Tag: Mr. Olympia
Jay Cutler Reflects On Who Is The Greatest Mr. Olympia Of All-Time
Jay Cutler decided to discuss the debate when it comes to the Olympia.
No matter the sport, there is a fascination on who the greatest of all-time is. Tm Brady or Jim Brown, Barry Bonds or Babe Ruth — it does not matter the era or position of the athlete. The same can be said about bodybuilding. The Olympia is the biggest event in bodybuilding. This is an honor that many have held and many more are vying for. When thinking about the history of the competition, it is normal to think on who the greatest champion is. Jay Cutler recently weighed in on this topic and gave his opinions.
Cutler is a four-time Olympia champion and one of the legendary bodybuilders in the history of the sport. On a recent episode of Cutler Cast on his YouTube page, Cutler discussed the topic and began with the greatest bodybuilder of all-time, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite his greatness, Cutler explains how some may be losing sight because of the times changing.
“There was no one better but obviously Coleman broke the record from Lee Haney. As we get further down the road, people lose track of the original generation.”
When Schwarzenegger was at his peak, he displayed a physique that no one had seen before. He did so without the phenomenon that is social media. Bodybuilders like Cutler himself, along with Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath, were able to take advantage and gain a larger following because of social media sites.
Schwarzenegger was unbeatable from 1970-1975 winning six consecutive Olympia titles. He added another in 1980 to make it seven for his career. Schwarzenegger was one of the pioneers of bodybuilding and really brought it into the light. Cutler also discussed the level of competition and how he would like to hear it from someone who was there.
“At the time, he was pretty damn good, dude. To win seven, you know. I mean the competition I’ve heard at that time, Arnold didn’t have to defend his title against anyone. People don’t know that. I would love the historians to chime in on this and tell me how many Olympias Arnold won without a competitor against him.”
Coleman and Haney are tied for the most Olympia victories in history with eight a piece. Despite the great success, Cutler is a fan of Dorian Yates and what he was able to bring to the table.
Yates won six consecutive Olympia titles from 1992-1997. On stage, he displayed a well-rounded physique where it was difficult to find any flaws.
“Dorian Yates, I would say, he freaked me out more than Ronnie Coleman did,” Jay Cutler said.
“When I saw Dorian Yates and how big his back was and the calves and everything, I remember seeing him and thinking ‘gosh, how can someone get this big.’”
Cutler continues by explaining the freak that Coleman was but believes Yates was larger on stage and it began with his lats.
“Ronnie Coleman’s probably the biggest specimen. Let’s put it this way. Ronnie had the best back, the best double bicep,” Cutler said.
“Dorian Yates was so wide. His lats bro were, there was nothing like it. I couldn’t believe how developed they were. If you compared their lats, Dorian Yates’ lats blew away Ronnie’s, in my opinion. Ronnie Coleman had more detail, which is just like Phil Heath did.”
Jay Cutler did not give a definitive answer when talking about the greatest Olympia winner of all-time. It is a subjective topic that has many divisions because some athletes are stronger in certain areas on stage. It is clear that Cutler was a fan of Yates and acknowledged the behemoth that was Coleman. Also, Schwarzenegger always has to be brought up in the discussion.
As for a definitive answer, there is not one. This will remain a conversation for bodybuilding fans around the world to have for years to come.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
A Complete List Of Mr. Olympia Winners Throughout The Years
Photos via Instagram @philheath @big_ramy @schwarzenegger
Every Mr. Olympia winner to ever walk the biggest stage in bodybuilding.
Every year, those top bodybuilders we all know and love travel to the Olympia stage in hopes of becoming the next winner. There is nothing more coveted than a Mr. Olympia win and ever since 1965, when Joe and Ben Weider brought this competition to life, it has stood the test of time as a way to uncover a true champion year in and year out.
Mr. Olympia has expanded now into 10 divisions, bringing to light many hard working, dedicated, and absolutely shredded athletes who each year stalk the biggest stage in the world for that top prize. Now an entire weekend of events, a fan expo, and more promo than ever, Mr. Olympia has taken on a whole new meaning. And while the event is open to men and women, with five events on each side respectively, the main event still stands at Mr. Olympia and the Open division.
Despite being 57-years old, there have only been 16 winners. With big names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and Phil Heath winning more than a handful of times each, the standard continued to be set and Mr. Olympia was taken to a whole new level. Regardless, each of these 16 winners has left their mark and cemented their legacy as Mr. Olympia.
We’ve put together a list of every Mr. Olympia winner since the start. This long-standing and storied event has seen action, drama, and some of the world’s largest humans fight for that top prize. Each and every year, we are excited to see who is next.
Every Mr. Olympia Winner
Larry Scott (1965-1966)
Larry “The Golden Boy” Scott won the first ever Olympia contest in 1965 and repeated in 1966. After a two-time victory, he retired. Scott is known for his massive arms and popularized the Preacher curl exercise, so much so that people often referred to it as “Scott curls”. Since Scott won in both his appearances before retiring, he is the only bodybuilder to never lose in a Mr. Olympia where he competed.
Sergio Oliva (1967-1969)
This three-time Cuban bodybuilder took on the nickname “The Myth” and crossed paths with Arnold Schwarzenegger on more than one occasion. Sergio Oliva was uncontested in 1968, but in 1969, he would face off against a young Schwarzenegger and win. He served as a Chicago police officer for over 25 years.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970-1975, 1980)
Arnold Schwarzenegger ran the early-mid 70’s with dominant performances. His 1975 appearance was documented in the Pumping Iron, upon which he retired. But he wasn’t done. Schwarzenegger came out of retirement for the 1980 Olympia contest after training for his role in Conan the Barbarian, where he was putting on muscle and felt as though he could compete. His entry in this competition was kept secret and at the last minute, he announced that he would compete. Despite controversy and disdain from fellow competitors, Schwarzenegger competed, and won. He also made careers as an actor, politician, and activist.
Franco Columbu (1976, 1981)
Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger were close friends, having met at a bodybuilding competition at young age and eventually becoming training partners. After Columbu won in 1976, he participated in the first ever World’s Strongest Man, but an injury proved to a major setback for him. However, he bounced back and competed at the 1981 contest, where he won and shortly after retired.
Frank Zane (1977-1979)
One of the greatest physiques in the history of bodybuilding belongs to Frank Zane. This is due to his meticulous, dedicated, and sharp focus on symmetry and proportion thus shifting the idea from sheer mass to aesthetics. He is one of only three bodybuilders to defeat Schwarzenegger and won his Olympia titles while being under 200 pounds. He was nicknamed “The Chemist”, partly because of his strict attention to detail and also because of his Science degree from Wilkes University.
Chris Dickerson (1982)
Chris Dickerson is one of only a handful of Olympia winners to only win once, however, is a very decorated bodybuilder with a thirty-year career. He was most notably the first openly gay winner of Mr. Olympia while also being someone who prioritized heavy muscle with aesthetic. Along with bodybuilding, he also was a successful model.
Samir Bannout (1983)
“The Lion of Lebanon” is another bodybuilder to only win once, but Samir Bannout was the first Middle Eastern bodybuilder to win Mr. Olympia. Interestingly enough, Bannout’s first professional win was Mr Olympia in 1983 and he would go on to have a great career throughout the ensuing decades.
Lee Haney (1984-1991)
Lee Haney took charge with his physical size and genetics coupled with his unique style of training which allowed him to win eight consecutive titles, a feat shared only with fellow Olympia, Ronnie Coleman. As he began to win again, and again, and again, he really put an emphasis on the power of the mind. This was important to keep him grounded and to not let success become his fatal flaw. His reign would eventually end when a young Dorian Yates came to town. Outside of bodybuilding, Haney was appointed as Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by former President Bill Clinton.
Dorian Yates (1992-1997)
Dorian Yates, also known as “The Shadow” is one of the greatest bodybuilders in history and has the fifth highest number of wins. Yates is considered to be one of the original “mass monsters”, seeking maximum muscle stimulation in the shortest amount of time possible. This is done through high-intensity training. From 1992-1997, this propelled Yates to Olympia victory.
Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005)
When Ronnie Coleman showed up in 1998, no one knew that another 8-year run was in the making. Coleman started out as a police officer and bodybuilding became reality when a gym owner offered him a free membership if he could train Coleman for bodybuilding shows. And it began. Year after year, Coleman continued to win until 2006, when Jay Cutler swooped in and took the title. Coleman held the record for most IFBB wins at 26 for a long time, but that record was broken by Dexter Jackson.
Jay Cutler (2006-07, 2009-2010)
Facing what seemed to be an impossible task in defeating Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler took on that challenge and ultimately edged Coleman out for that top spot. With his 2009 win, he became just the third Olympian to win in non-consecutive years. He has been featured on magazine covers and started Cutler Nutrition, a bodybuilding supplements business.
Dexter Jackson (2008)
Dexter “The Blade” Jackson took the 2008 Olympia contest after having a great year including wins at the Arnold Classic and Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII, among others. He has competed in 20 Mr. Olympia contests and is the only bodybuilder to win the overall title at Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia. He started his own bodybuilding competition called The Dexter Classic in 2009.
Phil Heath (2011-2017)
Placing in the top 5 from 2008-2010, Phil Heath was knocking at Mr. Olympia’s door asking for that title. In 2011, it finally came. But it didn’t stop. Heath continued to defend the title for the next six years, earning him the reputation of being one of the most muscular men on the planet. His Olympia win streak ties him with Schwarzenegger for second most of all time.
Shawn Rhoden (2018)
Shawn Rhoden is the oldest bodybuilder to win Mr. Olympia at 43-years old and had for a number of years been in the top 5. His chance came in 2018 when he replaced Heath, taking the title for himself. An aspiring soccer player to Mr. Olympia, Rhoden had a fulfilling bodybuilding career. However, Rhoden passed away in late 2021.
Brandon Curry (2019)
Health and fitness was always a part of Brandon Curry and his routine. A football player early on, he switched his focus to bodybuilding and began competing in shows. In 2019, he won the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, placing himself in Olympia’s history books. Despite his thick and muscular appearance, his victory came as a surprise to some.
Mamdouh Elssbiay (2020-2021)
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, earned his pro card just three years after he started training. His pro debut was at the New York Pro, which he won in 2013. He slowly climbed the ranks of Olympia finishes until finally teaming up with bodybuilding legend, Dennis James, and putting a new emphasis on his training. He finally reached that top spot in 2020 and repeated in 2021.
Wrap Up
Mr. Olympia is a fun and exciting event each and every year. With the most coveted bodybuilding prize on the line, these top athletes take each other on and seek to reach that top podium spot. These winners have cemented a legacy in the bodybuilding world and in Mr. Olympia history and each year, everyone can’t wait to see who else makes the list.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Aaron Singerman: Bodybuilding Today Is “More Swelling, Less Definition”
Aaron Singerman shares his gut feelings about the modern era of bodybuilding compared to previous decades.
Aaron Singerman has been making some major moves in the bodybuilding space with the recent announcement that Kai Greene has become a Redcon1 sponsored athlete. Being a man so focused on preparing today for the future, we wanted to know his thoughts on the current state of bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Aaron Singerman gives his critique of today’s bodybuilders and looks towards a hopeful future.
One of Redcon1’s biggest sponsored athletes (besides the recent acquisition of Kai) is Cedric McMillan. In a sense, this tells you everything you need to know about Aaron Singerman’s preferred look in bodybuilding. So Aaron’s thoughts on modern bodybuilding might not come to a surprise – he thinks the conditioning is lacking.
He makes sure to clarify that the athletes competing today are talented and hard working. In fact, he doesn’t paint the difference in conditioning as an objectively bad thing. He just finds it different.
Aaron Singerman is also not quite sure why the conditioning is different today. He’s heard all of the possible reasons – evolution of drugs, change in drug culture, or perhaps the rise of social media having an effect. At the end of the day, Aaron doesn’t know what causes it. He also doesn’t know if it’s better or worse. But for his personal opinion, he has a preference to what he grew up with in the 90s era.
Aaron Singerman uses Kevin Levrone as the prime example of what a bodybuilder should look like in his opinion. He thinks bodybuilders today focus “more on swelling, less on definition.” This concept is what has plagued some of the most promising athletes such as Big Ramy and Roelly Winklaar. Truly mammoth competitors that falter in the small details.
Overall, Aaron Singerman has a positive outlook about bodybuilding as a whole – especially for the future. The new ownership of the Olympia brand gives him increased hope for the sport to continue to thrive. Unlike AMI, Jake Wood has been a passionate fan of the sport.
Aaron Singerman believes that if AMI still had ownership fo Olympia, it would have already been full cancelled due to the pandemic. While safety is important, having faith in finding an alternative safe way to continue on in the name of the athletes is paramount. Aaron believes that beyond safety, the livelihood of the sport most be protected during these challenging times.
So while this year has had its drawbacks, Aaron Singerman sees these decisions during hard times as proof that the Olympia and bodybuilding will continue to thrive in the future. Perhaps the fresh Olympia ownership might also lead to a change in physiques for the new generation. Once we’re out of the weeds we’ll soon find out.
You can watch Aaron Singerman’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
10 Best Butts on the Internet
Instagram is the best place to find the greatest butts on the planet. If it is an ass worth looking at, you’ll surely find it on Instagram. Fit chicks and their loyal following are some of the reasons Instagram has a huge userbase.
If you’re a butt connoisseur like us, we know how much time you’re spending to find the best butts to look at. We did the hard work for you and put together the best rears on the internet in this article.
10 Best Rears You Should Be Following on Instagram
1. Jen Selter
Jen Selter is a 24-year old internet celebrity celebrated amongst her followers for her perfect rear. Selter has appeared on many TV shows promoting health and fitness and we’re sure we’ll get to see much more of her in the future.
Looking to cut weight and get shredded?
These top fat burners for women are ideal for fitness-minded individuals to stay lean.
2. Alice Matos
Alice Matos is a Brazilian beauty with a stellar booty. Matos is much more than a pretty face. Alice runs her fashion brand, Labellamafia, and has turned it into fashion label which is widely successful.
3. Michelle Lewin
Michelle Lewin is one of the most successful fitness athletes and has been around for the longest time. Lewin has appeared on several fitness magazines and is known for her grueling workouts. This Latina’s rear is a piece of art.
4. Paige Hathaway
Paige Hathaway is one of the hottest fitness athletes. Hathaway has a butt to die for and she is big on breaking the stereotype that muscles aren’t for women. With a body and face like her, people are surely going to listen to her.
5. Nikki Blackketter
Nikki Blackketter started out as a YouTuber and has gathered a fan following on all the social media platforms. Blackketter loves training her glutes (it shows) and shares her workouts with her followers.
Want to get shredded and impress women on the beach and in the gym?
These top fat burners for men are ideal for individuals who want to get diced and shredded.
6. Karina Elle
Karina loves squatting, and we’re grateful for it. Elle is one of the few female fitness celebrities who doesn’t hold back from sharing her sweaty photos and videos. Karina keeps it real and has a stunning butt.
Best Multivitamins For Women To Boost Health & Wellness 2021
Boost your overall performance and health with these amazing multivitamins.
7. Sonia Isaza
Sonia Isaza is a Colombian bodybuilder and fitness model with an absolutely incredible physique. With over 3 million followers on social media, Sonia is one to definitely take note of for her work ethic, workouts, and modeling photos, showing off a shredded aesthetic. Using her platform, she seeks to inspire change in others while also continuing to promote herself.
8. Ashley Kaltwasser
Ashley is a 3X Ms. Bikini Olympia winner (2013, 2014 and 2015). It is needless to say she has one of the best butts in the industry. Kaltwasser has left competing and focuses on building her following on the internet.
9. Courtney King
View this post on Instagram
Love me a good full booty & hamstring focused lower body day ? did this workout yesterday + a yoga class! Felt so good to lift & then flow though a deep stretch afterwards practicing yoga ?♀️ (need to commit to more yoga!) I wasn’t feeling the best… but I did what I could using a lot of isolating, squeezing and time under tension during this workout! Make sure to save to try some of these exercises and tips in your next #BOOTAY day baybayyy! THE WORKOUT: 1️⃣deep sumo squat holding a dumbbell, I like to do these standing in between two benches as well! 2️⃣high platform deep lunge, focus on your form here and pushing up through the heel squeezing your glute at the top of the movement! 3️⃣reverse hack squat, to challenge yourself and feel even more tension in the glutes, put a band around your knees! you might need to drop the weight a bit if you do it that way and focus on driving your knees out and coming up at he top feeling it all in your booty! 4️⃣reverse hyper with a squeeze off a bench, bosu ball or box im like doing here! this is a great time under tension exercise that fatigues the glutes like no other! AGAIN, MAKE SURE TO SQUEEZE AT THE TOP! 5️⃣t-bar squat to wide stance deadlift, you will feel full glute and hamstring activation with this guy! 6️⃣t-bar deep squat pulse, lots of tension with any type of pulsing or 1 1/2 squats! 7️⃣GHD, round your back so you feel this in the hammies and booty over your lower back. I did a drop set with weight then no weight for a complete burn out! 8️⃣high rep sumo deadlift burn out, I kept the tension in my glute and heels!! Song is @travisscott butterfly effect ?
A post shared by Courtney King (@courtneykiing) on Jan 9, 2020 at 10:35am PST
Courtney King won the Ms. Bikini Olympia in 2015. King is one of the cutest girls in the fitness industry and we would go as far as to say, she is complete wife material. Courtney posts her glute workouts online, and you should give them a try.
10. Yanet Garcia
Yanet Garcia exploded onto the scene when her pictures from her weather reporting days went viral. Garcia has since become an internet celebrity. Yanet has a perfectly shaped bottom, one you wouldn’t mind looking at for hours.
Who do you think has the best butt on the internet? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*All images courtesy of Instagram
Best on the Planet! Physiques with Picture Perfect 6-Pack Abs
Best on the Planet – Physiques with Picture Perfect 6-Pack Abs
Nothing else portrays the fitness level of a person more than a set of six-pack abs. A chiseled midriff isn’t easy to get. A six-pack can take months of strict diet, training, and discipline to achieve and maintain. The constant work is why they’re easy to lose, so people like showing them off while they still have them.
Six-pack abs come in all shapes and sizes and we did some digging to bring you some of the best set of abs on the planet. The athletes of the list have such defined and conditioned abs, Greek gods would be proud of them.
The Best Abs on the Planet
Phil Heath
7X Mr. Olympia Phil Heath might get criticism these days for a distended stomach – but during the height of his reign he had the best sets of abs on the planet. Heath is known as the ‘Gift’ and we can vouch for the title. Maintaining the kind of conditioning Phil has for a guy of his size is truly commendable.
Michelle Lewin
If you’ve been around the fitness scene for some time, you’d be familiar with Michelle Lewin by now. The Colombian beauty has one of the best physiques on the planet and her 13.3m followers on Instagram are proof.
Lazar Angelov
Lazar is one of the biggest Instagram fitness celebrities and is acclaimed for his chiseled physique. Only a few people (if anyone at all) can beat the symmetry and definition of Angelov’s abs.
Brooke Ence
Ence is the queen of CrossFit and her washboard abs can put many men to shame. Brooke plays an Amazon Warrior in the Wonder Woman movies. The original Amazon warriors will have absolutely no problem with the casting.
Chul Soon
Man, Chul Soon is something else. The Korean athlete is climbing through the ranks quickly and we might see him on big bodybuilding stages soon. Chul has also got some dance skills which often do the rounds on social media.
Karina Elle
Elle does a great job of staying in shape throughout the year. Karina loves the beach life and her exotic bikinis give us the front row view to her perfectly crafted six-packs. Thank God for the Cali weather.
Sergi Constance
Sergi has one of the most well-defined midriffs on the planet. Constance is one step ahead of everyone in the chiseled midsection game with his eight-pack abs. There is no more real estate on his abdominal for any more abs.
Ashley Kaltwasser
Kaltwasser is the 3X Ms. Bikini Olympia. Ashley is also one of the most fun people to follow on Instagram. If you’re not already following Ashley on Instagram, you’re missing out on a lot. You’ll be surprised at all the things she can do.
Jeff Seid
Jeff is an internet fitness celebrity and has a giant following. Jeff has been training for 13 years and focuses on building aesthetics. Seid has an elaborate Youtube channel and you can check out his vlogs and workouts there.
Paige Hathaway
Hathaway is arguably one of the prettiest Instagram fitness celebrities. Paige Hathaway (along with her abs) can keep you glued to your phones for hours. Hathaway shares her workouts on Instagram for you to follow.
Ulisses Jr.
The best abs list can never be complete without mentioning the king of washboard abs, Ulisses Jr. Ulisses’ abs are in such great shape, they leave us with no words, literally.
Who do you think has the best abs? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Instagram
Whitney Jones On How She Won Olympia 2021 With A Broken Leg
[embedded content]
Whitney Jones reveals the severity of competing in (and winning) the Fitness Olympia 2021 with a broken leg.
Whitney Jones is a 3x Fitness Olympia champion – solidifying her third win at the Olympia 2021 this past year. It was a triumphant moment after falling to third place in 2020. She proved that her reign as an Olympia champion was not over. But her victory in 2021 is even more astounding upon the reveal that she competed with a broken leg. This information was not revealed until after she had already won the show. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Whitney Jones goes into detail about her broken leg, the severity of the injury, and how she was able to still win the Fitness Olympia 2021.
As anyone who follows competitive bodybuilding knows, the Fitness division is quite different than any other bodybuilding category. This is because it includes a Fitness performance routine. This routine, unlike usual bodybuilding posing, involves gymnastic movements and feats of strength – mixed with a sort of dance energy. It’s impressive to watch on display – and requires serious commitment, planning, and practice to achieve standout success.
As any Fitness competitor or gymnast will also know, these movements can be complicated and dangerous. It opens up the door to a wider array of injuries. Unfortunately for Whitney Jones, she faced once such injury during practice just three days before the Olympia 2021. Training in a new space on her final days of prep, Jones was unfamiliar with the space of her new practice space. This caused her to second guess a movement and land on her knee incorrectly. Instantly she felt searing pain and her knew swelled up. Something was seriously wrong.
With the Olympia competition just three days away, she didn’t immediately go to a doctor. Instead she tried to downplay the injury and focus on bringing the swelling and pain down. She mostly succeeded with the swelling – but the pain was no resolving. She feared that perhaps she had torn her ACL. But she refused to lose her chance to win the Fitness Olympia so close to the show.
Yet despite whether or not she wanted to stand down to prevent further injury – she also faced another problem. The pain would make it near impossible for her to complete her Fitness routine. She needed to find a way to bring down the pain. Painkiller pills wouldn’t due. They would make her drowsy and less alert – affecting her routine.
Ultimately, she was lucky enough to know someone who could provide her some sort of injection that temporarily numbed her knee. The risk? That she goes so numb that she can’t feel her leg and it throws off her routine. But it was a risk she was willing to take. She took the stage and put forth her best effort on the routine she spent a full year preparing.
We all know the end to this story. Whitney Jones ended up winning the Fitness Olympia. She later went to the doctor and found out that she had not torn her ACL nor broke her knee – but broke her tibia towards the top right under her knee. Now many months later, she is mostly healed – she didn’t suffer any known additional damage from competing while injured. The risk was worth it.
You can watch Whitney Jones go into full detail about the injury, competing, and winning the Fitness Olympia 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
How The Mr. Olympia 2022 Qualification System Works For Athletes
Either by winning other shows or earning points, those bodybuilders we love can walk the Mr. Olympia stage.
Mr. Olympia is the premiere event for bodybuilders and fans alike. A storied history, full of legends, massive physiques, and like any good long-standing tradition, plenty of drama. We watch our favorite giants stalk the stage every year, admiring and in awe of their incredible physiques. But how often do you wonder just how an athlete qualifies for Mr. Olympia. It’s quite similar to other sports in fact. You either win big games or events, or earn points depending on how you finish.
Bodybuilders don’t just have a one and done job. This is a year long process that takes time, dedication, blood, sweat, and maybe a few tears, because to compete on the Olympia stage is something special, something legendary, something life changing.
The Olympia Qualification System (OSQ) rules are released each year by the IFBB Pro League. These rules serve as guidelines for how many athletes, bodybuilding and physique, can qualify or a earn a spot to compete at the Olympia contest. The IFBB Pro League website released the qualification process and rules and judging by past years, this year seems to be fairly straight forward.
Let’s jump into the qualification system and see just how this all works. While there may be a lot here, it is fairly simple once you know who qualifies without points. The points system, which we will explore, is based on other pro shows so once that becomes clear, the road to Olympia widens and we are on our way to yet another great competition.
Photo via @mrolympiallc Instagram
Who Qualifies For Olympia?
We’ll breakdown who qualifies for Olympia 2022 to get a better understanding of the fastest way in. By fastest, we mean non-points so by winning, you give yourself a great shot at qualifying. Here is a brief synopsis of who qualifies for Mr. Olympia 2022:
Top 5 from the 2021 Mr. Olympia
The top 5 men from the Open division from the previous year qualify for 2022.
Top 3 from all other 2021 Olympia divisions
There are 10 other divisions at Olympia and the top 3 competitors from each of those qualify for the next year.
Winner of each pro show from September 13, 2021 to November 20, 2022
Any winner of a pro show between the above dates qualifies for the division in which they won in.
Top 3 in point standings
Now we get into points. The top three points holders in each division will round out the field and qualify for Olympia 2022.
Other Ways Of Entry
There are two other ways of entry to make note of:
Any Olympia winner gets a lifetime qualification for the event they won in. For those wanting to compete in a new division, they must qualify.
Receiving a special invitation from the Olympia team will allow you to compete.
Photo via @mrolympiallc Instagram
Olympia Qualification: Automatic Entries, Points & More
Automatic Entries
As said before, the top 5 in the Men’s Open division automatically earn their spots for the next year’s Olympia contest. Also, the top 3 finishers from the other 10 divisions earn their spots for Olympia 2022. Let’s refresh on the top five from Mr. Olympia 2021 who automatically earned their entry for 2022:
Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
Brandon Curry
Hadi Choopan
Hunter Labrada
Nick Walker
The other divisions where the top three finishers automatically qualify from are as follows: 212, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Wheelchair, Ms. Olympia, Women’s Physique, Fitness, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness.
Pro Shows & Points System
The winners of each pro show during the timeline of September 13, 2021 to November 20, 2022 will qualify and earn their spot as well. It is important to note that if an athlete wins more than one pro show, there isn’t a consolation qualification for the next best competitor.
Through a points system, athletes can work to garner enough points to be one of the top three in their respective division. We will get into the specifics below, but essentially the events are broken up into tiers, each tier ranked from most important to least, with a certain amount of points given to specific tiers. Perform and finish well and you will gain more points.
Photo via @mrolympiallc Instagram
Let’s jump into the points system to have a better understanding of the Olympia Qualification System process.
Olympia
In regards to the previous year’s Olympia contest, for all other divisions except for Men’s Open, fourth place finishers receive 12 points and fifth place finishers receive 11 points. This is because the top three finishers automatically qualify.
Tier 1 Contests
Arnold Classic (USA) and Rising Phoenix (does not include Arizona Pro)
2nd– 10 points
3rd– 9 points
4th– 8 points
5th– 7 points
Tier 2 Contests
Arnold Classic Australia, Arnold Classic Brazil, Arnold Classic UK, Pittsburgh Pro, New York Pro, Tampa Pro, Toronto Pro, Japan Pro, Europa Pro Championships
2nd– 8 points
3rd– 7 points
4th– 6 points
5th– 5 points
Tier 3 Contests
Chicago Pro, Portugal Pro, Romania Muscle Fest Pro, Legion Sports Fest Pro, Puerto Rico Pro, EVLS Prague Pro
2nd– 6 points
3rd– 5 points
4th– 4 points
5th– 3 points
Tier 4 Contests
All other contests. For the Ben Weider Natural competitions, all first place winners in Men’s Bodybuilding divisions are awarded 5 points.
2nd– 4 points
3rd– 3 points
4th– 2 points
5th– 1 point
Generation Iron Olympia Interviews
We’ve had the privilege to talk to some of the best in the world as they train and prepare for Olympia competitions. Plus, getting post competition reactions is always something entertaining and engaging as well!
Check out our interview with Derek Lunsford as he reflects on his Olympia win and battle with fellow competitor, Shaun Clarida, in the Men’s 212 division.
[embedded content]
Also, walking the Olympia stage takes diligence and hard training. Check out Shaun Clarida’s workout routine as he prepared for the Men’s 212 division below.
[embedded content]
Wrap Up
The Olympia Qualification System seems like it would be stressful, but when broken down, it makes a lot of sense. Those who win or place well in the previous year’s Olympia contest get in and those who miss the mark compete for points throughout the year. Regardless, the 2022 Olympia contest is bound to be an exciting one as our favorite giants prepare to walk the stage once again in hopes of being crowned Mr. Olympia.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Mr. Olympia and Big Ramy Instagram
Andrea Shaw On Women’s Bodybuilding Criticism: “Without It There Are No Other Female Divisions”
[embedded content]
Andrea Shaw discusses her rise to Ms. Olympia and the ups and downs of the Women’s Bodybuilding division.
For the past two years, Andrea Shaw has proven herself to be the new standout and reigning Ms. Olympia champion in Women’s Bodybuilding. After a five year gap of the division no longer appearing at the Olympia weekend – Shaw exploded onto the scene with Ms. Olympia’s return in 2020. Since then she has been the star to beat in the prestigious but often criticized division. In our latest GI Exclusive, Andrea Shaw discusses her rise in Women’s Bodybuilding and responds to the criticism and struggles of the division.
Before Andrea Shaw, Iris Kyle was the unstoppable Women’s Bodybuilding competitor. She earned 10 Ms. Olympia victories during her career – before the division itself was dropped from the Olympia weekend. There was a five year gap where Women’s Bodybuilding was no longer supported by the Arnold Classic or the Olympia weekend. During this time – competitors in the division had little to work towards. With one exception – the Wings of Strength Women’s Bodybuilding competition.
It was during this strange time in Women’s Bodybuilding that Andrea Shaw rose up through the ranks and became an all-star competitor. Starting out in Women’s Physique, she eventually moved up to Women’s Bodybuilding. Of course, there was no Ms. Olympia to work towards. Thankfully – she found support at Wings of Strength. This allowed her to continue to find motivation and improve into a challenging competitor in the league.
Fast forward to 2020, Jake Wood now owns the Olympia event (he is also the man who ran the Wings of Strength competitions) and brought Women’s Bodybuilding and Ms. Olympia back into the fold. Andrea Shaw now had a new goal to work towards – which she earned both in 2020 and 2021 with two Ms. Olympia victories.
We connected with Andrea Shaw for a video interview to recap her rise through the years from Women’s Physique, into Women’s Bodybuilding, and through to the champion she is today. As mentioned above, her career grew during one of the most tumultuous times for Women’s Bodybuilding. We asked Shaw for her thoughts on the lack of support over the years at major shows such as the Olympia weekend and Arnold Classic.
The common reasoning behind dropping Women’s Bodybuilding from competition was simply that there was not enough popularity to keep it running. We asked for Andrea Shaw’s reaction to that kind of mentality. Did that excuse ever make sense to her?
“No. Only because it’s always been popular. Because without Women’s Bodybuilding there are no other female divisions. None,” Andrea Shaw stated in our interview. She continued:
“So it doesn’t matter if you’re in Figure, whether you’re in Fitness – it all started with Women’s Bodybuilding. I firmly believe that was just a call AMI made. Because Jim Manion, the NPC, the IFBB, they kept the contests going. There were so many contests that still had Women’s Bodybuilding. But that was a direct call from Arnold’s staff. You know, and I’m speculating because I wasn’t competing at that time but again Arnold pulled it first and then AMI followed suit. Whether it was unpopular – I think it was unpopular to them.”
Andrea Shaw goes on to also comment on the concept of “femininity” in Women’s Bodybuilding vs the pure athleticism of the sport. She’s well aware of the history behind the division. With athletes like Bev Francis being pulled back in forth for either being too masculine or not muscular enough.
“A lot of it are usually men. They are usually men. When you break most of it down, some of these men are insecure because they don’t have muscle and they wish they could. So then the target becomes the woman… but it’s bodybuilding. What difference does it make if it’s a man or a woman?”
You can watch Andrea Shaw’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Milos Sarcev On His Plan To Transform Regan Grimes Into Mr. Olympia
[embedded content]
How Milos Sarcev completely overhauled Regan Grimes’ prep to transform him into a real threat to the Mr. Olympia throne.
Over the past month or so, Regan Grimes has been making headlines for his impressive physique updates. These came shortly after it was announced he would be working with Milos Sarcev as his coach. The plan? To upgrade Grimes’ physique into the next Mr. Olympia champion. The early results certainly look promising. In our latest GI Exclusive, Milos Sarcev explains his plan step-by-step on how he’s radically transforming Regan Grimes into a more powerful Mr. Olympia contender.
Milos Sarcev is a legendary bodybuilder in his own right and in his later years has become known as a legendary trainer and coach. It was announced in 2021 that he would be taking on Regan Grimes as one of his athletes. This caused quite some buzz as Grimes is already considered a promising athlete in the sport. The buzz only intensified after physique update videos and images started popping up at the end of the year. Regan Grimes appeared to improve his mass drastically.
We had an opportunity to reconnect with Milos Sarcev via video chat recently – and we dove in deep about his decision to start training Regan Grimes. As previously mentioned, Grimes has had much hype behind him over the past few years. He was also earlier featured in our feature film Generation Iron 3. Yet despite this hype, he found himself placing 15th at the Mr. Olympia in 2021 and 2020. What happened? And what needs to change?
A major shake up in coaches seems to signal Regan Grimes is ready to overhaul his tactics. And Milos Sarcev seems to agree that a lot needs to change. Not because Grimes is disappointing in his current state. On the contrary, he shows so much promise – it simply needs new direction towards success.
“Many coaches, many bodybuilders, accept mediocrity or just doing what is expected of what they [judges] think,” Milos Sarcev states in our interview regarding bodybuilding prep and coaches. He continues, “They never really give a thought how to maximize every aspect. Every aspect.”
Milos Sarcev then reveals that upon starting to coach Regan Grimes, he asked what his posing routine plan was. Grimes admitted he had no prepared posing routine. He just did the mandatories. This both shocked and did not shock Milos. He believes that majority of Men’s Open bodybuilders simply do the mandatories. Which means Grimes certainly needs to take advantage of that and wow the judges with a pre-planned posing routine.
This is the kind of “maximize everything” mentality that Milos Sarcev plans to bring to Regan Grimes’ bodybuilding career. Sarcev gets even more granular – asking Grimes to explain how much he knows how to properly hit an ab pose and how to showcase legs properly. Not just the general mandatories – but the technical skill down to the very last detail.
Milos Sarcev provides another example of how he’s overhauling Regan Grimes’ bodybuilding prep. Sarcev deeply questioned Grimes about his diet and explains that most bodybuilders follow the same basic philosophy behind dieting. But bodybuilders can get tested to know much more specific detail about their body and their metabolic rate. It’s that kind of maximized detail that Sarcev will ensure Grimes focuses on under his training.
It’s often said that a successful bodybuilder runs their body like a high end powerful car or machine. Milos Sarcev seems to take this nearly literally. Every aspect of Regan Grimes’ training, dieting, and posing are being examined under a microscope. No stone is being left unturned. And Sarcev believes this tactic will turn Regan Grimes into a true Mr. Olympia champion within the upcoming years.
You can watch Milos Sarcev go into in-depth detail about his plans for Regan Grimes in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Build a Golden Era V-Taper with this Workout
Back Workout for Building a V-Taper
Aesthetics were the main focus of bodybuilding in the golden era. The advent of science and enhancement drugs took the battle from aesthetics to muscle mass and size. While the fads come and go, the golden era aesthetics will stay forever.
The love for the golden era V-taper and natural aesthetics has brought about starting the Classic Physique division in the Mr. Olympia competition. Nothing appeals more in a well-crafted physique than the good old V-taper and we’re here to help you build one.
Exercise 1 – Pull-ups – 50 Reps
We’ll be focusing on the old school exercises in this workout. We will start the workout with 50 pull-ups. Take as many sets as you need to complete the 50 pull-ups but try to hit failure with every set.
Exercise 2 – Superset
– Bent Over Barbell Rows – 3 Sets 20, 15, 10 Reps
– Seated Pulley Rows – 3 Sets 10, 15, 20 Reps
The rows build the thickness in the back while the pull-ups and pull-downs help in building wide lats. Use lifting accessories to eliminate the grip strength while performing the exercises as your grip is prone to give up before your back.
Focus on building a mind-muscle connection and contract your back with every single rep. While performing the seated rows, lean forward to give your lats a stretch, but don’t lean back and maintain an arched back while rowing towards your body.
Exercise 3 – T-Bar Rows – 4 Sets 15, 12, 10, 8 Reps
The T-bar rows are where it gets down and dirty. Go heavy on the rows while maintaining a strict form. If you don’t have a T-bar row machine at your gym, put a barbell in the landmine rows position and use a v-handlebar to row the barbell.
A good back workout should be as taxing as a brutal leg workout. Your back is the second biggest muscle group after your legs and building a v-taper will require you to put all you’ve got into every exercise.
Exercise 4 – Giant Set
– Pullovers – 3 Sets 15, 12, 10 Reps
– Front Facing Lat Pulldowns – 3 Sets 15, 12, 10 Reps
– Behind the Neck Lat Pulldowns – 3 Sets 15, 12, 10 Reps
The giant set will be focused on building the broad wings. In the first set, lie down across a flat bench and perform the first set with 15 reps. Don’t bend your elbows throughout the movement as doing so will recruit your pectoral muscles.
After the pullovers, we switch over to the front facing lat pulldowns and then move onto performing the behind the neck lat pulldowns. These three are the most effective exercises when it comes to building wings you could fly with.
Exercise 5 – Barbell Shrugs – 3 Sets 30, 20, 10 Reps
Trapezius muscles (or traps) are one of the most abused muscles when it comes to training them in the gym. Performing shrugs is fairly easy, all you need to do is stand with your feet shoulder width apart, grab a barbell, maintain a slight bend in your elbows and lift your shoulders to your ears.
Many people mess up by letting their egos get in the way and go too heavy on this exercise. Pause at the top of the movement and squeeze the living hell out of your traps with every rep.
Exercise 6 – Behind the Back Machine Shrugs – 3 Sets 10, 20, 30 Reps
We’re not leaving any stones unturned with this workout and will not settle for anything less than a golden era v-taper. The trapezius muscle is majorly on our backs and behind the back shrugs can help us train it efficiently.
Using a machine for this exercise puts constant tension on the muscle which a vanilla barbell can’t do. If you’ve put everything into this workout, by the end of the 30 reps, your back should be on fire.
Who do you think has the best V-taper? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.