Tag: GI News
Dennis Wolf Speaks On Men’s Open vs. Classic, Bodybuilders Dying: ‘It’s Always Been This Way’
Dennis Wolf joined Jay Cutler to discuss the recent ongoings in bodybuilding.
Dennis Wolf was a popular name in bodybuilding during his time on stage. He competed in the Olympia competition 10 times and brought an incredible package year in and year out. He remains up to date and influential in bodybuilding. Recently, Wolf joined Jay Cutler to discuss some of the recent ongoings in the sport.
Wolf was able to win the 2014 Arnold Classic before a fourth-place finish at the Olympia. Of course, Cutler is one of the top bodybuilders of all-time, having won the Olympia four times throughout his career. On a recent episode of Cutler Cast on YouTube, the duo sat down to discuss different topics in bodybuilding.
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Dennis Wolf on Recent Deaths: ‘It’s Happened Too Much’
The string of bodybuilders dying has hit the sport hard in recent months. This has been happening since the end of 2021 when Shawn Rhoden and George Peterson passed away suddenly. Wolf weighed in on the discussion and acknowledged that it has been happening far too often.
“There’s so many sports right. But nobody talks about what happened in the last two years. Nobody talks about how many soccer players died. They were in their 20s! Nobody is pointing at anything. It’s always been this way. Of course, the past few years, it’s happened too much.”
Bostin Loyd also passed away with heart problems. Cedric McMillan’s death really hit the bodybuilding community hard. Wolf specifically discussed a friend of his, Paul Poloczek.
“Unfortunately, even my good friend and athlete died a couple of weeks ago. Paul Poloczek. He was young man. Just 37 years old. Polish. We’ve been working together. I’m friends with a lot of my athletes. We became friends and we’ve been talking about his next surgery because the last one didn’t go well.”
Men’s Open Bodybuilding vs. Classic Physique?
The Classic Physique division is one that continues to grow in popularity year by year. The stars that compete on stage are becoming some of the biggest figures in the sport. This includes reigning three-time Olympia champion Chris Bumstead. Many have spoken about Classic Physique being a healthier alternative and that it might be taking over the sport, one being Arnold Schwarzenegger.
It is not just Bumstead that is carrying the division. Terrence Ruffin and Breon Ansley are still at the top of their game. Newcomers Ramon Rocha Queiroz and Urs Kalecinski have also shown that they are here to stay.
“It could change every year or something. Even the Olympia, it’s not like the top-five is going to stay the same. It’s not like back in the day where the top two or three guys are always fighting for the first place. Somehow the top five and top six didn’t change much right, in ten years. Right, in ten years, straight competing at the Olympia every year, I was in the top six right. So, it’s almost every time the same guys.”
Dennis Wolf continued to discuss Men’s Open at the Olympia. Big Ramy is the reigning two-time champion but it is anyone’s game heading into the competition. Wolf believes it will be who shows up with the best conditioning.
This was a controversial topic last year as many thought that Hadi Choopan was the best conditioned.
“Who brings the best condition. I mean they are all potential winners but I think Hadi Choopan is… yeah from all of these guys, who could really bring it.
If Ramy comes in better than last year, he will be one of the favorites because it’s still bodybuilding. He’s big.”
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Vince McMahon Steps Down As WWE CEO, Chairman Amid Investigation Into Alleged $3M Payoff To Former Employee
Vince McMahon has stepped aside one day after WWE board opens inquiry about alleged $3 million hush payment.
Vince McMahon has stepped aside as CEO and chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment after an investigation into an alleged hush money payment to a former employee. The report says that McMahon paid this employee $3 million over an alleged affair.
McMahon is cooperating with the inquiry and the WWE says he will “retain his role and responsibilities related to WWE’s creative content.” Stephanie McMahon will take over as the interim CEO and chairwoman.
“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are,” Vince McMahon said in a statement.
A special committee of WWE’s board has begun an investigation into McMahon. the investigation is into money that was paid to a former employee that McMahon allegedly had an affair with. According to The Wall Street Journal, this agreement from January prevented the employee “from discussing her relationship with Mr. McMahon or disparaging him.”
The WWE released a statement saying:
“Special Committee of the Board is conducting an investigation into alleged misconduct by its Chairman and CEO Vincent McMahon and John Laurinaitis, head of talent relations, and that, effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation.”
The company is taking these allegations “very seriously” and will work with an independent legal service to help with the review. A third party will also “conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s compliance program, HR function and overall culture.”
WWE said there is no other comment expected until the investigation is complete. Vince McMahon bought this company from his father, Vincent J. McMahon, back in 1982. Since then, he has built the WWE into a powerhouse and has helped create superstars such as The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
WWE is a publicly traded company where McMahon holds a majority of shareholders’ voting power. Shares have risen more than 30% year to date but did slide 4% before the opening bell on Friday.
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2022 Monsterzym Pro Preview: Is Seung Chul Lee Headed Back To The Olympia?
The 2022 Monsterzym Pro will take place over the weekend!
The bodybuilding season is well underway. We are officially midway through the month of June and there are many events happening this weekend. In San Juan, the 2022 Puerto Rico Pro will take place but there will also be action in a different part of the world. The 2022 Monsterzym Pro will take place in Paradise City, South Korea with five divisions fighting for a shot in the Olympia.
The Men’s Open division will headline the event and there are some key competitors preparing to take the stage, including Seung Chul Lee. He won this competition back in 2020 and is looking to return to the biggest stage. Below, you can find a full list of competitors, along with some of the favorites to take home the Men’s Open title.
2022 Monsterzym Pro: Men’s Open Roster
Mohammad Alnsoor
Sibusio Kotelo
Jinho Lee
Seung Chul Lee
Diogo Nunes
Hwang Shin
Jang Sung Yong
Seung Chul Lee
Seung Chul Lee is the reigning champion of this event since the 2021 show did not have a Men’s Open competition. It is fair to say that he is once against the favorite heading into the weekend. He has not competed since the 2021 Arnold Classic, where he was the 10th place finisher. Chul Lee is looking to return to the Olympia for the first time since 2020. He finished 12th that year. If Chul Lee shows up in his best shape, he will likely repeat as champion.
Jang Sung Yong
Jang Sung Yong finished third at this event back in 2020. This was the last time he stepped on stage meaning that he has had plenty of time to develop his physique. In 2020, he came in a bit smaller than other competitors so it will be interesting to see the improvements that he has made. He already featured great symmetry. Sung Yong has the experience in this event and could be a dark-horse competitor over the weekend.
Mohammad Alnsoor
Can Mohammad Alnsoor take the next step in South Korea? He finished seventh at the Europa Pro last year and this put his name on the map a bit. Alnsoor has an aesthetically pleasing physique because of the definition in his back. Alnsoor is another dark-horse that can potentially make some noise if he shows up in his best shape.
Classic Physique
Sung Jin-Kang
Chang Keun Kim
Sung Kyu Kim
Yongseung Lee
Jaehun Park
Seonghun Park
Dong O Ryu
Juseong Seo
In Seong You
Norbert Zaker-Balogh
Men’s Physique
JuXian He
Jeong Hyeon Jo
Minsu Kim
Young Guy Kim
Ilya Kvashnin
Gun Seung Lee
Ajith Raja
Bikini
Soo-Hyun Bae
Sara Choi
Yuna Kang
Mina Kim
Tae Rin Kim
Ji Ban Park
Wellness
Dohee Kim
Hye Yoon Kim
Hannah Son
Min Ju Yoon
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
PNBA Natural Bodybuilder Kayla Rowling: How To Decide Between Flexible Dieting & A Strict Meal Plan
PNBA Pro Bikini Diva competitor Kayla Rowling on why she chooses natural bodybuilding and how she handles diet plan.
On June 25, 2022 – the INBA/PNBA World Championships is being held in Florence, Italy. It’s one of the larger competitions in the natural bodybuilding league giving amateurs a chance to go pro and also pro athletes a chance to qualify for the Natural Olympia later this year. Pro Bikini Diva competitor Kayla Rowling is one such athlete looking to earn qualification. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Kayla Rowling explains her strict diet plan as she preps for the World Championships.
In just under two weeks, Kayla Rowling will be competing against some of the best in the world for qualification to the Natural Olympia. That’s why we connected via video call to check in on Rowling’s contest prep and look back at her bodybuilding origins and why she chose to go all-natural.
Kayla Rowling started competing in 2018 – but her fitness journey came much sooner. With an initial interest in cheerleading – she would work with a trainer to help improve her routines. She clearly had talent and so her trainer suggested she consider competitive bodybuilding in the Bikini division. Rowling was initially unsure – but she decided to check out a show. Her first thought – she could do this and she could do it better than many she was seeing on stage.
This started Kayla Rowling’s journey into bodybuilding. She went through many trainers to find the perfect one – and eventually landed in the INBA/PNBA natural bodybuilding league. She now looks towards the World Championships in Florence, Italy to push towards qualifying and hopefully winning the Natural Olympia.
Why Kayla Rowling Chose Natural Bodybuilding
But how did Kayla Rowling end up choosing the all-natural tested league path? There are many untested leagues, such as the IFBB, that bring in immense popularity. For Rowling, it was about the longevity of her career and her health.
“I really value longevity. And i could just see myself becoming obsessed but not in a good way if I were to take any enhancements. Because I know that’s not sustainable long term. And I personally don’t want to look like that all of the time.”
Beyond longevity – Kayla brings up an interesting point. As an athlete, she has a competition in her to succeed. She understands enough about her own competitive nature to realize that an untested league would lead her to pushing PEDs too far in order to be on top.
This, of course, matches current discourse in the larger bodybuilding conversation regarding recent untimely deaths in the sport. Many on the inside of the sport are claiming that the doses and power of PEDs are becoming stronger – and that young athletes are taking more PEDs than ever before. Kayla Rowling avoided this issue all together by focusing on a tested league to keep her own ambitions in check.
Strict Dieting vs Flexible Dieting
Kayla Rowling also goes into detail about her diet plan mentality and how she works with her coach to improve year after year. For Rowling, she focuses on an extremely strict daily diet that only changes to accommodate for optimizations to her physique. Essentially, Rowling relies 100% on her coach to give her a meal plan and she sticks to it without deviation. Her meals are rather repetitive. But much like Jay Cutler, she prefers to focus on the results rather than the joy of eating food.
This is in stark contrast to another approach that Rowling calls flexible dieting. In this method, a bodybuilder would focus on always ensuring they hit their macros – but mixing up their meal within those limits. This helps make eating less repetitive. For some, taking the variety out of food makes it harder to stick to a diet. So flexible dieting helps stay on point.
Kayla Rowling, on the other hand, can’t allow herself to be flexible. She prefers regimented meals like military drills. This is what works for her – and she thinks the biggest struggle for new Bikini Diva athletes is figuring out which style of dieting works best for success on a personal basis.
Wrap Up
Kayla Rowling goes into much more detail about he bodybuilding origins, her training and diet routines, and her life as a natural competitor. You can watch her full interview in our GI Exclusive above. You can also make sure to catch our coverage of the INBA/PNBA World Championships on June 25th, 2022. Stay tuned!
Dorian Yates Reflects On DMT Experience: ‘I Was Able To See Through The Machine Of Reality’
Dorian Yates admits that his psychedelic experience on DMT was “life-changing.”
Dorian Yates is a pioneer in bodybuilding for creating a new meaning for the term “mass monster.” Today, there is size all over Men’s Open but Yates was one of the first to bring that different level of size and conditioning. He remains influential in the sport but recently shared a post on social media in a different avenue. Yates explained his “life-changing” experiences while using Dimethyltryptamine.
Yates decided to share what he felt, along with a picture of a picture of his intense back tattoo. In a recent Instagram post, Yates explained his psychedelic experiences while on DMT. He claims that he has “a new perspective on life.”
“My first time taking DMT gave me a new perspective on life.
I felt like I had all the answers, that there was nothing to stress about.
That there was no death, no end and no beginning, that life is just a game that we’re all playing.”
Dorian Yates continued in his caption discussing how this experience changed his views on life and what he saw during this time.
“No need to take it so seriously.
I was able to see through the machine of reality.
It’s like seeing through a computer’s code and you see all these numbers.
I saw numbers and geometric shapes, like I was seeing the construct of what’s behind our reality.
Psychedelics can be powerful, life changing medicines but of course, must be taken under supervision.”
Dorian Yates: The Original Mass Monster
Dorian Yates was the topic of the Generation Iron film Dorian Yates: The Original Mass Monster. He was able to achieve the highest level of success during his time on the bodybuilding stage because of this mass.
There are only four competitors ahead of Yates when discussing the most Olympia victories of all-time. He was able to win six consecutive titles from 1992-1997 and completely dominate the sport. While the entire package was elite, Yates became known for his massive back at his peak.
What we have seen from this Instagram post is that Dorian Yates is enjoying his retirement in many ways. He has taken on psychedelics and believes that they can be used to clear your mind and give a new outlook on life.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Gets Huge Pump On Arm Day Ahead Of 75th Birthday
Arnold Schwarzenegger is still focused on his fitness at 74 years old.
When you build a reputation as the best bodybuilder of all-time, there are standards to keep up. Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing just that at 74 years old. Since his days on stage, Schwarzenegger has been successful in many avenues but he has always been dedicated to fitness. Recently, Schwarzenegger shared a workout post to social media showing off an arm day.
Schwarzenegger was preparing to speak about climate change at the Austrian World Summit. Before taking the stage to speak, the bodybuilding legend was able to get a lift in.
“Getting pumped earlier for today’s Austrian World Summit. Tune in at 3:30 AM EST – 30 minutes!”
Getting pumped earlier for today’s Austrian World Summit. Tune in at 3:30 AM EST – 30 minutes! https://t.co/COmUb2AFn8 pic.twitter.com/l15yC2FiB6
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) June 14, 2022
Arnold Schwarzenegger does not post gym photos often. This was a rare occasion where he took to Twitter to share a picture while training. Despite not sharing to social media much while in the gym, it is clear that Schwarzenegger has been able to keep up with his fitness regularly.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Diet Plan
Arnold Schwarzenegger came over from Austria and completely changed bodybuilding. He completely dominated the sport for years using his massive physique and intense workout programs. Schwarzenegger is a seven-time Olympia champion, which is tied for second most all-time.
In 1980, Schwarzenegger returned to the biggest show of the year following some time off. This showed that he was able to keep himself in championship shape even off the stage. Ahead of his 75th birthday, Schwarzenegger has shown that he is still in great shape.
In February, Arnold Schwarzenegger claimed to be on an 80% plant-based diet. This is something he claims to be on for the past five years. While he continues to eat some meat, Schwarzenegger was interested in improving his overall health. Obviously, this is not a diet that Schwarzenegger followed during his time on stage given the fact that he had to build an elite physique.
It does not look like Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to stop working out anytime soon. Despite being involved in many other projects over the years, the bodybuilder still wants to keep his legendary physique in shape.
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Classic Physique Competitor Marcello De Angelis Hospitalized With Illness
Marcello De Angelis has lost a significant amount of weight from this illness.
Classic Physique star Marcello De Angelis has been hospitalized with an illness. He shared the news on his Instagram story on Wednesday. The specific illness has not been disclosed but De Angelis is dealing with severe dehydration.
De Angelis was expecting to appear on stage later this month with hopes of earning qualification to the 2022 Olympia in December. He shared that he has lost about nine kilos and is not in his best shape where it stands now. De Angelis has been unable to eat or drink because of this illness.
De Angelis made a statement on his Instagram story in Portuguese, along with sharing a picture of his hospital bracelet.
“Everything will be as God wants it to be. I’m going to rest and take saline until the dehydration stops. When I’m okay, I’ll post it here. Thanks for everyone’s concern.”
The Career of Marcello De Angelis
Marcello De Angelis earned his Pro Card last year in Open bodybuilding. Since then, he has made the switch to Classic Physique and had high hopes heading into this season. De Angelis features an aesthetically pleasing physique on stage.
Despite his age, De Angelis has a long history of success on stage. He is a former Mr. Universe champion, Panamericano champion, 2x Sulamericano champion, 4x Brasileiro overall champion, and 2x Paulista champion.
When Marcello De Angelis is able to take the stage, there is no doubt that he will take some noise in Classic Physique. Generation Iron wishes a fast recovery for De Angelis.
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Fitness Star Attempted To Eat Strongman Diets Of Eddie Hall And Brian Shaw
Aseel Soueid has tried different diets and workouts but never attempted one like this from strongman athletes Eddie Hall and Brian Shaw.
The athletes who compete in strongman have displayed their super-human strength for years and years. Many might not know the details of the insane meals that they eat on a daily basis to remain in shape to move massive amounts of weight. These might not be normal meals for some but YouTube and Fitness star Aseel Soueid decided to eat like a strongman for a day.
Soueid followed a video that Brian Shaw and Eddie Hall made on a daily meal plan when they are training. It was clear early on that Soueid was going to have his hands full over the course of the day.
“It’s literally like doing an eating challenge everyday of our lives,” Brian Shaw said.
Eddie Hall and Brian Shaw Diet
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Breakfast
Brian Shaw shared what a breakfast might look like for him on a daily basis.
6-8 whole eggs
3-4 cups rice
Spinach blended with orange juice
“It’s tangy. I’m not sure if you can see but it’s also really foamy. It’s not bad but it’s not good either. By the way, I’m pretty sure he takes like the entire carton,” Soueid said.
Pre-Workout Meal
There was a bit of a shakeup in the dessert portion of Eddie Hall’s pre-workout meal. Soueid explained how he could not have cheesecake because he is allergic to gluten and has Type 1 diabetes. Instead, he substituted the cheesecake with gluten-free vanilla cupcakes.
12-16 ounces ribeye steak
300 grams pasta
200 grams vegetables
1/2 family-see cheesecake
“Apparently all the strongman have a thing with ribeye steak. They eat ribeye steak because it’s super fatty. Obviously easy to get the calories in. The fatter the better. Just like exact opposite of us normal people looking for food.”
Post-Workout Meal
Aseel Soueid hits the gym after his first meal of steak and pasta. He attempts to throw in some strongman workouts into the mix but did not last through an entire routine. Once he returns home, Soueid follows Hall’s post-workout meal.
Half a kilo ribeye steak
Half a kilo carbs (pasta and rice)
Other half family-size cheesecake
“Who in the world has rice and pasta in one meal? That should literally be illegal.”
Final Meal
The final meal of the day is right before bed where Hall would make a massive protein shake and have “a couple” protein bars. Soueid takes a variety pack of three and washes it down with a huge protein shake.
“It is ridiculous. I can’t believe they can eat like this on a daily basis.”
“They all made complete body transformations but I respect the dedication and passion that they have toward the strongman sport.”
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Paralyzed Bodybuilder Shares Story Following World Championship Victory: ‘I Just Woke Up Like This’
Macethantile “Max” Kulati is the first wheelchair bodybuilder in South Africa and is thriving.
Nearly two weeks ago, Macethantile Kulati, better known as Max, was crowned World Champion after representing South Africa during the 2022 World IFBB Championship. Kulati has found great success in bodybuilding despite being paralyzed from the waist down. Recently, the bodybuilder shared his story and his journey to where he is today.
Kulati began as a powerlifter and is not the only wheelchair-bound professional bodybuilder in the continent. He hails from Moeggesukkel in Eastern Cape and has been able to overcome all obstacles. There have been times where Kulati has been denied a cab because some drivers believed that it was too difficult to get him into the car.
This is all because of one morning when Kulati woke up and could not feel his legs.
“I just woke up like this; that was back in 2014,” Kulati said according to News 24.
“It came as such a shock to me. I just wanted to pull the covers over my head and not get up. I didn’t even want the door to be opened and for the light to find its way inside, but one day, I realised that I needed to work on myself because crying wouldn’t help.”
The Journey of Max Kulati
Max Kulati explained that the paralysis was due to a growth on his spine. Doctors operated on his spine to remove fluid but they believed that Kulati would be paralyzed permanently.
According to Kulati, this is not the end as he can do things like wiggle his toes.
“I can move my legs now. I can wiggle my toes too and can even feel when a fly is sitting on my legs, that’s how much sensation I have. I just can’t walk because my abdominal muscles are still dead.”
Kulati believes that he can walk again if he was given the necessary medical support. He specifically mentioned Aurora Special Care Centre.
“The best thing for me to learn to walk again is to be inside a swimming pool. Water exercise does wonders for the body, especially the abdominal muscles. If only I had a way of using a swimming pool and someone to help me, I know that I’ll be able to walk again.”
Despite the difficulties, Max Kulati is going to continue to compete on stage and train as a bodybuilder. He will serve as an inspiration to those in the same position or anyone who believes they are not meant to do something.
“I’ll be participating in a competition again soon and might compete abroad again. Team Max has been helping me by doing fundraisers so that I could travel to competitions. I am grateful that there are people standing behind me every step of the way.”
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19-Year-Old Max Shethar Sets World Record In 18-19 Teen Division With Insane 804.7-Pound Deadlift
Max Shethar is reaching new limits at a very young age, setting up what could be a successful career.
Max Shethar has been pushing major boundaries in powerlifting at just 19 years old. On Saturday, he continued to open many eyes with his performance. This included an insane world record in the 18-19 teen division with a 365kg (804.7lb) deadlift.
Shethar past his own record of 350kg (771.7lb), which he set at the 2021 USPA Ragnarok Invite II. He competed in the 140kg weight class at the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association Matt Hurley Drug Tested Memorial Meet. This was the seventh sanctioned competition of Shethar’s career and has won each event.
“804lbs/365kg Deadlift, 33lbs PR at 19 years old for the heaviest Raw Deadlift ever done by a teenager in competition to cap off a 2000lbs sleeved total ? at the Matt Hurley Drug Tested Memorial Meet”
Max Shethar is used to pulling massive amounts of weight in competition. In 2019, at age 17, he became the youngest competition to deadlift 327.5kg (722lb) in competition. He continues to push the limits in the gym and this has raised his deadlift into the stratosphere.
Not only did Shethar reach a new level of deadlift, he set a record with his total weight as well. Shethar totaled 907.2kg (2,000lb), which eclipsed the previous record of 882.5kg (1,945.6lb). Brandon Derrick set this mark during the 2020 USAPL Missouri River Open.
Max Shethar also set competition PRs in bench press and squat during the competition. On the bench, Shethar was able to reach 457 pounds. In a recent Instagram video, Shethar explained that this was the hardest progress for him to reach. On the squat rack, Shethar accomplished a 738-pound lift.
Max Shethar History
Despite being just 19 years old, Max Shethar has a long history of massive lifts and championships. Below, check out his full competition history listing all seven of his victories.
2017 USAPL Washington State Championships – First place
2018 USAPL Washington State Championships – First place
2018 USAPL Raw Nationals – First place
2019 USPA Drug Tested Washington State Open – First place
2021 USPA Ragnarok Invite II – First place
2022 Big Iron Classic State Championships – First place
2022 USPA Matt Hurley Drug Tested Memorial Meet – First place
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