Tag: CLASSIC PHYSIQUE
Urs Kalecinski Talks Body Fat w/ Greg Doucette, Must Lose 26 Lbs for 2023 Olympia
German bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski has emerged as one of the most promising talents in the Classic Physique division ruled by Chris Bumstead in the last few years. He was last seen in action at the 2023 Arnold Classic three months ago. In a recent YouTube video on his channel, Kalecinski teamed up with bodybuilding coach Greg Doucette to check his body fat levels and found out he would need to lose a minimum of 26 pounds of muscle mass to make weight for the 2023 Classic Physique Olympia competition.
Rising Classic Physique sensation Urs Kalecinski blew up on the scene courtesy of his refined muscle mass, size, detail, and symmetry in 2021. He narrowly missed out on the top prize to Mike Sommerfeld at the 2021 Xtreme Bodybuilding & Fitness Pro. He rebounded with a commanding victory at the 2021 Tampa Pro and finished his rookie season with a fourth-place finish at the Mr. Olympia show.
Kalecinski kicked off last year with a bronze medal at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival. He scored a dominant win at the Boston Pro en route to 2022 Mr. Olympia. Last Nov., Kalecinski opened up on his plans to challenge four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead with aesthetics and perfect proportions. He teamed up with bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler for a heavy shoulder and arm workout to get ready for the event.
Although the two are friends, Kalecinski admitted his rivalry with Cbum was real and that they considered each other enemies on stage. In the end, he established his place in the mix of title contention with a third-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia behind runner-up Ramon Rocha Queiroz and four-time Classic Physique king, Chris Bumstead.
Following the outcome, Kalecinski set his sights on the 2023 Arnold Classic, where his goal was to defeat Ramon Dino. Despite falling sick to food poisoning five days before the showdown, Kalecinski turned in an impressive performance and placed second to Dino three months ago. Kalecinski teamed up with Bumstead for a muscle-building arms workout two days after the event. Then, he enlisted the help of Open legend Cutler for a brutal back workout.
Urs Kalecinski Needs to Lose a Minimum of 26 lbs of Muscle to Make Weight for 2023 Classic Physique Olympia
During the recent YouTube video, Urs Kalecinski revealed he weighs 275 pounds at 10.3 percent body fat. Considering his size, Urs would need to lose at least 26 pounds of muscle mass to make the Classic Physique weight limit for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“I can’t believe that this is Classic. This is ridiculous. I don’t understand how you’re not in Men’s Open,” said Doucette.
Urs Kalecinski expressed his excitement to face Ramon Dino in another battle at the 2023 Mr. Olympia last week. He declared his ambitions to seek redemption and revealed he’d cut down to 1,800 calories to prepare for the contest.
While Kalecinski is certainly going full-throttle in the off-season, it remains to be seen how he’d fare against top talent in the Men’s Open. Nevertheless, fans look forward to seeing him cut weight and make a play for Bumstead’s title.
RELATED: Urs Kalecinski and Terrence Ruffin Join ‘Hypertrophy Coach’ For Brutal Push Workout and Posing Routine
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 28 June, 2023 | 7:19 PM EDT
Bryan Jones Lays Out Comeback Plans for Men’s Open in 2024, Says He Wants to be 270 Lbs
Classic Physique talent Bryan Jones is ready to battle with the big boys of the Men’s Open division. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Jones revealed he’s closing in on his anticipated move to the Open class and hopes to compete at next year’s 2024 Arnold Classic.
With exceptional definition, balanced proportions, and stellar quads, Bryan Jones has already proven himself against some of the world’s best. As a pro bodybuilder, he garnered hype quickly after finding success at the 2019 Ultimate Warriors Pro show where he placed fourth.
In 2020, Jones registered the best season of his IFBB Pro League career after earning gold at the Chicago Pro. This victory earned him an invite to the prestigious Mr. Olympia contest. Similar to Open star Nick Walker, Jones finished his first Olympia show in fifth place, a promising sign of his career’s trajectory. During the event, Jones stood against four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead, two-time winner Breon Ansley, and two-time Arnold Classic titleholder Terrence Ruffin.
Jones’ last pair of contests came in 2021 as he took fifth at the Arnold Classic and ninth in his sophomore Olympia appearance. Jones’ move to the Open class has been in the works for quite some time. He excited fans last March after making it clear he planned to switch divisions. At the time, he was weighing 244 pounds, though it appears now, Jones intends to add even more muscle before his big Open debut.
Bryan Jones Talks Comeback to Men’s Open in 2024, Growing Physique to 270 Lbs & Training Style/Diet
Looking ahead, Jones wants to make a ‘big statement’ when he tests his talents in the Open division next year.
“Yeah, I just want to make a big statement so I was like, I have to take as much time as I need. I don’t want to get on stage just to get on stage, you know? High volume, yeah, high volume, high intensity – yeah. Things of that nature. Very short rest breaks and whatnot, a lot of drop sets. Yeah, traditional bro split.”
“It’s gaining muscle – it’s easy for me but it just takes me longer to gain weight. I have a problem gaining weight. People think I’m bigger than what I am but for some reason my calories are high and for some reason, I don’t really gain too much weight really. Yeah, I stay lean no matter what. My fats are really high, but for some reason, my body doesn’t want to get fat so we’re trying to make me spill over a little bit, things of that nature,” said Bryan Jones.
As far as nutrition goes, Jones said he consumes cheat meals four times a week and struggles to gain weight. In the months to come, Jones says he wants to weigh 265-270 pounds.
“My meal plan, I have like three or four cheat meals a week,” said Jones. “I was in Classic, so I’m going to do Open now. This is a different ball game, you know, so maybe I don’t know yet… it’s hard to tell, I haven’t done a show as an Open competitor yet.”
“My off-seasons… I really couldn’t grow too much, I was really just maintaining for the off-season. Then my last two shows, we kind of grew, we kind of sucked up and we grew some. Then I was like oh shit, I can barely make weight. Exactly, now I’m barely making weight. I can’t do this for another 5-10 years.”
“I said 270, but we go by the eye test, it could be smaller, this could be the weight right here, no need to get any bigger you know. But yeah, 265-270 [pounds],” said Jones. “I’m back. I’m back.”
When asked by Ron Harris when he planned to step on stage, Bryan said the following:
“Most likely early 2024 most likely, Yeah [at the Arnold Classic]” said Jones. “My back, my hamstrings, I need to get the calves up a little, that’s really it. Hammies need some work still, I still haven’t figured that part out. I’m getting better. My back always [needs improvements].”
According to Jones, the criteria for judging physiques at bodybuilding shows hasn’t changed. Simply put, he believes the best physiques are being awarded at shows.
“It makes me excited and also too, I don’t know if that’s the actual direction they are looking at [at Olympia] I just think those guys are at the top of their game right now.”
“It’s no trend. Bodybuilding judges remain the same, it doesn’t change. They’re not looking for a specific waist size or anything of that nature, it’s whoever comes in that day, who peaks better, does everything better, it just so happens that the guys with better aesthetics for the past couple big show.”
“Just I could say the physiques have evolved but as far as judging-wise, it’s been the same. It’s been consistent for the most part. Trends… no, not really. I really haven’t seen any trends where like I have to look like this in order to win you know what I’m saying? It’s just the same criteria.”
Following the last Olympia and 2023 Arnold Classic, judging and scoring contests have become a hot-button issue. Fans online have debated whether or not former champ, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unfairly overlooked on the Olympia stage.
Meanwhile, fans and some bodybuilding veterans took issue with Samson Dauda winning the Arnold Classic. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo, on the other hand, believes the judges got it right in Vegas and in Columbus, Ohio. He has taken to various Voice of Bodybuilding Podcasts to lay out how to accurately score a bodybuilding contest to enlighten misled followers of the sport.
Given Bryan Jones’ experience at the highest level, when he does make his Men’s Open debut, fans expect something big. Aiming to tip the scales at 270 pounds, Jones’ transformation from Classic Physique to Open will make for an exciting storyline in 2024.
RELATED: ‘Don’t Give Big Ramy False Hope’: Bob Cicherillo Doubles Down on Fallen Champ & 2023 Arnold Classic Judging
Watch the full video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel below:
Published: 27 June, 2023 | 11:41 AM EDT
Dennis James, Milos Sarcev Talk Stephane Matala’s Potential, Say He’s a Threat to Chris Bumstead
Rising bodybuilder Stephane Matala is determined to make a statement when he takes to the stage in July. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Dennis James and Milos Sarcev discussed the Classic Physique division and how Matala will fare should he compete against top-tier Olympia talent, such as four-time winner, Chris Bumstead.
“You know how it is always. You can look great standing by yourself. We have to see him stand next to these guys to really compare him,” shared Dennis James.
Since Classic Physique’s inception, the category has been talent-rich and extremely competitive. The division’s popularity only grew year-to-year and the same can be said for the skill level of the participants. Over the last four years, Chris Bumstead has worn the crown after taking the honor from two-time Classic Physique Olympia Breon Ansley in 2019.
In his latest title defense, Bumstead managed to defend his throne against hungry bodybuilders like 2023 Arnold Classic champion Ramon Queiroz and third-place 2022 Olympia finisher Urs Kalecinski, who has since bulked to 275 pounds in an effort to dethrone the champ in November.
Given Bumstead’s continued dominance, fans are curious what it would take to overthrow such a formidable champion. And while no competitor has found a winning recipe, the community is rapidly getting behind a new Classic Physique contender: Stephane Matala.
Known as ‘Mr. Unchained’ on Instagram, Matala continues to captivate fans with a jaw-dropping physique. He first began his bodybuilding career by entering a number of local contests. Eventually, he took on the Musclemania Paris Junior Champion competition, where he impressed fans in the Men’s Physique category.
He’s showcased progress photos and videos in preparation for his Classic Physique splash at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal. Given his lines, condition, shape, and striations, the community is highly confident in his chances ahead of the show.
“The Dude Looks Fuc**ng Ridiculous,” – Dennis James & Milos Sarcev Debate Stephane Matala’s Potential
According to Milos Sarcev, he’s never seen a chest as striated as Stephane Matala’s
“Let me ask you something else guys, did you guys see that Classic guy that’s out there training in Dubai, that brother, that black guy. What’s his name, Stephane Matala,” said Dennis James.
“Oh, oh, holy shit. Yeah, I don’t know his name,” said Milos Sarcev.
“That dude hasn’t even been on stage yet and he has a huge following on Instagram. I don’t know if it’s just the videos or the pictures, the dude looks fuc**ng ridiculous,” added James
I’ve seen him pose next to Andrew Jacked,” added Sarcev. “That puts it in perspective man. Probably [doing Portugal], the guy is – I’ve never seen a striated chest like this in my life.”
Dennis James believes Matala possesses an ‘old school bodybuilding look’ and said he was impressed with his lack of scar tissue from steroid injections. After, Sarvev suggested Stephane work on his front double biceps pose.
“He’s clean, he’s clean, all his muscles are clean. The striations are still there, you can see it’s not all shot up with scar tissue everywhere. He’s clean. Chris you know what I’m talking about, you see the striations in the shoulders, you see stuff that you don’t see on the guys anymore. And full and round,” said Dennis James. “Stephane, crazy. I see old school bodybuilding when I see this guy. You’re absolutely right Don. With the striations in his shoulders, all the way, it’s just good to see there’s still people out there.”
“I think the front double biceps he doesn’t show correctly. There’s more to it. It doesn’t pop,” Milos Sarcev explained. “This is as good as it gets. Oh my God.”
Milos Sarcev Says Chris Bumstead Has Better Structure But Stephane Matala Beats Him ‘Muscle for Muscle’
Sarcev believes Bumstead would defeat Matala in a battle right now. However, he agreed with Dennis and Chris Cormier that he’s a future threat to the reigning champion.
“When we talk about Classic Physique, major thing is structure. Like Chris Bumstead when you compare him muscle for muscle with this guy, would lose right? But structure is so dominant, then, once it’s only front double biceps, back double biceps, serves that crazy v-taper, that Chris is so goddamn good [at] then his side chest is excellent, this guy’s [Stephane] side chest is excellent. I think Chris has more detail through the hamstring glutes tie ins, so there is still level that I think Chris could beat him now. If this guy gets expanded and gets a little bit more wider and creates that v-taper illusion…” said Sarcev.
“I just see a picture of him standing next to Mike Sommerfeld. I guess they were training together. But they were posing next to each other, now look at the size difference, and Mike is not the biggest guy.”
Dennis James is so confident in Stephane’s chances he believes he’ll earn a qualification to the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
“Like I said, the condition that this guy brings, and if he brings that to the stage, I think he’s going to do very well. I think he will qualify for the Olympia this year. And I think because of his fanbase, he has a huge fanbase, I think because of his fanbase he won’t get overlooked,” Dennis James shared.
Maintaining health and longevity as a bodybuilding pro is no easy feat. It takes considerable attention to measures such as diet, supplementation, and training. When Bumstead first began his journey in the sport, he was thankful for guidance from his brother-in-law and Men’s Open competitor Iain Valliere. In a recent Straight Outta the Lair Podcast, Bumstead said Valliere helped him prevent long-lasting damage to his physique from unnecessary steroids.
While there is mystery surrounding Stephane Matala, fans will have a clear idea of his potential when he competes next month. Should he claim victory at the 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal, he’ll have a shot at competing against Bumstead in November.
RELATED: Rich Gaspari Says Classic Physique Is Saving The Art of Bodybuilding
You can watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 11:59 AM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show took place on June 25 in Milan, Italy. This competition is a qualifying event for this year’s Mr. Olympia in the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini categories.
Fans are excited for the return of the annual Mr. Olympia show, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. There are fewer months and events to qualify for the most prestigious event of the year. Currently, athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on stage.
Any top three finishers from the last Mr. Olympia show from Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini are automatically invited back for this year’s edition of the event. The winners of each category this weekend will have the opportunity to stand against the reigning 2022 Olympia winners in November.
Ahead of the anticipated showdown, fans highlighted a few Men’s Physique contenders to keep an eye on. Riccardo Croci is hoping to nail down three victories in a row after taking first at the 2023 Tropicarium Budapest Pro and the 2023 Mile High Pro. Should he win this event, he’ll take a Mr. Olympia spot away from someone.
Youcef Djoudi is another competitor brimming with talent to keep tabs on. Djoudi took first at the 2022 Mr. Big Evolution Pro but finished outside the top 15 at Olympia. This will be his first show of the 2023 season.
Lastly, fan-favorite Sidy Pouye will be back in action. He took fourth at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and third at the New York Pro, which was a solid testament to his consistency and skill level. With his eyes on first place, fans were counting down the seconds until he stepped on stage.
Find Out Who Won The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Below:
Men’s Physique: Sidy Pouye
Classic Physique: László Király
Bikini: Molnár Zsófia
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Sidy Pouye
Second Place — Riccardo Croci
Third Place — Jessy Pigury
Fourth Place — Daniel Leone
Fifth Place — Dario Beloli
Sixth Place — Andrea Mosti
Seventh Place — Marcos Iglesias Garcia
Eighth Place — Adama Jammeh
Ninth Place — Fabian Feber
Tenth Place — Luca Biolo
Classic Physique
Winner — László Király
Second Place — Antoine Loth
Third Place — Edwin Owusu
Fourth Place — Adam Bomert
Fifth Place — Damian Kuffel
Sixth Place — Florian Hartiage
Seventh Place — Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Saman Udaya Kumara
Eighth Place — Emanuele Ricotti
Bikini
Winner — Molnár Zsófia
Second Place — Anna Setlak
Third Place — Priscila Leimbacher
Fourth Place — Roberta Mangraviti
Fifth Place — Kristina Brunauer
Sixth Place — Lisa Reith
Seventh Place — Claudia Clemente
Eighth Place — Tatiana Lanovenko
Ninth Place — Patrizia Vaccaro
Tenth Place — Sara Fratella
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Scorecards
Classic Physique
Mens Physique
Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Larry Wheels Takes Posing Lessons From Joe Linder aka Joesthetics
Bodybuilder, powerlifter, and arm wrestler Larry Wheels is a multi-faceted personality and one of the most famous fitness influencers on YouTube. Wheels is known for wrecking his own personal records in the gym. However, most of his strength feats were backed by pharmacological help. The 28-year-old extensively used PEDs to fuel his performance for a very long time.
Wheels chose to stop using steroids after a back injury and underwent a significant physical transformation as a result. The powerlifter has never shied away from admitting steroid use and maintained honesty about his experiences with PEDs. He admitted that steroids helped him achieve insane feats of strength but also caused several health issues.
He feels far better without the abuse and continues creating new gym records. In recent months, he performed a 183.7-kilogram (405-pound) bench press for 22 reps and smoked a 150-pound incline dumbbell press for 25 reps.
Wheels made his amateur bodybuilding debut at the 2018 NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic and won the competition in the overall category. He now desires to compete in the Classic Physique division and feels he can beat other competitors without abusing steroids.
Larry Wheels and Joesthetics perform an arm workout
Wheels has been taking bodybuilding and posing lessons from the sport’s veterans and recently partnered with German bodybuilder, influencer, and fitness model Joe Linder aka Joesthetics. The duo trained arms together, discussed PED usage, and Linder gave some interesting posing lessons to Wheels. So let’s take a closer look at the detailed account of this session.
Cable Biceps Curl
Wheels and Linder performed cable biceps curls to build the biceps and did a few sets while discussing different aspects of bodybuilding. Cable machines keep the muscles under tension throughout the movement; hence, they potently induce hypertrophy.
Triceps Rope Pushdown
The duo next took to the triceps rope pushdown to work the triceps and performed a few solid sets that targeted all three triceps heads. Wheels spoke into the camera and marveled at his training partner’s insane diet discipline.
“I was talking to all these IFBB Pros back in the day, and I asked everyone. Everyone told me the same thing — there is no magic pill. The only thing that you can do is burn the fucking calories, bro. If you want to eat them, you have to burn them,” said Jo Linder.
Following this, the bodybuilders proceeded to practice posing.
Overall, the workout included:
Joe Linder speaks about his experience with steroids
As Wheels watched Linder perform the exercise, he pointed out that the latter looked lean but still bigger than the last time they trained together. The 30-year-old stated he is always on a strict diet to get big and lean. There is pharmacological assistance as well. However, it is in a smaller dose than you may imagine.
“For my last show, I took 75 MG of Tren — a week, not a day! A week! So very low dose…” Linder said.
He added:
“I believe that I gained another 5 pounds of muscle during my prep for the show. Because I kind of dieted very slow, and I grew even into the show.”
Linder pushed the diet really hard and also did a lot of cardio. However, he did not get as flat and was able to retain the muscle mass on his frame.
The German bodybuilder said he had stopped steroid use two days before his last show and looks much better even while only on TRT.
Continuing the discussion about his cycle, he stated that he got blood work done after using Tren for three weeks. A surprising thing that he encountered was extremely high estrogen levels. However, Joe believes the tests do not accurately reflect what’s happening in the body while on Tren.
“That’s something that people need to understand. The first few weeks when you take Tren, and you go test your levels, the Tren makes your estrogen level appear high depending upon the testing methods they use…” Linder said.
However, he believes that Tren does not harm the body in any way.
Linder gives Wheels posing lessons
While going through the workouts, Linder and Wheels decided to practice posing. Wheels admitted to being a novice in this area.
“Different physiques, different styles, and we’re about to correct each other with our posing,” Linder said.
He then went on to teach Wheels a few posing basics. The duo started with the front double biceps pose, and Linder said:
“You technically need to know what to do with your legs. When you stand on the stage, you can’t just do this (raise the arms and flex the biceps)… You have o squeeze your legs, hold the tension there…”
While responding to Wheels’ query, he stated that you have to try to separate the floor with your feet. This means you have to try to apply the force with your feet in the opposing direction to create the lines. However, everyone has their own way of creating tension, as he added:
“You have to practice. The way some people do it is with their toes — almost squeeze it together so it gives you the feeling of trying to squeeze your toes together, so you have more tension.”
Linder further stated:
“What personally helped me is when I put my feet a tiny bit apart. So I (duck slightly) because then my quad sweep comes out better.”
“I stand very narrow because I have shitty hamstrings but good quads,” he concluded.
The posing lessons continued as the partner hit the side chest pose.
“Always when you do poses, you start from the bottom,” Linder said.
“You have your calves, you press it against, then you have your glutes and everything else.”
Wheels admitted that his side chest is his worst pose. Linder taught a few more tricks to Wheels. He also shared a tip for making the side chest stand out.
“You have to squeeze the (visible/front) leg against the knee (of the other leg) so that it creates an illusion (of bigger hamstrings),” Linder added.
Some more tips followed, and the duo wrapped up the posing session after hitting a few more poses.
You can watch the full workout video below, courtesy of Larry Wheels’ YouTube channel:
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 12:05 AM EDT
‘Bionic Body’ Edgard Augustin Talks Life as Amputee Athlete and His Impact in Classic Physique
Edgard John Augustin, a contender in the Classic Physique division, continues to prove himself after a lengthy hiatus. In a recent Muscular Development interview, the ‘Bionic Body’ shared his inspiring story with Ron Harris, revealing how he overcame the loss of his legs, how he motivates others, and how he adapts to challenges.
Having kicked off his IFBB Pro League tenure in 2017, Augustin started as a Men’s Open athlete. However, that quickly changed. The following year he made the change to Classic Physique, and held his own against tough lineups at the 2018 Toronto Pro (9th) and Veronica Gallego Classic (10th). In 2019, Augustin entered the New York Pro but wasn’t able to finish in the top 15. Then, he took 12th at the Toronto Pro Supershow.
And despite losing his legs in a car accident at four years old, Edgard hasn’t lost sight of his athletic goals and competitive spirit. He was out of action for three years (2020-2022) but made a statement in his return this year. Thus far, Augustin has finished 14th at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, then put on an impressive show at the New York Pro even though he didn’t place. His most recent contest came at the Toronto Pro Supershow in a career-best performance that saw him take fourth.
In his latest undertaking, Edgard Augustin recapped his busy season but also laid out some of the struggles he’s faced while navigating his career as an amputee athlete. In addition, he talked about his future in the sport and training without legs.
Bodybuilder Edgard Augustin Reflects on Becoming Amputee at 4 Years Old, Shares Inspiring Journey
Augustin revealed that he lost most of his legs as a result of a car accident in South America. He said his brother also lost one leg following the misfortune.
“With my family, we had a car accident when I was four years old in South America – my country. And yeah. In the car accident… you know, my legs were cut. My brother’s leg, also just one was cut also. We were so lucky to get someone to bring us to the nearest hospitals.
Then, we – I’m still here today thanks to these guys. So, now I’m 38 years old. All my life [my legs have been amputated]. Especially in America, they used to say thank you for your services because people see that I’m – yeah, like a military guy. Compared to Europe for example,” said Edward Augustin.
Training with partially amputated legs poses a unique set of challenges, especially for those who aim to develop their quads and hamstrings, like Edgard.
“It took me like one year to really practice well [with amputated legs]. You know, I used to say at four years old, it’s hard because you’re still very young but at the same time, you have so much to learn and to discover, compared to someone in my age now, losing his legs… it’s like lost. Because you already lived your life with your legs or your hands or whatever and then today, you need to learn how to [do] life again to live again without.
At four years old, you don’t really care about it. You just want to do what other kids are doing. I learned to walk quickly. I can run today. I can do bicycle, I can do whatever I want, even leg days. It took me one year in France without my family just my brother and thank God he was with me because it was very hard.”
Edgard wants to inspire his followers and fans by showing that ‘everything is possible.’ He shared how he went viral on social media and how he came up with his nickname, ‘Bionic Body.’
“He posted [a photographer] it on my Facebook page. People who didn’t know that were surprised. It’s crazy. They said you should show people that everything is possible. This is how I create my Instagram page. I remember, I was in my office with my colleague and I said okay, now we need to find a nickname. A very strong nickname. I said body… for the body, discipline, and then we said bionic because the legs look like a robot.”
“Everything started from there. And then, when I start to publish my page, it goes viral. People told me there is a disability class in bodybuilding. You should. This is how I said okay, let’s try.”
When he first began in the sport, Augustin said bodybuilding wasn’t on his radar.
“Bodybuilding was no option for me and it wasn’t in my mind. I just saw some guys, some friends of mine, since they are young, they wanted to be professional bodybuilders. It was not my case. My goal was to be fit because at the end I was not happy with my physique. This is what I always thought.”
At 38 years old, Augustin seeks longevity and wants to live a happy life after his bodybuilding career.
“I’m 38 years old. I have three kids. I really don’t care about the Mr. Olympia stage. I just don’t – I want to see my kids grow, you understand? I want to play with them. There is a life after bodybuilding. I don’t want to [build] my physique just for the Olympia stage, then what happens after? He told me we are going to do a very light prep and it was my best prep ever and my best physique ever, more is not always better.”
Even though he’s dealt with surgeries and adversity, Augustin is aiming to be the best amputee bodybuilding athlete of all time.
“My last show in 2019, in my mind, I wanted to be the best amputee athlete bodybuilder biggest everything [ever]. With my coach before, we push. We pushed the physique. Maybe that’s why I had the surgeries and stuff like that.”
In the face of adversity, athletes like Edgard Augustin continue to inspire those around him. Having gathered momentum this year, fans look forward to seeing him back on a bodybuilding stage soon.
You can watch the full video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel below:
Published: 21 June, 2023 | 6:02 PM EDT
Chris Bumstead Builds Girthy Legs With This Off-season Workout
Chris Bumstead is inching towards the fifth Classic Physique Olympia title slowly but surely. The reigning champ went through an off-season leg workout to add strength and size to his already impressive physique.
Bumstead is one of the most famous active bodybuilders and a global superstar. He is the posterboy for the Canadian bodybuilding community and has proven his worth by establishing dominance over the IFBB Pro League’s Classic Physique division. His resume includes a whopping four Classic Physique Olympia titles. After snatching it from the former champ Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia, Bumstead has defended the Classic Physique Olympia title at the 2020, 2021 and the 2022 Olympia.
Having reigned supreme over the division for a long time, the 28-year-old bodybuilder intends to defend the strap a few more times before calling it a career. Olympia is Bumstead’s primary focus and he is not keen on competing at other Pro shows. Having recovered from the bicep tear he suffered ahead of the 2022 Olympia, Bumstead has eased his way back into training. He recently unveiled a private gym in-the-making and shed light on the 2023 Olympia diet.
Bumstead is on the mission to win his fifth Classic Physique Olympia title in 2023. He went through a leg training session as a step in the direction of achieving the goal and posted the video on his YouTube channel. So let’s delve into the champ’s workout and see how he is building the tree-trunk legs this off-season.
Chris Bumstead goes through a full leg workout
CBum targeted all the major muscles – quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calves as well as the adductor group of muscles with this training session for overall leg development. He admitted that bringing big adductors is one of the goals of his preparation this year. As a result he is putting emphasis on working the adductor muscles.
Leg Extensions
This quad isolation movement served as the beginner to the training session. Knees are without a doubt the most crucial joint for most of the lower body movements. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy knees to avoid subsequent derailment of your training journey. Sufficiently warming the knees up before heavy workout is one of the key elements of staying injury free.
Apart from building the quads, leg extensions are an excellent way to warm up the knee joints. However, this exercise can also be harsh on the knees if done with heavier weights without caution. CBum performed three sets of 12 reps of leg extensions to get the party started and took to the next exercise.
Hack Squats
This compound movement followed up the leg extensions in Bumstead’s leg workout. He performed hack squats on the Cybex hack squats machine. Hack squats target the same primary muscle group that the traditional barbell squats do. While quadriceps are the main target muscle of the movement, the posterior chain of muscles are heavily involved in the movement. But what separates hack squats from barbell squats is the fact that it is generally a lot safer for most people to perform as it puts far less stress on the lower back due to the angle of movement as well as the set-up.
Hack squats are not a replacement to the barbell squat but a great addition to the leg training routine. The Classic Physique king annihilated three sets of the exercise maintaining a 12 to 15 rep range and took to the next exercise.
Leg Press
To stimulate the quads and other leg muscles further, the 28-year-old phenom performed the leg press next. One of the most effective ways to build muscle and strength in the lower body, leg press compliments primary leg exercises like barbell squats really well. This compound movement targets the quads as well as hamstrings, glutes, adductors and abductors.
Leg press offers increased safety compared to free weight exercises and its variations can help emphasize different parts of the muscles. CBum cranked out three working sets of the exercises and wrapped up after doing a double drop set to failure.
Walking Lunges
This walking variation of the static lunges helps strengthen the leg muscles as well as core, hips and glutes. Additionally, this exercise can help increase the range of motion by increasing flexibility in the glutes and hamstrings. It also improves functional strength as the movement pattern resembles everyday movements like walking, sitting down, ducking down to pick an object etc.
Bumstead pushed through two sets of the exercise and shifted his focus to working the calves next.
Seated Calf Raises
While the standing calf raises work the gastrocnemius muscles in the calf region, the seated variation of the exercise works the soleus muscle which lies underneath it. CBum performed two sets of seated calf raises to failure and took to the final exercise of the day.
Hip Adduction Machine
Adductors are a group of muscles that lie on the inner side of the thigh that helps adduct (bring together) the legs. Bumstead did two sets of hip adduction on the machine to work these muscles and called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:
Chris Bumstead has fended off the competition successfully so far. While experts within the bodybuilding community predict that he can have a great run in the Men’s Open division, Bumstead does not see it as an effort that is worth making. It will be interesting to see how the remainder of his career unfolds.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 21 June, 2023 | 10:33 AM EDT
Larry Wheels Smokes 150-Lb Incline Dumbbell Bench Press for 25 Reps, Shares Ripped Update
Larry Wheels continues to make strides inside the gym ahead of his anticipated bodybuilding debut in the Classic Physique division. In a recent Instagram post, Wheels demolished 25 reps of 150-pound incline dumbbell bench press and then revealed an impressive physique update.
At just 28 years old, Larry Wheels’ strength and athletic abilities have seen him test the waters of different sports such as strongman, powerlifting, arm wrestling, and bodybuilding. And while he set his sights on a strongman return last year, Larry was forced to remove his name from the 2022 Middle East’s Strongest Man roster due to a back injury.
Last August, Wheels made a bold choice: he quit all performance-enhancing drugs and switched to only testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). He’s been honest with fans about the transition, having kept a record of his mental health, physical health, strength, and endurance while relying on TRT alone. Despite giving up a handful of compounds, Larry says his strength and moods haven’t fluctuated much since making the change.
Larry admits he was headed down a dark path nearly a decade ago when he dabbled in recreational drugs. He was introduced to TRT at 17 years old and said it saved him from experimenting further with elicit substances. Though, Wheels understands that PEDs can have a negative impact on the body as well. He showed off a photo comparison of himself using TRT versus the peak of his steroid use. The results left Wheels surprised at how the compounds seemingly aged his face.
In a change of pace, Wheels decided to dedicate his workout efforts solely to bodybuilding. Back in March, the popular influencer announced his plan to compete on stage. According to Wheels, he currently has enough size but will need to cut around 20 pounds to make the limit for Classic Physique. Looking ahead, Wheels believes he has what it takes to be competitive with some of the top names in the category.
Larry Wheels Smashes Workout, Shares Latest Physique Update
You can find Larry Wheels’ 150-pound incline dumbbell bench press video below:
“150×25!Changing the rep from 1-5 reps to now 8-25 has really helped my develop fullness in my chest. I stopped doing flat bench to create a better balance. I only do flat once in a blue moon nowRed and black wraps from @teampersonalrecord” Larry Wheels wrote.
Larry Wheels Via Instagram @larrywheels
In a special interview on Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk Podcast, Wheels discussed potentially competing against the four-time Classic Physique Olympia king Chris Bumstead. While Larry tried out the Open class years ago in 2018, he mentioned that he was simply too small for the division. He doesn’t believe his size will hold him back in Classic Physique, however. And Larry’s coach is a believer. He told Wheels that he’d be competitive with top names in the category using only TRT recently.
Considering his steady physique updates and training sessions, Larry is determined to leave his mark on another sport. Wheels isn’t the only strongman veteran amid a physique transformation either. Eddie Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man, has also announced his foray into the sport.
With a pair of strongmen eying the Classic Physique division, perhaps this is the start of a new trend. Regardless of his future ambitions, fans are happy to see Larry Wheels looking youthful, healthy, and energetic.
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Published: 20 June, 2023 | 10:53 PM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Pro India went down from June 16-18 in New Delhi, India. This show is a 2023 Mr. Olympia qualifier and it features four divisions: 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini.
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Winners
212 Bodybuilding: Andrei Melnikov
Classic Physique: Vahid Badpei
Men’s Physique: Bhuwan Chauhan
Bikini: Jil Meret Schmitz
With the next Mr. Olympia show approaching, athletes are on the hunt for their respective invites. This year’s annual event takes place from November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on the Olympia stage. Unlike in 2022, there are fewer months and events available to qualify for the prestigious show. The 212 Bodybuilding winner at the 2022 Sheru Classic India Pro was Hameed Juma, but he’s opted not to compete. Therefore, a new champ will be crowned in the 212 category.
Heading into the contest, fans immediately took notice of three names in the 212 category: Andrei Melnikov, Iran’s Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola, and Edward Kargbo. During prejudging, they all stood out, which left fans very excited to see how the action would unfold in the finals.
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Pro Results
212 Bodybuilding
Like the prejudging segment of the show, the finals were fiercely competitive. Edward Kargbo and Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola made a play for gold with shredded physiques. In the end, the balance, symmetry, and conditioning of Andrei Melnikov earned him victory. He is 2022 Olympia-bound where he will later get a chance to face the reigning two-time champ, Shaun Clarida. In addition, Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola was second.
Winner — Andrei Melnikov
Second Place — Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola
Third Place — Edward Kargbo
Classic Physique
In Classic Physique, Sunmeet Singh Gill, Mikhail Timoshin, and Vahid Badpei battled for supremacy. While Gill and Timoshin brought impressive packages, the proportions of Vahid Badpei sealed the deal as he walked away victorious with the 2023 Sheru Classic title. Mikhail Timoshin finished runner-up.
Winner — Vahid Badpei
Second Place — Mikhail Timoshin
Third Place — Sunmeet Singh Gill
Fourth Place — Deepak Nanda
Fifth Place — Denis Romanov
Sixth Place — Manoj Sarangapani
Seventh Place — Parmeshwar Sharma
Eighth Place — Chand Mondal
Ninth Place — Mehmet Emin Baydilli
Tenth Place — Kirk Anderson
Men’s Physique
Given the skill level of the participants, fans were in for a treat from the Men’s Physique division. During prejudging and the finals, Ali Bilal, Bhuwan Chauhan, and Raj Kumar Paswan dominated the center stage. They took part in a series of comparisons. Even though all men brought impressive physiques, the upper body of Bhuwan Chauhan stole the show. He is now qualified for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest in November. Meanwhile, Raj Kumar Paswan took second.
Winner — Bhuwan Chauhan
Second Place — Raj Kumar Paswan
Third Place — Ali Bilal
Fourth Place — Anik Ghosh
Fifth Place — Gijo John Kurian
Sixth Place — Ajith Raja P.
Seventh Place — Mohammad Javad Sadeghi
Eighth Place — Tua Anh Tran
Ninth Place — Dilip Kumar N H
Tenth Place — Maxime Parisi
Bikini
In the Bikini division, competitors put on a show. There were several contenders in the running for the first call-out. However, during finals, three women stood out on paper: Rukiye Solak, Elizaveta Dementera, and Jil Meret Schmitz. After a few comparisons, Jil Meret Schmitz won the Bikini title with Elizaveta Dementera taking silver.
Winner — Jil Meret Schmitz
Second Place — Elizaveta Dementera
Third Place — Rukiye Solak
Fourth Place — Laura Martinez Manrique
Fifth Place — Dunaevskaia Ekaterina
Sixth Place — Liana Moroz
Seventh Place — Bunluek Sanguanlikhitkun
Eighth Place — Kristina Ivanova
Ninth Place — Karina Aleksashina
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Scorecard
Sheru Classic India 212
Sheru Classic India Classic
Sheru Classic Mens
Sheru Classic Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 2:11 PM EDT
2023 Empro Classic Pro Results (Live Updates)
There are five IFBB Pro League contests taking place this weekend but perhaps the biggest is the 2023 Empro Classic Pro, which serves as a qualifying event for this year’s Mr. Olympia competition. There were six divisions featured at this show from June 16-18 in Alicante, Spain including Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Figure, Bikini, Women’s Physique, and Wellness.
Unlike in previous bodybuilding seasons, athletes have fewer months and chances to qualify for the sport’s biggest show of the year. The 2023 Mr. Olympia event takes place from November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. The extravaganza will take over the Orange County Convention Center and will see 10 divisions crown a new champion.
Last year, the Empro Classic Pro did not feature the Open class. However, that has changed this year. The winner who takes home gold will not only receive a cash prize but will have the opportunity to face off against the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan in November.
Fans have dubbed a few Men’s Open frontrunners ahead of the show in Spain this weekend. The leading favorite is rising star Michalk Krizo, who earned 12th place in his Olympia debut back in 2022. This will be his first contest of 2023.
Meanwhile, Andrea Presti will make an appearance. He also participated at the 2022 Olympia show but was unable to place in the top 15. He took home gold at last year’s 2022 Big Evolution Pro show. This will also be Presti’s first competition of the season.
Emir Omeragic will also aim to earn his Olympia invite this Sunday. He was third at the 2023 Arnold Classic South America show but has shown exceptional balance and promise as a future contender.
Check Out Who Won Titles at the 2023 Empro Classic Pro:
2023 Empro Classic Pro Winners
Men’s Open: Coming Soon
Classic Physique: German Pastor
Figure: Jennifer Zienert
Bikini: Coming Soon
Women’s Physique: Romana Skotzen
Wellness: Leonida Ciobu
2023 Empro Classic Pro Results Breakdown
Men’s Open Bodybuilding
Coming Soon.
Classic Physique
Winner — German Pastor Cueto
Second Place — Antoine Loth
Third Place — David Martinez Campos
Fourth Place — Jhon Duque
Fifth Place — Francisco Navarro Hernandez
Figure
Winner — Jennifer Zienert
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Ninth Place —
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Bikini
Coming Soon
Women’s Physique
Winner — Romana Skotzen
Second Place —
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Seventh Place —
Eighth Place —
Ninth Place —
Tenth Place —
Wellness
Winner — Leonida Ciobu
Second Place —
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2023 Empro Classic Pro Scorecards
Coming Soon!
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Published: 18 June, 2023 | 1:25 PM EDT