Tag: Mr. Olympia
These Are The 10 Best Physiques In The World
Disclaimer: The opinions in this article do not represent the opinions of Generation Iron.
Best Physiques In The World
A well-crafted physique can be aesthetically appealing and a symbol of godly strength. This is one the reasons people don’t mind sweating in the gym. Building a shredded physique takes a lot of hard work, patience, and persistence, and only a few people have what it takes.
Following athletes living the fit life can push you to take your first step towards working out. If you’ve already been working out, these athletes can help you in staying on track and motivating you so you never give up. These are the 10 best physiques in the world –
1. Steve Cook
You just can’t hate this guy. Steve is one of the most humble people in the fitness industry. He treats his fans as family and shares everything with them. Follow him on his social handles to stay motivated.
2. Flex Lewis
Flex Lewis is a former 7x 212 Mr. Olympia and has undoubtedly one of the best physiques in the world. Only a few other people can beat Flex when it comes to muscle symmetry. He’s now taking his physique to the Men’s Open division (though unfortunately no longer competing in 2020). We can’t wait to see this fantastic physique maxed out without a weight limit.
3. Michelle Lewin
Michelle is one of the most famous fitness celebrity. She has graced numerous magazine covers and shows no signs of stopping. Her persistence and hard work in the gym can push you to work on crafting your physique.
4. Phil Heath
Phil Heath is a 7x Mr. Olympia for a reason. He is considered to be one of the best bodybuilders in the world. For years, when he stepped on stage it is was an instant game over for his competition. After being dethroned in 2018, he is making a comeback at this year’s Mr. Olympia to reclaim his thrown and join Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney as a world record Sandow trophy holder.
5. Courtney King
Courtney is the reigning Ms. Bikini Olympia. She is also one of the bubbliest characters you can follow on social media. Don’t fall prey to her pretty face, her workouts are some of the most grueling ones. No wonder she has such a shredded physique.
6. Rob Riches
Rob Riches might arguably be the most shredded guy on this list. He maintains his peeled look throughout the year. If you’re looking for training tips and hacks, Rob is your guy. He also has some of the best collab videos with other fitness athletes.
7. Calum Von Moger
Calum is the modern-age Arnold. We won’t blame you if you confuse him with the Governator. His monstrous muscle mass and vascularity will leave you in awe. If you’re a fan of the classic physiques, Calum Von Moger won’t disappoint you.
8. Paige Hathaway
Paige is challenging the idea that women should not have big muscles. Not only is she ripped, but can take your breath away in any outfit. Follow her on Instagram and she will keep you hooked and wanting for more.
9. Ulisses Jr.
Ulisses Jr. is a muscle monstrous. His Cobra back and shredded abs will give you some serious goals. While he is shredded to the bone, Ulisses is one strong individual. Try out some of his exercises the next time you’re in the gym and you’ll be sore for weeks.
10. Alice Matos
Alice Matos is a fitness athlete and an entrepreneur. This Brazilian beauty has her own line of apparel called Labellamafia. Alice is a must follow if you dig girls who speak a foreign language.
Who else do you think should be on the list? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Instagram
Talking Huge | EP 16: Craig Golias Reacts To The Olympia 2021 Results
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Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin break down the full results for the Olympia 2021 weekend.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias shares his thoughts on the Olympia 2021 results across highlight divisions, follows up on George Peterson’s passing, and more.
Last weekend held the Olympia 2021 weekend event. Known as the Super Bowl of bodybuilding, this was the largest version of the competition yet. It held 11 divisions including the new Wellness category. Needless to say it was a star studded affair with excitement around every corner.
Last week, Craig Golias made his predictions for the Men’s Open division of the Olympia 2021. Now looking back at his predictions compared to the results – he was correct about four of the top five placings at the Mr. Olympia 2021. We spend most of this episode digging into the details about the results of that lineup plus Craig’s reaction to the winners of other key divisions such as the Men’s 212 and Classic Physique categories. Let’s jump into it in our latest episode of Talking Huge.
Big Ramy, Hunter Labrada, and Nick Walker’s Mr. Olympia future
Craig Golias predicted that Big Ramy would be first place. He was also correct in placing Brandon Curry at second, Hadi Choopan in third, and Nick Walker in fifth place. His only misstep was the fourth place prediction. Hunter Labrada ended up taking that spot – and pulled ahead against his contemporary Nick Walker.
Craig Golias was shocked at Hunter Labrada’s physique and placing – giving the athletes props for his impressive improvements and showing on the Olympia stage. He thinks both Hunter Labrada and Nick Walker’s placings show promise for these two athletes – and expects to see them as consistent top five athletes for years to come.
As for Big Ramy, Craig Golias isn’t 100% sure if he will be able to continue his reign in the long term. He felt that Ramy has showcased better conditioning in the past – and that if he is to maintain his first place finish, he will have to show significantly better improvements in future Olympia competitions. Craig Golias wouldn’t be surprised if Ramy falls from his first place spot as early as next year. With his predictions being so accurate this year – let’s bookmark his comments here to see if they hold up in 2022.
Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead at the Olympia 2021
Craig Golias also spoke with Vlad Yudin about his thoughts on the Men’s 212 and Classic Physique results. He believed that both winners were the right call by the judges. Derek Lunsford was his favorite on the stage that night and he believed that his classic look mixed with a mass monster mentality made for a superior physique. He also felt that Chris Bumstead is proving himself to be the unbeatable player in Classic Physique division.
Unlike Big Ramy, Craig Golias believes that Bumstead will be a long running champion n the Olympia for years to come. He will be the legend that all other Classic Physique competitors aspire to match up to or succeed past. Now that we are well past the baby stages of this division – it seems we very well may have our first long term reigning icon in the category.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also follows up on his further thoughts regarding George Peterson’s death – and how that might affect the world of bodybuilding’s future among other interesting topics. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Derek Lunsford Reflects On Olympia Win And Details His Battle With Shaun Clarida
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Derek Lunsford gives us insight into his mindset winning the Men’s 212 Olympia 2021 and a play-by-play of his face-off with Shaun Clarida.
The Men’s 212 division was one of the most thrilling competitions of the Olympia 2021. This is due to the pure impressiveness of the top athletes in the division. A battle between Shaun Clarida, Derek Lunsford, and Kamal Elgargni could have fallen in any direction by the time finals hit. That lack of clear winner made the event electric. Ultimately, Lunsford earned his first ever Olympia victory in a stunning showcase. We connected via video chat with Lunsford to follow up on his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford dives deep into his Olympia win and gives and inside look into his neck and neck battle with Shaun Clarida.
It’s always exciting when a new bodybuilder earns an Olympia trophy for the very first time. Derek Lunsford is a competitor that has long since been hyped as the next coming of Men’s 212 Olympia greatness. In 2021, he finally fulfilled that hype with a close call – but well deserved win. We linked up with Lunsford to congratulate him on his win as well as go into detail about his mindset from prejudging through to finals and his victory.
During our interview, it quickly became clear that Derek Lunsford is a very humbled and appreciative champion. In many ways, he’s still riding on the waves of excitement and shock from the win. He claims that he feels like he was “made for this.” But emphasized that this is not meant as a cocky statement. It’s simply what feels right – and he acknowledges that victory came through patience and confidence rather than cockiness and rushing towards the goal.
He also notes that he it is surreal to now be a champion interviewed by the very network that inspired him as a young bodybuilder. The original Generation Iron film was a major inspiration for Lunsford to become a bodybuilder. Now all of these years later, not only is he a champion, but he’s speaking with the very director of the film that helped him head down this path.
We asked Derek Lunsford to give us an inside play-by-play of his battle on the Olympia stage from prejudging to finals. What was his mindset like during such a close call match? Lunsford claims that he walked out of the prejudging feeling very confident. But the more he reflected back – the more he recognized just how close the battle would be during the finals. He “went back and forth” on whether or not Shaun Clarida had the edge over him. That razor thin tightrope walk remained throughout the entirety of the finals.
Derek Lunsford acknowledges that his physique is very different that Shaun Claridas. Both of their physiques were in top form – but their aesthetics were very different. The title win might have very well come down to personal preference of the judges. Do they prefer a denser physique like Clarida? Or would they go for a more streamlined look in Lunsford?
It’s this very fact that Derek Lunsford makes sure to speak clearly about in our interview. He is so impressed by Clarida’s physique – and was so honored to see Clarida smiling upon Lunsford winning the Olympia trophy. In Lunsford’s eyes – both of them are top brass bodybuilders. He is proud to now share the distinction of Olympia champion with the likes of Clarida – while also sharing the stage with him.
You can watch Derek Lunsford’s full comments on his Olympia 2021 win in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Big Ramy Looks Back In Detail About His First Ever Bodybuilding Competition | GI Vault
The current Mr. Olympia champion, Big Ramy, shares his experience competing in bodybuilding for the first time.
In December 2020, Big Ramy finally achieved what fans had been hoping for the past decade – he won the Mr. Olympia. Earlier in 2017 during the filming of Generation Iron 2, we sat down for an hour long interview with Big Ramy going through his origins through to the present of his bodybuilding career. Majority of this was not able to make it into the final film. That’s why to celebrate Ramy’s big Olympia victory, we are releasing uncut segments of never before seen footage. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details the first time he ever competed in a bodybuilding competition.
Everyone has to start somewhere – even Mr. Olympia champions. Big Ramy is a bodybuilder who has had hype behind his name for quite a few years now. But his story goes even further back into the early 2000s. In the extended clip above, Big Ramy details his origins from the son of fishermen through to his first ever bodybuilding competition.
When we interviewed him for Generation Iron 2, it was just before his epic display at the Olympia 2017. This is the year he placed second just behind Phil Heath. He was on top of the world and ready to prove his massive size can be matched with equally matched conditioning. While he fell short – he eventually made good on his promise last year with his big win.
But his experience starting out in bodybuilding was very different than the mammoth athlete we know today. He threw himself into the sport as an opportunity to find bigger success. While training and building muscle is a great first step – you learn a lot from actually stepping on stage and seeing the competition.
Big Ramy was ready to become a pro bodybuilder but he realized that he had a lot of improvements to do after standing beside other competitors. Specifically, he was embarrassed by his thin legs.
Instead of discouraging him, it drove him to try harder. He saw a real future in going pro and making bodybuilding his main career. Of course, his path towards learning and success would require a roller coaster path of twists and turns. Discovering Kuwait and Oxygen Gym provided him with basically a bodybuilding bootcamp.
While this help provide a foundation and extreme growth over his career, he ultimately moved on to try other coaches and other gurus in perfecting what works best for his body. Adapting and reacting is key towards improving and moving up amongst the top athletes in bodybuilding. That’s exactly what Big Ramy did and it paid off in full.
With all of that in mind, watching Big Ramy reflect on his first every bodybuilding competition just reminds us how far he’s come. How nothing is guaranteed. How only a select few through incredible hard work (and a little bit of luck) become the legends we see today.
Some believed that Big Ramy was too inconsistent to ever really win the Mr. Olympia. Others thought it was inevitable for him to reign as Olympia champion. If Ramy decided to play it safe and stick with being a fisherman, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
You can watch Big Ramy reflect back on his early years and his first ever bodybuilding competition in our GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also watch Generation Iron 2 on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!
Big Ramy Answers: Do Genetics Play A Big Role In His Physique?
Big Ramy talks about his competition mindset and the power of genetics.
Ever since Big Ramy won the Olympia 2020, we’ve been pouring through our unreleased footage of Big Ramy from Generation Iron 2. Specifically, our sit down interview that only had a few segments make it into the film. There’s no doubt that Ramy’s massive physique lives up to his name – but how much of that is a product of genetics vs hard work? In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy discusses how big a role genetics play into his physique.
When Big Ramy appears on the pro competition stage, he’s immediately noticeable. This is not only due to his massive size but also his massive height. Big Ramy often stands tall as the biggest bodybuilder on stage from every angle. While bigger does not always equal a victory – it’s a powerful tool to have if conditioning can be kept under control.
The conditioning element was Big Ramy’s hardest challenge throughout his career. He finally nailed it in 2020 when he wowed judges and finally earned an Olympia win. Now he’s dead set on keeping that win streak going into 2021 and beyond. But until we see him compete again this year, we are rewinding back to 2017. It was years before his big win when we sat down to interview Ramy.
During that interview, we asked him about the importance of genetics in bodybuilding. How good genetics can provide the edge needed to beat someone out at the Mr. Olympia. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your genetics. That’s why we asked Ramy how big a role genetics play into his physique.
Does his massive size come natural to him due to his genetics? Or does he have to work extra hard through an uphill battle to become true to his name? Based on his answer, it seems that Big Ramy doesn’t think about it much. He simply isn’t quite sure. He does admit that his massive growth happened pretty fast. That his body reacted instantly to his bodybuilding training.
At the same time, he acknowledges that his mind is always focused on one thing – to win the Olympia. This drives him to work harder than he ever has in his life before bodybuilding. His massive physique is a result of that hard work.
Ultimately, Big Ramy doesn’t want to make it seem like he’s naturally the powerhouse bodybuilder folks see on stage. Like every other pro bodybuilder, Big Ramy puts in the work to stand tall as one of the top tier athletes of the year.
Fast forward back to today and we can certainly see the results of that hard work. Big Ramy not only maintained his massive size but was able to bring in his conditioning for an iconic physique. There was no controversy or second guessing. It was clear to the fans and the judges. Big Ramy was the clear Olympia 2020 winner. Whether it was genetics that helped him get there remains to be seen – but underneath it all the hard work always remains.
You can watch Big Ramy talk about his mindset and genetics in our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview above. You can also see Ramy in Generation Iron 2 – available on digital today! Click here or the banner below to stream or download.
Big Ramy Is The Mr. Olympia 2021 Champion In Repeat Victory
Big Ramy wins the Mr. Olympia 2021.
For a moment there, it seemed like Big Ramy might not retain his Mr. Olympia title. During the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging Friday night, Ramy looked off with his conditioning. Fans worst fears were realized – his inconsistent condition was rearing its ugly head again. But just like so many amazing Olympia stories – Ramy sharpened up by Saturday night and reminded us why he’s champion in the first place. It’s no longer a fluke – Big Ramy is the Mr. Olympia 2021 champion.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, more commonly called Big Ramy, had been a fan favorite to win the Mr. Olympia for years now. True to his name, he brings a level of size that is hardly seen by even the top pro bodybuilders currently competing. Due to his massive size, some fans even hoped he would be the second coming of Ronnie Coleman.
Big Ramy represented the pinnacle of a growing bodybuilding Mecca coming out of Kuwait. Though originally from Egypt, Ramy moved to Kuwait to train in Oxygen Gym – a location known for transforming pros into massive titans. Over the years, many pro bodybuilders moved temporarily to Kuwait for a reboot to their training. This included Mr. Olympia 2019 champion Brandon Curry.
But the initial hype behind Big Ramy did not come to fruition immediately. With ever year, Ramy showed bigger and bigger muscle during his prep leading up to the competition. But with each year he would fall short. Most notably, his conditioning was often criticized as the reason he could not bring in an Olympia victory. As of today, that all changed.
Big Ramy’s first Mr. Olympia competition was in 2013. He placed eight just a few notches below the top 6 highlights. But even with the lower placing, he immediately turned heads. His mammoth size was hardly seen in current crop of competitors. It wasn’t long before the hype train build up steam. Fans were clamoring – with time, will he become a powerhouse reigning champion?
Over the following years, Ramy improved in placing with each Olympia competition. This came to a head at the Mr. Olympia 2017 where Big Ramy placed 2nd.
It was at this competition that his promise seemed to turn into a reality. For what seemed like the first time in forever, Phil Heath actually appeared threatened. With his massive size, Big Ramy looked like a real possibility to win standing next to Phil Heath.
The competition was so close that many fans believed that Big Ramy was the rightful winner. Similar to the 2007 Mr. Olympia with Victor Martinez, the competition became controversial for potentially making the wrong call.
With Big Ramy so close to victory in 2017 and Phil Heath appearing to slightly fade – fans were excited more than ever before the Mr. Olympia 2018. Anticipation was in overdrive as fans expected to see an even more improved Big Ramy. With his conditioning issue seemingly under control – victory was just around the corner.
This would not end up being the case. In 2018, Big Ramy dropped down to a disappointing 6th place at the Mr. Olympia. His conditioning was off and he appeared to fade as the competition went on. Fans were so disappointed that Big Ramy himself issued an apology immediately after the event.
Shortly after, Big Ramy quit Oxygen Gym and changed his entire training regimen. Under a new trainer, Neil Yoda Hill, he aimed to take a new approach towards prepping for the Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately, more bad news was on the horizon as Big Ramy announced in 2019 that he would not compete in the Mr. Olympia. Original reports of injury seemed to be the reason behind his absence – though he initially denied these reports. After a lackluster appearance in 2018, fans were disappointed to see him miss a full year.
Of course, this story ultimately has a happy ending. It seems his year break helped further improve Big Ramy’s physique. Still sporting incredible size and a renewed conditioning – Ramy towered over the competitors at the Mr. Olympia 2020 and finally won the title.
Fast forward to 2021, the question now wasn’t whether Big Ramy will be a champion – but if he can remain a reigning champion. There has been a streak of one off Olympia champions as of late – it started with Shawn Rhoden followed by Brandon Curry. Would Ramy suffer the same fate? We now know the answer is a resounding no. But it wasn’t a straight shot to get there.
When Big Ramy appeared at the Olympia 2020 – it almost seemed obvious that he would be champion. He was so on point and stood out among all other competitors. This year, however, his conditioning seemed off compared to last year. In a top two face off during the prejudging – Brandon Curry was so on point it seemed he could exploit Ramy’s weakness and take the big win.
But a lot can change between the prejudging and the finals. Unlike many competitions throughout the year – Men’s Open have a full day between the two phases. Big Ramy was able to improve his conditioning. Combine that with his massive size and there was no way Brandon Curry could match up. It was a close battle overall. It was electric, exciting, and ultimately a well won victory.
For the full Mr. Olympia 2021 results – you can check out our coverage right here.
Johnnie O. Jackson: Big Ramy Will Comeback Sharper To Be The Clear Olympia 2021 Winner
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Johnnie O. Jackson shares his reaction to the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging and his predictions for the finals.
One of the most talked about moments of the Mr. Olympia 2021 so far was the Men’s Open prejudging. Specifically, that Big Ramy was looking off compared to last year – possibly giving Brandon Curry an opening to take the title. Ramy’s conditioning has always been his weakest point until last year. Was it just a fluke? Johnnie O. Jackson doesn’t think so. In fact – he thinks the finals will show a very different Ramy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Johnnie O. Jackson shares his predictions for the Mr. Olympia finals expecting Big Ramy to improve and win the show.
Brandon Curry has been one of the more consistent bodybuilders over the last few years. Each Olympia he has shown small but important improvements. This eventually led to his big win in 2019 – only to have that taken away by a shockingly improved Big Ramy. Fast forward to the Olympia 2021 and we have quite a battle on our hands.
Big Ramy, in the prejudging, looked noticeably worse in conditioning than he did last year. Brandon Curry, on the other hand, has showcased another year of small improvements. He was sharp and dense. In our Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging analysis we predicted he might have what it takes to win the whole show. That is – if things don’t change within the 24 hour period between the prejudging last night and tonights finals.
The fact of the matter is both of these competitors are incredibly close. Curry seems to have only a slight edge on Ramy. Johnnie O. Jackson believes it is too small of a gap – and that Big Ramy will improve his conditioning and come in sharper for the finals. If Ramy can do that – then he will be “the clear winner” according to Jackson. He goes on to state that Big Ramy’s size, if sharper, will overpower Curry. Whereas Curry doesn’t have much room to be able to improve.
With Brandon Curry’s conditioning already on point – he can’t get even more dry. So that leaves room for two options. He could potentially fade at the finals. Or, as Johnnie O. Jackson stated, he can stay the same – but if Ramy improves it will be lights out for Curry.
This is a very real possibility. Big Ramy was off – but he was far from terrible. The judges still placed him in the top two. It’s well within reason that Ramy can pull off some improvements. It might be just enough to peak perfectly for the finals. Then we have a totally different situation for our outlook of the winner.
You can watch Johnnie O. Jackson’s full comments and predictions for the Mr. Olympia 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Olympia 2021 Pro Wheelchair Results
The Olympia 2021 Pro Wheelchair winner is…
The Pro Wheelchair division in bodybuilding has seen exponential growth year after year. What started as a fledgling division eventually made it onto the main stage of both the Arnold Classic and the Mr. Olympia.
At its core, Pro Wheelchair is further proof of the main message behind bodybuilding. Hard work and dedication towards your goals can lead towards transformation. Not only that – but push the limits of what we think is possible in this world. This is never made more clear than at the Olympia 2021 – bringing the greatest pro wheelchair competitors together from across the world.
In addition to the typical posing routines and comparison rounds – a unique element to the Pro Wheelchair division is the announcement of each athlete’s injuries. Depending on the nature of the injury, the bodybuilder will have different mobility. This directly affects what can and cannot be trained.
Typically, the Pro Wheelchair division is judged from the waist up. But the nature of the injury is detailed before each routine to bring context to what they can and cannot train as effectively. This plays into the judges decisions to some degree.
This weekend held the Olympia 2021 Pro Wheelchair competition, showcasing the best wheelchair bodybuilders in the world. All fighting for the title of number one. The results have finally been announced. You can check them out below:
Olympia 2021 Pro Wheelchair Results
First Place – Harold Kelley
Second Place – Gabriele Andriulli
Third Place – Anthony Khadraoui
Fourth Place – Adolfo Cerame Jr.
Firth Place – Tyler Brey
Previous Olympia Pro Wheelchair Winners
2020: Harold Kelley
2019: Harold Kelley
Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Prejudging: Will Chris Bumstead Three-peat?
Chris Bumstead appears to be a shoe-in for Olympia 2021 Classic Physique.
The Olympia 2021 Classic Physique prejudging has come to a close and we are starting to get a clearer look on how the finals will play out. It was an intense battle with many competitors seeming to gain and lose favor with the judges. One thing was clear though – Chris Bumstead was the far leading standout for first place at the Olympia 2021 Classic Physique prejudging.
Chris Bumstead originally came to be Olympia champion via underdog status. Breon Ansley was formerly the reigning Olympia champion – with Bumstead trailing shortly behind. In 2019, this all changed with Bumstead’s first Olympia victory. It was a close battle – and many thought Ansley would have a chance to get revenge the following year. Instead, Breon Ansley placed third in 2020 behind Terrence Ruffin and repeat winner Bumstead.
It seems now in 2021 that Bumstead will continue to expand his reign as Olympia champion. Nothing is ever set in stone – but from what we saw during the prejudging, Bumstead was a standout. Instead this seems to have become a battle for second place. That’s where things start to get interesting.
We break it down in our official Olympia 2021 Classic Physique prejudging analysis and predictions below:
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Pre-Judging Breakdown
During the first callout, we got to see the top competitors that the judges were initially favoring. The expected favorites were all there – Chris Bumstead, Breon Ansley, Terrence Ruffin, and Alex Cambronero seeming to stand out in the bunch. Most interestingly, Ruffin and Bumstead were squarely in the middle with Breon Ansley slightly off to the side next to them.
After the judges moved a few people around – this remained the same. Breon Ansley did not inch in to replace the center spot. It seemed that our top 2 of the moment was Chris Bumstead and Terrence Ruffin.
1st Callout Lineup
Alex Cambronero
Breon Ansley
Terrence Ruffin
Mike Sommerfeld
Fabian Mayr
Chris Bumstead
Urs Kalecinski
Ramon Rocha Querioz
Callouts two through four of the Olympia 2021 Classic Physique prejudging featured competitors fighting for the lower ranking spots. Most notable here was Wesley Vissers in the second callout and Robert Timms. Both athletes were hyped to bring in something special this year. Timms himself had claimed he would bring a physique like never before. This ultimately didn’t turn out to be quite the case. Both were unable to break into the predicted top spots during callouts.
2nd Callout Lineup
Bryan Jones
Peter Molnar
Courage Opara
Wesley Vissers
Divine Wilson
Dani Younan
Robert Timms
3rd Callout Lineup
Sabur Favors
Gabriel Zancanelli Machado
Tony Taveras
Darwin Andres Uribe
4th Callout Lineup
German Pastor Cueto
George Kawalawu
Seonghwan Kim
Brady King
Abtin Shekarabi
In Seong You
Next for the Olympia 2021 Classic Physique prejudging – things started getting interesting in the fifth callout. While not the final callout, this appeared to be our top six in the competition. Chris Bumstead remained in center with Terrence Ruffin by his side. Breon Ansley stayed slightly off to the side right next to them. This remained the same for the full callout.
What is interesting to note – is that Alex Cambronero was also close to center at the start of the callout. Eventually, he was moved to the outer edge. It seemed that as the prejudging went out, Cambronero was starting to lose favor with the judges.
5th Callout Lineup
Breon Ansley
Alex Cambronero
Urs Kalecinski
Terrence Ruffin
Ramon Rocha Querioz
Chris Bumstead
The sixth callout seemed to be a battle for sixth or seventh place. Robert Timms was a standout here against the three other competitors in the lineup. Would he be able to make his way into the final callout?
6th Callout Lineup
Fabian Mayr
Bryan Jones
Robert Timms
Mike Sommerfeld
Ultimately, this was not the case. Our final callout of the Olympia 2021 Classic Physique prejudging, featuring our presumed top six, did not include Robert Timms. Instead, the judges brought out our usual top players for a third run through. The athletes were put through some extreme paces during the prejudging – to the point where head judge Steve Weinberger paused to ask our top six if there were okay to continue.
What is most exciting about this final callout – was a change that came at the end. Breon Ansley, after staying off to the side of the center lineup – was brought in next to Chris Bumstead at the center. Terrence Ruffin was moved further out. The final lineup ended with this order.
It seemed as the competition went out, Ansley continued to gain favor with the judges as he continued to be compared (through three different callouts). The extra paces worked in Ansley’s favor – as he looks to possibly be the top contender for second place.
Again, it seems that Ansley might not be able to hold a candle against Chris Bumstead – who stood out immensely here. On top of that, these athletes do not get a full 24 hours to improve – instead having to compete yet again in just a few hours later tonight. Could enough change to work in Ansley’s favor?
Final Callout Lineup
Alex Cambronero
Breon Ansley
Terrence Ruffin
Ramon Rocha Querioz
Chris Bumstead
Urs Kalecinski
Ultimately, it seemed as if Chris Bumstead is the breakaway leader of the pack of the Olympia 2021 Classic Physique. We predict that he will land a third victory continuing his reign. Unless something spectacular happens between now and the finals – we can’t see this going any other way.
That being said, the beauty of bodybuilding and excitement of all live sports is that anything can happen. Nothing is set in stone until the awards are announced. We look forward to seeing the final batter tonight at the finals.
Make sure to stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network as we continue to provide updates and coverage for the Olympia 2021.
Mr. Olympia 2021 Prejudging: The Revenge Of Brandon Curry Threatens Big Ramy
Brandon Curry looks on point against Big Ramy’s slightly off conditioning during the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging.
Friday night of the Olympia 2021 ends with a climactic cliffhanger. After a series of exciting finals – the very last event of the night was the Mr. Olympia prejudging. The best Men’s Open bodybuilders battled it out on stage for the most prestigious award in the sport. Ultimately, the prejudging came down to an ultimate face off. The returning champion Big Ramy vs the former champion Brandon Curry. It was an incredibly close match. Based on what we saw tonight – Brandon Curry very well might reclaim his Mr. Olympia title.
Of course, much can change between tonight and the finals. The competitors have a full 24 hours to make adjustments, tighten up, and prove themselves one last time on Saturday night. The battle was so close between Big Ramy and Brandon Curry – that even the slightest change could effect the outcome.
Much like the Men’s 212 prejudging – this year’s Mr. Olympia had an incredible talented and stacked lineup. It just might be one of the most tense competitions for the Men’s Open in years. Beyond the top two contenders – many up-and-coming younger competitors had a real moment to shine. And also showed off just how threatening they can become in future years. The top 5 looks to be very different than the typical names we’ve seen on the list in past years. That just shows how impressive this year’s lineup really was.
Let’s break down in our full Mr. Olympia prejudging and analysis report:
Mr. Olympia 2021 Pre-Judging Breakdown
After a round of random group comparisons, we kicked off the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging callouts in earnest with the judges initial featured choices for the top six. The expected Big Ramy, Hadi Choopan, Brandon Curry, and William Bonac were brought into the fold here. It was also exciting to see that relative newcomers Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada made their way into this lineup. Both had plenty of hype throughout the season – and their hard work seems to be paying off.
Big Ramy and Brandon Curry were squarely placed in the middle of this lineup. It was somewhat unfortunate to see William Bonac pressed off into the sidelines of the lineup. A competitor who once landed second at the Mr. Olympia and is a former Arnold Classic champion – his physique couldn’t keep him in step with the center highlighted competitors.
1st Callout Lineup
Nick Walker
Hadi Choopan
Hunter Labrada
William Bonac
Mamdouh Elssbiay
Brandon Curry
The Mr. Olympia 2021 second and third callouts went as expected – with follow up competitors battling it out for presumed rankings below sixth place. Many of these athletes also sported incredible physiques – but in the biggest competition of the year, athletes who would have otherwise landed wins found themselves facing off in lower callouts.
Roelly Winklaar found himself in the second callout. After a rough year of missing other big competitions – many fans hoped to see him in a new and improved form for a big placing. But it seems yet another missed opportunity for a fan favorite mass monster.
2nd Callout Lineup
Roelly Winklaar
Iain Valliere
Akim Williams
Mohamed Shaaban
Justin Rodriguez
James Hollingshead
3rd Callout Lineup
Andrea Presti
Patrick Moore
Regan Grimes
Hassan Mostafa
The Mr. Olympia 2021 fourth callout was an interesting one. It brought back some top competitors into the fold for what looked like a battle for sixth place. Bodybuilders Roelly Winklaar, Akim Williams, Mohamed Shaaban, and James Hollingshead all duked it out to claw up in the standings.
These competitors will be athletes to keep our eyes on during the finals tomorrow. With a full 24 hours to prepare in between the two nights – these four could shift into the top five if they place their cards right.
4th Callout Lineup
Akim Williams
Roelly Winklaar
Mohamed Shaaban
James Hollingshead
It was clear that we were working our way back up to the front of the pack. The fifth callouts seemed to focus on all but the top two competitors of the night. This is a very dangerous pack of athletes. As we’ve said before, with so much time between the two nights – this is where a lot of the placings can get shifted around by the awards ceremony tomorrow. Who of these competitors will earn the third spot? And can any of them inch past the current top two?
Fifth Callout
Nick Walker
William Bonac
Iain Valliere
Hadi Choopan
Hunter Labrada
Ultimately the entire Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging was building up to this next moment. In a two way duel – Big Ramy and Brandon Curry battled it out in a final top two callout. Big Ramy has been inconsistent with his conditioning throughout his career – and unfortunately he seemed to bring a quality of sharpness that was slightly off compared to last year. Still an extremely impressive and dangerous physique – this kind of slight slip could be all it takes to lose rank as returning champion.
It doesn’t help that Brandon Curry has remained consistent as ever. Curry has always slowly improve year after year – and 2021 is no different. Brandon cannot match up to Big Ramy’s size – but his conditioning and structure were fantastic. This is the kind of steady improvement that can take advantage of even the slightest drops in quality seen on Ramy.
Ultimately, it was a blow for blow final callout. Every other pose seemed to favor one competitor over the other back and forth. This battle is incredibly close. Add the additional 24 hours to get things into tighter shape – and this is anyones ballgame. At the moment, we would place a slight lead onto Brandon Curry. Could this be a comeback for our former champion? Only time will tell.
Until then, stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for our continued updates and coverage of the Olympia 2021.