Tag: GI News

Pro Bodybuilder George Peterson Has Reportedly Died At 37

Pro Bodybuilder George Peterson Has Reportedly Died At 37

Early reports indicate that pro bodybuilder George Peterson has passed away.
Just days before being set to compete at the Mr. Olympia 2021, outlets and sources close to Generation Iron have reported that pro bodybuilder George Peterson has died. He was only 37 years old. Peterson was currently stationed in Orlando, Florida to compete in the Men’s 212 Olympia.
At the time of this writing, no official announcement or statement has been made. Nor has there been a confirmed cause of death. Many have begun posting on social media of the news as well as other sports outlets. Generation Iron has reached out to George Peterson’s coach Justin Miller – but have not yet received any official confirmation at this time.

George Peterson is a bodybuilder with an incredible physique and an equally incredible journey throughout his bodybuilding career. Peterson started bodybuilding over 10 years ago, took a 5 year break, and then returned in the newly made Classic Physique division. Ultimately, he changed things up yet again and bumped up to the Men’s 212 division. His debut was in 2020.
Beyond his physique, George Peterson was also known for his humble attitude and positive demeanor. He was not only a beloved bodybuilder – but a beloved man to friends, family, and those in the bodybuilding community lucky enough to have met him.

Generation Iron was lucky enough to connect and recently conduct a full length video interview with George Peterson. We covered his entire career in bodybuilding, his journey through multiple divisions, his thoughts on the current state of bodybuilding and more.
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George Peterson’s death comes after a string of other passings that have tragically hit the bodybuilding industry. While no cause of death has been confirmed, Peterson is the second bodybuilder to pass away just before being set to compete in a competition.
Generation Iron send condolences to the friends and family of George Peterson at this time. He was an uplifting, intelligent, and passionate individual – and an extremely talented bodybuilder. The bodybuilding world mourns his passing.
Generation Iron will continue to update this story as more information becomes available – such as official confirmation of Peterson’s passing. Stay tuned to Generation Iron for more updates.

Ryan Crowley On His Injury & Larry Wheels: “I’d Be Dead If He Wasn’t There”

Ryan Crowley On His Injury & Larry Wheels: “I’d Be Dead If He Wasn’t There”

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Ryan Crowley props up Larry Wheels’ actions immediately after the viral pec tear injury.
Ryan Crowley’s pec tear was the injury heard around the bodybuilding world. In an attempt to lift a bit higher than usual alongside Larry Wheels for a viral video – the worst happened. Crowley’s pec teared right off. He has since been in and out of the hospital slowly recovering. There are those who have commented that Larry Wheels pushed Crowley too far. But Crowley finds that to be furthers from the truth. In fact, he thinks Wheels being there prevented the injury from being worse. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Crowley details how Larry Wheels’ actions helped prevent further injury.

Ryan Crowley’s pec tear injury was a major talking point of bodybuilding in 2021. Bodybuilding fans around the world sent well wishes, contributed to a GoFundMe to help pay hospital fees… and couldn’t stop watching the viral video of the moment the injury occurred. Despite the massive setback – Crowley is confident that he will be back in full form by next year and ready to start making a dent in competitive bodybuilding.
The injury itself was due to a social media video involving both Crowley and the massively popular Larry Wheels. Known for his heavy lifts – the video collab was meant to be a motivational video showcasing the two lifting together. Ultimately, things went south under the serious heavy weight. A pop and a snap later – and Ryan Crowley found himself in a world of pain.

There have been some comments online blaming Larry Wheels for the injury. That he pushed Ryan Crowley too far. During our conversation with Crowley – we asked if he had seen those comments and what his thoughts were. Crowley dismissed the comments – claiming they are simply individuals looking for attention (or perhaps bored looking to instigate arguments online).
In fact, Ryan Crowley believes that Larry Wheels was the sole reason he didn’t get injured further. During the lift, when his pec tore – Larry Wheels held the bar completely stable preventing it from falling onto Crowley. If he was not prepared or strong enough to hold up the bar – it would have hit Crowley with a thud – and possible led to more injury.
“I don’t blame him at all. You know, if anything he saved my life,” Ryan Crowley states in our interview. He goes on:
“I’d be dead if he wasn’t there. If Larry Wheels wasn’t there I would have died for sure… I slid under and he held that bar solid still… that bar doesn’t even move for two seconds. He’s got that 220 kilos in one hand. If I was spotting someone, I would be scared by grabbing that bar that I would tear something. I’m just so lucky he was there. Even if I didn’t die, I’d at least have cracked ribs or worse.”
Ryan Crowley goes on to say that Larry Wheels was also kind enough to also promote and share the GoFundMe campaign raising funds for hospital fees. They ended up reaching past their goal – all thanks to the further exposure made possible by Wheels and his massive following.
You can watch Ryan Crowley’s full comments about Larry Wheels in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!

Chris Bumstead Gives Physique Update 3 Days Out Of Olympia

Chris Bumstead Gives Physique Update 3 Days Out Of Olympia

Chris Bumstead provided a physique update just three days out of the 2021 Olympia competition.
There is no doubt that Chris Bumstead is the class of the Classic Physique division in bodybuilding. The reigning two-time Olympia champion, Bumstead will enter the 2021 competition looking to make it three in a row. The Canadian bodybuilder has not been shy about providing updates on social media.
Bumstead is active on both Instagram and YouTube. Just three days away from the biggest event of the year, Bumstead has provided a physique update on both platforms. He released a YouTube video showing progress. This is nothing new for the competitor as he has given some workout and meal-plan advice on his page before. On Instagram, Bumstead showed off a picture, alongside personal trainer Axel Lopez.
“Peak week for me, show day for @axcellent_fitness ?? We been killing ourselves for this now it’s time to show it off. Kill it today brother??P.S. New peak week YouTube video is live click the link in my bio or head to my channel?”

This will be Chris Bumstead’s fourth appearance in the Olympia. He began in 2017 and finished second twice before earning back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020. Heading into this year’s event, Bumstead is once again the favorite in the Classic Physique division.

As of now, Bumstead seems content about remaining in the Classic Physique division. He has referenced his health in the past and the fact that this division allows him to remain healthy and within his limits. Health has been a main concern surrounding Men’s Open bodybuilding over the last year and this led to some comments by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was quoted during the Arnold Classic saying that Classic Physique if the future of bodybuilding.
For now, Men’s Open remains in the family as Iain Valliere is the brother-in-law of Bumstead. It has been a successful year for Valliere, finishing with two victories and a second-place finish at the Arnold Classic, heading into the Olympia.
Chris Bumstead remains an elite competitor in Classic Physique and has a chance to win his third-straight Olympia. There are some elite competitors vying for that top spot but Bumstead has been showing that he is in a league of his own. Will that continue this year? If social media is any indication, it very well could continue for Bumstead.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2021 Olympia: Men’s Open Preview & Predictions

2021 Olympia: Men’s Open Preview & Predictions

Here is a breakdown and predictions in the Men’s Open division at the 2021 Olympia.
The 2021 Olympia will take place this weekend in Orlando. This is the biggest competition of the year and many of the top bodybuilders in the world will be on stage competing.
The list is impressive despite some big names being unable to compete in the event. Nathan De Asha is coming off a victory at the Arnold Classic UK but will be forced to miss the Olympia because of legal issues impacting his visa. Vlad Suhokuchro will also be absent because of travel issues. Other competitors such as Phil Heath and Dexter Jackson have also announced that they will not be competing.

This does not mean that the competition will be a bust — quite the opposite. The lineup is elite and you can find the entire list below, along with a breakdown and predictions for Men’s Open.
2021 Olympia List of Competitors

William Bonac (Netherlands)
Hadi Choopan (Iran)
Brandon Curry (USA)
Mamdouh Elssbiay (Egypt)
Regan Grimes (Canada)
James Hollingshead (UK)
Hunter Labrada (USA)
Patrick Moore (USA)
Hassan Mostafa (Egypt)
Andrea Presti (Italy)
Justin Rodriguez (USA)
Mohamed Shaaban (Egypt)
Iain Valliere (Canada)
Nicholas Walker (USA)
Akim Williams (USA)
Roelly Winklaar (Curacao)

Honorable Mentions
Justin Rodriguez
Justin Rodriguez has been improving each time he steps on stage and this includes a fourth-place finish at the Arnold Classic. Now, he will have a chance to see how he matches up with some other elite competitors. Rodriguez is a dark-horse heading into this competition and could crack the top six if all goes right.

Hunter Labrada

According to his father and legendary bodybuilding Lee Labrada, Hunter Labrada is destined to win an Olympia in his career. That will not be this year but he has a victory in the Chicago Pro this year. Labrada is just scratching the surface of his potential and this could be a stepping stone moving forward.

Men’s Open Top 6
6. Iain Valliere
Iain Valliere appeared at the 2020 Olympia and finished seventh. He has a chance to move up a spot and be a first callout competitor at this year’s event. It has been a strong year for Valliere. He took home titles in the Tampa Pro and Texas Pro on back-to-back weekends. He put on a show at the Arnold Classic and took home second place. Judges like Valliere and he could continue to strengthen his resume with a good performance this weekend.

5. Brandon Curry
It was a controversial victory for Brandon Curry at the 2019 Olympia. After being defeated last year, Curry knows the improvements that need to be made and he highlighted them during training. Curry can prove that his victory was not a fluke and that he still an elite competitor in the sport. He is continuing to improve and that can be shown on stage this year.

4. William Bonac
It is official. William Bonac will be present at the Olympia after missing the Arnold Classic. He was the reigning champion of the event and was unable to defend his title. Now, Bonac has been able to put all of his energy into the most-important competition of the year. Just being back on stage should be enough motivation for Bonac and he certainly looks the part. He is one of the best competitors in the world and will show it this weekend.

3. Nick Walker
Nick Walker has the New York Pro checked off his list and added the Arnold Classic this year. He has won the two biggest competitions outside of the Olympia and could make it three-for-three in Orlando. While Walker might not win the show, he is a first callout competitor that will put on a show. Walker has great size and has top notch conditioning. Walker is a relatively new name to bodybuilding and has already made a huge impact as a pro.

2. Hadi Choopan
It is all lined up for Hadi Choopan to finish near the top of the Olympia once again. He  was able to arrive early this year and that means there was plenty of time to prepare. Choopan has been working with Hany Rambod and seems to be in incredible shape. Choopan has not competed since last year’s Olympia and qualified this year with a fourth place finish. In 2019, Choopan finished third so he has experience near the top. This year, he has a chance to set a new best placing and challenge for a title.

1. Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay
Olympia champions have went on streaks dating back to the days of Arnold Schwarzenegger. There has not been a repeat winner since 2017 when Phil Heath won his seventh-straight title. This is what Big Ramy can achieve this year and he has to be considered the favorite. If he comes in looking as shredded as last year, Big Ramy will be difficult to beat. There are some who believe that it is already in the bag. He has showed off his incredible physique leading up to the event and it looks like he is going to be in his best shape trying to win his second-straight Olympia.

Generation Iron will have full updates and coverage of the 2021 Olympia. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Anabolic Doc: Don’t Be Fooled – Bodybuilders Suffer From Steroids Quietly

The Anabolic Doc: Don’t Be Fooled – Bodybuilders Suffer From Steroids Quietly

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The Anabolic Doc warns: Even healthy looking steroid users might be suffering in private.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka the Anabolic Doc, has dedicated his entire career to studying the effects of steroids and other anabolic substances on athletes. He has always tried to bridge the gap between the hard truth of science, and the psychology and desires of athletes that use PEDs. He understands why athletes might be willing to take health risks for greatness. But he also wants to make one thing clear – long term steroid use will always have consequences.

While doctors and scientists have always been making such alarming claims, there are many who don’t believe it. This is largely due to the number of athletes who seem perfectly healthy after admitting to a career of steroid use. The Anabolic Doc wants doesn’t want people to be fooled – just because an athlete seems healthy in their older age, doesn’t mean they actually are. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc explains how more often than not steroid users suffer quietly. Even if they outwardly appear to be healthy long term.
Most athletes who consider using steroids or other PEDs understand the risk they are taking with their health. Some athletes, in the pursuit of greatness, are willing to take that risk. But there are also a large swath of steroid users, both athletes and casual athletic individuals, who simply don’t know how bad the long term affects can really be.

This is due to the fact that famous athletes who get caught for steroid use, well, seem perfectly fine. Even long after retirement, a star athlete who had been caught doping seems to be living a normal healthy life. This kind of optics makes it easier to ignore the very real health issues that arise from long term steroid use. It’s this kind of optics that the Anabolic Doc wants to warn young steroid users about.
As the saying goes out of sight, out of mind. Things that are far off into our future are easy to ignore. This is especially true if there are no obvious warning signs publicly spoken about by iconic athletes. Outwardly, it appears that an athlete can use steroids, retire, stop taking steroids, and be perfectly fine – so long as they stop early enough. The Anabolic Doc can’t stress enough how untrue this idea is. While he can’t speak for every individual who takes steroids, his studies and experience prove this – most steroid users are suffering silently.
Dr. O’Connor details exactly the kind of private suffering that steroid users face down the road:

“We don’t know. Now, these men suffer quietly. I know, in this mind, because who comes to see me? They come to see me and they tell me the truth with their wife, their children, their mothers. And there’s a lot of tears. Because thy have heart disease and kidney disease. And they have psychiatric disease.”
The Anabolic Doc can’t speculate on specific high profile athletes or individuals – as he doesn’t know them personally. What he can rely on is the years of clients and data from studies that show how much suffering long term steroid users face. What goes on privately can be vastly different than what we see presented in public.
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!

William Bonac Arrives In United States Ahead Of Olympia

William Bonac Arrives In United States Ahead Of Olympia

William Bonac confirmed he has arrived and will be competing in the Olympia.
It has been a chaotic couple of weeks for William Bonac. He was forced to miss the Arnold Classic two weeks ago because of issues with travel. Bonac was the reigning champion of the event and was unable to defend his title. His plan was to return for the Olympia and it is going to happen this weekend.
Bonac recently announced that he has arrived in the U.S. and will be able to compete on the biggest stage of the year. Bonac took to Instagram on Monday to make the announcement but said he arrived in Orlando on Friday.
“We finally made it to the USA’ for the @mrolympiallc 2021.
I just want 2 take this opportunity 2 apologize 2 all of you ?that I am competing at @mrolympiallc
Actually we arrived at Friday evening needed the whole weekend to adjust to the different timezones.”

William Bonac went onto explain that there was a problem with his Esta and was forced to get a visa. He was able to get one in time and will be able to appear at the Olympia.
“Bonac has appeared in the previous seven Olympia competitions. This began back in 2014, when he placed 14th. Bonac has quickly turned into one of the best in the sport. His highest finish on the Olympia stage was in 2019. He finished second to Brandon Curry that year.
“First of all there were some misunderstanding with my Esta due the denial of the Waver proclamation to get me on time for the AC. My Esta got invalid because of this and was not returnable. So my only option was to get an visa in time, wich we did.
Thanks to God who made us meet some amazing people named @amw0lf& his fiancé @motivate.train.inspireThey were about to fly out to Orlando as well, for the amateur Olympia unfortunately @amw0lf lost his passport with his visa in it. Despite that he was day and night busy with my case until they finally got an appointment for me at the embassy. Thank you so much much my friend without you I wouldn’t be here!!!????
Now I got a visa, wich is even better so I don’t have to worry for the next 10 years.”
William Bonac would have been a force at the Arnold Classic and given champion Nick Walker a run for his money. Now, Bonac will have to make up for lost times and show his full ability on stage in Orlando. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the upcoming Olympia competition and Bonac returning just adds another to the list.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Iain Valliere: There Are Only Two Ways To Beat Big Ramy At Mr. Olympia 2021

Iain Valliere: There Are Only Two Ways To Beat Big Ramy At Mr. Olympia 2021

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Iain Valliere breaks down the two approaches to beating Big Ramy ahead of the Mr. Olympia 2021.
We are less than one week away from the biggest bodybuilding event of the year – Mr. Olympia 2021. This will be Big Ramy’s first chance to defend his champion status. Will he prove his win to be more than just a fluke? Or will he be another athlete to join the one and done list of single Olympia champions? Only time will tell – but in the meantime we spoke with qualified Olympia competition Iain Valliere on whether or not Ramy can be defeated. He thinks it’s a tough mountain to climb – but there is a slim margin to beat Ramy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Iain Valliere details the only two ways that Big Ramy can be defeated at the Mr. Olympia 2021.

In 2020, Big Ramy showcased the greatest physique of his career. For the first time ever, his conditioning matched his enormous size. This made him a powerhouse and nearly unstoppable. Returning champion Brandon Curry could not hold up – nor could seven time former Olympia champion Phil Heath. Ramy was fully realized. It earned him a spot on the short list of Olympia champions.
It’s been a near year since that epic victory. We are just under a week before the Mr. Olympia 2021. This is our first time to see Big Ramy on stage competing again. Traditionally, Big Ramy’s biggest weakness has been the consistency of his conditioning. One year he will be close to on point. The next he would be completely off point. Just because Ramy won a Mr. Olympia title doesn’t mean the consistency problem will be fixed.

That being said, Big Ramy’s impressive physique in 2020 might also signal he has learned what is needed to keep his conditioning consistent. We’ll soon find out this weekend. During our conversation with fellow Olympia competitor Iain Valliere – we asked his take on Big Ramy’s physique and how he could be potentially toppled from his throne. The way Valliere sees it, there are only two viable tactics for defeating Big Ramy.
The first is to beat him in size. If a competitor can show up with insane size and conditioning to at the very least match Big Ramy – then he can lose the title. The second tactic is to look at Ramy’s weakness and exploit them. This means that a bodybuilder would focus less on size and more on absolute superior conditioning and aesthetics. Iain Valliere thinks that no competitor is currently poised to succeed with the first tactic. This leaves only conditioning and aesthetics as the superior route to defeat Ramy.
“I think there’s two ways to beat Ramy,” Iain Valliere stated in our interview. He continued:
“It’s going to come down to either a guy with really really crazy shape like a Brandon or a Nathan but compiled with really good conditioning. Or it’s going to come down to someone bigger with better conditioning. I don’t see anyone being bigger than Ramy so I think the way to beat Ramy is with detail and shape. I think trying to be bigger than the biggest guy is insanity.”

Looking back at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, Iain Valliere saw Brandon Curry as the closest competitor to take down Big Ramy.
“I think someone like Brandon last year could have closed that gap if his conditioning was a little better. Because he has the shape, he has the symmetry, he has that silhouette of, like, a very very dominant bodybuilder with the bubbliness and flow and tiny waist. Where he was just a little subpar was his conditioning in comparison [to Big Ramy]”
Iain Valliere goes on to state that Brandon Curry is still a superb athlete and is only critiquing his physique in comparison to Big Ramy. In fact, Iain Vailliere even takes himself out of the equation – stating that he is not in the right place to beat someone like Ramy at this year’s competition.
So it seems, according to Iain Valliere, the Mr. Olympia 2021 title will teeter on two factors. How on point Big Ramy is with his conditioning and how on point a rival competitor can raise the bar to exploit Ramy’s weaknesses. It all hangs on the delicate blade of a knife.
You can watch Iain Valliere’s full breakdown on tackling Big Ramy at Mr. Olympia 2021 by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!

Is Nathan De Asha Out Of 2021 Olympia?

Is Nathan De Asha Out Of 2021 Olympia?

Nathan De Asha might not be on stage during the biggest competition of the year.
Nathan De Asha is just two days removed from a victory at the Arnold Classic UK. Following the event, rumors have surfaced that De Asha will not be able to compete at the upcoming Olympia in Orlando.
De Asha qualified for the biggest event of the year after winning the Europa Pro back in August. This was his first event since 2019 and there were expectations as he was returning to the Olympia stage.

This is because Nathan De Asha has not yet been granted a U.S. Visa to get into the country. He would not be able to make it to Florida for the event if this happens. This has been an issue recently but other competitors, such as James Hollingshead and Hadi Choopan, have been able to make it over in time to prepare for the competition.
This stems from legal trouble De Asha got involved in during COVID-19. During the shutdown, gyms were unable to remain open. De Asha kept his open and this caused run-ins with law enforcement. He was fined and would receive more if he kept his doors open. He did keep his doors open and was allegedly holding gym members throughout the shutdown. De Asha was also ordered to pay back money for sales of illegal steroids.

Nathan De Asha has yet to officially announce this himself but it is all lining up for him to miss the upcoming Olympia. He was able to win the Arnold Classic UK last weekend in his home country and this was a priority. De Asha did not receive information about flights or his status coming to America prior to competing in England.
This win at the Arnold Classic UK qualified De Asha to compete in the 2022 Olympia. Because of this, he might not prioritize this year’s show and he could take the extra time to sort out his legal situation.
Nathan De Asha last appeared at the Olympia in 2018, where he finished eighth. It is unknown when we will see him on stage again but it will likely be once these other matters are figured out.
Generation Iron will remain updated as more information comes out on De Asha’s status this weekend in Orlando. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Nick Walker Shares Training Video Ahead Of Olympia

Nick Walker Shares Training Video Ahead Of Olympia

Nick Walker showed off a chest and bicep workout 10 days out of the 2021 Olympia.
Nick Walker has been extremely impressive this year on stage. He has been one of the top competitors in the world and has a chance to complete it with a victory at the 2021 Olympia. Walker won the New York Pro this year and earned qualification to the biggest event of the year.
The Olympia will take place this weekend in Orlando. Prior to the event, Walker got a warmup at the Arnold Classic, where he defeated the likes to Iain Valliere and Steve Kuclo. This was his second victory of the year and will have a chance to complete the trifecta at the Olympia. Ahead of the event, Walker released a training video on his YouTube page.
“After an incredible Arnold Classic debut where Nick finished 1st overall, he is back in the gym and getting ready for the Olympia where he will make his Olympia debut. Watch as Nick takes you through his chest and bicep routine, while explaining why he does certain exercises. Thanks for watching and enjoy!!”

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Nick Walker released this video on Sept. 30 of a chest and bicep workout. On Sunday, a shoulder workout was shared giving 70.3 thousand subscribers a chance to see how one of the top bodybuilders in the sport gets ready for competition.

Walker will have plenty of competition heading into this year’s Olympia. There have been four different winners in each of the last four years. Big Ramy will enter with a chance to repeat and will be viewed as one of the favorites. There will be plenty of other big names featured at the event. William Bonac was forced to miss the Arnold Classic but has his sights set on Orlando.
Hadi Choopan has arrived in the United States to compete while Roelly Winklaar and Nathan De Asha, who recently won the Arnold Classic UK, will also be on stage.
There will be plenty of competition for Walker but he has been training appropriately to be at his best during the Olympia. There is only a few more days until the biggest competition will crown a champion.
Generation Iron will have full coverage of the 2021 Olympia over the course of the weekend.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Lukas Osladil: The Best Posers That Today’s Bodybuilders Should Learn From

Lukas Osladil: The Best Posers That Today’s Bodybuilders Should Learn From

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Lukas Osladil explains his unique posing style and lists off the best posers in the history of bodybuilding.
Lukas Osladil is a rising star in the bodybuilding world. Beyond his massive physique, Osladil showcases a very entertaining and unique posing routine whenever he competes. He performs splits and flips in a way that is shocking for a man of his size. It recalls the likes of Roelly Winklaar on occasion. Arnold Schwarzenegger has recently renewed his criticism of modern posing routines during the Arnold Classic 2021 broadcast. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Lukas Osladil lists of the best bodybuilding posers of all time that today’s athletes should watch and learn from.

Over the past decade, there has been a renewed conversation about the art of posing. While some fans may miss the beauty of posing in the Golden Era and even the 90s – things really came to a head when Arnold Schwarzenegger himself started to criticize modern posing. It went so far as to bring back a scored posing round in the Arnold Classic.
Despite this, there seems to be no big change in the overall culture of posing routines for modern bodybuilders. There will always be a select few who bring more originality into the routine – but most simply hit the mandatories and hype up the audience with some gestures.

One exception to this is Lukas Osladil. A pro bodybuilder with an impressive physique to match his impressive posing routines. He often fits in gymnastic-esque techniques into his routine much to the delight of fans. During our conversation with Osladil, we asked him to detail how he landed on his specific posing style.
We also asked Lukas Osladil who most inspired him in the posing world of bodybuilding. Specifically, we asked him to list his picks for the five best posers in bodybuilding history. At a glance, his choices were Shawn Ray, Kai Greene, Melvin Anthony, Vince Taylor, and Fred Smalls. While this interview took place just before the Arnold Classic – the conversation seems well timed. Arnold Schwarzenegger was very vocal during the broadcast about his dissatisfaction in modern posing. He felt they lack passion and most athletes could not hold a pose long enough.

So perhaps Lukas Osladil’s list of best posers can act as a research guide for today’s rising athletes. Osladil explains that he will spend on average two months preparing his routine. If more modern bodybuilders take this approach, watch some posing legends, and develop their own unique style – we just might have a second coming of beautiful posing in bodybuilding.
The bigger question is whether or not it 100% needs to change. Perhaps Arnold Schwarzenegger is right about mandatories and athletes not holding poses long enough. But does the originality of posing absolutely need to come back? That’s up to personal preference. It can be something to further entertain fans – but it’s also not necessary to properly display the quality of a bodybuilding physique. So long as the mandatories are hit properly. Lukas Osladil’s posing may entertain – but does it improve his chance of winning a show?
As with all things – this might be a case of the bodybuilding culture changing – and older generations being unhappy with the new world as it leaves them behind. Also like all things – it’s likely that the art of posing will circle back eventually. All trends run in cycles. The question is how long will this one last?
You can watch Lukas Osladil’s full comments on posing in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!