Tag: GI News
Brett Wilkin Shares Physique Update 4 Weeks Out Of Arnold Classic
Brett Wilkin could be in for a big year on the bodybuilding stage.
Each year, there are different bodybuilders that step up and make a name for themselves. This season, it could be Brett Wilkin that is emerging as a threat. As the 2022 Arnold Classic quickly approaches, Wilkin shared a physique update where he is looking massive preparing for the competition.
Wilkin has a chance to compete for gold at this year’s Arnold Classic. It is a stacked field but he will be one of the athletes to watch. He remains a dark-horse in the competition but has a chance to make some big strides at the second biggest show of the year.
“Man in the mirror.
Focused on whooping this ass day in and day out.
4 weeks to go until the @arnoldsports, and I’m making sure to bring a show!”
Brett Wilkin earned his Pro Card in 2018 as a Classic Physique competitor. He did not compete in an IFBB show until 2019 after he made a move to 212. Wilkin would not last in 212 either and eventually landed in Men’s Open. When Wilkin made the move to Open bodybuilding, it was unknown how he would compete but he quickly showed his potential.
During the 2021 Chicago Pro, Wilkin went toe-to-toe with some of the top competitors in the world. He finished second at the competition and officially burst onto the scene. Now, he will continue to make improvements in order to take another step forward.
2022 Arnold Classic Lineup
William Bonac (Netherlands)
Maxx Charles (USA)
Brandon Curry (USA)
Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)
Regan Grimes (Canada)
Steve Kuclo (USA)
Cedric McMillan (USA)
Fabio Giga Rezende (Brasil)
Justin Rodriguez (USA)
Mohamed Shaaban (Egypt)
Brett Wilkin (USA)
Akim Williams (USA)
Rafael Brandão has withdrew his name from the event but there will be a stacked lineup appearing on stage. Brandon Curry has been highlighted as the favorite to win the event but Wilkin could be in line for a top-three finish. After looking at his recent physique update, it would not be surprising to see.
This could be the start of a successful year for Brett Wilkin. There is no doubt that eyes will be on the young bodybuilder when the Arnold Classic comes around in March.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
New USPA Rules Ban Trans Athletes And Competitors Taking “Any Hormone” From Tested Meets
This new set of rules began on Jan. 1 and will not allowed hormones, even prescribed, in tested divisions.
The United States Powerlifting Association has implemented some new rules that will impact who can compete in drug-tested divisions. The USPA will no longer allow trans athletes or competitors who are using “any hormone” to compete in tested divisions. This set of rules began on Jan. 1.
The full set of rules can be seen in the USPA’s rulebook. New rule 1.8.19 is the one with a new standard.
“Transgender athletes are not eligible to compete in the drug-tested division and must compete only in the non-tested division.
“The USPA/IPL does not allow any therapeutic use exemptions. This means no lifter using any hormone, regardless of medical necessity or choice, or other banned substance (see sec. 12), is allowed to compete in the drug-tested division.”
The USPA does not just prevent transgender competitors from competing if they are taking fender-affirming treatment, it also bans those who are taking hormonal birth control. This also includes diabetes and thyroid conditions that require hormonal treatment.
This new rule reared its head on Jan. 4 when Angel Flores shared an Instagram post about how she was not allowed to compete in a USPA event. The 22-year-old powerlifter was planning to compete at the Violet Crown Classic, which took place in her home gym in Austin, TX. Instead, Flores was unable to compete in the drug-tested competition because she is a trans athlete.
“This was going to be my very first meet alongside my cisgender peers. Since the announcement of the new 100 kilogram weight class, I was excited at the chance to maybe hit some nice records for my age group. On January 4th, the owner of LBC (my close friend @lauriebjj) received a call telling her that I would be disallowed from competing in this tested meet.
If any athlete has ever had competition taken away from them, you’ll understand how I felt that night. We’ve kept it quiet since to not only preserve my mental health, but also preserve the sanctity of training for all my wonderful friends at liberation. I would say that most of the anxiety I’ve been feeling for this meet stems from this.”
““The USPA rule book [previously] stated [that there is] ‘no distinction between transgender and cisgender lifters,’ and ‘prescribed hormones’ was understood as only those on the banned substance list. Since many of us have been on the hormones for years, and none of us were using any banned substances, several peers were able compete,” Flores said.
Many powerlifters have commented on Flores’ post. There have been instances where trans athletes have competed alongside cisgender peers. Olympian Laurel Hubbard is the most famous after her performance this year.
There have been many governing bodies that have adopted trans-inclusive policies. It will be interesting to see if the USPA becomes one eventually.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Helle Trevino Could Potentially Miss Olympia After Suffering Torn Tendon In Shoulder
Helle Trevino had successful surgery on two torn tendons in her shoulder.
Helle Trevino has become a force in bodybuilding but she might be sidelined for awhile after suffering a shoulder injury. She had successful surgery after tearing two tendons in her shoulder. Because of the injury, Trevino might be forced to miss the 2022 Olympia.
The biggest bodybuilding competition of the year will return to Las Vegas from Dec. 16-18. Trevino has not made any official decision but hinted that she could sit out the year in her caption on Instagram. This is where she went to make the announcement.
“I have some really bad news and I have some good news. Let’s take the bad news first. I have torn two tendons in my shoulder and I need surgery ASAP,” Helle Trevino said.
“I’m looking to have a pretty long recovery. It’s going to be 8 weeks in a sling and in 12 weeks I’m going to rehabilitate so I’m not sure that I can make it to this year’s competitions. I might have to sit the year out. But the good news is I’m in good mental health and I’m in good spirits. I feel positive even though it like really sucks. It is what it is. I’m also going to get through this challenge and I’m going to do my best to turn myself back up and we will see what this season brings.”
Helle Trevino will be wearing a sling for 8-12 weeks and then will have to rehab to gain strength back in the shoulder. The Olympia might be at the end of the year but this is a long process and there might not be time for the bodybuilder to get back to championship shape.
Trevino burst onto the scene in 2014. She picked up her first victory during the 2015 Wings of Strength Chicago Pro. In 2019, Trevino began making a name for herself as one of the best in the sport. She finished with gold during the Tampa Pro and Rising Phoenix Arizona Pro that year.
In September, Helle Trevino was one of the favorites to win the Ms. Olympia competition but she finished as the runner-up to Andrea Shaw. Trevino was a competitor that had high hopes for the stage this year but it might have to wait a bit longer.
Trevino has not made any official announcement on her plans but we do know that she has had successful surgery. We all wish her a quick recovery so she can get back on stage and compete for that Ms. Olympia title.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Berry De Mey: “I’m A Living Example That Bodybuilding Can Be Really Healthy”
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Berry De Mey discusses health in bodybuilding and what he considers to be his biggest contribution to the sport.
Berry De Mey is a bodybuilder and coach who has not been afraid to speak his mind about the health of bodybuilding. He’s gone to social media numerous times to criticize the extreme lengths some modern bodybuilders are willing to take for success. De Mey warns that bodybuilders need to start taking further precautions to monitor their health. So it may come as no surprise that De Mey believes his greatest contribution to bodybuilding is tied to health in the sport. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey explains how he is living proof that pro bodybuilding can be healthy.
During our conversation with Berry De Mey, we topped off our interview by asking – what has been your greatest contribution to the sport of bodybuilding? De Mey’s answer focuses less on trophies and awards won and more on his legacy outside of pure competition. He considers his success in the sport to be “a living example that bodybuilding can be really healthy.”
What does he mean by that exactly? De Mey goes on to explain that he was able to build a massive and iconic physique while also focusing on maintaining his health. He’s proof that life doesn’t need to be cut short in order to become a pro bodybuilding success. De Mey worries that bodybuilders today believe there is only one dangerous path to becoming a champion. He hopes that the career he led and the guidance he provides as a coach will help nudge pro bodybuilding into a healthier direction. He’s a proof of concept.
Berry De Mey lays it out directly during our conversation:
“I’m really really convinced that my contribution today is that I can show, I started when I was like 16 years old and in a couple months I’m turning 60 years old. And I think my biggest contribution is that I’m a living example that bodybuilding can be really really healthy.”
De Mey continues by breaking down the biggest difference between healthier bodybuilding of earlier eras compared to bodybuilding today:
“I think the biggest thing is the consistency of the lifestyle… You see a lot of people, they peak for a competition, and they actually, a couple of weeks a year they are in shape and the rest of the year they are not in shape. Maybe in the old days that was different. You know, we were kind of in decent shape all year around. It all pays off now.”
His last comment in the above quote seems to imply that older bodybuilders today might not be living as long if they were following the tactics of modern bodybuilding. There’s now way to know that for sure. But Berry De Mey hopes that his existence in the sport and his continued guidance through coaching will make a difference.
It may be challenging to truly quantify the health statistics of pro bodybuilding compared to the average person – but Berry De Mey believes that bodybuilding could always be doing more to make things healthier.
You can watch Berry De Mey’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Nick Walker Hits Massive Shoulders And Triceps Workout As Olympia Prep Continues
Nick Walker will continue to prepare for the 2022 Olympia in December.
For Nick Walker, the goal has always been clear. “The Mutant” has had his eyes on the Olympia prize since emerging as one of the top bodybuilders in the world. This offseason, Walker has been focusing on improvements in order to compete at the highest level during the biggest show of the year. Recently, Walker shared a huge shoulders and triceps workout that he has been doing.
Walker has been training at the RedCon1 gym in Boca Raton, FL. This was one of his first workouts at the gym. He recently joined Blessing Awodibu for a leg day at RedCon1 gym. This time, he took to his YouTube page to show off a massive workout that is meant tp provide the necessary gains.
Nick Walker burst onto the scene in 2021 by winning the New York Pro. This is one of the most prestigious competitions in bodybuilding. Walker earned qualification to the Olympia with this victory. He then took home the Arnold Classic title before stepping on the Olympia stage just two weeks later.
During the 2021 Olympia, Nick Walker finished in fifth place. This was not a finish that he was happy with and that is why he is focusing on the 2022 show for the duration of the year. Walker will not defend his Arnold Classic title despite the show being moved back to its original month of March.
Walker began this workout with Atlantas side lateral raises before moving onto standing shoulder presses. The bodybuilder made it a point to hit some new machines in order to keep his body guessing. He found some new techniques that he likes and will implement into his routine. The shoulder workout continued with reverse pec deck and dumbbell shoulder presses before moving onto triceps.
Nick Walker hit triceps with a tricep overhead extension and single arm cable radicals. He ended with a standard lat pulldown. Walker revealed his current weight at the time of the workout and how he is still gaining to bulk up. This has been done with huge workouts and a steady diet day-to-day.
“The weight is steadily going up. I’m about 295, 294 in the morning. The weight is going up, going up slowly, which is good for me. Diet hasn’t really budged much, weights just kind of doing its thing.”
There is no doubt that Nick Walker is going to continue to be a force this year and it is because of his dedication in and out of the gym. With a full year of preparation, it will be exciting to see the improvements made and how Walker looks come the Olympia.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Joseph Baena Channels His Father Arnold Schwarzenegger With Famous Pose
Joseph Baena shared a recent physique update showing off a famous pose of his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Joseph Baena seems to be dabbling in the crafts of his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in more ways than one. The 24-year-old recently shared a physique update where he is striking a pose that his father made famous during his bodybuilding days.
There is no doubt that Baena resembles Schwarzenegger in many ways, whether it be his career paths or overall physical appearance. He took to Instagram to show off his sculpted physique while nailing a bodybuilding pose. In his caption, Baena hinted that he was channeling his inner Schwarzenegger.
“May be a little lighter but I still got the poses down.”
This is not the first time that Joseph Baena has hinted at bodybuilding. He has confirmed that he would like to compete in bodybuilding when the time is right. He certainly has the bloodline with the best bodybuilder of all-time as his father. Until then, Baena continues to make a name for himself on the big screen.
After an insane career in bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger became known for his work as an actor, especially in The Terminator series. Baena continues to follow in his father’s footsteps with some of his recent projects.
In November, Baena announced a new project titled Lava. He showed off his sculpted build in another social media post discussing to project, which will be funded by cryptocurrency. Despite working on movies and aspiring to be a bodybuilder, Baena has created his own path.
Baena is not the only son of Schwarzenegger that has shown a passion for fitness. Patrick Schwarzenegger has taken on the lifestyle and has transformed his physique in recent months. At the beginning of January, Patrick shared a physique update of his own after taking on a fitness challenge.
At 24 years old, Joseph Baena has already made a name for himself. His work will only continue to grow, whether it be on the big screen or in bodybuilding. Baena has showed that he is capable of both and that he can find success anywhere. While he is still working on his latest project, the world will wait until he decides to take the bodybuilding stage.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Daniel Bell Crushes 1,036-Pound Squat In Recent Training Session
Daniel Bell continues to impress in training with some massive lifts.
Daniel Bell has been one of the strongest lifters in the 140+kg category over the course of his career. He continues to show this, both in training and competition. Most recently, Bell showed off his brute strength by successfully taking down a 1,036-pound squat.
Bell shared the lift on Instagram and captioned it with the weight — 470kg (1,036 pounds. He was seen wearing knee wraps and a lifting belt when completing the lift. Bell also added wrist wraps and elbow sleeves. This could have been due to the incredible weight that he had to control during the course of his movements.
While the weight exceeded 1,000 pounds, Bell did not seem to have any trouble keeping incredible form.
Daniel Bell has put together an impressive career as a raw powerlifter. He has set many world records since competing in his first sanctioned competition in 2005. Following this appearance, he did not appear in another until 2014. This is when he really began opening eyes during competitions.
During the 2020 RPS Sarasota Showdown, Bell set many career bests in competition. He completed a 455kg (1,003.1lb) squat followed by a 410kg (903.9lb) deadlift. All together, this event saw Bell total 1,127.5kg (2,485.7lb). His competition-best bench press came during the 2021 WRPF Kern US Open when he lifted 275kg (606.3lb).
Daniel Bell was seen using knee wraps in his recent video on social media. It is not surprising that he has compiled higher totals in the wraps category. During the 2021 Kern Open, Bell took down a 505kg (1,113.3lb) squat. This was an all-time full power world record. He also set another world record with a total of 1,182.5kg (2,607lb) at the 2021 Hybrid Showdown III.
During the Hybrid Showdown III in 2021, Bell became the first man to total over 1,179kg (2,600lb) raw with wraps. This was just one of the competitions where Bell made heavy lifts look routine.
When the time comes for Daniel Bell to take the stage again, it will be must-see action because of what he is capable of accomplishing. By the looks of his most recent squat, Bell could have his eye on taking down another record, whether it be in a specific lift or total.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tony Pearson Talks Growing Up Through Poverty & Starvation Before Bodybuilding
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Bodybuilding icon Tony Pearson details his struggles in childhood and how he discovered bodybuilding.
Tony Pearson is a former pro bodybuilder known for his iconic physique and a career that spanned from the 70’s through to the 90s. But before he was an established pro bodybuilder – he grew up through a tumultuous childhood of poverty, racism, and segregation. In 2019, he published a book detailing his life story. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tony Pearson details the harsh reality of growing up through poverty, abuse, and racism. As well as how he discovered bodybuilding to escape from his troubled past.
When connecting with Tony Pearson for a video interview, he described his past as something that he some times blocks out and pretends never existed. But those moments are only momentary – because his past did happen. It was a traumatic past full of poverty, abuse, and racism. It was a childhood that felt “normal” at the time because he had nothing else to compare it to. It was only after getting older and expanding his social life that he realized the severity of his past.
In 2019, Tony Pearson published a book, Driven: My Secret Untold Story. The book revealed in great detail the reality of his upbringing. During our conversation, we ask Pearson to recap some of those stories to help further expose not only his harsh reality – but the reality of poverty and racism that has existed in this country and how far we’ve come in some ways and stayed the same in others.
Tony Pearson was born in 1957, so his childhood took place during a period of racial segregation in the United States. Not only that but Pearson was born into poverty. He was ultimately left to the care of his aunt – who did not want to take on the responsibility or perhaps couldn’t bear to due to her own financial struggles. Regardless, Pearson’s entire childhood since the age of three was defined by extreme trauma.
Tony Pearson reveals that he was barely fed food and would sometimes go days without eating a single meal. He was often ignored by his aunt and left to his own devices. During school, he would be taken out of classes for months at a time to work on cotton fields. When he would return, he would be so far behind with his school work that he couldn’t catch up. This all seemed in some ways normal to Pearson at the time. He had no friends and had no comparison to make.
But this isn’t just a story of trauma and struggle. This is a story about overcoming the struggle and becoming the successful man we all know today. Bodybuilding was ultimately an escape for Pearson. An escape into a new world where he could succeed and grow past the struggles of his youth.
By the time he moved to high school, he had the opportunity to meet Muhammad Ali in person. It was an iconic moment and a truly important one. Upon seeing the sheer size and scope of Ali, Pearson was inspired. He wanted to become an athlete.
This led to a path of discovery that ultimately placed him into wrestling. He started training for the sport, developed a love of weightlifting, and slowly developed into a bodybuilder. He knew friends who owned bodybuilding magazines that further inspired him. He now had a direction and hope towards a better future.
You can watch Tony Pearson go into full detail about his past, his encounter with Muhammad Ali, and how he discovered bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Chris Bumstead Continues Progress With Massive Leg Day Workout
Chris Bumstead continues to crush the gym since his return with a huge leg day.
Chris Bumstead is back in his full swing and is crushing the gym since returning to action. Bumstead had to take some tie off after battling COVID-19 but has since gotten back in the gym. Bumstead recently shared a huge leg day workout to get a massive pump.
Bumstead lost upwards of 28 pounds when he contracted the virus. He was forced to take time away from the gym as he recovered. This was back in December and the reigning three-time Classic Physique Olympia champ has been hard at work since. Bumstead took to his YouTube page to share a huge leg workout that he went though recently.
Chris Bumstead began his workout with single leg extensions and leg curls. When performing single leg extensions, the machine the does not have enough weight for Bumstead. He performs a set of 20 and returns to the other leg to perform reps until failure. Bumstead then moves onto back squats, where he has to watch his knees.
Bumstead explained how he has to wear knee sleeves and a lifting belt for working sets. These come after a warm-up set before he adds plates. Back squats can also train hips and hamstrings but Bumstead also focuses on keeping his knees pain-free.
“Personally, I’m old, I have old man knees. So I just wear them for injury prevention when I go heavy. But I personally like to warm up until one or two sets before my working set… I’ll wear no sleeves. That’s so that I’m not completely dependent on them. I still got a little bit of completely free weight on my knee. So when I start to go heavier, especially now that I am getting back into squats, I throw the sleeves on. I wear really loose ones. More just to keep my knee a little supportive and warm.”
Chris Bumstead moves onto Bulgarian squats after his final set of back squats. These are done to build up the glute muscles and this is an area of focus for the Olympia champion. Bumstead ends the workout with hamstring curls and machine calf raises.
Once the workout is complete, Bumstead explains how he is still in the reintegration phase. This is because he is still working his way up since returning from COVID-19 and back in the gym. Bumstead is not performing his normal set volume at the moment. He will add an addition drop set if he feels like he has more energy.
When healthy, Chris Bumstead has one of the best physiques in bodybuilding and will be going for another Olympia title in December. This leg day shows that Bumstead is back to training at a high level and there is still another gear he can reach.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Mark Wahlberg Looks Shredded At 50 Years Old In Recent Physique Update
Mark Wahlberg continues to have one of the best physiques in Hollywood.
The transformations over the years for Mark Wahlberg have been incredible. He is one of the fittest actors in Hollywood and often has to shape his physique for a certain movie role. Wahlberg recently took to social media to share a physique update where he continues to look as shredded as ever.
The 50-year-old actor hit a most muscular pose in a video where he was promoting Performance Inspired Nutrition, a company that he has partnered with to put together different stacks and workouts. Wahlberg looked lean with plenty of muscle. He even made a joke about being quiet so his wife did not catch him shirtless once again.
“Had to whisper to not upset my wife for not wearing a shirt. ? Go check out all 60 of our all-natural sports nutrition products to help you on your health & fitness journey. Stay inspired and let’s go!Visit PI-Nutrition.com and follow @performinspired! @hyvee @walmart@amazon#InspiredToBeBetter #PIPartner“
Mark Wahlberg is no stranger to physique transformations. There have been countless times where he had to transform to fit a role and he is just coming off another.
Wahlberg is preparing for the movie Stu to be released. This is where he plays a boxer who became a priest. For this role, Wahlberg had to put on a significant amount of weight and it was not an easy process.
Mark Wahlberg was eating 7,000 calories a day for two weeks to prepare for the role. Once this two-week period was over, he began another 14 days where he consumed 11,000 calories a day. This is not a simple process and requires the person to eat every few hours. This was a movie that Wahlberg wanted to make for quite some time now and he was able to make it happen and put the work in.
There are many reasons to like Mark Wahlberg and his movies. The storylines are incredible and he is one of the best actors of this generation. He has also made sure to remain in great shape over the course of his career. That seems like it is not going to change anytime soon.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.