Tag: Olympia 2021
Whitney Jones On How She Won Olympia 2021 With A Broken Leg
[embedded content]
Whitney Jones reveals the severity of competing in (and winning) the Fitness Olympia 2021 with a broken leg.
Whitney Jones is a 3x Fitness Olympia champion – solidifying her third win at the Olympia 2021 this past year. It was a triumphant moment after falling to third place in 2020. She proved that her reign as an Olympia champion was not over. But her victory in 2021 is even more astounding upon the reveal that she competed with a broken leg. This information was not revealed until after she had already won the show. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Whitney Jones goes into detail about her broken leg, the severity of the injury, and how she was able to still win the Fitness Olympia 2021.
As anyone who follows competitive bodybuilding knows, the Fitness division is quite different than any other bodybuilding category. This is because it includes a Fitness performance routine. This routine, unlike usual bodybuilding posing, involves gymnastic movements and feats of strength – mixed with a sort of dance energy. It’s impressive to watch on display – and requires serious commitment, planning, and practice to achieve standout success.
As any Fitness competitor or gymnast will also know, these movements can be complicated and dangerous. It opens up the door to a wider array of injuries. Unfortunately for Whitney Jones, she faced once such injury during practice just three days before the Olympia 2021. Training in a new space on her final days of prep, Jones was unfamiliar with the space of her new practice space. This caused her to second guess a movement and land on her knee incorrectly. Instantly she felt searing pain and her knew swelled up. Something was seriously wrong.
With the Olympia competition just three days away, she didn’t immediately go to a doctor. Instead she tried to downplay the injury and focus on bringing the swelling and pain down. She mostly succeeded with the swelling – but the pain was no resolving. She feared that perhaps she had torn her ACL. But she refused to lose her chance to win the Fitness Olympia so close to the show.
Yet despite whether or not she wanted to stand down to prevent further injury – she also faced another problem. The pain would make it near impossible for her to complete her Fitness routine. She needed to find a way to bring down the pain. Painkiller pills wouldn’t due. They would make her drowsy and less alert – affecting her routine.
Ultimately, she was lucky enough to know someone who could provide her some sort of injection that temporarily numbed her knee. The risk? That she goes so numb that she can’t feel her leg and it throws off her routine. But it was a risk she was willing to take. She took the stage and put forth her best effort on the routine she spent a full year preparing.
We all know the end to this story. Whitney Jones ended up winning the Fitness Olympia. She later went to the doctor and found out that she had not torn her ACL nor broke her knee – but broke her tibia towards the top right under her knee. Now many months later, she is mostly healed – she didn’t suffer any known additional damage from competing while injured. The risk was worth it.
You can watch Whitney Jones go into full detail about the injury, competing, and winning the Fitness Olympia 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Derek Lunsford: “Phil Heath Is The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time”
[embedded content]
Derek Lunsford opens up about who inspired him in bodybuilding and why he thinks Phil Heath is the number one greatest of all time.
Derek Lunsford skyrocketed into the spotlight this year with an epic victory at the Men’s 212 Olympia. The division was one of the most competitive categories of the event – making his victory that much more exciting. We had an opportunity to speak with Lunsford following his big win and asked him about his biggest influences that inspired his physique. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford explains how Phil Heath inspired his career and why he believes Heath is the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Ronnie Coleman. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lee Haney. These are legendary bodybuilder names that are often in contention for the greatest of all time in the sport. Phil Heath, a seven time Mr. Olympia champion himself, is often in the mix. But perhaps due to Heath being a relatively recent athlete – many do not cement him above the these legends that came before. There is a strong argument for claiming Phil Heath is one of the best of all time but there has not yet been the time yet to let it all sink in.
However, Derek Lunsford has no qualms calling Phil Heath the greatest bodybuilder that ever lived. Even compared to the likes of legends such as Ronnie Coleman or Dorian Yates – for Lunsford it’s all about Heath. During our recent video conversation after his big Olympia win, Lunsford explains how Heath inspired his career.
Derek Lunsford is a young bodybuilder and part of the new generation of athletes coming into the spotlight. So it might make you feel old to hear that Lunsford was inspired by Phil Heath and the original Generation Iron film growing up. Everything from Heath’s aesthetics, shape, size, and conditioning seemed like perfection to Lunsford. Heath was the pinnacle of what Lunsford wished his physique could look like.
Derek Lunsford ultimately hedged his bets on the smaller Men’s 212 division for success (though now he seems to plan to eventually move up to Men’s Open). During our interview, you could still hear the elation in his voice post-victory. In many ways, he still sees himself as a bodybuilding fan who was watching the films and looking up to Phil Heath on stage. Now he’s a champion himself.
Lunsford acknowledges that everyone will have their personal favorite. He knows that Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both legends who changed the sport forever. But for Lunsford personally, Phil Heath changed his relationship to bodybuilding forever. At Lunsford’s age, Heath is from another era. He’s already a solidified legend separate from the competitive bodybuilding world Lunsford battles in today.
Derek Lunsford doesn’t need more time to evaluate how Phil Heath’s legacy will look as time recedes farther – he already knows everything he needs. Heath is an example of waht the perfect bodybuilder should look like as far as Lunsford is concerned. Without Phil Heath – we may not have Derek Lunsford he Men’s 212 Olympia champion that we do today.
You can watch Derek Lunsford talk in detail about Men’s Open and his bodybuilding inspirations by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Patrick Moore Reveals The Game-Changing Advice He Received From Phil Heath
[embedded content]
Phil Heath gave Patrick Moore some powerful advice that may have affected Patrick Moore’s decision to sit out of the 2022 season.
Patrick Moore is a pro bodybuilder that has gained a lot of attention and hype over the past few years. So it came as somewhat of a shock when Moore announced he would not compete in 2022 and focus on growing and improving his physique. During our conversation with Moore right before the Olympia 2021, he revealed some key advice he received from Phil Heath. Looking back, that advice might play into Moore’s 2022 decision. In our latest GI Exclusive, Patrick Moore details the valuable advice he received from seven time Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Patrick Moore considers himself lucky to call Phil Heath a friend. They exchange texts and talk somewhat regularly. That’s a powerful friend to have in the bodybuilding world. Moore is able to pick the mind of one of the greatest Olympia champions in the history of the sport. During our conversation with Moore, we asked him about that friendship and if it’s provided insight into his own training and contest prep.
Patrick Moore reveals that he, in fact, trained with Phil Heath not too long before the Olympia 2021. During that training session, Moore also received sage advice from Heath. Our conversation took place before the Olympia and well before his announcement to not compete in 2022. But looking back at our discussion and the details of Heath’s advice – it seems that perhaps he had some strong influence on Moore’s recent decision to focus on growth and not compete next year.
During our interview, Patrick Moore explains that Phil Heath strongly urged Moore not to compete in the Olympia 2021. This ultimately didn’t happen. While Moore has not publicly confirmed this – it seems a combination of his recent Olympia experience and his conversation with Phil Heath ultimately led to his new direction going into the 2022 season.
“The biggest thing that he told me was in line kind of what I wanted to do already. He told me to take my time,” Patrick Moore stated in our interview. He continued:
“And he actually advised me to entertain the idea of sitting out of this Olympia. Which I 100% understand because he was saying, ‘Man, I want you to be successful. I want you to crack the top spots…’ He told me, ‘If you want to be the best you’re really going to have to go to another level with your dedication.”
Patrick Moore goes on to explain that Phil Heath went into more detail about exactly how Moore could improve to get to the next level. Moore was lucky enough to have Heath sit down and go over every aspect of living the life of a pro bodybuilder. While Moore did not reveal the exact secrets, he made it clear that Phil Heath broke down exact areas where Moore needed to improve – not only his tactics but his dedication.
While this might sound like a slight on Patrick Moore’s passion, the reality was far from it. Moore admits that he is extremely passionate and dedicated to the sport. In fact, speaking with Heath opened up his eyes to just how far beyond greatness a competitor needs to be in order to become the absolute best in the world. Heath shared advice on not only how to win one Olympia – but to be a consistent champion for years to come.
The hard part, of course, is taking that concept and turning it into reality. Patrick Moore ultimately decided to compete at the Olympia 2021. Now, shortly after that competition, his announcement of staying off stage for 2022 seems to be a direct reaction to Phil Heath’s advice. He’s taking a long needed break. Not from bodybuilding but from the stage. So he can dig deep and focus on upgrading to the next level.
With Patrick Moore already an impressive bodybuilder and now with Phil Heath’s occasional advice in his corner – we believe that it’s very possible we see an even further transformed Moore in 2023 and beyond.
You can watch Patrick Moore go into full detail about Phil Heath’s advice in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Talking Huge | EP 16: Craig Golias Reacts To The Olympia 2021 Results
[embedded content]
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin break down the full results for the Olympia 2021 weekend.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias shares his thoughts on the Olympia 2021 results across highlight divisions, follows up on George Peterson’s passing, and more.
Last weekend held the Olympia 2021 weekend event. Known as the Super Bowl of bodybuilding, this was the largest version of the competition yet. It held 11 divisions including the new Wellness category. Needless to say it was a star studded affair with excitement around every corner.
Last week, Craig Golias made his predictions for the Men’s Open division of the Olympia 2021. Now looking back at his predictions compared to the results – he was correct about four of the top five placings at the Mr. Olympia 2021. We spend most of this episode digging into the details about the results of that lineup plus Craig’s reaction to the winners of other key divisions such as the Men’s 212 and Classic Physique categories. Let’s jump into it in our latest episode of Talking Huge.
Big Ramy, Hunter Labrada, and Nick Walker’s Mr. Olympia future
Craig Golias predicted that Big Ramy would be first place. He was also correct in placing Brandon Curry at second, Hadi Choopan in third, and Nick Walker in fifth place. His only misstep was the fourth place prediction. Hunter Labrada ended up taking that spot – and pulled ahead against his contemporary Nick Walker.
Craig Golias was shocked at Hunter Labrada’s physique and placing – giving the athletes props for his impressive improvements and showing on the Olympia stage. He thinks both Hunter Labrada and Nick Walker’s placings show promise for these two athletes – and expects to see them as consistent top five athletes for years to come.
As for Big Ramy, Craig Golias isn’t 100% sure if he will be able to continue his reign in the long term. He felt that Ramy has showcased better conditioning in the past – and that if he is to maintain his first place finish, he will have to show significantly better improvements in future Olympia competitions. Craig Golias wouldn’t be surprised if Ramy falls from his first place spot as early as next year. With his predictions being so accurate this year – let’s bookmark his comments here to see if they hold up in 2022.
Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead at the Olympia 2021
Craig Golias also spoke with Vlad Yudin about his thoughts on the Men’s 212 and Classic Physique results. He believed that both winners were the right call by the judges. Derek Lunsford was his favorite on the stage that night and he believed that his classic look mixed with a mass monster mentality made for a superior physique. He also felt that Chris Bumstead is proving himself to be the unbeatable player in Classic Physique division.
Unlike Big Ramy, Craig Golias believes that Bumstead will be a long running champion n the Olympia for years to come. He will be the legend that all other Classic Physique competitors aspire to match up to or succeed past. Now that we are well past the baby stages of this division – it seems we very well may have our first long term reigning icon in the category.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also follows up on his further thoughts regarding George Peterson’s death – and how that might affect the world of bodybuilding’s future among other interesting topics. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Derek Lunsford Reflects On Olympia Win And Details His Battle With Shaun Clarida
[embedded content]
Derek Lunsford gives us insight into his mindset winning the Men’s 212 Olympia 2021 and a play-by-play of his face-off with Shaun Clarida.
The Men’s 212 division was one of the most thrilling competitions of the Olympia 2021. This is due to the pure impressiveness of the top athletes in the division. A battle between Shaun Clarida, Derek Lunsford, and Kamal Elgargni could have fallen in any direction by the time finals hit. That lack of clear winner made the event electric. Ultimately, Lunsford earned his first ever Olympia victory in a stunning showcase. We connected via video chat with Lunsford to follow up on his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford dives deep into his Olympia win and gives and inside look into his neck and neck battle with Shaun Clarida.
It’s always exciting when a new bodybuilder earns an Olympia trophy for the very first time. Derek Lunsford is a competitor that has long since been hyped as the next coming of Men’s 212 Olympia greatness. In 2021, he finally fulfilled that hype with a close call – but well deserved win. We linked up with Lunsford to congratulate him on his win as well as go into detail about his mindset from prejudging through to finals and his victory.
During our interview, it quickly became clear that Derek Lunsford is a very humbled and appreciative champion. In many ways, he’s still riding on the waves of excitement and shock from the win. He claims that he feels like he was “made for this.” But emphasized that this is not meant as a cocky statement. It’s simply what feels right – and he acknowledges that victory came through patience and confidence rather than cockiness and rushing towards the goal.
He also notes that he it is surreal to now be a champion interviewed by the very network that inspired him as a young bodybuilder. The original Generation Iron film was a major inspiration for Lunsford to become a bodybuilder. Now all of these years later, not only is he a champion, but he’s speaking with the very director of the film that helped him head down this path.
We asked Derek Lunsford to give us an inside play-by-play of his battle on the Olympia stage from prejudging to finals. What was his mindset like during such a close call match? Lunsford claims that he walked out of the prejudging feeling very confident. But the more he reflected back – the more he recognized just how close the battle would be during the finals. He “went back and forth” on whether or not Shaun Clarida had the edge over him. That razor thin tightrope walk remained throughout the entirety of the finals.
Derek Lunsford acknowledges that his physique is very different that Shaun Claridas. Both of their physiques were in top form – but their aesthetics were very different. The title win might have very well come down to personal preference of the judges. Do they prefer a denser physique like Clarida? Or would they go for a more streamlined look in Lunsford?
It’s this very fact that Derek Lunsford makes sure to speak clearly about in our interview. He is so impressed by Clarida’s physique – and was so honored to see Clarida smiling upon Lunsford winning the Olympia trophy. In Lunsford’s eyes – both of them are top brass bodybuilders. He is proud to now share the distinction of Olympia champion with the likes of Clarida – while also sharing the stage with him.
You can watch Derek Lunsford’s full comments on his Olympia 2021 win in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mr. Olympia 2021 Results For All Divisions
Mr. Olympia 2021: The Complete Results.
The Olympia is the biggest event of the year and it is one that never disappoints. This year, the best in the world gathered to Orlando to put on a memorable show over the course of the weekend.
The full results have been announced and it was highlighted by the Men’s Open division.
This year still had some issues carried over related to COVID-19 but it went much smoother this time around. The Men’s Open division saw some shake ups this year with different competitors being in and out. Nathan De Asha had to pull out of the competition because of travel issues while seven-time champion Phil Heath decided not to participate.
Despite some missing links, the division was as strong as ever led by reigning champion, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. During the prejudging, there was a clear top three with Big Ramy and second-place finisher in 2020 Brandon Curry. This included Hadi Choopan, who was fourth a year ago.
The Men’s Open competitors took the stage on Friday night for prejudging and fans had to wait until Saturday to see who would hoist the trophy. The full results have been announced and you can check out a full recap of the entire weekend below.
Mr. Olympia 2021 Results
The Men’s Open division did not disappoint. Big Ramy was crowned the winner and took control during prejudging. Brandon Curry finished second and Hadi Choopan took third once again. The top five was strong as a unit with Nick Walker taking fifth and Hunter Labrada jumping up three spots from last year into the fourth place.
This is the second-straight Olympia victory for Big Ramy, defeating Curry once again. After prejudging, these two were the clear favorites and that is exactly how it played out.
First Place – Mamdouh Elssbiay
Second Place – Brandon Curry
Third Place – Hadi Choopan
Fourth Place – Hunter Labrada
Fifth Place – Nick Walker
Bikini Olympia 2021 Results
The Bikini Olympia was wide open this year and ready to crown a new champion. Janey Layug, who won the competition in 2020, was not competing which means there would be a new winner. In the end, it was Jennifer Dorie picking up her second victory in two weeks. Dorie was victorious at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago.
Lauralie Chapados finished with the silver medal while Ashley Kaltwasser, who is a former Olympia champion, finished in third place. Dorie set a tone moving forward after her most-recent victories. This is a stretch of success she will look to continue.
First Place – Jennifer Dorie
Second Place – Lauralie Chapados
Third Place – Ashley Kaltwasser
Fourth Place – Maureen Blanquisco
Fifth Place – Elisa Pecini
Classic Physique Olympia 2021 Results
There was a clear top tier coming into the weekend in Classic Physique. Chris Bumstead was the reigning two-time champion and the competitor to beat. The top three played out exactly how it did in 2020 and Bumstead made it three in a row.
Terrence Ruffin, fresh off a victory in the Arnold Classic, finished with silver once again while Breon Ansley finished third for the second-straight year. Bumstead and Ruffin have asserted their dominance at the top but it is clear that the Canadian bodybuilder is as good as it gets.
First Place – Chris Bumstead
Second Place – Terrence Ruffin
Third Place – Breon Ansley
Fourth Place – Urs Kalecinski
Fifth Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Men’s Physique Olympia 2021 Results
Brandon Hendrickson came into the Olympia looking to make it three victories in four years. He was defeated in 2019 but regained his title last year. Hendrickson made it three victories with a win in Orlando this weekend. First-time Olympia competitor Erin Banks won the New York Pro and solidified his talent with a second-place finish.
Diogo Montenegro climbed to third place at the event. Raymont Edmonds, former Olympia champion, finished fifth and it was a bit of a surprise. This allowed some new competitors to climb up in the standings. Even with that, Hendrickson is difficult to defeat.
First Place – Brandon Hendrickson
Second Place – Erin Banks
Third Place – Diogo Montenegro
Fourth Place – Kyron Holden
Fifth Place – Raymont Edmonds
Men’s 212 Olympia 2021 Results
The Men’s 212 division is one of the top in the sport. This is a title that Derek Lunsford has been attempting to grab for years now. He came into this year’s competition in exceptional shape and that showed during the prejudging round. It came down to Lunsford and 2020 Olympia champ Shaun Clarida.
In the end, it was Lunsford who was able to get over the hump and pick up the title. Clarida finished third followed by Kamal Elgargni, who fell one spot from his finish in 2020.
First Place – Derek Lunsford
Second Place – Shaun Clarida
Third Place – Kamal Elgargni
Fourth Place – Angel Calderon Frias
Fifth Place – Nathan Epler
Sixth Place – Ahmad Ashkanani
Seventh Place – Naser Mohammed
Eight Place – Kerrith Bajjo
Ninth Place – John Jewett
Tenth Place – Tonio Burton
Ms. Olympia 2021 Results
Since the return of Ms. Olympia to the show, it has been nothing but success for Andrea Shaw. This is an event that was dormant since 2014 but returned last year. This is when Shaw took home her first title and made it two in a row this year.
Shaw led a top three that was the same as 2020. Helle Trevino and Margie Martin switched spots this time around. Trevino finished with the silver medal while Martin came in third place. It was clear who the top-tier of competitors were coming in and Shaw asserted her dominance once again.
First Place – Andrea Shaw
Second Place – Helle Trevino
Third Place – Margie Martin
Fourth Place – Mona PourSaleh
Fifth Place – Irene Anderson
Sixth Place — Michaela Aycock
Seventh Place — Virginia Sanchez
Eighth Place — Janeen Lankowski
Ninth Place — Margita Zamolova
Tenth Place — Nadia Capotosto
Women’s Physique Olympia 2021 Results
Sarah Villegas took home the title in 2020 by defeating two-time champion Shanique Grant. She took over the division and solidified that this time around. Villegas captured her second-straight Olympia Women’s Physique title on Friday night.
Natalia Abraham Coelho finished second and Brooke Walker took home the bronze.
First Place – Sarah Villegas
Second Place – Natalia Abraham Coehlo
Third Place – Brooke Walker
Fourth Place – Barbara Menage
Fifth Place – Ana Harias
Sixth Place — Melissa Teich
Seventh Place — Ivie Rhein
Eighth Place — Christelle Zarovska
Ninth Place — Patricia Gosselin
Tenth Place — Anne-Lorraine Mohn
Figure Olympia 2021 Results
The Figure division has a clear-cut favorite and it is Cydney Gillon. She made it five in a row with a victory in Orlando this weekend. Gillon is an extremely-decorated competitor since she became a pro and that is highlighted by her victories on the biggest stage.
Gillon defeated the likes of Natalia Soltero and Stephanie Gibson. There have been some strong competitors coming into their own but Gillon has remained unbeatable for half a decade.
First Place – Cydney Gillon
Second Place – Natalia Soltero
Third Place – Stephanie Gibson
Fourth Place – Jessica Reyes Padilla
Sixth Place – Nicole Zenobia Graham
Sixth Place — Larhannah Robinson
Seventh Place — An Da Jeong
Eighth Place — Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
Ninth Place — Lola Montez
Tenth Place — Heather Dees
Fitness Olympia 2021 Results
Fitness has become a deep division and Missy Truscott has been at the top for the last year. She entered as the reigning champion and coming off a victory at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago. In the end, she placed second to Whitney Jones, who was able to regain her title. Jones held off Truscott and Oksana Grishina to get back the gold.
First Place – Whitney Jones
Second Place – Missy Truscott
Third Place – Oksana Grishina
Fourth Place – Ariel Khadr
Fifth Place – Jaclyn Baker
Sixth Place — Tamara Vahn
Seventh Place — Sara Kovach
Eighth Place — Darrian Borello
Ninth Place — Minna Pajulahti
Tenth Place — Aurika Tyrgale
Wellness Olympia 2021 Results
Wellness was brand new to the Olympia this year which means there was no history to base results. In a way, this was refreshing to see as Francielle Mattos became the first champion of Olympia Wellness. Angela Borges was the first competitor to qualify for the Olympia and she put on a strong showing with the silver medal. Isabelle Nunes finished third.
First Place – Francielle Mattos
Second Place – Angela Borges
Third Place – Isabelle Nunes
Fourth Place – Yarisha Ayala
Fifth Place – Julia Chittara
Sixth Place – Sunny Andrews
Seventh Place – Isamara dos Santos
Eighth Place – Bruna Seredich
Ninth Place – Lorena Ragusa
Tenth Place – Barbara Emanuele Cesar
Wheelchair Olympia 2021 Results
Wheelchair Olympia has become a popular event and one that is rapidly growing into other shows. On the biggest stage, it has been Harold Kelley who has been dominant. This year, Kelley retained his title to make it three in a row.
First Place – Harold Kelley
Second Place – Gabriele Andriulli
Third Place – Anthony Khadraoui
Fourth Place – Adolfo Cerame Jr.
Firth Place – Tyler Brey
Sixth Place – Chad McCrary
Seventh Place – Bradley Betts
Eighth Place – Johnny Quinn
Official Olympia 2021 Scorecards
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.
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.