Tag: GI News
John Haack Crushes A PR Deadlift Of 405kg During Training
Powerlifter John Haack is getting his numbers up in hopes of setting a world record.
Powerlifter John Haack competes in the 90kg (198lb) division and it five weeks out from getting back on stage. The 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation Showdown will take place on Sept. 25-26 and Haack could be looking to accomplish something that has never been done before.
In a recent Instagram video, Haack is seen deadlifting 405kg with nothing but a lifting belt, deadlift shoes, and a pair of wrist straps. This lift was performed during a training session so it will not count as an official record but if done in competition, Haack would hold the world record in the 90kg division.
“I’m ballin out, no ?PR deadlift at 405kgs/892lbs. Just under 5 weeks out #BDE“
According to Haack’s caption, this is a personal record lift. It is fair to assume that Haack is around his competition weight with his next event being so close. With the way he has been training in recent weeks, it is clear that Haack has a plan when he steps on stage in September.
In April at the 2021 US Kern Open, Haack put on quite a show but was bested by Chad Penson. Haack set the bench press world record in the 90kg division with a 262.5kg (578.7lb) lift at the Kern Open. He totaled 970kg in the event but Penson was able to finish with 7.5 more kilograms.
John Haack attempted a 400kg at the Kern Open but was unsuccessful on both attempts. This kept Haack from totaling 1,000kg in the competition, which would have been a record. On August 9, he pulled off a 400kg deadlift and clearly has his sights set on more weight. With Penson present at the WRPF Showdown, there is no doubt that Haack will have revenge on his mind.
This event will take place at Brave Enough CrossFit in Kansas City. It will feature some of the top competitors such as Haack, Penson, Joe Sullivan and Kevin Oak. Haack and the other male competitors will lift on Sept. 25. This is the chance for Haack to show the progress he has made and put up some numbers that have never been done in the 90kg division.
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Peiman Maheripourehir Approaches Deadlift World Record In Recent Training Session
Peiman Maheripourehir pulled off a 492kg deadlift in a recent training session.
The deadlift world record is one that has been on the radar of many powerlifters recently. This includes Peiman Maheripourehir. The Iranian strongman is one of the legitimate threats to the record, currently held by Hafthor Bjornsson, and could be training to eventually have a chance to break it.
Bjornsson set the mark of 501kg last year and few have gotten as close as Maheripourehir. In a recent training session, Maheripourehir pulled off a 450kg raw deadlift followed by a 492kg lift. The final lift was within 10kg of the world record.
“?492 kg & 450 kg raw?”
The first lift could have caused some discussions. The lockout was a bit wobbly and this might have not gotten the nod from judges if it were in competition. This does not mean that Maheripourehir cannot perform the lift. He eliminated all doubts with his raw deadlift — which was performed with ease.
This is not the first time that Maheripourehir has showcased an extreme feat of strength. Back in June, he shared a video on Instagram completing a 425kg for two reps. After performing these reps, Maheripourehir made it clear what his intentions were.
“425 kg raw x 2 reps easy ?..Today’s exercise was done due to personal work (with body fatigue). I will be the father of the deadlift of the world??”
Maheripourehir has not posted many updates but it is clear that he wants to take over the world record currently held by Bjornsson. He has his sights set on 505kg but it is unknown when he will be able to attempt this lift. There have only been two men who have been able to deadlift 500kg. Eddie Hall was the first to accomplish this feat and Bjornsson bested him by a single kilogram.
There is no doubt that Maheripourehir is training to join that list. He knows what it takes to get there and it is unlikely that he accepts any fate short of the world record. This will continue to be a storyline to watch but as of now, Maheripourehir seems like the biggest threat to break Bjornsson’s record.
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Hafthor Bjornsson Shows Physique Transformation Ahead Of Boxing Match
Hafthor Bjornsson posted a physique update ahead of his boxing match with Devon Larratt.
Hafthor Bjornsson is known as a powerlifter who holds the world record for the heaviest raw deadlift. In May 2020, Bjornsson set a new mark at 501kg (1,105lb), beating the previous mark held by Eddie Hall by a single kilogram. Now, Bjornsson has gone through the ultimate transformation as he begins to work his way into the boxing world.
In a recent Instagram post, Bjornsson looks extremely shredded at 340 pounds. He has gone down from 450 pounds during his days of powerlifting.
Hafthor Bjornsson is set to take on arm wrestler Devon Larratt on Sept. 18. Larratt recently replaced Hall, who was forced to back out due to an injury, in this match. Hall has already began training following a torn bicep. There is a chance that Bjornsson and Hall get in the ring at some point moving forward when they are both healthy.
The battle between Bjornsson and Hall was going to settle some issues that the two have had in recent years. They have been connected in both deadlifting and World’s Strongest Man competitions. In 2017, Hall won the WSM title with Bjornsson finishing as the runner-up. The very next year, Bjornsson was able to rise to the top and win his first WSM championship.
It is clear that Bjornsson has a serious passion for boxing. The recent transformation for Bjornsson has him looking shredded and slim. This shows that the increased cardio training associated with boxing has been paying off in a big way.
This is a chance for Bjornsson to continue his goal of bursting onto the scene in the boxing world. He has a couple exhibition fights under his belt against Steven Ward and Simon Vallily. Recently, it has become clear that Bjornsson has been training in the necessary ways to look like a fighter.
Bjornsson’s battle with Larratt is less than a month away. As we creep closer to the big night, the former powerlifter continues to get in fighting shape and make the ultimate body transformation.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dennis Wolf Looking Back: I Hated To Eat Like A Bodybuilder
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Dennis Wolf, now slimmed down, talks about how he hated to eat food – especially in the quantities required for bodybuilding.
Dennis Wolf is an iconic former pro bodybuilder and was also one of the featured stars of the original Generation Iron. Unfortunately, in 2016 he suffered a spinal injury required surgery and put him out of commission. He attempted a comeback in 2018 but ultimately he had to retire from the sport. Since then, Wolf has trimmed down and started focusing on entrepreneurial pursuits. In our latest GI Exclusive, Dennis Wolf talks about his current diet and how he hated to eat like a mass monster bodybuilder.
Looking at Dennis Wolf now, you probably would have never known he was once a mass monster freak competing for the Mr. Olympia title. Much like Dorian Yates before him, Wolf decided to trim down quite a bit. He came off steroids and even detailed with us previously the medical realities of retiring and coming off PEDs.
Some bodybuilder like to continue the full bodybuilding lifestyle after retirement. A big example of this is Kai Greene – which is why each and every year fans speculate he will return for a comeback. That’s why we asked Dennis Wolf – is there any aspect of the bodybuilding lifestyle he continues? Does he still have a focused diet like most bodybuilders require?
Dennis Wolf admits that he now only eats three meals a day. He still focuses on healthy meals – but doesn’t consume anywhere near the same amount of calories as he once did. In fact, he admits that he dislikes eating food in general and was often struggling as a bodybuilder to stick to the mass monster diet.
“I eat probably three times a day… Honestly I hate to eat,” Dennis Wolf stated in our interview. He continued:
“After so many years forcing yourself. I wasn’t a good eater in the beginning, you know, when I started bodybuilding. Then I developed the skill that I could eat a lot. And now, I’m kind of away from it so I don’t like food anymore. I’m not eating chicken, for example, for a month now because I am sick of it.”
Dennis Wolf goes on to explain that when you are in the thick of the sport and passionate – you train yourself mentally to enjoy the mass amounts of eating. Now that he hasn’t had to be in that mindset – his typical tastes returned. He never liked eating in massive amounts and now he can return to that natural state.
It’s an interesting admission. One that Jay Cutler has made in one of our past interviews as well. He’s claimed that bodybuilding diets are basically force feeding diets. He’s not 100% wrong – mostly depending on your own typical food habits. If you are the kind of person with a slight appetite, bodybuilding diets can be a big mental challenge.
You can watch Dennis Wolf talk in more detail about his post-retirement diet and reflections on his career by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Robert Oberst Responds To Comments Made By Arnold Schwarzenegger
Robert Oberst is the latest to comment on the recent news surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger said “screw your freedom” in an interview with CNN regarding anti-maskers, this caused quite the uproar. Schwarzenegger was commenting on people who do not wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and went as far as to call them “schmucks.” There have been plenty of moves made following these comments and strongman Robert Oberst was the latest to respond.
Oberst posted a video on his “American Monster Productions” YouTube page. In this video, Oberst shares his view on the comments made by Schwarzenegger and the recent moves made by different companies.
“In his kind of little upset screaming rant thing that he was doing, which seemed very, you know, for the cameras,” Oberst said.
“First, “I looked up to Arnold as a kid, grew up loving him, watching him. I met him a bunch of times he’s a very nice guy. He’s just one of my heroes. So I had no malice or anything towards him before any of this stuff or even now.”
Robert Oberst, who is a two-time World’s Strongest Man finalist, was as laid back as can be in the video and state how he felt like he was walking on eggshells when discussing this topic. Ultimately, Oberst admitted that the comments made by Arnold Schwarzenegger did not sit well with him either.
“Arnold spoke out about how he felt with certain regulations and how he doesn’t like that some people don’t like being regulated so much. And that some people don’t like millionaires and billionaires telling them what to do right before they do the opposite and have private parties with hundreds of thousands of people and travel overseas to do huge engagements as Arnold is doing these next couple of weeks,” Oberst said.
“Then also going further than that and specifically speaking to those people and saying “screw your freedom” doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.”
It has become the opinion of many that Schwarzenegger’s comments were taken out of context. The video has been seen by many and the context is clear. This is why different organizations have made decisions regarding Arnold and his events.
It began with REDCON1, who has been one of the top sponsors of the Arnold Classic for years. CEO Aaron Singerman recently announced that the company will no longer be a sponsor for the Arnold Classic or any other of his events. Brian Shaw also made a move when he removed posters of Schwarzenegger from his gym.
“I’m fully 100 million percent behind Brian Shaw. I don’t think there’s any room for people that don’t respect other people’s beliefs and other people’s values,” Oberst said.
“It’s the only country that offers something else. The only country that exists, even to this day, with the freedoms that we are born with. A lot of people hold that in high regard and I am one of them. And I’m proud that Brian Shaw is one of them and I’m proud that REDCON1 is also one of them.”
Robert Oberst ended his video by expressing his love for this country and thanking those who have fought for and died for freedom.
It has been over a week now since Arnold Schwarzenegger made his initial comments. This is clearly an issue that is not going to go away easily and one that has caused some action already. It will be interesting to see how it plays out moving forward.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2021 IFBB Nashville Fit Show Results
Jennifer Dorie wins Bikini at the 2021 IFBB Nashville Fit Show.
The 2021 IFBB Nashville Fit Show took place on Saturday in Nashville. Competitors took the stage at this qualifier looking to punch a ticket to the 2021 Olympia, which will be held from Oct. 7-10 in Orlando. Jennifer Dorie finished with the victory in the Bikini division.
This show consisted of IFBB athletes in the Bikini and Bikini Pro Masters 35+ division. Heading into the event, the Bikini division was highlighted by competitors such as Cristobalina Pajares and Ivanna Escandar Fernandez. They were able to finish in the top four with Dorie taking home the prize.
Dorie has been a force in the Bikini division. She now has 13 top-five finishes, seven top-two finishes, and two victories. Her last win came at the 2020 Tampa Pro. Dorie has earned her qualification to the biggest event of the year and she will have a chance to finish near the top once again.
There were two divisions at the Nashville Fit Show where winners were vying for a qualification to the Olympia. The full results have now been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the 2021 IFBB Nashville Fit Show results below.
2021 Nashville Fit Show: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the 2021 Nashville Fit Show. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Bikini: Jennifer Dorie
Bikini Pro Masters 35+: Niccole Guggia
2021 Nashville Fit Show Breakdown
Bikini
First Place – Jennifer Dorie
Second Place – Cristobalina Pajares
Third Place – Vania Auguste
Fourth Place – Ivanna Escandar Fernandez
Fifth Place – Carolina Collazos
Sixth Place – Breena Martinez
Bikini Masters 35+
First Place – Niccole Guggia
Second Place – Ky Moore
Third Place – Miriam Jenkins
Fourth Place – Wendy Massey
Fifth Place – Denis Mireles
Sixth Place – Shammara Abdul-Khaaliq
Official Score Cards
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB 2021 Nashville Fit Show. 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.
Julius Maddox Fails 800lb Bench Press Attempt At Wrigley Field
Julius Maddox attempted to break his own record on Saturday night but came up short.
On Saturday night, Julius Maddox was looking to set a new mark for the heaviest bench press of all-time. He currently holds the world record of 782.6 pounds and has had his sights set on 800 pounds recently. Wrigley Field was the venue of what had a chance to be a special event.
Following a game between the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals, Maddox wanted to become the first person ever to bench 800 pounds. He ended with two failed attempts and the world record lives another day. This was not the first time that Maddox attempted this lift. In June 2020, Maddox attempted 800 pounds for the first time and ended up suffering a small injury because the bar was misloaded.
Below, you can find Maddox’s two attempts at the incredibly heavy lift.
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Julius Maddox suffered a pec injury back in May and this delayed his progress a bit. He has been training with Larry Wheels to get his strength back to the necessary level to complete this lift. Last week, Maddox failed at a 790lb bench press but felt good enough on Saturday to give it a go.
This would not have been the first time that Maddox broke his own record. He originally took over the title in August 2019 with a 739.6-pound lift. He then crushed a 744.1lb bench press to set a new mark. Maddox would go onto beat his own record two more times. The first came in March 2020 at the Arnold Classic when he accomplished 770lbs. The most recent record came during the Hybrid Showdown in Miami where Maddox pressed the current mark of 782.6lbs.
Julius Maddox’s next attempt at 800lbs could come on another big stage. Earlier in the week, Maddox and Danial Zamani agreed to face off in a head-to-head bench press showdown at CT Fletcher’s Iron Wars V. This event will take place in January and will have plenty of eyes as two of the best bench pressers in the world square off.
This will be a must-see event. For the sake of comparisons, Zamani has pulled off a 777lb lift while training. This is five pounds less than the current world record held by Maddox.
There is no doubt that we will see another 800lb attempt from Maddox in the near future. At full strength and fun health, this is a lift that Maddox will accomplish and then from there, who knows? The sky is the limit.
For more on Julius Maddox, his tips on training and diet, check out our exclusive interview. Follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Julius Maddox To Attempt Bench Press World Record At Wrigley Field
Julius Maddox will attempt to break his own record on Saturday night.
All records are meant to be broken and on Saturday night, Julius Maddox will attempt to break one of his own. The 34-year-old powerlifter currently holds the bench press world record of 782.6 pounds. Wrigley Field in Chicago will be the site where Maddox attempts to break his own record.
The Chicago Cubs will host the Kansas City Royals at 2:20 PM ET. Maddox’s record attempt will take place after the game and can be seen on Marquee Sports Network. This is a WRPF Americas sanctioned event.
This is not the first time that Maddox will attempt to break his own world record. He originally took over the title in August 2019 with a 739.6-pound lift. Maddox took the record from Kirill Sarychev and has been building on it ever since. In March 2020, Maddox raised the bar to 770 pounds and achieved the 782.6-pound lift in February.
It is unknown what weight Maddox will attempt to lift on Saturday night. He has attempted a massive 800-pound bench press in the past but has been unable to finish. Maddox has been in pursuit of this number and the next attempt could take place on Wrigley Field.
This news comes in the same week that we found out Maddox will go head-to-head against Danial Zamani in a bench-press showdown. This will take place at CT Fletcher’s Iron Wars V. The two powerhouses in the bench-press game will meet for what will be a memorable event. If Zamani wants to attempt to break Maddox’s record, he might have a new number to shoot for.
Maddox has been promoting this event on Saturday night on his Instagram page.
“One day out! Shout out to @obsidian_ammonia for the graphic.. Also the best smelling salts on the planet @obsidian_ammonia promo irregularstrength
Sat Aug 21 630pm to 730pm Wrigley Field”
The powerlifting world will have eyes on Wrigley Field on Saturday night for what could be a special night for Maddox. Can he break his own record once again? Will he attempt an 800-pound lift? All questions will be answered in a few short hours in Chicago.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Big Ramy Looks Massive In Preparation For 2021 Olympia
The 2020 Olympia champion looks primed to compete for another title this year.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, put on a show during the 2020 Olympia and was able to take home the title. This was his first title and looks ready to try and make it back-to-back in October.
Big Ramy is usually one of the biggest competitors when he steps on stage. He has an incredible physique with massive legs that puts him in position to win any competition he takes place in. There have been some critiques but he is looking like he is making adjustments ahead of the 2021 Olympia.
In preparation for the biggest competition of the year, Big Ramy is looking insane in training.
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Big Ramy appeared in the 2017 Olympia and performed well against Phil Heath, a seven-time champion. He finished second in this competition before falling to sixth the very next year. He did not compete during the 2019 Olympia and Brandon Curry took home the prize. In 2020, Big Ramy was able to top both Curry and Heath.
Since becoming a pro in 2012, Big Ramy has won five competitions. This includes his first as a pro at the 2013 New York Pro. He has competed in seven Olympias thus far so he knows what to expect heading in. If Big Ramy is at his best, he will be difficult to beat.
There is no doubt that Big Ramy will be in a position to win once again but it will not be easy. There is a long list of talented competitors that have already qualified. This includes Curry and William Bonac, who said he wants to beat Big Ramy at his best. When these athletes take the stage, there will be plenty of size and Big Ramy could lead the way. Coming off a victory last year, there is plenty of momentum and confidence this time around.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 10: Bodybuilding World Reacts To Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Comments
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Craig Golias weighs in on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “screw your freedom” comments, analyzes Roelly Winklaar’s future, and more.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias reacts to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent comments about freedom, analyzes Roelly Winklaar’s recent physique, and shares tips on how to keep motivated during training.
This past week has been another busy bodybuilding week with plenty of controversial, exciting, and sadly more tragic news. So there’s been much to talk about with Craig Golias since our last episode. The biggest story that has been making waves is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comments about mask mandates – stating, “screw your freedom” to anti-maskers. Craig shares his personal reaction to the comments as well as how the bodybuilding community has been responding as a whole. Other topics discussed include breaking down Roelly Winklaar’s recent on stage performance at the Europa Pro and what his future holds as he struggles to gain a first place finish; how to not get bored in the gym, and how to not give up when results aren’t meeting your goals.
The Bodybuilding World Erupts As Arnold Schwarzenegger says, “Screw Your Freedom.”
Earlier in the week, Arnold Schwarzenegger took to a news program to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, mask mandates, and vaccines. Ultimately, in a moment of passion, Schwarzenegger stated, “Screw your freedom” in a response to anti-maskers claiming they have the freedom to not wear masks. This statement started making waves in the bodybuilding world. Most notably, RedCon1 pulled sponsorship from the Arnold Classic. RedCon1 is one of the larger supplement companies to support and sponsor the Arnold Classic event.
Once RedCon1 made this move – more attention was brought to Schwarzenegger’s comments. Bodybuilders have made stances on social media and even strongman Brian Shaw removed his Schwarzenegger poster from his wall. So what does Craig Golias think?
Craig Golias was actually on vacation when the news first broke – and so he was out of the loop for the first few days. When he finally saw the news – he was able to read everyone’s immediate reactions as well as the initial comments. He was surprised at just how intense the reactions were – but he also understood why so many have become incensed.
Craig Golias, personally, believes that he should be allowed to not wear a mask if he is vaccinated. He thinks if a person doesn’t want to be vaccinated but is afraid of getting sick – they should simply stay home. As a large man of towering huge muscle – wearing a mask for long periods of time makes it hard for him to breath. Especially in claustrophobic spaces such as a plane.
Breaking Down Roelly Winklaar And His Future
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also discuss Roelly Winklaar and his latest activity in the 2021 bodybuilding season. After placing fifth at the Chicago Pro and then later falling just short of first at the Europa Pro – it seems that the hype behind Winklaar is slowing down. His second place finish at Europa Pro still earned him an Olympia qualification – but if he can’t win there, how will he handle the Mr. Olympia itself?
Craig Golias considers Roelly Winklaar one of his favorite bodybuilders of all time. He thinks that Winklaar can be a Mr. Olympia champion – but only if he holds on and doesn’t give up. This might end up being a rougher year for Winklaar, but if he hangs in there, he can readjust and come back stronger. He still has a chance.
As it stands now – Craig Golias thinks Roelly Winklaar still has time to tighten up his physique for the Mr. Olympia. That’s the beauty behind sports, there’s a wide amount of variables that come together for each competition. Anything can happen – however unlikely.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!