Tag: nEWS
Chris Bumstead Gives Answer On Whether or Not to Use Steroids
Chris Bumstead gives advice on whether or no steroid use should be an option.
Chris Bumstead gave up some sound advice on whether or not taking steroids should be an option for someone wanting to get into bodybuilding. During a recent Q&A, the Classic Physique champion stated his stance on whether or not taking steroids was a good idea.
Chris Bumstead has cemented himself as the Classic Physique champion. After dethroning Breon Ansley in 2019, Bumstead would again reign supreme at the 2020 show. Not only would he repeat at the 2020 show, Bumstead would bring one of the best physiques to the stage regardless of any division.
The reigning Classic Physique champion has asserted his dominance. Chris Bumstead now has a chance to carve out a legacy for himself. As such, Bumstead’s popularity has skyrocketed.
Headed into the 2021 Olympia, many questions have been raised about Chris Bumstead and his preparation for the next show. So logically the Classic Physique champion decided to make a recent video in which he answered some fan questions.
Are Steroids The Answer?
One question in particular seemed to stand out among the rest. A fan question about whether or not starting steroids was a viable option for bodybuilding, Bumstead gave a distinct answer.
“The answer is no,” said Bumstead. “I have this new theory where if you have to ask someone else if you should take something potentially harmful to your body, the answer is already no.
“That decision has to be your own, and it has to be a well educated decision, because people like bodybuilding for a few years, and they take steroids and they’ll be like ‘I don’t actually like bodybuilding.’ Then they’ll quit bodybuilding, and their body is still f**ked up from the juice or whatever they took in the meantime.
“So that decision, you shouldn’t ask anybody that. You should just know, and you should be f**king dedicated to wanting to do it. So no, you shouldn’t if you’re asking me that.”
It’s a pretty interesting answer to say the least. Rather than give a yes or no, leaving it up to personal responsibility is the only logical answer for Chris Bumstead to give. What do you think about Bumstead’s answer?
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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.
Jose Raymond: If You Can’t Win An Amateur Bodybuilding Show Without Drugs, It’s Not For You
Jose Raymond warns younger bodybuilders to not spend too much money on contest prep before going pro.
In the modern world of bodybuilding, there is a wide variety of substances, equipment, and services all designed to help you become a better bodybuilder. Many of these tactics are legit. But many others are also scams. Either way, Jose Raymond worries that younger bodybuilders are spending too much money in their amateur careers during contest prep. In fact, he believes if a young bodybuilder requires the extra bells and whistles to succeed in a local show – that they are setting themselves up for failure when the competition gets more serious. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Jose Raymond shares tips on how to not spend too much money during contest prep.
Often times when bodybuilding fans and aspiring bodybuilders read magazines or follow iconic pro bodybuilders online – they absorb a lot of really fascinating advice and tips. The problem is – these tips are coming from people at the top of their game. It’s good advice but it might not yet apply to a younger bodybuilder who is still establishing his amateur career. When a person reads up about the supplements, substances, and tactics Big Ramy used to become Mr. Olympia – it would be a mistake for that person to mimic that routine as an amateur.
This is especially true when it comes to contest prep and money. Jose Raymond has publicly warned of this in the past. Yes, bodybuilding can be an expensive lifestyle. But when you are just starting – it doesn’t have to be as expensive as the industry makes it out to be. Jose wants younger bodybuilders to know that they don’t need to spend money on massive sacks of supplements or turn to drugs right away. It’s a waste of money.
So what is Jose Raymond’s rationale behind this advice? The way Jose explains it – amateur bodybuilders need to be able to succeed on a core level in order to really find success as a pro. What he means by this is that if an amateur bodybuilder can’t win a local show without the help of drugs or spending money on fancy tools – they’re going to have a really hard time when they start competing in pro shows.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Jose Raymond above!
Jose Raymond wants to help prevent young bodybuilders from spending tons of money only to hit a wall and give up a few years later. One example are really ambitious bodybuilders who travel across the country to compete in multiple amateur shows in hopes of getting a pro card. That’s fine – if you have the skill to actually succeed. But to spend money on a plane ticket to travel to the Nationals, only to place 10th place and get no prize money, is a waste of the competitors time and money.
“If you place fifth at a local show, do not travel to go do the Nationals,” Jose Raymond states in our interview. His reasoning is – if you can’t win in a smaller local show, there’s no way you’re going to win against the best amateurs in the country. Moreover, if you don’t live near that show, you’re spending money on a plane ticket and the entry fee of the show. It’s wasted money. Wait until you’re ready.
That’s overall the core of Jose Raymond’s advice. When it comes to even supplements – don’t jump into them right away. Find out how your body reacts on plain natural clean foods first. See the limits of your natural body before diving into supplements. Same goes for drugs like steroids (though its should be noted that there are also health and legal risks associated with illegal substances such as PEDs).
You can watch Jose Raymond’s comments in full by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Julius Maddox Injures Pec, Could Delay 800Lb Bench Press Event
Julius Maddox injured his pec in a recent training session.
Julius Maddox recent suffered a pec injury during his prep for the 800lb bench press world record. The powerlifter recently released a video explaining that he suffered a pec strain that could set back the bench press attempt past June.
Injuries in high level training are common. If you’re competing at the highest levels it means pulling out all the stops in training. It means making sacrifices and pushing your body past it’s limit. With conditions like those, it’s easy to see how an athlete can get injured.
That’s exactly what happened to Julius Maddox.
The powerlifting champion has been showing some incredible strength in his recent meets. Just a few months back Julius Maddox broke his own bench press world record with an incredible 782lb lift. It seemed like a forgone conclusion that Maddox would go on to once again challenge the 800lb bench press.
Julius Maddox was set to attempt the 800lb bench press this June. He hoped to crush the bench press attempt this time around and was doing some great prep for the occasion. His recent training showed a man possessed, readying himself to do what no one has done before.
Unfortunately it appears that Maddox’s plans may have to be put on hold.
Bad News
In a recent video to his YouTube channel, Julius Maddox revealed that he has suffered a pec injury. While details aren’t completely clear, it doesn’t appear that he has torn his pec. Instead Maddox said in the video that he suffered a pec strain. While that is better news than a complete pec tear, it appears that Maddox will have to push back the date of his 800lb bench press attempt.
“I couldn’t even budge 720,” said Maddox. “I’ve never been in a situation like this, since I’ve been training. I don’t miss lifts, very rarely miss lifts. I don’t miss lifts like that.
“Strained my pec a bit at the bottom of the lift. Man, I messed up. I’m 8 weeks out from the event and I think I’m going to have to call and have a discussion about pushing this event back further than June.”
That’s truly unfortunate news. Julius Maddox was poised to tackle the elusive 800lb bench press after waiting for over a year at this next attempt. Now he will have to wait and see how his pec heals up before tackling the feat once and for all.
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.
Danny Hester Answers: Are Nick Walker & Hunter Labrada Leading Towards A New Golden Era?
Nick Walker & Hunter Labrada Analysis: Danny Hester gives his thoughts on the new school bodybuilders rising in the ranks.
Danny Hester is a Classic Physique Olympia champion and a competitor who has been in bodybuilding for quite some time. With his years of experience, we wanted to know what his thoughts were of the new school bodybuilders rising up in the pro league. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Danny Hester talks about Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada and what they might mean for the future of pro bodybuilding.
Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada are two young bodybuilders that are gaining a lot of attention as they make waves in pro bodybuilding. Walker in particular just won the New York Pro 2021 to much acclaim. That’s why we turned to Danny Hester to get his thoughts on these new school bodybuilders. Is this all just hype? Or are we witnessing up and coming future legends?
Danny Hester is extremely impressed by both Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada. Interestingly enough, he originally thought it would be a bad idea for Hunter to enter the world of competitive bodybuilding. He felt that the effort and sacrifice required would be wasted on an era that wouldn’t favor the Labrada gene pool. Hester admits he was wrong – as the competition appearances of Hunter have truly impressed him.
In fact, Danny Hester believes (or at least hopes) that this is a sign of a new upswing in bodybuilding. Perhaps the new era rising up will be more iconic after nearly a decade of controversial opinions on the current crop of athletes. Hester is hopeful that social media’s influence is finally reaping what was sown over the past decade. A new generation of people who were inspired by icons on social media are now old enough to compete.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Danny Hester above!
Danny Hester hopes that social media will bring in more talented young bodybuilders. Perhaps athletes like Nick Walker and Hunter Labrada are a product of that very generation. It will be a like a new “boom” of bodybuilders changing the landscape more dramatically than we’ve seen in recent years.
Of course, it’s still early to tell. What is certain is that the past few years have been a transitionary period for the sport. We’ve now had three different Mr. Olympia champions three years in a row. It’s been a while since that has happened compared to seven years straight of domination from Phil Heath.
Eventually, a reigning champion will reveal himself (perhaps it is even Big Ramy). When that happens, the landscape will be very different than it was. New names. New physiques. New icons. It’s an exciting time and we can’t wait to see who sticks around to become top talent.
You can watch Danny Hester’s full comments on the new school era of bodybuilders in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Sarah Villegas Issues $20,000 Challenge to Shanique Grant to Make Comeback
Sarah Villegas issues a challenge to Shanique Grant.
There’s nothing like to good competition. It appears that Sarah Villegas understands that notion well. In bodybuilding just like most other endeavors if there’s no good storylines then it’s unlikely to generate interest. After winning the Women’s Physique Olympia title, Sarah Villegas has secured her place as the best in the world. But without healthy competition being the best means very little.
Shanique Grant had decided to hang things up after the 2020 Olympia. With successful endeavors outside of bodybuilding, Grant may not be tempted to make a return. But a recent message from her old rival Sarah Villegas could potentially change her mind.
The Challenge
Villegas took to Instagram to issue a friendly challenge to Grant. In the message Villegas states that she’ll give $20,000 to Grant if she loses to her at the 2021 Olympia. See her full message below.
I’m all about competition and @therealfitnessbeauty , you bring great competition to stage. Let’s give the fans something they really want… Here is what I have for you:
You come back this year and face me at the 2021 Olympia and if you win, I’ll give you $20,000 cash out of pocket (willing to put the money in escrow now with anyone you choose). But if you lose, you give me your 2019 Olympia gold medal.
We’re still 20 weeks out, you have plenty of time to get ready. Let’s go!
This kind of call out generates a great amount of interest. Like the recent rivalry between Nick Walker and Blessing Awodibu, people get more invested in competitions when they feel there’s some skin in the game. Sarah Villegas understands that there’s a market for exciting rivalries in bodybuilding. Rather than remain a quiet champion, Villegas is choosing to use her new found champion status build interest in her division.
Whether Shanique Grant accepts the challenge is still anyone’s guess. It will be interesting to see if she gives this a response or if she chooses to walk off into the sunset like she originally planned. Either way, this has definitely generated some interest in the Women’s Physique Division.
What do you think of Sarah Villegas challenging Shanique Grant?
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.
IFBB Optimum Classic 2021 Results
Optimum Classic 2021 Results: Who became champion in Louisiana?
This weekend held the IFBB Optimum Classic 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The event consisted of Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, and Bikini divisions and also Masters for each category. Continue reading for the full results and score cards!
The IFBB pro bodybuilding season got off to a late start due to continued restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But now as warmer weather approaches and vaccines bringing cases down – the season has been in full swing. A welcome return to normalcy after a disrupted 2020 season.
The Optimum Classic 2021 consisted of both NPC and IFBB events. NPC winners earn qualification for the National Championships later this year. IFBB winners earn points towards their overall ranking and a chance to qualify for the Mr. Olympia 2021.
This competition was a relatively quieter affair after the enormous hype behind both the Indy Pro and New York Pro competitions. But that doesn’t mean that the pro competitors on stage didn’t bring incredible physiques and fight hard for victory.
The official IFBB Optimum Classic 2021 results are in. Check out the full breakdown below.
Optimum Classic 2021 Breakdown
Men’s Physique Results
1. Arya Saffaie2. Rodrigue Chesnier3. Matthew Greggo4. Jahvair Mullings5. Antoine Williams6. Tre Trotter7. Alex Newell8. Roy Williams9. Lamar Vaughn10. Stevelon Dennis11. Jonathan Jimenez12. Ismael Martinez Dominguez13. Jacques Lewis14. Emanual C. Hunter15. Janard Lee16. Absalom Lane16. Antwoine Powers16. Brandon Terry16. Brian Taylor16. Brodee Jarrell16. Clarence McSpadden16. David McGee16. David Sykes16. Derrick Stevenson16. Derryl Bryant16. Diego Garcia16. Dwayne Carlisle16. Evan Kanu16. Gael Cleaophat16. Jamal Everette16. James Youngblood16. Lindon Bond16. Michael Ferguson16. Neal Cash16. Rodney Bond16. Sharif Reid16. Terrell Robertson16. Zach Savoie
Women’s Phyisque Results
1. Ana Harias2. Brooke Walker3. Sheena Washington4. Amy Ramsel5. Victoria Flores6. Lorraine Gonzalez7. Teresa Motta8. Nachol Cravens9. Oksana Piari10. Daphney Carter11. Monica Hornback12. Nikquisa Nunn13. Christine Porter14. Sammica Cash15. Diana Schnaidt16. Jeannea Burritt16. Luciana Esquilin16. Rachel Aronson16. Toni McMurtre16. Towanda Smith16. Yuna Kim
Bikini Results
1. Alessia Facchin2. Sierra Swann3. Christina Heath4. Sonia Lewis5. Chenqi Liu6. Lesley Billups7. Mary Newton8. Vania Auguste9. Cassandra Murphy10. Sara Willis11. Meechka Marcelin12. Stella Roberts13. Elisangela Angell14. Robin Graves15. Amber Foster16. Angela Ruscili16. Dianet Pereda16. Erin Dennis16. Jacki Hansen16. Janea Zavala16. Nicole Johnson16. Shonte Turner
Masters Men’s Physique Results
1. Antoine Williams2. Roy Williams3. Janard Lee4. Gael Cleophat5. Derrick Stevenson6. Michael Ferguson7. Derryl Bryant8. Rodney Bond9. Sharif Reid10. Brandon Terry11. Terrell Robertson12. David Sykes13. Brodee Jarrell14. Absalom Lane15. James Youngblood16. Dwayne Carlisle
Masters Women’s Phyisque Results
1. Ana Harias2. Amy Ramsel3. Victoria Flores4. Lorraine Gonzalez5. Toni McMurtre6. Theresa Motta7. Nachol Cravens8. Monica Hornback9. Nikquisa Nunn10. Oksana Piara11. Daphney Carter12. Christine Porter13. Sammica Cash14. Jeannea Burritt15. Rachal Aronson16. Luciana Esquilin
Masters Bikini Results
1. Sara Willis2. Jacki Hansen3. Shonte Turner4. Stella Roberts5. Nicole Johnson6. Ronin Graves7. Elisangela Angell8. Angela Ruscili9. Dianet Pereda10. Janea Zavala
Official Optimum Classic 2021 Scorecards
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!
Antoine Vaillant Full Interview | Drug Addiction, Men’s Physique Jokes, & More
Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Antoine Vaillant.
Antione Vaillant’s troubled past is no secret in the bodybuilding industry. Shortly after turning pro, Vaillant succumbed to drug addiction that almost completely derailed his future as a competitive bodybuilder. Fast forward to 2020 and he qualified for the Mr. Olympia. While he still has improvements to make, he competed in the Olympia and made renewed steps towards a powerful career as a pro.
That’s why we sat down for a long form interview to discuss in-depth all things bodybuilding. This interview was conducted before the Mr. Olympia 2020. So it’s interesting to look at his mindset just before going into the show after a string of successful competitions.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Antoine Vaillant. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as his past drug addiction and recovery, his controversial statements (and actions) on Men’s Physique, and his future plans for his pro bodybuilding career.
Listen To Our Antoine Vaillant Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Antoine Vaillant interview here:
Antoine Vaillant Opens Up About His Drug Addiction & Recovery
While bodybuilding is often seen as a structure and focused endeavor, Vaillant showcases the potential other side. When he went pro and became sponsored, he no longer needed a “regular job.” This allowed him to make his own schedule.
While this should and did include a structured training regimen, he also wanted to treat himself for his successes. This took the form of partying and drugs. But since he could party literally any day of the week without a strict job, he fell into the kinds of groups that enabled his addiction further.
Suddenly, his choices no longer felt like choices in his control. He was truly addicted and unable to escape the spiral that it was causing. In our discussion he describes becoming homeless and often getting into fights. He details how addiction can become so strong that you are willing to sacrifice and even destroy other things you love. This includes his family, friends, and the sport of bodybuilding.
Antoine Vaillant when through rehab four times. And while the first three ended in relapse, he was eventually able to get out of the hole that he was stuck in. He rediscovered how bodybuilding could be an activity to keep him focused away from his addictions. He’s used this to not only help recover but to transform himself into a truly talented pro bodybuilder. One that is now qualified for the Olympia 2020.
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Watch our full GI Exclusive interview with Antoine Vaillant above!
Antoine Vaillant Looks Back: Was His Men’s Physique Board Shorts Joke Worth It?
a year ago, Antoine Vaillant’s name went viral for a different reason. His joke posing in board shorts immediately caught attention. While overall the joke was received with laughter, some Men’s Physique athletes saw it as an attack on the division.
The Men’s Physique division has had a long history of clashing with the Men’s Open division. There have been various claims throughout the years that athletes in larger divisions insult Men’s Physique athletes in private. Some believe that the Men’s Open division as a whole have no respect for Men’s Physique athlete whatsoever.
There have been many Men’s Open competitors who have denied this. Antoine Vaillant’s joke seemed to pour fuel on the fire. That’s why during our video interview, we followed up with Vaillant over a year later. In. retrospect, does he regret making the joke? Did he go too far?
Antoine Vaillant still sees his board shorts posing routine as nothing but a harmless joke. He goes as far as to admit that he believes the Men’s Physique division is a great addition to the sport as a whole. It provides variety and allows all different types of people to become inspired, change their body, and improve their health.
When asked if the Men’s Open division disrespect Men’s Physique behind closed doors, Antoine Vaillant admitted that occasional jokes were made. But much like his board shorts posing routine, most of the jokes are all in good fun. Vaillant seems to see it as a playful rivalry rather than an all out war.
Wrap Up
Our interview with Antoine Vaillant was over an hour long and discussed many topics beyond what we can cover in this article. Unfortunately, since this interview, Vaillant has suffered a bicep tear leaving his short term future as a pro bodybuilder uncertain. It’s a shame – as our conversation with Vaillant showcased a passionate bodybuilder who was just on the verge of moving up to the next level.
Hopefully his injury doesn’t lead to more permanent long term damage. That much remains to be seen at the moment. If one things is clear after this interview, is that he most certainly has the willpower and resolve to recover from any hurdle the knocks him down.
You can watch our full GI Exclusive interview with Antoine Vaillant above.
Steve Laureus Has Gained an Insane Amount of Muscle in the Off Season
Steve Laureus has been busy building muscle in the off season.
Steve Laureus has gained an incredible amount of muscle. The Classic Physique competitor has gone back to the drawing board in hopes of shoring up his weaknesses. One of those weaknesses was being under sized. It appears that he’s been on a mission to rectify that.
Steve Laureus has been touted as a bodybuilder to watch in the Classic Physique division. He has demonstrated his god given talents with numerous victories and some impressive showings at high level shows. Coming in third at the 2020 Arnold Classic, Laureus proved he has a ton of potential, but still needed to make some improvements.
So to the off season Steve Laureus went in hopes of taking his physique to the next level. Having a considerable amount of down time, Laureus has reevaluated the package he needs to bring to the stage. He has the lines and the symmetry. He has a great build that lends itself well to the Classic Physique division. Yet he has been missing one key ingredient to make him a top Olympia contender.
Ultimately for Steve Laureus is all comes down to size. While he has acquired a great amount of musculature, he has still found himself a bit undersized. When you compared his physique to that of Chris Bumstead and Breon Ansley, you could see a noticeable difference. Both Olympia champions had both a massive amount of muscle packed onto their frames while maintaining their classic silhouette.
Understanding that he needed to make a change, Steve Laureus decided to spend his time away from the stage wisely. During his off season he has packed on a tremendous amount of size. In doing so he hopes to stand out more when he makes his return to the stage.
Massive Gains
In a recent Instagram post the Classic Physique competitor joked about his newly acquired size. Steve Laureus has made so much gains that he joked with the idea of heading to the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division.
No more classic for me I could never win a damn pro show! That gives me a reason to take my chances to the open class haha??♂️ #jokes?
Talk about bulk season. Steve Laureus hasn’t held back in his muscle building phase. He is looked far larger than the last time we saw him on stage at the 2020 Arnold Classic.
While the size is impressive, it still remains to be seen if the bulk will help or hurt his chances at victory. We won’t know until Laureus begins his cut and once again steps on to a competitive bodybuilding stage.
What do you make of Steve Laureus and his newly built muscle?
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.
INTERVIEW: Guy Cisternino Addresses Viral Gym Incident Video
Guy Cisternino breaks down in detail the gym argument video that went viral.
On May 13, 2021, pro bodybuilder Guy Cisternino posted a video on his Instagram account. Within a week, the video went viral not only in bodybuilding but beyond it. The video in question showcased Cisternino getting into a heated argument at the gym. The video has since brought extreme criticism and defense of Cisternino’s actions. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Guy Cisternino sets the record straight and addresses the gym incident.
After we originally reported on the viral video of Guy Cisternino arguing at the gym – he reached out to us directly requesting an interview. We connected over video with Cisternino to go into more detail and get his perspective on the entire incident. The video itself cuts off right when the argument starts to heat up. Cisternino gives us a breakdown of exactly what happened.
Guy Cisternino starts out explaining that he believes the video was blown too far out of proportion. He acknowledges that the video cuts off early. Due to that the audience imagination ran rampant. Without context, the video could be seen as an aggressive move on Cisternino’s part. Or it can be seen as an understandable mishap. That’s why he wants to give further context on the moment in question.
Guy Cisternino goes on to explain that the men he argued with in the video were originally much closer than they appeared. Since they were off camera for majority of the clip, we only see them after they have slowly stepped away. This contributed to the criticisms when people watched the video.
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Watch our GI Exclusive segment with Guy Cisternino above!
Furthermore, Guy Cisternino points out that he asks them give him some space twice before he jumped off the machine. While he wasn’t 100% politely speaking to them – it was also mid set. He was under physical pressure and pushing his body while also trying to ask them to give him more space. They quickly got defensive and then Cisternino lost his cool.
“What everybody sees is me walk five feet away from the machine to go to the kids,” Guy Cisternino comments in our interview. He goes on:
“But what they don’t understand, is while this is all going on they are progressively backing up but they just keep talking… if they were actually where they were when I got off the machine and did what I did, I would be a complete shit. But that’s not what happened”
Guy Cisternino goes on to say that he was also filming on behalf of the gym. He argues that he was working. And even if it wasn’t on behalf of the gym, a pro bodybuilder training is doing their job. Not everyone knows this. And how could they? But the fact still remains valid.
Ultimately, while Guy Cisternino defends his actions he also understands that he’s not a perfect person. He doesn’t think the video deserved such scrutiny. At the same time, he did lose his temper and he acknowledges that.
“Should I have jumped off the machine. Absolutely not. Should I have said, ‘Let’s go outside?’ Absolutely not,” Guy Cisternino states in our interview. He continues:
“But I’m also at 39 years old…. I’m not going to take disrespect. And people are going to say, ‘Well, you were disrespecting him.’ I don’t think asking someone to get out of my plain view while I’m squatting is disrespectful. There’s a disconnect with this whole thing.”
Guy Cisternino goes into much more detail in our interview discussion. To get the full story, you can watch the whole GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Julius Maddox Touts Danial Zamani as Major Threat to His Bench Press Record
There’s a challenger to world bench press record set by Julius Maddox.
Julius Maddox acknowledges that fellow powerlifter Danial Zamani is a real threat to his bench press world record.
Maddox is an absolute beast of a man. He has smashed bench press records left and right. Maddox is no doubt the king of the bench press. But no record lasts forever. Records are made to be broken. You need only ask Maddox himself for the truth of that statement. And according to the current world record holder, there is a challenger on the horizon.
In a recent Q&A video on his YouTube channel, Julius Maddox broached the subject about a challenger to his world record bench press. That man is Danial Zamani.
A native of Tehran, Iran, Danial Zamani is a powerlifter with a ton of promise. The 29 year old has shown some pretty impressive strength in the past. Fellow powerlifter and strongman Peiman Maheripour has sung Zamani’s praises in the past.
Monstrous Strength
Most recently Danial Zamani hit an impressive 330kg (727lbs) bench press.
Julius Maddox holds the world record bench press at 354kg (782lbs). Danial Zamani’s feat wasn’t very far off. In the Q&A video, Maddox addressed Zamani and is even motivated by the prospect of a challenger to the world record.
“This guy is a tank,” said Maddox. “If anyone at this point in time will give me a run for money, in the next year, it will be Danial.”
“A lot of people will throw that in my face and act like I’m scared, that my title is at stake. Guys, that’s the whole point of this sport, is to outdo one another. So why would I be mad if someone came along to outdo me?
“That’s not going to do anything but challenge me to work harder,” Maddox added. “When it comes to someone who’s literally breaking down the barriers, it’s Danial. But you got to understand, this gives me the opportunity to have a challenge.
“Whenever I compete, I’m always competing against myself. I’m never competing against anyone else, simply because there’s really no one in my league at the moment. Even Danial is so far off. He’s made exponential growth, but still there comes a point in time where you start to hit these walls.”
Julius Maddox looks to be excited by the prospect of Danial Zamani closing in on the world record. The added motivation will likely push his training to the next level. After all, his goal is 800lbs. If he keeps his focus on his original goal, he may not be have to worry so much about Zamani breaking the record. Julius Maddox will already be pushing past that number.
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.