Tag: Mr. Olympia
Iain Valliere On The Risk Vs Reward Of Competing In The Arnold Classic & Olympia Back To Back
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Iain Valliere explains why he is doing the Arnold Classic right before the Mr. Olympia – even though he has already qualified.
Iain Valliere has become a big part of the bodybuilding conversation in 2021. He’s had near back to back wins at the Tampa Pro and the Texas Pro. This earned him qualification to the Mr. Olympia. It’s also notable as he knocked out powerhouse Steve Kuclo at the Texas Pro. Despite having already qualified for the Mr. Olympia, Valliere is still set to compete at the Arnold Classic before facing off for the Sandow trophy. Why? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Iain Valliere explains why he wants to compete in both the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
Typically, when a pro bodybuilder earns Olympia qualification for the year – they stop competing and focus solely on the Olympia competition. This is normally done to preserve all energy on being as perfect as possible for the biggest competition of the year. Iain Valliere is bucking this trend. He’s already competed at the Texas Pro after qualifying for Olympia previously at the Tampa Pro this year. Not only that – but he’s still set to compete at the Arnold Classic.
Competing in many shows within one year – especially close to the Mr. Olympia can be a huge risk. This is for a variety of reasons. Athletes can burn out. They can get thrown off mentally by placing low in a show just before the Olympia. They can also have their physique and conditioning timing thrown off by focusing on one show – only to be a few days off with their conditioning by the time they hit the Olympia weekend.
During our conversation with Iain Valliere, we asked him to explain why he decided to do the Arnold Classic. Did he consider skipping the show to focus solely on the Mr. Olympia? Iain Valliere is not oblivious to the importance of this decision – and he certainly considered skipping the Arnold Classic to focus on Olympia. Ultimately, he decided to stick the course.
“It was a discussion especially after winning Texas it’s like, you know, I knew my stock was high,” Iain Valliere stated in our interview. He continued:
“And I knew that I had a lot of moment going into the Olympia. Basically the last two shows of the season I had won… But at the end of the day I know that I get better as shows go on. I think Tampa right to Texas one week apart is indicative of that.”
There’s a risk vs reward aspect to competing at competitions so close to each other. It seems Iain Valliere is confident that this will actually help him stay focused and improve rather than throw him off. If it works out – we might see the best version of Valliere step onto the stage.
In fact, he believes the Arnold Classic being closer to the Olympia is better than it’s typical dates. For those looking to compete at the Olympia, the Arnold Classic falls right in off season. This, Valliere argues, is more damaging to prep than if the competitions were close together as they are this year.
You can watch Iain Valliere go into even more detail about his recent string of victories and his plans for the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mr. Olympia 2021: List Of Qualified Competitors And Point Standings
Here is an updated list of qualified athletes for Mr. Olympia 2021 along with post standings.
The summer is winding down and Mr. Olympia 2021 is right around the corner. It will take place from Oct. 7-10 in Orlando. This is where the best competitors in the world will gather to see who will take home victories at the biggest event of the year.
There have been qualifiers each weekend and that will continue up until the deadline of Sept. 12. Athletes have up until this day to get into the Olympia. There is one exception and that is the Arnold Classic. On Sept. 25 in Columbus, the Men’s Open champion will earn an automatic qualification.
Mamdouh Elssbiay took home the Olympia victory in 2020 while the 2019 Brandon Curry finished second. The top five finishers from the 2020 Olympia have already qualified for this year’s competition. This is just one way to earn an automatic qualifier. Athletes can also qualify by winning an IFBB pro contest or finishing in the top three of the point standings.
Below, you can find the updated list of competitors who have qualified and will look to dethrone Elssbiay this year.
Mr. Olympia 2021 Qualified Athletes and Point Standings
Mr. Olympia
James Hollingshead (UK)
Regan Grimes (Canada)
Mamdouh Elssbiay (Egypt)
Brandon Curry (USA)
Phil Heath (USA)
Hadi Choopan (Iran)
William Bonac (Netherlands)
Justin Rodriguez (USA)
Nicholas Walker (USA)
Patrick Moore (USA)
Akim Williams (USA)
Andrea Presti (Italy)
Hunter Labrada (USA)
Iain Valliere (Canada)
Nathan De Asha (UK)
Roelly Winklaar (Curacao)
POINTS: (top 3 qualify)
Mohamed Shaaban (Egypt), 19
Hassan Mostafa (Egypt), 16
Vladyslav Sukhoruchko (Ukraine), 16
Mokhamed El Emam (Russia), 15
Tim Budesheim (Germany), 13
Maxx Charles (USA), 11
Phillip Clahar (USA), 11
Theo Leguerrier (France), 9
Dorian Haywood (USA), 8
Charles Griffen (USA), 7
Brett Wilkin (USA), 6
William Martins (Brazil), 5
Steve Kuclo (USA), 4
Marc Hector (UK), 3
Blessing Awodibu (Ireland), 3
Lionel Beyeke (France), 3
Andrea Muzi (Italy), 3
Jamie Christian-Johal (UK), 2
Martin Fitzwater (USA), 2
Carlos Chapa (USA), 1
Eddie Bracamontes (USA), 1
212 Olympia
Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
Shaun Clarida (USA)
Kamal Elgargni (Libya)
George Peterson (USA)
Derek Lunsford (USA)
Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait)
Tonio Burton (USA)
Nathan Epler (USA)
Piotr Borecki (Poland)
Lucas Coelho (Brazil)
Keone Pearson (USA)
Noel Adame (USA)
Kerrith Bajjo (USA)
Ahmed Elsadany (Egypt)
Vladimir Iakolev (Moldova)
Pasquale D’Angelo (Italy)
POINTS (top 3 qualify)
John Jewett (USA), 21
Steve Benthin (Germany), 15
Naser Mohammad (Kuwait), 13
Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria), 10
Estaban Alejandro Fuquene Bravo (Colombia), 9
Dectric Lewis (USA), 7
Dan Cirstea (Spain), 7
Derik Oslan (USA), 6
Gaetano Cisternino, Jr (USA), 6
Justin Randall (USA), 5
Boas Henrique Oliveira (Brazil), 5
Fabrizio de Souza Moreira (Brazil), 5
Zoran Kolevski (Madedonia), 4
Milton Martinez (USA), 4
Andrey Melnikov (Russia), 4
Austin Karr (USA), 4
Diogo Nunes (Portugal), 3
Oswaldo Gonzalez (USA), 3
Lionardis Cardoza (Mexico), 3
Martin Gomez (USA), 3
James Llewellin (UK), 2
Bryan Balzano (USA), 2
Victor Eric Lopez Garcia (Mexico), 2
Jason Herbert (USA), 2
Paul Latham (UK), 1
Christyan Gomez (Honduras), 1
Charles Curtis (USA), 1
Classic Physique Olympia
Laszlo Kiraly (Hungary)
Peter Molnar (Hungary)
Courage Opara (USA)
Chris Bumstead (Canada)
Terrence Ruffin (USA)
Breon Ansley (USA)
Alex Cambronero (Costa Rica)
Bryan Jones (USA)
Divine Wilson (USA)
Dani Younan (USA)
George Kawalawu (USA)
Zeek Andrews (USA)
Tony Taveras (USA)
Gabriel Zancanelli Machado (Brazil)
Brady King (USA)
Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi (Spain)
Darwin Andres Uribe (Colombia)
Seonghwan Kim (South Korea)
Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
Robert Timms (USA)
Fabian Mayr (Austria)
Ramon Rocha Querioz (Brazil)
POINTS (top 5 qualify)
Sabur Favors (USA), 17
Tommy Clark (USA), 14
Neil Currey (UK), 13
German Pastor (Spain), 12
Vahid Badpei (Iran), 11
Christopher Hunte (USA), 10
Mohamed Amine Fakhfakh (Tunisia), 10
Steve Laureus (USA), 9
Brandon Kidd (USA), 8
Dimitrii Vorotyntsev (Russia), 7
Marcus Perry (USA), 7
Marco Ruz (France), 6
Giuseppe Christian Zagarella (Italy), 6
Mattie Nelms (USA), 6
Ashwin Lucas (USA), 6
Mikhail Timoshin (Russia), 5
Traveon Daniels (USA), 5
Wesley Vissers (Netherlands), 5
Carlos Dommar (USA), 5
LeLand Devaughn, Jr (USA), 4
Lamar Shaw (USA) 4
Kevin Wilson (USA), 4
Alex dos Anjos (Brazil), 4
Jihoon Bang (South Korea), 4
Logan Franklin (USA), 4
Michael Daboul (UK), 3
Roman Khaliulin (Russia), 3
Jonathan Pelkey (USA), 3
Michael Bell (USA), 3
Harold Bright, Jr (USA), 3
Julio Cesar Balestrin de Freitas (Brazil), 3
Maurice Burgess (USA), 3
Jaewan Park (South Korea), 3
Shane Cullen (Ireland), 2
Jarek Crew (USA), 2
Arturo Mendez (USA), 2
Jorge Luis Guerrero Gallegos (Mexico), 2
Jaehun Park (South Korea), 2
Brandon Williams (USA), 2
Jonathan Lofthouse (UK), 1
Tomas Adame-Hernandez (USA), 1
Omar Bautista (USA), 1
Joseph Wahlberg (USA), 1
Jared Feather (USA), 1
Tom Connelly (USA), 1
Myeongho Park (South Korea), 1
Men’s Physique Olympia
Abisai Pietersz (Netherlands)
Riccardo Croci (Italy)
Carlos DeOliveira (Brazil)
Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
Raymont Edmonds (USA)
Khali Quartey (USA)
Antoine McNeill (USA)
Corey Morris (USA)
Kyron Holden (USA)
Erin Banks (USA)
Micah Thomas, Jr (USA)
Arya Saffaie (USA)
Rodrigue Chesnier (France)
Jahvair Mullings (USA)
Daniel Ammons (USA)
Suraqah Shabazz (USA)
Charjo Grant (USA)
Diogo Montenegro (Brazil)
Ramses Rams (Spain)
Clarence McSpadden, Jr (USA)
Andrei Marius Lincan (Romania)
Felipe Franco (Brazil)
Bong Seok Choi (South Korea)
Andre Ferguson (USA)
Jason Huynh (USA)
Joseph Lee (USA)
Youcef Djoudi (France)
Leonardo Vecchiato (Italy)
POINTS (top 5 qualify)
Luca Biolo (Italy), 19
John Sarmiento (USA), 17
George Brown (USA), 15
Ismael Dominguez (Mexico), 14
Nick Koeu (USA), 14
Ashley Lamont Patillo (USA), 12
Jeremy Potvin (USA), 10
Thomas Kunz (Switzerland), 8
Brett Mario Jackson (USA), 8
Emanual Hunter (USA), 7
Myron Griffin (USA), 7
Reuben Glass (USA), 6
Mehdi Kabbadj (USA), 6
Antoine Weatherspoon (USA), 6
Edvan Palmeira (Brazil), 6
Mike Stripling (USA), 5
Anthony Gilkes (USA), 5
Adrian Horton (USA), 5
Pedro Lima (Brazil), 5
Bumsu Park (South Korea), 5
Wellington Rodriguez (Brazil), 4
Ahmed Abdelgalil (Egypt), 4
Evan Kanu (USA), 4
Matthew Greggo (USA), 4
Daniel Stull (USA), 4
Steven Cao (USA), 4
Elton Mota (Portugal), 4
Tre Trotter (USA), 4
Yujin Lee (South Korea), 4
Anthony Chinakwe (USA), 4
Andrea Mosti (Italy), 3
Vinicius Viera Lima (Brazil), 3
Antonio Smothers (USA), 3
Zach Savoie (USA), 3
Michael Mperey (USA), 3
Saint Michael Anthony Moodie (USA), 3
Stevelon Dennis (USA), 3
Brandon Warren (USA), 3
Wooyoung Seo (South Korea), 3
Mark Robinson (USA), 3
Philippe Degila (France), 3
Maxime Parisi (France), 2
Denis Gusev (Russia), 2
Marcel Treichler (Switzerland), 2
Alex Newell (USA), 2
Antoine Williams (USA), 2
Jonathan Jimenez (USA), 2
Bryan Blackman (USA), 2
Alessandro Cavagnola (Italy), 2
Gerardo Gabriel (USA), 2
Junghyeon Jo (South Korea), 2
Aroldson Etienne (USA), 2
Frank Worley (USA), 2
Ms. Olympia
Virginia Sanchez (Spain)
Andrea Shaw (USA)
Margie Martin (USA)
Helle Trevino (USA)
MayLa Ash (USA)
Irene Anderson (Sweden)
Leah Dennie (USA)
Nadia Capostosto (Italy)
Michaela Aycock (USA)
LaDawn McDay (USA)
Anastasia Leonova (Russia)
Sheena Ohlig (USA)
Mona Poursaleh (Canada)
Margita Zamolova (Czech Republic)
Silvia Matta (Italy)
POINTS (top 3 qualify)
Janeen Lankowski (USA), 11
Stephanie Flesher (USA), 10
Monique Jones (USA), 9
Aleesha Young (USA), 8
Hunter Henderson (USA), 8
Tamara Makar (UK), 7
Corinne Ingman (UK), 7
Monica Gioiosa (Italy), 6
Anne Sheehan (USA), 6
Kristina Mendoza (USA), 6
Julia Fory (Germany), 6
Alcione Sanots (Brazil), 6
Wendy Sanchez (USA), 5
Heather Grace (USA), 5
Vera Mikulcova (Czech Republic), 5
Felicia Spatarescu (Spain), 5
Stacey Nunez (USA), 4
Jessica Martin (USA), 4
Hulda Lopez (Honduras), 4
Vanesa Lloria (Spain), 4
Akemy Jones (USA), 4
Anastasia Korableva (Russia), 3
Susanna Jacobs (USA), 3
Nicki Chartrand (USA), 3
Traci Rugged (USA), 3
Keisha Oliver (USA), 2
Gabriela Pena de la Vega (USA), 2
Women’s Physique Olympia
Lenka Ferencukova (Czech Republic)
Caroline Alves Dos Santos (Brazil)
Emily Renee Schubert (USA)
Melissa Teich (USA)
Sarah Villegas (USA)
Shanique Grant (USA)
Natalia Abraham Coelho (USA)
Barbara Menage (France)
Ivie Rhein (USA)
Carli Terepka (USA)
Alyssa Kiessling (USA)
Ana Harias (USA)
Tanya Chartrand (Canada)
Christelle Zarovska (Sint Maarten)
Daniely Castilho (Brazil)
Patricia Gosselin (Canada)
Brooke Walker (USA)
Ashley Jones (USA)
Anne-Lorraine Mohn (France)
Penpraghai Tiangngok (Thailand)
POINTS (top 3 qualify)
Elizabeth Bradshaw (USA), 23
Elisama Manuel Benta Zorzetta (Brazil), 11
Laura Pintado Chinchilla (Spain), 11
Sheronican Henton (USA), 8
Modesta Halby (Denmark), 8
Jeannie Feldman (USA), 8
Yuna Kim (South Korea), 7
Sheena Washington (USA), 7
Oana Marinescu (Spain), 6
Patricia Vezirian (USA), 6
Julia Whitesel (USA), 6
Christina Bryant (USA), 6
Elena Aviles Romero (Spain), 6
Claudia Arroyo (USA), 5
Brittany Watts (USA), 5
Raluca Raducu (Romania), 5
Corinne Ingman (UK), 4
Jeanette Johanson (Sweden), 4
Candice Willmore (USA), 4
Amanda Machado (USA), 4
Chelsey Worster (USA), 4
Priscila Reis (Brazil), 3
Jennifer Faccinto (USA), 3
Ann Gruber (USA), 3
Kimberly Rieck (USA), 3
Acione da Silva dos Santos (Brazil), 3
Katherine Hall (USA), 3
Tomefafa Ameko (USA), 3
Jeannea Burritt (USA), 2
Claudia Diaz (USA), 2
Lorraine Gonzalez (USA), 2
Amy Ramsel (USA), 2
Winsome White (USA), 2
Pamela Canfield (USA), 2
Bian Ruiying (China), 1
Teresa Brooks (USA), 1
Laura Richards (USA), 1
Victoria Flores (USA), 1
Katherine McLaurin (USA), 1
Priscila Cavilha (USA), 1
Wellness Olympia
Francielle Mattos (Brazil)
Angela Borges (Brazil)
Gisele Machado (Brazil)
Maria Paulette (Spain)
Yarishna Ayala (USA)
Isabelle Nunes (Brazil)
Sunny Andrews (USA)
Casey Delong (USA)
Lorena Ragusa (USA)
Juliana Mota Esteso (France)
Isamara dos Santos (Brazil)
Kassandra Gillis (Canada)
Bruna Seredich (USA)
Renee Jewett (USA)
Devyn Cambre (USA)
Barbara Emanuele Cesar (USA)
Tatiany Valliant (Brazil)
Julia Chitarra (Brazil)
Susana Mendez Monteiro (Brazil)
POINTS (top 3 qualify)
Mallory Myers (USA) 11
Charline Mas (France), 11
Renee Harshey (USA), 9
Lisa Christin Meiswinkel (Germany), 9
Amanda Rezende (Brazil), 8
Devoné Martin (USA), 7
Kenea Yancy (USA), 6
Helena Ordonez (Spain), 5
Marcela Mattos (Brazil), 5
Anna Mroczkowska (Poland), 5
Minna Pajulahti (Finland), 4
Daisha Johnson (USA), 4
Susana Rodriguez (Brazil), 3
Dani Balbino (Brazil), 2
Crystal Hayes (USA), 2
Figure Olympia
Wendy Fortino (USA)
Julia Heerenveen (Netherlands)
Carly Starling-Horrell (USA)
Cydney Gillon (USA)
Natalia Soltero (Mexico)
Nadia Wyatt (USA)
Nicole Zenobia Graham (USA)
Latorya Watts (USA)
Bojana Vasiljevic (USA)
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz (USA)
Jessica Reyes Padilla (Puerto Rico)
Lola Montez (Canada)
Rhea Gayle (UK)
Julia Waring (USA)
Michele Silva Pinto (Brazil)
Larhannah Robinson (USA)
Anna Banks (Poland)
Bahar Arya (Germany)
POINTS (top 3 qualify)
Shelace Shoemaker (USA), 15
Latoyia Farley (USA), 12
Heather Dees (USA), 12
Lena Ramsteiner (Germany), 12
Sandra Grajales (Mexico), 11
Jennifer Zienert (Germany), 10
Ivana Ivusic (USA), 9
Christine Stearns (USA), 8
Jossie Alarcon (Mexico), 8
Desiree Alferes (USA), 7
Melissa Brodsky (USA), 7
Gabriela Linhartova (Czech Republic), 7
Jessica Huete (USA), 6
Mayra Yudith Rocha Hernandez (Mexico), 6
Julia DiPompeo (USA), 6
Michele Pinto (Brazil), 5
Veronica Gallego (Spain), 4
Kristen McGregor (Jamaica), 4
Oyku Baser (Turkey), 4
Karina Grau (Paraguay), 4
Rachel Shoemake (USA), 3
Autumn Cleveland (USA), 3
Shanice Abrams (USA), 3
Jacquelyn Hurry (USA) 3
Anita Davis (USA), 3
Danielle Rose (USA), 3
Catherine Lavoie (Canada), 2
Queren Pacheco (Mexico), 2
Julia Champlin (USA), 2
Rachel Cucchia (Switzerland), 2
Rori Ross (USA), 1
Jill Braxmeyer (USA), 1
Rita Villarreal (USA), 1
Donya Jackson (USA), 1
Kim Clark (USA), 1
Fitness Olympia
Aurika Tyrgale (USA)
Missy Truscott (USA)
Oksana Grishina (Russia)
Whitney Jones (USA)
Ariel Khadr (USA)
Jaclyn Baker (USA)
Derina Wilson (USA)
Minna Pajulahti (Finland)
Sara Kovach (USA)
Alix Small (UK)
POINTS (top 3 qualify)
Tamara Vahn (Canada), 19
Debbie Fowler (USA), 15
Kate Errington (UK), 13
Corrine Bean (USA), 10
Stacy Dawn (USA), 7
Layla Mikayla (USA), 6
Marta Aguiar (Uruguay), 6
Stephanie Jones (USA), 6
Rene Brosch (USA), 5
Anna Chism (USA), 5
Allison Kramer (USA), 5
Sally Kendall-Williams (USA), 4
Michelle Gales (USA), 4
Jobie Goodro (USA), 3
Alison Burns (USA), 3
Missy Khasawneh (USA), 2
Bikini Olympia
Stine Hansen (Denmark)
Lucia Malavaze (USA)
Jourdanne Lee (USA)
Francesca Stoico (Italy)
Emily Plajer (USA)
Angelica Teixeira (USA)
Jennifer Ronzitti (USA)
Janet Layug (USA)
Ashley Kaltwasser (USA)
Elisa Pecini (Brazil)
Melissa Carver (Australia)
Lauren Dannenmiller (USA)
Ashlyn Little (USA)
Gabrielle Messias (USA)
Romina Basualdo (USA)
Alessia Facchin (Italy)
Chen Qi Liu (China)
Sara Choi (South Korea)
Eli Fernandez (Mexico)
Jimi Marley (USA)
Maria Julia Lemos (Brazil)
Jessica Wilson (USA)
Ariel Barley (USA)
Daraja Hill (USA)
Kristina Brunauer (Austria)
Lauralie Chapados (USA)
Maureen Blanquisco (USA)
Jasmine Gonzalez (USA)
Erin Stern (USA)
Allison Testu (France)
Noora Mahonen (Finland)
POINTS (top 5 qualify)
Carolina Collazos (USA), 18
Sierra Swann (USA), 16
Jennifer Dorie (Canada), 16
Ivanna Escandar Fernandez (Spain), 16
Vania Auguste (USA), 14
Reijuana Harley (USA), 13
Shelby Pierce (USA), 12
Anya Nicholson (USA), 12
Etila Santiago Santos (Brazil), 11
Cristobalina Pajares (Spain), 10
Carla Garthwaite (USA), 10
Haley Houdyshell (USA), 10
Hannah Ranfranz (USA), 9
Ottavia Mazza (Italy), 9
Svetlana Elina (Russia), 8
Eszter Oczella (Hungary), 8
Cory Hageman (USA), 7
Jessica Dolias (USA), 7
Adrianna Kaczmarek (Poland), 6
Phoebe Hagan (UK), 5
Chloe Margraitner (Switzerland), 5
Aleksandra Banda (Australia), 5
Song Reum (South Korea), 5
Brittany Ann (USA), 5
Anastasia Gonzalez Andreu (Spain), 5
Breena Martinez (USA), 5
Jessica Johnson (Australia), 4
Alyssa Blessing (USA), 4
Christina Heath (USA), 4
Hyo Jung Kim (South Korea), 4
Julia Wohlschlegel (USA), 4
Dulce Cristal Lopez Castellanos (Mexico), 4
Isha Barrow (USA), 4
Christiane Silveira (Brazil), 4
Jade Kelsie Wolfenden (UK), 3
Stephanie Kalms (Australia), 3
Rudy Guerrero (USA), 3
Sonia Lewis (USA), 3
Bola Seo (South Korea), 3
Lydia Munroe (USA), 3
Alejandra Soule (USA), 3
Lexus Redmond (USA), 3
Pricila Rodrigues (Brazil), 3
Alice Marchisio (Italy), 3
Elizabeth Yisrael (USA), 2
Sethia Daigle (USA), 2
Beatriz Biscaia (Portugal), 2
Claire Bonaccorso (Australia), 2
Hope Harper (USA), 2
Emily Plajer (USA), 2
Trisha Green (USA), 2
Meechka Marcelin (USA), 2
Hyekyeong Hwang (South Korea), 2
Yadira Rosado (USA), 2
Alexandria Ross (USA), 2
Jodie Yunker (USA), 2
Giuditta Taccani (Italy), 2
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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.
Matt Jansen Answers: Did Big Ramy Cement Mr. Olympia As A Size Game?
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Matt Jansen believes that Big Ramy further cemented Mr. Olympia as a battle of size… but there’s one wild card catch.
Matt Jansen is the trainer who has been working with Nick Walker during his rising success. Walker has been compared to Dorian Yates and his size is being praised as he continues to improve and prepare for the Mr. Olympia. With Big Ramy’s win in 2020, it seems he is further raising the bar when it comes to muscle mass. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we ask Matt Jansen if Big Ramy has cemented Olympia as a game of size – and how that may help Nick Walker’s future.
During our conversation with Matt Jansen, we asked him how he first got into bodybuilding and coaching. What brought him to the place he is today – now known as an iconic modern coach responsible for fantastic physiques? Jansen goes into detail about his past as a bodybuilder and how his entire world was changed when he started focusing on a new training strategy that included a bigger focus on rest.
This change of pace opened Matt Jansen’s mind towards the power of coaching and training knowledge. He later then became mentored under Neil Hill – which began his path towards becoming the coach and trainer he is today. He’s now coaching one of the most threatening up-and-comers in the pro league – Nick Walker.
Nick Walker is a bodybuilder who brings unprecedented amounts of mass for his age. Still in his 20s, he already looks like a mass monster who had been training well into his 30s or 40s. Of course, he still has improvements to go – but he already has become highlighted as a big contender in the sport.
That’s why we also asked Matt Jansen about Big Ramy’s win at the Mr. Olympia 2020. Ramy represents true mass monster size unseen since Ronnie Coleman. While he has struggled to match the same kind of sharp conditioning that made Ronnie Coleman one of a kind – Ramy pulled it together for a truly rewarding physique last year.
Does Big Ramy’s win finally put the nail in the coffin when it comes to size? Has the Mr. Olympia proper become a battle for the most shockingly massive bodybuilder with good conditioning?
Matt Jansen believes so – and also jokingly admits that this will help Nick Walker’s future at the Mr. Olympia. If judges will all be pairing up competitors against Big Ramy in the center – having mass monster size will be of huge importance.
But Matt Jansen does also admit that the mass monster battle is not 100% set in stone. There is one wild card that can change the way judges lean – whether it be this Mr. Olympia or down the line. Matt Jansen believes that Shawn Rhoden presents a smaller but immensely aesthetic physique that can still overcome the likes of Big Ramy. Of course, Rhoden is not able to compete as of Mr. Olympia 2021.
If Shawn Rhoden were able to compete – Matt Jansen believes it can skew the Olympia lineup to favor both aesthetic and mass monster equally. Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia before against many mass monsters larger than him. He has the talent to do it again.
Alas, we don’t know when or if that will ever happen at this point. So for now it seems mass monster size will dominate as Big Ramy returns as the Olympia champion. Of course, the joy of competitive sports is that anything can happen. Nothing is set in stone – but for now Matt Jansen is feeling good about Nick Walker’s future pairing up against the likes of Big Ramy.
You can watch Matt Jansen speak in detail about his coaching origins, Big Ramy, and the Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Gunter Schlierkamp: Why Does The Olympia Champion Only Compete At Mr. Olympia?
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Gunter Schlierkamp answers: Should the Mr. Olympia champion compete more than once per year?
It’s almost completely commonplace for the Mr. Olympia champion to not compete again until the next Mr. Olympia competition. But this was not always the case, in past eras, the dubbed European Tour after Mr. Olympia would often showcase a series of events where the top five Olympia contenders, including the new champion, continued to compete. Gunter Schlierkamp, for example, even beat Ronnie Coleman in a competition shortly after Coleman had just won the Olympia title. Why did things change? In our latest GI Exclusive, Gunter Schlierkamp shares his thoughts as to why the Olympia champion only competes once per year.
For the past few decades, the winner of the Mr. Olympia would typically only compete once per year. For example, Phil Heath would win the big show and then not compete again until the following Olympia competition. We asked Gunter Schlierkamp why this is the case and his answer shows both sides of the argument.
At first, Gunter Schlierkamp’s reaction was that of not understanding why the Mr. Olympia champion only competes once per year. He explains how, typically, a bodybuilder’s conditioning remains strong for three weeks after a show. If they land on the Mr. Olympia on point – why would they not compete in a few more shows afterwards? Even if it’s just for some additional prize money?
Gunter Schlierkamp reflects on previous eras, where the traditional European Tour would occur right after the Mr. Olympia. These would typically be back to back shows for multiple weekends in a row. The biggest names from Olympia would compete and often the Mr. Olympia champion would be among them.
To some degree, the European Tour has changed. There are less big pro shows that occur immediately after the Mr. Olympia – either due to the pro shows getting more spread out or disappearing completely. If the pro shows are not in the immediate weeks after the Olympia, it would make sense for the champion to avoid it.
That being said, Gunter Schlierkamp also presents another side to the topic. He understands that the Mr. Olympia prize money is very high – more than enough for a year’s worth of salary. On top of that, training and succeeding at being the best in the world takes its tole. He likens it to a gold medal Olympic athlete. After a runner wins the gold at the Olympics, that athlete will likely not try to reach that champion-level time again for quite some time.
Perhaps it is smart for the Mr. Olympia champion to only compete once per year. This allows the champion to only focus on one thing – winning the Mr. Olympia again. They can’t use depletion from another pro show event earlier in the year as an excuse for a lackluster presentation at Olympia. Why even take the risk? Especially if the prize money (and sponsorships) allows for the athlete to not need to compete again.
You can watch Gunter Schlierkamp’s full thoughts on how often the Mr. Olympia champion competes in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Melvin Anthony: How To Beat Big Ramy At The Mr. Olympia
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Melvin Anthony breaks down how Big Ramy needs to be more than “a little off” to lose Mr. Olympia. He needs to be knocked out.
After many years of close calls, Big Ramy has finally become the Mr. Olympia champion many fans hoped he would be. Now with the 2020 Olympia under his belt, he’s entering the biggest competition of the year as a returning champion. Will he be hard to defeat? Or will his past challenges with conditioning plague him in 2021? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melvin Anthony details what it will take for Big Ramy to lose the Mr. Olympia 2021.
During our conversation with Melvin Anthony, we asked if he had watched the Mr. Olympia 2020 last year. He does indeed continue to follow bodybuilding and was incredibly impressed by Big Ramy’s physique. He believes that the athlete certainly deserved the champion title.
But what does the future hold for Big Ramy? Will he continue to reign as champion or another one shot champion? Melvin Anthony doesn’t claim he can read the future – but he does look back at past champions to predict what it will take for Big Ramy to be defeated.
Melvin Anthony knows one thing is certain, an Olympia champion almost always maintains some sort of reign and repeat victories. There are exceptions and the past few years actually showcased that in the form of Shawn Rhoden and Brandon Curry. That being said, the majority of bodybuilders who win Mr. Olympia go on to win multiple in a row.
So while this is not a guarantee for Big Ramy, Melvin Anthony believes that it will take more than him being “a little off” to lose the title. Judging is meant to be as objective as possible. At the end of the day, though, it’s a subjective sport. Judges will see Big Ramy differently than in previous years. He’s no longer a competitor hungry to win his first Olympia, he’s now a returning champion.
So Melvin Anthony believes that the only way Big Ramy will lose is if he is defeated by a “knock out.” What he means by this is that either Ramy has to make significant mistakes to his physique or someone has to show up with a next-level physique than we’ve seen so far. Big Ramy has a lot of mass on his side – but his conditioning is where he has struggled in the past. No one will be him on pure mass alone – so all other competitors will need to be more perfect than they ever have been in order to surpass Ramy. Or again as we mentioned earlier – Big Ramy would have to make a huge mistake.
Melvin Anthony acknowledges that everyone on the stage has a great challenge ahead of them. Big Ramy has the pressure of either matching his 2020 physique or making it even better. The other competitors all need to try and contend with Ramy’s massive size.
You can watch Melvin Anthony speak in full detail about Big Ramy and the future of Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Zane Watson: “2020 Was The Best Judged Olympia I’ve Ever Watched”
Zane Watson talks about the results of the Mr. Olympia 2020 compared to previous years. When it comes to bodybuilding, especially the Mr. Olympia, everyone has their own opinion of who should have won. When enough people agree and speak up about it – that can create genuine controversy. Victor Martinez vs Jay Cutler at…
Flex Lewis Will Not Compete In Mr. Olympia 2021
Lewis, who has dominated for years in the 212 division, will not compete in Mr. Olympia for the second-straight year.
Flex Lewis is one of the all-time greats in the Men’s 212 division. He totaled seven-straight victories at Mr. Olympia in that division, the most all-time. In 2018, Lewis announced that he would retire from the 212 division and make the transition up to Men’s Open. Lewis recently announced that he will not compete at Mr. Olympia 2021. This makes for the second year in a row.
Flex Lewis posted a video on his YouTube channel explaining the decision. This is now the second year in a row that fans will have to wait for Lewis to make his much-anticipated debut at his new division. In 2020, Lewis withdrew from the competition after complications with a shoulder injury.
The video begins with Lewis giving us a look at his new gym, the Dragon’s Lair, that he opened in Las Vegas. He walks viewers through the gift shop and then into the back offices. When he reaches the gym itself, this is where he begins to break down his decision. It is around the four-minute mark of the video.
When discussing the reason for his opt out, Flex Lewis highlights the move to Las Vegas and the process opening up his new gym. Finally, Lewis discusses a deeper reason — he and his wife are trying to have another child.
Lewis also wanted to clarify that he did not withdraw from this year’s competition because of an injury.
“I feel really good. That time off last year from competing, did it mentally f*** me up? Yes, it did, because I knew what I look like, and I know I could be doing damage up on that stage. So now this year has come, and there are a wide variety of things that have happened this year.”
Flex Lewis made a name for himself as one of the best non-heavyweight bodybuilders of all-time. He enjoyed a reign of dominance from 2012-2018 where he was crowned champion in the 212 division at Olympia. As a Men’s 212 champion, Lewis can enter the competition automatically under his own ambition. That is not the case in Men’s Open. Lewis would have to qualify or receive an invitation to compete, which he had not yet this year.
Lewis has not competed since 2018 but he made it clear that he is not retiring.
“I appreciate everybody’s support. I’m not retiring,” Lewis said in the video. “There’s still so much burning desire and ambition for me to fulfill my bodybuilding dreams, and, God willing, injury-free, I will be on that bodybuilding stage next year.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
THROWBACK: Flex Lewis Tells His Story – “The American Dream Was Put In Front of Me”
Inside the mind of Flex Lewis.
UPDATE: In celebration of Independence Day – we are republishing our article from 2018 detailing Flex Lewis’ journey to America and becoming arguably the single greatest Men’s 212 champion in pro bodybuilding. Below is the original article.
James ‘Flex’ Lewis won his sixth straight 212 Mr Olympia title in 2017, tying the record set by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Now the 34-year-old legend lives and trains in Florida, but still holds close to his Welsh roots. He sat down with WalesOnline to talk about his life- past present and future.
Flex said that rugby and gymnastics gave him a fantastic frame for bodybuilding. In fact his nickname “Flex” was from rugby, long before his bodybuilding days. When he did start training in a local gym, they had a massive poster of Mr Wales up and the gym owner said he would give Lewis a free membership if he competed in the show. Lewis agreed, won the show, and it’s head judge, Niel Hill, still coaches Lewis to this day.
“He advised me at the time to go for Olympic junior under-21 weightlifting. I won that show. Pictures from that show ended up on the internet, which was still relatively new at the time, and it made its way to the owner of the famous Gold’s Gym in America. The next thing I knew, he was requesting I fly out to LA.”
On his first-ever trip to America, Lewis was having dinner with guys like Hulk Hogan and Jean-Claude van Damme. He sees himself as a poster boy from the American dream, attributing all his success to hard work and dedication.
“I wasn’t given any blueprint of how to be a bodybuilder; I just decided to give it my all.”
Lewis also commented on his rigorous training mentality.
“I see it as a job. You don’t want to go to work sometimes, but that’s why I’ve given my body that mental break…I never cheat, I never miss training sessions and I’ve never missed a cardio session in the years. Even when I’ve had injuries, I’ve still altered my cardio and training to get around the injuries.”
Though he still stays in excellent shape, Lewis is now pursuing opportunities outside of bodybuilding. He has developed many contacts in entertainment though he says the work can be less than exciting,
“Up until this year, I’ve never been presented or entertained anything to do with acting,” he said. “I’ve done some stuff with Paris Hilton when I lived in LA, but I found it incredibly boring standing on set all day long and eating from a food truck.”
No matter if he decides to dive into acting, Lewis says he is proud of what he’s created for himself and his family.
“The investments I’ve made ten years ago are now doing very well, and I’ve got other businesses in the process of being bought out. I pride myself in knowing what I’ve gone through, my family will never have to go through. They’ll be financially secure for life.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“Meet the Olympians: Red Carpet Event” To Be Held This Weekend in Orlando
The “Meet the Olympians: Red Carpet Event” will be held this weekend in Orlando.
The 2021 Mr. Olympia will take place from Oct. 7-11 in Orlando. This weekend, some of the top bodybuilders in the world will gather for a different event for a great cause. Ed and Betty Pariso will promote an event called “Meet the Olympians: Red Carpet Event” beginning on Friday.
This will be a two-day event that will take place on Friday and Saturday at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Phil Heath and Flex Lewis will highlight the list of competitors set to make an appearance. Heath is one of the best bodybuilders of all-time. He totaled seven-straight victories at Mr. Olympia from 2011-2017. He returned to the competition last year where he finished third. Lewis is the king of the Men’s 212 division, where he has total seven 212 Olympia wins during his run. Fans are still eagerly waiting for his Men’s Open debut – which was delayed due to an injury last year.
Breon Ansley and Cydney Gillon are also scheduled to appear. Ansley exploded onto the scene in 2018 by winning the inaugural Arnold Classic Physique title. Later in the season, he added his second-straight Olympia Classic Physique victory. Gillon is one of the top female competitors earning wins at Figure Olympia at the 2018 IFBB Olympia and the Arnold Classic 2019 Figure International.
Other competitors set to appear include Natalia Coehlo, Raymont Edmonds, George Dabull Peterson, Derek Lunsford, Sheronica Henton, Lauren Dannenmiller, Lee Labrada, Hunter Labrada, Casey Marshall, and Terrance Ruffin. Former IFBB Pro Bob Cicherillo will host the event.
Ed and Betty Pariso will promote this event. Betty is a former IFBB Pro who has victories at events such as the 2001 Jan Tana Pro Classic and 2009 IFBB Tampa Bay Pro. This event will promote their charity, “The Ed & Betty Pariso Cancer Charity.”
Ed was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma cancer when masses were found in his lower abdomen and pelvic area in February 2017. After a surgery that spanned over 10 hours, the two large masses were successfully removed. Today, Ed and Betty have made it their goal to help whoever is in need and struggling with this horrible disease.
The Pariso’s have promoted and held many events over the years. Along with partners, such as Bodybuilding.com, Ed and Betty have become known for their shows that attract some of the top athletes in the world. Their goal is to help families dealing with cancer put it aside for an exciting day at a special event.
This weekend, Orlando will be the place to be to see some of the top competitors in the world. They will begin arriving at 3 pm on Friday an 11 am on Saturday. This is a chance for fans to meet some of their favorite athletes in the sport while contributing to a great cause.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Guy Cisternino: “An Open Olympia Would Never Lose To A Men’s 212 Olympia”
Guy Cisternino talks about Hadi Choopan and the differences between Men’s 212 and Men’s Open. Hadi Choopan shook up the bodybuilding world in 2019 when he transitioned from Men’s 212 to Men’s Open and competed at the Olympia. Not only that – he ended up finishing third place. This wasn’t a fluke either, in the…