World Fitness Blog : Leading Global Bloggers

September 25, 2023

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Pulls Out of 2023 Mr. Olympia

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , — admin @ 7:23 pm

The former bodybuilding champion reveals his plans for the future.

Avatar photo

Written by

Although the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest will boast plenty of star power, one of the biggest names in the sport will not be making an appearance at the biggest bodybuilding show of the year.

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay has decided to forgo an opportunity to win his third Men’s Open championship by officially taking himself out of the mix for the upcoming competition scheduled to take place from Nov. 2-5, 2023 in Orlando, FL.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Elssbiay, who won his first Sandow trophy in 2020, spoke with RXMuscle on Saturday, Sept. 23 about his decision to back out of the 2023 Olympia.

“I have to be smart to know the best time for me to be on stage and the best time for me to stop a little bit,” the 39-year-old told RXMuscle’s Siddique Farooqui. “I think this year I have to get a break for the show, and if I have the chance to come better and bring something different, yeah, I would be in the next show.”

A native of Egypt, Elssbiay has helped the sport expand throughout the Middle East thanks to his sizable frame and success on stage. Ironically, he revealed his decision during the 2023 Dubai Pro, an event that undoubtedly draws more attention thanks in part to the two-time Olympia winner.

“For many people in the Middle East, that’s not making them happy. But I work hard to give them the best version of Ramy, and I don’t think this is the right time to go to Olympia this year,” Elssbiay explained. “Me and my team spoke about that and I think the best thing we can do right now, we’re looking forward to the other goal. Yeah, we’re thinking about next year.”

More from Breaking Muscle:

Not long ago, it looked like Elssbiay had a chance to completely take over as one of the preeminent figures in the sport. Yet since capturing top honors at the Olympia in both 2020 and 2021, it’s been a difficult two-year run.

Elssbiay went from winning back-to-back titles to placing fifth at the 2022 Olympia. Following that disappointing showing, he fell short of expectations again by finishing in fourth place at the 2023 Arnold Classic.

Moving forward, it’s clear Elssbiay and his team have their sights set on coming back bigger and better than ever in 2024. However, his absence from the 2023 Olympia lineup certainly raises questions about whether he can reclaim his place atop the Men’s Open division in the near future.

With Elssbiay removing himself from the competition roughly five weeks out, it will be interesting to see who replaces him in a stacked field of contenders that includes reigning champion Hadi Choopan, former 212 division winner Derek Lunsford, and 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry.

Featured Image: Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay / Instagram

Source

June 29, 2023

Jay Cutler Names 8 of His Favorite 2023 Mr. Olympia Contenders

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 8:58 pm

Cutler shared his thoughts on a stacked group of competitors.

Written by

At the time of this writing, there is still so much to sort out in regard to the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest. Even with just over four months before bodybuilding’s tentpole competition, there is undoubtedly a lot of competitive jostling behind the scenes. For Jay Cutler, four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010), the bodybuilding legend likes seeing what some of the fittest people on the planet are brewing.

On June 23, 2023, in one of the latest episodes of his podcast, Cutler broke down where he believes the current Men’s Open division stands before the onset of the 2023 Olympia this early November. To say the least, in a conversation with his manager Matthew M. Daniels, the icon maintained he has his eyes on a few familiar names and didn’t mince words about potential upstarts.

More from Breaking Muscle:

While Cutler didn’t offer specific thoughts on every prime Mr. Olympia competitor  — Nick Walker was mentioned in passing but not expanded upon — he did mostly touch every corner of the elite bodybuilders of the Men’s Open class. Here are some of Cutler’s thoughts on what’s sure to be a loaded Mr. Olympia stage in Orlando, FL:

Michal “Križo” Križánek

Cutler was impressed by Michal Križánek’s recent progress but still felt he hadn’t closed the gap enough on the other athletes.

“He [Križánek] was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body,” Cutler said. “The arms are some of the best in the business, and it’s looked like he made improvements, which, I think he did improve from his prior showings. But I don’t know if he came down in size a little bit to gather the condition. I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the [2023] Olympia.”

Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda

To some, after his runner-up Mr. Olympia finish in 2022, Derek Lunsford is the next heir-apparent superstar in bodybuilding. Cutler seems to be one of those people. However, after a recent mutual training session, Cutler ensured he talked up 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner Samson Dauda as a possible Olympia champion in his own right.

“We just saw Derek [Lunsford] and Samson [Dauda], too,” Cutler said. “They trained together a couple days ago and Derek looks tremendous, which he always has, and Samson looks tremendous, which he has for the past few years. Obviously, he’s the Arnold [Classic] winner. The question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold [Classic], and we could keep talking about that.”

Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry

Cutler believes that two established titans, Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry, have somewhat been overlooked in the popular conversation. That might be a mistake for the defending Olympia champion (Choopan) and the 2019 victor (Curry).

“Contention-wise, Hadi’s [Choopan] been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me,’” Cutler explained. “We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

After falling short of a “three-peat” in his Olympia title defense, there have been rumblings that Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay could take a break from bodybuilding to recharge. The Egyptian dynamo has quelled these conversations, maintaining that he’s training “angry” for Olympia redemption in the fall. Cutler believes this is the right mentality to have because:

  1. Elssbiay doesn’t have time to waste as he nears the age of 40 and
  2. Cutler thinks that Elssbiay, at his best, can still win the Olympia.

“Ramy [Elssbiay] sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for,” Cutler said ” … The point is he [Elssbiay] just needs to regroup and do what he does best and come in the best of his ability. There’s no real timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take a few years off. I hear his health is really great. I hear his training is really great. He’s had some atrophy compared to years prior on the arms, triceps, I think he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. But he looked great at the [2023] Arnold [Classic].”

Chinedu Obiekea aka “Andrew Jacked” and Hunter Labrada

Andrew Jacked finished on the podium at the 2023 AC and has already mapped out ambitious summer competitive plans as a way to qualify for the 2023 Olympia. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada is in hot pursuit of his own Olympia redemption with a streamlined training plan.

Cutler said he liked the duo’s talent but colored his commentary as if he still needed to see more from both athletes.

“I hear great things about Andrew [Jacked], too,” Cutler stated. “The big showdown is going to be Texas [the 2023 Texas Pro]. There’s going to be other guys, too. I know there’s a lot of international shows, but that’s going to be, like, who’s not going to qualify there [in Texas]. Those two guys [Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada] need to be in the [Olympia] lineup because they’re people we’re talking about. The question is, can Andrew come and win the [2023] Olympia and shock the world?”

More from Breaking Muscle:

More than most years, the 2023 Mr. Olympia is starting to resemble a relentless gauntlet from which only a true champion of champions will come out victorious. If an icon like Cutler professes so, such a competitive reality feels inevitable.

Featured image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram

Source

May 16, 2023

Derek Lunsford and Other Olympia Contenders Display Their Off-Season Mass Guest-Posing at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:35 pm

This year’s Pittsburgh Pro felt like another appropriate preview of the Olympia.

Written by

By now, many in the bodybuilding community understand the annual Pittsburgh Pro to be more than a major qualifying event on the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League calendar. In recent years, some of the most popular Mr. Olympia contenders in the Men’s Open division have appeared at the annual May contest to guest pose and offer a preview of their training progress in anticipation of the flagship Olympia later that fall. The 2023 iteration was no different.

On May 12-13, 2023, while champions like Michael Daboul (Classic Physique) were crowned during the official Pittsburgh Pro, Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida all guest-posed during the contest. The only notable absence, especially in the current Men’s Open pantheon, was defending Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan. With nothing officially on the line for the slate of elite competitors, these six men still appeared on stage to tease how their sterling physiques are coming along for the 2023 Mr. Olympia in Orlando, FL, this early November.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Amongst the guest posers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, Lunsford might be the presumed biggest contender to Choopan’s title. Lunsford is in the midst of training to improve upon a runner-up result in his first-ever appearance in the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. One of Lunsford’s main rivals, Nick Walker, believes the former 212 champion (2021) should be favored to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman has also expressed his faith in Lunsford, anointing him as one of the next big things in the sport after a recent collaborative training session.

Walker’s faith in Lunsford is notable, given his status as one of bodybuilding’s top modern stars. Walker finished in third place at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and followed that up with a runner-up result at the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC). If anyone finally seems poised to break through from this field, it might be Walker.

Meanwhile, the 2023 AC victor, Samson Dauda, has started to receive hype as a legitimate Olympia titan. Icons like Jay Cutler have expressed that Dauda could be one of bodybuilding’s next big stars. It’s a label of high expectations that Dauda has not taken lightly. There’s also Elssbiay, who is coming off a disappointing sixth-place result at the 2022 Mr. Olympia after vying for a historic three-peat. The former two-time defending Olympia champion (2021, 2022) had previously skipped guest-posing at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro and now appeared to be trying to build momentum toward another Olympia victory this November.

Labrada is in a similar position to Elssbiay, though he doesn’t have the resume of past Olympia victories to lean on. The athlete has expressed profound disappointment in his 2022 Olympia performance and vowed to have a more streamlined physique in 2023 in hopes of a huge rebound.

To round out this guest-posing group, Clarida, a two-time 212 champion (2020, 2022), will not be competing in the Men’s Open division at the 2023 Olympia. The athlete wishes to eventually break James “Flex” Lewis’s record of seven 212 Olympia titles (2012-2018) and will exclusively focus his efforts on that mission moving forward.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Discerning the precise favorites for the 2023 Mr. Olympia would likely be impossible off one guest-posing appearance. Nonetheless, some of the top contenders for the tentpole contest made it a point to appear in Pittsburgh and show off what they might bring to the table in November.

With that, one of the unofficial first significant steps en route to this year’s Olympia is now in the rearview mirror.

Featured image: dereklunsford_ on Instagram

Source

March 24, 2023

Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, And Other Men’s Open Stars Will Guest Pose at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:31 pm

Bodybuilding gets a small taste of this year’s Olympia in early May.

Written by

It’ll be a long wait for the 2023 Mr. Olympia. With this year’s flagship bodybuilding contest not occurring until Nov. 3-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL, there’s a lot of time for the stars of the Men’s Open division to gather themselves. This spring, they’ll be offering a teaser of what might come by appearing together at a relatively smaller scale International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League competition.

On Mar. 23, 2023, the National Physique Committee (NPC) organizers of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro revealed who will be guest posing during this year’s competition the weekend of May 12-13. Here is an overview of big names who are expected to show off an early spring look at their physique with nothing tangible on the line:

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Athletes

Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion (2019-2022) Chris Bumstead has also been announced to make a special appearance, but he is not expected to guest pose.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Save for the defending Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan, this list of guest posers at the latest Pittsburgh Pro is arguably a laundry list of potential contenders for the next Mr. Olympia title. There could always be an unexpected dark horse making a run out of the blue, but one of these names (with Choopan included) will likely be the 2023 Olympia victor.

Assuredly, there is no shortage of storylines leading into this first look at most of the main 2023 Mr. Olympia slate.

For Lunsford, after successfully transitioning from the 212 division, the athlete will now likely be pulling out all the stops to win his first Mr. Olympia title. Taking home a runner-up in his first Men’s Open try might have only been the start of a fruitful career in the top bodybuilding class. When it comes to Walker, “The Mutant” has submitted relatively disappointing performances of late. Two consecutive podium results at the 2022 Olympia and 2023 AC are nothing to sneeze at, but Walker expected to win. That makes what he brings to the stage in Orlando potentially even more exciting.

Elssbiay returns to guest pose at the Pittsburgh Pro after skipping the 2022 iteration. The former two-time Olympia champion has recently dipped a bit, performance-wise, and could be using the Pittsburgh Pro as a way to build some momentum heading into another Olympia appearance in the fall. Dauda surprised the bodybuilding world with his new AC title, but some established icons don’t think any coming victories will be much of a shock anymore. He’s undoubtedly seemed to establish himself as a household name.

Finally, amongst the main pantheon featured at the Pittsburgh Pro, Clarida will likely just be moonlighting guest posing among Men’s Open contenders as he pushes for a 212 Olympia title record. It doesn’t appear “The Giant Killer” will be slaying any of the athletes on stage in a primary competition any time soon. As for Labrada, after finishing in seventh place at the 2022 Olympia, he didn’t seem to be contending well with the outside noise. The athlete has been planning a streamlined physique in 2023, which he might show a glimpse of in the early stages in May.

At the time of this article’s publication, it is unclear what role Bumstead plans to play at the Pittsburgh Pro given that he isn’t guest posing. However, having another superstar on hand is always welcome by fans.

More from Breaking Muscle:

From a competitive perspective, nothing meaningful is on the line for any of these dynamos at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. They are merely there to partly provide a public update on their training progress while fulfilling IFBB appearance “obligations” of sorts. That said, seeing the current elite mix of Men’s Open bodybuilders is one rousing way to stir up debate and draw attention before they actually duke it out on stage later this year.

Featured image: @npcifbbpropittsburgh on Instagram

Source

January 27, 2023

Jay Cutler Pegs Nick Walker as His 2023 Arnold Classic Favorite

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 8:42 pm

Cutler is a huge fan of Walker’s prospects this year.

Written by

Nick Walker has spent the better part of the roughly last two years turning heads. The young bodybuilder won the 2021 Arnold Classic, took home a top-five debut result at the 2021 Mr. Olympia, and followed that performance with a podium finish behind Derek Lunsford (second) and Hadi Choopan (first) at the 2022 Olympia. As the next chapter of his already productive career unfolds, Walker will first tackle the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) in March. It’s there where an established legend thinks the athlete should be the favorite.

On Jan. 26, 2023, during a podcast episode of The Cutler Cast, four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010) Jay Cutler and esteemed trainer Miloš Šarčev discussed storylines and potential comparisons for the upcoming AC. One of the Cutler’s main points was that he believes Walker has a pole position for the Columbus, OH, contest on Mar. 2-5, 2023. It’s quite the endorsement for Walker from a respected competitor who, himself, is one of only four athletes to win the AC three times — Cutler captured the title in 2002-2004.

More from Breaking Muscle:

While the final complete roster for the 2023 AC hasn’t been confirmed at the time of this writing, Cutler expressed to Šarčev that he thinks the other athletes aren’t on par with Walker’s overall build. Notably, some of the early confirmed competitors include former two-time winner William Bonac (2018, 2020), Samson Dauda, Kamal Elgargni, and Akim Williams.

“Are the big dudes going to have enough combination to push Nick [Walker] to the side?” Cutler said rhetorically. “I have a hard time believing that.”

The only peer Cutler seems to believe can truly push Walker is former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021), Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. The Egyptian athlete had previously revealed he would compete at the 2023 AC in his second career appearance at the contest, having placed third in 2020. To Cutler, even with a disappointing fifth-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, if Elssbiay shows up in top form, it could morph into quite a battle.

“Ramy [Elssbiay] wasn’t full [at the 2022 Mr. Olympia],” Cutler said. “Ramy needed to be Ramy. His skin would have been tighter. His appearance, there would have been more roundness to everything. Listen, Ramy, we talked about it. If Ramy is 100 percent, he beats everybody. He’s still Big Ramy.”

That said, Cutler seems to sense something special and innate in Walker’s competitive mindset. He alluded to the point that Walker won’t let himself fall short so easily now that he’s established superstar in bodybuilding. As a result, for Cutler, a second AC title is clearly in the works for Walker.

“ … I just know Nick’s [Walker] mindset,” Cutler explained. “I know his vision. I know every night before he goes to bed, he’s visualizing winning this competition. And sometimes, you can’t overtake someone’s willpower. He believes more than anyone else on this planet. We can talk about the confidence of these people leading into these shows … I just don’t think there’s anyone more dedicated than Nick Walker. I think in the end, he’ll be a two-time champ.”

More from Breaking Muscle:

From the time of Cutler’s prediction, the 2023 AC is still a ways off. A lot can change in the coming weeks before Walker and the other respective athletes take the stage in Columbus. It’s possible that another top-tier challenger who can duke it out with Walker on stage might emerge. Until then, Walker seems to have Cutler’s wholehearted seal of approval, and that is no small thing.

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

Source

January 21, 2023

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Will Compete at 2023 Arnold Classic

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:25 am

Elssbiay wants a stellar rebound after a disappointing Mr. Olympia result.

Written by

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay entered the 2022 Mr. Olympia with aspirations of becoming only the eighth athlete to win the contest on three consecutive occasions. He had the hype behind him, endorsements from living legends, and appeared “destined” to enter exclusive bodybuilding lore. Then the Las Vegas, NV, contest occurred, Hadi Choopan successfully toppled the Egyptian dynamo for the victory, and Elssbiay fell short with a fifth-place finish that surprised many bodybuilding fans.

Now, after an earnest early January 2023 reflection on what’s next, and with a fresh bodybuilding season ahead of him, it appears Elssbiay is aiming for a massive rebound before he even considers trying to win the Olympia again.

On Jan. 20, 2023, the Arnold Sports Festival announced that Elssbiay would take the stage in the upcoming 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) on Mar. 2-5, 2023.

More from Breaking Muscle:

“Making his first on-stage appearance in Columbus since 2020, ‘Ramy’ will be looking to re-establish his position as the most dominant competitor in the world of bodybuilding!”

The Columbus, OH, contest will mark the former two-time Mr. Olympia’s second appearance in the AC as he seeks a significant notch to add to his resume. In 2020, Elssbiay placed third at his first and only appearance at the show.

To some, Elssbiay’s AC reveal might come as a surprise. The superstar had spent most of his recent years training and preparing almost exclusively for his Olympia appearances throughout an approximate calendar year, only appearing occasionally in other contests. It’s a calculated approach that many elite bodybuilders, particularly in the Men’s Open division, often elect to have in the interest of maximizing their performance at the biggest contest in the sport.

For Elssbiay, seeing as how he’s no longer the defending Mr. Olympia, he might now be seeking a boost of momentum before diving back full throttle into Olympia prep. At the same time, a new lucrative cash prize could have also motivated the athlete to finally compete in the AC. In mid-January 2023, the Arnold Sports Festival announced the first-place prize for winning the Men’s Open at the 2023 AC would be $300,000. That is a $100,000 increase from the 2022 iteration of the competition. Notably, also in January 2023, former AC champion (2021) Nick Walker maintained this high financial incentive was part of his own decision to return to the AC.

Elssbiay will join other established stars at the 2023 AC as he tries to defeat past winners like Walker and William Bonac (2018, 2020), and two-time 212 Olympia champion (2020, 2022) Shaun Clarida. Other confirmed names include Samson Dauda, Kamal Elgargni, Justin Rodriguez, and Akim Williams. Elssbiay might be a newcomer to the contest, but given his Olympia precedent, this field will likely be ready for anything he brings to the stage in Columbus.

More from Breaking Muscle:

The 2023 AC is shaping up to be a barnburner of a bodybuilding contest. If top-level competitors like Elssbiay and Walker elect to participate before tackling any loftier Olympia plans, it could be an incredibly fascinating show to watch in early March.

Featured Image: @arnoldsports / Instagram

Source

December 19, 2022

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Looks Ahead After Losing Mr. Olympia Title

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 8:05 pm

Elssbiay is looking ahead after falling short of defending his Olympia title.

Written by

Heading into the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay was considered the presumed heavy favorite. The former two-time defending champion (2020-2021) had ringing endorsements from Olympia icons like Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney. With various training updates showcasing his trademark mass, it seemed inevitable that the Egyptian bodybuilding titan would become only the eighth person to win the Mr. Olympia on at least three occasions. Instead, in a surprising upset that made Olympia history, Hadi Choopan captured his first career Olympia title, while Elssbiay notched a disappointing fifth-place result.

With the 2022 competitive calendar now in the rearview mirror, Elssbiay posted a reflection on his most recent Olympia performance in a Dec. 18, 2022, Instagram video. In the process, he looked ahead to the future and what might be next as someone who remains one of bodybuilding’s biggest names.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Before even discussing himself and his own prospects that lie ahead, Elssbiay made sure to congratulate Choopan for the Iranian athlete’s remarkable achievement in finally climbing bodybuilding’s tallest mountain. In particular, Elssbiay seemed to appreciate that Choopan likely won’t take the Olympia mantel lightly.

“From the beginning I have to say congratulations to Hadi [Choopan],” Elssbiay said. “He deserves it. He is the Mr. Olympia right now. He tried for many years to be in this place and I respect that. I am thankful for all the competitors who fought for one reason, to be a good representative of bodybuilding.”

As for why Elssbiay fell short of completing a legendary “three-peat,” he didn’t make excuses. He acknowledged the adverse circumstances in not attaining the result he wanted, while understanding things can happen with his passion that happens to be bodybuilding.

“It’s my game,” Elssbiay started. “I love this game from the beginning and I always tried to bring my best because it is my hobby. I loved everyone and loved my game and I need to say I have been broken many times in my life and this is not the first time. But I always came back stronger than ever.”

More from Breaking Muscle:

Ultimately, while it wasn’t the output he wanted, Elssbiay made a promise to come back on a mission. He noted that after finishing as the runner-up to Phil Heath during the 2017 Olympia, he had also fallen four spots to sixth place before eventually capturing a repeat to start the 2020s. Based on this reflective message in the aftermath of the 2022 Olympia — it seems apparent Elssbiay will try to replicate that past experience as best as he can in 2023.

“I promise you guys I will do my best to get back again stronger than ever,” Elssbiay said. “I don’t promise to win or to lose, I respect other people. But I will say I will do my best like I have done my whole life to be No. 1 again. I can say it to all the competitors in the Middle East, we can come back from this. I really appreciate all the people’s support around the world.”

Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram

Source

December 18, 2022

Hadi Choopan is the 2022 Mr. Olympia

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 7:07 am

Choopan finally breaks through.

Written by

Hadi Choopan is the winner of the 2022 Mr. Olympia. After a dynamite overall performance from all the top Men’s Open contenders in Las Vegas, NV, Choopan captured his first career Mr. Olympia title. Choopan had been on the doorstep of bodybuilding’s ultimate greatness for some time, finishing in at least the top four in each of the previous three years. The athlete finally broke through on the biggest stage and stood on top of the Olympia podium on Dec. 17, 2022.

Here are the top five athletes in the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and the respective prize money they earned:

2022 Mr. Olympia Results

  1. Hadi Choopan— $400,000 | 2022 Mr. Olympia Champion
  2. Derek Lunsford — $150,000
  3. Nick Walker — $100,000
  4. Brandon Curry — $40,000
  5. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay — $30,000

Choopan’s victory not only gives him his first career Mr. Olympia title, it also topples previous two-time reigning champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. The former defending champion finished in fifth place. Meanwhile, in his Men’s Open debut, Derek Lunsford took runner-up to Choopan’s Olympia championship.

More from Breaking Muscle:

With final comparisons made earlier in the night, here are how the callouts shook out in the Finals of the 2022 Mr. Olympia.

Callout 1

  • Samson Dauda
  • Nick Walker
  • Hadi Choopan
  • Derek Lunsford
  • Brandon Curry
  • Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

Callout 2

Callout 3

  • Antoine Vaillant
  • James Hollingshead
  • Patrick Johnson
  • Charles Griffen
  • Justin Rodriguez
  • Akim Williams

Callout 4

Callout 5 

  • Andrea Presti
  • Theo Leguerrier
  • Andrea Muzi

Callout 6

  • Hadi Choopan
  • Derek Lunsford
  • Brandon Curry
  • Nick Walker
  • Samson Dauda
  • Mamdouh Elssbiay

The top six athletes in both the first and last callouts saw themselves shifted on multiple occasions as they were compared. Eventually, the top contenders performed their posing routines in the order as follows:

  • Hadi Choopan
  • Andrew Jacked
  • Derek Lunsford
  • William Bonac
  • Nick Walker
  • Brandon Curry
  • Hunter Labrada
  • Rafael Brandao
  • Samson Dauda
  • Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

Choopan’s first career Mr. Olympia title bookends a night that also saw champions crowned in the Bikini, Men’s Physique, Classic Physique, and Wheelchair divisions.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Amidst a torrent of relative hype for the other competitors, Choopan kept his nose to the grindstone and saw his hard work and commitment pay off. With his first Mr. Olympia title under his belt, Choopan can officially join the elite of the elite in bodybuilding’s all-time pantheon.

Featured image: @mrolympiallc on Instagram

Source

December 17, 2022

2022 Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging Report

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 8:59 am

The most popular division of bodybuilding’s flagship’s event set the table for a doozy of a Saturday Finals.

Written by

Over 30 athletes were in Las Vegas, NV, to try and capture the 2022 Mr. Olympia title. Though, with the only competitors who had previously won the championship being two-time reigning victor Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay (2020-2021) and Brandon Curry (2019), anything could be possible. In terms of the only two former champions, Elssbiay was on the hunt to notch a three-peat and become just the eighth person ever to win at least three Mr. Olympia titles. Meanwhile, Curry has been on a mission since falling short over the last Olympias. A win would give him give his second Mr. Olympia championship in four years.

The main event of bodybuilding’s flagship competition started with pre-judging on Friday, Dec. 17, 2022, and left the door open for quite the battle on the ensuing Saturday. Any number of other contenders like Nick Walker, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Hunter Labrada could make a name for themselves after initial results, and as they try to topple Elssbiay and Curry.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Here is how pre-judging went for the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia:

Comparison 1

  • Hadi Choopan
  • Andrew Jacked
  • Tonio Burton
  • James Hollingshead
  • Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
  • Antoine Vaillant

Comparison 2

  • Derek Lunsford
  • William Bonac
  • Vitor Boff
  • Patrick Johnson
  • Andrea Presti
  • Charles Griffen

Comparison  3

  • Iain Valliere
  • Nick Walker
  • Michael Krizanek
  • Justin Rodriguez
  • Mohamed Shaaban
  • Akim Williams

Comparison 4

  • Theo Leguerrier
  • Brandon Curry
  • Hunter Labrada
  • Rafael Brandao
  • Joel Thomas
  • Mohammad Alnsoor

Comparison 5

  • Blessing Awodibu
  • Andrea Muzi
  • Samson Dauda
  • Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

Eventually, the callouts over these respective comparisons shook out like this:

Callout 1

  • Samson Dauda
  • Brandon Curry
  • Hadi Choopan
  • Derek Lunsford
  • Nick Walker
  • Mamdouh Elssbiay

Callout 2

  • Iain Valliere
  • William Bonac
  • Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea
  • Hunter Labrada
  • Rafael Brandao
  • Michael Krizanek

Callout 3 

  • Antoine Vaillant
  • James Hollingshead
  • Patrick Johnson
  • Charles Griffen
  • Justin Rodriguez
  • Akim Williams

Callout 4

  • Tonio Burton
  • Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
  • Blessing Awodibu
  • Joel Thomas
  • Mohamed Shaaban
  • Mohammad Alnsoor

Callout 5 

  • Andrea Presti
  • Vitor Boff
  • Theo Leguerrier
  • Andrea Muzi

Callout 6

  • William Bonac
  • Samson Dauda
  • Hunter Labrada
  • Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea

Callout 7

  • Samson Dauda
  • Hadi Choopan
  • Brandon Curry
  • Nick Walker
  • Derek Lunsford
  • Mamdouh Elssbiay

Curry and Walker had the pleasure of coveted center position during their final callout. Meanwhile, Elssbiay never stood in the center on his first callout, which also included Curry, Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Nick Walker. Ultimately, it is this group of six competitors sitting in a solid contending position for Saturday’s Finals.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Here is the entire schedule for the 2022 Olympia weekend. (Note: All listed times are in Pacific Standard time.) Here is how to watch and keep up with the action.

Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Judging

  • Fitness Olympia
  • 212 Olympia
  • Figure Olympia
  • Women’s Physique Olympia
  • Ms. Olympia
  • Wellness Olympia

6:00 p.m. — Finals

  • 212 Olympia
  • Fitness Olympia
  • Figure Olympia
  • Women’s Physique Olympia
  • Ms. Olympia
  • Wellness Olympia

6:00 p.m. — Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Judging

  • Classic Physique Olympia
  • Men’s Physique Olympia
  • Bikini Olympia
  • Wheelchair Olympia — Pre-Judging and Finals

7:00 p.m. — Finals

  • Mr. Olympia
  • Men’s Physique Olympia
  • Bikini Olympia
  • Classic Physique Olympia

Saturday night will officially sort out whether Elssbiay can join some all-time legendary company, whether Curry can put himself in the conversation of more esteemed icons, or whether an ascending Men’s Open star can capture their first Mr. Olympia title.

Featured image: @mrolympiallc/Instagram

Source

December 15, 2022

Ronnie Coleman Believes Derek Lunsford is Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay’s Top Challenger at the 2022 Mr. Olympia

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 3:01 pm

Coleman thinks Lunsford has the chops to hang with the best of the best.

Written by

At the 2022 Mr. Olympia, reigning two-time champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay will be a heavy favorite to finish a “three-peat” in taking home his third straight title. However, with a mark like that sitting on the table, Elssbiay is bound to have a huge target on his shredded back from any number of contenders. According to one legendary bodybuilder, on Dec. 16-18, 2022, Elssbiay should actually be most wary of a newcomer to the Men’s Open division.

On Dec. 12, 2022, eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005) appeared in a video on Muscular Development Magazine’s YouTube channel. In offering some pre-contest analysis of the field coming to Las Vegas, NV, Coleman maintained that he thinks former 212 champion (2021) Derek Lunsford is the most likely athlete to push Elssbiay for the title. Lunsford will make his first appearance as a Men’s Open competitor after transitioning from the 212 division in late Summer 2022.

More from Breaking Muscle:

Coleman didn’t mince words in his endorsement of Lunsford. Even while he ultimately believes Elssbiay will still retain his Olympia title, Coleman asserted Lunsford is the only competitor who can potentially match Elssbiay’s total package.

“Derek [Lunsford] is the only one that’s pretty close to him [Elssbiay] right now that’s got everything,” Coleman said. “He’s really complete; he’s got a lot of thickness and everything.”

Another prime contender for the Olympia, Hadi Choopan, was also someone Coleman highlighted. However, from his perspective, the all-time great noted that Lunsford’s physique is just more polished by comparison.

“I think height makes a difference, as well as conditioning and thickness, and I think Derek [Lunsford] is close to being complete,” Coleman explained. “Hadi Choopan is really good in some areas and not so good in some other areas. He’s not complete like Derek [Lunsford] is right now, but anything can change.”

As for how Coleman viewed the top five at the 2022 Olympia shaking out, he didn’t make a firm commitment to a prediction. To him, any number of Lunsford, William Bonac, Brandon Curry, and Choopan could be in line for a second-place result to Elssbiay.

“Man, it’s so hard right now, I know so many good guys, but I see ‘Big Ramy’ [Elssbiay] first, then second it could be [William] Bonac, he is looking real good,” Coleman said. “Then Brandon Curry always looks pretty good, and then these new guys coming in here Derek [Lunsford], and I don’t think Andrew [Jacked] can place that high … for the second, it’s going to be between [William] Bonac, Hadi [Choopan], Derek [Lunsford], and Brandon [Curry]. Four guys can place second, I think.”

More from Breaking Muscle:

The 2022 Mr. Olympia might be Elssbiay’s to lose. That said, if an icon like Coleman thinks Lunsford has the tools to topple the Egyptian giant, then a tight battle could be in store on the Las Vegas stage.

Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram

Source

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress