Tag: Originals
Patrick Moore Explains The Reason It’s Offensive To Suggest He Move To Classic Physique
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Patrick Moore details why he was annoyed at the suggestion he move down to Classic Physique division.
In 2021, there are now more divisions in pro bodybuilding than there ever has been in the history of the sport. What once used to be squarely one division now has eleven. This allows athletes to determine what kind of ultimate physique they want to achieve and find success in that framework. It also brings a lot of couch critics out of the woodwork. Fans can and will often speculate if a pro competitor would be better off in a different division. Patrick Moore has no plans to leave Men’s Open bodybuilding – and has found it offensive to suggest he does otherwise.
This became clear when King Kamali publicly stated that Patrick Moore should move to Classic Physique. The comment sparked a back and forth reaction between Moore and Kamali and brought their debate into bodybuilding headlines. During our conversation with Patrick Moore, we asked him about this moment so that he could further explain his mentality and why he was annoyed by the comment. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Patrick Moore explains why it’s offensive to suggest he move down to Classic Physique.
With so many divisions in pro bodybuilding, there are more options than ever for athletes to find success. No one competitor is locked into the division they start in. There has been some debate as to whether or not this is a good thing. Some believe that this dilutes each division and encourages athletes to not push as hard. Supporters find that this brings in more athletes as a whole – and encourages athletes to compete who otherwise wouldn’t try due to the kind of physiques Men’s Open demands.
Some bodybuilders have had great success changing divisions, such as Hadi Choopan, who moved from Men’s 212 to Men’s Open. Many were worried he would fall behind against larger competitors. Ultimately, his risk paid off with consistent top five placings at Mr. Olympia. So when King Kamali suggested that Patrick Moore possibly move down to Classic Physique – it might not have been that crazy of an idea in general.
But from Patrick Moore’s perspective, this comment was unhelpful, unrealistic, and slightly insulting. During our interview, he explains that all it took was one competition where he looked off for the suggestion to come along. In fact, he points out that Kamali had praised his Men’s Open physique in 2019.
Patrick Moore points this out directly during our conversation:
“What lost it for me with him was this was a guy that was giving me praise in 2019 when I was in the open class. So once I come in a little off… so now I should go to Classic? It’s just crazy.”
Patrick Moore also points out that he would need to drop down to about 206 pounds at his height. So he would have to lose quite a bit of weight in order to qualify to compete in Classic Physique:
“So at the Olympia 2019, I was 236 [pounds]. There’s no way – and I was peeled. I had no fat. There was no way I was going to cut down to 206 pounds. So for him to say some ignorant sh*t like that… it’s like he’s miseducating… you’re telling people I should do something that’s impossible.”
Patrick Moore feels that, since King Kamali has a rather large following, his comments are misleading fans to expect something that Moore believes to be impossible. It poisons the well and changes the kind of fan interaction Moore has leading up into the next competition. Moore felt that key aspect is what made the comment disrespectful.
You can watch Patrick Moore explain his comments in full detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Talking Huge | EP 16: Craig Golias Reacts To The Olympia 2021 Results
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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!
Berry De Mey Clarifies His Critical Comments: “Bodybuilding In Total Is Becoming Insane”
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Berry De Mey debates Vlad Yudin in deep analysis of his previous critical comments of modern bodybuilding physiques.
Berry De Mey found himself in some hot water when he made a post on Instagram criticizing modern bodybuilding physiques. His comments came immediately after the Arnold Classic and Nick Walker’s massive win. In the aftermath, a controversial barrage of comments flooded De Mey’s post. Some defending and many criticizing his take on modern bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey deeply explains and clarifies his comments criticizing bodybuilding physiques of today.
There’s nothing new about the old guard of bodybuilders criticizing the modern physiques of bodybuilding athletes currently competing. We’ve seen the likes of Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and more throw shade at the current state of bodybuilding. Now we can add former bodybuilder and now coach Berry De Mey into this category.
Berry De Mey took to Instagram swiftly after Nick Walker’s big Arnold Classic win. Though not directly pointed at Walker – De Mey had some critical words about the current state of the sport.
We had the opportunity to connect with Berry De Mey and discuss at length his comments about modern bodybuilding. More than can be explained in a simple Instagram post or in comments – the discussion and debate between Vlad Yudin and Berry De Mey goes into the deep details of De Mey’s criticism. De Mey has a particular criteria for what he thinks bodybuilding should look like – he doesn’t think the judges today are on that same page.
Berry De Mey admits that he is likely biased beyond his control. He believes if he was born into this era – he would see no problem with today’s physiques and push himself to the massive size we are seeing on the stage today. It’s the exact thing he did during his prime competing. The only difference is that the limit was far lower than it is today. That’s what worries him.
He understands that no single person or entity is to blame. But he thinks each passing generation of bodybuilders is pushing the limit of the human body further. With each new limit being crossed – the new normal becomes more dangerous and also less pleasing (to Berry De Mey’s eyes). His main criticism is that each passing decade focuses more on size and conditioning over lines and aesthetic. De Mey thinks aesthetic should be valued equally to size.
But Barry De Mey is at a loss on how to properly fix it – or even on how to fully express himself. He feels trapped in the same bias that all individuals in bodybuilding are. It’s impossible to escape the bias of your generation. When he tries to take a step back to the bigger macro picture – he becomes worried. If we are all unavoidably a victim of our own upbringing and bias – how can we fix the dangerous size that bodybuilders are pushing towards?
Ultimately, he traces the problems he sees with modern bodybuilding all the way back to the Golden Era. He finds the totality of bodybuilding to be too extreme.
“The reason that I’m saying this all is not about that I don’t like the aesthetic that much anymore. You know, it’s not about that result,” Berry De Mey states in our interview. He continues:
“I’m at the point willing to say not today, back in the day, same for me, that bodybuilding in total is becoming insane. Because what guys have to do today, what I would have done if I was an 18 year old kid today, so it’s not a finger to point, but bodybuilding in total has become insane.”
It’s interesting that Berry De Mey includes himself in this category. He admits that he would fall victim to the same trap if he was young and competing today. He goes on to say that he can’t blame one specific group, person, or entity. He doesn’t know who to blame. But he’s concerned – and he’s seeing more young bodybuilders dying or going to the hospital. He doesn’t know what it will take – but he hopes that something changes the sport of bodybuilding.
Do you agree with Berry De Mey? Watch his full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and decide for yourself!
Derek Lunsford Reflects On Olympia Win And Details His Battle With Shaun Clarida
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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!
INTERVIEW: Will Jujimufu Continue Competitive Bodybuilding?
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Jujimufu talks about his competitive bodybuilding journey and if it will become his focus moving forward.
Jujimufu is known for his incredible stunts and acrobatics alongside an impressive muscular physique. He had dedicated his life to gymnastics and acrobatics – but has slowly built a bodybuilding fanbase because of his physique and personality on display in viral videos. This past year he decided to make a change and seriously focus on bodybuilding competitively. His first show was at this past week’s Olympia Amateur show. In our GI Exclusive interview, we talked to Jujimufu about his competitive bodybuilding prep and what he expects to do moving forward.
This past week, Jujimufu competed in the Olympia Amateur 2021 competition. He ultimately placed fifth in the super heavyweight division. We had a chance to connect via video call just before his competition to talk about his contest prep, why he decided to start competing, and what his future holds. Jujimufu is dedicated to his passion for stunts and acrobatics – but that might need to be sidelined somewhat if he maintains a competitive Men’s Open bodybuilding physique. Is it the kind of sacrifice he’s willing to make in the long term?
Jujimufu is unsure. He knows he will always allow himself to do some form of acrobatics. He mentions that his flips and splits can be done no matter how large he becomes. Though he also admits that other more complicated maneuvers might not be doable as his legs grow in size specifically. That being said – he also understands that his prime gymnastic years are behind him. Whereas bodybuilding and strength building blooms in later years through into a person’s 40s.
So will he continue to compete in bodybuilding? Will he go pro and stand amongst the greats on major stages such as the Olympia? Jujimufu states that it all comes down to his experience at the Olympia Amateur. His placing won’t determine his future – but rather his experience. If it was an enjoyable experience that promises realistic success and growth down the line – he’s 100% open to focusing on bodybuilding. He’s excited by the possibility of just starting his growth in this arena – whereas his acrobatic life is in the early stages of being past his prime.
That’s just a simple fact about gymnastics – it’s a young man’s game. Bodybuilding favors time, experience and muscle maturity. He’s excited by that notion and if he feels empowered by his Olympia Amateur show – he’ll continue.
We’d imagine Jujimufu’s fifth place finish was ultimately promising – he was up against dozens of competitors all hungry for a pro card. Jujimufu also comments about how lucky he feels to have so much attention put on his physique only being in an amateur show. He feels like he was able to skip the line in terms of attention. He’s simply grateful to have that kind of attention and opportunity.
You can watch Jujimufu talk about his competitive bodybuilding prep and his thoughts of going long term in the sport by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
Victor Martinez Warns: All It Takes Is One Bad Injection To Collapse A Muscle
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Victor Martinez opens up about the threat of nerve damage caused by badly performed injections.
Victor Martinez is a legend in the sport of bodybuilding. He was a top tier competitor in the early aughts and also a featured subject in the original Generation Iron documentary. While he may no longer compete today (for now), he is a highly skilled and respected modern bodybuilder. That’s why he hopes his words in our latest interview segment are heeded carefully – as he brings up a topic often overlooked in the bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains how bad injections can lead to nerve damage and collapsed muscles.
Though best known for his heated face-offs with Jay Cutler during the 2000s, Victor Martinez also had the experience of going toe to toe with Ronnie Coleman. Known for his unbeatable physique and a world record matching eight Olympia wins – we asked Martinez what it was like to (mentally and physically) to prepare to battle against Ronnie.
Martinez’s answer was an interesting one – “I stayed in my lane.” He knew that he couldn’t train the same way Ronnie could. Martinez also admits that nearly everyone competing during that time wouldn’t talk about actually winning the Olympia – they would know the battle was for second place. That is – until Ronnie’s physique started noticeably declining.
This then pivoted our conversation into something unexpected but very vital in the bodybuilding world. Victor Martinez notes that Ronnie Coleman’s later years competing started showing signs of his nerve damage and injuries (that were then later documented in more detail in Ronnie Coleman: The King). This sprung us into a conversation about the dangers of nerve damage for bodybuilders.
Victor Martinez goes into detail on how nearly all pro bodybuilders are on a slow and steady path towards nerve damage. It can be prevented – but it’s not nearly talked about in public as Martinez thinks it should be. He even gets candid about how nerve damage can come from the constant injections many bodybuilders undergo throughout their career.
“When you have a muscle and you can’t flex it and you can’t feel it – a lot of people don’t know they think it’s something simple. No, it’s just nerve damage,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He continues:
“People don’t realize when you take an injection it’s a form of acupuncture. You can take a bad injection and collapse a muscle without even noticing by hitting a wrong nerve. I hope people are listening to this because people think they can just poke themselves and be fine the next day. It only takes is one bad angle, one injection, and one bad part of hte muscle and it will collapse a bicep, a tricep, a shoulder, a lat, a quad – it will just collapse it without you noticing.”
Victor Martinez then mentions that he knows someone personally who suffered through this. A friend who took a bad injection that killed his triceps permanently. Of course, we all know that muscle is the most vital aspect to a bodybuilder’s career. That’s why Martinez wants this information to be more spoken about publicly. Bodybuilders will be injecting substances into their body – they should know the warning signs before it’s too late.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into full detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
The Anabolic Doc: The Truth About Sex Problems Post-Steroids
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The Anabolic Doc doesn’t mince words when it comes to sexual problems after coming off steroids.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, also known as the Anabolic Doc, has dedicated his life to working with strength athletes and bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids. He’s been very clear about the dangers these drugs hold but has also provided an empathetic viewpoint as to why athletes turn to PEDs in the first place. Beyond serious health concerns of long term steroids use – the Anabolic Doc went into detail about the realities behind sexual performance and steroids. What is true? What is a myth? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc gets real about what happens to your sex life after coming off steroids.
Beyond roid rage, the second most overplayed stereotype about steroids is enhanced sexual performance. It makes sense – blast your body with testosterone and give your private parts a boost. But just how true are these claims and how much is fiction? We turned to Dr. Thomas O’Connor – aka the Anabolic Doc – for answers.
First things first, the Anabolic Doc makes it clear that increased sexual performance is 100% a side effect from using steroids. In many ways, this is an additional appeal to using these drugs. Beyond the improved athletic performance and muscle building – private life between the sheets sees a dramatic boost in “energy.” That being said, there is also a downside – it just might not rear its ugly head until many years down the line.
As with many things in long term steroid use – over time health complications begin to arise. This is even more true when coming off steroid use permanently after decades of cycles. It’s well documented that long term steroid use will lead to a permanent decrease in testosterone within your body. This can affect many things. It can make you feel depressed. It can make you feel weak and lethargic. It can also diminish your sex drive and performance.
But for those who think it’s not that big of a deal – the Anabolic Doc has some grave news for you. Without treatment such as Testosterone Replacement Therapy, it’s almost guaranteed that your future sex performance will dry up after coming off steroids. The Anabolic Doc has often talked about the “suffering” of steroid users during older age. This isn’t just medical pain and suffering – it’s also psychological.
The Anabolic Doc receives many patience who are mentally suffering due to a diminished sex life and worsening sex performance. We’re not talking about 80 year olds here. We’re talking 50 year old men who should still be able to function well enough. But due to low levels of testosterone production from steroid use – their “ability” falls apart.
Even worse, this can happen at a much younger age as well. If a person goes through multiple cycles of steroids – when they are off cycle, their sexual performance will be diminished as well. The Anabolic Doc specifically states many men in their 20’s who can’t date women whenever they are off cycle. When they come back on steroids – everything works fantastic. But at such a young age – without the continued use of these drugs – they become lame ducks.
“You’re going to come off this shit and you’re going to crash like a lead balloon,” Dr. O’Connor states in our interview. He then goes on, “And you’re going to be with a girl and if you’re 20 or 23 or 27 and you can’t date… that’s the new thing now… the new lexicon. It’s ‘can’t date.’”
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments on steroid use and sexual performance in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Chef Rush Reveals The Reality Behind Racism & Death Threats Online
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Chef Rush opens up about his PTSD and dangerous comments he has received online.
This past week, Facebook has been on blast after a whistleblower revealed the alleged dangerous tactics behind the company. Namely, that the company cares more about profits than huma beings – and purposefully allows toxic behavior to continue and is even sometimes pushed by their algorithms. Toxicity online is something nearly all people are aware of – especially those with large followings. Chef Rush is a viral bodybuilder who has faced some of the worst of it. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Chef Rush opens up about death threats and racist comments he’s received online.
Chef Rush is best known as the “Bodybuilding White House Chef.” He went viral upon photos released online showing his jacked physique while working at the White House. Since then, Rush has used that momentum to spread awareness about veteran PTSD and start his own businesses. As such, he’s become a bit of an online celebrity with a massive following.
As with most people in the spotlight, having a following often means receiving mass criticism as well. Often times, influencers and celebs simply ignore the comments. But we are all human – and people’s words, no matter how anonymous, can do damage. Then there’s the step above that – when online users take the next step to make direct attacks on influencers and iconic figures. This can be done through direct messages, death threats, racist comments – and also all bolstered by programmed bots to flood online pages with hate.
Chef Rush has experienced these kinds of attacks. In general, he tries to keep an open and positive mind about the internet. He understands that many toxic comments online are simply anonymous individuals looking for likes, clicks, and attention. But in a certain specific moment, Rush started to feel unsafe for himself and his family.
This moment came out of a strange extrapolation of an online post. Chef Rush made a comment about how much sleep he gets at night. He talked about getting very little (he states it was about 4 hours at the time). Somehow, this comment became so controversial that an online user programmed bots against him.
At this point Chef Rush would not even care. He knew that the swarm of comments were not real people. The problem came not due to the bot attack in and of itself – it was what they were saying. A comment about how much sleep to get suddenly turned into a swarm of comments throwing racial slurs on Rush’s posts. Not only that – but he was receiving death threats.
The barrage was so constant and cruel – that Chef Rush started to worry about his safety and the safety of his family. Posting your personal life as a viral influencer can open you up to online sleuths determining where you might physically be located – where you live, where you are on a trip, etc. What if this online hate turned into something in the real world?
That’s why Chef Rush did what he normally doesn’t do – he responded to the comments. He made it clear that if any single person were to approach him aggressively in public, he would take matters into his own hands. He kept it vague – but the implications were clear. If he felt that himself or his family were threatened in person, he would fight back.
Eventually the entire situation blew over. But the experience revealed just how out of control attention on social media can become. A comment about sleep turned into racism and death threats. It’s a level of extremism that seems propelled by the instant gratification and anonymity of social media.
You can watch Chef Rush’s full comments about the entire experience in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Big Ramy Looks Back In Detail About His First Ever Bodybuilding Competition | GI Vault
The current Mr. Olympia champion, Big Ramy, shares his experience competing in bodybuilding for the first time.
In December 2020, Big Ramy finally achieved what fans had been hoping for the past decade – he won the Mr. Olympia. Earlier in 2017 during the filming of Generation Iron 2, we sat down for an hour long interview with Big Ramy going through his origins through to the present of his bodybuilding career. Majority of this was not able to make it into the final film. That’s why to celebrate Ramy’s big Olympia victory, we are releasing uncut segments of never before seen footage. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details the first time he ever competed in a bodybuilding competition.
Everyone has to start somewhere – even Mr. Olympia champions. Big Ramy is a bodybuilder who has had hype behind his name for quite a few years now. But his story goes even further back into the early 2000s. In the extended clip above, Big Ramy details his origins from the son of fishermen through to his first ever bodybuilding competition.
When we interviewed him for Generation Iron 2, it was just before his epic display at the Olympia 2017. This is the year he placed second just behind Phil Heath. He was on top of the world and ready to prove his massive size can be matched with equally matched conditioning. While he fell short – he eventually made good on his promise last year with his big win.
But his experience starting out in bodybuilding was very different than the mammoth athlete we know today. He threw himself into the sport as an opportunity to find bigger success. While training and building muscle is a great first step – you learn a lot from actually stepping on stage and seeing the competition.
Big Ramy was ready to become a pro bodybuilder but he realized that he had a lot of improvements to do after standing beside other competitors. Specifically, he was embarrassed by his thin legs.
Instead of discouraging him, it drove him to try harder. He saw a real future in going pro and making bodybuilding his main career. Of course, his path towards learning and success would require a roller coaster path of twists and turns. Discovering Kuwait and Oxygen Gym provided him with basically a bodybuilding bootcamp.
While this help provide a foundation and extreme growth over his career, he ultimately moved on to try other coaches and other gurus in perfecting what works best for his body. Adapting and reacting is key towards improving and moving up amongst the top athletes in bodybuilding. That’s exactly what Big Ramy did and it paid off in full.
With all of that in mind, watching Big Ramy reflect on his first every bodybuilding competition just reminds us how far he’s come. How nothing is guaranteed. How only a select few through incredible hard work (and a little bit of luck) become the legends we see today.
Some believed that Big Ramy was too inconsistent to ever really win the Mr. Olympia. Others thought it was inevitable for him to reign as Olympia champion. If Ramy decided to play it safe and stick with being a fisherman, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
You can watch Big Ramy reflect back on his early years and his first ever bodybuilding competition in our GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also watch Generation Iron 2 on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!
Big Ramy Answers: Do Genetics Play A Big Role In His Physique?
Big Ramy talks about his competition mindset and the power of genetics.
Ever since Big Ramy won the Olympia 2020, we’ve been pouring through our unreleased footage of Big Ramy from Generation Iron 2. Specifically, our sit down interview that only had a few segments make it into the film. There’s no doubt that Ramy’s massive physique lives up to his name – but how much of that is a product of genetics vs hard work? In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy discusses how big a role genetics play into his physique.
When Big Ramy appears on the pro competition stage, he’s immediately noticeable. This is not only due to his massive size but also his massive height. Big Ramy often stands tall as the biggest bodybuilder on stage from every angle. While bigger does not always equal a victory – it’s a powerful tool to have if conditioning can be kept under control.
The conditioning element was Big Ramy’s hardest challenge throughout his career. He finally nailed it in 2020 when he wowed judges and finally earned an Olympia win. Now he’s dead set on keeping that win streak going into 2021 and beyond. But until we see him compete again this year, we are rewinding back to 2017. It was years before his big win when we sat down to interview Ramy.
During that interview, we asked him about the importance of genetics in bodybuilding. How good genetics can provide the edge needed to beat someone out at the Mr. Olympia. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your genetics. That’s why we asked Ramy how big a role genetics play into his physique.
Does his massive size come natural to him due to his genetics? Or does he have to work extra hard through an uphill battle to become true to his name? Based on his answer, it seems that Big Ramy doesn’t think about it much. He simply isn’t quite sure. He does admit that his massive growth happened pretty fast. That his body reacted instantly to his bodybuilding training.
At the same time, he acknowledges that his mind is always focused on one thing – to win the Olympia. This drives him to work harder than he ever has in his life before bodybuilding. His massive physique is a result of that hard work.
Ultimately, Big Ramy doesn’t want to make it seem like he’s naturally the powerhouse bodybuilder folks see on stage. Like every other pro bodybuilder, Big Ramy puts in the work to stand tall as one of the top tier athletes of the year.
Fast forward back to today and we can certainly see the results of that hard work. Big Ramy not only maintained his massive size but was able to bring in his conditioning for an iconic physique. There was no controversy or second guessing. It was clear to the fans and the judges. Big Ramy was the clear Olympia 2020 winner. Whether it was genetics that helped him get there remains to be seen – but underneath it all the hard work always remains.
You can watch Big Ramy talk about his mindset and genetics in our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview above. You can also see Ramy in Generation Iron 2 – available on digital today! Click here or the banner below to stream or download.