Tag: GI News
Brandon Curry Has ‘Zero Regrets’ After Second-Place Finish At Olympia
Former champion Brandon Curry made a statement after finishing second at this year’s Olympia.
It has not been too long since Brandon Curry was hoisting the trophy in the air after winning the 2019 Olympia. He reached the pinnacle of bodybuilding and was looking to stay at the top. While he has been one of the best in the sport since that night, Curry has been defeated two years in a row now.
In 2020, Curry finished second to Big Ramy at the Olympia. The 2021 competition is now complete and it was the same fate for Curry. During prejudging, it was clear that Curry and Big Ramy were the top two and it would make for an interesting battle come the final.
After a second-straight silver medal, Curry took to Instagram to make a statement and say that he will be back better than ever.
“2021 was another one for the history books!I gave it my best and managed to pull off a 2nd place battle against the current champ @big_ramy. Congrats to him on his performance and for retaining his title! I fell short according to the judges, but I have zero regrets because I did my absolute best and the rest was in their hands.To be in the top 2 in the world for 3 consecutive years is my historical moment for the year. Each year I find something significant in the outcome and that was that moment for me.”
Brandon Curry took the necessary time to thank his family, friends, sponsors, and trainers. He made sure to hit all ends that work with him during his journey to the Olympia. And of course, Curry promised to be back in the future.
This is not surprising given the string of success he has found. Curry has been a top-two finisher in each of the last three Olympia’s. There is no doubt that he is one of the best in the world but the judges have been leaning toward Big Ramy over the last two years.
“Time to come home and kick things up a notch!” Curry continued.
“Thank you to all of my fans around the world-I truly have the greatest fans in the world!And thank you to my family and friends for the encouragement along the way. It carried me further than you may realize….And to my kids for understanding why I’m away for months at a time and showing up to cheer for me…every victory I have is your victory too! And to those who helped my wife and children while I was away. I thank you. #ILLBEBACK #15 ??”
Brandon Curry made his first appearance at the Olympia in 2013, where he finished eighth. After a few finishes near the bottom, Curry climbed to top five in 2018. This was before he won both the Olympia and Arnold Classic in 2019. Now, Curry has solidified his legacy and has shown that he is a difficult competitor on stage.
Sights have already been set on the 2022 competition. There is no doubt that we will see Curry if all goes right and he could be competing for another title.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Anabolic Doc: The Truth About Sex Problems Post-Steroids
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The Anabolic Doc doesn’t mince words when it comes to sexual problems after coming off steroids.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, also known as the Anabolic Doc, has dedicated his life to working with strength athletes and bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids. He’s been very clear about the dangers these drugs hold but has also provided an empathetic viewpoint as to why athletes turn to PEDs in the first place. Beyond serious health concerns of long term steroids use – the Anabolic Doc went into detail about the realities behind sexual performance and steroids. What is true? What is a myth? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc gets real about what happens to your sex life after coming off steroids.
Beyond roid rage, the second most overplayed stereotype about steroids is enhanced sexual performance. It makes sense – blast your body with testosterone and give your private parts a boost. But just how true are these claims and how much is fiction? We turned to Dr. Thomas O’Connor – aka the Anabolic Doc – for answers.
First things first, the Anabolic Doc makes it clear that increased sexual performance is 100% a side effect from using steroids. In many ways, this is an additional appeal to using these drugs. Beyond the improved athletic performance and muscle building – private life between the sheets sees a dramatic boost in “energy.” That being said, there is also a downside – it just might not rear its ugly head until many years down the line.
As with many things in long term steroid use – over time health complications begin to arise. This is even more true when coming off steroid use permanently after decades of cycles. It’s well documented that long term steroid use will lead to a permanent decrease in testosterone within your body. This can affect many things. It can make you feel depressed. It can make you feel weak and lethargic. It can also diminish your sex drive and performance.
But for those who think it’s not that big of a deal – the Anabolic Doc has some grave news for you. Without treatment such as Testosterone Replacement Therapy, it’s almost guaranteed that your future sex performance will dry up after coming off steroids. The Anabolic Doc has often talked about the “suffering” of steroid users during older age. This isn’t just medical pain and suffering – it’s also psychological.
The Anabolic Doc receives many patience who are mentally suffering due to a diminished sex life and worsening sex performance. We’re not talking about 80 year olds here. We’re talking 50 year old men who should still be able to function well enough. But due to low levels of testosterone production from steroid use – their “ability” falls apart.
Even worse, this can happen at a much younger age as well. If a person goes through multiple cycles of steroids – when they are off cycle, their sexual performance will be diminished as well. The Anabolic Doc specifically states many men in their 20’s who can’t date women whenever they are off cycle. When they come back on steroids – everything works fantastic. But at such a young age – without the continued use of these drugs – they become lame ducks.
“You’re going to come off this shit and you’re going to crash like a lead balloon,” Dr. O’Connor states in our interview. He then goes on, “And you’re going to be with a girl and if you’re 20 or 23 or 27 and you can’t date… that’s the new thing now… the new lexicon. It’s ‘can’t date.’”
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments on steroid use and sexual performance in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Chuck Liddell Arrested On Domestic Violence Charge
Former UFC champion Chuck Liddell was arrested on charges of domestic battery, claims he was the victim.
UFC Hall-of-Famer Chuck Liddell was arrested on Monday morning in Hidden Hills, CA around midnight on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.
Lost Hills officers responded to a call regarding a family disturbance that involved a physical altercation between Liddell and his wife. He was taken to the Lost Hills Sheriff Station where his bail was set at $20,000. Liddell was released on Monday morning at 10 A.M. local time.
On Monday, Liddell released a statement on Instagram claiming that he was the victim. Liddell says he sustained bruises and lacerations following the incident.
“Last night the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies who responded were professional. While the information about the case will be revealed in due course, I believe it is important to convey and clarify a few facts about the situation,” Chuck liddell wrote.
“I was the victim of the incident last night at our family home, as details of the case will reveal. The deputies informed me that my wife would be arrested, as I did not respond to her assault while I sustained bruising and lacerations. I volunteered to go in her place.
This was one of the Manu times I have tried to shield a family mental health issue from the public purview. It has become painfully apparent that this cannot continue, as our private life has not reached a public breaking point. Please respect our privacy as I help to navigate our family through this difficult time.”
Chuck Liddell claims that the details of this incident will be revealed in due time. He has a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Van Nuys, CA.
Liddell was one of the early stars of UFC during its takeoff and is one of the highest pay-per-view draws in history. He headlined 13 events and last fought in 2010. Liddell is the former light-heavyweight champion who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2009.
This is an ongoing story that will have more information released as time goes on. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Makes Call To Action To Stop Deaths In Bodybuilding
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been vocal about making improvements to bodybuilding to prevent deaths.
Over the last few months, there has been an increase in deaths in the sport of bodybuilding. This is something that many have spoken out about and that includes the best bodybuilding of all-time Arnold Schwarzenegger.
During the 2021 Arnold Classic, Schwarzenegger stated on the broadcast that he believes Classic Physique is the future of bodybuilding. This is because of the preparation being different. Now, Schwarzenegger made a recent call to action in his newsletter.
“You would think that the head trauma from MMA and football would outweigh the organ failure in bodybuilding, but bodybuilding is much, much worse. We need to fix that, because bodybuilding should be about promoting health and fitness. I don’t know if the answer is more testing or promoting the smaller divisions more. What do you guys think?”
Arnold Schwarzenegger calls for more testing in bodybuilding or the promoting of smaller divisions. Right now, Men’s Open is the pinnacle of the sport where competitors have to show great size and conditioning. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay is coming off a victory at the 2021 Olympia. Prior to the competition, there was some devastating news.
George Peterson passed away tragically in Orlando just days before the Olympia. Peterson was in town preparing to compete in the Men’s 212 division. Peterson’s death came after a recent string that has hit the bodybuilding world.
Ronnie Coleman made comments in September that lineup with those of Schwarzenegger. He believes that diuretics should be banned from the sport because of the danger that they bring. Coleman referenced a time where he nearly lost his life because of the use of diuretics.
“In the past 10 years, bodybuilding lost more competitors (14!) to early deaths than any other sport, including MMA and football. In fact, most football players that die from CTE problems die much older than bodybuilders, and with the exception of a tragedy this week, MMA fighters die at a much lower rate than bodybuilders,” Arnold Schwarzenegger continued in his newsletter.
The Mr. America competition is one with a great history dating back to 1939. To this day, competitors are still being drug tested before the event. This is an all-natural event that took place from Oct. 8-10. This is something that Schwarzenegger believes would benefit the sport of bodybuilding as a whole moving forward.
This is not an easy solution so it is hard to say what the perfect fix is. There is no quick-fix option for the sport. The popularity of bodybuilding continues to grow around the world but this recent string of deaths has caused some concern. The risks of some supplements and products are well-documented but athletes have been vying for victories and this is the reason they are being used.
This is not the first time that Arnold Schwarzenegger has spoken out about this issue. It does not seem like it will be the last either. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if any big changes are made to bodybuilding.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
‘Sandow Is Home’: Big Ramy Says He Will Retain Olympia Title For Years To Come
Big Ramy confirmed that he will defend his title for years to come in recent Instagram post.
Entering the 2021 Olympia, there was a belief that no one could take down defending champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. On Saturday night, that was made clear as Big Ramy took home his second-straight title on the biggest stage in bodybuilding. Now, the Egyptian bodybuilder will focus on the upcoming years.
Big Ramy took to Instagram over the past couple of days to celebrate his victory at the 2021 Olympia. Most recently, he posted to say that he will be defending his title for years to come.
“Sandow is home and it will remain here for a very long time ، Thank you to all my fans around the world ، i made it because of your love and support.”
Can anyone take down Big Ramy at his peak? He entered the 2021 Olympia weighing in at 305 pounds, as said by a scale during the Olympia press conference. He is a mass monster that has retained an incredible physique at an enormous size. This is difficult to take down on stage but there are plenty of competitors that can compete.
Brandon Curry, who is a former Olympia champion, was the clear No. 2 behind Elssbiay at this year’s competition. He ended up taking second place while Hadi Choopan finished with the bronze medal. Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada rounded out the top five.
Competitors like Walker and Labrada are thought to be the future of bodybuilding because of their age and success to this point. With that being said, Big Ramy is not done defending his title and he believes that he can keep it for the upcoming competitions.
Big Ramy competed in his first Olympia in 2013 where he finished in eighth place. He climbed to second by 2017 but quickly fell to sixth place the very next year. Since then, Big Ramy has been at the top of the sport and has shown that during the Olympias.
The Men’s Open division is considered the top of the game and it is clear who the name to beat is. Big Ramy has claimed that winter is here and that has certainly been the case over the previous two years. If he stays at the top of his game, Big Ramy will be difficult to defeat anytime soon.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Chef Rush Reveals The Reality Behind Racism & Death Threats Online
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Chef Rush opens up about his PTSD and dangerous comments he has received online.
This past week, Facebook has been on blast after a whistleblower revealed the alleged dangerous tactics behind the company. Namely, that the company cares more about profits than huma beings – and purposefully allows toxic behavior to continue and is even sometimes pushed by their algorithms. Toxicity online is something nearly all people are aware of – especially those with large followings. Chef Rush is a viral bodybuilder who has faced some of the worst of it. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Chef Rush opens up about death threats and racist comments he’s received online.
Chef Rush is best known as the “Bodybuilding White House Chef.” He went viral upon photos released online showing his jacked physique while working at the White House. Since then, Rush has used that momentum to spread awareness about veteran PTSD and start his own businesses. As such, he’s become a bit of an online celebrity with a massive following.
As with most people in the spotlight, having a following often means receiving mass criticism as well. Often times, influencers and celebs simply ignore the comments. But we are all human – and people’s words, no matter how anonymous, can do damage. Then there’s the step above that – when online users take the next step to make direct attacks on influencers and iconic figures. This can be done through direct messages, death threats, racist comments – and also all bolstered by programmed bots to flood online pages with hate.
Chef Rush has experienced these kinds of attacks. In general, he tries to keep an open and positive mind about the internet. He understands that many toxic comments online are simply anonymous individuals looking for likes, clicks, and attention. But in a certain specific moment, Rush started to feel unsafe for himself and his family.
This moment came out of a strange extrapolation of an online post. Chef Rush made a comment about how much sleep he gets at night. He talked about getting very little (he states it was about 4 hours at the time). Somehow, this comment became so controversial that an online user programmed bots against him.
At this point Chef Rush would not even care. He knew that the swarm of comments were not real people. The problem came not due to the bot attack in and of itself – it was what they were saying. A comment about how much sleep to get suddenly turned into a swarm of comments throwing racial slurs on Rush’s posts. Not only that – but he was receiving death threats.
The barrage was so constant and cruel – that Chef Rush started to worry about his safety and the safety of his family. Posting your personal life as a viral influencer can open you up to online sleuths determining where you might physically be located – where you live, where you are on a trip, etc. What if this online hate turned into something in the real world?
That’s why Chef Rush did what he normally doesn’t do – he responded to the comments. He made it clear that if any single person were to approach him aggressively in public, he would take matters into his own hands. He kept it vague – but the implications were clear. If he felt that himself or his family were threatened in person, he would fight back.
Eventually the entire situation blew over. But the experience revealed just how out of control attention on social media can become. A comment about sleep turned into racism and death threats. It’s a level of extremism that seems propelled by the instant gratification and anonymity of social media.
You can watch Chef Rush’s full comments about the entire experience in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mr. Olympia 2021 Results For All Divisions
Mr. Olympia 2021: The Complete Results.
The Olympia is the biggest event of the year and it is one that never disappoints. This year, the best in the world gathered to Orlando to put on a memorable show over the course of the weekend.
The full results have been announced and it was highlighted by the Men’s Open division.
This year still had some issues carried over related to COVID-19 but it went much smoother this time around. The Men’s Open division saw some shake ups this year with different competitors being in and out. Nathan De Asha had to pull out of the competition because of travel issues while seven-time champion Phil Heath decided not to participate.
Despite some missing links, the division was as strong as ever led by reigning champion, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. During the prejudging, there was a clear top three with Big Ramy and second-place finisher in 2020 Brandon Curry. This included Hadi Choopan, who was fourth a year ago.
The Men’s Open competitors took the stage on Friday night for prejudging and fans had to wait until Saturday to see who would hoist the trophy. The full results have been announced and you can check out a full recap of the entire weekend below.
Mr. Olympia 2021 Results
The Men’s Open division did not disappoint. Big Ramy was crowned the winner and took control during prejudging. Brandon Curry finished second and Hadi Choopan took third once again. The top five was strong as a unit with Nick Walker taking fifth and Hunter Labrada jumping up three spots from last year into the fourth place.
This is the second-straight Olympia victory for Big Ramy, defeating Curry once again. After prejudging, these two were the clear favorites and that is exactly how it played out.
First Place – Mamdouh Elssbiay
Second Place – Brandon Curry
Third Place – Hadi Choopan
Fourth Place – Hunter Labrada
Fifth Place – Nick Walker
Bikini Olympia 2021 Results
The Bikini Olympia was wide open this year and ready to crown a new champion. Janey Layug, who won the competition in 2020, was not competing which means there would be a new winner. In the end, it was Jennifer Dorie picking up her second victory in two weeks. Dorie was victorious at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago.
Lauralie Chapados finished with the silver medal while Ashley Kaltwasser, who is a former Olympia champion, finished in third place. Dorie set a tone moving forward after her most-recent victories. This is a stretch of success she will look to continue.
First Place – Jennifer Dorie
Second Place – Lauralie Chapados
Third Place – Ashley Kaltwasser
Fourth Place – Maureen Blanquisco
Fifth Place – Elisa Pecini
Classic Physique Olympia 2021 Results
There was a clear top tier coming into the weekend in Classic Physique. Chris Bumstead was the reigning two-time champion and the competitor to beat. The top three played out exactly how it did in 2020 and Bumstead made it three in a row.
Terrence Ruffin, fresh off a victory in the Arnold Classic, finished with silver once again while Breon Ansley finished third for the second-straight year. Bumstead and Ruffin have asserted their dominance at the top but it is clear that the Canadian bodybuilder is as good as it gets.
First Place – Chris Bumstead
Second Place – Terrence Ruffin
Third Place – Breon Ansley
Fourth Place – Urs Kalecinski
Fifth Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Men’s Physique Olympia 2021 Results
Brandon Hendrickson came into the Olympia looking to make it three victories in four years. He was defeated in 2019 but regained his title last year. Hendrickson made it three victories with a win in Orlando this weekend. First-time Olympia competitor Erin Banks won the New York Pro and solidified his talent with a second-place finish.
Diogo Montenegro climbed to third place at the event. Raymont Edmonds, former Olympia champion, finished fifth and it was a bit of a surprise. This allowed some new competitors to climb up in the standings. Even with that, Hendrickson is difficult to defeat.
First Place – Brandon Hendrickson
Second Place – Erin Banks
Third Place – Diogo Montenegro
Fourth Place – Kyron Holden
Fifth Place – Raymont Edmonds
Men’s 212 Olympia 2021 Results
The Men’s 212 division is one of the top in the sport. This is a title that Derek Lunsford has been attempting to grab for years now. He came into this year’s competition in exceptional shape and that showed during the prejudging round. It came down to Lunsford and 2020 Olympia champ Shaun Clarida.
In the end, it was Lunsford who was able to get over the hump and pick up the title. Clarida finished third followed by Kamal Elgargni, who fell one spot from his finish in 2020.
First Place – Derek Lunsford
Second Place – Shaun Clarida
Third Place – Kamal Elgargni
Fourth Place – Angel Calderon Frias
Fifth Place – Nathan Epler
Sixth Place – Ahmad Ashkanani
Seventh Place – Naser Mohammed
Eight Place – Kerrith Bajjo
Ninth Place – John Jewett
Tenth Place – Tonio Burton
Ms. Olympia 2021 Results
Since the return of Ms. Olympia to the show, it has been nothing but success for Andrea Shaw. This is an event that was dormant since 2014 but returned last year. This is when Shaw took home her first title and made it two in a row this year.
Shaw led a top three that was the same as 2020. Helle Trevino and Margie Martin switched spots this time around. Trevino finished with the silver medal while Martin came in third place. It was clear who the top-tier of competitors were coming in and Shaw asserted her dominance once again.
First Place – Andrea Shaw
Second Place – Helle Trevino
Third Place – Margie Martin
Fourth Place – Mona PourSaleh
Fifth Place – Irene Anderson
Sixth Place — Michaela Aycock
Seventh Place — Virginia Sanchez
Eighth Place — Janeen Lankowski
Ninth Place — Margita Zamolova
Tenth Place — Nadia Capotosto
Women’s Physique Olympia 2021 Results
Sarah Villegas took home the title in 2020 by defeating two-time champion Shanique Grant. She took over the division and solidified that this time around. Villegas captured her second-straight Olympia Women’s Physique title on Friday night.
Natalia Abraham Coelho finished second and Brooke Walker took home the bronze.
First Place – Sarah Villegas
Second Place – Natalia Abraham Coehlo
Third Place – Brooke Walker
Fourth Place – Barbara Menage
Fifth Place – Ana Harias
Sixth Place — Melissa Teich
Seventh Place — Ivie Rhein
Eighth Place — Christelle Zarovska
Ninth Place — Patricia Gosselin
Tenth Place — Anne-Lorraine Mohn
Figure Olympia 2021 Results
The Figure division has a clear-cut favorite and it is Cydney Gillon. She made it five in a row with a victory in Orlando this weekend. Gillon is an extremely-decorated competitor since she became a pro and that is highlighted by her victories on the biggest stage.
Gillon defeated the likes of Natalia Soltero and Stephanie Gibson. There have been some strong competitors coming into their own but Gillon has remained unbeatable for half a decade.
First Place – Cydney Gillon
Second Place – Natalia Soltero
Third Place – Stephanie Gibson
Fourth Place – Jessica Reyes Padilla
Sixth Place – Nicole Zenobia Graham
Sixth Place — Larhannah Robinson
Seventh Place — An Da Jeong
Eighth Place — Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
Ninth Place — Lola Montez
Tenth Place — Heather Dees
Fitness Olympia 2021 Results
Fitness has become a deep division and Missy Truscott has been at the top for the last year. She entered as the reigning champion and coming off a victory at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago. In the end, she placed second to Whitney Jones, who was able to regain her title. Jones held off Truscott and Oksana Grishina to get back the gold.
First Place – Whitney Jones
Second Place – Missy Truscott
Third Place – Oksana Grishina
Fourth Place – Ariel Khadr
Fifth Place – Jaclyn Baker
Sixth Place — Tamara Vahn
Seventh Place — Sara Kovach
Eighth Place — Darrian Borello
Ninth Place — Minna Pajulahti
Tenth Place — Aurika Tyrgale
Wellness Olympia 2021 Results
Wellness was brand new to the Olympia this year which means there was no history to base results. In a way, this was refreshing to see as Francielle Mattos became the first champion of Olympia Wellness. Angela Borges was the first competitor to qualify for the Olympia and she put on a strong showing with the silver medal. Isabelle Nunes finished third.
First Place – Francielle Mattos
Second Place – Angela Borges
Third Place – Isabelle Nunes
Fourth Place – Yarisha Ayala
Fifth Place – Julia Chittara
Sixth Place – Sunny Andrews
Seventh Place – Isamara dos Santos
Eighth Place – Bruna Seredich
Ninth Place – Lorena Ragusa
Tenth Place – Barbara Emanuele Cesar
Wheelchair Olympia 2021 Results
Wheelchair Olympia has become a popular event and one that is rapidly growing into other shows. On the biggest stage, it has been Harold Kelley who has been dominant. This year, Kelley retained his title to make it three in a row.
First Place – Harold Kelley
Second Place – Gabriele Andriulli
Third Place – Anthony Khadraoui
Fourth Place – Adolfo Cerame Jr.
Firth Place – Tyler Brey
Sixth Place – Chad McCrary
Seventh Place – Bradley Betts
Eighth Place – Johnny Quinn
Official Olympia 2021 Scorecards
Big Ramy Is The Mr. Olympia 2021 Champion In Repeat Victory
Big Ramy wins the Mr. Olympia 2021.
For a moment there, it seemed like Big Ramy might not retain his Mr. Olympia title. During the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging Friday night, Ramy looked off with his conditioning. Fans worst fears were realized – his inconsistent condition was rearing its ugly head again. But just like so many amazing Olympia stories – Ramy sharpened up by Saturday night and reminded us why he’s champion in the first place. It’s no longer a fluke – Big Ramy is the Mr. Olympia 2021 champion.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, more commonly called Big Ramy, had been a fan favorite to win the Mr. Olympia for years now. True to his name, he brings a level of size that is hardly seen by even the top pro bodybuilders currently competing. Due to his massive size, some fans even hoped he would be the second coming of Ronnie Coleman.
Big Ramy represented the pinnacle of a growing bodybuilding Mecca coming out of Kuwait. Though originally from Egypt, Ramy moved to Kuwait to train in Oxygen Gym – a location known for transforming pros into massive titans. Over the years, many pro bodybuilders moved temporarily to Kuwait for a reboot to their training. This included Mr. Olympia 2019 champion Brandon Curry.
But the initial hype behind Big Ramy did not come to fruition immediately. With ever year, Ramy showed bigger and bigger muscle during his prep leading up to the competition. But with each year he would fall short. Most notably, his conditioning was often criticized as the reason he could not bring in an Olympia victory. As of today, that all changed.
Big Ramy’s first Mr. Olympia competition was in 2013. He placed eight just a few notches below the top 6 highlights. But even with the lower placing, he immediately turned heads. His mammoth size was hardly seen in current crop of competitors. It wasn’t long before the hype train build up steam. Fans were clamoring – with time, will he become a powerhouse reigning champion?
Over the following years, Ramy improved in placing with each Olympia competition. This came to a head at the Mr. Olympia 2017 where Big Ramy placed 2nd.
It was at this competition that his promise seemed to turn into a reality. For what seemed like the first time in forever, Phil Heath actually appeared threatened. With his massive size, Big Ramy looked like a real possibility to win standing next to Phil Heath.
The competition was so close that many fans believed that Big Ramy was the rightful winner. Similar to the 2007 Mr. Olympia with Victor Martinez, the competition became controversial for potentially making the wrong call.
With Big Ramy so close to victory in 2017 and Phil Heath appearing to slightly fade – fans were excited more than ever before the Mr. Olympia 2018. Anticipation was in overdrive as fans expected to see an even more improved Big Ramy. With his conditioning issue seemingly under control – victory was just around the corner.
This would not end up being the case. In 2018, Big Ramy dropped down to a disappointing 6th place at the Mr. Olympia. His conditioning was off and he appeared to fade as the competition went on. Fans were so disappointed that Big Ramy himself issued an apology immediately after the event.
Shortly after, Big Ramy quit Oxygen Gym and changed his entire training regimen. Under a new trainer, Neil Yoda Hill, he aimed to take a new approach towards prepping for the Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately, more bad news was on the horizon as Big Ramy announced in 2019 that he would not compete in the Mr. Olympia. Original reports of injury seemed to be the reason behind his absence – though he initially denied these reports. After a lackluster appearance in 2018, fans were disappointed to see him miss a full year.
Of course, this story ultimately has a happy ending. It seems his year break helped further improve Big Ramy’s physique. Still sporting incredible size and a renewed conditioning – Ramy towered over the competitors at the Mr. Olympia 2020 and finally won the title.
Fast forward to 2021, the question now wasn’t whether Big Ramy will be a champion – but if he can remain a reigning champion. There has been a streak of one off Olympia champions as of late – it started with Shawn Rhoden followed by Brandon Curry. Would Ramy suffer the same fate? We now know the answer is a resounding no. But it wasn’t a straight shot to get there.
When Big Ramy appeared at the Olympia 2020 – it almost seemed obvious that he would be champion. He was so on point and stood out among all other competitors. This year, however, his conditioning seemed off compared to last year. In a top two face off during the prejudging – Brandon Curry was so on point it seemed he could exploit Ramy’s weakness and take the big win.
But a lot can change between the prejudging and the finals. Unlike many competitions throughout the year – Men’s Open have a full day between the two phases. Big Ramy was able to improve his conditioning. Combine that with his massive size and there was no way Brandon Curry could match up. It was a close battle overall. It was electric, exciting, and ultimately a well won victory.
For the full Mr. Olympia 2021 results – you can check out our coverage right here.
Olympia 2021 Bikini Results
The results are in for the Bikini Division at Olympia 2021.
The Bikini division results have been announced and there is a new champion. This was known coming into the competition because last year’s winner, Janet Layug, would not be competing. In the end, it was Jennifer Dorie who took home the title.
During prejudging, there was a clear top three set.Dorieis coming off a victory at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago and was looking to continue momentum. She defeated Lauralie Chapados at the Arnold but she was a force on Saturday. Also, former Olympia Bikini champion Ashley Kaltwasser was back to being near the top. She knows what it takes to compete at the biggest event and did not disappoint.
Elisa Pecini was another dark-horse candidate that put on a strong performance. There was a total of 35 competitors in Bikini this year so there was a lot to uncover during prejudging. The judges did so by putting competitors through posing routines and a decision was made. That decision was announced Saturday night.
The full results from the Bikini division have been announced. Check out a breakdown of the results and an official score card from the event below.
Olympia 2021 Bikini Results
First Place – Jennifer Dorie
Second Place – Lauralie Chapados
Third Place – Ashley Kaltwasser
Fourth Place – Maureen Blanquisco
Fifth Place – Elisa Pecini
Previous Olympia Bikini Winners
2020: Janet Layug
2019: Elisa Pecini
2018: Angelica Teixeira
2017: Angelica Teixeira
2016: Courtney King
2015: Ashley Kaltwasser
2014: Ashley Kaltwasser
2013: Ashley Kaltwasser
2012: Nathalia Melo
2011: Nicole Nagrani
2010: Sonia Gonzalez
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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.
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Results
Do we have a new Olympia 2020 Classic Physique champion? Or a three-peat?
The talk coming into this year’s Olympia was if Chris Bumstead could make it three in a row in Classic Physique. Would it be Bumstead? Could Breon Ansley return to the top or maybe a fresh name, such as Terrence Ruffin?
The top three was predicted by many and it ended up playing out just like 2020. Bumstead made it three in a row, followed by Ruffin then Ansley.
Classic Physique is full of competitors that bring it on stage every competition. Ruffin was named the Arnold Classic champion two weeks ago, when he defeated the 2020 champion Alex Cambronero. Bumstead come in with back-to-back victories at the Olympia after Ansley won two in a row in 2017 and 2018.
During prejudging, there was a top six, including Urs Kalecinski and Ramon Rocha Querioz. It was a question of who would jump into the top five and if anyone could take down Bumstead. A show was put on during this portion of the show and it set the scene for an exciting night at the final.
The full results have been announced and there is a champion. Below, you can find the full results along with the official score card.
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Results
First Place – Chris Bumstead
Second Place – Terrence Ruffin
Third Place – Breon Ansley
Fourth Place – Urs Kalecinski
Fifth Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Previous Classic Physique Olympia Winners
2020: Chris Bumstead
2019: Chris Bumstead
2018: Breon Ansley
2017: Breon Ansley
2016: Danny Hester
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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.