Tag: GI News
Bodybuilder Nataliya Kuznetsova Shows Off Massive Biceps In Recent Physique Update
Bodybuilder Nataliya Kuznetsova has shown off her physique and even dabbled in powerlifting.
Nataliya Kuznetsova is a female bodybuilder that has gained a massive following over the years because of his ripped physique. Kuznetsova is an IFBB Professional bodybuilder but has not competed in years. She has also dabbled in powerlifting during her career. In a recent update, it is clear that she is still focused on building a massive physique.
Kuznetsova last competed in 2019 during the Romania Muscle Fest Pro. She put together an impressive routine but was defeated by Monia Gioiosa. There are many who felt Kuznetsova should have won the prize. Over they ears, she has built her strength to an elite level and this has helped her set many records in powerlifting.
According to her Instagram bio, Nataliya Kuznetsova currently holds world records in deadlifts, bench press, and arm lifting. This is not a surprise when looking at the physique she has been able to build.
“You Can, You Should, and if you are brave enough to start, you will ✊️”
Nataliya Kuznetsova was featured in Generation Iron’s film Biogorexia. The film explores the physical and psychological depths of Muscle Dysmorphia through the eyes of five subjects in the bodybuilding industry. Bigorexia uncovers the inner most details of how this widespread disorder changes every element of a person’s lifestyle and includes discussions with athletes, doctors, and scientists around the world.
Nataliya Kuznetsova’s Career
Nataliya Kuznetsove began bodybuilding back in 2007, where she won back-to-back titles at the Baykal Gran Prix. She eventually moved into powerlifting and built her strength to a championship level. Kuznetsova went back into bodybuilding in 2018, when she earned her Pro Card after winning the WOS Romania Muscle Fest Amateur.
One year later, she finished as the runner up ding the Romania Muscle Fest Pro in the Women’s Bodybuilding division. Nataliya Kuznetsova has reached one million followers on Instagram because of her impressive build and feats of strength.
Nataliya Kuznetsova has remained in championship shape but there is no public plan as of now to return to the stage. Regardless of her next move, Kuznetsova has proven to be a winner and has the capability to take on any challenge.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Will Not Attend Arnold Sports Festival UK, Event Name To Be Changed Moving Forward
The Arnold Sports UK will now go by Experience With Sports Festival UK.
For the second consecutive year, Arnold Schwarzenegger will not attend the Arnold Sports Festival UK. The official announcement was made on social media, with some other news being shared as well. The event will change its name moving forward and officially go by “Experience with Sports Festival UK.”
Schwarzenegger missed the event last year due to medical issues. There was no reason shared this year but the event planners were under the impression that Schwarzenegger would be in attendance. The organization has vowed to reach out to those who have purchased passes ahead of time to meet and take photos with Schwarzenegger.
The Arnold Sports UK Instagram page made the announcement on Thursday night with a post.
“We regret to inform you, following the recent announcement from Brian Powers of the US Arnold Sports Festival, that Arnold Schwarzenegger will not be attending our Arnold Spots Festival UK (ASFUK) this weekend.
This comes with extreme disappointment as we have been working hard for the last two years to make Arnold proud of an event in his name. Last year we faced disappointment of his nonattendance due to medical reasons, but during our advance planning we had no reason to believe he would not be joining us this year.”
Event to Change Name In 2023
Along with the announcement of Arnold Schwarzenegger not being in attendance, the Arnold Sports Festival UK announced that it would be changing its name of the event heading into the 2023 competition.
“We also thank Arnold for the support he has given us over the last two years. Moving forward as a team we will be changing the name of this event to EXPERIENCE WITH SPORTS FESTIVAL UK.
We are looking forward to growing the Experience With Sports Festival UK, and we are eager to bring you on this journey with us. We plan to grow to become the most exciting fitness and health event in the world.”
This year’s event will feature a new winner as Nathan De Asha will not be competing. He was crowned champion in 2021. Andrew Jacked will enter the competition looking to build on his championship performance during the Texas Pro.
The Arnold Sports Festival UK will take place this weekend and will run as usual. The bodybuilding event will highlight the weekend and fans will still have a chance to see some elite talent compete on stage.
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Norwegian Man Hits PR Deadlift Of 330.7 Pounds On 80th Birthday
A Norwegian man identified as Magne set a new deadlift PR with a huge lift on his 80th birthday.
There are many examples shown each day that age is just a number. Now, another has come courtesy of a man identified as Magne, an 80-year-old man who recently hit a new PR in the gym. He completed a 150kg (330.7lb) deadlift on his 80th birthday.
The video was shared on Sats Norge’s official Instagram page. The Norwegian training group shared a video of Magne on his birthday and shared his inspiring story.
In the caption, it was explained that Magne has been working toward his goal of a 150kg deadlift. He has been working to build strength to take care of his wife, who is physically handicapped. Magne wants to build strength so his wife can continue to live with him.
“This is our raw member Magne who is 80 years old today! He has long worked towards the goal of lifting 150kg in deadlift on his 80th birthday, with love as a motivation.”
“His wife is physically handicapped, and Magne is there fore training to be strong enough to help her so that she can continue to live at home. Together with his PT Therese, he has made a plan to achieve the goal – and today, on his 80th birthday, he did it! We are so moved and inspired.”
Magne’s incredible deadlift adds to many other impressive lifts seen by older weightlifters. John LaFlamme comes to mind because of the strength he has been able to maintain. He has been seen squatting upwards of 430 pounds at 71 years old.
The story of Magne is inspirational because of the reason he is working out. He is working to take care of his wife and this is a great story involving the gym. It will be interesting to keep an eye on if Magne continues to improve his numbers and sets a new goal for his deadlifts.
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Golden Era Bodybuilder Tom Platz Believes The Olympia And Arnold Classic Have Diminished Over The Years
Bodybuilding legend Tom Platz has seen bodybuilding change over the years.
Tom Platz is a legendary bodybuilder from the Golden Era who remains up to date with the happenings around the sport of bodybuilding. During a recent interview, Platz had some things to say about the current reputation and standing of the Olympia and Arnold Classic.
Platz began his career in the 70s and competed in many competitions. In 1978, he earned his Pro Card and won the r. Universe title. He was known for his overall passion and knowledge for fitness. Platz put together some intense workouts to build muscle and add size.
During his career, Platz took the Olympia stage eight times and faced some all-time greats. He went toe-to-toe with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lee Haney. Since his time on stage, Platz believes that the biggest shows in bodybuilding have some their luster.
Tom Platz On Current State Of Olympia And Arnold Classic
In bodybuilding, all athletes train in hopes of qualifying for, and eventually winning, the Olympia. Because of this, Tom Platz believes the overall nature of bodybuilding has changed for the worst.
“I think that the Olympia has lost its identity, and that the Arnold Classic has lost its reputation. Mr. America is trying to bring that iconic competition back, and I think that’s the direction that bodybuilding should go.”
In today’s era, the Olympia is all about putting on enough size to compete in Men’s Open. There are mass monsters that take the stage and show off their impressive physiques built over the course of a year.
Tom Platz continued in the video to discuss that the Mr. America competition is great for bodybuilding because of what the judges look for.
“The issue is that Mr. America back then wasn’t just a bodybuilding competition. You had to have poise, good skin, good hair, and good language skills, and be a representation of American manhood, the perfect man, not just physically but mentally and spiritually.”
“Many people think bodybuilding is just winning the Olympia, but it’s not. It’s about so much more than just having a good body and showing off,” Tom Platz said.
Tom Platz believes that different competitions from back in the day will return and bodybuilding will take on a new meaning.
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2022 INBA PNBA Pro/Am Natural Universe Inside Look | Posing Routines & Awards
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An inside look at the 2022 Pro/Am Natural Universe competition.
The 2022 INBA PNBA Pro/Am Natural Universe show took place earlier this month on September 2-3, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. One of the more notable contests in the league’s schedule – the Natural Universe is part of the Road To Natural Olympia – an opportunity for pros to quality and compete in the 2022 Natural Olympia later this year. Generation Iron was on the ground during this epic weekend showcase – and has put together a recap video showcasing the physiques on stage and the champions who earned a trophy.
Denny Kakos started the first Natural Universe in 1990. The Natural Universe title is trademarked, and it’s one of the most prestigious natural bodybuilding titles the INBA PNBA offers. That has seen the faces of many great champions.
Notable Past Champions
Over 30 pro athletes competed this year across a wide variety of different countries. This is the first time a natural bodybuilding show of this prestige was held in Tampa, Florida. Next year, in September 2023, the Natural Universe will go abroad and be held in Bucharest, Romania.
2022 Natural Universe Bodybuilding Lineup
The 2022 Natural Universe was an epic battle across all divisions with powerful competitors fighting for the prize and Natural Olympia qualification. Here are the key athletes that faced off on stage.
Stacked Open Pro Bodybuilders
Joe Carabase
Thomas Cornell
Joseph Farese
Benjamin Hernandez
Christian Kellenberger
Uche Mbah
Ivan Puga
Mexico
Former Natural Universe champion
Philip Ricardo Jr.
Former Natural Universe champion
Mark Troiano
Impressive Pro Grand Masters 50+ Line up
Pro Classic Physique: Open
Benjamin Hernandez
Derek Joe
2021 Natural Olympia Pro Champion
Patricio Martinez
Josh Mazza
Pro Men’s Physique: Open
Pro Bikini Divas: Open
Arely Ayala
Mexico
2nd Place 2021 Natural Olympia Pro Bikini
Danielle Bouldin
Lissy Guerrero
Kayla Rowling
2x Natural Olympia Pro Bikini Champion
Lafaye Young
Stephani De Zorzi
Pro Women’s Bodybuilding: Open
Yvette Arthur
United Kingdom
2021 Natural Olympia Champion
Watch The 2022 Natural Universe Recap
With only two more months until the 2022 Natural Olympia – there are becoming fewer opportunities for athletes to qualify and compete against the best natural bodybuilders in the world. Check out the INBA PNBA schedule for Natural Olympia qualifying events.
You can also check out our recap sizzle video showcasing the passionate natural athletes both on stage and behind the scenes of this epic contest – along with a showcase of the winners who earned qualification and trophies. Check it out above!
Big Ramy Shares Final Physique Update At 337.7 Pounds Before Olympia Diet Begins
Big Ramy is entering the final stage of his preparation for the 2022 Olympia.
Big Ramy is officially entering the final stages of his Olympia prep for the 2022 contest. The reigning two-time champion shared a final physique update before beginning his contest diet for the biggest show of the year.
Ramy looks massive in his most recent physique update at 337.7 pounds. He is viewed as the favorite to win his third consecutive Sandow Trophy because he is likely to enter the contest shredded at an insane size. Ramy missed a chance to guest pose at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro but has clearly kept up with his preparation.
Entering the 2021 Olympia, Ramy did not begin his training until a couple months before the show. He did not bring his best package to the stage but was still able to put together a winning physique. That was not the case this year as Big Ramy began prep right away for the 2022 show.
Now, Ramy is entering his contest diet to take his physique to another level.
Big Ramy: “Let The Fun Begin”
On Thursday morning, Big Ramy shared a physique update and his current weight before entering a different stage of preparation.
“Last pictures before start of my contest diet. Weight 153.5kg/ 337.7lbs. Let the fun begin.”
Big Ramy has been active on social media recently sharing physique updates and keeping fans current on his weight. In the pictures, Ramy is seen hitting a double-bicep pose and giving shots of his back. Ramy’s delts and lats look insanely large in the pictures as he prepares to put the finishing touches on a shredded physique.
Recently, Ramy spoke on who he believes would be the top three at the Olympia if he was not involved. He highlighted Brandon Curry, William Bonac, and Hadi Choopan. Curry and Choopan finished second and third respectively in 2021. There are many who believe that Bonac should have won the 2022 Arnold Classic and will be a force come the Olympia.
The Men’s Open division is extremely deep, making for an exciting competition. Newcomers, such as Andrew Jacked, will be in the mix as well. Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada will be looking to build off top-five finishes in 2021.
Dennis James has promised that Ramy will be at his absolute best coming into the 2022 Olympia. Off two championships, he has to be the favorite to lift the trophy once again.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
WATCH: Ronnie Coleman Reacts To Crazy Lifts By Kyriakos Grizzly
Ronnie Coleman spent the time trying to figure out what Kyriakos Grizzly was working on.
Ronnie Coleman knows a thing or two about working out and different lifting techniques. He built a championship physique in the gym that led to a record eight Olympia titles. Now, Coleman has become a social media sensation sharing his insights and entertaining viewers.
During his career, Coleman built one of the best physiques of all-time. He won eight straight Sandow Trophies from 1998-2005. In bodybuilding, Coleman is still an influential voice and often shares some training tips.
Here, he did not share any tips but made some comments on what he was seeing. Coleman recently reacted to lifts made by Kyriakos Grizzly. During the video, Grizzly can be seen lifting heavy amounts of weight in many different ways.
Ronnie Coleman: “This Is Absolutely Crazy”
Grizzly is seen in the video doing some variations of different exercises, such as a pull-up or barbell row. Ronnie Coleman made comments on the weight and what muscles could possibly be hit.
“I think he is trying to do a pull-up but he is just doing an up,” Coleman said.
“What is he working on? This is absolutely crazy sh*t I can think of to do at the gym.”
The lifts being done by Grizzly definitely got the attention of Coleman, who started to feed into the energy of Grizzly screaming all over the gym. At the same time, he admitted these were not affective movements.
“He’s just got a bunch of weight on the bar that’s hanging. He’s just lifting some heavy sh*t. He is not working out,” Coleman said.
Ronnie Coleman was a monster in the gym during his career and remains active to this day. He still puts in work on a daily basis to keep his physique and mind in shape. When he is not in the gym, Coleman can be seen reacting to some crazy videos and this certainly makes the list.
“This is him practicing his technique for going taking the sh*t. That’s all this is cause he ain’t working anything.”
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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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2022 Arnold Classic UK Preview: Andrew Jacked, Martin Fitzwater Headline Men’s Open
Here is a preview of the 2022 Arnold Classic UK!
The 2022 Arnold Classic UK will take place for the second time this weekend with eight divisions being highlighter during the show. Competitors from all round the globe will gather to the event and show what they can do on stage.
The Men’s Open division is the biggest at the show and will crown a new champion following the event. Nathan De Asha is the reigning champion but will not be competing this year. This leaves the door open for some of the other top competitors to get a shot at the title.
The full lineup for the divisions has been announced and can be found below, along with a preview of some of the top competitors in Men’s Open.
Andrew Jacked
Andrew Jacked is one of the young stars in Open bodybuilding. He earned his Pro Card and was able to qualify for the Olympia following his victory at the Texas Pro. While Andrew Jacked does not have many competitions under his belt, he as a chance to earn his second victory prior to the Olympia. There are many who believe he can place high at the biggest competition of the year.
Martin Fitzwater
Martin Fitzwater finished as the runner-up to Andrew Jacked in the Texas Pro. This is the matchup that fans were looking forward to during this competition but it was up in the air for a bit. Jacked was unsure of his Visa status and Fitzwater was not happy that he would have to wait to get another shot at taking him down. Fitzwater has made improvements to his physique and will look to qualify for the Olympia.
James Hollingshead
James Hollingshead is considered one of the many favorites in this competition. He finished 12th at the 2021 Olympia and has not competed since. Hollingshead makes his return to the stage hoping to qualify for this year’s show. He brings a massive physique to the stage and if his conditioning is at its best, Hollingshead has a chance to win the event.
Maxx Charles
Maxx Charles haș competed six times this year with four finishes in the top five and three in the top three. This includes third-place finished at the New York Pro and Indy Pro. Charles has been unable to win a competition and is a dark-horse contender for the Arnold Classic UK title.
Marc Hector
Marc Hector is another dark-horse contender for the upcoming show. He finished third at the British Grand Prix back in 2020 and will look to get back on stage and show off his physique.
Men’s Open
Lionel Beyeke
Rob Cannon
Maxx Charles
Vlad Alfred Chiriac
Jamie Christian-Johal
Martin Fitzwater
Marc Hector
James Hollingshead
Patrick Johnson
Claudio Sergio
Chinedu Andrew Obiekea
Men’s 212
Radoslav Angelov
Jamal Changezi
Pasquale D’Angelo
Jamie De Rego
David Henry
Ching-Chieh Lin
Naser Mohamed
Julian Lee Ramdhari
Samir Troudi
Ahmed Wardany
Dean White
Classic Physique
Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi
Kuba Cielen
Shane Cullen
Michael Daboul
Kiraly Laszio
Peter Molnar
Marco Ruz
Wesley Vissers
Giuseppe Zagarella
Craig Morton
Niall Darwin
Men’s Physique
Jeffrey Darko
Shannon Davis
Youcef Djoudi
Ashley Edelman
Xiolong Hong
Ryan John-Baptiste
Andrea Miggiano
Elton Mota
Kennedy Maciel Santos Muniz
Balint Nemeth
Tyler Smith
Omar Suleiman
Randy Osei Tutu
Dawid Wachelka
Emile Walker
Ali Bilal
Fitness
Jasmine Abercrombie
Corrine Elizabeth Bean
Michelle Fredua-Mensah
Kamara Graham
Terra Plum
Figure
Arya Bahar
Roberta Coletti das Chagas
Veronica Gallego
Scarlet Hollands
Gabriela Linhartova
Stella Miliani
Lola Montez
Corrie Morales
Paula Ranta
Megan Sylvester-Cielen
Jennifer Zienert
Bikini
Demi Wing Kan Chow
Lucy Edwards
Ivanna Escandar
Eli Fernandez
Stine Hansen
Adrianna Kaczmarek
Ashley Kaltwasser
Nittaya Kongthun
Jourdanne Lee
Patricia Lloyd
Ottavia Mazza
Cristobalina Pajares
Francesca Stoico
Allison Testu
Jade Kelsie Wolfenden
Women’s Physique
Ilaria Armeni
Tanya Chartrand
Lenka Ferencukova
Julia Glazycheva
Modesta Halby
Jeanette Johansson
Sophie Lee
Lisa McLean
Barbara Menage
Anne-Lorraine Mohn
Alida Opre
Karley Pearce
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Larry Wheels Crushes 15 Reps Of 495-Pound Squats While On TRT
Larry Wheels continues his new fitness journey and gaining strength in different ways.
Larry Wheels has made a successful career for himself showing off different feats of strength. He was not shy about his use of steroids over the years but has recently transitioned off the substances. Now, he is on Testosterone Replacement Therapy to keep his muscles in shape. Recently, Wheels went through a fitness test and continues to build strength in many ways.
In a recent training session, Wheels loaded 495 pounds on the squat bar and decided to go for as long as possible. He was able to complete 15 reps with the weight on his back. Wheels shared the video to Instagram on Monday.
In April, Larry Wheels decided to get his health checked out by a doctor. He was concerned with his heart after “abusing PEDs for 10 years.” Wheels checked out well and began to focus more on his health as time went on. Recently, he made the switch off steroids to TRT.
Larry Wheels Remains Extremely Strong In Video
Larry Wheels used knee wraps and a lifting belt while completing the reps. He also used a safety bar in order to protect his joints.
“Kicking the week off with a 495lb Ssb squat amrap.This bar is great if you have any aches or pains in your arms. In my case I get brachialis inflammation from arm wrestling and straight bar low bar squat. I kept a few reps in the take to be cautious as I haven’t done SSB squats in a while.”
Larry Wheels shared a physique update after one month of being off steroids. In the picture, he has slimmed down noticeably but remained shredded. This led to Wheels sharing his numbers following the month using different substances.
Wheels is using 175mg of TRT each week. This is far less than dosages that he is used to but Wheels has maintained his physique and strength. It is normal for his numbers to diminish a bit but he has been able to accomplish great things since transitioning off steroids.
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