Tag: nEWS
William Bonac To Put All Energy Into Olympia
William Bonac will fully set his sights on the Olympia after missing the Arnold Classic.
William Bonac has enjoyed great success at the Arnold Classic. Unfortunately, Bonac will miss this year’s event because of travel issues. With no appearance in the Arnold Classic, this means Bonac will have his sights set on the Olympia.
Bonac is the reigning Arnold Classic champion in 2020. He also won the event in 2018 and placed second in 2019. On Friday, Bonac officially announced that he will not be able to compete on Saturday and will be fully focused on the Olympia.
“Today I feel like my heart is broken but tomorrow I will wake up and put all that energy into the final stages of my prep for Mr Olympia. We all fail and we all fall down sometimes but what matters the most is to stand up stronger. So this is what I will do now. Stay tuned!?”
William Bonac has had success in the Olympia as well. He has five-straight top-five finishes, including two finishes in the top three. Bonac was not the first competitor to announced that he was unable to compete in the Arnold Classic.
Both Cedric McMillan and Roelly Winklaar were forced to withdraw from the competition with injuries. This is a loaded field at this year’s event and will still be something to watch even without some of the biggest names.
“There are a lot of great athletes in the line up for this year and I was really looking forward to step on stage and being challenged as defending champion. I live for this sport and especially for these great moments, so You might be able to imagine what I feel now.”
William Bonac has looked competition ready in recent social media updates and the makes his appearance in the Olympia one to watch. The recent news is unfortunate for one of the best in the spot but it just makes for what could be an incredible performance at the biggest event of the year.
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Emmanuel Yarbrough: The World’s Heaviest Athlete
The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Emmanuel Yarbrough as the world’s heaviest athlete.
There are only few that can say that have been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. In 2012, Emmanuel Yarbrough joined this prestigious list.
Yarbrough is an athlete that was always known for his incredible size growing up. This culminated when he was recognized as the world’s heaviest athlete. At 6-foot-8 and 704 pounds, there was no bigger athlete on the planet.
Emmanuel Yarbrough was an amateur sumo wrestler who also competed in MMA, wrestling, and college football during his time at Morgan State — where he was also a two-time All-American Division II wrestler. After college, Yarbrough trained in judo and began competing as a sumo wrestler.
In 1992 and 1994, Yarbrough won silver medals in the Sumo World Championships. He added a bronze medal in 1993. Moving forward in his career, Yarbrough increased his weight to 828 pounds and this is when he was awarded as the heaviest athlete. Yarbrough quickly became the World Amateur Sumo Champion and was one of the most famous sumos outside Japan.
In 1994, Yarbrough appeared in UFC 3 beginning his journey in mix-martial arts. He was a big name and well-known figure that was used in promotions leading up to the event. Yarbrough did not see much success as an MMA pro, finishing just 2-4 in his career. Yarbrough added professional wrestling to his ledger once he was done as an MMA fighter.
It is no surprise that Yarbrough also appeared on the big screen. He had a certain flare for acting and it was because of his bright personality. In 1997, he appeared in a Bollywood film entitled Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi. He was also on several talk shows and a commercial for Motorola. This was followed by cameo appearances on other shows and commercials.
In 2015, Yarbrough suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 51. Born in Rahway, NJ, Yarbrough is remembered as a fan friendly personality and figure that found success in many avenues. He is known for his incredible size but brought much more to the table than that.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2021 Olympia To Have Record $1.6 Million Prize Money
The 2021 Olympia is setting a prize money record.
The 2021 Olympia is setting a new record with an enormous $1.6 million prize across all divisions. Athletes will have the opportunity to take home a tremendous amount of money, money that can change their lives.
Professional bodybuilding has never been known for having the best prize money, particularly in the beginning of the sport. In recent years however many shows have been improving their payouts to athletes. The Olympia show has done well to improve their payouts for competitors. With every passing year the payment situation has been improving and 2021 is no exception.
Following their trend of increased prize money, the 2021 Olympia is defying all expectations. This year the show will payout $1.6 million over all divisions. It’s an opportunity to change a great deal of lives for these Olympian athletes.
Setting New Records
Below the official Olympia Instagram released this statement about the record setting prize money.
It’s Official: Olympia Prize Money Will Set a New Record – Nearly 1.6 Million Dollars on the Line!!!
Olympia owner Jake Wood and Chief Olympia Officer Dan Solomon have confirmed the prize money for next month’s Olympia Weekend. With full details coming soon, the total prize purse will be the largest ever awarded in the history of bodybuilding, fitness or physique competition. Set for the weekend of October 7th-10th, the fitness industry will gather in Orlando, Florida with the sport’s most prestigious titles on the line.
Sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League, the event is expected to be completely sold out. With more than 230 professional athletes expected to compete in 11 divisions, the 2021 Olympia will have more sponsors than its had in the 57 year history of the event. Plans also include a new & improved press conference, an expanded expo, along with a jaw-dropping stage production, unlike anything this sport has ever seen.
This comes as a pleasant surprise. Prize money issues have plagued the sport for some time. It’s great to see that Olympia owner Jake Wood and Olympia Chief Olympia Officer Dan Solomon are pushing hard to increase the purses at the biggest bodybuilding show in the world. It’s a great sign of things to come.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Lee Labrada Believes Son, Hunter, Is Destined To Win Olympia
Lee Labrada has some high hopes and belief in his son, Hunter, moving forward.
Lee Labrada knows a thing or two about the sport of bodybuilding. When he predicts great things for his son, Hunter, it might go beyond the normal father-son belief.
On Muscle & Fitness’ “The Menace Podcast” hosted by Dennis James, Lee said that he believes Hunter is destined to be a champion at the Olympia. With how his career has begun, Hunter has a good chance to earn the highest honor.
“I do see a Mr. Olympia win in his future,” Lee Labrada said.
“I would love for him to win the Mr. Olympia. I’ve told him before ‘Hunter, you’re going to finish what I started. You’re going to be Mr. Olympia one day.’”
Lee Labrada has 13 victories in professional bodybuilding competitions. This includes being named Mr. Universe in 1985. He has a successful history at the Olympia where he finished in the top four for seven-straight years — including two second-place finishes. He has spoken highly of his son and it seems to be paying off.
Hunter Labrada won the 2020 Tampa Pro and earned qualification to the Olympia, where he finished eighth. He earned his second major victory at the 2021 Chicago Pro and is prepared to compete at the biggest event of the year for the second-straight year. Labrada has a chance to finish even higher this time around.
There is a bright future in the sport of bodybuilding for Labrada but it did not almost come to be as his father wanted him to focus on football.
“He told me ‘Dad, I don’t want to play football anymore,” Lee Labrada said. “It’s just not in my heart.’ I tried to keep him in football. I wanted him to have the college football experience,” he admitted. “He said, ‘My heart’s not in it. If my heart’s not in it, I’m not going to give it 100 percent, and if I don’t give it 100 percent, I stand a risk of getting hurt. This isn’t a sport you play that you hold back. If I get hurt, I’m not going to be able to pursue my dream of being a professional bodybuilder.’ I go, ‘ok.’”
With his size, it is not surprising that Hunter Labrada was a football player. He seems to have made the right choice when looking at his physique on stage against some of the tp competitors in the world. There is definitely a bright future for Labrada and that could continue with an Olympia title.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hany Rambod: Phil Heath Will Not Compete In 2021 Olympia
Phil Heath will not be present at the 2021 Olympia, confirmed by his coach Hany Rambod.
Phil Heath is one of the best bodybuilders to ever step on stage. He is a seven-time champion at the Olympia but will not seek win No. 8 — at least not in 2021.
On his podcast, “The Truth With Hany Rambod,” the legendary coach confirmed that Heath will not participate in the 2021 Olympia. Rambod was asked flat out if Heath was doing the Olympia and Rambod’s response was simple.
“Phil Heath — seven-time Mr. Olympia — is not doing the 2021 Mr. Olympia. Bottom line…because he doesn’t need to.”
Rambod made sure to highlight that Heath never pulled out of the Olympia lineup. Instead, there was no intention for him to do it at all. Rambod continued by explaining that Heath will be revealing some information soon about other projects that he is working on. Does Rambod believe that Heath could perform well at the Olympia? That is a different question entirely.
“Phil is very dangerous if he decides to do something. He’s a threat to any show he does.”
Phil Heath is tied with Arnold Schwarzenegger for second all-time with seven Olympia victories. Heath’s victories were consecutive from 2011-2017 making him one of three competitors to ever win seven in a row — along with Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman. Heath trails only Haney and Coleman, who have both won eight Olympia titles in their careers.
Heath placed second at the Olympia back in 2018 and returned in 2020. He finished third behind the likes of Big Ramy and Brandon Curry. It will be interesting to see if the 41-year-old Heath decides to return to the Olympia stage and earn that eighth victory.
It is unknown when Heath will step on stage again or if he will ever decide to compete again. If he does, like Rambod said, he will be a force and a tough competitor to beat.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Arnold Classic 2021 Preview: Classic Physique Lineup Breakdown and Predictions
Who are the names to watch for in the Arnold Classic 2021?
The Arnold Classic 2021 is just days away. It will take place on Saturday in Columbus, OH after being pushed back due to COVID-19. There are four total divisions that will be on display during the event — Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Fitness, and Bikini.
This is an extremely deep list of competitors this year. The Olympia is the biggest even of the year and this lineup seems like one that belongs on that stage. There are some heavy-hitters prepared to make their Arnold Classic debut and that makes for an incredible showing from some newcomers looking to make an impact.
When looking at the competitors list, there are many different ways to go when making predictions. Let’s take a look at the full list and see how the event could play out on Saturday night.
Arnold Classic Classic Physique
Alex Cambronero
Jarek Crew
Logan Franklin
Bryan Jones
Fabian Mayr
Peter Molnar
Courage Opara
Terrence Ruffin
Tony Taveras
Dani Younan
Alex Cambronero
Alex Cambronero returns to the Arnold Classic as the reigning champion from 2020 in Classic Physique. He clearly has the makings of what it takes to win and the experience necessary to get it done. It is difficult to go back-to-back on stage and Cambronero will have that chance this year. Cambronero certainly has what is takes but the prediction is tough to make. He will be part of the first callout and anything can happen from there.
Jarek Crew
Jarek Crew was last seen finishing second at the Chicago Pro this year. Crew could be a dark-horse contender coming into the weekend and this has showed during some social media updates. It is difficult for newcomers to make an impact in their first Arnold Classic but that is what we could see from Crew on Saturday.
Logan Franklin
When thinking about the list of competitors that can win this competition, Logan Franklin has to be mentioned. He is a talented competitor and has been working on filling out his physique. He has some more size that can be put on which means he will be even better when this happens. Franklin’s placing will depend on his conditioning on Saturday. He finished second at the Texas Pro when he had a chance to take home the prize. If there is a better version out there, Franklin can find it and potentially have a chance to win the event.
Bryan Jones
Bryan Jones looks like a competitor that can potentially compete in the Men’s Open division. He has incredible size in his upper body. Jones has shoulders and arms that pop along with incredible lats. What makes Jones classic is his small waist. He has the perfect physique for this division and he has a chance to be a name to watch moving forward. It would not be surprising to see Jones win this event and even take home an Olympia title in the future.
Fabian Mayr
Fabian Mayr earned automatic qualification to this event after winning the 2020 Arnold Amateur Classic Physique. Now, he will have a chance to see how he stacks up against some of the best in the world. Mayr brings the necessary size and cut needed to compete in this event. This will be the first of what could be many appearances in the Arnold Classic for Mayr.
Peter Molnar
One of the most intriguing names in the division will be Peter Molnar. He is a relatively unknown competitor despite earning qualification to this year’s Olympia. The body of work is small but Molnar has the perfect physique for this division. There is a bright future ahead and it will be interesting to see if he can burst onto the scene a bit ahead of schedule. He will have the chance to do just that in his first Arnold Classic appearance on Saturday.
Courage Opara
Courage Opara has not been on the Arnold Classic stage since 2019, where he picked up his second-straight third-place finish. In 2020, Opara won the Battle of Texas Pro Classic Physique and will look to get back on stage at an event that he is comfortable in. The judges like what Opara brings to the table and that is clear with two top-three finishes. In a stacked lineup like this, it will be interesting to see if Opara can remain near the top.
Terrence Ruffin
Terrence Ruffin finished second to Cambronero during the 2020 Arnold Classic. He has made tremendous strides over the last few weeks and it looking competition ready. Another aspect that Ruffin has on his belt is his ability to pose. Ruffin might be the best poser in this division and this is something that is held in high regard at the Arnold Classic. Is there a favorite to win this show? With this lineup, it is hard to predict but Ruffin could be at the top of the list.
Tony Taveras
Tony Taveras has been making great strides preparing for the Arnold Classic. This is his first appearance and will be part of a lineup that will put on a great show. Taveras brings a lot to the table and we saw that on display during the Europa Dallas — where he finished in first place. Taveras will have to bring his best on Saturday if he wants to have a chance at finishing in the upper half.
Dani Younan
Dani Younan is returning to the Arnold Classic stage for the first time since 2018 — when he placed sixth. This year, Younan will display an improved physique with greater size and tightness. Younan’s placing will all depend on how the judges fix height into the equation. Younan is a shorter competitor which makes him more compact. This is not a knock on his physique because he will come into Saturday with high expectations. It would not be surprising to see Younan finish in the top five.
Who will win Classic Physique at the Arnold Classic 2021? For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
INTERVIEW: Robert Timms Opens Up About His Previous Battle With Cancer
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Robert Timms looks back at his experience battling cancer that could have took away his leg.
Robert Timms is a pro Classic Physique competitor that is looking to be a real threat in upcoming competitions. But his entire bodybuilding future was threatened when he was 21 years old due to a cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, he recovered – but the cancer found in his shin bone could have led to a full amputation of his leg worst case scenario. Thankfully this didn’t happen. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Robert Timms recounts the experience of being diagnosed with cancer and the process of recovery.
In today’s world, cancer is seemingly everywhere. Nearly 1 in 3 people get cancer within their lifetime. Most likely, someone you know has had cancer or knows something who did. It’s a very scary disease that can cause significant suffering. Luckily, as we progress forward there have been serious progress towards more efficient cures and recoveries.
Robert Timms is a bodybuilder that had to face the grim reality of a cancer diagnosis at only 21 years old. He was already well on his way towards his bodybuilding goals when he noticed a sever pain in his shin. After a trial and error with doctors – it was discovered he had cancer in his shin bone. The worst case scenario of this situation would be to amputate his leg.
It was a very heavy diagnosis for anyone, let alone a young 21 year old man. In our recent video conversation, we talked with Robert Timms about the diagnosis and the process of recovery. Timms discusses the entire ordeal with optimism. He had survived the ordeal (with his leg in tact) and was able to continue his journey in bodybuilding.
Robert Timms is obviously thankful for modern medicine and his ability to fully recover. That being said, he was honest about the process and how it specifically affected him as a bodybuilder. Undergoing chemotherapy meant sidetracking his entire bodybuilding career. He lost a lot of weight and a lot of muscle. It set his progress back significantly.
Upon being in remission, Robert Timms slowly returned to training. It was a struggle at first. His body was still weak and not responding immediately to the training. But overtime he started to notice his old self come back. Soon he was fully back in action and ready to take on the Classic Physique division.
When it comes to something as seemingly insurmountable as cancer, Robert Timms had some advice for those dealing with the disease. While cancer can be very serious – he expressed the importance of being optimistic especially during this time in modern medicine.
“I think it was more so scary because I thought it was a death wish. But it’s not,” Robert Timms stated in our interview. He continued:
“My step sister right now, she has cancer… and she was broken. And I said, ‘Listen, you’re sick. There’s medicine. You’re going to be fine.’ Now when you think of it like that it makes it easier.”
You can watch Robert Timms recount his entire battle with cancer in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez’s Arnold Classic 2021 Predictions
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Victor Martinez breaks down the entire line up and makes predictions for the Arnold Classic 2021.
After a longer than usual wait, we are only a few days away from the Arnold Classic 2021! The event has been shortened to only one day with less divisions – but there are still some truly exceptional athletes to be excited about this weekend. That’s why we’ve turned to bodybuilding veteran Victor Martinez for his analysis of the line up. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez shares his analysis and predictions for the Arnold Classic 2021.
This year’s Arnold Classic is a special one. In a last minute decision, the winner of this competition also qualifies for this year’s Mr. Olympia. This might sound normal in any other year – but with the event taking place only two weeks before the Mr. Olympia, it can create a last minute wild card for the event. On top of this, we have some truly exceptional athletes, both old and new, hungry to show their best physiques yet.
We connected with Generation Iron alum Victor Martinez over video chat to go over the entire line up and get his predictions and thoughts on the Arnold Classic 2021. This interview was recorded shortly before the recent reported news that Roelly Winklaar will not be competing. Victor believed that Winklaar had a high chance of success. Despite Winklaar likely not being present, Martinez breaks down some other truly promising athletes who can take the crown.
Victor Martinez first touches on Iain Valliere, who has been on a roll with multiple wins over the course of this season. Martinez sees a lot of promise in the competitor, but also claims to have never seen someone peak three times in a year. Let alone four (with Valliere also competing in the Olympia after this weekend’s Arnold Classic). This casts a slight shadow of doubt for how he’ll fair this weekend.
Martinez is also extremely optimistic about Akim Williams at the Arnold Classic 2021. Williams has been on an upward trajectory over the past two years. Victor Martinez had the opportunity to see Williams recently – and what he saw impressed him. Martinez has high hopes for Williams at this event. He places Akim Williams as a possible top 3 contender.
Victor Martinez also shines a light on Justin Rodriguez and Nick Walker – two powerhouse athletes that can do big damage this weekend. Both competitors have shown incredible physiques – but this will be their first time competing against a bigger crop of the best athletes in the world. Both competitors are still on the younger side. It will be interesting to see how they stand up against the rest of the line up at the Arnold Classic 2021.
Then there’s William Bonac returning to defend his title at the Arnold Classic 2021. Bonac has always been a fan favorite and top tier athlete. He’s inched his way close to winning a Mr. Olympia title as well – but has yet to claim the Sandow trophy. From Victor Martinez’s perspective, the biggest challenge Bonac faces is his overall size. He’s a smaller bodybuilder compared to many in Men’s Open. In his quest for perfect conditioning he cannot afford to lose anymore weight. This is what threw him off at the Olympia 2020. If Bonac can keep his weight in check while also crushing his conditioning – he is still the man to beat for first place.
Victor Martinez goes into detail about other top athletes such as Steve Kuclo, Hassan Mostafa, and others. You can see Martinez’s full predictions for the Arnold Classic in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
William Bonac Reportedly Out of The 2021 Arnold Classic
Could two-time Arnold Classic champion William Bomac be out of this year’s show?
There appears to be a rumor going around that 2020 Arnold Classic champion William Bonac is out of the 2021 show. Sources are alleging that Bonac will be unable to compete due to travel issues.
It appears that Roelly Winklaar and Cedric McMillan won’t be the only top pros to miss the 2021 Arnold Classic. William Bonac was looking especially impressive ahead of the big show. But multiple sources are alleging that the two-time Arnold Classic champion will unfortunately be unable to make it to Columbus, Ohio for the 2021 show.
It truly comes as shocking news especially after the fallout of both Roelly Winklaar and Cedric McMillan dropping out of the card in recent weeks. Now it potentially appears that William Bonac could be added to the list due to the travel restrictions caused by the global health issue. Apparently Bonac is still currently in Abu Dhabi.
What Does This Mean For “The Conquer”?
Should this unfortunate turn events be true it would mean that William Bonac has no chance at competing at the 2021 Olympia. The only chance he would have is if he receives a special invite to the show. With just a few short weeks before the biggest show of the year, a special invite at this late date would be controversial. But a late invitation isn’t completely out of the ordinary. After all, Big Ramy received a special invite to the 2020 Olympia and we all know what transpired there.
William Bonac was certainly looking in top form ahead of the show. He had showcased an incredible physique at a recent guest posing that got everyone excited for the prospects of competing at the Arnold Classic and potentially the Olympia.
Now Bonac’s biggest competition at the show, Nick Walker, may be a shoe in to win. There are still plenty of tough competitors the young bodybuilder will have to contend with however.
William Bonac is a two-time Arnold Classic champion, a runner up at the 2019 Mr. Olympia and one of the top competitors on the planet. If the news is true this is truly an unfortunate event for the impressive bodybuilding veteran.
What do you think of these unfortunate turn of events?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Hadi Choopan Reveals Posing Routine Ahead Of 2021 Olympia
Hadi Choopan looks ready for the 2021 Olympia in recent video showing posing routine.
In the past, Hadi Choopan has not had an ideal amount of time to prepare for the Olympia because of difficulty with travel. This year, Choopan is showing that with the necessary amount of time, he will be ready to go. In a recent video on Facebook, Choopan is seen showing off a posing routine ahead of the biggest event of the year.
On a ‘Persian Wolf’ Facebook page, Choopan is looking massive during a posing routine.
In early September, Choopan arrived in the United States to compete in the Olympia. In 2020, Choopan arrived right before the competition and did not have ample time to prepare. This year, he had about six weeks to prepare and get everything in line. If this recent video is any indication, Choopan is ready to compete at the highest level.
In the video, Choopan is showing off his physique and incredible mass. His waist is looking small while his arms and legs look competition ready. Choopan has had success at the Olympia in recent years and has a chance to improve further.
In 2018, Choopan competed in the Olympia 212 and placed 16th. He went onto win the Asian Grand Prix 212 that year before transitioning to Men’s Bodybuilding. He won the Vancouver Pro in 2019 and this is where his Olympia success began. In 2019, Choopan placed third at the biggest event of the year and was fourth last year.
Despite not having necessary time to prepare, Choopan has been able to put on a strong performance over the years. Heading into this year’s Olympia, Choopan will have some expectations.
Hadi Chopin has been training with Hany Rambod, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the sport. This is an advantage as Choopan has not been able to compete since last year’s Olympia.
There is plenty to look forward to in Orlando this year and Choopan is one of the big names to watch heading into the event.
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