Tag: GI News
Mir Mostafa Javadi Completes Unofficial World Record Of 208kg Clean & Jerk
Mir Mostafa Javadi posted a video completing a lift that would qualify as a world record in competition.
Mir Mostafa Javadi is not a name that you might have heard before but that will change moving forward. On Monday, the Iranian weightlifter posted a video on Instagram showing off his incredible strength. Javadi completed a 208kg (458.5lb) clean & jerk, which is an unofficial world record.
This lift is a single kilogram more than the world record currently held by Lu Xiaojun. The lift can be seen below and if you navigate through Javadi’s page, this is not the first time he has impressed with a lift. In his caption, Javadi kept it nice and simple.
“208kg clean and jerk1kg above the world record✌️✌️?”
Mir Mostafa Javadi has completed a 260kg (572lb) back squat and a 147kg (323.4lb) snatch as well. This lift proves that he has what it takes to compete with some of the best and Javadi might not be flying under the radar anymore.
At 18 years old, Javadi set a Junior Iranian record by snatching 154kg (339lb) at the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships. He placed sixth overall at the event. This was his first International competition and competed at the 81-kg division. Javadi returned to the same competition in 2021 in the 73-kg division. He was able to place fifth overall and even earn a medal. Javadi finished third in the snatch behind Yuan Chengfei and Shi Zhiyong.
It is unknown when Javadi will compete again but this is a good sign if he is looking to overtake Xiaojun’s world record. To complete this lift in the way that he did was impressive. When thinking about the weight, it makes even more eye-opening.
The 2022 World Weightlifting Championships will take place in Chongqing, China. This could be a chance for Mir Mostafa Javadi to stop on stage and show what he can do. If he attempts to break a world record, there will be plenty of eyes on the competition.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dennis James Answers: Is The Men’s Open Bodybuilding Talent Pool Shrinking?
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Dennis James shares his thoughts on the future of Men’s Open bodybuilding in the wake of so many new and growing divisions.
When it comes to excitement, Men’s Open bodybuilding is still king in terms of popularity. It’s always the featured event, it always has the highest prize money, and it always gets the most talk from fans. But with so many new divisions offering athletes different kinds of physique goals – will we see a shrinking of the talent pool of athletes interested in Men’s Open? In our latest GI Exclusive, Dennis James breaks down his analysis of athlete interest in Men’s Open in the coming years.
Whenever a new division enters the IFBB arena, there are those that speculate if it could become the new most popular category. Nothing has ever toppled the Men’s Open division. It may be true that there is too much history and “freak factor” excitement to ever topple Men’s Open for fans. But the bigger question is not about fan interest but athlete interest. With so many divisions to choose from – will we simply have less Men’s Open bodybuilders competing?
We asked this to Dennis James in our video conversation from 2020. James is a former pro bodybuilder and current coach and commentator for the sport. Due to this he has his ear to the ground regarding upcoming talent in bodybuilding. That’s why we asked him what his thoughts were for the future of Men’s Open – from an athlete roster perspective.
At this moment in time, Dennis James is not concerned with Men’s Open bodybuilding dwindling in the future. In fact, he thinks that the recent negative criticism Men’s Open has been getting will be fuel for a new generation to prove themselves. So perhaps we’ll actually have an influx of more, or at least perhaps hungrier, athletes competing in the Men’s Open division.
Dennis James may very well be correct about that assessment. He also notes that Men’s Open has always been the most challenging category to compete in – and it never stopped athletes before. The difference now, of course, is there are a wider number of options available. That mixed with an increased focus on health with each passing generation – could the Men’s Open one day (much further down the line) dwindle similar to Women’s Open? Not from lack of fan interest but simply lack of athletes who wouldn’t rather do a different division.
For now it’s impossible to say. It’s already confirmed that some divisions have many more athletes than Men’s Open. Men’s Physique or Bikini, for example, have an extremely large pool of athletes year after year. Men’s Open is comparatively smaller – but it never needed to be 100 pros strong. The problem would be if it dips to such a low point that there aren’t enough competitors on the stage. At this point in time that’s not the case – but what will the sport look like in 30 more years?
You can watch Dennis James go into full detail about his predictions for Men’s Open in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Devon Larratt To Replace Eddie Hall In Match Against Hafthor Bjornsson
Hafthor Bjornsson has a new opponent and it is arm wrestler Devon Larratt.
Hafthor Bjornsson has a new opponent. The news broke on July 25 that Eddie Hall would have to bow out of his boxing match against Bjornsson after suffering a torn biceps. Since that day, there was plenty of speculation on who would replace Hall in the fight. On Monday, we got our answer.
Matt Rhodes announced on his Instagram and YouTube page that arm wrestler Devon Larratt would replace Hall and take on Bjornsson in the ring. The fight will take place in Dubai on Sept. 18.
“Some rumours Devon has experience from his special forces career. He’s also been training with @mrlennoxlewis! What’s your thoughts?!”
Devon Larratt will enter this bout at 46 years old. He has a competitive arm wrestling record of 53-8 since making his debut in 1999. There is a strategy when arm wrestling and the same can be said about boxing — even though it is in different ways.
Larratt will not enter the fight blind. He has been training with Lennox Lewis and will be in a position to compete come fight night.
When looking at this matchup on paper, Bjornsson seems to have a bit of an edge. He stands at 6-foot-9 compared to Larratt, who is 6-foot-5. Bjornsson is about 51 pounds heavier and 14 years younger than Larratt. Bjornsson has a couple exhibition fights under his belt against Steven Ward and Simon Vallily. Larratt is used to head-to-head competition but it is in the sport of arm wrestling and not boxing.
This boxing match will take place the night before World’s Ultimate Strongman contest, and the first-ever strong woman competition. The undercard for the night will have CrossFit Games veterans Josh Bridges vs. Jacob Heppner and powerlifter Stefi Cohen vs. Avril Mathie.
The match between Bjornsson and Hall has not been rescheduled just yet. If social media is any indication, it could happen once Hall is healthy. He has been posting updates on his Instagram page throughout rehab performing different boxing exercises. Until that time comes, Bjornsson will continue to gain experience and Larratt is the next opponent on the list.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
REDCON1 Drops Sponsorship To Arnold Classic In Response To Recent Comments
REDCON1 has decided to drop sponsorship of the Arnold Classic following comments made by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 2021 Arnold Classic is set for Sept. 25 in Columbus, Ohio. Just weeks before the event, one of its biggest sponsors, REDCON1 decided to cut ties.
On Monday, REDCON1 announced that it will no longer be a sponsor for the Arnold Classic. This decision came after comments made by Arnold Schwarzenegger regarding anti-maskers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After much deliberation, we have decided at REDCON1 to no longer sponsor the Arnold Classic or any of the Arnold events around the world,” Aaron Singerman, the founder of REDCON1, said in an Instagram post on Monday.
In a recent interview with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga, Schwarzenegger spoke out against people who do not wear masks during this time. Schwarzenegger referred to the anti-maskers as “schmucks.”
“There is a virus here,” Schwarzenegger said. “It kills people and the only way we prevent it is: get vaccinated, wear masks, do social distancing, washing your hands all the time, and not just to think about, ‘well my freedom is being kind of disturbed here.’ No, screw your freedom.”
These comments did not sit well with REDCON1 and this is why they have decided to make a move.
“Anyone who says “screw your freedoms” is un-American, and REDCON1 is a patriotic pro-freedom brand,” Singerman wrote in his caption on Instagram. “We support freedom of choice.”
This is a decision that will cause many to form an opinion. This includes Patrick Bet-David, who commented on Singerman’s Instagram post.
“Both your position and your approach is far and respectful,” Bet-David wrote. “Sometimes when a person is so distanced from what it meant for them to come to America as an immigrant, they forget the values and principles this great nation offered them. It sounds like that’s what’s happening to Arnold. A man that’s been on the walls of my military barracks and gyms for the last 25 years. Out of touch comment he made.”
Bet-David is referring to Schwarzenegger’s journey from Austria to become a bodybuilding icon who has also made an impact on the movie screen and in politics.
“A guy who had nothing and no advantages, who never made an excuse, and created tremendous success,” Singerman said. “He became an icon based on his work ethic, his charisma, and his grit.”
It will be interesting to see if other sponsors follow suit after the comments made by Schwarzenegger. The Arnold Classic is just five weeks away and it will have a bit of a different feel this year. Singerman finished by saying that they do not feel that Schwarzenegger should be cancelled.
“We don’t want Arnold censored or cancelled. We just can’t support his opinion with our dollars.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Evan Singleton Wins 2021 World Open Championship (Full Results)
Evan Singleton came out on top in England against some other major competitors in the World.
The 2021 World Open and World Deadlift Championship took place on Aug. 14 in Manchester, England. Giants Live hosted the event for strongman competitors to earn qualification to the 2022 World’s Strongest Man. In the end, it was Evan Singleton who was crowned champion.
Singleton stood at the top of the podium as Adam Bishop finished as the runner-up and 2020’s World’s Strongest Man Oleksii Novikov came in third place. The top three finishers in the competition earned qualification to the 2022 World’s Strongest Man. For Bishop, this was his chance. Singleton and Novikov already qualified by finishing as the top two in the 2021 Strongman Classic.
Evan Singleton earned 43 points while Bishop finished with 40.5 and Novikov earned 39.5. Singleton won two of the five events at the competition.
It began with a stellar performance in the Carry and Drag Medley. Singleton logged a time of 27.38 seconds. Next, it was the Viking Press that was dominated by Singleton. He pressed 160kg (352lb) 12 times. Singleton turned in other strong performances by finishing tied for second in the Max Deadlift and third in the Castle Stones.
Evan Singleton will look to continue to gain momentum heading into the World’s Strongest man, which will take place in Sacramento. Below is the full breakdown of the five events at the World Open.
Full Results
Final
First Place – Evan Singleton, 43 points
Second Place – Adam Bishop, 40.5 points
Third Place – Oleksii Novikov, 39.5 points
Fourth Place – Pavlo Nakonechnyy, 29.5 points
Fifth Place – Gabriela Peña, 26 points
Sixth Place – Gavin Bilton, 21.5 points
Seventh Place – Andy Black, 20 points
Eighth Place – Rauno Heinla, 19 points
Ninth Place – Mikhail Shivlyakov, 18.5 points
Tenth Place – Ivan Makarov, 17.5 points
Max Deadlift
First Place – Ivan Makarov, 475 kilograms
Second Place (tie) – Nedzmin Ambeskovic, 453.5 kilograms
Second Place (tie) – Adam Bishop, 453.5 kilograms
Second Place (tie) – Evan Singleton, 453.5 kilograms
Second Place (tie) – Oleksii Novikov, 453.5 kilograms
Second Place (tie) – Gabriel Peña, 453.5 kilograms
Second Place (tie) – Pavlo Nakonechnyy, 453.5 kilograms
Eighth Place (tie) – Mikhail Shivlyakov, 425 kilograms
Eighth Place (tie) – Rauno Heinla, 425 kilograms
Eighth Place (tie) – Andy Black, 425 kilograms
Carry and Drag
First Place – Evan Singleton, 27.38 seconds
Second Place – Adam Bishop, 31.17 seconds
Third Place – Oleksii Novikov, 31.59 seconds
Fourth Place – Andy Black, 36.05 seconds
Fifth Place – Pavlo Nakonechnyy, 36.91 seconds
Sixth Place – Mikhail Shivlyakov, 40.66 seconds
Seventh Place – Gabriel Peña, 33.4 meters
Eighth Place – Ivan Makarov, 29.2 meters
Ninth Place – Gavin Bilton, 24.1 meters
Tenth Place – Rauno Heinla, 22 meters
Viking Press
First Place – Evan Singleton, 12 reps
Second Place (tie) – Adam Bishop, 11 reps
Second Place (tie) – Oleksii Novikov, 11 reps
Fourth Place – Gavin Bilton, 10 reps
Fifth Place (tie) – Pavlo Nakonechnyy, 9 reps
Fifth Place (tie) – Rauno Heinla, 9 reps
Seventh Place – Mikhail Shivlyakov, 8 reps
Eighth Place (tie) – Ivan Makarov, 4 reps
Eighth Place (tie) – Andy Black, 4 reps
Tenth Place – Gabriel Peña, 1 rep
Hammer Hold
First Place – Gabriel Peña, 46.85 seconds
Second Place – Oleksii Novikov, 43.93 seconds
Third Place – Evan Singleton, 41.91 seconds
Fourth Place – Rauno Heinla , 36.91 seconds
Fifth Place – Adam Bishop, 35.85 seconds
Sixth Place – Mikhail Shivlyakov, 32.46 seconds
Seventh Place – Gavin Bilton, 29.95 seconds
Eighth Place – Andy Black, 27.26 seconds
Ninth Place – Pavlo Nakonechnyy, 27.00 seconds
Tenth Place – Ivan Makarov, 20.38 seconds
Castle Stones
First Place – Adam Bishop, 18.81 seconds
Second Place – Pavlo Nakonechnyy, 19.75 seconds
Third Place – Evan Singleton, 20.1 seconds
Fourth Place – Oleksii Novikov, 20.9 seconds
Fifth Place – Gavin Bilton, 22.76 seconds
Sixth Place – Andy Black, 24.28 seconds
Seventh Place – Gabriel Peña, 25.96 seconds
Eighth Place – Rauno Heinla, 28.72 seconds
Ninth Place – Mikhail Shivlyakov, 29.76 seconds
Tenth Place – Ivan Makarov, 4 in 48.4 seconds
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
Matt Jansen Answers: Did Big Ramy Cement Mr. Olympia As A Size Game?
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Matt Jansen believes that Big Ramy further cemented Mr. Olympia as a battle of size… but there’s one wild card catch.
Matt Jansen is the trainer who has been working with Nick Walker during his rising success. Walker has been compared to Dorian Yates and his size is being praised as he continues to improve and prepare for the Mr. Olympia. With Big Ramy’s win in 2020, it seems he is further raising the bar when it comes to muscle mass. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we ask Matt Jansen if Big Ramy has cemented Olympia as a game of size – and how that may help Nick Walker’s future.
During our conversation with Matt Jansen, we asked him how he first got into bodybuilding and coaching. What brought him to the place he is today – now known as an iconic modern coach responsible for fantastic physiques? Jansen goes into detail about his past as a bodybuilder and how his entire world was changed when he started focusing on a new training strategy that included a bigger focus on rest.
This change of pace opened Matt Jansen’s mind towards the power of coaching and training knowledge. He later then became mentored under Neil Hill – which began his path towards becoming the coach and trainer he is today. He’s now coaching one of the most threatening up-and-comers in the pro league – Nick Walker.
Nick Walker is a bodybuilder who brings unprecedented amounts of mass for his age. Still in his 20s, he already looks like a mass monster who had been training well into his 30s or 40s. Of course, he still has improvements to go – but he already has become highlighted as a big contender in the sport.
That’s why we also asked Matt Jansen about Big Ramy’s win at the Mr. Olympia 2020. Ramy represents true mass monster size unseen since Ronnie Coleman. While he has struggled to match the same kind of sharp conditioning that made Ronnie Coleman one of a kind – Ramy pulled it together for a truly rewarding physique last year.
Does Big Ramy’s win finally put the nail in the coffin when it comes to size? Has the Mr. Olympia proper become a battle for the most shockingly massive bodybuilder with good conditioning?
Matt Jansen believes so – and also jokingly admits that this will help Nick Walker’s future at the Mr. Olympia. If judges will all be pairing up competitors against Big Ramy in the center – having mass monster size will be of huge importance.
But Matt Jansen does also admit that the mass monster battle is not 100% set in stone. There is one wild card that can change the way judges lean – whether it be this Mr. Olympia or down the line. Matt Jansen believes that Shawn Rhoden presents a smaller but immensely aesthetic physique that can still overcome the likes of Big Ramy. Of course, Rhoden is not able to compete as of Mr. Olympia 2021.
If Shawn Rhoden were able to compete – Matt Jansen believes it can skew the Olympia lineup to favor both aesthetic and mass monster equally. Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia before against many mass monsters larger than him. He has the talent to do it again.
Alas, we don’t know when or if that will ever happen at this point. So for now it seems mass monster size will dominate as Big Ramy returns as the Olympia champion. Of course, the joy of competitive sports is that anything can happen. Nothing is set in stone – but for now Matt Jansen is feeling good about Nick Walker’s future pairing up against the likes of Big Ramy.
You can watch Matt Jansen speak in detail about his coaching origins, Big Ramy, and the Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Guy Cisternino Announced Retirement At 2021 Texas Pro
Guy Cisternino decided to call it a career following his performance over the weekend.
The 2021 Texas Pro was full of excitement with some of the top competitors in the sport facing off. Following the announcement of the 212 Division results, Guy Cisternino made an announcement of his own.
After placing sixth in Irvine, Texas, Cisternino told a sold-out crowd that he will be retiring following the competition.
Guy Cisternino has been a force in the 212 Division since earring his pro card in 2008 at the NPC National Championships. He has picked up victories in some major competitions such as the 2011 Europa Dallas Pro 212, 2014 Toronto Pro 212, 2015 New York Pro 212. These are just a few of his is victories as a pro. Cisternino’s most recent victory came in the 2019 Niagara Pro Falls 212.
It has been a difficult couple years for Cisternino. He was involved in a car accident that kept him out of competition and struggled with difficulties involving COVID-19 recently. He was able to rebound and perform in his final competition in Texas over the weekend.
The accomplishments of Guy Cisternino cannot be discredited. Since becoming a pro, he has finished in the top five 25 times. In 2014, Cisternino went through a stretch where he was difficult to beat. He picked up victories at the Europa Dallas Pro 212 and Toronto Pro 212. Sandwiched between was a second place finish at the 2014 New York Pro 212. This marked three-straight competitions where he was in one of the top two spots.
Cisternino took to Instagram to commemorate his final competition before calling it a career.
“Let the work do the talking…tell em then show em.”
Guy Cisternino has been a big name in the 212 Division for years now. He will be a name that is missed in conversation but he has certainly accomplished plenty during his career on stage.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2021 IFBB Europa Pro Results (LIVE UPDATES)
Complete results from the 2021 IFBB Europa Pro.
The 2021 Europa Pro saw some more qualifications for the 2021 Olympia being handed out. Alicante, Spain was the site of the biggest qualifier that takes place in Europe and it is a real treat for the fans of the sport. This time around was no different.
The pending matchup between Roelly Winklaar and Nathan De Asha was enough to build anticipation heading into the event. Winklaar returned to the stage in Chicago, where he placed fifth, and was expected to compete the following weekend before pulling out. He took some extra time to prepare for the Europa Pro. De Asha will also make his return after a long period or preparation.
Tim Budesheim entered the competition as a dark-horse favorite. He is coming off a second-place performance at the Mr. Big Evolution Pro in July. The top two in each division will earn a qualification to the biggest competition of the year.
There were a total of 10 divisions at the Europa Pro with winners vying for a qualification to the Olympia. Check out our full breakdown of the 2021 IFBB Europa Pro results below.
2021 Europa Pro: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the 2021 Europa Pro. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the 2021 Olympia.
Men’s Bodybuilding: coming soon
Men’s 212: coming soon
Men’s Physique: Youcef Djoudi Anava
Classic Physique: Fabian Mayr
Women’s Bodybuilding: coming soon
Women’s Physique: coming soon
Figure: coming soon
Fitness: coming soon
Wellness: coming soon
Bikini: coming soon
2021 Europa Pro Breakdown
Classic Physique
First Place – Fabian Mayr
Second Place – coming soon
Third Place – coming soon
Fourth Place – coming soon
Fifth Place – coming soon
Sixth Place – coming soon
Men’s Physique
First Place – Youcef Djoudi Anava
Second Place – coming soon
Third Place – coming soon
Fourth Place – coming soon
Fifth Place – coming soon
Sixth Place – coming soon
Men’s Bodybuilding
Results coming soon
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Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
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Sixth Place –
Men’s 212
Results coming soon
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Women’s Bodybuilding
Results coming soon
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Women’s Physique
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Figure
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Fitness
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Bikini
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Wellness
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Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 IFBB Europa 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.
2021 IFBB Texas Pro Results
Complete results from the 2021 IFBB Texas Pro.
The 2021 IFBB Texas Pro has begun and there will be some more Olympia qualifications handed out. The Irving Convention Center in Irving, TX is the host of what is destined to be a weekend full of great competition featuring some of the biggest names in bodybuilding.
The Texas Pro will be handing out ten athletes an invitation to the 2021 Mr. Olympia coming this October. A total grand prize of over $40,000 will be paid out across the bodybuilders this weekend.
It begins with Steve Kuclo. The Dallas native will look to top the competition in his home state and earn a spot to compete at the biggest event of the year. Kuclo is viewed as one of the favorites to win the Men’s Bodybuilding category but it will not be easy.
Iain Valliere will be back in action after a victory at the 2021 Tampa Pro. Despite already having an automatic qualification to the Olympia, Valliere will continue to compete to try and continue to build momentum. Phillip Clahar, who finished second to Valliere in Tampa, will also be back in action. He has a chance to finish at the top of the field this time around. All three competitors are at peak physical condition which means the Texas Pro has a chance to be extremely entertaining.
Hassan Mostafa will also look to keep pace. He has not earned a bid just yet but he is in line too in the standings. Mostafa has competed in many qualifiers and has placed quite well recently.
There were a total of six divisions at the Texas Pro with winners vying for a qualification to the Olympia. Day one of the competition included prejudging and finals for the Classic Physique, Women’s Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini. The full results from Day Two have not been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the 2021 IFBB Texas Pro results below.
2021 Texas Pro: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the Texas Pro 2021. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Men’s Bodybuilding:
Men’s 212:
Classic Physique:
Men’s Physique:
Bikini:
Women’s Physique: Ashley Jones
2021 Texas Pro Breakdown
Women’s Physique
First Place – Ashley Jones
Second Place – Lenka Ferencukova
Third Place – Elizabeth Bradshaw
Fourth Place – Jeannie Feldman
Fifth Place – Priscila Cavilha
Men’s Bodybuilding Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Men’s 212
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
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Classic Physique
Results coming soon
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Second Place –
Third Place –
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Men’s Physique
Results coming soon
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Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
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Bikini
Results coming soon
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Second Place –
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Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 IFBB Texas 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.
Talking Huge | EP 9: Craig Golias Weights In – Is Phil Heath Done Competing?
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Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin reflect on the life of John Meadows, talk about Phil Heath’s future, and debate if progress pics can be trusted.
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 looks back on the life and times of the late John Meadows, talks about the physique updates of Phil Heath and Big Ramy, and the illusions of progress pictures.
After a few weeks away, Craig Golias returns to speak with Vlad Yudin to catch up on the latest and trending topics in bodybuilding. The biggest story, of course, is the tragic passing of beloved bodybuilder and coach John Meadows. While Craig did not know him personally – he was aware of the impact he had on the sport both as a bodybuilder and as a human being. Craig and Vlad also look at some of the latest progress pics that popped up over the past few weeks – focusing on Phil Heath and Big Ramy. Will Phil make another comeback? Does Ramy look on point for another victory? Let’s jump into it.
In Memory of John Meadows
The bodybuilding world was shocked earlier this week to learn that bodybuilder and beloved coach John Meadows had passed away. Meadows is known as one of the most iconic trainers in modern bodybuilding. But more importantly than that – he was a man with a kind personality that truly touched any person he met. In a sport that can be somewhat isolating, John Meadows made many connections. His kindness and optimism was felt strongly even during some of his hardest hurdles – such as the heart attack he suffered last year and recovered from.
While the exact cause of John Meadows death does not seem tied directly to bodybuilding, there’s no doubting that a mass monster bodybuilding lifestyle increases some risks. Vlad asks Craig Golias if Meadow’s passing made Golias think about his health and future. Is Golias worried that he may run a higher risk of serious health issues or death too soon?
In a surprisingly candid and quiet moment, Craig Golias admits that he does sometimes think about his choices and how it will affect his health. Especially in his younger years, Golias did anything possible to be HUGE. This included some not-so-healthy diet habits. There’s also no way around it – 300 pounds of muscle is still 300 pounds of weight that the heart has to pump blood through. That can take a toll.
The Future Of Phil Heath
Vlad Yudin and Craig Golias also discuss some of the biggest physique progress pictures that were released onto the internet. One of the biggest trending updates come surrounding Phil Heath. Many of his social media posts over the summer have showcased an increasingly conditioned physique. Some fans think he already looks better than his past two Mr. Olympia showings. This has led to speculation that he’s ready to come back yet again… and maybe win it.
But Craig Golias isn’t convinced. In fact, he’s convinced the other way around. He thinks that Phil Heath is done. That he will never win the Mr. Olympia again – and will likely not compete at the Olympia again. Even is Golias is wrong, he thinks that Phil Heath will simply place lower.
Craig Golias points towards every other great Olympia legend including Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. Both are amazing athletes, as is Phil Heath, but after they fell from their throne – they never really got it back. Jay Cutler may have returned for a win at the Olympia after a short knock off – but ultimately when it was obvious he was declining he kept placing lower. Ronnie Coleman is the greatest bodybuilder of all time – but still succumbed to a lower placing on his last attempt at Mr. Olympia. Golias believes this is the point that Phil Heath is at now.
Progress Pics: Truth or Illusion?
Ultimately, this leads to Vlad and Craig talking about progress pictures overall. Do they help or simply hurt by raising expectations too far? Photos are a far cry from being under the hot lights of the competition stage. It’s easy for a bodybuilder to manipulate their physique with the right angle, lens, and alternate lighting on Instagram. It seems more often than not – the photos look more impressive than the final physique we see on stage.
Craig Golias agrees with this. It’s the double edged sword of social media. These kinds of frequent posts help make bodybuilders more of a brand. It helps them gain sponsors and a following and make money. But back in the day, bodybuilders often trained not knowing what anyone else would look like. The fans faced the same situation. That led to more shocking reveals at the actual competitions. It was exciting and also led to less overextended hype.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss other topics such as the consistent natty or not debate. Should athletes owe fans proof when they don’t believe natural claims? 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!