Tag: GI News
Ryan Terry Answers: Does Respect For Men’s Physique From Men’s Open Bodybuilders Matter?
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Ryan Terry weighs in: Does it matter whether or not Men’s Open bodybuilders respect Men’s Physique?
Ryan Terry is an accomplished Men’s Physique competitor from the UK. Growing up, he was always inspired by the work ethic of Men’s Open bodybuilders – but he knew genetically he could never reach that kind of mass monster size. That’s why Men’s Physique ultimately was the perfect fit for him. Suddenly he can follow in the work ethic footsteps of bodybuilders he admired – but also compete with a smaller physique that better fits his goals.
It’s no secret that some (but not all) Men’s Open bodybuilders criticize Men’s Physique. There has been a long history of Men’s Open competitors jabbing or mocking Men’s Physique. Antoine Vaillant jokingly did a guest posing in board shorts. Bodybuilding legend and mass monster Paul Dillet called Men’s Physique at the Olympia “laughable.” The list can go on. Many of these men are bodybuilders that Ryan Terry always respected and looked up to. Does this kind of lack of respect bother him? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Terry shares his thoughts on the relationship between Men’s Open and Men’s Physique.
We had a chance to connect with Ryan Terry via video chat and discuss his bodybuilding origins, opinions on trending topics, and his future plans. When discussing on how Terry discovered bodybuilding – it was clear he had a deep reverence for legends in the Men’s Open division. His step father was even a super heavyweight competitor during Terry’s childhood.
Ultimately, Ryan Terry wanted to apply the bodybuilding work ethic to his life. At first not to become a competitor – but to feel better about his body. He knew he could never be a mass monster but still wanted to train and build that kind of work ethic. He eventually discovered Men’s Physique and it was a perfect fit. He quickly went pro and has found great success in his bodybuilding career.
But does it bother him that the very athletes that inspired him – occasionally disrespect Men’s Physique. It ranges from innocent jokes to straight out comments diminishing the division. How does that affect Terry’s view of Men’s Open and the legends that motivated him?
Ryan Terry doesn’t think it matters much. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and Men’s Physique will remain a popular division regardless of what Men’s Open athletes think. While Terry would love to gain more respect from mass monster competitors – his respect for them remains. Their accomplishments and how they inspired future generations (such as himself) remain in tact.
“To be honest with you I respect all athletes,” Ryan Terry states in our interview. He continues:
“I respect them. I respect what they’ve achieved and stuff. I would love for them to acknowledge and respect what we do as well but I don’t lose sleep over it. That’s up to them. That doesn’t change the way I train. It doesn’t change the way I think about my sport. I can take it or leave it.”
Ryan Terry believes that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. What Men’s Open feel and think have no bearing on Terry’s life as a Men’s Physique competitor. It also doesn’t change what Men’s Open bodybuilders have achieved. So his respect remains in tact. He knows the kind of work ethic he puts in – and if Men’s Open want to acknowledge it, that’s fantastic. But if they don’t – that’s their decision. He’ll keep going forward with respect and hunger to improve and succeed.
You can watch Ryan Terry’s full comments about his bodybuilding origins, Men’s Open vs Men’s Physique, and more in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Cedric McMillan Withdraws From 2021 Arnold Classic
Cedric McMillan will miss the event while still recovering from injuries.
Cedric McMillan was forced to miss the 2020 Olympia because of different injuries and operations. He was expected to make his return during the 2021 Arnold Classic in September in Columbus, Ohio. McMillan recently announced that his plans for a return will have to be put on hold.
McMillan shared a post on Instagram detailing his most recent setback. He is still recovering from surgery to repair a broken hand. McMillan received this operation back in February and has been unable to train. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait to see McMillan back on stage.
“Just wanted to let everybody know I won’t be able to compete at the Arnold this year as I’m still recovering and the docs were like “uhh nope Mr McMillan”, this is the first year I’ve missed since my first one in 2013. I can’t wait to get back on that stage. But guess what, I will be there as part of the broadcast team!,” Cedric McMillan wrote.
“Hopefully me and Arnold can call the show together, that would be an honor for me. I hope to help bring a different feel and experience to all of you that will be watching the show online. Pray for me that I don’t say to many curse words haha”
The Arnold Classic has an impressive lineup for the event and McMillan was set to be one of the biggest names. This also impacts McMillan’s status for the 2021 Olympia. It is now likely that he will have to miss his second-straight competition unless he receives a special invitation and can accept it.
Cedric McMillan last competed during the 2020 Arnold Classic, where he placed sixth. His last victory came during the 2019 Romans Muscle Fest Pro Men’s Bodybuilding. McMillan has competed in each Arnold Classic since 2013 with his best finish coming in 2018 when he placed third.
McMillan did not provide any specific details on his latest setback but it is likely that he will not be back on stage for awhile. Fans are hoping that he can get healthy and back to competing soon enough.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Victor Martinez Defends Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Freedom Comments
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Victor Martinez reacts to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Screw Your Freedom” comments.
Victor Martinez is a pro bodybuilder who is not afraid to speak his mind – but he’s also someone who likes to make sure he’s critically analyzed all the facts before he cements his opinion. That’s why he’s taken some time thinking over Arnold Schwarzenegger’s controversial freedom comments and the bodybuilding communities reaction to it. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains his defense of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s freedom comments.
On August 13th, 2021, an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger went viral across the bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness community. Speaking on CNN, Schwarzenegger stated, “Screw your freedom” in response to Americans who were anti-mask mandates. You can see his full statement here. Schwarzenegger was stressing, albeit aggressively, that community health was more important than individual freedom where dangerous consequences could be endured.
The bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness community ignited with many making statements on social media condemning Schwarzenegger’s statement. Some pulled down posters. In the biggest move, supplement company RedCon1 pulled out of sponsoring the Arnold Classic 2021 set to occur on September 25th.
Last week, we were able to reconnect with Generation Iron alum and pro bodybuilder Victor Martinez. During our catch up, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comments were brought up. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Martinez defended Schwarzenegger and his statements. He also weighed in on the bigger fitness community’s angry reaction to the statement.
“You don’t need to explain it to me. I saw it. I saw it one time. I saw it one time and for some reason, yes, I know what he said, you know – ‘Screw your freedom.’ That became the focus,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He continues:
“…There’s certain things you say where you think you can say them and right now a lot of people are too soft. They’re too soft on words. They’re too soft on what they hear. They jump the gun on smallest thing that really is irrelevant to what the person really is. I mean, I think Arnold is more American than most Americans actually.”
Not only does he think that people as a whole have become too sensitive. He also thinks they are misinterperating what Schwarzenegger really meant when he stated, “Screw your freedom.” Martinez goes further to try and explain his viewpoint:
“He didn’t say screw your freedom like when America became free in 1776 on July 4th and they declared their freedom… that’s not the kind of freedom Arnold said you know. Be responsible with your freedom, you know? Yes you are free but that doesn’t mean be carelessly free, you know? Wear your mask.”
Ultimately, Victor Martinez still holds extreme respect for Arnold Schwarzenegger. He finds that he has not only given back to the bodybuilding community throughout his entire life – but he’s also given back to America since becoming a citizen. This is a trying time for many people across the world. It’s causing gut reactions and bold statements that might be a bit too black and white.
It seems that Victor Martinez is trying to see the grey and the nuance during these troubling times. He believes Arnold Schwarzenegger believes in freedom but he also believes in responsibility. Do you agree or still find Schwarzenegger’s comments a step too far?
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and decide for yourself!
Nizami Tagiev Is Critical Of Leroy Walker’s World Record Strict Curl
Nizami Tagiev does not believe Walker’s lift was legitimate.
The strict curl is a lift that used to be used in competition. The competitors’ head, upper body, and butt must remain against a wall while the lift is performed. This has become a popular exercise and one where many powerlifters have been eyeing the world record. On Saturday, Leroy Walker set a new world record with a 114kg (250lb) strict curl but there has been some controversy over it.
Walker beat the previous record set by Denis Cyplenkov in 2019 by a single kilogram. Russia’s Nizami Tagiev believes that Cyplenkov should still hold the record and does not recognize Walker’s lift as legitimate.
Tagiev took to Instagram to explain his reasoning and share a video of him performing a strict curl that is close to the record.
“I don’t wanna be a hater!I just want to say that if everyone compete for the world record then the rules should be the same for everyone.
I believe that LeRoy @lwthemachine is a strong athlete, but I do not recognize his record, just as Denis Tsyplenkov @cyplenkovden does not recognize him. This is not pride or vanity! If I saw a clean rise there, I would strive for it simply and accept the challenge with dignity!There’re too much questions:the elbows are bent too much, the assistants serve the barbell, the grip is narrow, the wall is narrow, honestly I have a lot of distrust of the weights on the barbell.”
It was originally said that Nizami Tagiev had 115kg on the bar when he completed this curl. This would have been enough to beat Walker’s record but it would not have been recognized because it was not confirmed while Walker’s record lift took place during a sanctioned event. Tagiev later confirmed that the weight in the video above was 110kg, not 115kg.
Tagiev continued by sharing criticism on the lift. He mentions how Walker’s elbows are too bent and how the wall and grip are narrow. Tagiev also mentions Cyplenkov and how the former record holder also rejects this lift. He ended his Instagram post with a call to action to judges when looking at lifts in the future — and even got backup from the likes of CT Fletcher, who commented “I totally agree with you.”
“I ask the organizers of the Arnold Classic, @arnoldsports which will be held in March ‘22 in the USA, to be seriously about all of that?? I repeat once again, the rules and judging should be the same for everyone! I am for fair sport and for justice! Respect for all athletes from different countries! And let’s be honest with ourselves firstly!”
Leroy Walker has yet to respond but has already been sharing a new goal on social media. Walker has his eyes on a 275-pound strict curl in the near future. Below, you can see Walker’s record-setting lift. Do you think it is legitimate?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2021 IFBB Tokyo Pro Results
Yukihiro Yuasa wins Men’s Physique at the Tokyo Pro.
The 2021 IFBB Tokyo Pro was another chance for competitors to gain qualification to the 2021 Olympia. Many gathered to show what they can do on stage and the event did not disappoint. In Tokyo, Men’s Physique athletes got on stage and put on a show in hopes of punching their tickets to the year’s biggest event. In the end, it was Yukihiro Yuasa who was able to come out on top.
This will be Yuasa’s first trip to the Olympia since he began competing. In 2019, he placed sixth at the IFBB Japan Pro. Prior to that appearance, Yuasa made some noise in the Men’s Physique Class A division picking up victories at the 2018 Amateur Olympia and 2017 Amateur Arnold. This will be Yuasa’s biggest opportunity since becoming a pro and he earned the right to compete. Now, Yuasa will have a chance to go up against some of the best competitors in the world.
Yuasa led the way for a competition that featured some elite physique athletes. This was a small competition but the talent was high and an Olympia qualification was at stake. The results from Sunday have been announced. Below, you can find the full results from Sunday along with the official scorecard.
2021 IFBB Tokyo Pro Breakdown
Men’s Physique
First Place – Yukihiro Yuasa
Second Place – Hirokawa Shoichi
Third Place – Shogo Sata
Fourth Place – Edward Kato
Fifth Place – Tomohito Koike
Sixth Place – Junpei Taguchi
Seventh Place – Naoto Takemoto
Eighth Place – Nobuyuki Ichikawa
Official Score Cards
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Tokyo Pro. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Jay Cutler: “I’m Not For Trash Talk” But Silence Is Also “Really Bad” | GI Vault
Jay Cutler talks about the delicate balance between negative trash talk and the power of hyping up a competition. GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage…
2021 Battle of Champions Pro Results
Wesley Vissers wins Classic Physique at the 2021 Battle of Champions Pro.
The 2021 Battle of Champions Pro took place on Sunday in Warsaw, Poland. This competition gave athletes another chance to earn qualification to the 2021 Olympia. Wesley Vissers finished at the top in Classic Physique while Adrianna Kaczmarek won Bikini.
Vissers began competing professionally after earning his pro card by winning the London Royal Pro qualifier in 2017. He traveled to the United State to take part in the 2018 Chicago Pro, where he finished first in the classic physique division and earned a trip to the Olympia. Here, he will have a chance to compete in his second Olympia and show that he is becoming a force in the sport.
For Kaczmarek, this will be her second-straight appearance in the Olympia. She earned her qualification last year by winning Bikini at the 2020 Europa Pro Championships.
There were two divisions at the Battle of Champions Pro who gained qualification to the Olympia. The full results have now been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the IFBB 2021 Battle of Champions results below.
2021 Battle of Champions: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the 2021 Battle of Champions. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Classic Physique: Wesley Vissers
Bikini: Adrianna Kaczmarek
2021 Battle of Champions Breakdown
Classic Physique
First Place – Wesley Vissers
Second Place – Roman Khaliulin
Third Place – Jack Connor
Fourth Place – Pavel Szotkowski
Fifth Place – Hubert Kulczynski
Sixth Place – Denis Romanov
Bikini
First Place – Adrianna Kaczmarek
Second Place – Noora Mahonen
Third Place – Priscila Rodrigues
Fourth Place – Ottavia Mazza
Fifth Place – Anastasia Gonzalez Andreu
Sixth Place – Wiktoria Gasior
Official Score Cards
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Battle of Champions. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Mike Tyson Believes Jake Paul Will Defeat Tyron Woodley
Mike Tyson has been a fan of Jake Paul since he began boxing.
Mike Tyson is one of the best boxers to ever live so when he speaks, people usually listen. Recently, Tyson has been speaking highly of Jake Paul and his ability as a boxer. That has not changed with Paul’s fight against Tyron Woodley coming up.
Tyson recently told TMZ that this will not be an easy fight and Paul’s record speaks for itself. The 24-year-old YouTuber participated in his first fight back in January 2020 and has been in the spotlight in the boxing world ever since. Paul has victories over NBA player Nate Robinson and MMA fighter Ben Askren.
Paul, along with his brother Logan, have been vocal since their boxing debuts. The Internet sensations have a knack of getting under the skin of their opponents and that includes Woodley.
“Jake has been fighting for five minutes. Why is age a factor?” Woodley said to the New York Post. “It’s a factor if someone’s faster, stronger or if they are more skilled — he’s none of the above. He can’t change the fact of my experience level, what I’ve done in the game, my mindset, my mentality and just being in there for the minutes, hours and years. He can’t make that up in any training camp.”
Mike Tyson believes that Paul’s fists will be the difference in this fight. Woodley is 19-7-1 in his career as a fighter. This will clearly be Paul’s biggest test yet but Tyson believes that he can pickup another victory and keep his record unblemished.
If Paul can take down Woodley, there will be even more believers in his ability to compete as a boxer. Regardless of the outcome, he already has the praise of a legend from what he has been able to do to this point.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Leroy Walker Sets World Record With 114kg Strict Curl
Leroy Walker was able to crush the lift and set a new mark.
The strict curl world record is one that has been sought after for years now by many athletes. On Sunday, Leroy Walker became the powerlifter that was able to set a new mark with his incredible lift.
Walker completed a 114kg (250lb) strict curl to set a new world record. This beat the previous record set by Denis Cyplenkov in 2019 by a single kilogram. Walker took to Instagram to share his accomplishment and broke down the process.
Leroy Walker completed the record lift on his third attempt. He seemed to have plenty in the tank — even after failing on his first two attempts at a higher number. Walker began with a 259-pound attempt but could not finish it.
“There are moments you fail in order to appreciate success . This fail was one of those moments. I was actually proud to fail at 259. It meant I was in a great place. 250lbs had been achieved on my 3rd attempt. This was instead of my fourth. I had planned on going 220-230-235 and an attempt at 250 on a fourth,” Walker wrote on Instagram.
“After 230 I felt great and wanted to conserve energy for a shot at the world record. My programming said I was 243-248 ready. You never know until you know.”
This is not the first record that Walker has locked up. Back in June, he set the American strict curl record with a 102.5 (226lb) lift. This is a lift that has also been sought after. Different athletes, such as Larry Wheels and former Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison, have been training to put up big numbers in the strict curl.
Now that Leroy Walker has successfully achieved the world record, it is the to build on it. There is a clear sense that Walker will continue to look for a higher number, especially after a couple failed attempts. This will be the new goal for Walker moving forward as he continues to put up eye-popping numbers.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Abbas Karimi To Compete For Refugee Paralympic Team In Tokyo
Abbas Karimi, a swimmer born without arms, fled Afghanistan at 16.
The story of Abbas Karimi has gone from Afghanistan to a pool in Tokyo.
Karimi, a 24-year-old swimmer, was born without arms but this has not stopped him from accomplishing great things and becoming an inspiration. Karimi is one of six athletes competing for the Refugee Paralympic Team in Tokyo and might be the only Afghan competitor. Due to the current situation with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the country’s Paralympic delegation was unable to fly to Tokyo for the competition.
Karimi was able to escape Afghanistan long before the current chaos. It was not an easy journey for Karimi to get to the Paralympic Games but it all came together when he led a flood of nations during the opening ceremonies. He was one of two flag bearers for the team.
In 2013, Karimi was taken to Iran and he connected with a group that then traveled to Turkey. He was determined to continue swimming and learning different styles. This began during his time in Afghanistan, where he fled from at age 16. During his time in Turkey, Karimi connected with Mike Ives, a retired wrestling and football coach. Ives began a letter-writing campaign that helped Karimi resettle as a refugee in America, where he lived with Ives in Portland and joined a U.S. Masters Swimming Team.
Abbas Karimi has enjoyed some success in swimming and this includes winning silver in the 50-meter butterfly at the paraswimming world championships in Mexico City in 2017. He competed in 2019 and placed sixth at the 2019 world championships in London before he was forced to take a break due to the pandemic.
The current adventure he is embarking on in Tokyo gives Karimi a chance to compete once again but will also offer an experience that will not be forgotten soon. Karimi began training as a swimmer at a young age against all odds. On Instagram, he recently shared a photo where he simply said “Dream came True.”
Abbas Karimi is a story that can inspire anyone in any sport. The world of swimming will have a chance to watch Karimi in Tokyo. He also shared on social media that he will be swimming the 50-meter butterfly on Friday and the 50-meter backstroke on Monday.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.