Tag: GI News
Lou Ferrigno Fixes Hearing With Implant: Calls It “Life Changing”
Lou Ferrigno can hear like never before due to new hearing aid implant.
Lou Ferrigno is most known for two things. He was an iconic bodybuilder and star in Pumping Iron. He was also the Incredible Hulk on television for many years. It is also well documented that Ferrigno has suffered hearing loss since a young age. It’s partially the reason for his now iconic cadence of speaking. Now at 69 years old, he’s starting to hear like never before due to a specialized implant. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Lou Ferrigno details his new hearing implant and what it was like to be a pro bodybuilder with severe hearing loss.
The world may know Lou Ferrigno as the original Incredible Hulk. But the bodybuilding world also remembers him as a legendary bodybuilder and star of the iconic film Pumping Iron. What some might not know as well is that Ferrigno also suffers from hearing loss. Since a young age, Ferrigno had lost 75% of his hearing. Due to this, he relied on a hearing aid for most of his life.
Technology changes at an alarming pace. And now Lou Ferrigno is experiencing the world of hearing in a whole new light due to a cochlear implant. The implant, over time, has allowed him to hear without the use of a traditional hearing aid. More importantly, it has also allowed him to hear on a level he had never experienced in his life.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Lou Ferrigno above!
“Over the age of 65, one out of three people were having hearing loss,” Lou Ferrigno states in our interview. He goes on:
“There are some bodybuilders out there who have had hearing loss. But the reason why I’m talking about this is because I’m going to give a lot of people hope. That this is not a dreadful thing. It’s a very positive experience because the surgery is really minor. Especially if they can have a life changing experience. Especially even now I heard different people. I can appreciate hearing people talk. Hearing the ‘S’ sound. The final consonant… People would say I have a slight lisp to my speech but now I’m overcoming that because of the cochlear implant.”
Lou Ferrigno goes on to detail what his life was like growing up with limited hearing. How he was bullied due to his massive hearing aids. That bullying, in part, was why Ferrigno eventually turned to bodybuilding. He wanted to prove he was strong in the face of bullies.
He also goes into detail about what training was like as a bodybuilder with limited hearing. Due to the intensity of his workouts, he wouldn’t wear a hearing aid during training. This made it harder for him to full engage in the social experience of the gym. He even admits that there have been times gym patrons thought he was being rude and ignoring them. But in reality, he couldn’t hear them. He relied mostly on reading lips in the gym.
Now all of that has changed. Lou Ferrigno will be able to full hear in the gym. Every clank of the weights and grunt of lifters. It’s an entirely new experience. As he stated in the quote above. It was not only a life changing experience for him – but he hopes to spread the word for others so they can have that life changing experience as well.
You can watch Lou Ferrigno go into full detail about his hearing loss and new implant in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Samir Bannout: Some Beauty Is Lost When Bodybuilders Become Super Massive
Samir Bannout comments on whether or not the modern era of bodybuilding has declined.
Between the past five to ten years, there has been a growing conversation about the quality of modern bodybuilding. While it’s often common to hold the past in higher regard – it seems that fans have become more vocal about bodybuilding physiques declining in quality even compared to the 90s. Alternatively, there are those who believe we are now at the beginning of an upswing after a slight decline. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout shares his thoughts on modern bodybuilding, super mass monsters, and wether there has been a decline in quality.
Samir Bannout is a diplomatic man. He’s not someone to cast blame on specific people. He’s also not one to make bold statements without all of the facts. So when it comes to something subjective like the quality of bodybuilding physiques – he’s careful with his answer.
During our video interview, we asked if Samir Bannout considers bodybuilding an extreme sport. More specifically, if bodybuilding is more extreme today than it was during his era of competing. This conversation evolved into discussion of the quality of physiques in bodybuilding. Has the increased effort for bigger size led to lower quality physiques overall?
Samir Bannout makes a point first and foremost to highlight that pro bodybuilders today are extremely talented. They work hard, they put in the work, and their ambitions are respectable. So Bannout purposefully avoids saying that physiques have declined. Instead, he comments that certain weak points are becoming more common. He assumes this is likely due to focusing more on size.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Samir Bannout above!
Instead of talking about increase or decrease in quality, Samir Bannout talks about beauty in the sport. Again, this is a subjective term. But Bannout believes that some of the beauty has left the sport. It’s become more favored towards blocky and bulky mass monster physiques. To use an alternate word from beauty, it seems that Bannout is talking about aesthetic and conditioning.
Samir Bannout uses two examples. He points out Frank Zane, who has won multiple Mr. Olympia competitions. He also points out Phil Heath – a man who has seven Olympia titles under his belt.
Bannout comments that Frank Zane was no where near the largest bodybuilder even during his own era. Yet his beauty, aesthetics, and conditioning were so on point that he became a champion. Fast forward to Phil Heath. Bannout believes his first four victories were flawless. Shortly after that, criticism of his gut came to the forefront. Bannout believes this was due to Phil starting to chase more size.
“I think he [Phil Heath] lost his beauty once he started to get super massive,” Samir Bannout states in our interview. He continues:
“Sometimes it’s not about size… Same thing with Flex Wheeler. You know, Flex, it was immanent that he’d win the Olympia. Seriously… It’s a shame that if Flex, if he slowed down a little bit he would have been Olympia no doubt.”
Samir Bannout doesn’t want to demonize massive size. He thinks that massive size can work so long as the beauty remains. He thinks that some bodybuilders are genetically predisposed to handle massive size while maintaining tighter aesthetics and conditioning. He uses Ronnie Coleman’s earlier Olympia victories as an example. Unfortunately, Bannout also thinks that too many bodybuilders fall victim to chasing size and beauty is lost as a result.
You an watch Samir Bannout’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
George Farah: Milos Sarcev Is Wrong To Promote Insulin In Bodybuilding
George Farah doubles down on his anti insulin stance in bodybuilding.
Over a year ago, bodybuilding coach and guru George Farah strongly criticized the use of insulin in bodybuilding. He claimed it was an outright dangerous drug to use inappropriately. He believes that using insulin for benefits in bodybuilding is always the wrong way to use the drug. A year later, we followed up with Farah to revisit his stance on this topic. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, George Farah urges bodybuilders to stop using insulin and thinks it is wrong for Milos Sarcev to promote it.
George Farah wants to get something off his chest. He wants the world to know that bodybuilders use insulin far less often than people think. In recent years, many believe that insulin has become a mainstay in top level pro bodybuilding. Farah is here to debunk that belief. In fact, he goes on to say that he has had up to six athletes in the top 10 of the Mr. Olympia. He knows for a fact all six of them did not use insulin.
In George Farah’s mind, that’s all the evidence anyone would need. These bodybuilders have made it into the top 10 of the world without insulin. So why would anyone want to take the health risk just to get an edge over the competition? Farah believes it’s not necessary.
We followed up asking George Farah about his thoughts on Milos Sarcev. Milos is a bodybuilding coach who is a strong proponent of insulin in bodybuilding. His argument is that insulin can be used safely, as long as it’s not abused. He feels this way about nearly all taboo drugs. It can be safe when done correctly. After our initial interview with George Farah, Milos responded to Farah’s comments about insulin. Clearly the two are at odds with this topic.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with George Farah above!
That’s why we asked George Farah for his thoughts on Milos Sarcev and his endorsement of insulin for bodybuilders. Does he think Milos is simply wrong? Farah had this to say in his response:
“Milos is a friend of mine okay? I don’t want to say he’s wrong or right. He’s wrong promoting insulin. This is my opinion. He’s entitled to his opinion but my opinion… I don’t think we should have insulin [in bodybuilding].”
George Farah goes on to detail how many bodybuilders he knows who have health problems. The fact is that bodybuilding already has health risks as it is. Farah doesn’t understand why a bodybuilder would want to add even more risk to that.
It seems that insulin is where George Farah draws the line. He has gone on the record endorsing the use of steroids for bodybuilding (though he does think it’s often abused too much recently). When it comes to insulin, though, Farah believes it’s a black and white issue. It’s clearly unhealthy. It’s clearly dangerous. And even when done right, it can lead to complications. At least, that is what George Farah believes.
You can watch George Farah go into full detail about Milos Sarcev, insulin, and bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive segment above!
Brad Castleberry: “Being Unhealthy But Looking Healthy Isn’t Cool”
Brad Castleberry goes into detail on why he changed his training methods to focus more on health than sculpted muscle.
The very core of bodybuilding is a healthy endeavor in line with fitness. But just like many things in fitness, it can become unhealthy depending on how far you take it. Professional bodybuilding and even modeling can put so much focus on perfecting the physique that it comes at the cost of traditional health standards. Some athletes are okay with taking that risk. But the general public might not realize that a shredded physique does not automatically mean the athlete is healthy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Brad Castleberry discusses completely changing his training method to focus on feeling good more than looking good.
Brad Castleberry may be a controversial figure in bodybuilding, but one thing that can’t be disputed is that he has an incredible physique. Whether he lifts fake weights or not – it takes hard work to accomplish that kind of shredded look. But during our new interview with Brad Castleberry, he wanted to focus on how he’s been making a change in his fitness life.
After years of ego lifting and powerlifting massive amounts of weight, Brad Castleberry is now focusing on lighter weight and more on cardio. His reasoning for this change is that he wants to focus more on feeling good than looking good. Sometimes the two can come hand in hand. Other times they can be at odds with each other. It depends on how far you want to push the boundaries of your body.
Victor Martinez: If Big Ramy Focuses Too Much On Size He Can Lose To Brandon Curry
Victor Martinez shares his reaction to Big Ramy’s big win and what his future holds in the sport.
On December 19, 2020 Big Ramy won the Mr. Olympia. This was a long time coming after almost 10 years of struggling to live up to his potential. For seemingly the first time, everyone agreed he was far and above the winner. There was no controversy. No let down. Just a pure victory for a talented and beloved competitor. But what will his future hold? Will he become the next reigning champion for years to come? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez reacts to Big Ramy’s Olympia win and shares his thoughts for his future.
Victor Martinez is a pro bodybuilder who has been around in the sport for a few decades now. He is extremely passionate about bodybuilding. He’s started his own IFBB pro show and has competed consistently throughout the years. He’s also a man who is open and honest about his opinions in the sport.
That’s why when we had a chance to reconnect with Victor Martinez, we asked him for his thoughts on the Mr. Olympia 2020. More specifically, how he felt about Big Ramy’s win after years of hype and hope that he would become champion. Like many fans and experts – Martinez believes that pound for pound Big Ramy deserved the win.
But we wanted to know how this could potentially change upcoming Olympia competitions. And what the future will hold for Big Ramy. Will he be yet another one and done winner? Or will he bring upon us the next long time reigning champion? And will others now focus more on size to keep up with his massive physique? Much like how Ronnie Coleman inspired and permanently altered the culture of the sport.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Victor Martinez above!
Victor Martinez believes that it will be hard for anyone to defeat Big Ramy in future shows. But there’s one catch. That’s only if Ramy can maintain his conditioning with each new year. In the past, Ramy has struggled with balancing his size and conditioning at the same time. He nailed it in 2020 – but one year of perfection does not make a guarantee for the future.
Victor Martinez points out that Big Ramy’s strength is in the duality of his size and conditioning. If he can keep both on point, there’s no one currently competing who can beat him. But the past has also shown us that Big Ramy has not been consistent. There’s a chance that 2020 was a turning point for Ramy and that his future is bright. There’s also a chance that he will regress back to his inconsistencies.
This is the point that Victor Martinez drives home. When a bodybuilder is so known for his massive size (even compared to most mass monsters in the sport), it can be easy to focus too much on size and lose grasp of conditioning. If that happens again, Martinez believes that someone like Brandon Curry or even Phil Heath can return to become champion again.
Basically – Big Ramy’s future success is not guaranteed. 2021 will be a proving ground of sorts. Will he prove that his improvements are more consistent and permanent for the coming years? Or will he ultimately fall back on his inconsistencies? There’s no way to know. Victor Martinez acknowledges this and simply hopes that Big Ramy doesn’t succumb to his size.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments on Big Ramy’s Olympia win and future in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Joey Swoll: The Truth Behind Crypto, Dogecoin, and Elon Musk
Joey Swoll: “I’m a crypto believer”
Cryptocurrency, normally shortened simply as crypto, has been booming in popularity over the past few years. Odds are you’ve heard about crypto bigcoin, dogecoin, and Elon Musk’s name popping up non-stop in the news recently. So you’re probably asking yourself, is this truly a new currency innovation that’s here to stay? Or is it a trend with a bubble about to burst? Joey Swoll is a bodybuilder with his hands in crypto providing a bridge between this popular trend and the bodybuilding world. In our latest GI Exclusive, Joey Swoll explains crypto in detail and whether or not you should try investing or avoid it before everything comes crashing down.
Joey Swoll is a bodybuilder who is also a successful entrepreneur. His various successes showcase that he is a bodybuilder with business savvy. So when he starts publicly promoting crypto to his following – it’s something to take note of. That’s why during our recent interview, we decided to ask Swoll about his interest in crypto – and everything he knows about dogecoin, and Elon Musk’s recent headline-grabbing actions.
More specifically, we asked Joey Swoll to share his thoughts – is crypto a currency that will rule the future? Or is it a bubble about to burst? Is it smart to invest now during the rise of its popularity? Or is it all misleading hype created by a strong media narrative? Is it even possible to know now what will happen to this speculative market?
Joey Swoll admits that he is by no means a master but has begun working with individuals who have been involved with crypto for over six years. He considers himself a “crypto believer” and strongly believes that the currency will remain relevant in decades to come. However like any investment, nothing is guaranteed. His number one advice before diving into the details is this – don’t invest anything that you’re not willing or able to lose.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Joey Swoll above!
That being said, Joey Swoll believes it is possible to invest smart – and that there are a lot of gains to be made in crypto. The key is to not be intimidated and start learning as much as you can before the entire market becomes normalized by the mainstream.
The second most important thing Joey Swoll advises is that not all crypto coins are created equal. Some are actually associated with services provided – and thus have more security in their value. Others are only valuable simply because people have had faith behind the brand itself. These could certainly succeed but are also subject to potential volatility.
The perfect example of this is dogecoin. A cryptocurrency that came into existence via a meme. What started off as a joke has become a bonafide cryptocurrency rising in value daily. So much so that Elon Musk put his faith in it. This, of course, skyrocketed the value further.
So what’s Joey Swoll’s opinion on more meme-friendly crypto coins like dogecoin and everyone’s obsession with Elon Musk’s involvement? Is it just overblown hype that will all collapse? Or is there true value worth investing in? Joey Swoll believes that dogecoin will be around for a while though it’s not as much of a guarantee as something like bitcoin.
Joey Swoll impresses how important faith in branding is during the early stages of crypto (or any business really). If people believe in the brand and hold passion or affinity for it – it will make people choose that brand over others. Even if that brand isn’t better or worse than competitors.
The dogecoin brand has been wildly popular due to the doge meme existing for at least a decade prior to the coin’s creation. When Elon Musk publicly announced his faith in dogecoin – that cemented the brand as something that will stick around. Of course, nothing is ever certain and the huge drop after Musk’s SNL appearance might remove steam from the brand.
At the same time, this extreme volatility is expected for speculative markets. In the big picture, strong brands will stick around. So Swoll suggests that those interested shouldn’t fear dogecoin because of the recent drops in value.
Ultimately, Joey Swoll reminds again that all investments should be spent with caution. If you’re not willing to lose the money, or can’t afford to, you shouldn’t make the investment. But he also believes crypto is a safe investment long term. “It’s the future,” Joey Swoll comments. “Everyone should learn about crypto.”
You can watch Joey Swoll’s full comments on all things crypto in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Mike O’Hearn: Untimely Bodybuilding Deaths Are Not A Coincidence. It’s Due To Abuse
Mike O’Hearn talks health in bodybuilding including cheat meals, alcohol, PEDs, and the recent rise of untimely bodybuilder deaths.
Mike O’Hearn is known for being one of the most impressive bodybuilders to be all natural. Depending on who you ask, he’s also notoriously known for lying about his all-natural status. His physique is so impressive, swaths of bodybuilding fans believe he must be lying. Whether you think he’s telling the truth or not – O’Hearn has been consistent in his statements and dedicated his life towards health in bodybuilding.
The core of the bodybuilding lifestyle is focused on healthy changes and meeting fitness goals. But when you look at competitive and pro bodybuilding – things start to get skewed. Debate about the use of PEDs such as steroids is common. Also the mass monster mentality of enormous size is seen as unhealthy compared to the smaller “classic” frames of the 1960s and 1970s.
Not only that, but the past decade has presented us with reports of many tragic untimely deaths of pro bodybuilders. Deaths ranging from ages in the mid 20s through to 50s. Is this just a coincidence with no real connecting cause between them? Or is it due to the lifestyle bodybuilding demands? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Mike O’Hearn discusses health in bodybuilding, death in bodybuilding, and the use of PEDs in the sport.
During our new interview discussion with Mike O’Hearn, we asked if he has any unhealthy habits. Does he occasionally indulge in a cheat meal? Does he drink alcohol? This question might sound slightly silly – but if you know O’Hearn it’s a more pointed question than others might expect.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Mike O’Hearn above!
Mike O’Hearn is known for his incredible dedication to structure and health. He trains at the same time in the morning every single day. He’s stuck on the same diet nearly his entire life. He’s never done steroids (though contested by some bodybuilding fans). Those who know him claim his impressive physique is possible naturally only because of his inhuman dedication to health and fitness.
So does he cheat at all? Whether you believe him or not. The answer is no. He claims that he started bodybuilding at such a young age (around 9 years old) that he never developed an interest or habit for alcohol. He’s never drank. When it comes to cheat meals – he’s not interested either. He essentially never developed those bad habits. He avoided it as a kid – so has no taste for it now.
Mike O’Hearn also goes into more detail as to why he never turned or was even curious about trying steroids as a bodybuilder. He tells a few stories of his older brothers and sisters who were all into strength sports. Some turned towards steroids and he saw how it affected them. His sister, in particular, saw such a personality and physical change after doing steroids that O’Hearn didn’t even recognize her. These moments made him build no interest in the drug at a young age.
O’Hearn doesn’t resent the decisions his siblings and other athletes make. While it’s not for him – he doesn’t want to tell others what to do with heir lives. There are tones of unhealthy things we all do as a society. Some people smoke and still live to be 90. That doesn’t mean it’s healthy – but it does mean some can get away with it. It’s the individual’s choice. O’Hearn respects that.
He does however think that the untimely deaths recently being reported in bodybuilder are likely due to unhealthy choices in bodybuilding. He doesn’t think it’s all a coincidence being spun by media. He thinks it’s due to abuse.
“The power to be the greatest makes you do stuff you don’t want to do,” Mike O’Hearn states in our interview. He’s referring to pro athletes wanting to do whatever possible to rise up and become an iconic champion. He understands that drive. All proactive athletes make these sacrifices to different degrees. Unfortunately, with PEDs it can lead to a slippery slope. It goes from sacrifice into full blown abuse.
Mike O’Hearn admits that he is no doctor or analyst. But he does know enough examples and anecdotes from being in the industry to know that PEDs are being pushed to the point of abuse. He leaves us off with a question. With the internet providing more immediate and free access to information – why does it seem the populous is less educated? He doesn’t have an exact answer. But he thinks that question ties into the more controversial debates on PED usage and deaths over the past decade.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Jose Raymond: If You Can’t Win An Amateur Bodybuilding Show Without Drugs, It’s Not For You
Jose Raymond warns younger bodybuilders to not spend too much money on contest prep before going pro.
In the modern world of bodybuilding, there is a wide variety of substances, equipment, and services all designed to help you become a better bodybuilder. Many of these tactics are legit. But many others are also scams. Either way, Jose Raymond worries that younger bodybuilders are spending too much money in their amateur careers during contest prep. In fact, he believes if a young bodybuilder requires the extra bells and whistles to succeed in a local show – that they are setting themselves up for failure when the competition gets more serious. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Jose Raymond shares tips on how to not spend too much money during contest prep.
Often times when bodybuilding fans and aspiring bodybuilders read magazines or follow iconic pro bodybuilders online – they absorb a lot of really fascinating advice and tips. The problem is – these tips are coming from people at the top of their game. It’s good advice but it might not yet apply to a younger bodybuilder who is still establishing his amateur career. When a person reads up about the supplements, substances, and tactics Big Ramy used to become Mr. Olympia – it would be a mistake for that person to mimic that routine as an amateur.
This is especially true when it comes to contest prep and money. Jose Raymond has publicly warned of this in the past. Yes, bodybuilding can be an expensive lifestyle. But when you are just starting – it doesn’t have to be as expensive as the industry makes it out to be. Jose wants younger bodybuilders to know that they don’t need to spend money on massive sacks of supplements or turn to drugs right away. It’s a waste of money.
So what is Jose Raymond’s rationale behind this advice? The way Jose explains it – amateur bodybuilders need to be able to succeed on a core level in order to really find success as a pro. What he means by this is that if an amateur bodybuilder can’t win a local show without the help of drugs or spending money on fancy tools – they’re going to have a really hard time when they start competing in pro shows.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Jose Raymond above!
Jose Raymond wants to help prevent young bodybuilders from spending tons of money only to hit a wall and give up a few years later. One example are really ambitious bodybuilders who travel across the country to compete in multiple amateur shows in hopes of getting a pro card. That’s fine – if you have the skill to actually succeed. But to spend money on a plane ticket to travel to the Nationals, only to place 10th place and get no prize money, is a waste of the competitors time and money.
“If you place fifth at a local show, do not travel to go do the Nationals,” Jose Raymond states in our interview. His reasoning is – if you can’t win in a smaller local show, there’s no way you’re going to win against the best amateurs in the country. Moreover, if you don’t live near that show, you’re spending money on a plane ticket and the entry fee of the show. It’s wasted money. Wait until you’re ready.
That’s overall the core of Jose Raymond’s advice. When it comes to even supplements – don’t jump into them right away. Find out how your body reacts on plain natural clean foods first. See the limits of your natural body before diving into supplements. Same goes for drugs like steroids (though its should be noted that there are also health and legal risks associated with illegal substances such as PEDs).
You can watch Jose Raymond’s comments in full by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Danny Hester Answers: Are Nick Walker & Hunter Labrada Leading Towards A New Golden Era?
Nick Walker & Hunter Labrada Analysis: Danny Hester gives his thoughts on the new school bodybuilders rising in the ranks.
Danny Hester is a Classic Physique Olympia champion and a competitor who has been in bodybuilding for quite some time. With his years of experience, we wanted to know what his thoughts were of the new school bodybuilders rising up in the pro league. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Danny Hester talks about Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada and what they might mean for the future of pro bodybuilding.
Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada are two young bodybuilders that are gaining a lot of attention as they make waves in pro bodybuilding. Walker in particular just won the New York Pro 2021 to much acclaim. That’s why we turned to Danny Hester to get his thoughts on these new school bodybuilders. Is this all just hype? Or are we witnessing up and coming future legends?
Danny Hester is extremely impressed by both Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada. Interestingly enough, he originally thought it would be a bad idea for Hunter to enter the world of competitive bodybuilding. He felt that the effort and sacrifice required would be wasted on an era that wouldn’t favor the Labrada gene pool. Hester admits he was wrong – as the competition appearances of Hunter have truly impressed him.
In fact, Danny Hester believes (or at least hopes) that this is a sign of a new upswing in bodybuilding. Perhaps the new era rising up will be more iconic after nearly a decade of controversial opinions on the current crop of athletes. Hester is hopeful that social media’s influence is finally reaping what was sown over the past decade. A new generation of people who were inspired by icons on social media are now old enough to compete.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Danny Hester above!
Danny Hester hopes that social media will bring in more talented young bodybuilders. Perhaps athletes like Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada are a product of that very generation. It will be a like a new “boom” of bodybuilders changing the landscape more dramatically than we’ve seen in recent years.
Of course, it’s still early to tell. What is certain is that the past few years have been a transitionary period for the sport. We’ve now had three different Mr. Olympia champions three years in a row. It’s been a while since that has happened compared to seven years straight of domination from Phil Heath.
Eventually, a reigning champion will reveal himself (perhaps it is even Big Ramy). When that happens, the landscape will be very different than it was. New names. New physiques. New icons. It’s an exciting time and we can’t wait to see who sticks around to become top talent.
You can watch Danny Hester’s full comments on the new school era of bodybuilders in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
IFBB Optimum Classic 2021 Results
Optimum Classic 2021 Results: Who became champion in Louisiana?
This weekend held the IFBB Optimum Classic 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The event consisted of Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, and Bikini divisions and also Masters for each category. Continue reading for the full results and score cards!
The IFBB pro bodybuilding season got off to a late start due to continued restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But now as warmer weather approaches and vaccines bringing cases down – the season has been in full swing. A welcome return to normalcy after a disrupted 2020 season.
The Optimum Classic 2021 consisted of both NPC and IFBB events. NPC winners earn qualification for the National Championships later this year. IFBB winners earn points towards their overall ranking and a chance to qualify for the Mr. Olympia 2021.
This competition was a relatively quieter affair after the enormous hype behind both the Indy Pro and New York Pro competitions. But that doesn’t mean that the pro competitors on stage didn’t bring incredible physiques and fight hard for victory.
The official IFBB Optimum Classic 2021 results are in. Check out the full breakdown below.
Optimum Classic 2021 Breakdown
Men’s Physique Results
1. Arya Saffaie2. Rodrigue Chesnier3. Matthew Greggo4. Jahvair Mullings5. Antoine Williams6. Tre Trotter7. Alex Newell8. Roy Williams9. Lamar Vaughn10. Stevelon Dennis11. Jonathan Jimenez12. Ismael Martinez Dominguez13. Jacques Lewis14. Emanual C. Hunter15. Janard Lee16. Absalom Lane16. Antwoine Powers16. Brandon Terry16. Brian Taylor16. Brodee Jarrell16. Clarence McSpadden16. David McGee16. David Sykes16. Derrick Stevenson16. Derryl Bryant16. Diego Garcia16. Dwayne Carlisle16. Evan Kanu16. Gael Cleaophat16. Jamal Everette16. James Youngblood16. Lindon Bond16. Michael Ferguson16. Neal Cash16. Rodney Bond16. Sharif Reid16. Terrell Robertson16. Zach Savoie
Women’s Phyisque Results
1. Ana Harias2. Brooke Walker3. Sheena Washington4. Amy Ramsel5. Victoria Flores6. Lorraine Gonzalez7. Teresa Motta8. Nachol Cravens9. Oksana Piari10. Daphney Carter11. Monica Hornback12. Nikquisa Nunn13. Christine Porter14. Sammica Cash15. Diana Schnaidt16. Jeannea Burritt16. Luciana Esquilin16. Rachel Aronson16. Toni McMurtre16. Towanda Smith16. Yuna Kim
Bikini Results
1. Alessia Facchin2. Sierra Swann3. Christina Heath4. Sonia Lewis5. Chenqi Liu6. Lesley Billups7. Mary Newton8. Vania Auguste9. Cassandra Murphy10. Sara Willis11. Meechka Marcelin12. Stella Roberts13. Elisangela Angell14. Robin Graves15. Amber Foster16. Angela Ruscili16. Dianet Pereda16. Erin Dennis16. Jacki Hansen16. Janea Zavala16. Nicole Johnson16. Shonte Turner
Masters Men’s Physique Results
1. Antoine Williams2. Roy Williams3. Janard Lee4. Gael Cleophat5. Derrick Stevenson6. Michael Ferguson7. Derryl Bryant8. Rodney Bond9. Sharif Reid10. Brandon Terry11. Terrell Robertson12. David Sykes13. Brodee Jarrell14. Absalom Lane15. James Youngblood16. Dwayne Carlisle
Masters Women’s Phyisque Results
1. Ana Harias2. Amy Ramsel3. Victoria Flores4. Lorraine Gonzalez5. Toni McMurtre6. Theresa Motta7. Nachol Cravens8. Monica Hornback9. Nikquisa Nunn10. Oksana Piara11. Daphney Carter12. Christine Porter13. Sammica Cash14. Jeannea Burritt15. Rachal Aronson16. Luciana Esquilin
Masters Bikini Results
1. Sara Willis2. Jacki Hansen3. Shonte Turner4. Stella Roberts5. Nicole Johnson6. Ronin Graves7. Elisangela Angell8. Angela Ruscili9. Dianet Pereda10. Janea Zavala
Official Optimum Classic 2021 Scorecards
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!