Tag: nEWS
IFBB Zhanna Rotar Pro 2021 Results
Complete results from the IFBB Zhanna Rotar Pro 2021.
The IFBB Zhanna Rotar Pro 2021 took place on Saturday, July 24 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. This was the site of a competition that handed out some qualifications for the 2021 Mr. Olympia, which will take place Oct. 7-10 in Orlando, FL.
This competition is named after Zhanna Rotar, who passed away in December after being involved in a vehicle accident. Rotar had a passion for nutrition and this carried over into a career in fitness. She began competing in 2000 and earned her pro card in 2005.
The Zhanna Rotar Pro 2021 was a small style competition but there was plenty to watch and a lot on the line for competitors. Check out our full breakdown of the results below.
Results Breakdown
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Zhanna Rotar Pro 2021 and qualified for a spot in the Olympia. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Classic Physique
First Place – Desiree Alferes
Second Place – Anca Bergen
Third Place – Jill Braxmeyer
Fourth Place – Kim Clark
Fifth Place – Rachel Cuccia
Sixth Place – Esmeralda Diosdada
Seventh Place – Karina Grau
Eighth Place – Jessica Heath
Ninth Place – Ashley Howells
Tenth Place – Spomenka Miller
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Zhanna Rotar Pro 2021. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
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.
Powerlifter Otis Perkins Has Passed Away
Otis Perkins, who was involved in a car accident last week, has passed away.
Powerlifter Otis Perkins has passed away from complications from pneumonia on Saturday. Perkins was involved in a car accident on July 11 and rushed to the hospital. He sustained major injuries from the accident and required surgery.
Otis Perkins caught a high fever and ran into complications with his lungs during his time in the hospital. There was not enough air getting to his lungs because of the pneumonia and this caused his heart to fail. Perkins passed away on Saturday morning.
Following the accident, there was a GoFundMe page set up where all of the proceeds were to be send to Perkins to cover medical expenses and long-term care.
Larry Williams, a powerlifter and friend of Perkins, took to Instagram to pay tribute to Perkins.
“@black_tom_cruiseThe man brought laughs everywhere he went. Funniest man I ever met. He possessed all the traits of a GREAT friend.I love him and hold him closer to almost anyone I know. It hurts to accept he’s gone.No matter what life threw at him he kept a smile and his head held high. Otis Perkins you will be missed”
Otis Perkins made a name for himself in the powerlifting game by performing great feats of strength, both in competitions and on Instagram. He grew as a well-known figure in the sport and made many friends while competing.
Generation Iron will continue to update this piece as more information becomes available as no official source has confirmed the death or details at this time.
Generation Iron send out condolences to the friends and family of Otis Perkins during this difficult time. 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.
IFBB Chicago Pro 2021 Results
Complete results from the IFBB Chicago Pro 2021.
The bodybuilding season just keeps rolling along with another qualifier. Competitors flocked to the Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead in Atlanta,GA to compete in the IFBB Chicago Pro 2021. Below, we have the complete results from the event with the winners qualifying for the 2021 Mr. Olympia on Oct. 7-10 in Orlando, FL.
Roelly Winklaar was a late addition to the competition and entered the weekend as one of the favorites in the Men’s Open division. Winklaar burst onto the scene in 2010 and made a name for himself because of his incredible size and conditioning. Over the last year, Winklaar has been in and out of competitions, especially after running into difficulties with COVID-19.
The Men’s Bodybuilding division was certainly one to watch this weekend. Hassan Mostafa and Mohamed Shaaban headlined what was a talented group. Both competitors have been aggressive in pursuit of qualifying for their ticket to the Olympia.
Hassan Mostafa has been near the top in all competitions he has been featured in. He finished third in both the New York Pro 2021 and California Pro 2021. Back in June, Mostafa racked up another third place finish at the Puerto Rico Pro 2021.
Mohamed Shaaban has had a similar fate. He finished second in Puerto Rico, behind Akim Williams. In California, Shaaban came up short once again with Patrick Moore edging him out for first place. Both Shaaban and Mostafa have a chance to finish near the top of the standings where the top three will automatically qualify for the Olympia.
There were a total of 10 divisions at the Chicago Pro with winners vying for a qualification to the Olympia. The full results have now been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the IFBB Chicago Pro 2021 results below.
Chicago Pro 2021: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the Chicago Pro 2021. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Men’s Bodybuilding:
Men’s 212:
Classic Physique:
Men’s Physique:
Women’s Bodybuilding:
Fitness:
Figure: Julia Waring
Bikini:
Women’s Physique: Patricia Gosselin
Wellness: Kass Gillis
Chicago Pro 2021 Breakdown
Men’s Bodybuilding Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Men’s 212 Results
Results coming soon
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Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Classic Physique Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Men’s Physique Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Women’s Bodybuilding Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Fitness Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Figure Results
First Place – Julia Waring
Second Place – Julia Di Pompeo
Third Place – Sandra Grajales
Fourth Place – Larhannah Robinson
Fifth Place – Danielle Yablin Rose
Sixth Place – Anita Davis
Bikini Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Women’s Physique Results
First Place – Patricia Gosselin
Second Place – Lenka Ferenčuková
Third Place – Brittany Watts
Fourth Place – Elizabeth Bradshaw
Fifth Place – Katherine Hall
Sixth Place – Sheena Washington
Wellness Results
First Place – Kass Gillis
Second Place – Bruna Seredich
Third Place – Renee Jewett
Fourth Place – Daisha Johnson
Fifth Place – Mallory Myers
Sixth Place – Clarissa Sanchez
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Chicago Pro 2021. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 8: Surgery Mishaps, Travel Diet Tips, & More
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Craig Golias discusses the tragic death of Odalis Santos Mena, training to failure, and how to maintain a bodybuilding diet while traveling.
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 talks about the tragic and recent passing of Odalis Santos Mena, training to failure, and diet trips for bulking while traveling.
There were a lot of topics to cover in this week’s episode of Talking Huge after a busy week and as the bodybuilding season moves closer and closer to Olympia weekend. The top of the week was met with tragedy in the bodybuilding world. Odalis Santos Mena sadly passed away at just 23 years old due to a botched surgery. Craig and Vlad discuss the situation and open up the conversation to surgeries in bodybuilding as a whole. They also discuss training to failure, how important it is in bodybuilding, and tips to properly train to failure without injury. Other topics include how to stay motivated after taking a break from the gym, the best supplements for bodybuilders, and how to properly diet while traveling without losing gains. There’s a lot to cover so let’s jump right into it.
The Tragic Passing of Odalis Santos Mena
Odalis Santos Mena’s death this past week hit the bodybuilding world hard. Not only is any death sad – but to pass away at such a young age (23 years old) is truly heartbreaking. Additionally, the death was seemingly preventable. Odalis Santos Mena underwent a procedure to stop sweating. A strange, and rare procedure indeed. Unfortunately, it was a procedure she would not survive. Though there has yet to be an official investigation – signs point towards the anesthesia as the main attribution to her death. Was it due to a freak accident, malpractice, or something else? We’re not quite sure at the moment.
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin send condolences out to friends and family of Odalis Santos Mena. They also talk about how much more sad it feels when a death happens so randomly as this one. All deaths are tragic. But seemingly sudden and simple ones such as this feel heavier on the heart. Of course, the sad truth is that there is always an inherent risk to any procedure or surgery that requires anesthesia.
Craig and Vlad talk about other surgeries that are popular in bodybuilding and the risks involved. Is this kind of surgery culture bad in the big picture? Is the risk, even when minimal, not worth it when an outcome like this could happen? Craig and Vlad break it down.
Craig Golias’ Tips On How To Travel And Stay Huge
Craig Golias is a bodybuilder who values staying huge above all else. He has admitted previously to doing unhealthy things with his diet just to achieve that in the past. More recently, he has become more educated on how to properly bulk with clean meals, stay huge, and keep himself healthier.
But when it comes to traveling – a lot of healthy options get thrown out to of the window. If you have a six hour flight or even longer, how do you maintain the mass amount of clean meals required to keep bulking? Is it okay to take one day off? Or does it throw off everything completely?
Craig Golias breaks down his tips and tricks to staying huge and staying on diet while traveling. The truth of the matter is, sometimes you have to do some things that are less pleasurable when it comes to taste and comfort in your diet. Pre-prepped meals are always the way to go. If you need to eat over 6,000 calories in a day – make sure to bring pre-prepped chicken and rice on your flight.
Craig recounts having to cut up his cooked chicken into small cubes and breaking it down into tiny bags so that it would pass security on check out. He would then scarf down little cubes of chicken on the plan every few hours. It wasn’t glorious. It felt like work in fact – but sometimes that is what is necessary to maintain a bodybuilding diet.
Ultimately, Craig Golias states that anyone who is serious about their bodybuilding lifestyle and diet will see food as a means to an end rather than a pleasurable dining experience. Like Jay Cutler once said, “I don’t eat for taste, I eat for function.” Traveling is not an excuse to break your bodybuilding diet. It’s simply a challenge you’ll have to overcome.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss other topics such as training to failure and tips on how to avoid getting injured. They also discuss the best supplements that all bodybuilders should take who are looking to bulk up. 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!
Dexter Jackson Is Still Killing It In The Gym, Vows to Stay Shredded Forever
Dexter Jackson is in incredible shape in retirement.
Dexter Jackson has vowed to stay shredded until he kicks the bucket. The bodybuilding legend hasn’t slowed down one bit in retirement. In fact, Jackson is looking just as jacked and lean as ever. His recent training videos show a man still dedicated to high level bodybuilding.
The winningest bodybuilder in the history of the game, Dexter Jackson is an absolute legend. Competing since 1992, it seemed like Jackson would never retire from competition. That changed however when the veteran finally decided to call it quits in 2020. The 2020 Olympia would be the final show for Jackson and he was given a champion’s send off.
So now that he’s accomplished everything you could wish for as a bodybuilder, Dexter Jackson is now enjoying his retirement. After competing for so many years you would think that would mean taking some time off from the gym. After all, Jackson as a competitor was always known for staying in shape which meant staying in the gym. But apparently old habits die hard.
Not only has Dexter Jackson not stopped training, the veteran is looking just as jacked as ever. His recent training doesn’t show a man who is completely finished with the sport of bodybuilding but rather a man who is still passionate about his fitness. Rather than sit on the couch all day, Jackson is hefting heavy weight and still looking in top form.
Is he as massive as ever? Clearly not. But Dexter Jackson still possesses a champion level physique at an advanced age and could still give some young guns a run for their money.
It’s pretty clear that Dexter Jackson not only loved competing, but training as well. It shows in the all the hard work he’s putting in currently. And he doesn’t even have to lift a finger. Right now he could never lift again and be proud of what he’s accomplished. But bodybuilding is more than just competing for Jackson. It’s a way of life on and off the stage.
A Vow to Stay Shredded
A recent Instagram post captures the mindset of Dexter Jackson perfectly. The veteran bodybuilder isn’t slowing down any time soon. He’ll be lifting for the rest of his life that much is clear from this post.
I maybe retired from the stage but never from the gym.. Your boy gone die shredded! Lol.
Dexter Jackson is an absolute legend and should be saluted for maintaining such a impressive physique where others would just let themselves go. A true professional through and through.
What do you think of Dexter Jackson and his recent declaration of staying shredded?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor 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.
Chris Craft Shows Off Massive 317.5 Squats Without Belt Or Knee Sleeves
Chris Craft posted a recent video on Instagram where he performed huge squats without much help.
No knee sleeves, no belt, no problem for Chris Craft. When it comes to squats, Craft has always been a bit of a freak. Craft took home the prize during the 2021 United States Powerlifting Association Arkansas Powerlifting competition. On Wednesday, Craft took to Instagram to show that he is still in top shape.
Chris Craft performed a 317.5kg (700lb) squat for a double and did it without wearing knee sleeves or a belt.
Not only did Craft load up the weight on the bar and do it raw, he made it look easy in the process. Craft is forced to pause after each rep because of the weight shaking on the bended bar. This is because of the burst that Craft displayed when performing the lift.
This was not the only lift performed on Wednesday by Craft. He also shared a single rep of 319.8kg (705lb). Craft’s best competition squats was 320kg (705.4lb). It seems as though Craft is heading for some big things in the future.
Chris Craft has been a star in the game for half a decade now. Since 2015, Craft has competed in five sanctioned powerlifting competitions and has won gold in all of them. Craft did not share his bodyweight in his recent Instagram video but it is safe to assume that the weight on the bar was more than double his current weight.
The last three competitions Craft has competed in were the 2019 USPA Rhino Iron Massacre, 2021 Southern Powerlifting Federation (SPF) Proving Ground Classic, and the aforementioned USPA Arkansas Powerlifting Championships. He competed in the 140kg (308lb) weight class during these.
Chris Craft’s caption on his recent video was as simple as it gets. He wrote “700 lbs x 2 #RespectTheDepth”.
“Respect the Depth” is a tribute to a training program created by Craft that is centered around squats. Reading int between the lines of this caption, Craft makes a 700-lb squat seem like nothing and it hints that he might have bigger numbers in mind moving forward.
If social media is any indication, it looks like Chris Craft performs squats in the gym on a daily basis. His Instagram page is loaded with videos performing some massive lifts. More often than not, Craft is performing these lifts without any gear. It is unknown when Craft plans to take the stage again at a competition but when he does, there is a chance that he does something special.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Masters 2021 Results
Complete results from the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Masters 2021.
The IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Masters 2021 took place began on Thursday, July 22 and concluded on Saturday, July 24. Competitors gathered at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh to compete for the top spot in their respective divisions.
Milton Martinez and Michael Ferguson put on strong performances on Thursday. Ferguson took home the top spot in the Men’s Physique division. He competed in three straight Mr. Olympia competitions from 2015-2017. Martinez recently placed seventh in the Puerto Rico Pro 2019 and as high as fourth during the Dominican Republic Pro Men’s 212 in 2018.
There were a total of seven divisions at the Pittsburgh Pro Masters. The full results have now been announced and we have them below. Check out our full breakdown of the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Masters 2021 results below.
Pittsburgh Pro Masters 2021 Breakdown
Men’s Bodybuilding Results
Masters Over 40
First Place – Milton Martinez
Second Place – Kevin Klemm
Third Place – Joey DeCaminada
Fourth Place – Keith Williams
Fifth Place – John Silvey
Masters Over 50
First Place – Milton Martinez
Second Place – James Bryan
Third Place – Charles Jones
Fourth Place – John Whalen
Fifth Place – Donnie Whetstone
Masters Over 60
First Place – Donnie Whetstone
Second Place – Bruce Schneider
Third Place – Rick Scott
Masters Over 70
First Place – Pete Haina
Second Place – Jack Scow
Third Place – Ed Myska
Fourth Place – Frank Pinto
Classic Physique Results
Masters Over 35
First Place – Roderick Jackson
Second Place – Corey Simpson
Third Place – Tim Tevin
Fourth Place – Allen Kendrick
Fifth Place – Mustafa Juber Khater
Masters Over 40
First Place – Corey Simpson
Second Place – Hemradj Mulai
Third Place – Tim Tevin
Fourth Place – Allen Kendrick
Fifth Place – Jason Salinas
Masters Over 50
First Place – Brad Helm
Second Place – Charles Jones
Third Place – Randy Watson
Fourth Place – Phil Martin
Fifth Place – Vince Gentile
Masters Over 55
First Place – Randy Watson
Second Place – Phil Martin
Third Place – Thomas Mabon
Fourth Place – Tramell Taylor
Fifth Place – Gregg Russo
Masters Over 60
First Place – Alfred Scaccia
Second Place – Bruce Schneider
Third Place – Martin Burger
Fourth Place – Michael L. Holloman
Fifth Place – Rick Scott
Men’s Physique Results
Masters Over 35
First Place – Michael Ferguson
Second Place – Ben Duke
Third Place – Matt Smith
Fourth Place – Derrick Felton
Fifth Place – Bruce Nolte
Masters Over 40
First Place – Michael Ferguson
Second Place – Michael Anderson
Third Place – Kevin Reeder
Fourth Place – Ben Duke
Fifth Place – Matt Smith
Masters Over 45
First Place – Michael Ferguson
Second Place – Michael Anderson
Third Place – Kevin Reeder
Fourth Place – Dejuan Springer
Fifth Place – Mark Lancaster
Masters Over 50
First Place – Kevin Reeder
Second Place – Byron Archie
Third Place – Mark Lancaster
Fourth Place – James Johnson
Fifth Place – Rick Thomas
Masters Over 55
First Place – Daryl King
Second Place – Vincent Tushis
Third Place – Michael Samitt
Fourth Place – Alex Aguilar
Masters Over 60
First Place – Vincent Tushis
Second Place – Franklin Ausler
Third Place – Vincent Ramos
Women’s Bodybuilding Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Women’s Physique Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Figure Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Bikini Results
Results coming soon
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Masters 2021. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
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.
WATCH: Bobby Thompson Partial Deadlift Of 455kg For A Double
Bobby Thompson took to Instagram to show off some recent progression he has made for his next event.
Bobby Thompson has been turning heads for awhile. Now, he is beginning to take it up a notch. On Wednesday, Thompson posted a video on Instagram showing him crush a partial deadlift of 455kg (1,003lb) off 15-inch blocks.
Thompson placed ninth back in June during the 2021 World’s Strongest Man competition. This was his first and certainly will not be his last. Next up is the 2021 Shaw Classic, which will be held from Aug. 27-28 in Estes Park, CO.
By the looks of the video below, Thompson’s preparation is going very well.
In his caption, Bobby Thompson hints that he has not been feeling his best lately and his diet is not what it needs to be. If that is the case and he can still pull off a lift like this, then it will be interesting to see what he can do at full strength.
“Feeling decent atm, past few days were a little longer than expected and diet has been off but I’m still climbing. Solid prep for the @theshawclassic in the works.”
Bobby Thompson currently holds the American log press record of 217.5kg (478.5lb). He accomplished this on April 30 during Anthony Fuhrman’s Clash on the Coast. Now, it looks as though Thompson could be interested in setting some more records this year.
This lift for Thompson is considered a partial deadlift because he is not picking the weight up from the floor. However, he is using blocks that are lower than what they have been during strongman competitions. During the 2020 World’s Strongest Man and 2020 Shaw Classic, a partial deadlift was performed off an 18-inch block.
Bobby Thompson is not shy about showing off some of his incredible feats on his Instagram page. He has posted videos showing off his preparation in specific lifts like deadlifts, squats, and log lifts. At this year’s Shaw Classic, Thompson will compete with Brian Shaw, who won the competition last year, and Zydrunas Savickas.
The all-time partial deadlift record is held by Anthony Pernice. He set this mark in 2020 with a lift of 550kg (1,212lb). With the height of the blocks Thompson has used and his ability to perform it twice, there is a chance is he prepared to do something special at his next event.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jujimufu Reveals Physique 80 Days Out, Does 330Lb Strict Curl With Michael Todd
Jujimufu and Michael Todd join forces to take on a 330lb strict curl.
Fitness and bodybuilding personality Jujimufu and world champion arm wrestler Michael Todd teamed up recently for some interesting training. The two performed a 330lb strict curl. The best part? No one got injured in the process.
It’s fair to say that bodybuilder and gymnast Jon “Jujimufu” Call is a bit of an eccentric. While many fitness personalities are engaged solely in training in their particular strength sport, Jujimufu always likes to color outside the lines. It’s one of the reasons that he has grown in popularity over the last few years.
A bodybuilder who can pull off incredible feats of agility. It’s not something you see everyday. As such Jujimufu has cornered the market on acrobatic bodybuilders.
With that said, Jujimufu is a legit strength athlete. He has built a powerful physique through countless hours of hard training in the gym. He has gone from powerlifting to pursuing a bodybuilding career. As such, Jujimufu has been putting in the necessary work to build an aesthetic and quality physique. A recent post shows just how far along he is.
But besides prepping for bodybuilding shows, Jujimufu has also been enjoying new and different ways of strength training. With the explosion of strict curl training and competition, it appears that everyone’s favorite acrobatic strength athlete has decided to add the lift to his training.
The Strict Curl Duo
Recently Jujimufu tried out a 330lb strict curl. But the bodybuilding personality didn’t do it alone. Partnering up with arm wrestling champion Michael Todd, both men hefted the 330lb barbell and curled it.
Luckily no one was injured in the attempt. Both Jujimufu and Michael Todd showed some impressive strength. While it may not be a lift for the record books, it was a fun one to watch.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor 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.
Gunter Schlierkamp: I Competed In Bodybuilding When It Was At Its Best
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Gunter Schlierkamp details the excitement he had moving to America and training at Gold’s Gym in the 90s.
It’s often said that the 90s into the early 2000s is the new Golden Era of bodybuilding. Or perhaps the second coming of the Golden Era. With athletes like Flex Wheeler, Ronnie Coleman, Kevin Levrone, and Shawn Ray among others – it’s hard to disagree. It also seems that Gunter Schlierkamp shares this sentiment as well. Schlierkamp was an outsider who entered into American pro bodybuilding during this time. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Gunter Schlierkamp reflects on his journey to becoming pro and why he’s glad he was lucky enough to compete in what he calls the best era of bodybuilding.
No one is born a bodybuilder. If you were to look back at childhood photos of any famous bodybuilder – you would likely not expect how physically massive they would eventually become. That’s what makes origin stories so fascinating in this sport. There are millions of avenues and walks of life that eventually point towards pro bodybuilding. For Gunter Schlierkamp – his journal also involved leaving his home country to find his footing in the United States.
During our conversation with Gunter Schlierkamp, we asked him to reflect on how he discovered bodybuilding and what brought him to America. He details how quickly he saw growth once he fell in love with weightlifting. Eventually, his physique was so impressive – someone took him under his wing. That person insisted that he needs to go to America. He wanted him to compete with the greats at events like Night of Champions and, of course, the Mr. Olympia.
Gunter Schlierkamp’s journey to the United States was not an easy one. He describes first arriving and having to basically find places to sleep like a nomad. He would sleep in abandoned factories and in cars. He went head first into traveling to America and it took him some time to get his financial footing. Since he couldn’t get a bank account – he trusted someone to take his money and keep it in a bank for him. That ended poorly as he was taken advantage of.
Ultimately he made his way to California, got some financial footing, and started training at Gold’s Gym. He gushes at how lucky he was to be born at a time when he would compete and train in the 90s. Suddenly he went from idolizing athletes like Flex Wheeler to being in the same room and training alongside him. It was a dream come true.
He also believes that he competed at the best time in bodybuilding history because of the famous Joe Weider contracts. At a time before social media and over-saturation of supplement companies – Schlierkamp was able to land a Weider contract. It was like becoming a salary employee in bodybuilding. Suddenly his passion for bodybuilding was his full time career.
Today, those kind of contracts don’t happen. While there is more opportunity for profit – it’s more entrepreneurial. It relies on social media excellence (which also requires a little bit of luck) to obtain followers and generate revenue. There’s more control – but also more risk. Internet relevancy can turn on a dime.
You can watch Gunter Schlierkamp go into more detail about his bodybuilding origins and why he believes the 90s is the best era for competitive bodybuilding. Watch it all in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!