Tag: GI News
‘Screw Your Freedom’: Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Anti-Maskers Are ‘Schmucks’
Arnold Schwarzenegger did not hold back about masks in a recent interview.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is known as the greatest bodybuilder of all-time. When he speaks, the bodybuilding world listens but he has expanded over the years to movies and politics. In a recent interview, he did not hold back about his opinion on those who choose not to wear a mask.
Schwarzenegger sat down with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga and shared a clip on his Twitter and YouTube page. In the video, Schwarzenegger is not holding back with his opinions on anti-maskers.
“There is a virus here. 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,” Schwarzenegger said.
“You have the freedom to wear no mask — but you know something? You’re a schmuck for not wearing a mask. Because you are supposed to protect your fellow Americans around you.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused plenty of conversation and debates. This stretched from re-opening businesses to the vaccine to masks. There have been plenty of opinions floated around and comparisons made. Schwarzenegger decided to use traffic lights as his way to blend the topic together.
“We put the traffic light at the intersection so someone doesn’t kill someone else by accident,” Schwarzenegger said. “You cannot say, ‘No one is going tell me that I’m going to stop here at this traffic light here, I’m going to go right through it.’ Yeah, then you kill someone else and then it is you’re doing.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been vocal about the virus since the beginning and has urged people to listen to the professionals. This is why he has been following guidelines and asking those to do the same.
“There’s no one that knows more about a bicep than I do because I studied this issue for 50 years and the same is also with the virus. The people out there, the experts, they study this year after year,” Schwarzenegger said.
Schwarzenegger served as the Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. Back in June, he took to Twitter to applaud the job the state was doing to enforce masks.
This is 100% the right move. This will help us beat this terrible virus. The science is unanimous – if we all wear masks, we slow down the spread and can reopen safely. It’s not a political issue. Anyone making it a political issue is an absolute moron who can’t read. https://t.co/N0FmCwDU5w
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) June 18, 2020
Arnold Schwarzenegger continued by saying that “anyone making it a political issue is an absolute moron who can’t read.”
This will likely not be the last time that Schwarzenegger makes a public statement on the issue of masks. Right now, there is no doubt about which side the iconic bodybuilder stands on.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Gunter Schlierkamp: Why Does The Olympia Champion Only Compete At Mr. Olympia?
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Gunter Schlierkamp answers: Should the Mr. Olympia champion compete more than once per year?
It’s almost completely commonplace for the Mr. Olympia champion to not compete again until the next Mr. Olympia competition. But this was not always the case, in past eras, the dubbed European Tour after Mr. Olympia would often showcase a series of events where the top five Olympia contenders, including the new champion, continued to compete. Gunter Schlierkamp, for example, even beat Ronnie Coleman in a competition shortly after Coleman had just won the Olympia title. Why did things change? In our latest GI Exclusive, Gunter Schlierkamp shares his thoughts as to why the Olympia champion only competes once per year.
For the past few decades, the winner of the Mr. Olympia would typically only compete once per year. For example, Phil Heath would win the big show and then not compete again until the following Olympia competition. We asked Gunter Schlierkamp why this is the case and his answer shows both sides of the argument.
At first, Gunter Schlierkamp’s reaction was that of not understanding why the Mr. Olympia champion only competes once per year. He explains how, typically, a bodybuilder’s conditioning remains strong for three weeks after a show. If they land on the Mr. Olympia on point – why would they not compete in a few more shows afterwards? Even if it’s just for some additional prize money?
Gunter Schlierkamp reflects on previous eras, where the traditional European Tour would occur right after the Mr. Olympia. These would typically be back to back shows for multiple weekends in a row. The biggest names from Olympia would compete and often the Mr. Olympia champion would be among them.
To some degree, the European Tour has changed. There are less big pro shows that occur immediately after the Mr. Olympia – either due to the pro shows getting more spread out or disappearing completely. If the pro shows are not in the immediate weeks after the Olympia, it would make sense for the champion to avoid it.
That being said, Gunter Schlierkamp also presents another side to the topic. He understands that the Mr. Olympia prize money is very high – more than enough for a year’s worth of salary. On top of that, training and succeeding at being the best in the world takes its tole. He likens it to a gold medal Olympic athlete. After a runner wins the gold at the Olympics, that athlete will likely not try to reach that champion-level time again for quite some time.
Perhaps it is smart for the Mr. Olympia champion to only compete once per year. This allows the champion to only focus on one thing – winning the Mr. Olympia again. They can’t use depletion from another pro show event earlier in the year as an excuse for a lackluster presentation at Olympia. Why even take the risk? Especially if the prize money (and sponsorships) allows for the athlete to not need to compete again.
You can watch Gunter Schlierkamp’s full thoughts on how often the Mr. Olympia champion competes in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
79-Year-Old Frank Zane Is Still Crushing The Gym
Frank Zane recently shared some of his favorite exercises on Instagram.
Frank Zane is one of the all-time greats in the sport of bodybuilding. He totaled three-straight Olympia victories from 1977-1979. It is no surprise that this iconic bodybuilder is still in the gym and doing it at 79 years old.
Zane recently shared one of his favorite exercises to do while training biceps. It is an incline-curl variation that is performed laying face down on an incline bench and having arms hanging down with the dumbbells in hand. Zane took to Instagram to share the video.
“This puts tension on your biceps right at the top. So you let the dumbbell hang down, and you curl up, and stop at the top and then go down slow,” Zane said in the video.
“You want to develop a rhythm when you’re doing them. Rhythm is what counts… You want to do about 10 reps… It’s a great exercise for peaking.”
Frank Zane is known for his battles with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has over two decades of experience on stage and when he speaks on exercises, it is wise to listen. This is not the only exercise that Zane has provided wisdom on. He does not post on social media much but when he does, it is to teach and share over 50 years of experience in training and bodybuilding.
Back in June of 2020, Zane gave some tips on how to build up your triceps. This was done without any special machines, which Zane said “no special equipment needed if you don’t have access to machines.”
Frank Zane is a legend in the bodybuilding world. He took home a Mr. America and Mr. Universe title in 1968 to go along with his three Olympias. Even though he is decades out of competition, Zane still has the mind and motivation to not only train himself but to share his knowledge with the next generation.
Zane has been motivating and inspiring weightlifters for years now and that is not going to change. Even at 79 years old, Zane has a lot to offer and he can help anyone better themselves by just listening to the words he has to say.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tony Huge Provides Update After Battle With COVID Delta
Tony Huge took to Instagram to provide an update on his condition following catching the COVID Delta variant.
Tony Huge is a bodybuilder and spokesperson for enhanced labs. He is a huge name in the sport in many areas and has plenty of work under his belt. On Wednesday, he took to Instagram to reveal his latest battle.
Huge revealed that he has been battling COVID for three weeks. This was not the original variant that sent the world into a pandemic, but the Delta variant that seems to be coming on strong.
“2 weeks with Covid Delta took 30lbs of my gains and almost took my life. I’m completely recovered from the virus but it’s going to take a loooooong time to recover my energy, strength, and mental performance. This is really embarrassing to me because I should be the last person that should get nailed this bad given my health and my expertise but the first thing it took was my brain power. Confusion and mental fog and low energy hit fast and I wasn’t able to treat myself properly.”
Tony Huge has conducted many experiments on himself with different anabolic steroids. He is a self-proclaimed underground scientist and this is why he has been able to do studies in different ways. Huge has made an impact on bodybuilding in many ways but his progress was slowed down by his battle with this virus.
There is no doubt that Huge will be back to normal soon enough but it shows that the virus does not discriminate. He mentioned that it will take some time to get back to where he was physically and how the virus even took a toll on his mental state.
“As my brain function comes back slowly now I’ll be able to reflect on all of it and learn and help others better. Note: I was immune to the first strain of covid. this one was definitely a mutation. I won’t be able to respond to all comments/questions but ill use them to make videos so I will end up answering all your posted questions by video over the next few weeks,” Huge continued on Instagram.
It is clear that Tony Huge will not be shy about discussing his recent battle with Covid Delta. He will be able to speak on his experiences and help others, which is something he has been interested in doing for a long time now.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Melvin Anthony: Bodybuilding History And Competitive Hunger Are Largely Missing Today
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Melvin Anthony believes that bodybuilders today don’t know enough about the sport’s history.
Melvin Anthony has previously stated in our earlier interview segment that bodybuilders today train very hard but could be training harder. Overall though – he believes that bodybuilders today are still extremely hard working and talented. The bigger problem, in his opinion, is that modern bodybuilders do not know enough about history, do not have enough camaraderie, and are not competitive enough. In our latest GI Exclusive, Melvin Anthony goes into detail about how a lack of bodybuilding history and hunger is hurting modern bodybuilding.
In this segment of our GI Exclusive interview, we started off by asking Melvin Anthony his thoughts on Women’s Bodybuilding. It’s a division that was near death only a few years ago but has since been revived by its return at the Olympia weekend. Anthony ultimately didn’t touch much on this topic in his answer. Instead, he expanded on a bigger issue he finds with modern bodybuilding. An issue that is directly related to the trials and tribulations of Women’s Bodybuilding and perhaps other divisions.
Melvin Anthony believes that Women’s Bodybuilding gets a bad rap for a few reasons – but the biggest is a lack of respect for muscle above all else – and a lack of respect for history. While many bodybuilding fans and young competitors certainly know the legends in the sport – Anthony worries that there is a lack of extensive knowledge of bodybuilding history. How can the new generation of bodybuilders break barriers if they don’t know what was done before them? How can you break the rules before you know where the rules came from?
Melvin Anthony had previously stated to us that bodybuilders train very hard today – but could be training harder. His words in our new segment today are an extension of that idea. He believes that it’s a lack of historical bodybuilding knowledge that prevents bodybuilders from training even harder and breaking new ground. Attention spans are so thin due to the instant response of internet and social media. It causes people to lose sight of the past. At least, that’s what Anthony believes.
The biggest irony behind this is that the internet can be used to gain more information more than ever. Melvin Anthony points out that bodybuilders today have the entire history of bodybuilding at their fingertips. Posing routines and competitions from each era can be watched on YouTube. Bodybuilding greats can be studied in a play-by-play detail. Not just the biggest legends but also the dozens of other great competitors who made big impressions in their era but perhaps didn’t land Ronnie Coleman status.
On top of this, Melvin Anthony believes that the hunger in competition has diminished. While his reasoning is purely anecdotal, he worries that bodybuilders are too willing to settle for sixth or third place before they even actually compete. Real champions, Anthony argues, will always believe they are the best. They will go into every competition thinking they will win until they don’t. If a competitor goes in thinking, “I hope to at least get third place.” They aren’t hungry enough.
Of course, there are likely still bodybuilders today with strong wills and hungry beliefs of victory. But from Melvin Anthony’s personal experience looking at modern bodybuilding – he doesn’t see it the same way as the past. Is he right? Or is he simply not looking in the right places? Or perhaps he’s not as in tune with current bodybuilding as he’s gotten older? It’s impossible to say with 100% certainty until this new era recedes into the past and is looked back on in retrospect.
You can watch Melvin Anthony talk about bodybuilding history and hunger to compete in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mark Wahlberg Appears Shredded Once Again After 14-Week Transformation
Mark Wahlberg is one of the biggest actors in the world and is known for having an incredible physique.
Actors have to adjust their overall look depending on a role they are going to be playing in their latest movie. For Mark Wahlberg, this is nothing new.
Wahlberg is known as one of the biggest actors and has been showing off his incredible physique on the big screen for years. On Monday, the two-time Oscar nominee took to Instagram to show his latest progression.
Mark Wahlberg was seen performing a set of toes-to-bar where he was hanging from a bar and lifting his feet as high as possible. Wahlberg kept his caption short and sweet by simply saying “still celebrating.” He did not reference his change in physique but it is clear that Wahlberg has been putting in some serious work over the last three months.
This is nothing new for the actor. He has been in several roles where he was able to show off his progress in the gym. At 50 years old, Wahlberg is back to having that shredded six pack that he has sported for years.
Wahlberg recently spoke about his recent transformation in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on his late night show on NBC.
“I had to consume for two weeks, 7,000 calories, and for another two weeks, 11,000 calories — and it was fun for about an hour.”
Wahlberg revealed that the process “wasn’t fun” and “you just tough it out.” Wahlberg had to put on an additional 30 pounds for a role in Father Stu, where he played a bipolar priest who used to be a boxer. This film has not been released yet. After filming, it is clear that Wahlberg wanted to get back in shape and he has done so with flying colors.
This is not the first time Mark Wahlberg has lost a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. He has revealed in the past that he once lost 10 pounds in five days by drinking the broth of boiled animal bones.
The transformation gone through by actors is significant and completed in a short amount of time. This is because of their insane training regimens along with the luxury of home gyms and elite trainers. Wahlberg has both and his results cannot be argued with.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
John Meadows “Mountain Dog” Memorial Fund Setup on GoFundMe
A memorial has been setup on GoFundMe to help the family of John Meadows during this difficult time.
It was a shock to learn the news of John Meadows’ passing. Meadows was 49 years old and this was as unexpected as they come. Now, the family of Meadows is receiving help during this time.
Carbon Culture’s Jeff Cavaliere setup up a GoFundMe page as a memorial to John Meadows. This is to help his family during this difficult time and to have fans give back. Meadows was big figure in both the bodybuilding and strength sports’ world where he was able to impact the lives of many.
Right now, the account has over $84,000 in donations and is heading 2,000 total donors. On the page, Cavaliere wrote a heartfelt tribute to Meadows.
“John Meadows was an iconic member of the fitness community who touched many through his youtube channel and coaching. With his ‘give first’ mentality, John helped millions achieve better fitness and strength…one video at a time. His contributions to the industry are countless, however most notably the Meadows Row (named after him) has become a staple of back training for lifters worldwide,” Cavaliere wrote.
“As physically strong as John was, his greatest strength was his dedication as a father and husband. Never one to miss a football practice with his boys or to show off their newest yo-yo trick in a video, John’s motto was ‘family first’, and he lived it every day. He leaves behind his wife Mary and two wonderful twin boys, Jonathan and Alexander.”
The John Meadows “Mountain Dog” Foundation has a goal of $100,000 at the moment and it is looking like they will surpass that goal.
Cavaliere continued to write a message explaining his relationship and the kind of man that Meadows was.
“I personally am beyond shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of John. He was and will always go down as one of the true gentlemen in this industry. There’s not a soul alive that could say anything but great things about him. Whenever we would talk I could literally hear his smile through the phone when the subject of his boys came up. As fathers of twins we had an instant bond, rooted in both the extreme challenges and extreme joys that come with the task! He was scheduled to speak at my upcoming event In September and we were so excited to finally get a chance to shoot some videos together. As you’d expect from John however, he was going to fly in on the first flight on Thursday so he could be with his sons at football on Wednesday night. You will always be remembered and cherished by your fans as a truth teller, an incredible resource, and a class act. In addition to those things you will be remembered by me as an incredible father and family man for which I respected you greatly. I’m honored to have had the chance to learn from you. Keeping Mary and the boys in my prayers.
Rest In Peace Mountain Dog.”
John Meadows is a figure that will not soon be forgotten. His legacy will live on and there will be plenty of people who continue to use his impact as motivation moving forward.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Samir Bannout Answers: Is There A Middle East Movement Dominating Bodybuilding?
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Samir Bannout analyzes the rise of Middle Eastern bodybuilders and the future of bodybuilding champions.
Samir Bannout has the distinction of being the first Middle Eastern bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia. A lot has changed since then. The rise of the camel crew and an exceptional focus put on bodybuilders who train in Dubai has increased the dominance of Middle Eastern pro bodybuilders. Most recently, Big Ramy, hailing from Egypt, won the Mr. Olympia title. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout analyzes whether or not this is a Middle East movement that will dominate bodybuilding for years to come.
Samir Bannout is proud to be the first Middle Eastern bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia. He also has stayed extremely passionate and focused on the sport of bodybuilding ever since his retirement. Event today, he dedicates himself to further helping improve and educate new generations of bodybuilders to support the sport. So what does he think of the rise of Dubai as a mecca for bodybuilding? And of Big Ramy’s win at the Mr. Olympia 2020? Does he see this as a true movement of Middle Eastern bodybuilding?
Samir Bannout admits that there has been a cultural shift in competitive bodybuilding. Dubai has become a hot spot for bodybuilders. While not all of them are actually from the Middle East, Dubai has become a new mecca that promises unreal transformations for competitors who train there. Brandon Curry is the most notable man to train in Dubai, transform his physique, and become a Mr. Olympia champion.
But of course, this new sort of mecca is also benefiting competitors from the Middle East. Big Ramy is now our current Mr. Olympia champion and we’ve seen the likes of Hadi Choopan and Kamal Elgargni show extreme dominance in the sport.
Samir Bannout is unsure if this is a true long term movement though. He points out that bodybuilding has always been a very diverse and international sport. He’s personally seen many rising bodybuilders across a variety of countries that have him excited for the future of the sport.
On top of that, the past year of pro bodybuilding was marred by COVID-19.Big Ramy certainly deserved the Mr. Olympia and showed his best physique. But there will always be a “what if” about 2019 and 2020. We have no idea how the virus affected the top pros personal lives and training. Samir Bannout believes that perhaps 2021 will be bigger indicator. Will Big Ramy and Hadi Choopan continue to thrive at this year’s Mr. Olympia?
During this interview clip, Samir Bannout also talks about his own success as being the first Middle Eastern Mr. Olympia – and reflects on whether not he retired too soon. As he had mentioned previously, he felt slighted by the sport after his 6th place finish in 1984. This got into his head and took the fun out of the sport. He often wonders if he could have stuck with it and eventually moved past the negativity.
You can watch Samir Bannout talk about the rise of Middle Eastern bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
WATCH: 84-Year-Old Carrie Reese Shows Strength With 195lb Deadlift
Carrie Reese has been showing her feats of strength for a long time and there is no end in sight.
Carrie Reese is no stranger to the gym and has made some noise as a powerlifter. That continued on Friday when a video was shared of the 84-year-old completing a 195lb deadlift during an early-morning training session.
Reese’s gym, Old Skool Iron, shared the video on its Instagram page after Reese completed the lift during a 5 a.m. workout.
“Here she is again, even talking a little smack at 5am and 84yr Carrie Reece (powerlifting grandma) smoking 195lbs with plenty left in the tank,” old skool iron wrote on instagram.
Here she is again is right. Carrie Reese has been making certain lifts look effortless for nearly a decade. She began powerlifting at the age of 74 with a bodyweight of 198.4 pounds. She has since began competing in the 132-pound category. This list is not Reese’s personal best but the ease that she completed it with and the dedication to pull off the feat at such an early hour shows her toughness.
Reese most recently competed on July 10 at the USPA Surf City Open in the Master’s 80+ division. She competed in the 125.4-pound division and completed an 82.6 pound bench press and a 203.9 pound deadlift.
Carrie Reese currently holds world records in the bench press and deadlift in her weight and age division. These were completed while competing in the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters. Reese currently holds a personal best of a 91.5-pound raw bench press and 217.1-pound raw deadlift.
Reese began her powerlifting career at 74 but there is no end in sight. She made that clear in a recent interview with the Richmond Pulse.
“I intend to continue competing until I just drop dead. There’s no stop limit for me,” Reese said.
There is no limit for what a person can do with the right mindset and motivation. Carrie Reese clearly has both and that is why she has a chance to continue to take on big lifts at 84 years old. As long as she wants to do this, there will be plenty of viewers watching and gaining more and more admiration.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
100-Year-Old Edith Murway-Traina Becomes Oldest Competitive Powerlifter
On her 100th birthday, Edith Murway-Traina set a world record becoming the oldest competitive powerlifter.
They saw age is just a number. This is especially true for Edith Murway-Traina.
At 100 years old, Murway-Traina is the oldest competitive powerlifter breaking the world record, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. She turned 100 on Aug. 8 and was able to celebrate her birthday by accomplishing something great.
“Lifting weights upwards of 40-150 pounds, Edith is smashing the competitive powerlifting circuit, dazzling viewers and judges alike with her graceful lifts,” a Guinness World Record press release says.
Amazingly, Edith Murway-Traina was not always a powerlifter. She grew up as a dancer and eventually went onto teach the art. She idolized the likes of Shirley Temple and Ginger Rogers. This led her to dance and it ended up being a road to powerlifting. Through dance, she met Carmen Gutworth, who introduced her to the gym at 91 years old. This is when Murway-Traina began training in the gym.
Murway-Traina did not always plan to become a competitive lifter. Once she began lifting at the gym, she enjoyed it so much that competing seemed like the best logical move.
“While I was watching those ladies doing their thing, I thought I just as well should pick up a few bars, and I did,” Murway-Traina said.
“Going on a regular basis, I found that I was enjoying it, and I was challenging myself to get a little bit better and a little bit better. Before long, I was part of the team.”
She last competed in 2019 when she was 98 years old. Murway-Traina was forced to take a break from competing due to the COVID-19 pandemic but she is not finished just yet. Murway-Traina plans to return to competition in November and she will continue to extend her record moving forward.
“As a performer and a dancer, applause was always a very important part of my enjoyment,” Murway-Traina said. “As long as I could get a little bit of applause, I was happier each I time I got more and more applause. Once people found out I was in my nineties and I was doing all of these things, it got to be more noticeable. People got to pay attention more.”
This happened right away as Murway-Traina began racking up trophies and recognition during her early days as a powerlifter.
Below, Edith Murway-Traina’s record-breaking lifts can be seen in a recent YouTube video on the Guinness World Records page. While continuing to total some personal achievements, Murway-Traina is showing that it is never too late to get into something new. More importantly, it is never too late to better yourself and accomplish personal goals.
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