, but one that has stood out in the past few years is Joe Mackey. Joe is an IFBB Pro with an extremely remarkable physique, but he is often recognized for his deadlift prowess. In fact, as per his Instagram description, Joe holds the heaviest deadlift in the IFBB. So, he is doing everything in his power to hold onto this title, despite it being unofficial. Most recently, Joe displayed another step of improvement by sharing an 860-pound (390-kilogram) deadlift two-rep PR.
Being an IFBB Pro, Joe Mackey still dedicates the majority of his time to bodybuilding. However, he somehow finds time to work on his deadlifts, which is why he was able to come out with a brand new PR. For the 860-pound (390-kilogram) deadlift, Mackey only used a lifting belt and a pair of lifting straps. He also chose the conventional stance for this two-rep PR, since it is something that suits him the best.
“It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve felt some heavy weight on deadlifts so I had to do everything to activate my CNS so I’m extra lit ? ! Lol ?”
Watch Joe Mackey’s lift here:
Related: Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Scores 800-lb (362.9-kg) Raw Deadlift For Four-Rep PR
Joe Mackey is also an entrepreneur, leading multiple businesses, but that does not stop him from pursuing his goals in the world of fitness. He has previously stated that his goal is to deadlift 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) and he is slowly progressing towards it.
Joe Mackey was unofficial the first IFBB Pro to deadlift 900 pounds (408.2 kilograms) in April of 2022, but he managed to add another 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) to his PR at the start of this year.
As far as his bodybuilding career goes, Joe Mackey had one of his most successful years in 2022. Firstly he put up a fifth-place finish at the 2022 IFBB Tampa Pro, and followed it by placing ninth at the 2022 IFBB Texas Pro.
Joe Mackey has also been active with other parts of his fitness journey, such as sharing it on the internet. So, Joe recently posted an epic cheat meal, what he puts in his grocery bags, as well as achievements on other exercises such as the hack squat.
Related: Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Shows Off Insanely Shredded Physique Ahead Of 2022 IFBB Tampa & Texas Pro
Joe Mackey has been setting deadlift PRs on a very frequent basis, proving that his training program is working perfectly. Although he has to put in a lot more work, Joe is approaching his goal and becoming the first pro bodybuilder to deadlift 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) is now looking like a realistic opportunity for him.
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 12:28 PM EDT