Tag: Originals
Jay Cutler: “I’m Not For Trash Talk” But Silence Is Also “Really Bad” | GI Vault
Jay Cutler talks about the delicate balance between negative trash talk and the power of hyping up a competition. GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage…
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 11: Hafthor Bjornsson Transformation & Milk Crate Challenge
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Craig Golias talks Hafthor Bjornsson’s incredible shredded transformation, the new viral milk crate challenge, and more.
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 reacts to the insane shred and weightloss transformation of Hafthor Bjornsson. Other topics include the milk crate challenge and the dangers of pro bodybuilding.
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin catch up again this week for another episode of Talking Huge debate and conversation. The biggest highlight of the week included Hafthor Bjornsson’s continued transformation from titan strongman to lean and shredded boxer. As someone who values being huge above all else, Craig’s reaction to Hafthor might not be what you expect. Craig also gives his take on the new viral milk crate challenge (will he do the challenge as a 300+ mass monster?) and also the dangers of pro bodybuilding vs natural bodybuilding.
Craig Golias thinks Hafhtor Bjornsson is getting too lean
Ever since Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall announced that they would box each other – both strongmen have taken the future battle very seriously. This means losing a ton of that strongman weight and focusing on being lean. Hafthor specifically has showcased an incredible transformation. He’s lost over 100 pounds and looks shredded as a beast.
Craig Golias is certainly impressed, though for his personal taste he feels that Hafthor took the cutting a bit too far. Craig is a man who loves mass monsters and being huge. He thinks that Hafthor looked his best somewhere between his original weight and where he is now.
That being said, Craig Golias also understands that his personal taste is different than Hafthor’s goal. Since Hafthor is training to box in the ring, he needs to be as lean, fast, and agile as possible. It’s a completely different requirement than what strongman or bodybuilding entails.
Will Craig Golias do the milk crate challenge?
A new viral challenge has swept the nation. This one is called the milk crate challenge. The goal is to stack a pyramid of milk crates and have an individual walk up and then down the slope without falling. Of course, the fun part is that many people fall… and hard.
Craig Golias knew little of this challenge but watched a few clips. He finds the challenge funny and admits that the challenges seem to be getting more and more dangerous. Craig understands why the stakes keep getting raised. In this new era, people will do anything for clicks, views, and attention.
But would Craig Golias be willing to do the milk crate challenge. It would certainly be a sight to behold. Imagine a 300+ pound mass monster walking up and down those shaking crates. Craig knows that video would explode – but he’s also concerned about getting injured if he fell. He’s already currently injured with nerve damage in his arm and shoulder. Training is key to Craig’s lifestyle and brand – so he will likely avoid a challenge like this.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. 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!
Breon Ansley Full Interview | Classic Physique vs Men’s 212 & Chris Bumstead Rivalry
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Breon Ansley
Breon Ansley is one of the most iconic Classic Physique competitors since the division’s inception. He’s a two time Olympia champion and helped set the standard for what Classic Physique should look like. But over the past two years, Ansley has been challenged by his rival Chris Bumstead – who has now won the Olympia two years in a row.
That’s why last year we connected with Breon Ansley over a video call to talk about his future plans, his rivalry with Chris Bumstead and many other topics. This interview took place right before the Olympia 2020.
Over the past year we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Breon Ansley. This uncut full length interview includes topics such as his training tactics for Olympia, whether or not he will one day transition to Men’s 212, and his mindset about his rivalry with Chris Bumstead.
Listen To Our Breon Ansley 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 Breon Ansley interview here:
Breon Ansley clarifies his past comments and about Chris Bumstead and his thoughts on their rivalry
Breon Ansley is and always has been a respectful and confident pro bodybuilder in the Classic Physique division. So it came as a shock to some when he seemingly agreed with Bradley Martyn – who claimed that Chris Bumstead was lacking in certain areas of his physique despite winning the Olympia 2019.
The video clip went viral and made headlines across many bodybuilding media outlets including Generation Iron. After this – it seemed that Breon Ansley was unhappy on how he was presented in the news stories, making comments on social media that the headlines were misleading.
To clarify the entire situation, we connected with Breon Ansley via video chat to discuss not only his past comments but the upcoming Olympia 2020 and the future of Classic Physique as a whole. Of course, ultimately Breon Ansley lost again to Bumstead at the 2020 Olympia – but it’s interesting to see Ansley’s mindset about his strongest rival.
Breon Ansley Answers: Will He Transition To The Men’s 212 Division?
Wrap Up
We discuss many more topics with Breon Ansley than what can be fully covered in this article. That’s why you should check out the full GI Exclusive interview above! We discuss far many more topics including his training tactics, the future of Classic Physique as a whole, and more!
Melvin Anthony’s Behind The Scenes Account Of Jay Cutler Defeating Ronnie Coleman At Olympia 2006
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Melvin Anthony shares his first hand story of seeing Jay Cutler defeat Ronnie Coleman for the first time.
Ronnie Coleman is a bodybuilder of legends. He’s arguably the greatest bodybuilder to ever live. So of course, the moment when he was finally defeated from his Mr. Olympia reign was a noteworthy one. The man to take down Coleman was Jay Cutler – who went on to win four Mr. Olympia titles. Many bodybuilding fans have seen the footage – but only a small number of people were there in person for this historic moment. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melvin Anthony shares his behind the scenes first hand account of Jay Cutler’s victory over Ronnie Coleman at Olympia 2006.
Melvin Anthony was competing at the Mr. Olympia in 2006. So not only was he in person to witness Ronnie Coleman’s defeat after eight Mr. Olympia wins, he was also behind the scenes in the events leading up to it. That’s why in our video interview, we asked Anthony to break down what that experience was like. Was it clear from the beginning that Jay Cutler would take down The King? Or was it a surprise for even the competitors?
Melvin Anthony admits that his perception on the moment is slightly skewed. He was competing himself – and so he had tunnel vision due to the hunger for victory. He wasn’t worrying whether or not Jay Cutler could beat Coleman. He instead was focused on being the one to beat Coleman himself.
Despite this, Melvin Anthony had some interesting stories to tell about the Olympia 2016. Once Anthony saw Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman pose – he knew that he wouldn’t be able to take the first place spot. It’s at this moment he was able to focus on the battle between Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman with more focus.
Was he surprised that Ronnie Coleman lost? No, not really. This isn’t because it was obvious he would lose. It was because in a sport like bodybuilding – anything can happen between competitors at this top tier level. In fact, Melvin Anthony believes that Jay Cutler had a better physique in previous years. Cutler only lost because he lost the mental game.
Melvin Anthony describes a moment from a previous Olympia, when Ronnie Coleman came out to warm up backastage and, according to Anthony, you could see Coleman’s size grow as he got pumped up. It was in that moment that Jay Cutler go psyched out. By having his mental game thrown off – his physique diminished and he lost to Coleman.
Anthony believes that Jay Cutler’s physique was slightly less on point in 2006 – but his mental game was completely on point. It helped take down Ronnie Coleman. The moment was a big one. It was the passing of the torch and the end of an era for one of the longest running Mr. Olympia champions. Everyone knew that day that there would never be another like Ronnie Coleman.
You can watch Melvin Anthony go into full detail about his behind the scenes experience of Ronnie Coleman vs Jay Cutler in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Aaron Singerman: Objectively Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Not Be In The Top 5 Bodybuilders Of All Time
Removing personal taste, Aaron Singerman picks the top 5 bodybuilders of all time.
There are a few ways you can make a top 5 list for sports. One would be to focus on what they accomplished in context of their era. The other is to put all athletes on the same playing field and judge them on pure skill and talent. So putting context and history aside – who would be the top 5 bodybuilders in terms of pure physique? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Aaron Singerman explains why Arnold Schwarzenegger would not be in the top 5 bodybuilders of all time.
Whenever we sit down for an interview with someone from the industry, we always take a moment to ask who are the top 5 greatest bodybuilders of all time? The variety of answers we get is truly insightful and showcases the different perspectives that exist in the sport.
When we spoke with Aaron Singerman, we asked him the same question. Specifically, we didn’t ask him for his personal favorites but instead who he thinks objectively has the best physiques of all time.
Right off the bat Aaron Singerman was able to pick his number one – Ronnie Coleman. Without hesitation he believes that he would win any contest against any era of physiques. But after that first pick – Singerman begins to struggle. He tries to be as analytical as possible. If he were a judge – who else he rank next?
Aaron Singerman ultimately lands on Flex Wheeler at number two followed by Phil Heath, Dorian Yates, and Kevin Levrone. For a moment, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name comes up. But Singerman quickly dismisses it. While he finds Schwarzenegger to be one of his personal favorite bodybuilders of all time – he thinks there are too many athletes with physique far superior to his.
“If someone was thinking Arnold Schwarzenegger, he’s getting smoked by all these guys,” Aaron Singerman states in our interview. He continues:
“So he’s not… I mean he’d be one of my favorites. Who I would like to look like personally, he’d be up there. But in terms of would Arnold at a stage now compete with Flex Wheeler? No, I mean he’d be demolished.”
Of course, there’s a reason why many would place Arnold Schwarzenegger on the top of their list. It’s due to his contributions to the sport, his presence in pop culture, and his accomplishments for the time. But in the full spectrum of physiques across the years – by today’s standards he would potentially fall short.
Of course, it would be fun to imagine what Arnold Schwarzenegger would look like today had he grown up in this era. With the kind of knowledge, technology, and supplementation of today – would we see some sort of uber Schwarzenegger? Sadly, that’s an idea that can only exist in the imagination.
You can watch Aaron Singerman break down his reasoning for the top 5 bodybuilders of all time in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
INTERVIEW: How A $100 Bet Transformed Dennis James Into A Bodybuilder
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Dennis James reflects on his time in Thailand and how a simple $100 bet changed the entire course of his life into bodybuilding.
Dennis James is well known today as a bodybuilding guru of sorts. He helps coach and train some of the biggest bodybuilders in the sport. He’s also a sort of unofficial color commentator for bodybuilding. He’s a co-host of the Olympia press conference and provides analysis for the various top-level physiques we see on stage. He was also one hell of a bodybuilder in his prime.
So it may come as a shock that his entire life as an iconic bodybuilder, commentator, and coach all stemmed from a simple $100 bet. Not only that – it was a $100 bet that was agreed upon while James was drunk. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Dennis James explains how a $100 bet changed his life and transformed him into a bodybuilder.
Dennis James is an extremely knowledgable bodybuilder in the sport. That’s why during our video conversation with him, we asked how a beginner bodybuilder can get credible information for research into training and dieting and supplementation. Like any sport – there is no one right answer. The fundamentals are all easily available for anyone to learn – but the pro level tactics come from experience. And everyone’s individual journey is often different.
So instead of giving generalized advice, Dennis James shares his story of how he became a bodybuilder and learned how to perfect his diet, training, and supplementation. The story is quite a rollercoaster and shows that even an icon like James required years of trial and error before become the pro we all remember. The best part about the whole story? It started off with a drunk $100 bet.
Dennis James took a two week trip to Thailand in the early 1990s. He loved it so much there that he never left. He ultimately stayed there for many years – far past the two week vacation plan. While living there, he spent a lot of time enjoying life and hanging out at the local bars. One such bar often had bodybuilders come in as patrons. After some time of becoming friendly, a fun and drunken wager was made.
Dennis James bet a bodybuilder that he could become just as muscular in three months. He was drunk and overly confident. He had little to no knowledge on how to achieve this goal. Regardless, he shook on the bet. $100 if he could build up mass monster muscle in 3 months.
Dennis James dove head first into training. He knew nothing about diet. He actually changed nothing about his diet. Instead he just rained hardcore non-stop. According to him, his body reacted so well and so fast that he received the $100 from the bet in just six months.
Shortly after the bet, Dennis James continued to train and eventually caught the eye of the Mr. Universe promoters. In 1992 Dennis James was drunkenly taking a random $100 bet. In 1993, he was on stage at the Mr. Universe in England.
The rest, as the say, is history. He continued to make bodybuilding his passion. In having to finally compete on a stage – he asked for advice on how to diet. His initial advice received was to simply eat chicken, rise, and pineapple for every meal. That’s why he did and it helped. Of course, we know that the bodybuilding diet is far more complicated than that.
And that’s the point. Dennis James went from a bet, to competing, to making mistakes, and eventually went pro. He used that passion and pro status to eventually become the man we know today. There is no one single correct way to learn about bodybuilding. Everyone’s journey is different. You will make mistakes – but just make sure to do as much research as possible so you don’t make dangerous mistakes. If the passion is there – the rest will come to you.
You can watch Dennis James go into complete detail about his bodybuilding origins in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Dennis Wolf Looking Back: I Hated To Eat Like A Bodybuilder
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Dennis Wolf, now slimmed down, talks about how he hated to eat food – especially in the quantities required for bodybuilding.
Dennis Wolf is an iconic former pro bodybuilder and was also one of the featured stars of the original Generation Iron. Unfortunately, in 2016 he suffered a spinal injury required surgery and put him out of commission. He attempted a comeback in 2018 but ultimately he had to retire from the sport. Since then, Wolf has trimmed down and started focusing on entrepreneurial pursuits. In our latest GI Exclusive, Dennis Wolf talks about his current diet and how he hated to eat like a mass monster bodybuilder.
Looking at Dennis Wolf now, you probably would have never known he was once a mass monster freak competing for the Mr. Olympia title. Much like Dorian Yates before him, Wolf decided to trim down quite a bit. He came off steroids and even detailed with us previously the medical realities of retiring and coming off PEDs.
Some bodybuilder like to continue the full bodybuilding lifestyle after retirement. A big example of this is Kai Greene – which is why each and every year fans speculate he will return for a comeback. That’s why we asked Dennis Wolf – is there any aspect of the bodybuilding lifestyle he continues? Does he still have a focused diet like most bodybuilders require?
Dennis Wolf admits that he now only eats three meals a day. He still focuses on healthy meals – but doesn’t consume anywhere near the same amount of calories as he once did. In fact, he admits that he dislikes eating food in general and was often struggling as a bodybuilder to stick to the mass monster diet.
“I eat probably three times a day… Honestly I hate to eat,” Dennis Wolf stated in our interview. He continued:
“After so many years forcing yourself. I wasn’t a good eater in the beginning, you know, when I started bodybuilding. Then I developed the skill that I could eat a lot. And now, I’m kind of away from it so I don’t like food anymore. I’m not eating chicken, for example, for a month now because I am sick of it.”
Dennis Wolf goes on to explain that when you are in the thick of the sport and passionate – you train yourself mentally to enjoy the mass amounts of eating. Now that he hasn’t had to be in that mindset – his typical tastes returned. He never liked eating in massive amounts and now he can return to that natural state.
It’s an interesting admission. One that Jay Cutler has made in one of our past interviews as well. He’s claimed that bodybuilding diets are basically force feeding diets. He’s not 100% wrong – mostly depending on your own typical food habits. If you are the kind of person with a slight appetite, bodybuilding diets can be a big mental challenge.
You can watch Dennis Wolf talk in more detail about his post-retirement diet and reflections on his career by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 10: Bodybuilding World Reacts To Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Comments
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Craig Golias weighs in on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “screw your freedom” comments, analyzes Roelly Winklaar’s future, and more.
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 reacts to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent comments about freedom, analyzes Roelly Winklaar’s recent physique, and shares tips on how to keep motivated during training.
This past week has been another busy bodybuilding week with plenty of controversial, exciting, and sadly more tragic news. So there’s been much to talk about with Craig Golias since our last episode. The biggest story that has been making waves is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comments about mask mandates – stating, “screw your freedom” to anti-maskers. Craig shares his personal reaction to the comments as well as how the bodybuilding community has been responding as a whole. Other topics discussed include breaking down Roelly Winklaar’s recent on stage performance at the Europa Pro and what his future holds as he struggles to gain a first place finish; how to not get bored in the gym, and how to not give up when results aren’t meeting your goals.
The Bodybuilding World Erupts As Arnold Schwarzenegger says, “Screw Your Freedom.”
Earlier in the week, Arnold Schwarzenegger took to a news program to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, mask mandates, and vaccines. Ultimately, in a moment of passion, Schwarzenegger stated, “Screw your freedom” in a response to anti-maskers claiming they have the freedom to not wear masks. This statement started making waves in the bodybuilding world. Most notably, RedCon1 pulled sponsorship from the Arnold Classic. RedCon1 is one of the larger supplement companies to support and sponsor the Arnold Classic event.
Once RedCon1 made this move – more attention was brought to Schwarzenegger’s comments. Bodybuilders have made stances on social media and even strongman Brian Shaw removed his Schwarzenegger poster from his wall. So what does Craig Golias think?
Craig Golias was actually on vacation when the news first broke – and so he was out of the loop for the first few days. When he finally saw the news – he was able to read everyone’s immediate reactions as well as the initial comments. He was surprised at just how intense the reactions were – but he also understood why so many have become incensed.
Craig Golias, personally, believes that he should be allowed to not wear a mask if he is vaccinated. He thinks if a person doesn’t want to be vaccinated but is afraid of getting sick – they should simply stay home. As a large man of towering huge muscle – wearing a mask for long periods of time makes it hard for him to breath. Especially in claustrophobic spaces such as a plane.
Breaking Down Roelly Winklaar And His Future
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also discuss Roelly Winklaar and his latest activity in the 2021 bodybuilding season. After placing fifth at the Chicago Pro and then later falling just short of first at the Europa Pro – it seems that the hype behind Winklaar is slowing down. His second place finish at Europa Pro still earned him an Olympia qualification – but if he can’t win there, how will he handle the Mr. Olympia itself?
Craig Golias considers Roelly Winklaar one of his favorite bodybuilders of all time. He thinks that Winklaar can be a Mr. Olympia champion – but only if he holds on and doesn’t give up. This might end up being a rougher year for Winklaar, but if he hangs in there, he can readjust and come back stronger. He still has a chance.
As it stands now – Craig Golias thinks Roelly Winklaar still has time to tighten up his physique for the Mr. Olympia. That’s the beauty behind sports, there’s a wide amount of variables that come together for each competition. Anything can happen – however unlikely.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. 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!
Bob Cicherillo Full Interview | Freakiest Bodybuilders, Press Conference Memories, & More
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Bob Cicherillo.
Bob Cicherillo is a former pro bodybuilder who is best known as “The Voice Of Bodybuilding.” He’s been an announcer for many big pro bodybuilding shows, including the Mr. Olympia. He’s also one of the hosts for the Olympia press conference. In general, he has been passionately involved both behind and on stage for the past few decades.
That’s why last year we connected with Bob Cicherillo over a video call to talk about his career, stories from hosting the Mr. Olympia press conference, and his thoughts on the current state of bodybuilding.
Over the past year we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Bob Cicherillo. This uncut full length interview includes topics such as the freakiest bodybuilder he has ever seen, the future of Mr. Olympia under new ownership, and his critique on the current state of physiques in bodybuilding.
Listen To Our Bob Cicherillo 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 Bob Cicherillo interview here:
Bob Cicherillo Answers: Who Was The Freakiest Bodybuilder He Had Ever Seen In Person?
Bob Cicherillo has been in bodybuilding for multiple decades. First as a competitor and then as an announcer after his retirement from competing in the sport. He’s been involved first hand throughout many of the biggest moments in bodybuilding history. That’s why we asked him who his pick was for the freakiest bodybuilder he had ever seen in person.
For many younger fans of the sport, they will only be able to see video footage or pictures of past legends in the sport. The difference between a video/photo and seeing a competitor on stage in person can be vast. It’s like seeing a famous painting in an art book and then finally getting to see it in person at a museum. It changes everything about your perspective of that greatness.
So when Bob Cicherillo picks Ronnie Coleman, it may at first seem like the obvious answer. We’ve heard it all before. Ronnie is considered widely to be the freakiest and best bodybuilder to ever compete. But when you hear Bob Cicherillo explain what it was like to be there in person – it reminds us of just how big of a deal it really was at the time.
One of the most interesting details Cicherillo reveals is about his experience seeing Ronnie Coleman in 2003. This is considered by many to be one of Ronnie’s best years competing. Cicherillo describes the moment he first saw Ronnie step on stage. He simply laughed. It wasn’t a laugh of mockery. Far from it. It was laughter because he was dumbfounded. He was shocked into a hysterical stupor due to the pure unreal nature of Ronnie Coleman’s physique.
Bob Cicherillo Answers: The Most Intense Press Conference Fight In The History Of Olympia
Bob Cicherillo has been the voice of bodybuilding for quite sometime. Part of that prestigious title comes in the form of hosting the Olympia press conference each year. This is the one time where all of the top competitors get to sit in one room and try to psych each other out before stepping on stage. It’s always an entertaining event that has led to some truly shocking moments. This is especially true if two feuding rivals happen to be involved in the proceedings. Make no mistake, these moments are no staged. Anything can happen.
The press conference is an open even that is often filmed and released to the public. So many people have seen some of the most intense fights and moments that have occurred. But it’s a totally different thing to be there in person – especially if you’re the one on stage between the fighting bodybuilders.
That’s why we asked Bob Cicherillo to share his inside first hand account of some of the most insane Olympia press conference moments. Which one was the most intense that he had ever witnessed? It may not be surprising to some that he picked Kai Greene and Phil Heath. One of the most memorable and best rivalries in the history of the sport, Kai and Phil certainly knew how to push each other’s buttons.
Wrap Up
Bob Cicherillo holds a wealth of knowledge and history in his head from the many decades as both a pro bodybuilder and a commentator in the sport. That’s why you should check out the full GI Exclusive interview above! We discuss far many more topics than we can recap in this article including the King Kamali vs Craig Titus rivalry, the future of Mr. Olympia, and more!
Gunter Schlierkamp Answers: Did He Retire Too Soon?
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Gunter Schlierkamp discusses his lower placing in 2006, struggling with his physique, and the decision to retire.
In 2005, Gunter Schlierkamp placed fourth at the Mr. Olympia. This seemed part of a steady rise over the years and an indicator that he could continue to be a threat for the Sandow trophy. Unfortunately, a year later Schlierkamp placed 10th at the Mr. Olympia 2006. Shortly after he retired from competitive bodybuilding. What happened? In our latest GI Exclusive, Gunter Schlierkamp details his final year of bodybuilding and whether or not he retired too soon.
Gunter Schlierkamp is a bodybuilder with an iconic physique despite never being a Mr. Olympia champion. And to many fans who followed his career – he seemed destined to one day earn that champion status. Then suddenly in 2006, his physique took a hit. He looked less on point than the previous year. He ultimately placed 10th at the Olympia and retired.
For fans of the bodybuilder, this seemed like a sudden and screeching halt. Gunter Schlierkamp had a steady rise to a high point of fourth place – only to suddenly slam down to 10th and stop competing all together. What would have happened if he gave it another year? Did he retire too early?
We asked Gunter Schlierkamp these questions directly. Reflecting back – does Schlierkamp regret retiring after his slump year in 2006? Or does he think it was all for the best? Schlierkamp speaks bluntly about the whole situation. For some unexplainable reason, his body was not reacting to his training methods the same way it had been in years prior. He tried changing up his methods but nothing worked. It’s as if his body suddenly started rejecting his training all together.
Gunter Schlierkamp was 36 years old at this time. There have been bodybuilders that compete well into their 40s and even 50s. But perhaps for Schlierkamp, his body was starting to change as he aged. With his body reacting differently to his training, he got off rhythm and lost confidence. Suddenly he was in a spiral that led to a physique he was less proud of than in previous years.
After placing 10th at the Mr. Olympia 2006, Gunter Schlierkamp thought long and hard about what his next move should be. He understood that bodybuilding couldn’t be a lifetime career. He also had other passions in his life that he wanted to pursue such as being a husband and father. Ultimately, Schlierkamp saw this as an early warning sign. A warning that the decades of bodybuilding were starting to take a toll on his body. So he hung up the towel and started focusing on his family.
Of course, Gunter Schlierkamp had plenty of other opportunities due to bodybuilding. He maintained a sponsorship for income and eventually started his own business. This was all thanks to the reputation he gained as a bodybuilder. So does he feel that he retired too early? No, Schlierkamp thinks he made the right choice. Perhaps he could have bounced back after 2006 – but he would have also missed out on other opportunities that he is proud of in his life.
You can watch Gunter Schlierkamp’s full response about his retirement in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!