Tag: mens physique
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Results and Scorecards
On Saturday, July 8, Austin, Texas will host the 2023 Republic of Texas Pro show. This event is set to feature competitors from the Men’s Physique, Bikini, and Wellness categories. The champions of these contests will qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia competition. This year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia takes place from Nov. 2-5 in Orlando Florida, inside the Orange County Convention Center. Athletes have until October 9 to earn their respective invites.
Heading into this weekend, fans have highlighted a few names in the Men’s Physique division. Jeremy Potvin is among them. He demonstrates a great display of balance and brings a full chest to the stage in each outing. His last appearance came in second at the 2022 Chicago Pro.
Steven Cao is another top name competing this weekend. Cao’s last show saw him also take silver in a close battle at the DC Pro. Lastly, Ramses Rams will be in attendance, who has put forth a very busy schedule this year. His last competition saw him take second at the 2023 Mile High Pro. Whoever emerges with the win, will have a shot at facing reigning Men’s Physique Olympia Erin Banks later this year.
As far as Bikini talent is concerned. Fans expect a big performance from Jordan Fisher who is riding high off a commanding victory at the 2023 Dallas Pro. She will face India Paulino who last stepped on the Olympia stage in 2022 but wasn’t able to place. Meanwhile, Lexus Redmond is a tenacious competitor and will aim to capture gold after her runner-up show at the Dallas Pro.
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Winners
Men’s Physique: Jason Huynh
Bikini: Lexus Redmond
Wellness: Frida Paulsen Stern
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Jason Huynh
Second Place — Jeremy Potvin
Third Place — Jahvair Mullings
Fourth Place — Ramses Rams
Fifth Place — Steven Cao
Sixth Place — Mehdi Kabbadj
Seventh Place — Rhyan Clark
Eighth Place — Alex Newell
Ninth Place — Mario Stewart
Tenth Place — Karim Hawash
Bikini
Winner — Lexus Redmond
Second Place — India Paulino
Third Place — Adair Libbrecht
Fourth Place — Jordan Brannon
Fifth Place — Tara Grier
Sixth Place — Jordan Fisher
Seventh Place — Maria Acosta
Eighth Place — Rachel M. Linares
Ninth Place — Alexandra Vatthauer
Tenth Place — Sabra Young
Wellness
Winner — Frida Paulsen Stern
Second Place — Renee Jewett
Third Place — Tracy Williams
Fourth Place — Carrie Goforth
Fifth Place — Debora Paula de Oliveira
Sixth Place — Mia Samuels-Menjivar
Seventh Place — Michelle Ibata
Eighth Place — Victoria Puentes
Ninth Place — Gabriela Cadena
Tenth Place — Nuannaree Sriwaralak
2023 Republic of Texas Pro Scorecards
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners. We look forward to seeing you all shine on the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage!
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 3:03 AM EDT
2023 District of Taiwan Pro Results and Scorecards
The 2023 District of Taiwan Pro took place on July 2 and featured competitors from the Men’s Physique and Bikini categories. This event was located in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, and served as a qualifier for the upcoming Olympia show.
Bodybuilders still have plenty of time to earn their qualifications for the biggest show of the year. The cut-off period to earn an invite is October 9. This year’s Mr. Olympia will take place from Nov. 2-5 in Orlando Florida’s Orange County Convention Center.
The top three finishers from 2022 Olympia in Men’s Physique and Bikini are automatically invited back to this year’s edition of the show. As for the rest of the competitors, they will need to battle each other to determine who deserves the right to stand on the sport’s most prominent stage.
2023 District of Taiwan Pro Winners
Men’s Physique: Yoon Sung Lee
Bikini: Areum Song
2023 District of Taiwan Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Heading into this weekend, fans took notice of Wang Hsiang who last finished third at the 2019 NPC Worldwide Asia Grand Prix Pro Qualifier. He faced Yoon Sung Lee, a bodybuilder who impressed in third at the 2023 Asia Grand Prix Men’s Physique Pro. In the end, Yoon Sung Lee was victorious. Lee’s career highlight was a second-place finish at the 2022 Korea Men’s Physique Pro.
Winner — Yoon Sung Lee
Second Place — Wang Hsiang
Third Place — Minsu Kim
Fourth Place — Tomohito Koike
Fifth Place — Farouq Ishimoto
Sixth Place — Tom McNarma
Seventh Place — Tak Lam Charly Chau
Eighth Place — Ajith Raja
Ninth Place — Wu Chi Hung
Tenth Place — Woo Young Seo
Bikini
Sara Choi was on a mission for gold this weekend. Her last contest came at the 2023 Orchid Pro in sixth place. Sara reached her peak performance at the 2023 Musclecontest Japan Pro, securing a remarkable second-place finish. Additionally, she has showcased her skills at the Olympia on two occasions, achieving a 15th place finish in 2020 and sharing the 16th spot in 2021. She battled against Areum Song, who previously competed at last year’s Asia Grand Prix Bikini Pro where she finished runner-up. Ultimately, the judges favored Areum Song’s look best and she took first place this weekend.
Winner — Areum Song
Second Place — Sara Choi
Third Place — Uyanga Bataa
Fourth Place — Heather Hei Man Kam
Fifth Place — Elizaveta Dementere
Sixth Place — Anita Chen
Seventh Place — Kristina Ivanova
Eighth Place — Yume Kurokowa
Ninth Place — Wang Machen
Tenth Place — Cecilia Liang
2023 District of Taiwan Scorecards
2023 District Of Taiwan Pro Men S Physique
2023 District Of Taiwan Pro Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 3 July, 2023 | 9:52 AM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show took place on June 25 in Milan, Italy. This competition is a qualifying event for this year’s Mr. Olympia in the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini categories.
Fans are excited for the return of the annual Mr. Olympia show, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. There are fewer months and events to qualify for the most prestigious event of the year. Currently, athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on stage.
Any top three finishers from the last Mr. Olympia show from Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini are automatically invited back for this year’s edition of the event. The winners of each category this weekend will have the opportunity to stand against the reigning 2022 Olympia winners in November.
Ahead of the anticipated showdown, fans highlighted a few Men’s Physique contenders to keep an eye on. Riccardo Croci is hoping to nail down three victories in a row after taking first at the 2023 Tropicarium Budapest Pro and the 2023 Mile High Pro. Should he win this event, he’ll take a Mr. Olympia spot away from someone.
Youcef Djoudi is another competitor brimming with talent to keep tabs on. Djoudi took first at the 2022 Mr. Big Evolution Pro but finished outside the top 15 at Olympia. This will be his first show of the 2023 season.
Lastly, fan-favorite Sidy Pouye will be back in action. He took fourth at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and third at the New York Pro, which was a solid testament to his consistency and skill level. With his eyes on first place, fans were counting down the seconds until he stepped on stage.
Find Out Who Won The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Below:
Men’s Physique: Sidy Pouye
Classic Physique: László Király
Bikini: Molnár Zsófia
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Sidy Pouye
Second Place — Riccardo Croci
Third Place — Jessy Pigury
Fourth Place — Daniel Leone
Fifth Place — Dario Beloli
Sixth Place — Andrea Mosti
Seventh Place — Marcos Iglesias Garcia
Eighth Place — Adama Jammeh
Ninth Place — Fabian Feber
Tenth Place — Luca Biolo
Classic Physique
Winner — László Király
Second Place — Antoine Loth
Third Place — Edwin Owusu
Fourth Place — Adam Bomert
Fifth Place — Damian Kuffel
Sixth Place — Florian Hartiage
Seventh Place — Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Saman Udaya Kumara
Eighth Place — Emanuele Ricotti
Bikini
Winner — Molnár Zsófia
Second Place — Anna Setlak
Third Place — Priscila Leimbacher
Fourth Place — Roberta Mangraviti
Fifth Place — Kristina Brunauer
Sixth Place — Lisa Reith
Seventh Place — Claudia Clemente
Eighth Place — Tatiana Lanovenko
Ninth Place — Patrizia Vaccaro
Tenth Place — Sara Fratella
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Scorecards
Classic Physique
Mens Physique
Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Talks Official Men’s Physique Judging Criteria, Says Thin Legs ‘Can Hurt You’ on Stage
Bob Cicherillo has taken issue with Dave Palumbo over his interpretation of the Men’s Physique rules set to go into effect following 2023 Mr. Olympia. In the latest Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo shared evidence that the Men’s Physique judging criteria takes legs into consideration.
Judging and officiating have taken center stage since last year’s action-packed Mr. Olympia contest. In the end, Hadi Choopan hoisted gold above his shoulders, a victory he earned after years of placing in the top four. Derek Lunsford, meanwhile, also made a statement in his Open class debut by placing runner-up. Given the success of two former 212 competitors, some believe the judging criteria underwent a shift to favor balance, proportions, and conditioning over size and freak factor.
Concerns about judging once again dominated discussions online following Nick Walker‘s loss to Samson Dauda at the 2023 Arnold Classic. Factoring in Walker’s conditioning levels, some veterans of the sport thought ‘The Mutant’ should have earned first. When the dust settled, even Walker expressed doubts about the judging process as he thought he was the rightful winner.
With fan backlash at an all-time high, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo stepped in. He’s taken to multiple podcasts to explain the fair and proper ways to judge a bodybuilding contest. Bob also provided reasons for why the judges awarded Dauda the victory in Ohio instead of Walker.
Weeks ago, IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion announced new changes to the Men’s Physique division. Specifically, the category will impose a weight/height restriction in the coming months. In light of the new statute, Dave Palumbo worried that competitors would ignore leg training in order to game the weight cap. However, in Bob’s opinion, Palumbo couldn’t be more wrong.
“Dave, You’ve Made a Whole Career Out of Lying,” Bob Cicherillo Blasts Dave Palumbo Over Men’s Physique Ruling
According to Cicherillo, competitors could hide their legs 10 years ago but not anymore because the board shorts have changed and now fit tighter on the legs.
“What is it about [Dave] Palumbo that I just have to constantly, constantly correct what he puts out there? So now the big thing is, all this Men’s Physique back and forth is that I’m a liar! And Dave is even mean when he says I’m lying to the athletes, and damn it, he’s not going to take it anymore because he cares so much about the athletes, so much, that he doesn’t even go to the shows. But we’re going to stick with the plot here and actually prove to everybody that I am indeed not the liar. Dave, you’ve made a whole career out of lying.”
“You insist that you do know what’s going on but you really don’t. We’re going to put up a graphic right here and show you how much it’s actually changed. In this picture you’re going to see, this is an actual 10-year difference from your first-ever champ in Mark Anthony to Brandon Hendrickson and you could see – the shorts have changed dramatically.
Yes, you could hide some leg development or lack thereof 10 years ago, but as you can see in the photo, the shorts they wear today are more spandex, they are tighter hugging to the legs because the athletes like to show off their leg development to go with their upper bodies even though it’s Men’s Physique,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
Citing an official IFBB Pro League document, Cicherillo underlined that the whole body is taken into account when judging bodies in the Men’s Physique category.
“We have found the actual written criteria. This is where you’re going to have a problem my friend. The written criteria, now this is from many many years ago but this still holds true, what it means to assess a Men’s Physique physique. I’ll paraphrase, you can see the part right here where it says, and I’ll quote: ‘Assessment should begin at the head and extend downwards, taking the whole physique into account. Whole Dave. W-H-O-L-E- that would mean in its entirety. The whole physique is taken into account.”
“I know who your top head judge is I actually talked to him today. That’s not actually what he said. Even though what you put out there and this is what you do. You try to stack the deck in your favor to try to make your case. But you get caught every single time because you’re not as smart as you think you are.”
Even though an official score isn’t given for leg development in Men’s Physique, Bob shared that it’s still factored into the end result.
“There’s no specific score that goes to leg development as I just read the criteria. The whole body is assessed, okay? And, I do have an actual quote from the same said person that we could put up right now that actually says there’s a little bit more involved isn’t there? The whole physique should be assessed. We look at the physique as a whole. We look at the silhouette of the physique. If you’ve got thin legs, okay, if your legs don’t match your upper body, it will hurt you.”
“Don’t listen to this idiot [Dave Palumbo]. That’s my advice to all the people out there. He has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about and we just proved your wrong once again. Top judges, you can catch anyone of them, any one, go out and get a consensus Dave, talk to 10 of them, they are all going to tell you the same thing I did. The entire physique is taken into consideration in Men’s Physique.”
This isn’t Bob Cicherillo’s first time dropping knowledge on Palumbo over the new rules. In a Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast last week, Cicherillo stressed that competitors in Men’s Physique still need to train their legs otherwise they will appear imbalanced on stage. In addition, Cicherillo mentioned that he’s seen Physique competitors lose shows due to a lack of leg development.
The bodybuilding community is unsure how the new Men’s Physique height/weight cap will affect the growing class. As with any division, Bob Cicherillo made it clear that the ‘entire physique’ is taken into account during the judging process.
RELATED: Jeremy Buendia Shares Massive 4,600-Calorie Bulking Diet That Helped Him Gain 19 lbs in 2 Weeks
You can watch the full video below from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 20 June, 2023 | 7:49 PM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Pro India went down from June 16-18 in New Delhi, India. This show is a 2023 Mr. Olympia qualifier and it features four divisions: 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini.
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Winners
212 Bodybuilding: Andrei Melnikov
Classic Physique: Vahid Badpei
Men’s Physique: Bhuwan Chauhan
Bikini: Jil Meret Schmitz
With the next Mr. Olympia show approaching, athletes are on the hunt for their respective invites. This year’s annual event takes place from November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on the Olympia stage. Unlike in 2022, there are fewer months and events available to qualify for the prestigious show. The 212 Bodybuilding winner at the 2022 Sheru Classic India Pro was Hameed Juma, but he’s opted not to compete. Therefore, a new champ will be crowned in the 212 category.
Heading into the contest, fans immediately took notice of three names in the 212 category: Andrei Melnikov, Iran’s Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola, and Edward Kargbo. During prejudging, they all stood out, which left fans very excited to see how the action would unfold in the finals.
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Pro Results
212 Bodybuilding
Like the prejudging segment of the show, the finals were fiercely competitive. Edward Kargbo and Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola made a play for gold with shredded physiques. In the end, the balance, symmetry, and conditioning of Andrei Melnikov earned him victory. He is 2022 Olympia-bound where he will later get a chance to face the reigning two-time champ, Shaun Clarida. In addition, Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola was second.
Winner — Andrei Melnikov
Second Place — Morteza Mashayekh Kordkola
Third Place — Edward Kargbo
Classic Physique
In Classic Physique, Sunmeet Singh Gill, Mikhail Timoshin, and Vahid Badpei battled for supremacy. While Gill and Timoshin brought impressive packages, the proportions of Vahid Badpei sealed the deal as he walked away victorious with the 2023 Sheru Classic title. Mikhail Timoshin finished runner-up.
Winner — Vahid Badpei
Second Place — Mikhail Timoshin
Third Place — Sunmeet Singh Gill
Fourth Place — Deepak Nanda
Fifth Place — Denis Romanov
Sixth Place — Manoj Sarangapani
Seventh Place — Parmeshwar Sharma
Eighth Place — Chand Mondal
Ninth Place — Mehmet Emin Baydilli
Tenth Place — Kirk Anderson
Men’s Physique
Given the skill level of the participants, fans were in for a treat from the Men’s Physique division. During prejudging and the finals, Ali Bilal, Bhuwan Chauhan, and Raj Kumar Paswan dominated the center stage. They took part in a series of comparisons. Even though all men brought impressive physiques, the upper body of Bhuwan Chauhan stole the show. He is now qualified for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest in November. Meanwhile, Raj Kumar Paswan took second.
Winner — Bhuwan Chauhan
Second Place — Raj Kumar Paswan
Third Place — Ali Bilal
Fourth Place — Anik Ghosh
Fifth Place — Gijo John Kurian
Sixth Place — Ajith Raja P.
Seventh Place — Mohammad Javad Sadeghi
Eighth Place — Tua Anh Tran
Ninth Place — Dilip Kumar N H
Tenth Place — Maxime Parisi
Bikini
In the Bikini division, competitors put on a show. There were several contenders in the running for the first call-out. However, during finals, three women stood out on paper: Rukiye Solak, Elizaveta Dementera, and Jil Meret Schmitz. After a few comparisons, Jil Meret Schmitz won the Bikini title with Elizaveta Dementera taking silver.
Winner — Jil Meret Schmitz
Second Place — Elizaveta Dementera
Third Place — Rukiye Solak
Fourth Place — Laura Martinez Manrique
Fifth Place — Dunaevskaia Ekaterina
Sixth Place — Liana Moroz
Seventh Place — Bunluek Sanguanlikhitkun
Eighth Place — Kristina Ivanova
Ninth Place — Karina Aleksashina
2023 Sheru Classic Pro India Scorecard
Sheru Classic India 212
Sheru Classic India Classic
Sheru Classic Mens
Sheru Classic Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 19 June, 2023 | 2:11 PM EDT
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge Talk Jeremy Buendia, Brandon Hendrickson vs. Erin Banks at 2023 Olympia
As the bodybuilding season marches forward, athletes are gearing up for the biggest show of the year, 2023 Mr. Olympia in November. In a recent Prime Time Muscle show, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy examined some of the rivalries front and center in the Men’s Physique category, all of which feature the reigning Olympia winner, Erin Banks.
The Men’s Physique division has existed for around 10 years and in that time, athletes have evolved to display the best beach bodies possible. In 2013, Mark Anthony Wingson made history when he became the first-ever Men’s Physique Olympia champion. His victory served as a standard for the division at the time and offered his rivals a clear vision of the ideal physique needed to claim gold.
The intensity of the category only grew in the years to follow. Jeremy Buendia established himself as the reigning champion for four years, from 2014-2017. While there have been talks of his comeback in the past, he’s now formally committed in 2023. He’s shared bulking diets, training sessions, and physique goals ahead of his latest venture.
Before Erin Banks won the recent 2022 Men’s Physique Olympia title, Brandon Hendrickson proved himself as one of the best in the division. He became a three-time champion (2018, 2020, 2021), and like Buendia, hopes to knock Banks off the throne in a few months. With such a competitive group of talent, Cormier and El Guindy took a closer look at some of the top contenders expected to compete in November.
Terrick El Guindy Discusses Diogo Montenegro Accusing Erin Banks of ‘Suspect Shoulders’
According to El Guindy, Diogo Montenegro accused Erin Banks of having ‘suspect’ shoulders because there are no striations or separations in the muscle like his.
“Some guys they don’t like each other. That’s the part of the sport. These guys, they hate each other. Oh Terrick don’t use the word hate, well, that’s how they feel about each other. Diogo Montenegro was very specific in Portuguese because I speak the language and he says, ‘My shoulder has separation, my shoulder has striations when I’m really defined, you don’t get to see that on Erin Banks.
You know, making an assumption that Erin Banks shoulders are somehow suspect or present some type of imbalance. That did not go well with Erin Banks. Erin Banks is a cool collected guy. He’s a family guy. If you come his way, he’s from Fresno. They don’t play. He’s like, ‘You can say whatever you want to me, but be ready for the counter attack’ He went after Diogo, he said, ‘You’re a little man with five abs five little blocks,’ you know,” Terrick El Guindy shared.
El Guidy said the online beef reminded him of when Andre Ferguson and Brandon Hendrickson promised a scuffle in Orlando a few years ago.
“Things are getting hairy here. Remember, when we had Andre Ferguson and Brandon Hendrickson they were going to scramble in Orlando a few years ago. Everybody had their board shorts rolling, like, ‘Oh this is going to happen,” El Guindy added.
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge Talk Jeremy Buendia, Brandon Hendrickson, Erin Banks Rivalries Before 2023 Olympia
After El Guindy explained that Banks blocks people online such as Buendia, Chris Cormier suggested that it probably wasn’t personal.
“He had arguments with Jeremy Buendia, he blocked Jeremy Buendia. Then, I think he [Erin Banks] blocked some other guys. If you come to his social media and you don’t like him, he blocks everybody. I mean, it’s his social media he does whatever he wants but that’s his strategy.”
“It’s competition and I’m sure a lot of it is not totally personal. I just – I don’t know, I like going back and forth. It fueled me to look even better than I probably would have if I different have some kind of edge or some type of chip on my shoulder getting ready for a show. I wanted it. I invited it,” said Chris Cormier.
Cormier said back when he competed, those who talked trash to Flex Wheeler would receive a ‘personal block’ since social media didn’t exist then.
“I would probably have to [trash talk] go with Flex Wheeler. Because just knowing him so well, I know what buttons to push and what buttons to not push, and just like we would go into the posing room together, myself, him – Rico McClinton, and Flex, I mean we’d be in there till we’re falling asleep in between. But we knew if you said one thing negative to Flex, he would at that time defriend you or do a personal block on you back in the day, he wouldn’t talk to you for a few weeks,” said Cormier.
Given Hendrickson’s history on top, El Guindy believes he has the potential to upset Banks at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He said he felt a lot of tension between the two Men’s Physique competitors during an Olympia TV live show.
“We might have a shake-up. You never know, Brandon Hendrickson, don’t discount the champion. A lot of times people place second place and guys start talking about new guys, he can come back and he can regain that title. Him and Erin Banks, they dislike each other to the max. There wouldn’t be anything more perfect for Brandon Hendrickson to be the last man standing and to take that trophy from the heart of Erin Banks,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“I did a live with them and there’s a lot of tension between those two guys.”
Even though Jeremy Buendia has proven himself as an elite champion, Cormier said he’s facing a very ‘steep hill’ because his peers, Hendrickson, and Banks, have been competing consistently as of late.
“He’s put on a lot of muscle. I just hope it’s going to turn out right because these guys have actually been competing and he’s actually not been competing,” said Cormier. “I didn’t say he couldn’t make an impact. I’m saying it’s a steep hill to climb when things guys have been competing. I said he’s going to have a steep hill to climb when these guys have been competing competing competing,” shared Cormier.
In the past, Erin Banks and Buendia have gone at it in a heated Olympia TV interview. Banks argued that the category had moved on and evolved since Jeremy’s time in the sport. However, Buendia took issue with Banks lacking respect for champions who paved the path he now walks on.
The IFBB Pro League announced a new height/weight cap restriction for the Men’s Physique division. Following the 2023 Olympia event, the new regulations will go into effect. In an appearance on an NPC News Online YouTube video, IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion laid out why the changes are being implemented. Most importantly, it’s to keep competitors from retaining too much size.
While some in the community such as Dave Palumbo believe the changes would discourage Men’s Physique talent from training legs, Bob Cicherillo disagrees. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, the event announcer explained that ignoring leg training would result in an imbalanced physique despite legs not being a part of the judging criteria.
The rapid growth of the Men’s Physique division has made it one of the most talked about events on the Mr. Olympia schedule. With Erin Banks at the center of at least three rivalries, fans are looking forward to seeing how he fares in what could be his first title defense.
RELATED: 4x Physique Champion Jeremy Buendia Gives Tips For Rear Delts
You can watch the full video below from the Olympia TV YouTube channel:
Published: 15 June, 2023 | 11:43 AM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Clears Air on Men’s Physique Rules, Says Leg Training is Still Needed for Proportions
Bob Cicherillo is the latest to give his opinion on the new height/weight restrictions announced by the IFBB Pro League for the Men’s Physique division. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo said the new statutes will not result in Men’s Physique competitors ignoring leg training because their physiques would appear imbalanced.
Whether it’s judging a contest or providing guidelines on examining a physique, Cicherillo understands the sport on a deep level. He has served as an announcer at several contests for well over a decade. He is also the commentator for the prestigious Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia competitions.
Earlier this week, new rules for the Men’s Physique category were revealed by IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion. The regulations are expected to go into effect at the first show following the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition scheduled for Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Due to concerns about muscularity and size, the organization has decided to implement a height and weight cap restriction, however, exact details have yet to be made available.
Given the significance of this recent change, the bodybuilding community is unsure how it will affect the growing division. According to Cicherilo, Dave Palumbo of RxMuscle believes these new measures would discourage Men’s Physique athletes from training legs in order to make the weight cap. Unlike Palumbo, Cicherillo favors the rule change and explains why below.
“I Think This Is a Great Move,” Says Bob Cicherillo on The New Size Restrictions Put on Men’s Physique Division
Cicherillo said bodies in the Men’s Physique category are ‘getting a little bit out of hand.’ He argued they are beginning to resemble the size of Classic Physique competitors.
“The rules change is that there will now be a weight restriction added to the heights. Most people are wondering what that meant. Well, up until this point it’s just been height. Classic has been weight and height. There’s a ratio we use since its inception so for a few years right now. So, the time has come to bring it back because the physiques are getting a little bit out of hand. They’re starting to look a little to close to the Classic Physique guys. We need to keep a separation of church and state when it comes to different physiques in different divisions.”
“I think this is a great move because you got to have some parameters for keeping physiques, where you want them per the division. If they start to look like bodybuilders in board shorts, this is not what we’re looking for. It has to have a certain level that really you can’t get by that’s when the height and the weight restriction comes in. Now, I did see a few other things going on this past week.”
Bob believes the new restrictions have merit. And while it’s true that legs aren’t directly judged in Men’s Physique contests, Cicherillo explained that they are part of an overall package.
“Dave Palumbo on his podcast, gave his two cents, he thought it was a terrible idea. Didn’t particularly care for it, thought it was going to be a mistake. He felt as though, I thought this was a little weird myself, that this would impact the physiques. That the guys just wouldn’t train legs anymore. Go figure the logic on that one. But he explained that they don’t actually judge the legs. It makes no sense whatsoever, but I’m actually going to get to the point on this one and tell you why it’s a very good idea.”
Cicherillo said size restrictions worked great in Classic Physique, which has come to rival the popularity of the Men’s Open. In addition, Cicherillo highlighted that fans online have discussed potential limits on other classes such as Women’s Physique and Women’s Bodybuilding.
“Number one: again, you need a cap on the type of physique that we’re looking for. That said, a height, weight restriction, okay, a ratio, just like in Classic will keep people under a certain look. Just by virtue that they can’t be too big or they’ll be over the weight limit. This worked very successfully in Classic Physique. Arguably our most successful division up until this point, even a rival for the Men’s Open in some shows.”
“That said, I also offer a little bit more than I think we need to take a look at in the pro league in particular, and the pro league will need to take a look at in the next few years or so. While this is a great start, I also think that we’ve had to now take it back a notch on many divisions, not just Men’s Physique, Men’s Physique has gotten a little bit too muscular, Women’s Physique a lot of chatter out there that that’s becoming Women’s Bodybuilding. Women’s Bodybuilding completely out of control and even Men’s Bodybuilding for that matter, a lot of people complaining and wishing it goes back to the 90s.”
Simply put, Bob Cicherillo doesn’t believe Men’s Physique athletes will stop training legs because their physiques will appear imbalanced on stage. He said he’s seen Men’s Physique athletes lose shows because their legs are disproportionate to their upper bodies.
“This is not going to result in people not training legs. Actually, he did say something else I wanted to address, that the legs aren’t being judged. While that may be inherently true, yes they do have board shorts on if you notice, the board shorts have changed significantly from 10 years ago when we had this division added in. They’re not wearing the big giant board shorts anymore as it would be. The shorts are much slimmer, smaller, and hug the legs a little more.”
“I’ve seen Men’s Physique guys lose shows because their legs are too small. How do you ask? Because you can blatantly see it on stage, if you got little pencils sticking out there for calves, your upper body looks huge, you’re not in proportion. You’re not going to get a score for that but you are being judged on the entire physique and the presentation of your physique.”
“I disagree that anybody is going to stop training legs to make the weight,” added Bob Cicherillo.
Cicherillo has also given his opinion on other bodybuilding divisions. In May, some in the sport called for an end to Men’s 212 Bodybuilding. Given the success Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan enjoyed at the last Mr. Olympia, some believe there’s some truth to that argument. However, Cicherillo said ‘only an idiot’ would get rid of the 212 division.
Bob Cicherillo believes the new height/weight restrictions for Men’s Physique will help keep the division true to its roots, while also ensuring that competitors do not neglect their leg training. Only time will tell how the new rules will be received by the bodybuilding community, but Cicherillo is confident they are a step in the right direction.
RELATED: Men’s Physique Competitor Ryan Terry Shares Muscle-Building 1874-Calorie Protein Shake
You can watch the full video below from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 14 June, 2023 | 11:38 AM EDT
Bodybuilder Matthew Greggo Inspires with Epic 10-Year Body Transformation
American bodybuilder Matthew Greggo has been on the rise in the IFBB Pro League over the last few years. Much like most other competitors, Greggo has come a long way in his bodybuilding journey. In a recent post made on Instagram, Greggo inspired fans with an epic 10-year body transformation picture highlighting the difference in his physique over time.
Matthew Greggo is one of the fastest-growing athletes in the sport. Having found his passion for lifting weights in his teenage years, he embarked on a mission to become a bodybuilder. He dominated the competition in his debut to win the top prize at the 2016 NPC Lehigh Valley Championships under the NPC league. He continued to gain experience with several contest participations and worked his way up the ranks. After narrowly missing out on gold at the 2020 NPC Universe & National Fitness Championships, Greggo managed to earn a pro card in the IFBB Pro League eventually.
Greggo gained attention for his impressive upper body muscle mass, definition, and overall symmetry in the Men’s Physique division. He turned in a strong showing at the 2021 IFBB Optimum Classic Pro, where he took bronze behind runner-up Rodrigue Chesnier and winner Arya Saffaie. Then, he made his way to the 2021 DC Pro and closed his rookie season with a promising performance at the 2021 Europa Orlando.
Greggo turned heads with his insane package at the 2022 Atlanta Pro last year. He showcased his potential with a sixth-place finish in a stacked lineup. He followed up with another solid appearance at the 2022 Chicago Pro before concluding his run at the 2022 Tampa Pro, where he battled it out with Mr. Olympia contender Andre Ferguson.
Matthew was last seen in action at the 2023 New York Pro last month. He chose to switch gears and made a splash in the Classic Physique division instead of his traditionally favored Men’s Physique class. He rounded out the top six in his maiden Classic Physique outing.
Matthew Greggo inspires with epic 10-year body transformation
In a recent Instagram post, Matthew Greggo inspired fans with an epic 10-year body transformation snap showcasing the difference in his physique from when he started to now that he’s an elite IFBB pro competitor.
“10 YEARS OF WORK,” wrote Greggo.
It’s hard to imagine how different competitors looked before they picked up bodybuilding. While many focus on the end result, it’s inspiring to get insight into the dedication, discipline, patience, and work ethic it takes to become a top athlete in the game.
In June 2020, Men’s Open standout William Bonac showed off his impressive body transformation nine years after starting his bodybuilding career. It was stunning to see the amount of size Bonac had packed on and how different he looked while competing as an amateur bodybuilder.
Former Arnold Classic champ Nick Walker gave fans a look into his bodybuilding progress with a crazy transformation earlier this year. For someone who’s considered a freak in a division full of some of the freakiest mass monsters in the world, it was shocking to see where he started and to comprehend how far he’d come in the sport.
Former 212 Olympia champ Derek Lunsford motivated fitness enthusiasts with his incredible body transformation last month. Lunsford, the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up, juxtaposed his contemporary look to his early days of competition to highlight the amount of muscle mass he’s packed on as of late.
RELATED: IFBB VP Tyler Manion Reveals New Height and Weight Restriction Rules for Men’s Physique Division
If his track record is any indication, Matthew Greggo will continue to improve at a rapid pace and may soon find himself competing with the very best of the sport, whether it be in Men’s Physique or Classic Physique.
Published: 13 June, 2023 | 4:59 PM EDT
2023 Mile High Pro Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Mile High Pro went down on June 10 in Denver, Colorado, featuring competitors from the Men’s Physique and Bikini categories. This show was an Olympia qualifier for the biggest event of the year taking place in November.
Bodybuilding’s ultimate destination: Mr. Olympia, takes place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Athletes who wish to compete in this event must earn a qualification. The Olympia Qualification System has undergone dramatic changes since 2022. The point system is no longer in effect so athletes must win a pro show to guarantee entry.
In addition, the deadline to qualify for the 2023 Mr. Olympia show expires on October 9. With time running out to earn an invite, the pressure is building with each passing weekend. Whoever takes home the Men’s Physique crown will have a shot at Erin Banks later this year. Meanwhile, the Bikini winner will also have an opportunity to square off against the current Bikini Olympia Maureen Blanquisco.
With such a stellar roster of talent, determining favorites was a difficult task, but there were some names to watch. Riccardo Croci who is already qualified off his Tropicarium Budapest Pro win, plans to do some damage. Additionally, the 2023 Miami Muscle Beach winner Ramses Rams will aim to earn another title this year. Diogo Basaglia is a hot name to keep an eye on given the strides he’s made as of late too.
2023 Mile High Pro Winners
2023 Mile High Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Riccardo Croci
Second Place — Ramses Rams
Third Place — Drew Cullen
Fourth Place — Diogo Basaglia
Fifth Place — Jason Huynh
Sixth Place — Mark Robinson
Seventh Place — Renato Menezes
Eighth Place — Reynel Chavez Pulido
Ninth Place — Zach Savoie
Tenth Place — Andrew J. David
Bikini
Winner — Ashley Kaltwasser
Second Place — Maya Soleil Astabie
Third Place — Elisabet Vang
Fourth Place — Alina Bogacheva
Fifth Place — Priscila Rodrigues
Sixth Place — Nikki Kiani
Seventh Place — Laura Martinez Manrique
Eighth Place — Ruth Montes
Ninth Place — Langsha He
Tenth Place — Norma Jeane Watkins
2023 Mile High Pro Scorecards
2023 Mile High Pro Men Physique Scorecard
2023 Mile High Pro Bikini Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 11:19 PM EDT
IFBB VP Tyler Manion Reveals New Height and Weight Restriction Rules for Men’s Physique Division
The Men’s Physique category will undergo major changes in 2023. In a recent NPC News Online YouTube video, NPC & IFBB Professional League Vice-President Tyler Manion announced a new height and weight cap restriction for Men’s Physique, effective at the first contest following the 2023 Mr. Olympia. It should be noted that this rule only applies to Pro Men’s Physique competitors, not amateurs.
The Men’s Physique category has been around for approximately 10 years, and in that time, plenty of stars, icons, and talent have come through the category. Since the division’s competitors wear board shorts, their upper bodies are exclusively evaluated.
In 2013, Mark Anthony Wingson made history after becoming the inaugural Men’s Physique Olympia champion. Following the outcome, fellow competitors had a much clearer idea of what the judges were looking for physique-wise.
The division has never been more compelling. Former four-time Men’s Physique Olympia Jeremy Buendia laid out his firm comeback plan a few months ago. He held the title from 2014-2017. Brandon Hendrickson is a three-time winner and remains the only bodybuilder in his class to have regained the title after losing it.
The category is ultra-competitive and fans realized that in the aftermath of 2022 Mr. Olympia. In the end, Erin Banks upset Hendrickson for gold and became the first competitor from his division to win the Olympia and Arnold Classic in the same year.
Tyler Manion Institutes Height/Weight Cap in Men’s Physique: ‘We Want to Make Sure Athletes Aren’t Getting Too Big’
Tyler’s statement left out details pertaining to the exact height and weight limitations. However, he said that information will be made public two months before 2023 Mr. Olympia in September.
“The reason for this video is because we want to give a heads up to all of our athletes and our coaches that after the Olympia this year, we will be instituting heights and weight limits for our Men’s Physique pros, not amateurs, just the pros. This will go into effect for the first show after the Olympia this year.”
“Why would we do this? We’ve had great success with our heights and weights in Classic Physique so far, we want to make sure our Men’s Physique athletes are not getting too big. This is very important because that’s almost like the go-to saying for a lot of people online that just see the pictures of the shows, really not seeing them in person, but seeing the pictures of the shows and saying a lot of the Men’s Physique athletes are getting too big.”
Given the current crop of talent, Tyler believes most athletes at the top will meet the new height/weight restriction. He shared that officials are recording height and weights at every contest to ensure the new rule is implemented properly.
“I don’t think that’s the case, I think a lot of guys that have been doing well recently are not getting too big but having height and weight limits on these guys will help us control that size. And just so you guys know, the weight limits for your height will be under obviously, the Classic Physique weight limits. So, these next couple of months if you guys are over, or a lot over, or just a little over the Classic Physique weight limits, you should be keeping track of your weight and if you need to, start to downsize a little because while the weights aren’t set yet, they will be lower than the Classic weights.”
“That’s why we are going to continue to height and weight the Men’s Physique pros at most of the shows this year to get data, to help us set the final weights. Giving heights and weights to these athletes is a solution but not the perfect solution because someone can be the same height and the same weight but carry their weight a lot differently.”
“Another important part of this is adhering to our judging criteria and our standards for Men’s Physique which so far this year, I think we’ve done a really good job of. I want to highlight a lot of the athletes who have competed this year that these are what you should be looking for when you look at Men’s Physique pros and what we want to see. It’s also to show you that even though these guys are some of the best guys in the league, they still all have little points of feedback that differ depending on their physiques.”
Manion Names Top Men’s Physique Athletes Who Represent The Look Wanted for Men’s Physique
According to Tyler Manion, the physiques of Emmanuel Hunter, Corey Morris, Ryan Terry, Benquil Marigny, and Sidy Pouye represent the direction in which the division is headed.
Emmanuel Hunter
The first name Manion mentioned was 2023 Memphis Pro winner Emmanuel Hunter.
“One guy that competed earlier this year that I want to highlight for getting into a couple of different shows that just happened the last few weeks is Emmanuel (Emmanuel Hunter) won the show in Tennesee. Probably the best he’s ever looked but he has a great Men’s Physique look. His arms and shoulders flow well with his torso. He has a great back. His upper chest could come up a little bit to match the rest of his chest to give him more symmetry, basically, he has to nail his conditioning. He needs to work on that but a great guy to look for for a Men’s Physique look. A very dangerous guy heading into the Olympia later this year.”
Corey Morris
Morris recently took gold in the Men’s Physique class at Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro.
“Corey Morris. Corey has improved a ton I think on his look over the last few years. Nothing on his torso needs to change. He has a small waist, great chest, full chest, his back has come up considerably, but his feedback that he’s gotten for a while now, and it’s still his feedback, his arms, and shoulders, he needs to work on bringing them down a little bit more for Men’s Physique.”
“Just to touch on mostly everybody I’m talking about from taking heights and weights the last few weeks… these guys would make the new weights that I’m considering right now for Men’s Physique. That’s the other reason I’m highlighting them. Not only do they look the part but they would all make the weight or very close to it.”
Ryan Terry
In addition, Tyler named Ryan Terry who took second in Pittsburgh but first at the New York Pro.
“He [Ryan Terry] has always had a great Men’s Physique look, very balanced physique, exactly what we’re looking for. He still needs a little bit more thickness in his back to really make his back pop the same way as his front. Obviously, he knows from the Olympia till now, he knows the posing has gotten way better. He still needs to nail his posing and work on his posing, especially his back pose. When he gets to the Olympia and to be a threat to obviously Erin and Brandon, just like a lot of these guys, these three guys right here, Emmanuel, Corey, and Ryan brought great looks so far, but it’s not just them.”
Benquil Marigny
Marigny won the 2023 St. Louis Pro and was another physique Tyler highlighted.
“In Pittsburgh, Benquil has competed a lot this year, he won a show he’s qualified. He brings a great look for Men’s Physique too. He still needs a little bit more to his chest and more pop to his back but I thin that will come when he brings his conditioning more.”
Sidy Pouye
Sidy Pouye’s look was highly favored as well. He’s been consistent this year, having earned fourth in Pittsburgh and third at the New York Pro.
“Sidy. Once again, a guy that brought a great look for Men’s Physique with great conditioning, the main factor on him that he needs to fix is posing. He poses himself out of how good he can look. I know because after New York I got the chance to talk to him and work with him. I think he’s going to bringing a look later this year, an even better look for Men’s Physique when he’s posing correctly.”
“All these guys that I just mentioned would most likely make the new weights for Men’s physique. They have a good Men’s Physique look,” added Tyler Manion.
Given Jeremy Buendia’s focus on size for the comeback, it will be interesting to see how the judges evaluate his physique. Buendia aims to dethrone Erin Banks and shocked fans recently with a 4,000-calorie diet he’s using to bulk up.
Rivals Banks and Buendia teased fans of their impending showdown with a special Olympia TV appearance a few months ago. Buendia isn’t taking his nemesis lightly. In a recent appearance in Straight Outta the Lair with seven-time 212 Olympia Flex Lewis, Buendia said he’d have to bring a flawless package to 2023 Olympia if he wanted any chance at taking out Banks.
With the division’s rapid growth and popularity, it’s quickly become one of the main attractions at the annual Mr. Olympia show. As the new rules seemingly favor a leaner look in Men’s Physique, it appears the category is moving away from mass in the future.
RELATED: Jeremy Buendia ‘Hovering Around’ 210 Lbs in Update, Reveals His Steroid Cycle
Watch the full video from the NPC News Online YouTube channel below:
Published: 9 June, 2023 | 12:04 PM EDT