Tag: nEWS
Big Ramy Is The Mr. Olympia 2021 Champion In Repeat Victory
Big Ramy wins the Mr. Olympia 2021.
For a moment there, it seemed like Big Ramy might not retain his Mr. Olympia title. During the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging Friday night, Ramy looked off with his conditioning. Fans worst fears were realized – his inconsistent condition was rearing its ugly head again. But just like so many amazing Olympia stories – Ramy sharpened up by Saturday night and reminded us why he’s champion in the first place. It’s no longer a fluke – Big Ramy is the Mr. Olympia 2021 champion.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, more commonly called Big Ramy, had been a fan favorite to win the Mr. Olympia for years now. True to his name, he brings a level of size that is hardly seen by even the top pro bodybuilders currently competing. Due to his massive size, some fans even hoped he would be the second coming of Ronnie Coleman.
Big Ramy represented the pinnacle of a growing bodybuilding Mecca coming out of Kuwait. Though originally from Egypt, Ramy moved to Kuwait to train in Oxygen Gym – a location known for transforming pros into massive titans. Over the years, many pro bodybuilders moved temporarily to Kuwait for a reboot to their training. This included Mr. Olympia 2019 champion Brandon Curry.
But the initial hype behind Big Ramy did not come to fruition immediately. With ever year, Ramy showed bigger and bigger muscle during his prep leading up to the competition. But with each year he would fall short. Most notably, his conditioning was often criticized as the reason he could not bring in an Olympia victory. As of today, that all changed.
Big Ramy’s first Mr. Olympia competition was in 2013. He placed eight just a few notches below the top 6 highlights. But even with the lower placing, he immediately turned heads. His mammoth size was hardly seen in current crop of competitors. It wasn’t long before the hype train build up steam. Fans were clamoring – with time, will he become a powerhouse reigning champion?
Over the following years, Ramy improved in placing with each Olympia competition. This came to a head at the Mr. Olympia 2017 where Big Ramy placed 2nd.
It was at this competition that his promise seemed to turn into a reality. For what seemed like the first time in forever, Phil Heath actually appeared threatened. With his massive size, Big Ramy looked like a real possibility to win standing next to Phil Heath.
The competition was so close that many fans believed that Big Ramy was the rightful winner. Similar to the 2007 Mr. Olympia with Victor Martinez, the competition became controversial for potentially making the wrong call.
With Big Ramy so close to victory in 2017 and Phil Heath appearing to slightly fade – fans were excited more than ever before the Mr. Olympia 2018. Anticipation was in overdrive as fans expected to see an even more improved Big Ramy. With his conditioning issue seemingly under control – victory was just around the corner.
This would not end up being the case. In 2018, Big Ramy dropped down to a disappointing 6th place at the Mr. Olympia. His conditioning was off and he appeared to fade as the competition went on. Fans were so disappointed that Big Ramy himself issued an apology immediately after the event.
Shortly after, Big Ramy quit Oxygen Gym and changed his entire training regimen. Under a new trainer, Neil Yoda Hill, he aimed to take a new approach towards prepping for the Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately, more bad news was on the horizon as Big Ramy announced in 2019 that he would not compete in the Mr. Olympia. Original reports of injury seemed to be the reason behind his absence – though he initially denied these reports. After a lackluster appearance in 2018, fans were disappointed to see him miss a full year.
Of course, this story ultimately has a happy ending. It seems his year break helped further improve Big Ramy’s physique. Still sporting incredible size and a renewed conditioning – Ramy towered over the competitors at the Mr. Olympia 2020 and finally won the title.
Fast forward to 2021, the question now wasn’t whether Big Ramy will be a champion – but if he can remain a reigning champion. There has been a streak of one off Olympia champions as of late – it started with Shawn Rhoden followed by Brandon Curry. Would Ramy suffer the same fate? We now know the answer is a resounding no. But it wasn’t a straight shot to get there.
When Big Ramy appeared at the Olympia 2020 – it almost seemed obvious that he would be champion. He was so on point and stood out among all other competitors. This year, however, his conditioning seemed off compared to last year. In a top two face off during the prejudging – Brandon Curry was so on point it seemed he could exploit Ramy’s weakness and take the big win.
But a lot can change between the prejudging and the finals. Unlike many competitions throughout the year – Men’s Open have a full day between the two phases. Big Ramy was able to improve his conditioning. Combine that with his massive size and there was no way Brandon Curry could match up. It was a close battle overall. It was electric, exciting, and ultimately a well won victory.
For the full Mr. Olympia 2021 results – you can check out our coverage right here.
Olympia 2021 Bikini Results
The results are in for the Bikini Division at Olympia 2021.
The Bikini division results have been announced and there is a new champion. This was known coming into the competition because last year’s winner, Janet Layug, would not be competing. In the end, it was Jennifer Dorie who took home the title.
During prejudging, there was a clear top three set.Dorieis coming off a victory at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago and was looking to continue momentum. She defeated Lauralie Chapados at the Arnold but she was a force on Saturday. Also, former Olympia Bikini champion Ashley Kaltwasser was back to being near the top. She knows what it takes to compete at the biggest event and did not disappoint.
Elisa Pecini was another dark-horse candidate that put on a strong performance. There was a total of 35 competitors in Bikini this year so there was a lot to uncover during prejudging. The judges did so by putting competitors through posing routines and a decision was made. That decision was announced Saturday night.
The full results from the Bikini division have been announced. Check out a breakdown of the results and an official score card from the event below.
Olympia 2021 Bikini Results
First Place – Jennifer Dorie
Second Place – Lauralie Chapados
Third Place – Ashley Kaltwasser
Fourth Place – Maureen Blanquisco
Fifth Place – Elisa Pecini
Previous Olympia Bikini Winners
2020: Janet Layug
2019: Elisa Pecini
2018: Angelica Teixeira
2017: Angelica Teixeira
2016: Courtney King
2015: Ashley Kaltwasser
2014: Ashley Kaltwasser
2013: Ashley Kaltwasser
2012: Nathalia Melo
2011: Nicole Nagrani
2010: Sonia Gonzalez
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Results
Do we have a new Olympia 2020 Classic Physique champion? Or a three-peat?
The talk coming into this year’s Olympia was if Chris Bumstead could make it three in a row in Classic Physique. Would it be Bumstead? Could Breon Ansley return to the top or maybe a fresh name, such as Terrence Ruffin?
The top three was predicted by many and it ended up playing out just like 2020. Bumstead made it three in a row, followed by Ruffin then Ansley.
Classic Physique is full of competitors that bring it on stage every competition. Ruffin was named the Arnold Classic champion two weeks ago, when he defeated the 2020 champion Alex Cambronero. Bumstead come in with back-to-back victories at the Olympia after Ansley won two in a row in 2017 and 2018.
During prejudging, there was a top six, including Urs Kalecinski and Ramon Rocha Querioz. It was a question of who would jump into the top five and if anyone could take down Bumstead. A show was put on during this portion of the show and it set the scene for an exciting night at the final.
The full results have been announced and there is a champion. Below, you can find the full results along with the official score card.
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Results
First Place – Chris Bumstead
Second Place – Terrence Ruffin
Third Place – Breon Ansley
Fourth Place – Urs Kalecinski
Fifth Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Previous Classic Physique Olympia Winners
2020: Chris Bumstead
2019: Chris Bumstead
2018: Breon Ansley
2017: Breon Ansley
2016: Danny Hester
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
Mr. America 2021 Results
Complete results for the Mr. America 2021
This weekend held the Mr. America 2021 bodybuilding competition and expo – an event with rich history dating back to 1939. New promoters and those who care about the sport of bodybuilding are working tirelessly to get this event back on top. Now that the event has come to a close – we can break down the complete Mr. America 2021 results.
With this event being a real success last year, we finally have some returning winners to look forward to as they seek to hold onto their title. On the men’s side, Johnny Dotson looks to defend his title in the Pro Men’s Physique while Joe LaCerra defends the Pro Classic category. For women, Dora Avila is set to repeat in the Pro Bikini category, while Jenna Bidoglio fights to defend Pro Figure.
We talked with Joe LaCerra and Jenna Bidoglio about their beginnings, training, nutrition, and excitement for this event. A common theme was the desire to participate in a sport they love so much and an event with such a rich history. While their respective routines were of course different, both are excited to come back and defend their title, looking to start a winning streak that puts them in the history books of Mr. America.
Ultimately, it was BLANK who earned the top spot in the highlight Men’s Open category a the Mr. America 2021. Keep reading below for a full breakdown of the complete Mr. America 2021 results.
Mr. America 2021 Results
Men’s Open
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Men’s Classic Physique
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Men’s Physique
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Figure
First Place – Sheila Erickson
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Classic Figure
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Bikini
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Women’s Physique
*Coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
History Of Mr. America
Mr. America began in 1939 and was started by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). What Mr. America did was champion the idea of the Greek ideal, that perfectly sculpted physique dating back centuries, but a challenger to the AAU came and the newly founded IFBB led to a competition for the public’s support. What would happen is a slow decline that those ideals of Mr. America were replaced with money and massive physiques. The attention shifted from Mr. America to events like Mr. Olympia and soon enough, Mr. America would be passed around as the rights were sold several times.
Eventually, the AAU stopped holding the contest and this event would fall out of the public’s eye. But after a few revival attempts, a determined and hard working group at East Coast Fitness Concepts took the reigns and sought to bring back this historical and storied event. A successful year last year has brought hope that this year would be even better as athletes look to participate in the most incredible history of this contest and be crowned Mr. America.
CBS Sports Network – Follow Up Broadcast
Mr. America will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network this year, bringing this sport and historical event to the public in a great way. With this event being broadcast on CBS Sports Network, it allows those who may be unfamiliar with bodybuilding the chance to learn and see just what makes this sport so great. Having the history and rich story tied to Mr. America, this event may make for great TV in that it has all the components you want. It has action, it has competition, it has love of the sport, and it has a winner who will be crowned Mr. America 2021.
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 IFBB Texas Pro. Make sure to check out our full results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Olympia 2021 Men’s Physique Results
Who stood tallest at the Olympia 2021 Men’s Physique?
The Men’s Physique division was one that saw a bit of shakeup this time around. Brandon Hendrickson entered as the reigning champion looking to defend his title. He did so successfully and earned his third Olympia title in four years.
The results began in a surprising way with former Olympia champion Raymont Edmonds taking fifth place. He entered the weekend with a chance to finish in the top two or three. This meant that other competitors were to move up and those were Kyron Holden and Erin Banks. Men’s Physique is in a good position moving forward and there is no better place to show it off than the Olympia.
After a win at the New York Pro, Banks was able to move into the top two. In the end, it was not enough to take down the champion but in his first Olympia, Banks showed plenty and the future is bright. Hendrickson has flexed his muscles in this division and it will be entertaining to see what happens over the years.
The full results have been announced from the Men’s Physique division. You can find a full break down below along with the official score card.
Olympia 2021 Men’s Physique Results
First Place – Brandon Hendrickson
Second Place – Erin Banks
Third Place – Diogo Montenegro
Fourth Place – Kyron Holden
Fifth Place – Raymont Edmonds
Men’s Physique Olympia Winners
2020: Brandon Hendrickson
2019: Raymont Edmonds
2018: Brandon Hendrickson
2017: Jeremy Buendia
2016: Jeremy Buendia
2015: Jeremy Buendia
2014: Jeremy Buendia
2013: Mark Anthony Wingson
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
America’s Strongest Woman 2021 Results
Get all the results you need here for America’s Strongest Woman 2021!
With the 2021 America’s Strongest Woman contest coming to a close, the results are in and the title of America’s Strongest Woman has been handed down. After a great event held in Orlando, Florida, these women put their strength and sheer will to the test as each sought that top spot. The results are in and America’s Strongest Woman 2021 has been crowned.
Strongman Corporation covers and promotes all things related to Strongman with the goal of providing quality Strongman competitions for the public while being fair to every competitor. Committed to raising the bar and holding only the best and most fair competitions, Strongman Corporation honors their promise to members with reliable and genuine information to put the sport in the spotlight it deserves.
America’s Strongest Woman Event Recap
With 5 total events this year, competitors competed in three divisions being Lightweight Women (up to 140 lbs.), Middleweight Women (140.8 lbs. up to 180 lbs.), and Heavyweight Women. These strongwomen grabbed their chalk, hooked up their lifting belts, and got ready to take on these grueling events.
Max Log Press
In the max log press, each athlete had 30 seconds to complete the lift and could not drop before the judges down command.
Farmer’s Walk With Turn
Athletes were required to carry the farmer’s implement 40-feet, make a turn, and carry it back 40-feet with time stopping after they crossed the line.
Yoke Walk Sandbag Medley
Competitors were required to carry the yoke 40-feet and stack light and heavy sand bags onto the yoke with each run in a time limit of 60 seconds.
Sandbag Toss
The sandbag toss saw athletes line up about 10-feet from the bar and throw the bags over from lightest to heaviest, with bags adjusting in weight based on division.
Three Bar Deadlift
For this event, athletes were required to deadlift three separate weights with a 60 second time limit to complete one rep of each weight.
America’s Strongest Woman 2021
We at Generation Iron were on top of this event from start to finish, bringing you the best for results and information. This year’s America’s Strongest Woman was an exciting event and as Strongman has grown in popularity as a sport, these strongwomen are getting the attention they deserve for their hard work and sheer dedication to the sport. With more attention, it means more public interest, and more strongmen and strongwomen participating in the sport overall.
Here are the results for America’s Strongest Women 2021.
America’s Strongest Women 2021 Overall Results
Wrap Up
America’s Strongest Woman 2021 proved to be an exciting and engaging competition full of Strongman action as these strongwomen took their places and fought to be crowned champion. Orlando was a great host and with the help of Strongman Corporation, brought even more attention to this sport as more and more people become aware of what Strongman really is. While this event just ended, we are all excited to see what next year brings.
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 Strongman Corporation Instagram
Flex Wheeler Has Been Diagnosed With COVID-19: “I Will Defeat The Virus”
Flex Wheeler has revealed that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in recent Instagram post.
The Olympia 2021 has been well underway – and if you weren’t paying attention, you might be forgiven to think that COVID-19 is no longer with us. The event has been filled with excitement and is far more back to normal than it was in 2020. That being said, the pandemic is certainly still affecting world – and it seems that a legendary bodybuilder is the latest to become ill with the virus. Pro bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler has announced that he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Flex Wheeler was set to be a part of the Olympia 2021 events in some capacity – but has been noticeably absent so far. Now we know why, Flex Wheeler took to Instagram, showing him in what looks to be a hospital bed. He stated that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is determined to recover smoothly.
I deeply apologize to Jake @jake_wood_media The entire Olympia staff @mrolympiallc the competitors and all my fans for not being able to be there physically. But I am with you all in spirit.
This covid virus is nothing to smirk ? at!
but it truly picked the wrong guy to try in victimize. I am steadfast and I will defeat this virus.
Bank on it‼️
Flex Wheeler is known across the bodybuilding community as one of the greatest pro bodybuilders to ever live. While he does not hold an Olympia title under his belt, is often seen by both fans and athletes like to have one of the greatest physiques of all time. He was a competitor during the 90s era of the sport – which has become more and more known as a second Golden Era.
In 2017, Flex Wheeler made a comeback in the Classic Physique division to much fanfare. He received a standing ovation during his last posing routine at the Olympia 2017. Two years later, in 2019, tragedy struck. His leg was amputated due to a life threatening medical situation. It was a very emotional time – but Wheeler maintained his strength and has recovered gracefully and adapted to a new future with only one leg.
Now it seems Flex Wheeler will face another medical challenge. While it seems so far that Wheeler is in good health. He states in his comments that the COVID-19 virus “is nothing to smirk at!” Despite this, Wheeler has always been a man who faces challenges head on. He has an athlete’s willpower – and that may help him stay strong should his health turn for the worse.
For now, we simply hope that the virus remains mild and that Flex Wheeler recovers without issue. This story is still developing and Generation Iron will continue to provide updates as they become available.
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 Men’s Physique Prejudging Report & Analysis
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Olympia 2021 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.