Tag: nEWS
2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man Results — Konstantine Janashia Wins
Just a few weeks ago, the world witnessed the biggest Strongman competition, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). However, Konstantine Janashia, also known as the ‘Georgian Bull,’ didn’t stop there. Just days after WSM, he competed in another Strongman event. The 2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man competition took place on May 5-6, in Tbilisi, gathering six of the country’s greatest Strongman athletes. However, only one was able to emerge victorious after five events, and Konstantine Janashia was dominant once again.
Konstantine Janashia won three out of the five events and finished up with a three point lead ahead of the second-place finisher Nikoloz Lekaidze. Another few points behind Nikoloz was Chabuka Chigladze who also set one new National record.
2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man Results
Konstantine Janashia — 27 points
Nikoloz Lekaidze — 24 points
Chabuka Chigladze — 20 points
Avtandil Karmazanashvili — 14 points
Shota Gogoberishvili — 7 points
Jason Kamashidze — 3 points
Related: Oleksii Novikov Discusses Elbow Injury’s Impact on 2023 WSM Performance: “My Signature Event Became an Achilles Heel”
Max Axle Press
During the Max Axle Press event, the athletes tested their one-rep max in the hopes of getting as many points as possible.
Chabuka Chigladze started off strong, winning the event with a 10-kilogram (22-pound) heavier lift than anyone else. Chabuka lifted 190 kilograms and set a new Axle Press Georgia National Record. Konstantine Janashia was the second place finisher with 180 kilograms, while Nikoloz Lekaidze settled for third with 160 kilograms.
Chabuka Chigladze — 190 kilograms
Konstantine Janashia — 180 kilograms
Nikoloz Lekaidze — 160 kilograms
Avtandil Karmazanashvili — 150 kilograms
Shota Gogoberishvili — 140 kilograms
Jason Kamashidze — 90 kilograms
Log Lift
Moving on to the second event of the 2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man competition, the athletes were tasked with performing as many reps on a Log of undeclared weight.
Obviously, as the current Georgia National Record holder in the Log Lift, Konstantine Janashia dominated his rivals and completed eight reps.
With two reps less than him, three men tied for second place. Those were Nikoloz Lekaidze, Chabuka Chigladze, and Avtandil Karmazanashvili.
Konstantine Janashia — 8 reps
Chabuka Chigladze — 6 reps (Tied-Second)
Nikoloz Lekaidze — 6 reps (Tied-Second)
Avtandil Karmazanashvili — 6 reps (Tied-Second)
Shota Gogoberishvili — 0 reps
Jason Kamashidze — 0 reps
Super Yoke
For the third event of the competition, the athletes had to carry a 400-kilogram Super Yoke for a distance of 15 meters as quickly as possible.
Konstantine Janashia is one of the quickest Strongmen in the world, let alone Georgia. So, this event was once again great for him. He clocked a time of 9.91 seconds and took max points.
The battle for the runner up was within a fraction of a second. However, Nikoloz Lekaidze’s time of 11.59 turned out to be 0.69 seconds faster than Chabuka Chigladze’s time.
Konstantine Janashia — 9.91 seconds
Nikoloz Lekaidze — 11.59 seconds
Chabuka Chigladze — 12.28 seconds
Avtandil Karmazanashvili — 19.53 seconds
Shota Gogoberishvili — 3.8 meters
Jason Kamashidze — 0 meters
Arm Over Arm Pull
Arm Over Arm Pull was the penultimate event of the 2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man competition. The task was to pull an SUV attached with a rope for a distance of 20 meters.
Konstantine Janashia has once again won this event, completing the task in just 25.66 seconds. His closest rival, Nikoloz Lekaidze, finished a massive 10 seconds behind him.
Konstantine Janashia — 24.66 seconds
Nikoloz Lekaidze — 34.12 seconds
Avtandil Karmazanashvili — 36.41 seconds
Shota Gogoberishvili — 39.79 seconds
Chabuka Chigladze — 46 seconds
Jason Kamashidze — 46.81 seconds
Squat Lift
To wrap up the 2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man, the athletes took on a machine which resembled the motion of a squat. It weighed 280 kilograms and the task was to perform as many reps as possible.
Konstantine Janashia had already secured his overall victory by the time of this event. So, he only walked out and performed one repetition. On the other hand, Nikoloz Lekaidze still gave his all and won the event with 12 reps.
Nikoloz Lekaidze — 12 reps
Chabuka Chigladze — 11 reps
Konstantine Janashia — 1 rep
Avtandil Karmazanashvili — 0 reps
Shota Gogoberishvili — 0 reps
Jason Kamashidze — 0 reps
Related: Strongman Brian Shaw Shows Off Superhuman Strength By Rolling Up Frying Pan
The 2023 Georgia’s Strongest Man proved that Konstantine Janashia is still one of the strongest men in the world, despite the fact that he wasn’t able to secure a place for himself in the 2023 WSM. Konstantine certainly gained a significant amount of confidence by winning this competition, and will endeavor to win more competitions in the future.
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 1:06 PM EDT
Dana Linn Bailey Joins Jay Cutler, Defends Natural Status, Talks Health Scares & Thyroid Issues
Dana Linn-Bailey is a pioneer of the growing Women’s Physique division. In a recent Cutler Cast podcast, Linn-Bailey discussed a number of topics including breast implants, competing drug-free, thyroid issues, and Kai Greene’s influence on her posing routines.
Despite struggling to find her footing in the IFBB Pro League, Dana Linn-Bailey would eventually carve out a successful career, having graced the stage with a unique balance of muscularity, conditioning, and detail. Her striated chest and shoulders helped her reach the pinnacle of bodybuilding in 2013 when she claimed her lone Olympia title in the newly created Women’s Physique category.
While she would surrender gold to Juliana Malacarne in 2014, Dana continues to prove herself in the training room and online. Since stepping away from the sport, she’s built a successful empire, boasting over 2 million followers on Instagram and half a million on YouTube.
Dana’s ability to create engaging content online has only bolstered her name recognition within the bodybuilding and fitness communities. She has taken part in brutal workouts with four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, as well as Hany Rambod, who coached Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan to first and second at last year’s 2022 Olympia.
Sitting down with Cutler, DLB spoke about breast implants and whether or not she uses steroids. In addition, she discussed health problems stemming from a Rhabdomyolysis infection and a thyroid condition.
Dana Linn-Bailey Looks Back on Breast Implant Pressures and Talks ‘Natty or Not’ Status
Linn Bailey ultimately decided that she didn’t want the procedure despite what it could have done to further her career.
“As a competitor, you want – your wanting to do, like what if I stopped training the way I trained and I became a pro Figure girl, I wouldn’t have been the first Physique winner; I followed what I wanted and I just think it’s such a weird decision to even think, just not getting boob implants.”
“We sat down because I wanted to do this thing, and I wasn’t doing well. I thought, ‘Cool, I’m not going to get sponsored, none of this is going to be happening, I won’t be there unless I do well in this sport.’ So I sat down, ‘Do I get them so I actually do well?’ He’s like [her husband] he just asked me, ‘Do you want them?’ I’m like, ‘Not really.’ Because again, I went back to, ‘How am I going to bench?’” said Bailey.
“We just sort of moved forward with it [not getting implants], he’s like, ‘You’re perfect the way you are, you’re getting attention no one else is getting by being you. So there’s something there.’”
According to Dana, she suffers from hyperthyroidism. Having considered a comeback, Dana said if she followed through, she would prove her natural status by receiving drug tests in the weeks leading up to the show.
“If I travel a lot my labs will be off because stress messes with your thyroid, the thyroid messes up everything. It’s something I have to regulate all the time. Every year, I was always like, yeah, I was like maybe I’ll come back, I feel like I need to do something. And Rob’s always been the one like, ‘No don’t do it.’ He’s so… I just felt like it would be great for business.”
“There’s a part of me that just wants to see what the heck I would look like on stage but I don’t want to see myself next to the girls that are winning now,” laughs Bailey.
“Cool, I’m going to use this, if I’m going to compete, I’ll get drug tested every single week leading up to the show to just be like, ‘Suck it guys.’ They’ll probably just say I had a doctor alter it, it’s okay I’ll never win it’s fine. That was going to be my, ‘Okay, if I do compete I’m going to do it at a different angle.’ Only to prove, that hey you can do this. It takes 30 weeks for me [a prep drug-free].”
Linn-Bailey Details Health Struggles, Names Kai Greene As Biggest Posing Inspiration
In addition to problems with her thyroid, Dana revealed that she contracted Rhabdomyolysis and said it caused her liver to fail.
“Usually with Rhabdomyolysis it affects your liver your pee will be like brown a brownish, it will be discolored because it’s breaking everything down, but my pee was fine, and she thought that was so weird and but she said, ‘I’m pretty sure you have rhabdo.’ Like, ‘You shouldn’t have done the GHDs it’s a huge no-no in the CrossFit world, they shouldn’t have let you do that.”
“I went to the doctor probably by Friday, they took my labs, Saturday or finally got them back a day or two, this is like a week later, my labs were astronomical. I can only imagine what they probably were on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. So literally, my liver was not – I was in liver failure.”
Even though she didn’t have a lot of female bodybuilding idols, Dana was inspired by the detail and artistry of Kai Greene’s posing skills.
“I’m such a meathead. All my favorite bodybuilders were all men, I never looked at women. Like Kai [Greene] as far as posing and stuff – like a lot of my routines I used to just watch videos of him posing and a lot of the moves and lot of my poses are from him.”
Given her decorated career and active lifestyle, there’s a lot to learn from DLB. From building bigger biceps to her three favorite squat tips, she makes her fans feel included. She also shares her personal struggles and achievements, inspiring others to overcome their own challenges and pursue their goals.
Unafraid to speak her mind, Dana Linn-Bailey is a trailblazer of the sport who paved the way in helping make the Women’s Physique division one of the most exciting in the IFBB Pro League.
Watch the full video below, from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel:
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 11:50 AM EDT
Martyn Ford Shows Off Jacked Physique While Crushing Workout
Bodybuilder and actor Martyn Ford boasts one of the best builds of any celebrity in the entertainment world. Although he grew up playing different sports, it was bodybuilding where he found his passion. In a recent post made on Instagram, Ford showed off his monstrous physique while crushing several workouts.
Martyn Ford first made headlines for his gigantic build online a few years ago. He displayed impressive athletic talents with an insane work ethic that found him opportunities in a range of fields related to entertainment. His mythical stature garnered attention in the world of fitness and acting. He was lined up to face fellow internet sensation Sajad Gharibi, popularly known as The Iranian Hulk, in a boxing match last year.
Ford issued a warning to Gharibi while giving fans a look into his footwork training ahead of the anticipated showdown in Mar. 2022. Standing at 6’8”, the 320-pound Brit towered over Gharibi when the two collided with each other in the face-offs. Ford shoved his opponent with ease, resulting in the Iranian lifter’s family disowning him a month later.
In Apr. 2022, the boxing match got scrapped. Ford pinned the blame on Gharibi for the bout falling through. He explained health concerns and misrepresentation surrounding Gharibi as the reason for the investors pulling the plug on the fight.
Martyn Ford / Instagram
Ford revealed he shed about 58 pounds in preparation for the canceled boxing match. Although he couldn’t test out his boxing chops, he reports feeling healthier than ever. He offered a freakishly jacked physique update following a boxing training session. In May 2022, Ford opened up on his worries about Gharibi potentially committing suicide if he lost in the contest. He made his way to Gharibi in Dubai to bury the hatchet but realized a positive outcome may not be in the cards.
Martyn Ford was eyeing a move to mixed martial arts competition under the KSW banner a year ago. He left the fans stunned by gaining 6 pounds in only an hour of weight training. Then, he dropped a big physique update while getting ready for his combat sports debut.
Martyn Ford shows off his jacked physique while crushing workouts
In recent Instagram posts, Martyn Ford showed off his monstrous physique while performing a series of workouts.
Martyn Ford teamed up with former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping for a brutal upper-body training session last September. He guided Bisping through a monster chest workout using giant sets.
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 11:15 AM EDT
Keone Pearson Takes Up A 3500-Calorie Diet, Getting Ready For The 2023 Texas Pro
Keone Pearson is getting ready to make a statement in the 2023 competitive season. The prodigy is set to return to the stage and has a new diet plan that will take his physique to the next level. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a certain degree of success in the Classic Physique as well as the 212 division of the IFBB Pro League throughout his career. His first ever Olympia appearance came in the Classic Physique division at the 2019 Olympia where he finished fourth. However, Pearson decided to make the 212 division home for the rest of his career.
The divisional debut saw him take home the 2020 Chicago Pro trophy which ultimately qualified him for the 2020 Olympia. Unfortunately, Pearson had to pull out of the competition owing to personal troubles.
He returned the following year and finished 14th at the 2021 Olympia. A dominant win at the 2022 Tampa Pro gave Keone the fourth opportunity to prove his mettle at the grandest stage of bodybuilding. The bodybuilding community was impressed by his progress and many expected him to give top contenders like Shaun Clarida and Kamal Elgargni a lot of issues. Pearson put up a fierce fight and surged into the top seven, finishing sixth at the 2022 Olympia.
The Prodigy will compete at the 2023 Texas Pro that is scheduled to take place on August 18-19. 16 weeks out of the show, his competition prep has officially started. On the first day of prep, Keone shared what he would be eating throughout the day to get the right body composition for the show. So let’s see how Keone Pearson is fueling his body to rock the 2023 competitive season.
Keone Pearson’s full day of eating for 2023 Texas Pro competition prep
Meal 1
A usual day during the competition prep starts with a 45-minute cardio session in a fasted state. An abs workout followed it on the day of recording the video. Pearson then rushes back home to fuel his body after the calorie-intensive activity and eats the first meal. It consists of:
Oats – 80 grams
Banana – 1 full
Beef – 100 grams
Whey Protein – 30 grams
Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 718 cal, Protein – 66.6 grams, Fats – 18.1 grams, Carbohydrates – 83 grams
Tip: Find your daily protein intake
Meal 2
As a couple of hours pass by, it’s time to go and train hard in the gym. But before that, Pearson has to fuel his body with a good pre-workout meal. His current diet plan has him consume a rice and chicken-based meal before hitting the gym. The 2022 Tampa Pro winner’s pre-workout meal includes:
Chicken – 200 grams
Jasmine Rice – 75 grams
Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 426 cal, Protein – 64.8 grams, Fats – 7.6 grams, Carbohydrates – 20.8 grams
While Keone Pearson likes to eat rice in 75-gram portions, he is not opposed to varying them according to personal preferences.
“Honestly, you can do it however you want it. If you wanna eat it in one sitting for your one meal or three just do it as you get the same food,” he said.
Keone savors the meal and then heads over to the kitchen to prepare his pre-workout and intra-workout drinks.
Pre-workout and intra-workout shake
As a professional bodybuilder, Keone Pearson has to ensure that his workouts yield the best results. To fuel the workout and get the most pump out of the training, the 212 competitor consumes a pre-workout drink that has the following ingredients:
Pre-Workout Drink
Stimulant-free Pump Pre-Workout Supplement with 5 grams L-Citrulline, 3 grams GlycerPump, 1 gram Agmatine Sulphate, 1 gram L-Tyrosine – 2 scoops
Caffeine – 1 scoop
Sea Salt
Related: Best pre-workout supplements ranked
Intra-workout drink that keeps the energy high during the training session consists of:
EAA + BCAA formula
On the day of recording the video, Keone trained chest and it was his high day where his caloric intake was higher than it is on a leg day.
“Today is actually considered a high day because I have a high day for chest and back, not on legs, which is pretty surprising. Those are my low days. I guess he wants me to push harder for that…” Pearson stated.
After pushing through an intense workout in the gym, Pearson returns home to have the post-workout meal.
Meal 3
To enable muscle recovery and growth in the arduous training routine, Pearson downs the protein shake and fruits. The post-workout meal is a hefty one and comprises of:
Whey Protein Isolate – 1 scoop / 30 grams
Pineapple – 50 grams
Jasmine Rice – 75 grams
Lean Ground Beef – 200 grams
Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 756.7 cal, Protein – 80.9 grams, Fats – 18.3 grams, Carbohydrates – 35.8 grams
Meal 4 and 5
The next two meals in Pearson’s full day of eating consist of high-quality protein sources like chicken and Salmon complimented with cream of rice and Potatoes.
Meal 4 consists of:
Cream of Rice Cereals- 75 grams
Chicken – 200 grams
Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 588 cal, Protein – 67.2 grams, Fats – 3.9 grams, Carbohydrates – 58.5 grams
The next one, meal 5, is the last meat/fish based meal that includes:
Salmon – 200 grams
Potatoes – 200 grams
Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 598 cal, Protein – 49 grams, Fats – 24.2 grams, Carbohydrates – 42 grams
Meal 6
This bedtime snack is the final bit of food that Pearson puts in his body every day. Rich in protein, healthy fats, and Complex carbohydrates, it keeps late night hunger pangs at bay and promotes muscle growth. Additionally, nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter contain tryptophan which can promote sound sleep.
The meal includes:
Oats – 50 grams
Whey Protein Isolate – 30 grams
Almond Butter – 30 grams
Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 466 cal, Protein – 41.2 grams, Fats – 22.3 grams, Carbohydrates – 41 grams
Total caloric intake and macronutrient profile for the day
Energy – 3509 calories
Protein – 303.2 grams
Fats – 81.7 grams
Carbohydrates – 390.4 grams
Keone Pearson has found his footing in the 212 division after a successful 2022. While he has to prove his mettle against the likes of reigning champion Shaun Clarida and former champ Kamal Elgargni, he still has a lot of mileage left. If he shows patience and focuses on making incremental gains, the 28-year-old can dominate the 212 division in the years to come.
Watch Keone Pearson share the diet here, courtesy of his personal YouTube channel:
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 9:19 AM EDT
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)
One of the most celebrated contests on the IFBB Pro League schedule, the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, takes place on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. This show holds special significance due to NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion’s name being attached to it.
The Pittsburgh Pro serves as a qualifier for 2023 Mr. Olympia, taking place Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. Six divisions were featured at the event this weekend: Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness.
There are a number of returning champions eager to prove themselves once again. Among them is Natalia Abraham Coelho, the current 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia who recently dethroned Sarah Villegas.
Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser will look to make it four titles in Pittsburgh. She recently placed third at 2022 Olympia and is a three-time Olympia Bikini titleholder. Fans also expect an exciting performance from Kassandra Gillis, who is the current Arnold Classic Wellness champion.
A comprehensive preview of the event can be found here. With a star-studded guest-posing lineup on deck, this weekend promises to be a memorable one.
Check out the results of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below:
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Winners
Classic Physique: Michael Daboul
Men’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
Figure: Cherish Richardson
Bikini: Coming Soon!
Wellness: Gisele Machado
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results
Classic Physique
During prejudging and finals, Michael Deboul and Eric Wildberger Lisboa cemented themselves as frontrunners. Both men brought exceptional upper body development and top-notch conditioning. While many fans online deemed it a toss-up, the judges awarded Michael Daboul with the victory.
Winner — Michael Daboul
Second Place — Eric Wildberger
Third Place — Alexander Westermeier
Fourth Place — Daniil Famponte
Fifth Place — Camilo Diaz
Sixth Place — Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Seventh Place — Brandon Cooper
Eighth Place — Rob Van Sant
Ninth Place — Kendahl Richmond
Tenth Place — Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Women’s Physique
Winner — Natalia Abraham Coelho
Second Place — Emily Schubert
Third Place — Amandine Kolly
Fourth Place — Joseli Schoenherr
Fifth Place — Marie-Solange Essoh
Sixth Place —
Seventh Place —
Eighth Place —
Ninth Place —
Tenth Place —
Figure
Winner — Cherish Richardson
Second Place — Natalia Soltero
Third Place — Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Fourth Place — Erika Morales Morgan
Fifth Place — Madison Dinges
Sixth Place — Manon Dutilly
Seventh Place — Jennifer Zienert
Eighth Place — Ashley Howells
Ninth Place — Ashley Radiance Fuller
Tenth Place — Paula Ranta
Wellness
Winner — Gisele Machado
Second Place — Kassandra Gillis
Third Place — Lili Dong
Fourth Place — Tefani-Sam Razhi
Fifth Place — Jennifer Zollars
Sixth Place —
Seventh Place —
Eighth Place —
Ninth Place —
Tenth Place —
Men’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Bikini
Coming Soon!
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Scorecards
Coming Soon!
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 9:42 PM EDT
Strongman Brian Shaw Shows Off Superhuman Strength By Rolling Up Frying Pan
Legendary Strongman veteran Brian Shaw is nearing the end of his professional career after making his final appearance at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man last month. During his career which has lasted over a decade, Brian has displayed some incredible feats of strength. However, he just decided to play around with some cooking utensils and amaze everyone with his strength once again. So, in a recent post made on Instagram, Shaw showed off his incredible power by banding and folding a frying pan with his bare hands.
Brian Shaw is one of the most successful athletes in the history of Strongman competition. However, it all started on the regional circuit in late 2005. Following this, Brian continued to work his way up, finally qualifying for the World’s Strongest Man show in 2008. His debut was not particularly successful, but Brian turned in a strong performance at his second WSM in 2009 having taken the bronze medal. Just two years later in 2011, Shaw cemented his place in the record books as the first man to win both the Arnold Strongman Classic and the WSM contest in the same year. He repeated the feat by winning both trophies once again in 2015. To this day, only Hafthor Bjornsson and Mitchell Hooper have managed to replicate this feat.
Brian Shaw (Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man)
In July 2022, Shaw unveiled the humongous gym he designed to train for Strongman events. The facility consisted of custom-made equipment to allow for the larger athletes to fit into the machines. Another purpose of the custom machinery was to be able to add more weight as well. While he made space for cardio equipment, he favored spending more time working on the weights. Then, after some practice, he left the fans in awe of his crazy strength by pushing a 2,000 pound (907.18-kg) car on the leg press in preparation for the 2022 Shaw Classic.
Shaw switched gears to test out a vegan diet last September. He managed to devour over 9,000 calories solely from vegan food items in a single day. Since he had been consuming a red meat-based diet, he reported trouble digesting the different plant-based items.
Earlier this year, Brian Shaw announced that the 2023 World’s Strongest Man would mark his final WSM appearance. He was confident going into the show and targeted adding another title under his belt to equal the record for the winningest athlete in the history of the competition. Then, he declared he would step away from professional competition after competing at the 2023 Shaw Classic.
Brian Shaw / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
Unfortunately, Shaw revealed he suffered a harsh leg injury while gearing up for the 2023 World’s Strongest Man last month. He had picked up a severe infection that risked him losing his leg. Fortunately, the infection got operated on in time before it spread too much.
Eventually, Shaw finished seventh at the WSM, which concluded with the win of Mitchell Hooper. Shaw, however, set a new record on the stone-offs and appeared content with the performance.
Brian Shaw rolled up a frying pan with his bare hands
In a recent Instagram post, Brian Shaw destroyed a frying pan using only his bare hands. Brian performed this feat of strength in front of a bunch of school kids, hoping to inspire them to chase their goals. In addition, judging by the caption of his post, Brian folded multiple frying pans and gave them to the kids as a souvenir.
Brian Shaw opened up on completing his last WSM showing last week. He gave his experience of going through each event and urged the organizers to change the standards for refereeing.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 6:25 PM EDT
6x Fittest Woman On Earth Tia-Clair Toomey Announces Arrival of Baby Girl
Although it appears that Tia-Clair Toomey just announced her pregnancy yesterday, many months have passed since that announcement. Toomey grew increasingly excited with each passing month leading up to this moment, and now she has finally reached what many consider to be the best day of their lives. On May 9th, 2023 Tia-Clair Toomey gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and became a mother.
Tia-Clair Toomey shared the exciting news on her Instagram on May 12th alongside a picture of her newborn. She revealed that the baby girl’s name is Willow Clair Orr and pointed out how much of her father’s facial features she already has. In addition, Tia-Clair pointed out just how emotional she got while holding her daughter for the first time.
“On Tuesday, the 9th of May, our lives were forever changed as we welcomed our precious baby girl, Willow Clair Orr.
From the moment we held her in our arms, we were overwhelmed with emotions. The joy and awe we felt are indescribable. Yes, there were moments of pain during the labor stage, but as the saying goes, nothing great comes without pain.”
Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Unveils Full Day of Eating During Pregnancy
Tia-Clair Toomey’s Future In CrossFit
Shortly before announcing her pregnancy, Tia-Clair Toomey made it clear that she wants to get her seventh CrossFit Games title. So, that had to be put on pause, but many hope that Tia-Clair will continue chasing this goal next season.
While she did not confirm anything yet, judging by the caption of her Instagram post, Tia-Clair Toomey seems even more inspired after giving birth to her daughter.
“This remarkable experience has brought about a newfound clarity and an extra drive within me.
Her arrival has filled my heart with an overwhelming love and renewed purpose, igniting a fire within me to pursue my goals with even greater determination.”
It’s clear that Tia-Clair Toomey is now entering a new chapter in her life as a parent. She’ll need some time to adjust and focus on her new role, so it may be a while before she can make plans for her athletic future. Parenthood can be a demanding and rewarding journey, and we wish her all the best in this new adventure.
Tia-Clair Toomey At a Glance
When Tia-Clair Toomey has her baby girl by her side, she may become even more driven, and her performances will undoubtedly be a magnificent sight to behold. She has already won six Individual CrossFit Games titles and was thus crowned the Fittest Woman On Earth. No one has ever managed to achieve this before her in either women’s or men’s divisions, as Mat Fraser was the closest with 5x Individual CrossFit Games titles.
Tia-Clair Toomey’s performances in the Rogue Invitational serve as further evidence that she is one of the greatest female athletes to ever compete in CrossFit. This is a new competition, established in 2019, but it is already one of the biggest in the sport. So, Tia-Clair has managed to win the 2019, 2020, and 2021 editions of the competition. However, she did not appear in 2022 and her title was claimed by Laura Horvath.
In addition, Tia-Clair appeared in the Rio Olympics back in 2016 in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting. So, it is obvious that there is nothing she can’t do and that she will also succeed in being a great mother.
Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Crushes a CrossFit Workout While Pregnant
Now that Tia-Clair Toomey won’t be competing this season, we will have a new women’s CrossFit Games champion for the first time since 2016. The athletes know this and are giving their all to seize the opportunity. The best one so far seems to be Mal O’Brien who won the 2023 CrossFit Open and Quarterfinals. Tia-Clair is not the only woman to withdraw from the 2023 season due to pregnancy, as Kara Saunders is also expecting a baby.
The Fitness Volt team congratulates Tia-Clair Toomey on becoming a mother and wishes her the best as she embarks on a new chapter in her life.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 2:47 PM EDT
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, one of the most prestigious contests on the IFBB Pro League calendar, will kick off its festivities on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. Historically, this show has become a major attraction and is backed by NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion. With six bodybuilding categories competing for gold, the winners will guarantee their right to contend on this year’s Mr. Olympia stage.
A number of returning champions have taken to the east coast looking to stake their claim as the best. Natalia Abraham Coelho, the reigning 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia, three-time Olympia Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser, and Wellness Arnold Classic winner Kassandra Gillis will be in attendance eager to nail down another major bodybuilding title.
Fans are also looking forward to a star-studded lineup of Open class guest posers, who are set to light up the stage on Saturday. You can find the complete roster of athletes competing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below:
Official 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Athletes Roster & Preview
Classic Physique
In the Classic Physique category, a few names jumped out on paper in the lead-up to the event. Michael Daboul is a two-time Arnold Classic UK champion and known for bringing consistently shredded packages. Daboul capped off his season last year finishing 10th at 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Camilo Diaz also has ambitious plans to assert himself as a title contender in his Pittsburgh Pro debut performance. Fans expect a strong showing from Danili Famponte as well after he won the 2023 Charlotte Pro and took third at the Fitworld Pro. He’s qualified for the 2023 Olympia, so he’s aiming to take a invite away from his competition.
Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Edgard John Augustin
Brandon Cooper
Luca Corrado
Michael Daboul
Camilo Diaz
Daniil Famponte
Callum Hinze
Eric Wildberger Lisboa
Eddie Lusk III
Dion Merrill
Jason Orellana
Kendahl Richmond
Rob Van Sant
Randy Watson
Alexander Westermeier
Jay Yount
Men’s Physique
The evolution of the Men’s Physique category will be on full display this weekend. Fans have highlighted a few frontrunners, like Ryan Terry. Terry turned in a seventh-place finish at 2022 Olympia, where Erin Banks won his first Men’s Physique title. Meanwhile, Ali Bilal will look to win in Pittsburgh after securing ninth behind Terry in Las Vegas. Benquil Marigny is also riding momentum after picking up gold at the 2023 St. Louis Pro a few weeks ago.
Dustin Alvis
Michael E. Anderson
Christopher Barr
Lucas Basilio
Michael Bell
Ali Bilal
Stevelon Dennis
Furkan Er
Matthew Gelia
Brett Mario Jackson
Melvin Keihn
Jacques Lewis
Benquil Marigny
Joseph Mencel
Gage Moran
Corey Morri
Vincenzo Palescandolo
Sidy Pouye Spain
Nathaniel Presley
Puwanat Putoya
Jamil Rogers
Leon K. Smith
Ryan Terry
Marcus L. Wesley
Women’s Physique
Fans look forward to seeing Natalia Abraham Coelho back in action, who upset Sarah Villegas for the Women’s Physique Olympia title last December. Given her ability to come in shredded to the bone, fans expect a dominant package from the reigning champ.
Sabrina Berish
Candice Carr
Natalia Abraham Coelho
Sarah Crail
Marie-Solange Essoh
Ann Gruber
Carrie Hughes
Amandine Kolly
Diana Schnaidt
Joseli Schoenherr
Emily Schubert
Becky Short
Michele Steeves
Jennifer Taylor
Kasia Topor
Patricia Watson
Figure
In the Figure category, Natalia Soltero hopes to deliver fireworks. She placed fifth at the 2022 Figure Olympia contest, which saw Cydney Gillon secure her sixth consecutive title. Soltero also finished fifth at last year’s Arnold Classic Figure International.
Lynn Centino
Madison Dinges
Manon Dutilly
Ashley Radiance Fuller
Sandy Hill
Ashley Howells
Erika Morales Morgan
Nina Paulus
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Paula Ranta
Cherish Richardson
Paige Sabedra
Natalia Soltero
Jennifer Zienert
Bikini
Ashley Kaltwasser is a winning machine and hopes to add another trophy to her collection this weekend. At the 2022 Olympia competition, she took third place, proving that she’s still a viable contender and very capable of stringing together high-quality performances. Kaltwasser enters this competition having won the Pittsburgh Pro title four times (2013,2014,2016,2019).
Marnie Al-Saraf
Vania Auguste
Romina Basualdo
Aimee Delgado
Malu Duarte
Valerya Fedorenko
Karene Gonzalez
Brittany Hamilton
Nicole Hermanson
Peyton Hunton
Ashley Kaltwasser
Priscila Leimbacher
Lexus Redmond
Kathy Seitz
Nedjie Thompson
Petra Voldanova
Jessica Wilson
Wellness
Arnold Classic Wellness International titleholder Kassandra Gillis plans to continue her success on Saturday. She’s already won a contest this year at the 2023 Vancouver Island Showdown Pro and earned her Olympia invite. With that in mind, she hopes to win her first Pittsburgh Pro title this weekend.
Emily Azzarello
Anna Banks
Claire Cochet
Rayanne Collins
Lili Dong
Kassandra Gillis
Gisele Machado
Tefani-Sam Razhi
Jaqueline Huescas Rios
Alyssa Serna
Jennifer Zollars
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Lineup
On top of six contests, some of the sport’s best Men’s Open competitors will guest pose in Pittsburgh this weekend. The stage will feature 2021 Arnold Classic winner, Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, 2022 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada.
Last year, Walker and Lunsford stole the show guest posing at the Pittsburgh Pro. Lunsford served as a backup replacement for Big Ramy who no-showed the event. At the gathering, fans enjoyed exciting performances from Brandon Curry and Hunter Labrada. It also laid the foundation for Lunsford to receive a special invitation to compete in the Open class for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, which he followed through on with a second-place finish.
RELATED: Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Fans are counting down the hours until Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro show. In addition to contests, the elite athletes in the Open class will also showcase their skills through guest posing. This will allow them to gain momentum and attract attention before they compete in the 2023 Mr. Olympia later in November.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 1:26 PM EDT
2023 CrossFit Individual Semifinals Tests Revealed
The 2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals will begin on May 18th, just a couple of days from now. Once the Semifinals begin, they will take place for three consecutive weeks across different continents. The 2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals will consist of seven competitions, all of which will feature seven workouts. So, the Tests (Workouts) for the Individual division have just been released.
The 2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals will feature seven Tests (Workouts) to determine who the fittest athletes in the world are. This is also the last obstacle before the 2023 CrossFit Games which has space for only 40 of the greatest athletes. Thus, only a few athletes from each Semifinal will go through to the Games.
Each semifinal has its own number of qualifying spots for the 2023 CrossFit Games, which was determined by CrossFit’s new ranking system. This system has evaluated the strength of the rosters in all seven Semifinal competitions and attributed the qualifying spots accordingly.
The 2023 CrossFit Open and Quarterfinals featured some insane displays from multiple athletes who are now likely to be dominant in the Semifinals as well. The young Mal O’Brien proved to be the greatest female so far, topping the overall leaderboards in both previous stages of the season. On the other hand, the 2x Fittest Man On Earth, Justin Medeiros, looks to be the favorite this year as well.
Related: Ricky Garard Out of the 2023 CrossFit Season Following Shoulder Injury
2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals Tests
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 poundsMen: 225 pounds
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 boxMen Wear a 20-pound ruck, 30-inch box
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 cleansMen: 295-pound deadlifts, 90-pound dumbbells, 145-pound squat cleans
TEST FOUR
For load:
Run 800 meters
Max Snatch
Time cap: 6 minutes
After the time cap for test four clocks out, the athletes will have just two minutes to rest before initiating Test Five.
TEST FIVE
For time:
8 Snatches
Run 800 meters
Time cap: 6 minutes
Women: 125-pound snatchMen: 185-pound snatch
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 SquatMen: 185-pound Squat
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 SandbagMen: 200-pound Sandbag
Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Unveils Full Day of Eating During Pregnancy
2023 Semifinals Schedule & CrossFit Games Qualifying Spots
All of the seven 2023 CrossFit Semifinal competitions listed below will consist of two divisions. The first one is the Individual, while the second division is the Teams. It is important to note that these two divisions do not have the same Tests (Workouts). In addition, the Teams division will feature six workouts and they were revealed a few days ago as well.
Below are the dates for each Semifinal competition along with the number of Individual qualifying spots available for the 2023 CrossFit Games in each competition.
North America East Semifinal: May 18-21 (11 Women / 12 Men)
Africa Semifinal: May 19-21 (1 Woman / 1 Man)
North America West Semifinal: May 25-28 (10 Women / 9 Men)
Oceania Semifinal: May 25-28 (3 Women / 3 Men)
South America Semifinal: May 26-28 (2 Women / 2 Men)
Europe Semifinal: June 1-4 (11 Women / 11 Men)
Asia Semifinal: June 1-4 (2 Women / 2 Men)
The 2023 CrossFit Games will take place shortly after the Semifinals. The exact date will be August 1-6, while the action will be happening in Madison, Wisconsin once again.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 12:44 PM EDT
Kali Muscle Gets Honest About 13 Years of Heavy Gear Use: ‘I Really Didn’t Stop Till the Heart Attack’
Fitness influencer and former bodybuilder Chuck “Kali Muscle” Kirkendall continues to issue warnings about the dangers of steroids. In a recent YouTube video, Kali Muscle discussed performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and the repercussions that follow sustained abuse.
Over the last three years, the foundation of the bodybuilding community was rocked by multiple deaths. In 2021, former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden suddenly passed away from suspected heart troubles. Meanwhile, George Peterson, a standout 212 bodybuilder, also met his untimely fate face down in a hotel room, once again, from heart complications.
Last April, less than one month before the 2022 Arnold Classic, Cedric McMillan died at 44. In addition to the former Arnold Classic champion, the sport mourned the deaths of IFBB judge Jerry Ward and German IFBB pro Andreas Frey.
Considering the trend, multiple bodybuilding personalities have underlined the dangers associated with PEDs. Among them was Kali Muscle, who shared a cautionary tale that saw him suffer a heart attack around the same time Rhoden passed away. In an effort to deter PED abuse, Kali Muscle is again highlighting the dangers in a recent YouTube appearance.
Kali Muscle Reflects on 13 Yrs of Steroid Abuse, Takes ‘Small Dose’ Now to ‘Sustain’ Physique
Kirkendall admits he ignored warning signs from doctors regarding his use of PEDs.
“You clogging everything up then I was getting warnings… doctors would be telling me, ‘Your blood pressure elevated for years.’ I’m like, ‘Man, look at me I’m fine.’ Then would use the electrical blood pressure machine, I’m like, ‘No you have to use that manual,’ right? I kept on just putting it off.”
“My feet and ankles swelled up and would just stay swollen, I’m talking abnormal. So I would wear compression socks and all that, just my right foot, so I’m like, I blamed it on Vegas, it’s got to be the heat or something in this air man. I lived in Vegas four years going through this.”
In addition to blood pressure issues, Kali Muscle noticed his body was retaining extra water only on his left side.
“When we did IBF, I went to the doctor and got a physical and all that, they told me that blood pressure is elevated and I just shunned it off. I’m like, but I was always scared of that; I knew something was wrong with my body because I was puffy.
Even when I did bodybuilding shows I would take diuretics and my left side would dry out but my right side was still holding a film of water. So, I was always weary of that, you know. Always scared of that. Yeah, I just didn’t take action on the signs,” said Kali Muscle.
Kali Muscle states that he’s used steroids for 12-13 years straight but finally stopped following his heart attack. He listed trenbolone as the worst compound he’s used but also said ‘deca, anadrol, and dbol’ clogged up his arteries over time.
“When I was 34 I started, 34… to when did I do my last show, no, so I really didn’t stop until the heart attack. Yeah, but all those years I would get off three to four months. So I caught myself cycling off and I’m thinking I’m not doing what these other guys are doing because I was already genetically gifted but you had times bro – that’s why that HGH, IGF fuc**ng Insulin, bro that’s clogging you up. They tell you, you know what I mean, that hardens your arteries or whatever they used to say.”
“Yeah, 34 till when I had my heart attack, so 13 years off and on… 12 years off and on,” added Kali. “If you don’ty get a EKG or a PET scan to look at your arteries, you don’t know what’s going on. That’s what I recommend to everybody. Getting an EKG, a PET test at least once a year when you’re hitting 40 at least once a year.”
“Tren is the worst. Tren, deca, anadrol, dbol, they the worst. They clog you up so fast. Insulin will kill you! I remember I tried that and damn-near died. You got to eat like a 1,000 grams of carbs on it. I was about to fall out and have a diabetic coma. Just experimenting too, don’t know what the hell you doing. It’s all an experiment, that’s what I tell people in videos, you’re giving data to my kids’ generation on what to do and what not to do.”
According to Kali Muscle, steroids have value in society because they can help people suffering from AIDs and cancer. He specified that he’s taking a small dose of testosterone which amounts to 250 milligrams per month.
“Roids help people, AIDs, cancer patients — it helps them. But when you abuse it, that’s when the problems arise,” added Kali. “A small dosage [is what I take now] I do a half a CC every other week. So, you’re looking at I do about 250 migs a month. That’s just to sustain.”
“I don’t do it for big muscles or nothing because I want to live bro. I’d get off totally if they tell me to. Yeah [testosterone], just some test. I feel great.”
Looking ahead, Kali Muscle is excited about new anti-aging measures.
“Keeping people young… they have a lot of new research. I love it. I look at it like this, if we didn’t have what we have in place now, I would be dead. Back in the day, they wouldn’t of been able to figure out as fast as they did what was wrong with me. By that time, the blood would of shut down to my brain and organs.”
Kali Muscle isn’t the only former bodybuilder keen on reversing the anti-aging process. Recently, 1990s Open athlete Rich Gaspari took to Instagram and revealed a peptide stack he uses to preserve his health. He’s also taken aim at Open bodybuilders today who he believes are overusing drugs instead of utilizing proper training.
Given the consequences he’s endured from years of steroid abuse, Kali Muscle hopes to inspire safer practices, especially for those who intend to pursue a career in bodybuilding.
Watch the full video below from the Escape Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 11:21 AM EDT