Tag: Video
Ryan Terry: There Should Be A Weight Limit On The Men’s Physique Division
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Ryan Terry muses that a weight limit on Men’s Physique would help prevent physiques from growing bigger each year.
In a previous interview segment, Ryan Terry lamented the way Men’s Physique has changed over the past decade. Specifically, he believes that the physiques have gotten larger with each year – and it’s starting to look less like the original goal of the division. With the relatively recent introduction of Classic Physique, Terry believes the divide between Men’s Physique and Classic Physique is shrinking. His solution? Add a weight limit system to Men’s Physique similar to Classic. Ryan Terry discusses why he believes a weight cap on Men’s Physique would benefit the future of the division in our latest GI Exclusive interview.
Early into our conversation, Ryan Terry admits he may be a bit biased on his opinions of the direction Men’s Physique is moving towards. Terry sees himself as a smaller sized athlete in his division – and he believes that Men’s Physique as a whole has gotten too large. But in trying to be as objective as possible, Terry worries that Men’s Physique is growing too large in comparison to where the division started.
Classic Physique is a relatively new division that was introduced in late 2016. It was an answer to many fans worrying that Men’s Open has gotten too large compared to the Golden Era of the sport. This new division imposes weight limits based on height to ensure the physiques cannot grow too large. This kind of strategy is attractive to Ryan Terry. He believes that if Men’s Physique adapted to this ruleset (but on a smaller size scale), it would help prevent the division from losing sight of it’s original vision.
It’s almost inevitable that every division’s physiques grows in size over time. As each athlete tries to one up each other, they push the boundaries of size while trying to still match the aesthetic of the division. Over time, the slow change shifts the bar of expectation for judges and fans. Suddenly, a decade later, the physiques of a division look completely different.
This happened to Men’s Open – which is why slowly over time new divisions such as Men’s 212 and Classic Physique entered the sport. But now with so many divisions, Ryan Terry worries that Men’s Physique will start to look too close to Classic Physique. In his opinion, changing the Men’s Physique rules to include a weight limit based on height will fix this problem.
Of course, there are already other factors in place to differentiate Men’s Physique from other divisions. The board shorts change the overall areas that judges look at for scoring. Also the posing rounds are different. A big part of Men’s Physique posing is a “natural standing” pose – as opposed to the more showy mandatory poses found in Classic Physique and above. While seemingly small these are vital differences.
Does Men’s Physique need a change? Is the division growing too large in terms of physique size? Watch Ryan Terry’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive segment above and then decide for yourself!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 21: Is The Iranian Hulk Photoshopped?
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Craig Golias thinks Iranian Hulk is photoshopped and shares his thoughts on photoshopping in bodybuilding.
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 death… and then not death of legendary bodybuilder Victor Richards and also discusses where the line is drawn regarding substances in natural bodybuilding.
Craig Golias is a man who is extremely large – being HUGE is part of his entire persona. It’s very obvious to anyone who met him that he’s truly large in real life. But there are many people who think that Golias’ photos are edited or photoshopped to look more impressive. Craig claims that he never photoshops his images – but admits to using extreme angling to create the illusion that he’s bigger than he really is. In either case, there’s no denying that Craig is an extremely massive person physically.
But photoshopping in bodybuilding is a very real thing. In fact, it’s very real beyond bodybuilding as well. Whether it’s filters on Instagram or airbrushing models in magazines and commercials – the human body is constantly being altered to look “perfect.” For the bodybuilding industry, this is almost always seen by fans as a betrayal. Bodybuilding is about perfecting the body into something larger than life. To fake that is essentially a cheat.
That’s why in this week’s episode of Talking Huge we discuss about a variety of different topics that all tie into one theme – photoshopping. The discussion springboards first from a discussion about the Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk boxing match and snowballs into various stories involving photoshop scandals and the very concept behind photoshopping in bodybuilding. Let’s jump into it.
Is The Iranian Hulk Photoshopped?
The Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk boxing match was a sudden an unexpectedly popular announcement. Set to take place in April 2022, seeing one of the tallest bodybuilders face off against one of the largest bodybuilders is a sort of freak show fans are excited to see. But Craig Golias thinks that Iranian Hulk uses photoshop to appear more shocking than he actually is. Specifically, Craig believes that the Iranian Hulk’s waist is being tapered in with photo editing.
There’s of course no proof – but Craig Golias being a 300+ pound man himself finds it unlikely that the Iranian Hulk could have such a tight waist. He also points out that beyond certain photos – he’s often seen with a baggy hoodie on.
Can Photoshopping Be Acceptable In Bodybuilding?
This leads into the bigger conversation about photoshopping. Vlad Yudin and Craig Golias debate about whether or not photoshopping can be acceptable in certain situations for bodybuilders. Craig admits that angling in photos is basically a form of photoshop. It’s using illusion to look more impressive. Photo editing is just the next step of that.
That being said – Craig Golias thinks that to photoshop heavily is misleading and goes against the very goal of bodybuilding. A bodybuilder wants to look larger than life and make people see the impossible. To use photo editing to fake that is to defeat the goal of bodybuilding in and of itself.
But Craig Golias also looks back at the Devin Physique Shredz scandal and wonders of the photoshopping criticism was over-exaggerated. Craig points out that Devin is clearly shredded and muscular in real life. But he used photoshop to alter the smaller details to look more perfect. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an impressive physique. It just means that he tightened up the small lagging details – like many people do outside of the industry these days with filters.
That being said – it should be noted that Devin Physique was using his photos to sell training programs. So altering his image in an effort to promise those kinds of results are certainly misleading. Which was a part of the scandal at the time.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. There were far more topics than could be covered in this article – including Craig deciding his favorite physique between Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
The Anabolic Doc Answers: What Do Bodybuilding Fans Really Want? Natural Or Enhanced?
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The Anabolic Doc debates with Vlad Yudin: Will fans really abandon pro bodybuilding if strict drug testing were applied to all leagues?
There’s no doubt that natural bodybuilding leagues such as the INBA/PNBA have been growing over the past decade. But the IFBB still holds strong as the most watched and widely seen league in competitive bodybuilding. While they don’t condone drug use – the IFBB differs from natural leagues by not conducting drug tests. This is true of many pro leagues that do not hold the term “natural” in their title. This begs the question – are untested pro leagues more popular because of the drug use? Will fans abandon these leagues if they were to start strict drug testing? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc shares his thoughts on fan reactions to natural bodybuilding.
Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life was a film that dove deep into the world of natural bodybuilding – revealing a collective of passionate athletes and passionate promoters who want to dedicate their love of bodybuilding to fair drug tested competition. This dedication feels more prescient than ever due to the recent too-soon deaths of many competitive bodybuilders in the sport. While nearly all of these deaths have no announced cause at the moment – the conversation about health for athletes has reached an all time high.
That’s why during our conversation with Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka the Anabolic Doc, we asked for his opinion on the bodybuilding fanbase as a whole. Namely, do bodybuilding fans want a safer more natural version of bodybuilding? It’s no secret that, while growing, natural leagues still fall behind the IFBB when it comes to mainstream attention. Fans seem to want a safer sport – but not want to sacrifice the mass monster size that has come with PEDs.
The Anabolic Doc thinks that this hypocritical separation comes from a base need in our DNA. Ever since the earliest times of history – humans have been entertained by violent spectacle. The Roman gladiators are used by an example by the Anabolic Doc. Fans separate the men and women from the spectacle – and desperately want to believe that the drug use isn’t the main cause for health issues.
Of course, the Anabolic Doc had dedicated his life to anabolic research. So he knows that continued drug use on a scale seen in pro bodybuilding is definitely dangerous. Despite this, the bar has been set too high in terms of expectations for physiques. It can come at a cost for athletes – but so long as they are willing to take that risk, fans will be enamored with the results.
That being said, the Anabolic Doc also believes that the dislike for natural bodybuilding is overstated. He thinks that the online world has created a loud hateful minority that takes all the spotlight. Perhaps as natural bodybuilding leagues such as the INBA/PNBA continue to grow – we will see a shift in terms of health. But that shift will happen slowly. Perhaps the recent deaths in bodybuilding will be the first chapter in a long book of change.
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments on natural bodybuilding vs untested bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Derek Lunsford Reveals The Machine-Like Specificity Of Training With Hany Rambod
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Derek Lunsford On Hany Rambod’s Intense Training: “It Was Almost Like I Had To Count The Breaths In A Day”
Derek Lunsford has been on top of the world in 2021 – specifically due to his epic win at the Men’s 212 Olympia. As a true passionate man of bodybuilding, his excitement has been infectious since winning the Olympia. And it seems that excitement and passion is matched by his extremely focused training ethic that earned him the victory. A big part of his training and diet routine came in the form of legendary trainer Hany Rambod. The two linked up just 10 months before the Olympia 2021.
In our latest GI Exclusive, Derek Lunsford goes into great detail his experience working with Hany Rambod. In particular, he reveals the machine-like specificity behind Rambod’s program. In no way meant as an insult, he expresses that nearly every single second of his life was calculated towards the final weeks before the Olympia. It was that level of detail, matched with his passion, that helped him break through to the next level and win the biggest show of the year.
Hany Ramod is well known as a legendary guru and trainer for many decades. His FST-7 program has been much touted in the industry. He’s also best known for coaching seven time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath. That same magic and talent was lended to Derek Lunsford. It was a typically shorter lead up time that Rambod is used to – but the two worked together to pull off an amazing feat by the time Olympia 2021 rolled around.
“He coached my mind just as much as he coached my physique,” Derek Lunsford stated in our interview. He continued, “That was actually the first thing he said was, ‘I’m a trainer first. I’m going to coach you and train you first – not just give you a meal plan.’”
Derek Lunsford then went on to explain just how hands on and detailed Hany Rambod was as they drew closer to the Olympia 2021:
“At the very end, I think that’s the biggest thing, the very last week things were very, very specific. The last two to three weeks I was taking notes, being very diligent, on everything I was doing. It’s almost like I had to count the breaths in a day it felt like. Not literally but it just felt like – every time I went to the bathroom or took a nap or did cardio or ate this meal or whatever… I was writing it down. Everything that went into my body or everything that I did physically was being calculated.”
What’s most inspiring about hearing Derek Lunsford talk about his intense contest prep, is how much he seemed to be loving it. Bodybuilding contest prep can be very grueling and bring out the worst in people’s moods during those final weeks. While this may have happened to Lunsford – in retrospect he speaks so lovingly and passionately about the entire experience.
That mentality is the kind of outlook needed to become a champion. It’s no wonder he was able to become the Men’s 212 Olympia victor. Lunsford speaks later in our interview about how excited he is for 2022. His successes this year was simply after 10 months working with Hany Rambod. As he noted earlier, Rambod typically takes more time with his athletes. So in Lunsford’s mind – there is no where to go but up from here.
You can watch Derek Lunsford go into extreme detail about his Olympia 2021 training regimen by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
Iain Valliere: How Progress Pictures Can Be A Double-Edged Sword For Bodybuilders
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Iain Valliere shares his opinions of pro bodybuilders sharing progress pictures leading up to a competition – and how it can both help and hurt the athlete.
Back in the day, bodybuilding fans had to wait for magazines to see updates on their favorite bodybuilders. This meant that we couldn’t get the kind of moment to moment physique updates that we see in today’s bodybuilding world. Now fans can see what an athlete’s physique looks like mere hours before they step on stage. But how does this affect the mindset of the athlete going into a competition? In our latest GI Exclusive, Iain Valliere breaks down the pros and cons of sharing progress pictures before a bodybuilding show.
Dorian Yates was known as The Shadow due to the mysterious nature of his training. Partially because of being located in the UK – he would hide all updates about his training and physique until the day of the show. His massive and shocking physique shocked audiences and judges alike. Today, that notion of withholding information is foreign for most of the bodybuilding industry. This is due to social media and direct updates from the athletes.
Iain Valliere points this out early in our discussion about progress pictures. He explains that for some athletes – mystery and anticipation work in their favor. For many others, progress pictures have become part of an athlete’s brand. Transparency, interaction with fans, and constant updates help keep a bodybuilder’s following engaged right up to the moment of the competition.
But Iain Valliere doesn’t think it’s necessarily a better thing. Ultimately, it depends on what works best for the athlete at the center of it. Post progress pictures invites not only fan feedback but also feedback from fellow athletes and coaches. That wave of feedback can get into a bodybuilder’s head. It sounds silly – but competitive bodybuilding is a sport about looks and judging looks. If comments start to cause mental turmoil – it can affect a bodybuilder’s prep.
That’s why Iain Valliere believes that a bodybuilder needs to take a deep look into what really works for each individual. If a bodybuilder has tough skin against comments online and can focus on the prep without issue – then progress pictures can be a great way to build a following and keep engagement fresh.
For others, it can lead to second guessing prep decisions. Even worse, it can lead to a bodybuilder putting energy into reacting and responding to criticism that takes away from the actual work needed to improve. If a toxic environment grows from progress pictures – it can create a mental headspace that leads to less motivation and less fruitful contest prep.
Iain Valliere admits there is no right answer as to whether instant progress pictures are better or worse than the former way of bodybuilding life. But what is important during this transitioning time of technology is for each athlete to really understand his or herself. What is the ultimate goal of posting a progress picture? Will the benefits outweigh the detriments? That depends on each person’s headspace.
While the decision is seemingly flippant – studies have increasingly shown how addictive social media can be – and how affecting it is on a person’s mood. Iain Valliere believes that, while simple on the surface, the decision to post your physique on social media should be a well thought over business decision. It can have small effects that eventually add up to hurt or help an athlete’s entire career. The decision should be treated as such.
You an watch Iain Valliere go into detail about progress pictures in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Patrick Moore On Trash Talk: “It’s Hard For Me To Take It Seriously”
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Patrick Moore: “Fans need to keep in mind that we are not literally trying to kill each other.”
The spectacle of bodybuilding has been a point of conversation for many years now. Since the beginning of bodybuilding’s entrance into a more mainstream culture – rivalries have peppered each era. Some find it to be a vital way to build interest and grow the sport. Others see it as a distraction that degrades the integrity of competitive bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Patrick Moore shares his opinions on trash talk and rivalries – when it’s helpful and when it goes too far.
As a former boxer, Patrick Moore has a different viewpoint on trash talk and rivalries. In the boxing ring, the trash talk all adds up to an actual physical battle. One person walks away a clear victor (mostly) due to a literal fight. In bodybuilding, judges decide who wins and the competitors cannot affect the other athletes’ outcomes. They can only focus on themselves. It’s this vital difference that makes Moore find trash talk in bodybuilding a joke.
“When I see it [trash talk] I just really can shake my head because being a fighter, a former boxer. Even when we talk trash we can go in and – well we were fighting,” Patrick Moore states in our interview. He continues: ”
We were literally trying to knock each other out. And when it was over we would shake hands, we’d go grab a bite to eat… bodybuilding we are on stage in underwear. And if you really break it down we are being judged by strangers… it’s a subjective sport… So the trash talking where we can’t ultimately do anything to the other person. Because of where I come from I can’t really draw a parallel.”
Patrick Moore admits that trash talk can help build excitement – but he believes that both fans and some athletes end up taking it too seriously. We all need to be aware of the social contract we sign with bodybuilding personas. What is said between athletes on social media should not be considered gospel. Most of the time, the athlete are perfectly friendly in real life.
“I mean I think it has its place. As long as the fans understand when we see each other, we’re cool… if you understand how sports work sometimes. Words can get heated but that’s all it is.”
Ultimately, Patrick Moore would rather focusing on confidence rather than trash talk. He has no qualms stating when he thinks he is better than other competitors. He doesn’t see that as trash talk – just confidence in the work he’s put into himself. While some might take it personally – Moore would rather not take too much energy commenting back and forth. He sees that energy best placed into his training and diet and focus to win the show.
That being said, he has been pulled into a few trading of barbs in the past. We’re all human – but he almost always walks away from it with nothing personal held against the other person. It’s all part of the heated energy leading up to the show. It’s not real life. The real work happens in the gym, the kitchen, and on the stage.
You can watch Patrick Moore’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
WATCH: This Bodybuilder Eats An Entire 20 Pound Turkey For Thanksgiving
This bodybuilder goes all out for a massive Thanksgiving cheat day.
It’s Thanksgiving and while it might be a bit different this year – many around the country are still gathering with family and friends to sit down and gorge on food until they fall asleep. But for fitness obsessives this time of the year is a challenging crossroad. Do you give in and have a cheat day or do you play it smart and eat healthy on this big food holiday?
For bodybuilders this can be a little less challenging if it’s the off season. This is the perfect time to bulk up anyways. That seems to be how bodybuilder Houston Jones sees things in this epic video of him preparing and eating an entire 20 pound turkey by himself. It’s the ultimate Thanksgiving cheat meal and one that might make you sick just to watch.
But perhaps if you are starving yourself this holiday, watching Jones scarf down this massive bird is the perfect way to feel a little bit better about the food your not eating. Check it out above!
Bader Boodai Interview: The Man Who Unleashed Big Ramy Unto The World
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Who really brought Big Ramy into the big leagues?
Every week, Iron Cinema will connect you with Generation Iron director Vlad Yudin. Giving you unprecedented inside access to the creative process behind his the Generation Iron Fitness Network. Get a first hand look at the entire journey of taking Vlad’s creative ideas to the big screen – from stories on set of films like Generation Iron and CT Fletcher all the way to exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our newest GI news and films. This week Vlad talks with Bader Boodai, owner of Oxygen gym and the man who claims to have discovered Big Ramy. As of late, Dennis James and Bader have been taking shots at each other over Big Ramy. Bader attempts to set the record straight.
Whenever I see Big Ramy step up on stage, I’m immediately amazed. Hardly ever have we seen a bodybuilder with such sheer mass compete in the IFBB. It’s no wonder many begin to place bets as to when will Big Ramy take over as Olympia champion. It seems like only a matter of time as his career is still young and he has plenty of time to hone in his conditioning. But when it comes to Big Ramy’s past and who first discovered him, there seems to be much heated debate. Particularly between Bader Boodai and Dennis James. The two have recently been at odds with each other – trading insults on separate interview shows. Though I haven’t had a chance to speak with Dennis James just yet… it’s time to hear Bader’s side of the story regarding all this. Who discovered Big Ramy? And will he truly become the unstoppable champion fans want him to be? Find out in my latest interview above.
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WATCH: An Inside Look At The Natural Olympia 2021 | Backstage, Posing Routines, & Awards
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A visual deep dive into the Natural Olympia 2021 competition.
November 11-13th, 2021 held the Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding – the Natural Olympia. This is the biggest event of the year for the INBA/PNBA natural bodybuilding league. Much like the IFBB Pro’s Mr. Olympia – it showcases the best athletes from across the world who have fought to qualify for this yearly event. With strict WADA drug testing guidelines to ensure that all athletes are natural – this event is the biggest weekend of the year for natural bodybuilders across the world.
Generation Iron was on the ground floor reporting on the event as well as capturing footage with our camera crew. We captured a behind the scenes and on stage look to give a full encapsulation of the event. With 20 divisions across both traditional and masters categories – this is one of the most super-sized bodybuilding events in the world.
You can watch our full behind the scenes look at the event above. Read on to get a full break down on the details of the Natural Olympia 2021. You can also check out our official results from the event right here.
What Defines INBA/PNBA Natural Bodybuilding?
There are many natural bodybuilding leagues – but the INBA/PNBA is certainly the biggest – reaching across the country and having athletes representing over 15 different countries across the globe. While nearly all pro bodybuilding leagues claim to condemn steroids – only certain leagues dedicate themselves to drug testing athletes before every competition. The INBA/PNBA leads in this regard. They use the most technically advanced drug test system (WADA – which is used by the Olympics) to ensure fairness across all athletes and competitions.
How The Drug Testing Works
The INBA/PNBA league uses the most sophisticated and advanced drug testing system in professional sports – the World Anti-Doping Agency (also known as WADA). WADA testing is the same system used for the Olympics every four years – and is known for it’s accuracy and quality.
The INBA/PNBA league uses WADA testing before every major competition. If a pro natural bodybuilder should fail the test, their titles are revoked and they are placed on the INBA/PNBA Wall Of Shame – a virtual list of competitors who have attempted to cheat the competitions and drug tests.
How The Judging Works
The Natural Olympia is a natural show which means that there are some differences from the IFBB shows. The biggest distinction when it comes to judging is the size of the athletes. There is not as much muscle mass for natural athletes as opposed to IFBB competitors, specifically Men’s Open. Despite the difference in size, athletes compete in similar categories.
In the Men’s Physique division, competitors perform bodybuilding poses and a T-walk. The judges have to adjust because the muscle mass is smaller despite the level of conditioning remaining high. Athletes can qualify for the Natural Olympia by competing in one PNBA competition. This has to be a professional show and they do not need to win a specific placing.
The Divisions
While there are a lot of similarities – the INBA/PNBA features a wider array of divisions that might seem familiar but with a slight twist on the typical formula you see in an IFBB Pro show. Below is a quick list of the full divisions (please note that each division also has a masters counterpart for ages 40+.
Men’s Bodybuilding Open
Men’s Classic Physique Open
PNBA Angels
Figure Classic
Men’s Sport Model Open
Women’s Sport Model Open
Women’s Physique Open
Figure Open
Bikini Divas Open
Men’s Physique Open
Women’s Bodybuilding Open
The goal for the INBA/PNBA is to provide as many opportunities for athletes to compete. Whichever physique type goal an athlete might desire there is a division for it – so long as there are enough competitors interested in competing.
Creativity is also rewarded across these divisions. The PNBA Angels must showcase custom made costumes as part of their routines. Other divisions such as the Men’s Classic Physique also usually feature some element of a costume to coincide with the posing routines.
Wrap Up
There’s no doubt that the INBA/PNBA’s Pinnacle Of Natural Bodybuilding Natural Olympia is the biggest natural bodybuilding event on the planet. This year’s showcase was no different – and we were excited to provide a deeper inside look than traditionally seen over the years. You can watch our full recap and behind the scenes look in our GI Exclusive video above.
Colin Congo: It’s Naive To Think Drugs Are Not Related To Bodybuilding Deaths
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Colin Congo finds it “appalling” and “scary” how many young bodybuilders are dying and believes drug use cannot be discounted.
Colin Congo is a pro natural bodybuilder in the INBA/PNBA league. As such, he is subject to drug tests for any pro show that he wants to compete in. He finds this important, not only for the integrity of the sport but also for the health of its athletes. Congo has been paying attention to the recent deaths in bodybuilding as a whole and is worried about the trend he’s seeing. While we don’t know the cause of death for many of these athletes – Congo thinks drug use cannot be discounted from the conversation. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Colin Congo explains why it is naive to assume there is no relation between drug use in bodybuilding and the tend of young deaths in the sport.
It is important to note the difference between correlation and coincidence. Just because something seems to be happening suddenly doesn’t mean they are all related. This distinction seems to be at the core of the recent deaths we have been seeing in pro bodybuilding. Many athletes have recent passed at a much too soon age. Some see this as a warning sign of health issues in the sport. Others point out that, without a real cause of death announced in any of these cases, these deaths could be a very tragic coincidence.
In either case, it’s important for all leagues to take this moment seriously. Even if this does turn out to be a coincidence – it’s most important to know this for sure to avoid potential more lives lost in the future. That’s why during our recent conversation with natural bodybuilder Colin Congo, we asked for his thoughts on the string of recent deaths and controversy surrounding them.
Colin Congo, being a natural bodybuilder, certainly has a bias against drug use in the sport (It should also be noted that other pro leagues do not endorse drug use either – but simply do not provide testing). When asked if he thinks that drug use in pro bodybuilding is responsible for young deaths – Congo believed it is very likely this is the case.
“I think we’d be naive to think that there’s no relationship,” Colin Congo states in our interview. He continues:
“I mean, we are talking about folks that, especially the younger folks right? That are like, man, heart issues in their 20s? Yeah, I mean, there are people with heart issues that die in their twenties. But at the number that we see them in the bodybuilding world, in our sport, it’s appalling and it is scary.”
Colin Congo understands that studies would need to be done and hard facts to absolutely prove it. But he also thinks without the facts, it would be foolish to completely discount drug use as a cause completely. He also takes a moment to point out that natural bodybuilding leagues don’t seem to have these kinds of young tragic deaths happen. He mentions this specifically in relation to diuretic use in bodybuilding:
“It’s [diuretics] got guys going to the hospital routinely. You know, in the last couple of days pre-contest. The week of the show, you’re like, ‘Oh, he had to drop out because of this.’ And you’re like, man, you don’t see that with the natural guys I’ll be honest with you.”
Colin Congo goes on to say he understands the psychology of why bodybuilders would take risks and turn to drugs. When you are young and want to reach that next level – a person with championship goals will do whatever it takes to succeed. That’s why Congo likes drug tested leagues. Those regulations put a full stop on drugs being an option for success.
Do you agree with Colin Congo about drugs being related to pro bodybuilder deaths? Watch his Congo’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and decide for yourself.