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Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge List Best Backs & Legs in Bodybuilding History
Bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier has found a place as a respected analyst since moving on from professional competition. He amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience stemming from his decades of work in the sport. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Cormier and Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy listed the best backs and legs in bodybuilding history.
Chris Cormier first gained attention for his massive muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division in the 90s. He placed fourth at the 1994 Arnold Classic and turned in a strong performance to get a sixth-place finish in his Mr. Olympia debut in 1994. While he did not win the contest, Cormier was a consistent top-eight finisher and scored two bronze medals. He hung up his posing trunks after a final outing at the 2007 Montreal Pro Classic.
Earlier this year, Cormier heaped praises on 2022 Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan for his insane consistency in the last five years. He believes Choopan is one of the hardest-working athletes and could defend the title successfully with his refined conditioning and posing abilities.
El Guindy and Cormier made the case against the need to get glute implants and injections in bodybuilding as it could create imbalances, which would result in docked points. The pair broke down the immensely successful careers of the two winningest athletes in bodybuilding, Dexter Jackson and Ashley Kaltwasser three months ago. Cormier ranked Jackson’s resume at the top due to the fierce competition he went up against in fewer shows than available today.
Cormier extended his support for budding Open contender Michal Krizo to become a major force in the near future two months ago. Based on Krizo’s raw look, Cormier is convinced he could be a title contender if he continued to improve at a decent rate.
Last month, Cormier lauded reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead for his immense success and analyzed his chances in the Open class. He argued Bumstead could battle it out in some poses and warranted a special invite to compete in the Open Olympia.
Chris Cormier picked the arms of Robby Robinson as the greatest ever along with his crazy biceps peak while El Guindy favored the arms of seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath last month.
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge List Best Backs in Bodybuilding History
In a recent YouTube video, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy shared their thoughts on the competitors who had the best back muscle development of all time. The duo agreed on former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout having the best back, ahead of legendary bodybuilders like Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, and Phil Heath.
“If you’re going to go with the best backs, I’d say the ‘Lion of Lebanon.’ When I started competing, he was the Mr. Olympia at the time,” said Cormier. “It was 1983, he won the Olympia and I didn’t think it was real because being a teenager. You’re looking at all the striations, the Christmas tree so deep all across the lats.
“Ali Malla was another one who had an awesome back from back in the day, the back double bicep along with that, every shot from the back looked like it was pasted on, like Plato actually pasted on. I didn’t think those triceps were real because I didn’t know that you can get those little lines.”
“Then you gotta go with Lee Haney. He also had a magnificent back, him and Dorian Yates. Robby Robinson had the back double not so much the last bit but the back double. Flex Wheeler had a crazy back double bicep. Then, there was also Ronnie Coleman. You can not ever speak about this without Ronnie Coleman.”
El Guindy said, “Ronnie Coleman 1999 back double biceps and back lat spread, Dorian Yates 1993 back double biceps and back lat spread, Mohammed Benaziza 1991 Night of Champions, black lat spread and very thick on the back double bicep. Let’s mention guys that didn’t win shows, didn’t become legends, such as Joel Stubbs, he had an incredible back double bicep. In terms of quality, it’s hard to beat Samir Bannout.
“Let’s not forget about one of the guys that people don’t appreciate, stop right now and start appreciating Phil Heath. Phil Heath 2013 back double biceps might be one of the prettiest things you’ve ever seen.”
Cormier & El Guindy on Best Legs Ever
‘The Real Deal’ and El Guindy gave their takes on the competitors who brought the best legs in the history of bodybuilding. They agreed on ‘The Quadfather’ leading the list with Cormier in the mix as well.
El Guindy said, “With back you can go many directions but with legs only one; big, shredded, massive, dense, and it hasn’t gotten better. It’s the only guy in the world with those legs, Tom Platz. Paul De Mayo possibly second, Chris Cormier, and then you got Branch Warren had legs for days.
“2013 Big Ramy’s legs with all that separation, incredible. 2022 Big Ramy without the separation not incredible,” he continued. “Tom Platz is number one for me. Maybe Chris tied with Paul De Mayo and Branch Warren but they were different styles of legs.”
El Guindy added Coleman but Cormier did not agree. They believe there is no clear contender with massive legs in contemporary bodybuilding.
“I’m also going to say Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath. One time I saw Phil Heath guest posing in Los Angeles and his legs looked massive.”
“Renel Janvier had the glutes, quads, fibers all over,” said Cormier. “You didn’t have to say Ronnie Coleman because he started out with some of the smallest legs in the sport and ended with some of the biggest legs in the sport. Dorian had big legs in certain poses, not all around. He had the calves obviously., It wasn’t just the quads, it was overall density of the leg and his whole body, the back, the whole shot was just crazy.”
El Guindy added, “I’d like to see more legs from Nick Walker. That’s one of the things. Nick Walker is known for his muscularity on top. He needs more flaring quads to minimize the waist. At this point in this generation, we don’t have anybody specific that we go has wow huge legs.”
Two weeks ago, Chris Cormier and El Guindy backed rising Open sensation Andrew Jacked’s chances at dominating the sport for the next few years. They identified 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda as the biggest threat standing on Jacked’s way to glory.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 12:09 PM EDT
2023 Musclecontest Patriots Challenge Pro Results and Scorecards
On Saturday, July 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada, nearly 20 Bikini talents stormed the stage at the 2023 Musclecontest Patriots Challenge Pro looking to earn gold, a cash check, and bragging rights. This show served as a qualifier for the upcoming Olympia contest.
As it stands, competitors have until Oct 9 to guarantee passage to this year’s Olympia show. Among those competing is three-time Bikini Olympia queen Ashley Kaltwasser. While she has already earned her ticket to Olympia, she’s here to block others from attending. In addition, if Kaltwasser proves successful this weekend, she will make history by becoming the only bodybuilder to ever win a total of 40 IFBB Pro League shows.
Aside from Kaltwasser, Ruth Montes is after gold. She already competed at four shows this year. In her last outing, Montes took eighth place at the 2023 Mile High Pro. Ashley Hampton is another viable threat eager to do some damage on stage. She last made a statement at the Charlotte Pro back in April where she finished fourth.
2023 Patriots Challenge Pro Results
Bikini
Winner — Ashley Kaltwasser
Second Place — Ashley Hampton
Third Place — Michelle Billett
Fourth Place — Mia Bartschi
Fifth Place — Marioly Galarza
Sixth Place — Ariel Barley
Seventh Place — Maya Astabie
Eighth Place — Rudie Guerrero
Ninth Place — Hazel Hernandez
Tenth Place — Viviana Salazar
2023 Patriots Challenge Pro Scorecard
FitnessVolt congratulates the winner!
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 3:15 AM EDT
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
Eddie Williams & Trey Mitchell Set World Records at 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic took place on July 8th at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, and saw Evan Singleton claim the title overall. The competition was extremely tense from start to finish, with multiple competitors displaying incredible strength. In addition, we got to witness two World Records set by Eddie Williams and Trey Mitchell. So, despite not winning, these two men walked away satisfied with their new achievements.
Eddie Williams — Nicol Stone Carry World Record
The first World Record was set immediately at the start of the competition, as the Nicol Stone Carry was the first event. However, with the previous world record holder competing as well, it was very surprising to see that Eddie Williams would be the one setting a new one.
Kevin Faires set the previous record at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals, where he carried the Nicol Stones for a distance of 24.61 meters.
The goal of the Nicol Stone Carry is to carry the two iconic stones for the maximum distance possible. One stone weighs 114 kilograms (251 pounds), and the other one comes out to 138 kilograms (304 pounds). Each stone has a handle made of metal rings, which makes carrying them much more difficult since they are incredibly uncomfortable.
Four men managed to outperform the old Nicol Stone Carry World Record, but Eddie Williams was the one who carried it the furthest. His distance came out to 31.66 meters, which is now the World Record mark.
Related: 2023 Giants Live World Open Events Revealed — Introduction of Wrecking Ball Hold
Trey Mitchell — Viking Press World Record
Trey Mitchell was the man who set the second World Record of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic. He did so in the Viking Press event, where a weight of 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds) was used, and the goal was to perform as many reps as possible.
Paul Smith, who was able to lock out 13 repetitions at the 2023 Giants Live Britain’s Strongest Man, previously held the record for this activity. However, six men at the Strongman Classic beat that mark, with Trey Mitchell performing the best.
Trey Mitchell initially completed 19 repetitions, but the judge disallowed one of them. So, his final score came out at 18 repetitions, which was enough to break the record and beat all the other competitors as well.
Related: 2023 Official Strongman Games Events Revealed
Trey Mitchell finished in fourth place at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, while Eddie Williams finished just behind him in fifth. Both men were performing extremely well, but they could not match the two WSM champions, Tom Stoltman and Mitchell Hooper, or Evan Singleton.
Trey Mitchell will now continue training for the 2023 Shaw Classic, since he is the reigning 2x champion. So, winning the third title in a row will be a huge goal for him. Breaking the World Record can only boost his morale and motivation, making him a force to be reckoned with at the Shaw Classic. On the other hand, Eddie Williams proved himself as well. So, he could start getting invites to other major competitions in the future as well.
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 7:19 PM EDT
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Full Results — Evan Singleton Wins
The 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic took place on July 8th 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. It was undoubtedly one of the biggest competitions of the year, featuring two WSM champions and nine more elite Strongman athletes. Lasting only one day, the Strongman Classic consisted of five events, after which Evan Singleton was crowned as the champion.
Evan Singleton was consistently good throughout the entire competition, but he secured the title in the final moments of the competition. He finished in the top three across all five events, while his rivals had at least one event in which they dropped a significant amount of points. So, Evan only jumped to first place on the final event, the Atlas Stones.
Tom Stoltman finished in second place, just 0.5 points behind Evan Singleton. Although the victory was almost his, he fell short and took home the silver medal.
The man who spent the most time in the lead, Mitchell Hooper, dropped down to third-place after a relatively bad performance on the Atlas Stones. It seemed like it would be smooth sailing for Hooper after three events, but the momentum quickly shifted on the final two events.
Gavin Bilton was also supposed to be competing as a replacement for Pavlo Nakonechnyy, but he could not make it to the competition because of an unspecified family emergency.
2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic Lineup
Evan Singleton (USA) — 47 points
Tom Stoltman (Scotland) — 46.5 points
Mitchell Hooper (Canada) — 43 points
Trey Mitchell (USA) — 33.5 points
Eddie Williams (Australia) — 32 points
Luke Stoltman (Scotland) — 28 points
Spenser Remick (USA) — 27 points
Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine) — 22.5 points
Kevin Faires (USA) — 22 points
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso) — 19 points
Rongo Keene (Australia) — 5.5 points
Related: 2023 UK’s Strongest Woman & Man Results — Rebecca Roberts & Paul Smith Take Gold
Event One — Nicol Stone Carry
The Nicol Stones are one of the legendary events in Strongman, as the athletes have to carry one in each hand for the maximum distance possible. The heavier stone weighs 138 kilograms (304 pounds), while the lighter stone weighs 114 kilograms (251 pounds). However, the handles for each stone are just simple metal rings which cause a lot of pain for anyone performing the event.
We got to see Eddie Williams set a Nicol Stone Carry World Record in the first event of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic, as four men beat the previous mark of 24 meters set by Kevin Faires at the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals. However, out of the four that outperformed the record, Eddie Williams of Australia carried it the furthest, dropping the stones at a length of 31.66 meters.
Eddie Williams — 31.66 m
Mitchell Hooper — 26.66 m
Evan Singleton — 25.25 m
Kevin Faires — 24.82 m
Tom Stoltman — 20.87 m
Luke Stoltman — 19.53 m
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 17.34 m
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 16.14 m
Rongo Keene — 12.5 m
Spenser Remick — 6.95 m
Trey Mitchell — 5.73 m
Event Two — Super Yoke
The second event of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic was the Super Yoke, which weighed 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms). This implement was carried for a distance of 20 meters, with the athletes racing to get the quickest time.
The 2023 WSM, Mitchell Hooper, did not let anyone get close to him in the Super Yoke event, as he was the only man to break the 10-second barrier. The next quickest man was Evan Singleton, who finished 2.35 seconds behind Hooper. Tom Stoltman finished in third with a time of 12.21 seconds
Mitchell Hooper — 9.84 s
Evan Singleton — 12.19 s
Tom Stoltman — 12.21 s
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 13.42 s
Spenser Remick — 14.45 s
Luke Stoltman — 14.87 s
Eddie Williams — 15.36 s
Trey Mitchell — 17.47 s
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 20.11 s
Kevin Faires — 20.16 s
Rongo Keene — 31.20 s
Event Three — Deadlift
The third event of the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic featured a Deadlift for reps event. While there were many options, the organizers opted to use an axle barbell and load it with 360 kilograms (793.7 pounds). Then, the athletes had to perform as many reps as possible.
Mitchell “The Moose” Hooper claimed his second event win of the day and set up a decent foundation for himself going into the final two events. He was the only man to perform seven repetitions, which earned him the max 11 points possible.
Finishing behind Hooper was the 2021 & 2022 WSM, Tom Stoltman with six reps. The third place was then shared by two US representatives, Trey Mitchell, and Evan Singleton, as they both locked out five reps.
Rongo Keene had to pull out from the competition after the deadlift event, with his doctors determining that it was best for him to withdraw since he was suffering from illness.
Mitchell Hooper — 7 reps
Tom Stoltman — 6 reps
Evan Singleton — 5 reps
Trey Mitchell — 5 reps
Eddie Williams — 3 reps
Luke Stoltman — 3 reps
Kevin Faires — 3 reps
Spenser Remick — 2 reps
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 2 reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 1 rep
Rongo Keene — 1 rep
Event Four — Viking Press
The penultimate event of the competition was the Viking Press, a well known piece of equipment in Strongman made to perform a standing shoulder press. The weight of the Viking Press was 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds), with the goal being to perform as many reps as possible.
Trey Mitchell walked out onto the stage and performed 18 repetitions on the Viking Press for a new World Record.
This event also saw Evan Singleton and Tom Stoltman tie for second with 17 reps each. This was extremely important for both, as they narrowed the distance in points between them and Mitchell Hooper who got 3.5 points less than them.
Iron Biby withdrew after this event for unknown reasons, but he was seen limping away after the Viking Press.
Trey Mitchell — 18 reps
Tom Stoltman — 17 reps
Evan Singleton — 17 reps
Spenser Remick — 15 reps
Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou — 15 reps
Mitchell Hooper — 14 reps
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 13 reps
Luke Stoltman — 11 reps
Kevin Faires — 9 reps
Eddie Williams — 7 reps
Event Five — Castle Stones
The final event in the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic was the Castle Stones. The athletes were tasked with lifting and placing five progressively heavier stones on their platforms, ranging from 120 kilograms (264.5 pounds) to 200 kilograms (440 pounds).
Although heat and humidity made the Castle Stones event much harder for everyone, Tom Stoltman still put up a mind-blowing time of 20.29 seconds for all five stones. This secured him the maximum points and made him jump from third to second place overall.
Evan Singleton was the most surprising athlete on the Castle Stones, as he was the only other man apart from Tom to complete all five. This put him in first place overall, as he finished with 0.5 points more than Tom overall.
Mitchell Hooper only got three stones, failing to grip the fourth stone. This might be due to multiple reasons, but it looked like his tacky (glue placed on forearms) got less effective due to the heat in the arena.
Tom Stoltman — 5 in 20.29 s
Evan Singleton — 5 in 25.18 s
Trey Mitchell — 4 in 22.21 s
Eddie Williams — 4 in 25.75 s
Spenser Remick — 4 in 27.47 s
Luke Stoltman — 3 in 12.80 s
Mitchell Hooper — 3 in 16.19 s
Pavlo Kordiyaka — 3 in 23.07 s
Kevin Faires — 1 in 25.40 s
Related: Strongman Evan Singleton Discusses Mental Health With Eddie Hall: ‘I’ve Tried To Kill Myself More Than Once’
Evan Singleton has been excelling as a Strongman this year, having competed twice and put up incredible performances both times. Back in April, Evan made it to the WSM Finals for the first time ever and placed fifth overall. Now, he added another International victory to his resume, making it his fourth overall. He has finally reached his peak shape after years of falling just short. So, hopefully he will ride the momentum and continue contending for the biggest titles in the sport.
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Flex Wheeler on Getting Bigger: ‘If Your Frame Can’t Handle It, It’s A Big Mistake’
Kenneth ‘Flex’ Wheeler is a major inspiration for bodybuilders, having cemented a legendary career during the 1990s and 2000s. In a recent Olympia TV video, Wheeler and Bob Cicherillo discussed a few topics like athletes hanging around too long, and chasing size unnecessarily.
Wheeler is widely regarded as one of the best bodybuilders to ever compete despite a lack of Mr. Olympia titles. He’s a four-time Arnold Classic winner and brought an unparalleled level of detail, proportions, and aesthetics to the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. In addition to his round muscle bellies and slim waist, Wheeler bested some great competitors in his prime, such as Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Chris Cormier.
Looking back on his career, even Ronnie Coleman admits he wouldn’t be where he is today had it not been for Wheeler. Coleman has appeared in interviews and explained that Wheeler introduced him to his long-time trainer, Chad Nicholls. In the years that would follow, Coleman became a dominant eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder whose size was chased by the entire division.
Wheeler has been open with fans about his on-stage battles with Coleman. In an interview with Jay Cutler on the Cutler Cast Podcast, Wheeler reflected on his second-place finish to Coleman in 1998. In hindsight, Wheeler said he was ‘green’ back then, and could have done more both in terms of nutrition and training.
In his latest undertaking, Wheeler joined Bob Cicherillo to discuss athletes who delay retirements. In addition, they examined competitors who are obsessed with adding size at the cost of their physiques.
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo Answer Why Bodybuilders Delay Retirement: “We Are Extreme Athletes”
Flex accepts that he didn’t retire on top and mentioned that he wasn’t looking for an ‘exit strategy’ during the prime years of his career.
“You know, unfortunately, I didn’t get there yet. I felt that I achieved one of my best ever in 1999 at the English Grand Prix. Then, you know, it didn’t go well because I started getting sick. I still was like in a developing stage that I thought I had more in the tank and when I got sick that just changed everything and it changed my ability to compete.
I wasn’t even looking at an exit strategy. Look at Ronnie, Ronnie existed a lot longer after I left. I was looking like I had at least that much time that they did. I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was thinking about I have a third gear to get to and I’m only in second gear,” said Flex Wheeler.
According to Cicherillo, many athletes stick around too long, such as Ronnie Coleman. Seldom do bodybuilders retire on top, like Lee Haney or Lee Priest did.
“I think Ronnie hung out one show too long, you know, Dave I think honestly hung out one show too long, to me, the perfect scenario is you get to write your own story,” added Cicherillo. “We don’t see that a lot. We don’t see a lot of people that write their own ticket off. Yeah, Lee Haney. We haven’t seen that in years.”
“You know, Bob I think it’s because we’re extreme athletes. You look at someone great like Muhammad Ali, you look at that belief, you still have it until someone comes along and proves you don’t. You still believe that. You look at every great. You look at the great Michael Jordan, he came back after going to baseball, he thought he had game going to baseball, it was like nah, this game changed you ain’t no good at baseball. Then, when he came back to basketball, you had Kobe, the younger version of him,” explained Wheeler.
Wheeler & Cicherillo Talk Bodybuilders Being Obsessed with Size & Getting Bigger
Wheeler believes athletes are over-concerned with size and adding tissue instead of focusing on getting better. He said most young competitors nowadays would benefit from losing 15 pounds.
“It’s dysmorphia, especially in our sport, a distorted vision is what I called it and I had it. I never thought I was big enough, I always wanted to put on more size. But it’s not putting on more size, it’s getting better. And bigger doesn’t always mean better, sometimes better is just better.”
“In our sport, it’s probably one of the worst examples that we always feel that we have to get bigger, especially when we turn pro, oh I got to compete with the big boys I better get bigger. That’s always a mistake, especially if your frame can’t handle it.”
“I would almost argue if young men lost 15 pounds of muscle he’d be a more competitive bodybuilder and a more dangerous bodybuilder too,” added Wheeler.
This isn’t the first time that Flex Wheeler has cautioned athletes about adding size. Last year, before the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Wheeler told Wiliam Bonac to avoid chasing the champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s muscularity as it could ultimately work against him. In the end, the last Mr. Olympia contest was determined mostly by the conditioning and balance of Hadi Choopan‘s physique.
And it’s not just Wheeler who is calling for less size in the Open. In April, bodybuilding veteran Tony Pearson joined The Menace Podcast to discuss the role of size in Men’s Bodybuilding. He believes it’s not about size and argued the category should focus more on the lines of a given physique.
While size obviously factors into the upper echelons of the Men’s Open, Flex Wheeler is confident most athletes could find success 15 pounds lighter. He continues to stress that bigger isn’t always better in the world of bodybuilding.
RELATED: 57-yo Flex Wheeler Inspires With Leg Press Workout Using Prosthetic Leg
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 2:58 PM EDT
Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Sets a Massive 860-lb (390-kg) Deadlift Two-Rep PR
The professional bodybuilding scene has seen quite a few strength freaks, but one that has stood out in the past few years is Joe Mackey. Joe is an IFBB Pro with an extremely remarkable physique, but he is often recognized for his deadlift prowess. In fact, as per his Instagram description, Joe holds the heaviest deadlift in the IFBB. So, he is doing everything in his power to hold onto this title, despite it being unofficial. Most recently, Joe displayed another step of improvement by sharing an 860-pound (390-kilogram) deadlift two-rep PR.
Being an IFBB Pro, Joe Mackey still dedicates the majority of his time to bodybuilding. However, he somehow finds time to work on his deadlifts, which is why he was able to come out with a brand new PR. For the 860-pound (390-kilogram) deadlift, Mackey only used a lifting belt and a pair of lifting straps. He also chose the conventional stance for this two-rep PR, since it is something that suits him the best.
“It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve felt some heavy weight on deadlifts so I had to do everything to activate my CNS so I’m extra lit ? ! Lol ?”
Watch Joe Mackey’s lift here:
Related: Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Scores 800-lb (362.9-kg) Raw Deadlift For Four-Rep PR
Joe Mackey is also an entrepreneur, leading multiple businesses, but that does not stop him from pursuing his goals in the world of fitness. He has previously stated that his goal is to deadlift 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) and he is slowly progressing towards it.
Joe Mackey was unofficial the first IFBB Pro to deadlift 900 pounds (408.2 kilograms) in April of 2022, but he managed to add another 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) to his PR at the start of this year.
As far as his bodybuilding career goes, Joe Mackey had one of his most successful years in 2022. Firstly he put up a fifth-place finish at the 2022 IFBB Tampa Pro, and followed it by placing ninth at the 2022 IFBB Texas Pro.
Joe Mackey has also been active with other parts of his fitness journey, such as sharing it on the internet. So, Joe recently posted an epic cheat meal, what he puts in his grocery bags, as well as achievements on other exercises such as the hack squat.
Related: Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Shows Off Insanely Shredded Physique Ahead Of 2022 IFBB Tampa & Texas Pro
Joe Mackey has been setting deadlift PRs on a very frequent basis, proving that his training program is working perfectly. Although he has to put in a lot more work, Joe is approaching his goal and becoming the first pro bodybuilder to deadlift 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) is now looking like a realistic opportunity for him.
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 12:28 PM EDT
Chris Bumstead Reveals The ‘Most Toxic’ Steroid He Stays Away From
Canadian bodybuilder Chris Bumstead is arguably the most popular competitor of any division in the modern era. The young powerhouse has cemented his place in the history books with four Classic Physique Olympia wins in a row. In a recent interview with Chris Williamson, Bumstead revealed the ‘most toxic’ steroid he stays away from and plans to retire if his PED use begins to adversely affect his health.
Chris Bumstead first made a name for himself with his impressive muscle mass, symmetry, and proportions in the Classic Physique category in 2017. His potential was evident from the start as he took silver in his Mr. Olympia debut. After placing second again to former two-time champion Breon Ansley, Bumstead finally secured the coveted first-place trophy at the 2019 Mr. Olympia. He has fended off rising contenders with his latest victory coming at the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Bumstead opened up on the challenges that come with being a dominant champion earlier this year. He admitted feeling a lot of pressure from the high expectations he set for himself during his early days of competition. While he intends to add the fifth title under his belt, Bumstead plans to listen to his health and body first and foremost.
Courtney King with Chris Bumstead / Instagram
‘CBum’ revealed his trainer Hany Rambod is focused on bringing a leaner Bumstead to the 2023 Mr. Olympia three months ago. He shared that Chris would usually get up to 265 pounds in the off-season but planned to cap it at 255-258 pounds this year based on his mentor’s advice.
Bumstead detailed his split with former coach and Men’s Open competitor Iain Valliere two months ago. He credited Valliere for helping him stay injury-free and for not having him use copious amounts of gear. He’s turning up the intensity in training and believes he’s in better shape than ever before looking ahead.
Chris Bumstead gave fans a look into the private gym he’s developing at his home last month. He also cut down to four meals a day instead of six. He crushed a heavy legs workout for muscle growth as well. Then, Bumstead offered a back workout regimen for maximizing gains in the off-season.
Chris Bumstead Will Leave the Sport if His Health Faltered
Chris Bumstead With Coach Hany Rambod
In a recent YouTube video, Chris Bumstead opened up on dealing with the health risks associated with PED (performance-enhancing drug) usage.
“If you’re a bodybuilder and you don’t worry about that, you’re either stupid or lying to be completely honest,” said Bumstead. “So this is something that’s definitely on the forefront of my brain but I just manage it as best as I can. You get blood work done consistently to keep your markers on.
There’s a lot of tests. Diagnostics now are absolutely insane if you want to stay healthy long term, if something is going on with you, it’s catching it early. I do a lot of diagnostics and blood work to make sure I stay healthy.”
He plans to retire if his steroid use starts to negatively impact his health.
“I’ve made an agreement with myself that when these things start to falter and they start to go down, no matter where I’m at in my career if I’m peaked, if I’m not peaked, I just need to call it. It’s not worth it to me. There’s a life after bodybuilding. Who I am is not a bodybuilder, there’s more to me than that.”
Bumstead Reveals Trenbolone as ‘Most Toxic’ Steroid He Stays Away From
‘CBum’ revealed he stays away from using Trenbolone because of the adverse side effects.
“The biggest one is tren. There’s guys who literally base their social media off that now. It’s a meme of the gym culture. I don’t even think people realize the impact these jokes and memes have on people coming up who see you constantly joking and talking about you need more of it to be better, stronger, and all this s**t. But that’s probably the most toxic thing you can put in your body. I’ve done it in the past but I don’t anymore. I haven’t touched it in five years due to just the toxicity it causes in your body. It just comes in and harms your kidneys, your liver, everything that takes your body to process it and go through it. It’s not naturally meant to be in your body. It makes you strong as f**k.”
“Another reason why I love Classic Physique is because I had a weight cap and I was close to my weight cap like three years ago, not at it. But I could’ve taken more sh*t and really tapped out to the point where I couldn’t put on any more weight or I could actually take less and force myself to work harder.”
Chris Bumstead laid out the 10 exercises he would pick from if he had no other options earlier this month. He chose a blend of compound and isolation movements to ensure all his muscle groups get taxed. Social media fitness star Jeff Cavaliere weighed in on Bumstead’s choices with his support and agreed with nine out of the 10 exercises on his list as well.
While PEDs in the sport is a sticky subject, hopefully, fans and competitors can take a lesson from Chris Bumstead, who many consider one of the best bodybuilders on the planet.
You can watch the full video below:
RELATED: Chris Bumstead Opens Up on Pressures of Being Dominant: “I’m Afraid That I’m Going to Lose”
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 12:19 PM EDT
Larry Wheels Cranks Out 405 Lbs Bench Press In A Joint Training Session With Stefi Cohen
Larry Wheels and Stefi Cohen are renowned athletes recognized for their exceptional accomplishments across various sports disciplines. They recently teamed up for a weight training session. However, Stefi Cohen introduced Wheels to agility and strength training and he did quite well in spite of being relatively inexperienced in that area.
Larry Wheels is a multi-talented individual that has a presence in strength sports like bodybuilding, powerlifting as well as arm wrestling. He is best known for wrecking powerlifting records in the gym and routinely posts his feats of incredible strength on the YouTube channel that has garnered 2.78 million followers at the time of this article’s publishing.
Wheels is one of the rare individuals in the fitness industry that have openly admitted to using PEDs. The 28-year-old started using steroids at 17 years of age and continued to use it until recently. While steroids did help him elevate his performance and achieve new heights of athletic ability, they also took a toll on his quality of life.
After suffering a back injury ahead of the 2022 Middle-East’s Strongest Man, Wheels decided to stop the steroid abuse. He has switched to using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) instead. The effects of this change are clearly visible on Wheels’ body. He has considerably downsized and admitted that the quality of his training and everyday life has improved significantly after chucking steroids. Earlier this year, he announced the plan to compete in bodybuilding.
Recently, Wheels partnered with Stefi Cohen. The 31-year-old has achieved success in several athletic endeavors like boxing, and powerlifting. The duo primarily tackled bench press in this training session. So without further delay, let’s check out how much weight they managed to lift.
Larry Wheels and Stefi Cohen train together
Larry Wheels and Stefi Cohen started the exercise with a few warm-up sets using an empty bar without plates. After sufficiently warming up the joints and muscles, the duo did a few working sets of bench press with progressive overload.
While Wheels performed the first working set with 135 lbs weight, Cohen started out slow and did the set with 95 lbs weight. Wheels and Cohen took a significant jump in weight and performed the second working set with 225 lbs and 135 lbs weight, respectively.
The amount of weight Larry Wheels has lifted in recent times is significantly lighter than what he used to pull off while being on PEDs. So was the case in this training session as well. Stefi Cohen casually asked the 28-year-old if it hurts his ego now that he does not lift as heavy. Wheels answered:
“If I was doing this a few years ago, I would say absolutely! But now that I am burned out doing powerlifting, for now, hitting PRs isn’t what drives me anymore anyway. So I’m not concerned about how much weight I am lifting…”
After performing the subsequent sets with incrementally heavier weights, Larry Wheels wrapped up the exercise after a top set of 405 lbs while Stefi Cohen capped at 175 lbs.
The weight lifted by Wheels and Cohen in each set was:
Larry Wheels
1st set – 135 lbs (61.2 kg)
2nd set – 225 lbs (102.1 kg)
3rd set – 315 lbs (142.9 kg)
4th set – 405 lbs (183.7 kg)
Stefi Cohen
1st Set – 95 lbs (43.1 kg)
2nd set – 135 lbs (61.2 kg)
3rd set – 155 lbs (70.3 kg)
4th set – 175 lbs (79.4 kg)
The aspiring bodybuilder tries his hand at agility training and explosive strength workout
Wheels and Cohen then went on to do agility training drills. They started with warm-up drills like running, high knee running, toe touch running, and lateral running, etc. They proceeded to perform exercises like box jumps. Following the agility drills, Wheels accompanied Cohen for an explosive strength training drill. This method of training is necessary for combat sports athletes. It improves the ability to generate power in a short amount of time which is needed for punching, kicking, dodging opponents’ strikes, etc.
Landmine Push Press
The duo started explosive strength training with this compound movement. Stefi Cohen explained to Larry Wheels that the movement has to be done with an explosive motion and not like a bodybuilding lift where the muscle has to be kept under tension for a longer duration. She then instructed the 28-year-old to do five reps per arm to build explosive strength and he followed the suit.
Band Assisted Plyometric Push-ups
Cohen next took to this effective exercise for building upper body power and explosiveness. Although it can be performed without the resistance band, using it decreases the amount of load, allowing faster and more explosive movements. After doing a few sets of this exercises, Cohen took to the final one.
Band assisted high jumps
This exercise was not included in the training session for any specific benefit of it. However, Cohen experimented with it for her personal entertainment and enjoyment. She did a set of five reps and wrapped up the training session.
Overall, the session included:
Landmine Push Press
Band Assisted Plyometric Push-ups
Band Assisted High Jumps
“I don’t want to go to that extreme” – Larry Wheels explains why he will not compete in the Men’s Open division
Larry Wheels is getting ready for competing in the Classic Physique division for his return to bodybuilding competition. While he does have a large frame that can be more suited for the Men’s Open division, Wheels has a very specific reason for not taking that route. He explained:
“I’m having that approach because doing Open bodybuilding at my height, I’d have to be a mass monster and take drugs that’ll probably end up killing me. I don’t want to go to that extreme anymore.”
Wheels explained that the weight cut-off in the Classic Physique division at his height is 230 lbs for amateur competitors and 240 lbs for professional competitors. It is not a drastic change from his walk-around weight.
“So I can comfortably hold where I’m at right now – 255 lbs – no problem! We’ve got to work on my symmetry, conditioning and of course, posing!”
Although Wheels used to have a thick midsection, which is not really appreciated in the Classic Physique division that demands a perfect X-frame, he is fixing that problem by not doing heavy deadlifts or squats.
Larry Wheels added that his body is developed like a powerlifter and not like a Classic Physique bodybuilder. For instance, he stated that his lower pecs are overdeveloped from doing flat bench press more than any other chest exercise variation. Wheels even admitted that he had not addressed any of these issues at the time of his bodybuilding debut in 2018.
“This overall symmetry, conditioning, gracefully posing on stage, charisma… These things are super important in bodybuilding. When I was on stage in 2018, I wasn’t addressing! Lifting heavy… Basically, going on stage as a powerlifter. Getting lean… Following the diet but my posing and training, it wasn’t as a bodybuilder’s training. So that’s where I am making up ground now and I’m lovin’ it,” Wheels stated.
Larry Wheels has been quite successful in the sports he has explored. It will be interesting to see how his bodybuilding debut plays out.
You can watch the full video here, courtesy of Larry Wheels’ personal YouTube channel:
Published: 7 July, 2023 | 10:27 PM EDT
Regan Grimes Announces He Will Compete in 10 Weeks at 2 Shows
Men’s Open Pro Regan Grimes‘ highly anticipated comeback has a date. In a recent YouTube video, Grimes shared a brutal biceps and shoulders workout and said he’s in preparations to compete at two shows in approximately 10 weeks.
“I want to announce today officially that I am 10 weeks and two days out from my competition. I’ve been holding off from telling everybody. But here we have it – 10 weeks two days. First one is going to be in Italy, second one is going to be in Spain, it’s a week after. I’m really excited about that,” Regan Grimes said.
As the 2023 season unfolds, Regan Grimes is ratcheting up the intensity level of his workouts. Grimes has already received plenty of hype and attention during his IFBB Pro League career. He made his Olympia debut in 2021 where he placed 15th. He also impressed judges at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro, where he fell short to the current reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida. However, at the Egypt KO Pro, Regan took first place, a promising sign of his potential down the road.
Unlike 2021, Regan Grimes was met with more resistance on stage last year. While his aesthetics, balance, and conditioning stood out, Grimes ended up taking seventh place not just at the 2022 Arnold Classic (won by Brandon Curry), but also at the Boston Pro, which saw William Bonac claim gold.
Even though Grimes had earned an invitation to the 2022 Olympia show following his win at the Egypt KO Pro show, he chose not to compete at the sport’s biggest event of the year. Instead, he’s taken the time to make improvements and add size under the guidance of his coach Milos Sarcev.
Fans can once again look forward to seeing Regan Grimes back on a bodybuilding stage. In addition to an impressive physique update and shoulders/biceps training session, Grimes discussed where his head is at this season. In addition, he disclosed his weight is sitting at 285-287 pounds.
Regan Grimes to Compete in 10 Weeks at 2 Shows: ‘This Is The Best I’ve Looked This Far Out From a Contest’
According to Grimes, this is the heaviest and leanest he’s ever been.
“That was a great workout. Shoulders and biceps. Really really good. We’re on a four-day split right now so we’re doing its chest and triceps, then we have back, just back on its own actually, then we have shoulders and biceps, and then a leg day. So that four-day split just repeats, then Thursdays and Sundays off.
Right now I’m doing 30 minutes of fasted cardio in the morning, my weight is 285 to 287 in the morning. Kind of fluctuates. So, it’s definitely the heaviest and the leanest I’ve been and the best I’ve looked this far out from a contest. So we are 10 weeks out as of right now. Still eating a ton of food. Kind of like wondering when Milos is going cut the food down a little bit but we’re getting – we’re going in the right direction so kind of just trusting the plan and doing the work is all I need to do.”
Grimes Shares Brutal Shoulder/Biceps-Focused Training Session
Find Regan Grimes’ latest workout list below:
Standing Cable Rear Delt Fly – 4 sets
Seated Machine Lateral Raise – 2 intensity sets to failure
Machine Shoulder Press – 2 working sets
Standing Dumbbell Upright Row/Side Lateral Variation – 3 working sets
Dumbbell Front Raise – 1-2 sets
Seated Machine Biceps Curl (Unilateral) – 2 working sets
Seated Single Arm Cable Preacher curl – 2 sets
Should Regan Grimes find success at either of these two shows, he will earn his ticket to the upcoming Mr. Olympia competition scheduled for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. A pro show victory is required to step on the Olympia stage as the point system has been removed. All roads lead to the current Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan, who successfully took the title from Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay in a surprising turn of events last Dec.
The last time fans heard from Regan Grimes on YouTube he shared a tortuous leg day session led by his coach. The workout consisted of ‘giant sets’ and supersets that induced muscle hypertrophy. During the workout, Sarcev suggested Grimes keep the reps as slow and controlled as possible.
Grimes’ potential is on the radar of many elite veterans of the sport, like former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout. He recently proposed that Grimes has the genetic gifts and tools to one day win the sport’s most coveted title.
Given Regan Grimes’ time away from the stage, fans are thrilled to see his name back in the mix. Time will tell if he can earn his 2023 Mr. Olympia invite, though it certainly looks like he’s made improvements since his last outing.
RELATED: Regan Grimes Seeks Posing Advice From Jay Cutler & Iris Kyle
You can watch the full workout video from Regan Grimes’ YouTube channel below:
Published: 7 July, 2023 | 6:04 PM EDT