Tag: GI News
Bodybuilder accused of shooting parents at Long Island mansion
New York bodybuilder Dino Tomassetti shot his parents on Saturday morning.
Dino Tomassetti, 29-year-old Brooklyn bodybuilder, has been accused of shooting his parents at their Long Island mansion on Saturday. He was identified on Sunday after the attack that occurred on Christmas morning at the parents’ $3.2 million property, according to the NY Post.
Nassau County cops said that the incident happened after 10 a.m. and both parents had to undergo surgery for wounds. Rocco Tomasetti, 65, was shot in the back and Vincenza Tomassetti, 64, was shot in the head. Rocco was said to be in more serious condition.
Dino Tomassetti fled to New Jersey in a Cadillac Escalade following the shootings. He was able to be tracked though the GPS in the vehicle. This is when New York police contacted the Mahwah Police Department for help once Tomassetti was believed to be in the area. He was caught around 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tomassetti will remain in custody in Bergen County and will be charged as a fugitive from justice.
Tomassetti will be moved to Nassau County and his New York charges will depend on the condition of his parents.
The Brooklyn bodybuilder has been working as a personal trainer at Retro Fitness locations in Forest Hills and Glendale, Queens. His Instagram page has shown off many personal record lifts. This includes a 725-pound deadlift, 625-pound squat, and 550-pound benchpress.
The family’s fortune has come from Rocco Tomasetti’s work owning Empire Transit Mix. This is a construction company that provided the concrete for the Freedom Tower. The bodybuilder’s grandfather, Dino Tomassetti Sr., also owned a construction company named Laquila Group. Projects for this company included headquarters for Goldman Sachs and Bank of America.
Tomassetti’s mother owns Starz, a dance studio on Broadway in Lynbrook. Neither company was aware that there was a shooting.
Dino Tomassetti will remain in custody until the condition of his parents becomes more clear. There has not been a reason revealed for the shooting and those close to the family were surprised to hear about it.
This is an ongoing story and more details will be revealed at a later time. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Former Mr. Olympia Chris Dickerson Has Passed Away At 82
Chris Dickerson won the 1982 Mr. Olympia title.
Bodybuilding legend and former Olympia champion Chris Dickerson has passed away at the age of 82. It was reported by RXMuscle on Thursday night that Dickerson had been living in a rehab facility after suffering a stroke and passed away due to pneumonia.
“Sad to report the passing of 1982 Mr Olympia Chris Dickerson from pneumonia … Chris has been living in a rehab facility after suffering a stroke .. he had some of the best forearms and calves I’ve seen .. and was a true gentleman R.I.P. #mrolympia”
In August of 2019, Dickerson suffered a broken hip after a fall. While in the hospital, Dickerson had a heart attack and contracted COVID-19 while recovering.
Chris Dickerson was one of the best bodybuilders of all-time and broke many barriers. He was the first openly gay professional bodybuilder and Olympia champion. Dickerson was also the first African-American winner of the Olympia and Mr. America competitions.
He was the sixth winner of the Olympia competition. The event began in 1965 when Larry Scott took home the title. In 17 years, there was a total of five winners — Scott, Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, and Frank Zane. After two second-place finishes in 1980 and 1981, Dickerson was able to win gold in 1982.
Chris Dickerson did not start competing until he was 27. In 1966, Dickerson won three of the four contests he entered. This jumpstarted what would become a legendary career. Dickerson would go onto win the 1968 AAU Mr. USA and 1970 AAU Mr. America championships. He added the title during the 1973 and 1974 NABBA Mr. Universe competitions.
In 1979, Dickerson competed in his first IFBB Pro League competition. This was a victory during the Canada Pro Cup. Dickerson appeared in the Olympia that year and finished fourth — with Zane winning the title. He would go onto finish second to Schwarzenegger during the 1980 Olympia and Columbu during the 1981 competition.
Chris Dickerson saw great success in 1980 and 1981 when he won a total of nine shows with eight runner-up finishes. He did not compete following his Olympia title until 1984. This is when he returned to the Olympia stage and finished 11th. Dickerson’s final competition came in 1994 where he won the Over 50 division in the Masters Olympia.
Dickerson is the fifth Olympia champion to pass away. This is less than two months after 2018 Olympia champ Shawn Rhoden tragically passed away. Dickerson will be remembered as one of the best of all-time.
Generation Iron sends condolences to family and friends of Chris Dickerson during this difficult time.
Bodybuilder Tony Ellett Has Died
Tony Ellett is a well-known bodybuilder in the United Kingdom.
Tony Ellett, a famous bodybuilder in the UK, has passed away. The news was announced on Facebook and there have been many sharing condolences on social media. The cause of death has not been revealed but it was said that Ellett passed away on Wednesday night.
“What can I say I’m absolutely heartbroken. on 22/12/21 @ 10:38 my heart stop and broke into a million pieces not just for me but for Curtis as well. I will alway treasure the memories we had together and I promise I will take good care of curtis and we will never forget you. Sleep tight tone until we meet again. xxxx.”
Ellett made a name for himself in NABBA during his career in bodybuilding. He began competing in 2009 and had some success during his time on stage.
Tony Ellett made his debut during the 2009 NABBA England Championships. He finished fifth, which would be one of nine top-five finishes in his career. Ellett followed that up with two more fifth-place finishes during the 2011 NABBA Mr. Britain and 2013 NABBA England Championships.
Ellett broke though in 2016 with a second-place finish during the 2016 NABBA England Championships. This was before be picked up the first victory of his career. Ellett won gold at the 2016 UK NABBA UK Championships. He would compete two more times, with the last one coming in 2017 during the NABBA Mr. Britain competition.
The presence on social media from family and friends shows what kind of person Ellett was. There has been a recent string of deaths in the bodybuilding community. There was no cause of death for Ellett but it is a clear problem that continues to impact bodybuilding around the world.
Generation Iron would like to send condolences to family and friends of Tony Ellet during this difficult time.
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.
Anderson Silva opens as favorite to be next opponent for Jake Paul
Anderson Silva could be in line to take on Jake Paul next.
It has been less than a week since Jake Paul moved to 5-0 with a sixth-round knockout of Tyron Woodley. Now, there have been lines made on who will have the chance to take on the former YouTuber in the ring next. As of now, Anderson Silva is the early favorite.
Silva began boxing at the beginning of 2021 after a long stint in UFC. In his first match, Silva took on former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. In his first boxing match since 2005, Silva upset the former champion by split decision. He then faced UFC champ Tito Ortiz and won via a first-round knockout.
The talks began by saying Silva could take on Jake’s brother, Logan Paul, but there was no real steam and now sights could be set on the younger of the two.
Below, you can see a list of names, along with their odds, that could take on Jake Paul next.
Anderson Silva – 3/1
Tommy Fury – 7/2
Dillon Danis – 7/1
Nate Diaz – 7/1
Conor McGregor – 15/2
Jorge Masvidal – 15/2
Floyd Mayweather – 12/1
Oscar De La Hoya – 12/1
Mike Tyson – 25/1
Canelo Alvarez – 33/1
Logan Paul – 100/1
Tommy Fury was set to take on Paul on Saturday before backing out with an injury. John Fury recently threatened Paul to take on his son in March. A bout with Conor McGregor seems unlikely because the UFC star has nothing to prove. Also, Floyd Mayweather took part in a poorly displayed exhibition fight against Logan Paul and he should not revisit this idea.
Jake Paul recently took to social media to address Canelo Alvarez. He wrote “I hope you’re training, Canelo” on Twitter but Paul must be careful what he wishes for.
Jake Paul recently defeated Woodley in their second fight. The first came by split decision. This moved his record to 5-0 but the competition has been less than impressive. It began with a win over former NBA player Nate Robinson followed by fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib. Paul then defeated MMA fighter Ben Askren before two victories over Woodley.
Many might not like the act being put on by the Paul brothers but it works and it makes money. At this point, Paul needs to step into the ring with real boxers to gain some credibility. Silva began boxing for the first time since 2005 but there is no doubt that he has the skill to be successful.
Anderson Silva would be a difficult fight for Paul so it will be interesting to see if he would plan for this one. Either way, it is likely that we hear news about Jake Paul’s next opponent early in 2022.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
WATCH: Martins Licis and Justin Medeiros Crush Massive Deadlifts In Workout
Martins Licis and Justin Medeiros put up enormous weight during a workout.
It is not everyday that Strongman and CrossFit are seen together but this happened when Martins Licis and Justin Medeiros took on a workout. Licis shared a video to his YouTube page on Tuesday of the duo crushing some deadlifts that were upwards of 600 pounds.
The last time these two were together was during the 2021 Rogue Invitational. Licis won gold in the strongman competition and set a new world record in Thor’s Hammer with a 136kg (300lb) lift. Medeiros was victorious during the CrossFit event. They continue to be some of the best in their own sport.
Licis won the 2019 World’s Strongest Man competition while Medeiros was named the 2021 Fittest Man on Earth. At XCEL Fitness in Holladay, UT, the duo got together to show off some impressive deadlifts.
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Heading into the holidays, it is only right that they showed off their festive spirit. Medeiros was seen wearing an elf’s hat while Licis went all out with a full Santa Claus costume. The session began with some rows on the machine while a makeshift Bag Toss was being set up. Medeiros was discussing the importance of warm-ups and how they can impact the workout.
“I do the same warm-up, which is, I do pigeon stretches, some runner’s lunge, some windshield wipers. I also got a gluten band for gluten activation, monster walks, banded squats, and sumo squats. After that, I’m probably good to go,” Justin Medeiros said.
Once the Bag Toss, which is a strongman event, was set up, Licis explained that the best throws will feel effortless. He cleared the crossbeam with a 20-pound bag while Medeiros was unsuccessful.
The two quickly moved onto deadlifts with some serious weight. Licis told the group to pause below the knee to make sure that there was complete control. Medeiros began with a 500-pound deadlift, which is nearly three times his bodyweight. His weight at the time of the list was not said but he is listed at 190 pounds on the CrossFit website.
Martins Licis was next and completed five reps with 605 pounds. Licis has been lifting heavy in the gym preparing for the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic. He will enter the competition as one of the favorites to take home the prize.
The session ended with one-minute Each bike challenges. The full workout can be viewed on Licis’ YouTube page.
Martins Licis will be back in action from March 3-6 during the Arnold Strongman Classic. Justin Medeiros is in his offseason but is preparing for the 2022 CrossFit Open, which begins on Feb. 24.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Will Smith Joins Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa For Training Session
Will Smith is continuing his fitness journey and did so on the football field.
We have seen Will Smith attack the basketball court on numerous occasions for Bel-Air Academy during The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Now, he has taken his workouts to the football field. Smith joined Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a recent workout as he continues to get in shape.
Smith showed off his dadbod back in May and claimed that he was in the “worst shape of his life.” The Hollywood star has committed to getting back into shape and he was tested by a young NFL quarterback.
Tagovailoa was taken with the fifth-overall pick by the Dolphins during the 2020 NFL Draft. He has taken over as the full-time starter in Miami and knows a thing or two about staying in shape. This stems from his time playing for Nick Saban at Alabama. In a recent video posted to Smith’s YouTube page, the duo gets together in Miami for a training session.
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Tagovailoa quickly breaks down his schedule before the workout begins. The quarterback typically trains legs and upper body on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday is used as a balance and proprioception day. The duo enjoys a Kava drink before getting in some stretching before the workout begins.
Will Smith continues to follow Tagovailoa as they perform dumbbell bench presses and side planks. This is followed by some lying lateral raises and reverse crunches. This word into Tagovailoa’s plan as he trains hard four days a week with weights and cardio each morning.
Smith has not been shy about sharing his fitness journey for his 57 million Instagram followers to see. In a post on Wednesday, Smith is seen catching some passes from Tagovailoa and jokes about his impact on the Dolphins’ current win streak.
“I’m not saying me training with @tuaman has anything to do with @miamidolphins 6 game winning streak but I’m just sayinnnn’ ;-)”
After a 1-7 start for Miami and Smith being unhappy with the shape he was in back in May, both have made tremendous progress. The Dolphins have now won six in a row getting them back into the postseason race in the AFC. Smith has been putting himself through strenuous workouts to get back into shape. It seems to be working for both.
Will Smith is one of the best and most popular actors in Hollywood. It is unknown what is on tap for 2022 but with the way Smith is ending this calendar year, it seems as though he is going to be in great shape.
Ryan Crowley Gets Extremely Honest On How Social Media Hate Emotionally Affects Him
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Ryan Crowley gets surprisingly candid about his relationship with social media and online hate.
Ryan Crowley, in part, discovered bodybuilding due to being bullied as a child. It’s a story we’ve heard countless times before in the sport. He sought to become physically strong to avoid being bullied in his future. Now Crowley is a promising bodybuilder (recovering from a major injury) and looking to make a big splash in the industry. Yet somehow he still faces the same kind of bullying he remembers from childhood. This time in the form of hateful online comments. Has his past experiences helped him develop thicker skin? In our latest GI Exclusive, Ryan Crowley opens up about how he interacts with social media online bullying – and how it still emotionally affects him.
Whether you like it or not, social media is here to stay. It’s also a big part of modern bodybuilding. No longer do pro competitors need magazines to display their stunning physiques. They can each amass followings on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. They can directly engage fans. They can share updates whenever they want. There is no longer a gatekeeper between the athlete and the audience.
In many ways this is fantastic. It opens the doors wide open for new kinds of success. But it also brings a very ugly side of the internet front and center into every bodybuilder’s inboxes. Bullying and hate from anonymous users can mount across comments and DMs. There’s a lot of positivity too, which must be acknowledged, but the hate comes through in a way that was otherwise impossible before the web. This is something Ryan Crowley is all too familiar with.
We’ve spoken with others about the vitriol that can come through online commenting. In the case of Chef Rush, for example, it took the form of hate speech. Joey Swoll also revealed to us the death threats he would receive. It can get very dark. Ryan Crowley is a bodybuilder who has experienced bullying far before the internet. As a chubby child, he was often the butt of many jokes. This certainly emotionally affected him. To combat the sadness – he sough to become strong and eventually discovered bodybuilding.
Now an adult, he strangely finds himself, in some ways, back where he started. While he is no longer overweight, he faces hateful comments online due to having a rather large social media following. During our video conversation, Crowley became extremely candid and open about how this affects him. In some ways, he becomes the same young boy that he was being bullied in his past. He admits to reading the hurtful comments and letting them deeply affect his mood.
He tells us this with a smile on his face in the moment. It’s as if he is completely aware how silly it is to let strangers have such a hold over him. But he’s also aware that he can’t help his gut emotional response to these kinds of comments. We’re all human after all. He knows he should simply not read the comments. Just ignore them. But he reads through them anyway.
He also admits that being so easily affected by the comments triggers more comments:
“I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m very sensitive. And they know this. This is why they say this stuff because they know it gets to me. It’s just something I get on with, you know? It gets to me and then I get on with it.”
This is classic bullying. The more the bully knows that they are triggering a response. The more they continue to push harder. Of course, Ryan Crowley is not disabled by these hateful comments. They do not freeze up his life into misery. As he states, he’s able to move on. But he also comes back for more. He pours over his comments, gets upset by certain hateful statements, uses his girlfriend for support, and then tries to shake it off and go one with his day.
There have been many reports in the bigger picture beyond bodybuilding of how social media affects anxiety and happiness. Recent whistleblowers at Facebook even stated that there are mounds of data showcasing the psychological damage it can cause – but they chose to bury those facts and move forward with their policies anyways. It’s a problem bigger than Ryan Crowley or bodybuilding. But it’s refreshing to see a public figure in the sport speak so honestly about it.
You can watch Ryan Crowley discuss his interaction with online hate – as well as his future plans for recovery and his bodybuilding career – in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Releases Newsletter Ahead Of The Holidays
Arnold Schwarzenegger has posted a new newsletter asking for comments from fans.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is considered to be the best bodybuilder of all-time. This means that when he talks, people listen. Schwarzenegger has done interviews, different appearances, and has started his own newsletter. In his most recent edition, Schwarzenegger is asking others to do god deeds around the holidays.
Schwarzenegger has spoken out recently about different topics within the sport of bodybuilding. Since it is the holiday season, he has taken his newsletter and used it in a bit of a different way.
“The best thing about my newsletter is connecting with my subscribers and seeing how contagious optimism can be. It’s our little positive corner of the internet. This month I issued a challenge, and I LOVED hearing these responses. Merry Christmas! Subscribe at the link in my bio!” Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote in his caption on Instagram.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued a challenge in his recent newsletter entitled My Challenge for You. He has also urged fans to comment on the section so he can read what impact it has made during this time of the year.
“Since this is the giving time of year, I want to challenge all of you to do something for someone else. It doesn’t have to be big. But this is a season of miracles, and you can be the miracle in someone’s life by reading to an after-school program or just stopping by to have a normal conversation with someone who is going through hard times. You can still post all of your meals and your pets on social media, but take an hour or two during the holidays and give it to someone else,” Schwarzenegger wrote.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning to host the Arnold Classic from March 3-6 in Columbus, OH. The event will once again mark the beginning of the bodybuilding season and return to its normal time. This year’s competition was forced to move to September due to the pandemic.
Before we get to that point of 2022, Schwarzenegger wants to make sure that his readers and fans remember what is important during this time of year.
“Tell me what you did for others by relying, and make the subject line “Giving back” so I can be sure to read them all. you might feel weird about “bragging”, but I really believe that good deeds inspire more good deeds, so share away. I am already proud of all of you!”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Milos Sarcev: Shaun Clarida Can Beat Big Ramy… Under One Condition
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Milos Sarcev discusses Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open victory in 2021… and why he should seriously consider competing in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open at Olympia next year.
Shaun Clarida may not have won the Men’s 212 Olympia this year, but he shocked the world in a different way by claiming victory in the Men’s Open at the Legion Sports Fest Pro 2021. This wasn’t a slouch contest either. Clarida took down the likes of Regan Grimes and Sergio Oliva Jr. in the lineup. Shortly after the victory, Clarida mused about attempting to compete in both the Men’s 212 and Men’s Open at the Olympia 2022. In our latest GI Exclusive, bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev explains why Shaun Clarida should be allowed to compete in both divisions… and why he thinks it’s possible Clarida can beat current Olympia Champion Big Ramy.
Milos Sarcev recently started training Regan Grimes in an attempt to help the promising athlete reach his full potential. He believes that Grimes can do truly fantastic things in the near future. But during his time coaching Grimes, he witnessed former Men’s 212 Olympia champion Shaun Clarida defeat Regan Grimes in a Men’s Open show. While Grimes remains optimistic moving forward and maintains sportsman-like respect for Clarida – the loss was a frustrating blow for the hungry competitor.
But from Milos Sarcev’s viewpoint, this isn’t a devastating loss to a Men’s 212 athlete. In Sarcev’s eyes, Shaun Clarida is such a phenomenal athlete that he transcends divisions. In fact, Sarcev believes that Shaun Clarida can defeat nearly any pro bodybuilder currently competing today. This includes the entire line up of the Men’s Open division – including current Olympia champion Big Ramy.
This might sound unrealistic – but many thought Shaun Clarida competing in the Men’s Open at the Legion Sports Fest Pro was unrealistic as well. Clarida might have be a bit on the extreme side of the shorter bodybuilders, but his conditioning and aesthetic are nearly unmatched. Sarcev believes that if Clarida can learn how to use posing to give the illusion that he’s larger – he can dominate in Men’s Open.
“Shaun Clarida, great champion, yeah of course he can beat anybody,” Milos Sarcev states in our interview. He continues:
“He can beat, you name it, he can beat Big Ramy if judging criteria is gonna go this way. If you are particular about projecting his height, weight, structure, and then, you know, what would he look like if he was six feet tall.”
Milos Sarcev goes on to explain it’s this exact kind of posing training that he is also employing with Regan Grimes. He felt that Grimes did not have enough time to build up size needed for upcoming shows – so he focused also on training him on how to appear bigger and focus on his strong points. For Grimes it’s his conditioning and symmetry.
Milos Sarcev sees the same kind of spectacular strengths in Shaun Clarida. In fact, as stated above, Sarcev sees Clarida to have one of the best physiques in bodybuilding. If he was able to learn how to further manipulate his size – and if the judges even slightly lean towards that direction (as they did in 2018 when Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia), Sarcev thinks that Clarida could take down someone like Big Ramy.
Sarcev goes on later in our interview to share his thoughts on competing in two divisions at the Mr. Olympia. Sarcev believes that Shaun Clarida should be 100% allowed to do both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open. He qualified for both. This means he earned both. It’s not an easy thing to do. If Clarida earned qualification – Milos Sarcev strongly believes that nothing should stop him from competing in both. With the two events on two separate days, he even finds the idea physically possible to successfully achieve.
You can watch Milos Sarcev’s full comments on Shaun Clarida and the Olympia divisions in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Jamal Browner Crushes 390kg Deadlift For A Double During Training Session
Jamal Browner continues to train for his next event in 2022.
Jamal Browner is no stranger to massive lifts in the gym, especially deadlifts. He has been one of the top competitors in the 110kg division in the world and continues to show why in training sessions. Browner is preparing to compete at the Hybrid Showdown 4 on Jan. 15-16 and looks to be in competition shape.
Browner has always shared his latest feats on social media and he has done so once again. On Sunday, the powerlifter took to Instagram to show off a video of him crushing 390kg (859.8lb) paused deadlifts for a double. Browner followed this up with five reps of a 30kg (837.7lb) deadlift wearing straps and a lifting belt.
“Paused double with 390kg (859.8lbs)
Followed by ascending sets of 5.Top set: 380kg (837.7lbs) x5
@gymshark #gymshark“
This joins a 345kg (760.5lb) squat that Jamal Browner recently shared on Instagram as well. The Hybrid Showdown 4 is set to take place in Miami in the middle of January. It seems as though Browner is preparing to make quite an impact in his first show in 2022.
This is a chance for Browner to set some more personal records. As of now, his current competition bests sit at 365kg (804.5lb) squat, 225kg (496lb) bench press, and 440.5kg (903.8lb) deadlift. His all-time best total in competition is 1,000 kg (2,204.6lb).
Browner displays a sumo stance when deadlifting. This could cause some debate if he were ever to challenge the deadlift world record. While he still has some ways to go in competition, Browner is putting up deadlifts that are comparable to strongmen who are significantly heavier than he is.
The current deadlift world record is half by Hafthor Bjornsson, when he completed a 501kg (1,104lb) deadlift in 2020. Bjornsson broke the previous world record by a single kilogram. Eddie Hall became the first person to deadlift 500kg (1,102lb) at the beginning of 2020. Since then, Ivan Makarov has attempted a 502kg (1,106.7lb) deadlift but has failed. This means Hall and Bjornsson remain the only two to ever eclipse the 500kg number.
Jamal Browner still has some work to do but it is not crazy to think that he might get there one day. For now, Browner has his eye on putting up a huge performance during the Hybrid Showdown 4 and taking home some prize money.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.