Tag: Chris Cormier
Chris Cormier, Dennis James, Dave Palumbo, Milos Sarcev Talk Steroids, Synthol, & Bodybuilding After 40
Longevity in bodybuilding has become a booming subject given some of the risks associated with the sport. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Chris Cormier, Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, and Dave Palumbo discussed some of those risks, which included site-enhancement oils and expired steroids. They also talked about life as a bodybuilder after 40 years old.
The IFBB Pro League serves as the ultimate arena for bodybuilders who strive to sculpt their physiques into artistic masterpieces. These athletes dedicate their lives to achieving the perfect balance of muscle mass, symmetry, and proportions but diet and exercise alone are not enough to reach the pinnacle of this sport. To keep up with their rivals, competitors use an array of substances and methods to enhance their appearance or performance.
The use of site-enhancement oils goes back decades now. As was the case with 1990s veterans Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier, both of whom have used Synthol. Looking back, Sarcev believes shooting his arms with Synthol was the biggest regret of his career.
Meanwhile, Cormier has mentioned that he used the same drug and remembers injecting it into his calves. He’s gone on to warn upcoming talent about the dangers associated with the practice. Cormier has also been honest about what it did to his physique, and said the ‘damage is real.’
“We All Inject Something” Milos Sarcev, Chris Cormier, Dave Palumbo, Dennis James Talk Synthol in Bodybuilding
When asked if the top 10 Open bodybuilders from Mr. Olympia are using site-enhancement oils, Palumbo implied they are all using ‘something.’ As for Chris Cormier, he believes athletes lack striations nowadays because of Synthol use.
“We all inject something,” said Milos Sarcev.
“I think every single one of them is doing something,” added Palumbo. “I don’t know one person that doesn’t shoot something in their shoulders and arms to make them bigger. I don’t know one person.”
“I see it down the back. I see it in the quads. You don’t have the quad striations you should normally have. When you do see quad striations everyone is like, ‘Oh my God.’ But that should be the standard if you’re that lean,” said Cormier.
Palumbo elaborated and said athletes today are using up to 10,000 milligrams of testosterone, which is unintentionally serving as a site enhancement.
“I think what happened is nowadays, guys are using it but they are not abusing it much. There’s still a couple of nut cases that do, but by and far, people understand that you have to be creative about the process of how you do it. Now a lot of guys just use their regular gear. You see these guys today. I know guys taking 10,000 milligrams of testosterone a week, I don’t know why they’re doing it but they don’t even need site injection oil, they just use the testosterone as their site injection oil because they’re popping it everywhere on their body,” said Dave Palumbo.
“It takes away from the quality of muscle. But that’s the look I see, because there’s no way you have striated glutes and hardly no body fat, I mean the diet is impeccable, but then when you do that as opposed to leaning on that side of the coin instead of the other side of the coin where you train hard, put it where you got to put it, but don’t put it where you don’t need to put it just because you’re trying to look a certain way. It’s taking away from the quality,” responded Chris Cormier.
Milos Relives 12-Year Expired Parabolan, Masteron Experience: ‘My Whole Body Exploded w/Acne’
Next, the group discussed the efficacy of expired steroids. Sarcev regretfully took a batch over 10 years expired back in his heyday.
“The only side effect that I could say [from expired drugs] is acne. That was – I got a guy that brought me 12 years expired parabolan and masteron and all this shit right. It expired 12 years before. When you have it in your hands, this is original. You can’t throw it away. How bad can it be?” laughed Milos Sarcev. “Man, my whole body exploded with acne.”
Sarcev added that there were points during his career when he used drugs like Viagra on stage.
“Did any of you use Viagra for the stage? Because in ’97, there was no Viagra man. Yeah, I told you too right,” Milos Sarcev said. “One million percent you get fully pumped.”
Bodybuilding After 40: Prostate Health, Blood Work + Stem Cell Updates
According to Chris Cormier, he began to experience problems in the restroom when he took steroids for more than two weeks.
“I started to urinate, and then towards the end of me urinating, I got to shit. I did that [checked my prostate]. Yup. I know when I was in competition I would take Equipoise and my prostate would get really sore for some reason,” said Cormier.
“You probably convert to DHT at a very high level,” said Dave Palumbo.
Monitoring blood work is a great way for athletes to keep an eye on relevant health markers. However, Dennis James worries that athletes would rather not know than go to a doctor and find out what’s wrong.
“Athletes now are more cautious with doctors and getting themselves checked since we see so many people dying,” said Dennis James. “I think these guys they just don’t want to know. The worse thing for them is they go somewhere, the doctors tell them this is high and tells them they shouldn’t be doing this or that,” said James.
Palumbo stressed that anyone over the age of 40 should have a cardiac CT angiogram done. He told Rich Gaspari to have the test done years ago and ‘The Dragon Slayer’ discovered a 100% blocked artery.
“Everyone over the age of 40 should have a cardiac CT angiogram done, it’s a CT scan, they put a little dye in you and you know what, you know if you have a blockage or not. If you have a blockage you go and get a stent, I told Gaspari to go get it done. He went and found out he didn’t even know he had 100% blockage in one artery,” said Palumbo.
Lastly, Dennis James updated fans on his training regimen, which has increased considerably since his stem cell injections.
“Yesterday, I was in the gym yesterday. By the way Milos, I started training. It was the first real workout I had in years. I did six exercises, normally I do two, two sets each and I did six with five sets each. I’m sore all over. I think it is [the stem cells],” explained Dennis James. “I also said when I’m done with the stem cell treatment I was going back to the gym and getting serious again. That’s why yesterday I really started training seriously.”
Flex Wheeler also appeared on The Menace Podcast recently and discussed his use of insulin and Synthol. While Flex admits his contemporaries also used it, he said prolonged site-enhancement oil use resulted in excessive scar tissue at the injection sites.
Even though the sport can be unforgiving, plenty of notable pros have found longevity in retirement. Most importantly, James, Sarcev, and Cormier agree that health after 40 requires a more consistent and calculated effort.
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Watch the full The Menace Podcast on YouTube below:
Published: 17 July, 2023 | 11:45 AM 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
Terrick El Guindy, Chris Cormier Talk Bodybuilding Conspiracies & Andrew Jacked v Samson Dauda
Whether or not taller competitors have an edge in bodybuilding has long been debated. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Terrick El Guindy shared with Chris Cormier why stature is overrated in bodybuilding. In addition, they discussed a possible battle between Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia.
The currents of the Men’s Open division have been choppy and unpredictable lately. With Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford taking the No.1 and No. 2 spots on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage, many have begun to question if the category is swaying to favor physiques with less size and more detail, shape, and symmetry.
Following Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s unceremonious drop to fifth place and the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, El Guindy believes a new era of aesthetic bodybuilders is taking over the Open. This sentiment was also shared by 1990s standout Kevin Levrone. However, he believes Chris Bumstead is to thank for the rise of aesthetics in the Men’s Open.
In Nov., Dauda plans to bring his best to dethrone Choopan. And while Andrew Jacked shares the same goal, he has yet to qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia show. He’s targeted the 2023 Texas Pro in mid-Aug. where he intends to defend his title from last year successfully. Given the similar statures of Dauda and Jacked, Cormier and El Guindy discussed a pobable showdown between the two.
Terrick El Guindy Says Stature in Bodybuilding Is ‘Highly Highly Overrated’
While stature and height can be imposing, El Guindy argued it’s overrated as shorter athletes have found success in the Open such as Lunsford and Choopan.
“This thing about stature… is highly highly overrated, highly overrated. I mean look at Hadi Choopan. He’s one of the shortest guys and he’s Mr. Olympia. Shaun Clarida out of all the 212s he’s possibly the shortest 212 and he is Mr. Olympia 212,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Listen a lot of people are talking about Chris Bumstead’s stature and how tall he is right now, well look at the history of the sport. The first Classic Physique champion was one of the shortest guys, Danny Hester. We move on to Breon Ansley, well what happened to the stature when Breon Ansley was beating Chris Bumstead? That wasn’t in play. It’s highly highly overrated.
It looks imposing on stage to look at a guy like Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked but at the end of the day we’re judging the best bodybuilders and in this case, Hadi Choopan is the superior bodybuilder based on the 2022 Mr. Olympia,” said El Guindy.
Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan are shorter than Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Andrew Jacked, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Michal Krizo, Rafael Brandao, Iain Valliere and they are all placing ahead of them. I’m telling you right now, this height stuff is highly overrated.”
Cormier added that Lee Haney looked taller than he actually was while competing at the height of his career.
“Lee Haney made everyone look like children next to them and he wasn’t actually that tall but he appeared that way because he was so imposing. No [he wasn’t the tallest] but just the way his body looked,” said Cormier.
Conspiracy Theories in Bodybuilding? Terrick El Guindy Says ‘Stop It Right Now’
El Guindy said there were conspiracies about who would win the 1998 Mr. Olympia. He added that there were rumors Big Ramy would win Olympia in 2013 and that never materialized either.
“All the conspiracies, so many conspiracies that Ronnie was going to win the ninth Mr. Olympia, he didn’t. So many conspiracies, oh who is going to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia? Nobody had it in mind that it was going to be Ronnie Coleman. He came out of nowhere. Oh, Big Ramy wins the New York Pro in 2013 and doesn’t win the Olympia approximately 7-8 years shows up in shape and wins the 2020 Olympia.
“Shawn Rhoden, nobody had him on the map winning against the supposed eight-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath so he could equal Ronnie Coleman and equal Lee Haney. It didn’t happen. Shawn Rhoden won. Stop it. Just stop it right now.”
El Guindy & Cormier Compare Andrew Jacked vs Samson Dauda
Cormier gave Jacked credit for an extremely busy schedule and said if he adds 10-15 pounds he’ll have a ‘devastating physique.’
“His [Andrew Jacked’s] body of work over the rookie season. It’s a huge body of work. He hasn’t had an off-season, he’s been trying to improve body parts on the fly, trying to improve posing on the fly, he’s a great showmen is what I’ve noticed.”
“Talking to both Chris’s, he was in 293-ish area for Olympia but maybe 10 pounds lighter at the Arnold Classic. With the length of his arms and legs and everything, you’re going to see that difference. Even the muscle appeared a lot harder, you’re going to see the fullness,” said Cormier. “I feel like if he came with that same type of tightness but add another 10-15 pounds if you could, then that’s a devastating physique.”
El Guindy emphasized that Andrew Jacked’s biggest enemy is Samson Dauda. He believes if Andrew was by himself on stage, he would have freak factor similar to Ronnie Coleman.
“At the Olympia Samson gets the first call out. Samson Dauda goes into the Arnold and places ahead of him. First place and third place. Samson Dauda is tall, not as tall as Andrew Jacked but he possesses more muscle density than Andrew Jacked. Andrew Jacked I thought was more conditioned than Samson Dauda,” said El Guindy.
“The biggest enemy for Andrew Jacked is Samson Dauda. He takes the impact away. If you see Andrew Jacked by himself, oh my God that’s the next coming of Ronnie Coleman. Then you bring Samson Dauda next to him and you go that’s kind of a Lee Haney-type of guy. If we didn’t have Samson Dauda, all of us would be betting on Andrew Jacked to dominate the business for the next 10 years.”
Chris Cormier isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran keen on discussing Andrew Jacked’s future. Recently, Jay Cutler gave his thoughts on the topic as well. Considering the improvements Jacked made from the Olympia to the Arnold, he believes it’s possible he could shock the world, assuming he qualifies for the event.
In the meantime, other top contenders are gearing up for their prep, like 2022 Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford. He joined Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast recently, where they discussed a number of topics including his progress, anxiety, and dealing with depression.
It remains to be seen if taller competitors truly have an advantage over their counterparts. Though El Guindy and Cormier agree if Andrew adds more tissue, he’ll be a dangerous threat to anyone on the Olympia stage, even the champion.
RELATED: Big Ramy Discusses Mental State Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off, I Need to Give It Everything”
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 9:21 AM EDT
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge Talk Jeremy Buendia, Brandon Hendrickson vs. Erin Banks at 2023 Olympia
As the bodybuilding season marches forward, athletes are gearing up for the biggest show of the year, 2023 Mr. Olympia in November. In a recent Prime Time Muscle show, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy examined some of the rivalries front and center in the Men’s Physique category, all of which feature the reigning Olympia winner, Erin Banks.
The Men’s Physique division has existed for around 10 years and in that time, athletes have evolved to display the best beach bodies possible. In 2013, Mark Anthony Wingson made history when he became the first-ever Men’s Physique Olympia champion. His victory served as a standard for the division at the time and offered his rivals a clear vision of the ideal physique needed to claim gold.
The intensity of the category only grew in the years to follow. Jeremy Buendia established himself as the reigning champion for four years, from 2014-2017. While there have been talks of his comeback in the past, he’s now formally committed in 2023. He’s shared bulking diets, training sessions, and physique goals ahead of his latest venture.
Before Erin Banks won the recent 2022 Men’s Physique Olympia title, Brandon Hendrickson proved himself as one of the best in the division. He became a three-time champion (2018, 2020, 2021), and like Buendia, hopes to knock Banks off the throne in a few months. With such a competitive group of talent, Cormier and El Guindy took a closer look at some of the top contenders expected to compete in November.
Terrick El Guindy Discusses Diogo Montenegro Accusing Erin Banks of ‘Suspect Shoulders’
According to El Guindy, Diogo Montenegro accused Erin Banks of having ‘suspect’ shoulders because there are no striations or separations in the muscle like his.
“Some guys they don’t like each other. That’s the part of the sport. These guys, they hate each other. Oh Terrick don’t use the word hate, well, that’s how they feel about each other. Diogo Montenegro was very specific in Portuguese because I speak the language and he says, ‘My shoulder has separation, my shoulder has striations when I’m really defined, you don’t get to see that on Erin Banks.
You know, making an assumption that Erin Banks shoulders are somehow suspect or present some type of imbalance. That did not go well with Erin Banks. Erin Banks is a cool collected guy. He’s a family guy. If you come his way, he’s from Fresno. They don’t play. He’s like, ‘You can say whatever you want to me, but be ready for the counter attack’ He went after Diogo, he said, ‘You’re a little man with five abs five little blocks,’ you know,” Terrick El Guindy shared.
El Guidy said the online beef reminded him of when Andre Ferguson and Brandon Hendrickson promised a scuffle in Orlando a few years ago.
“Things are getting hairy here. Remember, when we had Andre Ferguson and Brandon Hendrickson they were going to scramble in Orlando a few years ago. Everybody had their board shorts rolling, like, ‘Oh this is going to happen,” El Guindy added.
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge Talk Jeremy Buendia, Brandon Hendrickson, Erin Banks Rivalries Before 2023 Olympia
After El Guindy explained that Banks blocks people online such as Buendia, Chris Cormier suggested that it probably wasn’t personal.
“He had arguments with Jeremy Buendia, he blocked Jeremy Buendia. Then, I think he [Erin Banks] blocked some other guys. If you come to his social media and you don’t like him, he blocks everybody. I mean, it’s his social media he does whatever he wants but that’s his strategy.”
“It’s competition and I’m sure a lot of it is not totally personal. I just – I don’t know, I like going back and forth. It fueled me to look even better than I probably would have if I different have some kind of edge or some type of chip on my shoulder getting ready for a show. I wanted it. I invited it,” said Chris Cormier.
Cormier said back when he competed, those who talked trash to Flex Wheeler would receive a ‘personal block’ since social media didn’t exist then.
“I would probably have to [trash talk] go with Flex Wheeler. Because just knowing him so well, I know what buttons to push and what buttons to not push, and just like we would go into the posing room together, myself, him – Rico McClinton, and Flex, I mean we’d be in there till we’re falling asleep in between. But we knew if you said one thing negative to Flex, he would at that time defriend you or do a personal block on you back in the day, he wouldn’t talk to you for a few weeks,” said Cormier.
Given Hendrickson’s history on top, El Guindy believes he has the potential to upset Banks at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He said he felt a lot of tension between the two Men’s Physique competitors during an Olympia TV live show.
“We might have a shake-up. You never know, Brandon Hendrickson, don’t discount the champion. A lot of times people place second place and guys start talking about new guys, he can come back and he can regain that title. Him and Erin Banks, they dislike each other to the max. There wouldn’t be anything more perfect for Brandon Hendrickson to be the last man standing and to take that trophy from the heart of Erin Banks,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“I did a live with them and there’s a lot of tension between those two guys.”
Even though Jeremy Buendia has proven himself as an elite champion, Cormier said he’s facing a very ‘steep hill’ because his peers, Hendrickson, and Banks, have been competing consistently as of late.
“He’s put on a lot of muscle. I just hope it’s going to turn out right because these guys have actually been competing and he’s actually not been competing,” said Cormier. “I didn’t say he couldn’t make an impact. I’m saying it’s a steep hill to climb when things guys have been competing. I said he’s going to have a steep hill to climb when these guys have been competing competing competing,” shared Cormier.
In the past, Erin Banks and Buendia have gone at it in a heated Olympia TV interview. Banks argued that the category had moved on and evolved since Jeremy’s time in the sport. However, Buendia took issue with Banks lacking respect for champions who paved the path he now walks on.
The IFBB Pro League announced a new height/weight cap restriction for the Men’s Physique division. Following the 2023 Olympia event, the new regulations will go into effect. In an appearance on an NPC News Online YouTube video, IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion laid out why the changes are being implemented. Most importantly, it’s to keep competitors from retaining too much size.
While some in the community such as Dave Palumbo believe the changes would discourage Men’s Physique talent from training legs, Bob Cicherillo disagrees. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, the event announcer explained that ignoring leg training would result in an imbalanced physique despite legs not being a part of the judging criteria.
The rapid growth of the Men’s Physique division has made it one of the most talked about events on the Mr. Olympia schedule. With Erin Banks at the center of at least three rivalries, fans are looking forward to seeing how he fares in what could be his first title defense.
RELATED: 4x Physique Champion Jeremy Buendia Gives Tips For Rear Delts
You can watch the full video below from the Olympia TV YouTube channel:
Published: 15 June, 2023 | 11:43 AM EDT
Greatest Arms Ever? Chris Cormier Picks Robby Robinson & Olympia Judge Says Phil Heath
Figuring out who has the best arms ever in a sport like bodybuilding is a difficult task. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy tackled the challenge and named which bodybuilders they believe possessed the best arms of any competitor regardless of era.
Chris Cormier is uniquely qualified to speak on the matter given his decorated résumé filled with accomplishments. His eye-catching balance of chest fullness, biceps, and deeply separated quads made him a perennial Mr. Olympia threat despite never taking home the prestigious honor. As with most of his contemporaries from the 1990s, Comier competed often and shared the stage with heavy hitters like Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and Flex Wheeler.
On the other hand, El Guindy is a bodybuilding promoter and judge. He routinely officiates contests and through the years has developed a keen eye for physiques irrespective of category. With regular appearances on the Prime Time Muscle Olympia TV program, El Guindy’s gift of gab makes him a fantastic ambassador for the sport.
In their latest endeavor, El Guindy and Cormier teamed up for a gun show judging contest. They both proposed their picks in the arms race. In addition, they disclosed honorable mentions and named who currently holds the biggest arms in the sport.
Chris Cormier: ‘Robby Robinson Has The Greatest Arms Ever, No One Will Outshine Those Peaks’
Without taking size into account, Cormier credited Robinson’s arms as the best ever given his pronounced biceps peak, which he still displays today well into his 70s.
Robby Robinson / Instagram
“Robby Robinson! The Black Prince is my go-to when it comes to arms. I’ve watched as a kid and training with him personally and I would saw, when he would do a preacher curl, his biceps would come up, over, then, back, and down. Up, over, back, and down, double scoop ice cream scoop on top of an arm [impressive peaks]. That’s what I would see every time on Robby Robinson. He had the brachialis, the triceps, I don’t think anyone outshined those peaks, ever,” said Chris Cormier.
Terrick El Guindy: “Phil Heath, Freakiest Arms I’ve Ever Seen”
Guindy said he was most blown away by the full muscle bellies in Heath’s arms.
“In my opinion to have the best arms in the history of bodybuilding – a lot of us focus on biceps but it’s got to be biceps and triceps… I’m going to tell you that Phil Heath had amazing freaking arms, okay. It was the triceps, the biceps, and it was the muscle bellies on the arms.”
“I could choose one arm to just borrow and go down Santa Monica with a sleeveless shirt, it would be Phil Heath,” argued El Guindy. “Freakiest arms I’ve ever seen. Lee Priest had freaky arms too but they were a little bit too compact. They were impressive but they didn’t stretch so much.”
Phil Heath / Instagram
As for honorable mentions for greatest arms, Cormier and Guindy agree on Roelly Winklaar and Ramon Queiroz. However, in terms of pure size, Nick Walker has the biggest and most impressive arms of any competitor in the IFBB Pro League right now.
“Let me tell you, I saw Roelly Winklaar’s arms, man!” added Guindy.
“Those arms bro… you can’t even – I mean his forearms are about as big as most people’s biceps peaks, alone just the forearms. You can’t go wrong with those guys mentioned already,” The Real Deal shared.
“It was a few months back and shits crazy my man. He [Ramon Dino] had those crazy forearms laying down on the table. They looked like somebody’s legs. I was looking at this guy and going, why do you have such big forearms. And the reality is he did a lot of bars in Ekiti where he’s from. Incredible arm development. Nowadays, the competitor in the Open that has the biggest most impressive arms in my opinion is Nick Walker,” replied El Guindy.
This isn’t the first time competitors from past eras took a closer look at arm development. Months ago, former four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler shared a throwback video of when he and Ronnie Coleman had their biceps measured. While the race was close, Coleman’s were bigger, topping out at a massive 23.5 inches. Meanwhile, Cutler’s were 22.5 inches at the time.
Comparisons of Walker’s arm size and Coleman’s surfaced recently as well. The eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder found the online discussion funny. After being critical of the Bro Chat Podcast for the comparison, Coleman specified that muscle separation must also be taken into account when measuring arms.
Interestingly, Cormier and Terrick El Guindy left ‘The King’ out of the discussion, despite being known for some of the biggest arms of any competitor. Given the sport’s subjective nature, fans will never agree as a whole on which athlete had the best arms of all time.
Watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
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Published: 10 June, 2023 | 12:11 AM EDT
‘Chris Bumstead Should Get an Invitation’ to Open Olympia’: Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge
Canadian bodybuilder Chris Bumstead is easily one of the most popular contenders in the sport. What makes his success even more impressive is the fact that he doesn’t compete in the Men’s Open division, which generally serves as the main attraction of any event. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, bodybuilding Hall of Famer Chris Cormier and Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy shared their thoughts on how Bumstead would fare if he switched divisions and voiced their support for him to receive an invitation to compete in the Open class at the Mr. Olympia competition.
Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead first gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, definition, and symmetry in 2017 when he took silver at Mr. Olympia. He fell short of former two-time champion Breon Ansley for the second time in 2018 before exacting revenge the following year in 2019 to win his maiden Sandow trophy. Once he reached the top, there was no stopping him as he racked up three successful title defenses.
Bumstead is coming off his fourth win at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. Following the victory, he announced his ambitions to win another title and opened up about finding his passion for bodybuilding again.
Four months ago, Bumstead gave his take on testing out the waters of the Men’s Open division. He expressed a desire to get a special invite and compete in the Open Arnold Classic contest on the condition that the event took place two or three weeks after Mr. Olympia.
Bumstead joined forces with Brazilian standout Ramon Rocha Queiroz for a heavy back training session earlier this year. Then, he teamed up with German sensation Urs Kalecinski for a sleeve-busting arms workout two weeks later.
Chris Bumstead With Coach Hany Rambod
‘CBum’ gave fans a look into his 3,500-calorie diet that he utilized in the 2023 off-season two months ago. He tipped the scales at 253 pounds and targeted adding more muscle mass to his frame. Then, Chris Bumstead showed off his massive back while crushing an intense upper-body workout. He later collaborated with seven-time 212 Olympia champion Flex Lewis for a taxing back training session.
Coach Hany Rambod wants Bumstead to bulk up to 255-258 pounds by the time off-season rolls out to start gearing up for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Olympia judge breaks down Chris Bumstead’s chances in the Men’s Open class
Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy shared his thoughts on how Chris Bumstead would look competing against the mass monsters of the Men’s Open division.
El Guindy lauded Bumstead for his mindset and believes he won’t aim for an extended run in the Open category.
“Chris Bumstead lives on his own pace,” said El Guindy. “He will not do anything to prove anything to anybody. If Chris Bumstead gets married and has two kids, looks at his wife and says I’m done, and everybody thinks he’s going to win the Mr. Olympia, he’s done. I give him a lot of credit because he’s a free-spirited guy who’s not going to be swayed by money or titles.
“If he does an Open bodybuilding show, I believe it’s going to be for fun. I think he’s going to give his best but I don’t think he’ll do on our terms he will do on his terms. He could very well show up at a show in Texas, here and there.
“Do I think that’s his career? I personally don’t. I don’t think Chris Bumstead will be known as an Open bodybuilder when he retires even if he competes. His legacy will be as the greatest Classic Physique of all time.”
Chris Bumstead / Instagram
Chris Cormier & El Guindy want ‘CBum’ to get an invitation
Chris Cormier and El Guindy extended their support for ‘CBum’ to receive an invitation for participating as an Open athlete.
“There’s some poses we would be dying to see Chris Bumstead up there against some of the top guys hitting the front lat spread, side chest, ab and thing, and such like that,” Cormier said. “Maybe even start just like Derek did. Go to Pittsburgh, try your luck on stage and see how you fare and just take it from there.
“Yeah I would give [Bumstead an invitation],” added Cormier. “He’s the most popular bodybuilder we have in the sport.”
El Guindy said, “If Derek got an invitation, Chris Bumstead should get one in my personal opinion, I’m not a decision maker.”
Chris Bumstead reflected on his partnership with former coach and Men’s Open standout Iain Valliere about two weeks ago. He credited Valliere for helping him stay healthy and succeed at a young age without using heavy amounts of steroids.
Even though Cbum competes in the Classic Physique division, his impact on the Open class is undeniable. Recently, 1990s bodybuilding veteran Kevin Levrone argued that Bumstead’s efforts have resulted in a new era of aesthetics in Open bodybuilding.
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo weighed in on Bumstead’s chances in the Open class and backed him to present a challenge against the likes of former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Samson Dauda, and Nick Walker if he added 15 to 20 pounds.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead on Fantasy Match-Up vs Arnold Schwarzenegger: ‘I Think I Would Beat Him’
Published: 2 June, 2023 | 9:15 AM EDT
Chris Cormier Reflects on Gunter Schlierkamp Almost Defeating Ronnie Coleman at 2002 Mr. Olympia
Bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier was a mainstay in the IFBB Pro League during the 1990s and 2000s. In a recent Prime Time Muscle podcast, Cormier looked back on 2002 Mr. Olympia where Gunter Schlierkamp pushed Ronnie Coleman with one of his career’s best packages.
German pro Gunter Schlierkamp led a successful tenure lasting over 15 years. He was well respected in the industry for his size and muscularity as many predicted he would be a future Mr. Olympia winner assuming his conditioning was on par with his contemporaries. He shared the stage with several big names in the sport like Flex Wheeler, Cormier, Coleman, and Jay Cutler.
Having reflected on past Mr. Olympia competitions, Schlierkamp believes he could have placed higher at a few contests but said winners weren’t hand-picked. His remarks came after Kevin Levrone took part in The Menace Podcast with Dennis James. Levrone suspected that outside factors and politics played a role in which bodybuilders ultimately won gold and represented the brand.
In a trip down memory lane, Cormier relived his 2002 Mr. Olympia experience when Gunter Schlierkamp was leading the show ahead of Coleman during prejudging. While Schlierkamp finished fifth, Cormier said it was one of his best looks of all time.
Chris Cormier on Gunter Schlierkamp at 2002 Mr. Olympia: ‘Joe Weider Told Us He Was Giving Ronnie Trouble’
According to Chris Cormier, Joe Weider warned him that Gunter Schlierkamp was on track to challenge for gold in 2002. It should be noted that Gunter Schlierkamp defeated Coleman at the 2002 GNC Show of Strength
“We were in Amsterdam, competed in Europe, myself, Ronnie, all the crew, Dexter, we’re all there and we were a little tired we were coming from a little tour in Europe. Then, we were in Amsterdam, so we were eating the cookies, and I was eating the cookies. Yup. I was in good shape. I wasn’t worried about it. We went there to New Orleans, on our way there, Joe Weider was talking to someone at the time on the tour and expressed to us how good Gunter was looking and that he’s possibly going to be giving Ronnie some trouble – that he was in that good of shape.
Getting over to the show, you know, we were like, ‘Okay, so,’ but it’s still Gunter, it’s not like a killer. But we were still banking on beating him. And it was a lot of money at stake. We were going in there guns a-blazing also, King Kamali was also there. But he [Gunter Schlierkamp] was in great shape. They did the first call out, they called out Ronnie, they called out Gunter, and they called myself out. It was us three in that call out there.”
Looking back on the contest, Cormier said he, Coleman, and Gunter all won some shots. He highlighted that shape and aesthetics were highly favored by judges at the time.
“I think they had Gunter in first place after the symmetry round, so I’m pissed, I kind of go off on him about it after the prejudging, ‘How the hell you get first place in the symmetry round?’ I’m just kind of like, ‘What the hell is going on here?’ He and his wife at the time was going back and forth with me in the lobby, I was pissed, don’t be telling me you’re winning the symmetry round, come on man, you know you don’t deserve that shit.”
“I would win some shots, Gunter would win some shots, Ronnie would win, but at that time, it was a lot of shape and a lot of aesthetics going on in the judging and the flavor of that type of year. It just kind of hit everyone by surprise. Kevin Levrone jumped on the stage and congratulated him and was so happy for Hunter, because he thought in his mind, now the blood is in the water, now I can get Ronnie too. If Gunter can beat him, I could beat him. I was pissed till I got my check that day.”
Given Schlierkamp’s combination of size, fullness, and conditioning, Cormier and Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy agree it was one of his most complete packages to date.
“It was a good place from him but it was the time, coming from Europe and all that stuff, but I’m not going to take anything away from him because he did look good that day,” added Cormier.
“Joe Weider approached Chris Cormier and he said, ‘Gunter is looking incredible, Ronnie might be in trouble.’ What he was referring to is, I took a gander at this guy and his conditioning has never been this good and credit to Joe and Gunter, this is his best conditioning. So, I still think he needed to be more large on top. But, if you look at the hamstrings and the glutes, we had never seen that before from Gunter, and here he shows something different to the judges, to the audience, at this event in 2002,” El Guindy said.
“I think he changed dieticians and something, he did something a lot different. I know he was training with Charles Glass back in the day. He came in a lot different in that show. That was probably the peak show of his career,” Cormier shared.
The last time fans heard from Schlierkamp, he joined Dennis Wolf for a workout at 52. Fans were taken aback by his jacked biceps in retirement. Despite his ability to push the pace with some of the biggest mass monsters the sport has seen, Gunter appears happy with his downsized physique since stepping away from bodybuilding.
RELATED: History of Mr. Olympia
After reminiscing about 2002 Mr. Olympia, Cormier who placed third ahead of Gunter Schlierkamp, still believes the German native brought one his best physiques of all time.
You can watch the video below from the Olympia TV YouTube channel:
Published: 6 May, 2023 | 11:06 AM EDT
Comparing Bodybuilding’s Winningest Athletes – Dexter Jackson & Ashley Kaltwasser by Olympia Judge & Chris Cormier
Bodybuilding icon Ashley Kaltwasser trumped over fellow legend Dexter Jackson as the most winningest athlete in the history of the sport. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and bodybuilding Hall of Famer Chris Cormier shared their analysis and comparison of Jackson and Kaltwasser’s careers.
Dexter Jackson first gained attention for his insane muscle mass, detail, and conditioning levels in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. He made a splash in his debut at the 1999 Arnold Classic and placed seventh. He proved to be one of the most consistent and disciplined athletes in the game with regular competitive appearances.
In 2005, Jackson took home the top prize at the Arnold Classic. He successfully defended the title the following year in 2006. Besides the Arnold Classic, he was a mainstay of the Open class at the Olympia contests from 1999 to 2020. Jackson was at the height of his powers between 2002 and 2010, always placing in the top four at Olympias. After placing third at the 2007 event, many counted out Jackson’s chances at the win. However, Jackson came back stronger and dethroned former four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler in 2008 to win the coveted Sandow trophy.
‘The Blade’s final appearance came at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, where he placed ninth. He hung up his posing trunks with a record five Arnold Classic titles under his belt.
Dexter Jackson continues to work out regularly. He gave fans a look into a brutal back workout in April 2022. Then, he followed up with a jacked physique update showing off his biceps in an intense training session.
The 53-year-old left the fans in awe of his lean physique in another update last October. Last month, Jackson ignited rumors of a potential return for the Masters Olympia with a ripped workout update.
Olympia judge & Chris Cormier share analysis of Dexter Jackson’s insane career
Dexter Jackson
In a recent YouTube video, Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy, Tim Wilkins, and Chris Cormier lauded Dexter Jackson for his insanely successful career in a comparison with Ashley Kaltwasser.
“Ashley has just surpassed Dexter on the wins,” said Wilkins.
El Guindy: “She currently has 37 pro victories.”
“Now, Dexter was the winningest bodybuilder of all time with the male,” El Guindy said, “Obviously, we can look at it and say possibly male bodybuilding is a little bit of a harder enterprise than Bikini. You gotta come in with striated glutes like Dexter did. You gotta add a lot of muscle and Dexter has done that. But Ashley Kaltwasser has done something that… 37 pro victories.”
Cormier argued Jackson’s run was more impressive due to the nature of the competition he was in combined with a lack of as many shows as now.
Cormier: “If you’re talking Bikini, you’re talking more like the beauty, the aesthetic of the body. It’s not like you’re trying to force a lot of mass, forcing a lot of food down your throat, going through the grueling workouts, the posing rounds, all this stuff. But if you look at Dexter Jackson’s whole cabinet of wins is probably filled with eight Arnold Classics, he’s got Mr. Olympia title under his belt, competing all around the world from Australia to the Iron Man. I don’t know all his wins off the top of my head but I guarantee you he won the shows.”
“It’s a higher degree of difficulty and then even in the later part of his career, he was still beating some of the guys that’s actually competing at high level right now,” said Cormier. “He was beating those guys. I know he thinks he was looking the best but that wasn’t the same Dexter Jackson I was going against. That guy was etched out, that’s when we gave him the name ‘Blade.’ These guys then were still getting beat by Dexter and it wasn’t even the Dexter I went up against. I call him the Jordan of bodybuilding.”
El Guindy: “Dexter Jackson’s first bodybuilding show was in 1992. His last one was in 2020. That’s 28 years of bodybuilding.”
Cormier: “Just depending on how it’s going to play out but I don’t think anyone in this lifetime that we know of is going to be [breaking Dexter’s record].”
Last month, Dexter Jackson confirmed he had no intentions of making a comeback to competition. He reflected on his career and stressed the importance of recovery and machine training for longevity. Then, he crushed a brutal arm workout while teasing a mystery project.
Ashley Kaltwasser has been a force to reckon with in the Women’s Bikini division since conquering the Olympia title in her 2013 debut. She went on a dominant run over the next three years that saw her win the 2014 Arnold Sports Festival, and the 2014 Toronto Supershow, and extend her Olympia reign with two successful title defenses. In 2016, Kaltwasser lost the Olympia title and dropped down to the fourth place.
Having maintained a packed competitive schedule, Kaltwasser took to the sidelines for the 2017 season and returned in 2018. From 2018 to 2020, she slipped down the ranks in Olympia contests but continued to rack up trophies in other shows such as the 2018 Vancouver Pro and 2019 Mile High Pro.
In 2021, Kaltwasser put her foot to the gas as she competed in 14 shows throughout the year, winning eight and never placing out of the top four. Her impressive streak continued last season with another 12 contest participation. She scored gold in seven, including the 2022 Arnold Classic UK.
Kaltwasser opened up about her reasons for staying busy as a competitor last month. While many enjoy taking a longer off-season, she likes to be active to stay motivated for prep and not miss out on any opportunities.
The 34-year-old offered her expertise on improving contest preps a few weeks ago. She went over the common pain points of combating bloating, managing water and sodium intake, and hunger cravings.
Wilkins & Olympia judge says Ashley Kaltwasser can win another 15-20 shows
Wilkins and El Guindy heaped praises on Kaltwasser for her extraordinary track record and believe she could cement her status as the greatest with another dozen or more titles in the next few years.
“This competitor, Ashley Kaltwasser, she’s a track and field star in the state of Ohio,” El Guindy said. “Her ability to maintain the great conditioning weekend after weekend, display incredible physique, and continue to win shows is impressive. She is the winningest bodybuilder of all time. She’s got 37 titles.”
“Ashley Kaltwasser had the ability to do possibly 10 or 15 shows a year and win a lot of them. Dexter had to do it for a long period of time.”
Wilkins: “If she’s got five more years doing 3-4 shows a year plus the O, she’s a lock to win 3 or 4 of those shows. She could end up with another 15 to 20 wins and cement that untouchable.”
Guindy: “I think that’s the goal. I talked to her coach Adam Bonilla and he’s got great athletes but Ashley is the main horse there. His intention with her is to win as many as possible. She’s not slowing down guys. If she won 10 shows last year, she wants to win 15 this year.”
Ashley Kaltwasser offered some of her best tips on maintaining proper nutrition on show days earlier this month. She recommended eating light foods and not consuming too much protein to ensure an empty stomach.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 24 April, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT
Chris Cormier and Olympia Judge on Glute Injections/Implants: ‘It’s Really Cheating’
Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy are taking a closer look at how to observe imbalances in a bodybuilding physique. In a recent Prime Time Muscle podcast, Cormier and El Guindy explained why glute implants/injections are a form of cheating in the IFBB Pro League.
Judging in bodybuilding has become a hot topic in the sport as of late. Discussions on how to score a contest swelled following the conclusion of the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest that saw Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay lose to Hadi Choopan. The podium was rounded out with Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker taking second and third, respectively. Given the results, fans suspected that judges were beginning to favor balance and conditioning rather than size and freak factor.
These observations were brought into the limelight again after the 2023 Arnold Classic. Samson Dauda‘s shape, balance, and proportions sealed the deal in Ohio, where he outlasted Walker and third-place finisher Andrew Jacked. Bodybuilding veterans and fans of the sport took issue with Dauda’s victory. Chris Aceto, Jay Cutler, and Samir Bannout thought Walker could or should have won.
Walker implored his fans to stop harping on the results days after the contest. In a recent Mutant & The Mouth Podcast, Walker, joined by Guy Cisternino and Nick Trigili, called for a more transparent judging process. Meanwhile, event announcer Bob Cicherillo took to his own series of podcasts to not only lay out why Walker lost but also explained in detail how to score a bodybuilding contest.
In light of the judging controversy, Cormier and El Guindy tackled the subject and laid out strategies for detecting imbalances related to glute injections/implants.
Chris Cormier, Judge Terrick El Guindy Explain How to Look for Injection/Implant Imbalances
According to El Guindy, the breasts of a female competitor are not being judged in any capacity, and specified that the Olympia in female categories can be won without implants.
“The section where a woman breastfeeds or accumulates natural fat, that’s not being judged in any category. What that means is, whether you have large breasts whether you don’t have large breasts whether you have an implant, it’s up to you, it makes zero difference on the judging.”
“It doesn’t matter at all,” says El Guindy. “I don’t know if Marueen Blanquisco has augmentation or not or the girl in 10th place has augmentation or not – I don’t look at it, I don’t judge it, I don’t even have time to look at it. What I am looking at — the abdominals section, I’m looking at glutes, I’m looking at legs, is she over-conditioned? Is there too many veins and this or that.”
“I couldn’t tell who had augmentation and who doesn’t It’s not important, you can win the Olympia without it,” El Guindy stated. “As judges we don’t have the time to look at it. Now going back to the difference between glutes and breats, is that we are judging the glutes. We are judging the glutes. So, if you show up on stage with an imbalance which is not natural to the anatomy indentation… exactly, there is, and Chris and I talk about it, the human anatomy where the glutes connect with the hamstrings.”
El Guindy explained that judges are trained to look at the natural indentation connecting the glutes to the hamstrings.
It doesn’t matter, men and women, if you look at a famous picture of Ronnie Coleman when he squeezes his glutes, there’s a natural indentation of the glute going into the hamstring. You look at Franciella Mattos – the current Wellness champion, there’s a natural indendation into the glutes going into the hamstrings.”
“When you don’t have what a lot of girls call the teardrop when it just goes down and just stops and there’s extra volume, that’s an imbalance and judges are going to catch it. You’re going to go from, ‘Hey, I never had butt implants, I was winning shows, I was in the first call-out.’ To now, hey, ‘You have an imbalance and now you end up on the last call-out,” El Guindy added.
Another telltale sign of imbalance that El Guindy revealed was physiques whose legs and glutes don’t match in terms of development.
“I’m not sure I could quite reveal some of our strategies to identify it – I have no problem because first of all, just the facts,” El Guindy said. “Then, you look at the development of the leg, it doesn’t match the development of the glutes.”
“And it’s going to get worse as you get older,” Cormier said.
Lastly, El Guindy highlighted that judges can identify an implant or injection by the way someone walks on stage.
“Whether you like it or not, you have to walk to that spot [on stage]. And when you walk and stuff doesn’t move naturally, like we’ve seen for the last thousands of years, something is wrong,” El Guindy explained. “So, I want to understand why some of them try to do it. Because it’s really cheating, right?”
“This competitor who just used some type of you know, imbalance, did not do what you’re supposed to do which is bodybuilding. You’re building your body; it’s not called implant-building. It’s bodybuilding. It requires the breakdown of protein and building muscle.”
Given his expertise, El Guindy has witnessed competitors who were on the verge of winning drop to the last call-out due to injection/implant imbalances.
“You’re absolutely right, we’re trained to identify not only when you pose but when you walk. It’s sad because a lot of times, I’ve judged some shows where I said, ‘Man, this person had the potential of winning, men or women, the potential of actually winning the entire show,’ but somehow because of an imbalance they actually lost and went into the last call-out, we see that a lot.”
This isn’t the first time that Cormier and El Guindy joined forces to discuss site-enhancement oils and physique imbalances. Urging competitors against substances like Synthol, ‘The Real Deal’ underlined the damage he sustained to his calves earlier in his career. He stressed that the practice causes lifelong damage to the muscle due to poor blood circulation.
RELATED: Chris Cormier Warns Hadi Choopan to Bring ‘Different Look’ In Shoulders Due to Synthol Accusations
Simply put, Cormier and El Guindy believe glute injections and implants are cheating. They emphasized that the sport’s Olympia titles can still be won without resorting to these types of shortcuts.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 14 April, 2023 | 12:00 PM EDT
Bodybuilding Legend Chris Cormier Speaks On Dangers Of Synthol: “You’re Destroying The Muscle”
Chris Cormier used synthol during his bodybuilding career and knows the dangers.
Chris Cormier enjoyed a career on stage that lasted over two decades and saw him compete in the best of competitions. During his career, Cormier used different substances to prepare his physique and recently spoke on the dangers of synthol.
Synthol is one of the enhancement oils that has been used to improve an athlete’s physique for years now. At the same time, it can cause some imbalances in physiques and judges have been looking for this. Synthol is a common substance used by bodybuilders.
Milos Sarcev admitted to using synthol over the course of his career. Recently, Hadi Choopan was accused of using it to enhance certain muscles. Chris Cormier discussed the dangers of the substance during a recent interview.
Chris Cormier On Synthol: “The Damage Is Real”
In a conversation on the Muscle and Fitness YouTube page, Chris Cormier took some time to discuss the damage that synthol can do.
“I actually used it in my calves before that’s why I know the damage is real. And not only that, when you get older, you need the circulation. Guess what you’re doing to the muscle, you’re damaging all of the nerves, you’re not going to have the circulation, your nervous system is going to be all jacked up. When you get older, you need that circulation,” Chris Cormier said.
Cormier used it in his calves and he explains that this is the most common place where the substance is found. The use of synthol can destroy the muscle over time.
“You’re destroying the muscle. One of the muscles that a lot of people like to do is the calves. The calves is one of the worst places you can do it because it’s slowly going to damage that muscle. That muscle is going to disintegrate, and be actually nothing in another year or two, or you know something like that.”
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Chris Cormier On Enhancement Oils In Bodybuilding
Site enhancement oils have become part of bodybuilding and Chris Cormier expects that it will continue. He does not believe that it should be removed from the sport but admits that there are some difficulties.
“I think it really blurs the physique and I think you can look a lot better. You know, I’m not going to say that it’s something that can be totally wiped out but just calm down and have a little pride about you that you’re going to gain a little muscle in the gym, not in the bathroom.”
Chris Cormier has experience using these substances during his successful career and does not see any benefit when it is all said and done. The risk is not worth the reward and this is what many have said about the use of steroids as well.
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