Tag: nEWS
Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares ‘Get a Grip’ Strength Test & Circuit Workout for Improved Longevity
At 75 years old, longevity has become vitally important for bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger. In a recent Daily Pump Newsletter entry, Schwarzenegger discussed the importance of grip strength with age and revealed a circuit workout he designed to increase the likelihood of living longer.
Navigating a wildly successful bodybuilding career, Arnold Schwarzenegger proved himself throughout the 1970s and 80s with exceptional balance and muscle proportions. En route to earning a total of seven Mr. Olympias, Schwarzenegger faced off against mainstays such as Frank Zane, Franco Columbo, and Sergio Oliva.
In retirement, Schwarzenegger still has a vested interest in the sport’s evolution. He co-founded the Arnold Sports Festival with the late Jim Lorimer, which serves as the second biggest show in bodybuilding behind Mr. Olympia. In March, Samson Dauda laid claim to the event’s 35th title.
In addition to hosting bodybuilding competitions, Schwarzenegger remains busy with acting obligations and workout demonstrations. Given his status as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, athletes and fans take notice when Arnold is training. He recently tackled a circuit workout and stressed a lesson to his followers: “Don’t think, just do.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals Grip Strength Test for Living Longer
In his latest offering, Schwarzenegger underlined a two-step grip strength test created for boosting longevity.
Get A Grip
There are many ways to test how well you’re aging. But one test, in particular, is worth taking because it provides a clear path for improvement.
Research suggests that grip strength is one of the best predictors of longevity.
One study even claims that grip strength is better at predicting premature death than blood pressure. The reason could be that a lack of strength indicates accelerated DNA aging, which is linked to disease and disability.
Is your grip strong enough? According to Dr. Andy Galpin, there are two ways to test your grip.
Test #1: The hand-grip dynamometer
You want a minimum grip strength of 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds). But, ideally, you’ll be able to hit 60 kilograms (152 pounds). You’ll also want to make sure your hands are similarly strong. Dr. Galpin suggests no more than a 10 percent difference between your hands.
Test #2: The dead hang
Grab a pullup bar by wrapping both of your hands completely around the bar and gripping tightly. Your goal is a minimum of a 30-second hang. Ideally, you’ll be able to hold yourself for 60 seconds.
Considering that grip strength is associated with longevity, Schwarzenegger offered a workout that capitalizes on that fact.
Workout of the Week: The Longevity Workout
Schwarzenegger said the first circuit is a combination of farmer’s walks and pushups. For the second demonstration, the bodybuilding icon practiced farmer’s walks and squats.
“You just found out that grip strength is associated with longevity. Previously, we shared that pushups are also associated with fighting off premature death. This workout includes the exercises you need to become stronger and increase the likelihood that you can live longer.
The workout consists of 2 circuits, each consisting of 2 exercises. The first circuit is a combination of farmer’s walks and pushups. And the second circuit is more farmer’s walks and squats. If you’re keeping score at home, the farmer’s walks will help improve your grip.
Pick up the weights, and walk 20 to 30 steps with a weight that’s heavy. Set the weight down, and then do your pushups.
If you don’t have weights, you can fill two backpacks or totes with books, hold one in each hand, and perform the carries. All you need to do is make sure the bags are heavy and hard to grip.
Circuit 1: 3-4 rounds
Complete the first exercise and immediately do the second exercise. Then rest for 2 to 3 minutes and repeat.
1A. Farmer’s Walk: 20 to 30 steps
1B. Pushups: 10 to 30 reps (your strength will determine how many reps you perform
After you complete all the rounds of the first circuit, then move to the next circuit.
Circuit 2: 3-4 rounds
Follow the same approach as the last circuit. Complete the first exercise and immediately do the second exercise. Then rest for 2 to 3 minutes and repeat.
2A. Farmer’s walk: 20 to 30 steps
2B: Bodyweight squats: 10 to 30 reps (You can also add weight if you want; your strength will determine how many reps you perform)”
During Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Olympia tenure, fans have long wondered about his potential steroid cycles. Those burning questions were finally answered recently when the bodybuilder took to a Men’s Health interview. According to ‘The Austrian Oak,’ he used a two-compound protocol of Dianabol and testosterone to sustain himself when he was at the height of his career.
Whether the topic is sleep, alcohol consumption, or weight loss, Schwarzenegger has the answer. Similar to Joey Swoll, Schwarzenegger says he’s on a mission to make fitness a priority worldwide for everyone regardless of body type.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares 4 Ways to Strengthen Your Routine
Health and longevity are paramount for Schwarzenegger, who has made it clear that anti-aging is one of his top priorities. Given his health and vibrancy at 75, perhaps bodybuilding is the closest outlet athletes have to the fountain of youth.
Published: 29 May, 2023 | 3:10 PM EDT
2023 CrossFit Torian Pro Semifinal Results — Jay Crouch & Ellie Turner Victorious
CrossFit is firing up in all regions of the world, which includes the Oceania continent. So, the 2023 CrossFit Torian Pro Semifinal, official semifinal for the Oceania region, took place on May 26-28, in Tennyson, QLD, Australia. Despite being considered relatively less competitive compared to other Semifinals, the 2023 CrossFit Oceania Semifinal still offered three qualifying spots for the 2023 CrossFit Games in the Men’s, Women’s, and Teams divisions. It was obviously the goal of every athlete in this Semifinal to stand on the podium at the end of the competition.
Jay Crouch was the only man to reach 600 points with no one else even close to achieve this remarkable feat. Even in the women’s division no athlete was capable of scoring 600 points, as the winner, Ellie Turner, finished with 592 points.
2023 CrossFit Torian Pro Semifinal Leaderboards
Men
Following the finish of day one, Jay Crouch found himself in a direct duel for the lead against Zac Thomas. However, as day two rolled around, Jay started picking up the pace and started distancing from the pack. He finished with no event victories, but his consistency stood out as he placed in the top 5 in six out of the seven events.
Jay Crouch — 600 points
Bayley Martin — 554 points
Jake Douglas — 531 points
William Kearney — 505 points
Peter Ellis — 496 points
Reilly Smith — 450 points
Zac Thomas — 441 points
Isaac Newman — 438 points
James Newbury — 417 points
Mitchel Case — 355 points
Riley Martin — 354 points
James Thomas — 340 points
Darcy Hancock — 338 points
Zane Shellabear-Healey — 337 points
Rob Watt — 333 points
Women
The scenario in the women’s division was very similar to the men’s one as Ellie Turner won the 2023 CrossFit Oceania Semifinal with no event wins. However, she was also a part of the top 5 in five separate events.
Ellie Turner — 592 points
Jamie Simmonds — 568 points
Emily De Rooy — 556 points
Katelin Van Zyl —525 points
Madeline Sturt — 524 points
Grace Walton — 521 points
Georgia Pryer — 457 points
Julia Hannaford — 392 points
Gemma Hauck — 385 points
Laura Clifton — 375 points
Danielle Ford — 371 points
Madeline Shelling — 327 points
Briony Challis — 323 points
Katie Brock — 315 points
Elly Hutchens — 312 points
Teams
In the Teams division of the 2023 CrossFit Torian Pro Semifinal, there were only two teams vying for the title. However, CrossFit Torian Mayhem left no room for uncertainty, securing victory by winning five out of the six events.
CrossFit Torian Mayhem — 585 points
Plus64 CrossFit 64army Endgame — 570 points
Pfc CrossFit 3076 — 505 points
CrossFit Torian Black — 500 points
2100 Tribe CrossFit Tribe Hq — 370 points
CrossFit Geo Starr Strength — 355 points
CrossFit Play Starr Strength — 325 points
Concept CrossFit Concept Crew — 290 points
CrossFit Exf — 290 points
CrossFit East Tamaki Jack’s Pack — 290 points
Related: 2023 CrossFit North America West Semifinal Results — Pat Vellner & Alex Gazan Shine
Individual Division Tests (Workouts) Recap
TEST ONE
For time:
3,000-meter Echo Bike
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (84 feet)
2,000-meter Assault AirRunner
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (84 feet)
1,000-meter SkiErg
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (92 feet)
Time cap: 30 minutes
Women: 180 pounds
Men: 225 pounds
Men’s Results
Zac Thomas — 21:51.06
Zane Shellabear-Healey — 22:06.42
Jay Crouch — 22:31.77
Women’s Results
Katelin Van Zyl — 24:52.87
Emily De Rooy — 25:07.85
Ellie Turner — 25:45.93
TEST TWO
As many reps as possible in 3 minutes of:
5 Ring Complexes (1 Toe-To-Ring, 1 Muscle-Up, 1 Ring Dip)
20 Single-Leg Squats
Max Burpees Over Box
*Complete 3 rounds, resting 1 minute between rounds.
*Score is total reps across the 3 minutes.
Women Wear a 10-pound ruck, 24-inch box
Men Wear a 20-pound ruck, 30-inch box
Men’s Results
Bayley Martin — 49 reps
Peter Ellis — 46 reps
Riley Martin — 43 reps
Women’s Results
Jamie Simmonds — 55 reps
Madeline Sturt — 47 reps
Georgia Pryer— 43 reps
TEST THREE
For time:
Semifinals Linda — 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 reps of:
Deadlifts
Dumbbell Bench Presses
Squat Cleans
Time cap: 17 minutes
Women: 220-pound deadlifts, 60-pound dumbbells, 105-pound squat cleans
Men: 295-pound deadlifts, 90-pound dumbbells, 145-pound squat cleans
Men’s Results
Jake Douglas — 13:22.06
Jay Crouch — 13:47.89
Andrew Sambell — 13:50.11
Women’s Results
Emily De Rooy — 13:17.66
Ellie Turner — 13:27.12
Laura Clifton — 14:10.00
TEST FOUR
For load:
Run 800 meters
Max Snatch
Time cap: 6 minutes
After the time cap for test four clocked out, the athletes had just two minutes to rest before initiating Test Five.
Men’s Results
Jake Douglas — 310 pounds
Darcy Hancock — 305 pounds
Bayley Martin — 285 pounds
Women’s Results
Laura Clifton — 195 pounds
Ellie Turner — 190 pounds
Julia Hannaford — 190 pounds
TEST FIVE
For time:
8 Snatches
Run 800 meters
Time cap: 6 minutes
Women: 125-pound snatch
Men: 185-pound snatch
Men’s Results
Issac Newman— 03:05.53
James Newburry — 03:06.19
Jay Crouch — 03:06.38
Women’s Results
Kateline Van Zyl — 03:19.70
Grace Walton— 03:25.85
Danielle Ford — 03:28.03
TEST SIX
For time:
20 Overhead Squats
500-meter Row
Three Handstand-Walk Pirouettes
Two Seated Legless Rope Climbs
20 Strict Chest-To-Wall Handstand Push-Ups
Two Seated Legless Rope Climbs
Three Handstand-Walk Pirouettes
500-meter Row
20 Overhead Squats
Time cap: 15 minutes (Men) — 16 minutes (Women)
Women: 125-pound Squat
Men: 185-pound Squat
Men’s Results
Bayley Martin — 10:25.34
Peter Ellis — 10:27.86
Jay Crouch — 11:42.21
Women’s Results
Emily De Rooy — 11:35.87
Jamie Simmonds — 11:50.12
Georgia Pryer — 12:48.55
TEST SEVEN
Three rounds for time of:
Echo Bike Calories (Men: 15 calories / Women: 10 calories)
20 Toes-To-Bar
60-Foot Sandbag Bear-Hug Carry
Women: 150-pound Sandbag
Men: 200-pound Sandbag
Men’s Results
Isaac Newman — 04:10.55
Peter Ellis — 04:19.73
Jay Crouch — 04:20.65
Women’s Results
Madeline Sturt — 04:15.43
Georgia Pryer — 04:21.05
Grace Walton — 04:31.07
Related: Brooke Wells Talks About Injury Preventing 2023 CrossFit Games Qualification: “I Am Heartbroken”
The representatives of Oceania for the 2023 CrossFit Games have been determined, and they are set to compete in Madison, Wisconsin from August 1-6. CrossFit athletes from this region are renowned for their perseverance, and they are expected to be at the forefront of the action during the CrossFit Games.
Published: 29 May, 2023 | 1:15 PM EDT
Steve Weinberger Lays Out 2023 Mr. Olympia-Winning Advice for Big Ramy, Samson Dauda & Andrew Jacked
The 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is approaching in less than six months, prompting IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger to discuss the possible lineup. In a recent The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Weinberger assessed Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s future and laid out paths to victory for Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda.
Last year, the Mr. Olympia competition turned the Men’s Open division on its head. Elssbiay was unable to defend successfully despite his status as an overwhelming favorite. The finals were determined following a three-man battle between Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Nick Walker. In the end, the completeness of Choopan’s physique stole the show. His victory ignited discussions online about which direction the Men’s Open division was headed, given that a mass monster no longer held the crown.
Since Ramy’s fall from the top, Steve Weinberger has been open with the public about what went wrong for the former champ. According to Weinberger, Ramy appeared to be suffering from injuries on stage as his lats, back, and arms looked to have lost detail.
In March, competitors gathered in Columbus, Ohio for the 2023 Arnold Classic. After finishing fifth at the Olympia contest last December, Big Ramy was eager for redemption. While many in the sport thought he delivered a refined package, the judges once again saw Ramy outside of the podium in fourth. Meanwhile, Samson Dauda won the 35th Arnold Classic title.
With shake-up after shake-up, fans expect another unpredictable Mr. Olympia contest. Athletes are either eying their tickets to the show or already amid preparations. Weinberger, who serves as one of the busiest judges in the league, took a breather to offer insight on many of the top contenders targeting gold in November.
Steve Weinberger Breaks Down Physiques of Hadi Choopan, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked: “Previous Doesn’t Mean Anything”
Weinberger first clarified that athletes aren’t judged based on the physiques they brought to previous contests.
“Absolutely not, they can look great a year ago, it matters what you look like on that date at that moment. Previous doesn’t mean anything. Look at Big Ramy, look at what happened there at the Olympia, it does not matter. You can look like shit next week or that week but on that day if you look good, you’re good to go,” Steve Weinberger said.
He explained that Choopan had a ‘few problems’ with his physique in 2021 compared to last year when he presented his most complete package to date.
“In 2021, he [Hadi Choopan] had a few problems with his physique. He was harder in 2021, but he was a more complete package in 2022. He had a couple of problems in 2021, you know what they were.”
Given Ramy’s last two performances, Steve Weinberger says it would be best if the Egyptian native took some time off. While he doesn’t believe Ramy is finished, he shared that the former champ’s shoulders, arms, and back need improvements. In addition, he underlined that Ramy’s oversized legs are disproportionate to the rest of his body.
“He was here all week training. We had a talk right after the Olympia, we had a talk even during this last previous week. I think he might need a break honestly and he needs to leave his legs alone. His legs are way out of proportion. His back still has to come up and his shoulders and arms… look like they deflated a little bit. He really did not look good in Pittsburgh. I think he might need some time honestly. Maybe a year to step away. I don’t think he’s done. I think he needs a break, I really do,” Weinberger said.
Dennis James said Ramy took a break from training recently following a stem cell treatment. Weinberger suggested Ramy take a break from dieting and ‘hardcore’ training in the meantime. A few weeks ago, Ramy shared that he was training ‘angry’ and focused on winning back his title.
“I asked him and said ‘Are you going to do the Olympia this year?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, I have to stop training, I start training again in two weeks’ when they allow him to start training and he’ll see how his body responds” Dennis James said.
“He might need a break honestly,” suggested Weinberger. “Like I mean, not dieting, hardcore training, put that mask back on and then bring it back down. More than two months I mean. Because if he’s getting ready for the Olympia now, what’s he got, three months to really train, and then he has to start his diet.”
“He can’t take it easy. He’s got to train his ass off for a year. I don’t mean sit by the pool and have a margarita, I mean get in the gym and bust ass,” added Weinberger.
Even though many in the community thought Ramy improved at the 2023 Arnold Classic, Steve said Ramy looked the same or worse. Similar to Mr. Olympia, Steve thought Ramy’s size ‘was gone’ in Ohio.
“He didn’t really look any better at the Arnold to tell you the truth. I don’t think so, no. It was also different guys too but I don’t think he looked better,” said Weinberger. “His size was gone too. I didn’t think he was [bigger] at the Arnold. The legs are always big. The legs are never a problem for Ramy. He doesn’t even have to train Ramy. I’m talking about his upper body.”
Steve Weinberger is convinced the sport won’t see another highly-dominant Mr. Olympia again like Ronnie Coleman.
“Those days are over. I don’t think we’re ever going to see an eight-time Mr. Olympia again or a seven-time or even a six-time, I could be wrong but I don’t see it. There’s no one I see that’s dominating that’s going to dominate like that.”
Lastly, Weinberger laid out paths to Mr. Olympia victories for Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked. He predicted Dauda will break into the top three in November with back improvements.
“He has to really keep this same size, improve the back and dial it in just a little bit harder. He has Mr. Olympia potential. I would be surprised if he wasn’t a runner for the top three, including one, second and third. He really just needs to pick [up] that back.”
“He [Samson Dauda] needs conditioning and more back,” added Weinberger. “Great hamstrings. Great shape. At Pittsburgh he wasn’t sloppy, he was pretty good. Absolutely, he’s got a beautiful body and a lot of muscle.”
As for Jacked, Weinberger said he’ll be in the running for gold once he brings up his lower body.
“Andrew Jacked’s got to build those legs up. He’s got the frame to do it but that lower half has to get built. If he had legs like Ramy, I don’t know what would happen. The Arnold he was flat”
Despite his success in the IFBB Pro League recently, Andrew Jacked has yet to earn an invite to the Mr. Olympia contest taking place Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Jacked is currently preparing for his first title defense at the 2023 Texas Pro, which is coming up in August.
The Mr. Olympia contest is always a thrilling spectacle for fans, who are eager to see if Choopan can defend his title. As Steve Weinberger points out, becoming a dominant reigning Mr. Olympia champion is no easy feat.
RELATED: Big Ramy Says He’s Training ‘Angry,’ & Working Harder Than Anybody for 2023 Mr. Olympia
You can watch the full YouTube video from the Muscle and Fitness channel below:
Published: 29 May, 2023 | 12:10 PM EDT
2023 CrossFit North America West Semifinal Results — Pat Vellner & Alex Gazan Shine
The 2023 CrossFit Semifinals are coming to a close, with the second week witnessing three additional competitions held in North America, South America, and Oceania. The biggest out of the three was the 2023 CrossFit North America West Semifinal, as the action happened in Pasadena, CA, on May 25-28. Due to the stacked roster of this Semifinal, CrossFit has given 10 women’s qualifying spots, and nine men’s qualifying spots for the CrossFit Games.
The 2023 CrossFit North America West Semifinal saw incredible battles in all divisions, especially amongst the Teams. The win in the men’s division went to Patrick Vellner, while Alex Gazan topped the women’s leaderboards. The Teams came down to a tie-breaker where CrossFit Franco’s Misfits took gold.
2023 CrossFit North America West Semifinal Leaderboards
Men
Patrick Vellner got off to a rocky start with a 15th place finish on the first event, but his performances in all other events were absolutely impeccable. He won two events and placed third in additional two events as well. Patrick ended up with almost a 50 point lead ahead of the second place finisher, Brent Fikowski.
Patrick Vellner — 612 points
Brent Fikowski — 569 points
Samuel Kwant — 564 points
Cole Greashaber — 528 points
Justin Medeiros — 519 points
Chandler Smith — 490 points
Nick Mathew — 472 points
Colten Mertens — 458 points
Cole Sager — 458 points
Mitchel Stevenson — 422 points
Luis Oscar Mora — 418 points
John Wood — 417 points
Jack Rozema — 402 points
Justin Rhodes — 351 points
Maximilian Krieg — 349 points
Women
In her first three events, Alex Gazan put on an incredible performance, but a 43rd place finish in the fourth event unnecessarily complicated her situation. However, she remained calm and continued displaying amazing fitness levels to win the women’s division.
Alex Gazan — 538 points
Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir — 527 points
Arielle Loewen — 525 points
Christine Kolenbrander — 507 points
Bethany Shadburne — 504 points
Emily Rolfe — 465 points
Olivia Kerstetter — 457 points
Abigail Domit — 421 points
Baylee Rayl — 415 points
Kelly Baker — 415 points
Dani Speegle — 413 points
Kloie Wilson — 402 points
Lauren Fisher — 382 points
Emily White — 381 points
Sydney Michalyshen — 373 points
Teams
The teams division of the 2023 CrossFit North America West Semifinal saw a three-way tie for first place. So, the number of event wins was put in as a tie-breaker. CrossFit Franco’s Misfits had three event wins and took first place. CrossFit Invictus had two wins and finished second, while CrossFit Omnia settled for third.
CrossFit Franco’s Misfits — 555 points
CrossFit Invictus — 555 points
CrossFit Omnia — 555 points
CrossFit Kilo II — 528 points
Koda CrossFit Redemption — 486 points
CrossFit Invictus Unconquerable — 483 points
CrossFit Dawgs — 444 points
CrossFit Invictus Sea Of Green — 432 points
Einhorn CrossFit Ascend — 417 points
CrossFit Believe — 364 points
Related: 2023 CrossFit North America East Semifinal — Full Results
Individual Division Tests (Workouts) Recap
TEST ONE
For time:
3,000-meter Echo Bike
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (84 feet)
2,000-meter Assault AirRunner
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (84 feet)
1,000-meter SkiErg
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (92 feet)
Time cap: 30 minutes
Women: 180 pounds
Men: 225 pounds
Men’s Results
Brent Fikowski — 23:02.41
Rafael Sancen — 23:19.39
Cole Greashaber — 23:34.43
Women’s Results
Stacy Lerum— 26:51.26
Emily Rolfe — 27:24.47
Hannah Black — 27:25.02
TEST TWO
As many reps as possible in 3 minutes of:
5 Ring Complexes (1 Toe-To-Ring, 1 Muscle-Up, 1 Ring Dip)
20 Single-Leg Squats
Max Burpees Over Box
*Complete 3 rounds, resting 1 minute between rounds.
*Score is total reps across the 3 minutes.
Women Wear a 10-pound ruck, 24-inch box
Men Wear a 20-pound ruck, 30-inch box
Men’s Results
Scott Tetlow — 56 reps
Colten Mertens — 56 reps
Patrick Vellner — 54 reps
Women’s Results
Alex Gazan — 54 reps
Arielle Loewen — 54 reps
Marisa Flowers — 50 reps
TEST THREE
For time:
Semifinals Linda — 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 reps of:
Deadlifts
Dumbbell Bench Presses
Squat Cleans
Time cap: 17 minutes
Women: 220-pound deadlifts, 60-pound dumbbells, 105-pound squat cleans
Men: 295-pound deadlifts, 90-pound dumbbells, 145-pound squat cleans
Men’s Results
Colten Mertens — 11:06.99
Chandler Smith — 12:10.53
Patrick Vellner — 12:24.21
Women’s Results
Olivia Kerstetter — 12:13.50
Alex Gazan — 12:26.86
Dani Speegle — 12:43.22
TEST FOUR
For load:
Run 800 meters
Max Snatch
Time cap: 6 minutes
After the time cap for test four clocked out, the athletes had just two minutes to rest before initiating Test Five.
Men’s Results
Tudor Magda — 325 pounds
Brent Fikowski — 300 pounds
Anthony Davis — 300 pounds
Women’s Results
Hannah Black — 215 pounds
Madison Mcelhaney — 210 pounds
Christine Kolenbrander — 205 pounds
TEST FIVE
For time:
8 Snatches
Run 800 meters
Time cap: 6 minutes
Women: 125-pound snatch
Men: 185-pound snatch
Men’s Results
Patrick Vellner — 02:56.39
Brent FIkowski — 02:58.61
Maximilian Krieg — 03:07.56
Women’s Results
Emily White — 03:17.45
Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir — 03:19.62
Emily Rolfe — 03:20.70
TEST SIX
For time:
20 Overhead Squats
500-meter Row
Three Handstand-Walk Pirouettes
Two Seated Legless Rope Climbs
20 Strict Chest-To-Wall Handstand Push-Ups
Two Seated Legless Rope Climbs
Three Handstand-Walk Pirouettes
500-meter Row
20 Overhead Squats
Time cap: 15 minutes (Men) — 16 minutes (Women)
Women: 125-pound Squat
Men: 185-pound Squat
Men’s Results
Justin Medeiros — 08:55.89
Samuel Kwant — 09:57.03
Colten Mertens — 10:10.17
Women’s Results
Alex Gazan — 11:10.37
Trista Smith — 11:23.88
Rebecca Fuselier — 11:23.96
TEST SEVEN
Three rounds for time of:
Echo Bike Calories (Men: 15 calories / Women: 10 calories)
20 Toes-To-Bar
60-Foot Sandbag Bear-Hug Carry
Women: 150-pound Sandbag
Men: 200-pound Sandbag
Men’s Results
Patrick Vellner — 04:08.48
John Wood — 04:12.53
Cole Sager — 04:17.56
Women’s Results
Emily Rolfe — 04:15.28
Bethany Shadburne — 04:21.26
Alex Gazan — 04:25.50
Related: 2023 CrossFit Africa Semifinal Results — Jason Smith & Michelle Basnett Victorious
The 2023 North America West Semifinal was arguably the biggest competition out of the seven this year, purely due to the strength of the rosters. The competitiveness of the athletes is evident due to the fact that some big names like Dani Speegle and Laure Fisher missed out on qualifying for the 2023 CrossFit Games.
Published: 29 May, 2023 | 10:01 AM EDT
54-YO Nick Best Sinks a 771-lb (349.7-kg) Squat With Knee Wraps In Training
There are not many athletes in the Strongman community who are more famous than Nick Best. Moreover, he is arguably the most impressive man in modern Strongman history, as he has been defying the aging process for years now. Even after more than a decade of pressuring his body with massive weights, Nick still continues to push his limits. So, most recently, he challenged himself with a 771-pound (349.7-kilogram) squat and successfully completed it.
Nick Best made his way to the “Dragon’s Lair Gym” in Las Vegas, which is owned by 7x 212 Mr. Olympia Flex Lewis. He then geared up for the 771-pound (349.7-kilogram) squat by putting on a pair of knee wraps, a lifting belt, and some wrist wraps. The only thing left to do was find some spotters before attempting the lift. Luckily for Nick, the All-Time Squat World Record holder, Joe Sullivan, was present to assist him alongside two other men.
Nick Best slowly dipped down with 771 pounds (349.7 kilograms) on his back, but quickly ascended back up. After re-racking the weight back, Nick excitedly stated:
“That was easy. That was kind of crazy.”
Watch the lift here:
Related: Strongman Nick Best Scores 10 Reps Of 700-lb (317.5-kg) 13-Inch Deadlift At 2022 Clash Of The Masters
Nick Best also performed his first heavy deadlift single in training which came out to 675 pounds (306.2 kilograms). While it wasn’t his heaviest deadlift, Nick expects to be back to pulling 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) soon.
Nick Best is currently in the process of coming back from nephrectomy. This is a process of removing a kidney due to a tumor. Nick had undergone the surgery back in January, but things are just now starting to fall back in place. Interestingly, he recently revealed that the kidney tumor was found accidentally, as he originally went to the hospital due to a bench press incident.
Nick Best retired from Strongman competitions in 2022, but still left the door open for a few more powerlifting appearances. Consequently, this is why his focus has shifted towards powerlifting events and why a 771-pound (349.7-kilogram) squat seems effortless to him.
Nick Best, known for his remarkable strength, recently made headlines with his incredible 771-pound (349.7-kilogram) squat. However, it’s not just his squats that amaze people; he frequently showcases astonishing deadlift feats as well. For example, during the 2022 Mr. Olympia Expo, Nick loaded 600 pounds (272.2 kilograms) onto the bar and crushed 15 repetitions.
As a Strongman, Nick Best took part in 41 International and National competitions and came out victorious three times. However, he was admired by everyone due to his resilience and impressive stationary strength.
Nick Best’s powerlifting career is nothing short of incredible as well. He took part in 33 sanctioned competitions and won 20 of them. Furthermore, he set two Masters World Records in his most recent appearance at the 2022 WRPF FQ Classic 2.
Related: Strongman Nick Best Defies Age By Deadlifting 500lb For 50 Reps At 53 Years Old
Nick Best’s Powerlifting History
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Wraps
870.8
529.1
870.8
2226.7
555.07
Single-ply
815.7
551.2
815.7
2155
537.54
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
1
WRPF
2022-05-01
FQ Classic 2
M50-54
2028.3
506.13
Location
USA-NV
Competition
FQ Classic 2
Division
M50-54
Age
53
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
304.5
Squat
749.6
804.7
821.2
821.2
Bench
407.9
440.9
463
463
Deadlift
683.4
744.1
-771.6
744.1
3
WRPF
2021-04-24
Kern US Open
Open
2028.3
505.81
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Kern US Open
Division
Open
Age
52
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
305.1
Squat
749.6
-815.7
815.7
815.7
Bench
451.9
485
-507.1
485
Deadlift
727.5
-821.2
727.5
NS
WRPF
2019-04-27
Kern US Open
Open
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Kern US Open
Division
Open
Age
50
Equipment
Wraps
1
IPL
2018-11-17
Old Dogs World Cup
Masters 50-54
2182.6
543.64
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Old Dogs World Cup
Division
Masters 50-54
Age
50
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
306.4
Squat
848.8
Bench
518.1
Deadlift
815.7
2
IPL
2018-09-14
Olympia Pro Powerlifting
Open
2155
537.54
Location
USA-NV
Competition
Olympia Pro Powerlifting
Division
Open
Age
49
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
308.6
Weight
304.9
Squat
815.7
Bench
507.1
Deadlift
832.2
GLP
89.92
3
USPA
2017-04-15
CETC US Open Powerlifting Championships
HW
2226.7
555.07
Location
USA-CA
Competition
CETC US Open Powerlifting Championships
Division
HW
Age
48
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
305.6
Squat
870.8
Bench
529.1
Deadlift
826.7
1
USPA
2017-01-07
American Cup Los Angeles Fit Expo
Open
2221.2
552.13
Location
USA-CA
Competition
American Cup Los Angeles Fit Expo
Division
Open
Age
48
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
308.6
Squat
854.3
Bench
523.6
Deadlift
843.3
1
USPA
2016-04-23
Nevada State Powerlifting Championships
Open
2171.6
540.78
Location
USA-NV
Competition
Nevada State Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
47
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
306.7
Squat
843.3
Bench
518.1
Deadlift
810.2
1
USPA
2016-04-23
Nevada State Powerlifting Championships
Masters 45-49
2171.6
540.78
Location
USA-NV
Competition
Nevada State Powerlifting Championships
Division
Masters 45-49
Age
47
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
306.7
Squat
843.3
Bench
518.1
Deadlift
810.2
DQ
USAPL
2000-07-09
Mens National Powerlifting Championships
M-O
Location
USA-IL
Competition
Mens National Powerlifting Championships
Division
M-O
Age
31
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
270.5
Squat
-733
-733
-733
1
USAPL
1999-04-10
California State
Open
1973.1
507.25
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State
Division
Open
Age
30
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
771.6
Bench
540.1
Deadlift
661.4
GLP
85.19
3
USAPL
1998-07-03
Mens National Powerlifting Championships
M-O
1940.1
501.06
Location
USA-CO
Competition
Mens National Powerlifting Championships
Division
M-O
Age
29
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
271.6
Squat
716.5
Bench
518.1
Deadlift
705.5
GLP
84.21
1
USAPL
1998-04-03
California State
Open
1973.1
507.25
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State
Division
Open
Age
29
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
733
Bench
551.2
Deadlift
688.9
GLP
85.19
1
USAPL
1997-07-26
Mens Nationals
Open
1989.7
511.5
Location
USA-IL
Competition
Mens Nationals
Division
Open
Age
28
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
744.1
-777.1
-804.7
744.1
Bench
518.1
540.1
-551.2
540.1
Deadlift
661.4
688.9
705.5
705.5
GLP
85.9
1
ADFPA
1997-02-01
California State
Open
2022.7
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State
Division
Open
Age
28
Equipment
Single-ply
Squat
810.2
Bench
551.2
Deadlift
661.4
1
WDFPF
1996-08-24
World Powerlifting Championships
Open
1907
490.24
Location
USA-IL
Competition
World Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
27
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
760.6
Bench
485
Deadlift
661.4
GLP
82.33
1
ADFPA
1996-06-15
Mens Nationals
Open
1967.6
505.83
Location
USA-MO
Competition
Mens Nationals
Division
Open
Age
27
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
744.1
771.6
-810.2
771.6
Bench
501.6
-523.6
-523.6
501.6
Deadlift
661.4
-688.9
694.5
694.5
GLP
84.95
1
ADFPA
1996-04-13
California State Championships
Open
2006.2
515.75
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State Championships
Division
Open
Age
27
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
804.7
Bench
529.1
Deadlift
672.4
GLP
86.62
4
ADFPA
1995-07-15
Mens Nationals
Open
1901.5
488.83
Location
USA-PA
Competition
Mens Nationals
Division
Open
Age
26
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
705.5
-755.1
-755.1
705.5
Bench
485
507.1
512.6
512.6
Deadlift
661.4
683.4
-705.5
683.4
GLP
82.09
1
ADFPA
1995-03-25
California State
Open
1885
484.58
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State
Division
Open
Age
26
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
755.1
Bench
485
Deadlift
644.9
GLP
81.38
1
ADFPA
1994-12-11
Outlaw Christmas Open
Open
479.5
128.82
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Outlaw Christmas Open
Division
Open
Age
26
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Bench
479.5
GLP
66.16
1
ADFPA
1994-10-15
Beale Open and California State Deadlift
Open
1796.8
482.7
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Beale Open and California State Deadlift
Division
Open
Age
25
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
672.4
Bench
463
Deadlift
661.4
GLP
81.61
5
ADFPA
1994-07-16
Mens Nationals
Open
1857.4
498.98
Location
USA-IL
Competition
Mens Nationals
Division
Open
Age
25
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
661.4
711
727.5
727.5
Bench
451.9
474
-490.5
474
Deadlift
600.8
622.8
655.9
655.9
GLP
84.36
1
ADFPA
1994-04-23
California State
Open
1758.2
472.33
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State
Division
Open
Age
25
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
694.5
Bench
451.9
Deadlift
611.8
GLP
79.85
2
ADFPA
1994-01-23
California State Squat
Open
661.4
170.03
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State Squat
Division
Open
Age
25
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
275.6
Weight
275.6
Squat
661.4
1
ADFPA
1993-10-23
Azusa Classic
Open
1769.2
475.29
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Azusa Classic
Division
Open
Age
24
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
672.4
Bench
451.9
Deadlift
644.9
GLP
80.35
4
ADFPA
1993-07-10
Mens Nationals
Open
1780.2
478.26
Location
USA-PA
Competition
Mens Nationals
Division
Open
Age
24
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
-661.4
661.4
705.5
705.5
Bench
451.9
-474
474
474
Deadlift
-600.8
600.8
-633.8
600.8
GLP
80.86
2
ADFPA
1993-03-13
California State Championships
Open
1802.3
484.18
Location
USA-CA
Competition
California State Championships
Division
Open
Age
24
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
705.5
Bench
463
Deadlift
633.8
-650.4
633.8
GLP
81.86
7
ADFPA
1992-06-06
Mens Nationals
Open
1648
442.72
Location
USA-MN
Competition
Mens Nationals
Division
Open
Age
23
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
633.8
-661.4
-661.4
633.8
Bench
402.3
-435.4
-435.4
402.3
Deadlift
600.8
611.8
-622.8
611.8
GLP
74.85
1
ADFPA
1991-11-02
Northern California
Open
1631.4
438.28
Location
USA-CA
Competition
Northern California
Division
Open
Age
22
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
617.3
Bench
413.4
Deadlift
600.8
GLP
74.1
1
USPF
1991-08-24
East Beach Open
Natural
1625.9
436.8
Location
USA-CA
Competition
East Beach Open
Division
Natural
Age
22
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
617.3
Bench
402.3
Deadlift
606.3
GLP
73.85
1
USPF
1991-08-24
East Beach Open
Open
1625.9
436.8
Location
USA-CA
Competition
East Beach Open
Division
Open
Age
22
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
242.5
Weight
242.5
Squat
617.3
Bench
402.3
Deadlift
606.3
GLP
73.85
3
USPF
1985-04-01
El Dorado Gold Championships
High School
940
288.83
Location
USA-NV
Competition
El Dorado Gold Championships
Division
High School
Age
16
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
181.9
Weight
181.9
GLP
49.41
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
Analyze Lifts
It is nice to see that Nick Best is almost back to his best form after his kidney surgery just a few months ago. He is already putting up humongous lifts in training and setting new goals for the future. So, it is just a matter of time until he enters another powerlifting competition and sets some more World Records.
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 2:37 PM EDT
Dorian Yates Explains Why ‘You Don’t Need To Do Squats’ & Training 4x a Week for Mr. Olympia
Bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates stood out from the pack during his days of professional competition with his intense training methods. The English talent led one of the most successful careers in the IFBB Pro League by going against the grain when it comes to training philosophy. In a recent interview with Escaped Fitness, Yates explained why there is no need to do squats for muscle growth and opened up on training four days a week for the Mr. Olympia competitions.
Dorian Yates rose to prominence for his shocking muscularity, size, and stellar conditioning as a Men’s Open contender. He presented arguably the best back muscle development of any competitor in the history of the sport. After taking silver in his Olympia debut, Yates secured his maiden Sandow trophy in 1992. He proved to be a dominant champion who racked up a total of six Mr. Olympia wins until 1997.
Yates was renowned for staying away from the spotlight in the off-season and only making his presence known for competition. His tendency to stay on the sidelines and avoid media attention earned him the nickname ‘The Shadow.’ While most bodybuilders used the traditional approach of working for a fixed number of sets and reps, Yates focused on pushing himself to near failure in every single training session.
In Nov. 2022, Yates reflected on the beginnings of his bodybuilding journey as a troubled teenager in prison. He opened up on the intense mindset he adopted in which he was completely obsessed with bodybuilding. He credited the sport for helping him turn his life around at a crucial point.
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari compared the backs of Yates and reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan to criticize ‘The Persian Wolf’ last December. He used the comparison to prove that conditioning levels had dropped significantly from era to era.
Dorian Yates maintains a high level of personal fitness. He reported excellent findings after undergoing a health check and VO2 max test earlier this year. Despite being in his 60s, his biological age was estimated to be between 30 and 39.
‘The Shadow’ offered barbell rows with an underhand grip as his favorite exercise for building a jacked back two months ago. Then, he stressed the importance of keeping proper nutrition and rest for optimizing hormone balance.
In another offering to fans, Yates provided a few of his high-intensity training techniques to increase the difficulty of workouts. His next update encouraged his fans to focus on completing a full range of motion and using slow negatives to boost muscle growth in the lower body.
Related: Ten Ways to Boost Your Squat
Dorian Yates Explains Why ‘You Don’t Need to do Squats’
In a recent YouTube video, Dorian Yates shared why it is not necessary to include squats in your training plan.
“I always ask why. That’s a big thing with me,” said Yates. “Squats are the best things for legs everyone says. Why? Alright let me try to do something else. I did believe that until squats damaged my hip so I had to try and do something else and I discovered you can do it another way. You don’t need to do squats. Everybody was training six days a week and 20 sets and all this stuff from the Arnold era and didn’t make sense to me.”
Yates revealed he follows the teachings of Arthur Jones, founder of Nautilus when it comes to training frequency and achieving muscle growth.
“I read Arthur Jones’s writings, who’s the guy that built the Nautilus machines and looked into the real science of muscle building and so on and Mike Mentzer of course carried on that high intensity training. So, it made logical sense to me. Then when I applied it in the gym, keeping notes and so on, I got very good feedback from day one. I noticed that if I train more often or increase the volume and time in the gym, I stopped progressing. Okay, let me take a couple of days rest and go back to a more abbreviated routine, train three days a week, no more than an hour, boom, start growing again. There’s the feedback.”
Yates used to train 4 days a week for Mr. Olympia
’The Shadow’ revealed he only trained four days a week with a maximum of one hour per session for the Mr. Olympia contests.
“Three days a week I was training initially when I first started training because I was working a job as well and couldn’t recover training more often than that. That’s what the feedback showed me so I listened to it. Later on, training for Mr. Olympia, I was training four days a week and maximum one hour in the gym.”
“People struggle with that because they don’t understand the key. The key to stimulating muscle growth is the intensity of the exercise and the fact that you’re progressively overloading and giving your body something that it’s not used to and it needs to react. Muscle Growth is just a reaction to a stress that the body’s trying to protect itself from.”
The 61-year-old laid out a straightforward approach for building muscle with efficient training and recovery.
“This is the process, stimulate, overload, recovery, after recovery, overcompensation, growth, so if that recovery or stimulus period isn’t sufficient, you’re not going to grow. There needs to be a balance between all that. Intensity and recovery. So if you’re going in there hammering your legs. You’re breaking them down and damaging them and they’re sore, and then four days later you train them again and still sore, damaged, how are you getting anywhere? You’re not really getting anywhere.”
Dorian Yates offered the training and steroid cycles he utilized while preparing for contests in his heyday. He also opened up on his reasons for using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) after retiring from the sport. As of late, Yates described his experience using ayahuasca in the Amazon rainforest, which he says helped him achieve a new level of mental clarity.
Yates’ latest offering goes against the common belief that squats are a must in any training plan for muscle growth. Given his experience and accolades, Yates continues to be a service to the bodybuilding community.
You can watch the full video below:
RELATED: 6x Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates Guides Junior Mr. Universe Kaya Yusuf Through Brutal Back Workout
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 1:27 PM EDT
Lee Priest Calls for Guest-Posing Seminar with Jay Cutler after 2023 Masters Olympia
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler did not lose his passion for fitness after moving on from professional competition years ago. During his career, he battled it out with several notable names such as Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest. In a recent episode of RxMuscle, Priest shared his thoughts on potentially facing Jay Cutler on stage in a guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia and called for a ‘Golden Era seminar.’
Jay Cutler made a name for himself with his insane muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open class. He won the Arnold Classic title three times and found Olympia glory in 2006 after placing second four times. His last appearance came at the 2013 Mr. Olympia, where he finished sixth and hung up his posing trunks as a four-time champion. He continued to work out regularly and stay in stellar shape post-retirement.
After an 11-year hiatus, the Masters Olympia is set to make a comeback on Aug. 25-27 in Cluj Napoca, Romania. The competition was started in 1994 to provide older bodybuilders an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of fans and vie for the title. Robby Robinson created history by winning the inaugural event whereas Vince Taylor etched his name in the record books with six titles under his belt. The show’s last edition was won by Dexter Jackson in 2012.
Given the impressive package Cutler boasts, there were rumors about his return to action for the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia. He’s looking to level up his fitness game for his own ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge. He laid out his ambitions in the gym and believes he could achieve them with proper nutrition, diet, and only using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) last month. However, he later shut the door on competing again.
Lee Priest opened up on the possibility of signing up for the event earlier this year. As much as he would’ve liked to compete, Priest revealed he would not be able to due to his chest atrophy and other health challenges.
Jay Cutler and IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger announced the full roster of all 10 divisions for the contest a few weeks ago. Former 212 Olympia champion Kamal Elgargni goes into the show as the betting favorite to win the Open title. Following the announcement, Priest called on the organizers to revamp the eligibility criteria and raise the qualification age to 50+ instead of 40.
Lee Priest talks about chances of guest-posing against Jay Cutler at the 2023 Masters Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest shared his thoughts on potentially going against Jay Cutler in a guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia.
Priest believes Cutler would rather do a guest-posing showing instead of competing.
“He did say he might take his shirt off, joked around about guest posing that he might take his shirt off but he said he’s definitely not competing,” said Priest. “But he said he could take his shirt off and maybe guest pose or something like that. I’d say it could be more of that than competing again.”
When asked if he would pose next to Cutler, Priest voiced his hesitation and seemed to be against the prospect.
“I don’t get invited to go anywhere. It’s a bit late now I haven’t got much prep time. My birthday’s coming up in July. I’ll be 51.”
Priest calls for a ‘Golden Era seminar’ with Cutler
Lee Priest / Instagram
The 50-year-old suggested hosting a similar event where competitors of yesteryears could pose in front of fans without the pressure of competition.
“I always said, you get a good promoter, if you had like Kevin, Flex, get in shape or like you did back then like you have Jay now, you could probably have Victor, myself, a few who could over 12-16 weeks get in decent shape. I say don’t compete just have them do a golden era seminar where they do a seminar and a bit of posing would be great.”
Lee Priest offered some of his best tips on effectively performing bicep preacher curls to maximize pump using different rep ranges, equipment, and grip variations two months ago. He followed up by revealing the difference in his training and diet from when he was in his 20s to now at the age of 50.
2023 Masters Olympia will feature Michelle Brent, a 65-year-old bodybuilder with over 36 years of experience. Hidetada Yamagishi will also be in attendance as a frontrunner for the title.
Jay Cutler opened up on his ambitions to lower his body fat to six to eight percent for the body transformation challenge earlier this month. He showed off his shredded package in a physique update two weeks ago and provided another jacked update where he weighed 240 pounds days later.
Whether Cutler competes at the show or not, a guest-posing appearance would send fans into a frenzy over witnessing the iconic competitor take to the stage again.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 12:21 PM EDT
Strongman Sean Logan Sets 455-kg (1,003-lb) Deadlift PR at 2023 NZ Log & Deadlift Championships
A deadlift is arguably the most universal exercise for determining strength, as it is used in all disciplines, including Strongman, Powerlifting, CrossFit, Bodybuilding, as well as among everyday gym goers. So, it takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to become one of the greatest deadlifters in the world, but Sean Logan is one of the few that made it to the top. Sean is recognized for his stationary strength, most notably the deadlift. Having said that, he has just achieved a huge achievement, having set a new 1,003-pound (455-kilogram) deadlift personal record (PR).
Sean Logan set the 1,003-pound (455-kilogram) deadlift PR at the 2023 New Zealand Log and Deadlift Championships. In addition, Sean shared video footage of all six attempts on his Instagram page.
Judging by how Sean Logan approached the barbell, it seems that he used a deadlift suit. His other pieces of equipment were a lifting belt and lifting straps. Sean also warmed up with 425 kilograms (937 pounds) for his first attempt.
“Super pumped that I’ve finally made the 1000lb club I’ve knocked on the door multiple times only to miss out ?”
Watch the lift here:
Related: Powerlifter Jamal Browner Crushes 435-kg (959-lb) Raw Conventional Deadlift PR In Training
After setting a new deadlift PR, Sean Logan also attempted to lift 480 kilograms (1,058.2 pounds). Even though he was not successful, the fact that he was able to lift the massive weight from the ground indicates that he will be able to lock it out in the future.
Sean Logan also competed in the other portion of the competition, the Log Lift. Due to a shoulder injury he sustained some time back, Sean wasn’t able to perform as expected. Sean’s heaviest successful attempt came out to 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds).
Sean Logan’s Full Performance
Deadlift
425 kilograms (937 pounds)
455 kilograms (1,003 pounds) — Personal Record
Unsuccessful — 480 kilograms (1,058.2 pounds)
Log Lift
140 kilograms (308.6 pounds)
150 kilograms (330.7 pounds)
Unsuccessful — 160 kilograms (352.7 pounds)
During his Strongman career, Sean Logan’s greatest success was winning the 2018 England’s Strongest Man competition. However, he is mostly known for his deadlift. Now that Sean resides in New Zealand, he also holds the country’s record for the heaviest deadlift.
Sean Logan recently also took part in a powerlifting competition for the first time and walked away with some massive lifts. His 410-kilogram (903.9-pound) Squat W/Wraps and 405-kilogram (892.9-pound) Raw Deadlift proved that he has major potential in powerlifting as well.
Watch all of Sean Logan’s lifts here:
Related: Lewis Byng Sets a 411-kg (906.1-lb) U23 Strongman Deadlift World Record
Having set the new Heaviest Deadlift In New Zealand, Sean Logan will now continue climbing the ranks of deadlift leaderboards. If he makes some additional improvements, Sean will be a World Record contender in no time at all. It seems reasonable to expect him to achieve this outcome, especially since he is able to deadlift even more than 455 kilograms (1,003 pounds) at the moment.
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 11:35 AM EDT
Bodybuilder Veteran Rich Gaspari Reveals Effective Glute-Targeting Exercise for a Stronger Lower Body
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari revolutionized the Men’s Open division during his days of professional competition. He became the first athlete to display striations in his glutes. In a recent post made on Instagram, Gaspari shared an exercise for building leg muscles and glutes.
Rich Gaspari started his career in the IFBB Pro League in the mid-1980s. He boasted an impressive blend of muscle mass, definition, and conditioning levels. His potential was evident from the start as he cracked the top three of the 1985 Mr. Olympia competition in his maiden appearance. While he did not win the Sandow trophy, he proved himself as a top contender with three runner-up finishes, falling short of eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney on each occasion.
Gaspari was the inaugural winner of the 1989 Arnold Classic and earned an entry into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004. He decided to hang up his posing trunks in 1996 after an illustrious career lasting over two decades. Since retiring, he’s become a revered analyst with hot takes.
Following Hadi Choopan’s win at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Gaspari fired shots at the champion for a perceived lack of conditioning in the back. He urged Choopan to work on the area and bring back an older drier look to the stage in his return.
Gaspari criticized the modern mass monsters of the Open class for relying on steroids and neglecting quality training. He highlighted the decrease in conditioning levels and called on the competitors to prioritize training.
Rich Gaspari has kept a high fitness level after stepping away from competition. He opened up on his use of peptides to achieve anti-aging benefits along with testosterone, weight training, and growth hormone three months ago. Then, he stressed the importance of maintaining proper nutrition to build muscle in addition to effective training.
The 59-year-old believes modern Open athletes take considerably higher dosage of drugs than the competitors of past eras. He issued a cautionary message against using harsh diuretics in hopes of athletes achieving drier looks. In The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Rich revealed he didn’t use such diuretics to sculpt his physique and laid out the risks involved in using synthetic substances.
Gaspari provided fans with some of his best tips on growing lower body muscles with intense training last month. He encouraged users to reach failure in their leg workouts and offered techniques to maximize the pump.
Rich Gaspari’s Ultimate Glute-Burner for a Strong Lower Body
In an Instagram post, Rich Gaspari shared an effective glutes exercise for building muscle in the legs. He suggested performing sumo squats on an elevated platform to extend the range of motion at the bottom of the movement.
“Great exercise to hit glutes are Sumo squats with a Dumbbell elevating feet so you get more stretch at the bottom of the movement,” wrote Gaspari. “3 sets of 20-30 reps and feel your glutes burn.”
Rich Gaspari continued his feud with the Open division last month. He believes bodybuilding is an art form that is not properly represented in the marquee division. He credited the Classic Physique athletes for bringing the artistic element back into the game.
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Incorporating elevated sumo squats into your workout routine can help you strengthen your lower body, improve balance, and achieve a more sculpted and toned gluteal region. Give this exercise a try and discover the benefits it can bring to your fitness journey.
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 10:44 AM EDT
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