Tag: nEWS
Jeff Nippard Destroys A Killer Leg Day Workout
Fitness expert Jeff Nippard never ceases to amaze the fitness community with his science backed insights on training and nutrition. Recently, Nippard tackled a lower body training session and shared some insightful tips as he went along.
Jeff Nippard is a Canadian natural bodybuilder, powerlifter, fitness expert and personal trainer. He has carved a niche for himself in the YouTube fitness community with science backed content. Apart from years of training, Nippard’s knowledge comes from a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
Over the years, the Canadian has trained many natural bodybuilders and powerlifters. Nippard himself held the 2012 Mr. Junior Canada title and also had the Canadian national record for bench press attached to his name.
Nippard’s YouTube content revolves around sustainable and scientifically proven methods of training and diet. Over the last few months, he has shed light on topics like minimalist training principles and common nutrition mistakes. His six-part Push Pull Leg series based on minimalist training philosophy is also underway on his YouTube channel.
In his recent leg training session, Nippard trained with Layne Norton. He is a professional natural bodybuilder and a powerlifter who has led successful careers in both disciplines. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a PhD in Nutritional Sciences. As a result, the 38-year-old has also made significant contributions to the community with several publications. Norton guided Nippard to winning the Canadian National Gold Medal in 2012.
“He’s the first person who convinced me that you don’t actually need to eat clean to get shredded as long as you hit your macros,” Nippard stated.
Nippard attributes his knowledge of training and nutrition to Norton. So, let’s check out how the coach and student turned the clock back and got a good day’s work in.
Jeff Nippard goes through a science-based lower body training session
Warm-Up
Nippard and Nortan warmed themselves up with a few dynamic warm-up drills before jumping into the workout. They performed bird dogs and hip-Back opener for 5 reps per side and started the workout.
Exercise 1: Deadlifts
The duo took to the deadlifts next and worked their way up to one heavy top set of two reps (a heavy double). Nippard reiterated that one heavy set per week is enough to get most out of an exercise if you want to keep the volume low for injury prevention or if you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the gym.
“People confuse ‘what works’ with ‘optimal’. Is a single set per week ideal for strength? Probably not. However, for me it is much more important to be able to continuously and consistently be in the gym. If that means I should do a little bit less volume on the main lift so that I can stay healthy and stay in the gym, then that’s still better practically than what might be optimal in theory,” Dr. Layne Norton said.
Nippard and Lane performed a full warm-up pyramid to work their way up to the heavy top set. After performing the working set for two reps at 7 to 8 RPE, the duo moved on to the next exercise.
Exercise 2: Pendulum Squats
Nippard and Layne performed pendulum Squats as the second exercise of the lower body training session.
The pendulum Squats machine in Nippard’s gym offers great support to the lower back which is the reason it’s his favourite machine.
“And I find it offers a smoother movement path than a hack Squat. The counter balance is also behind you which I find makes it a little easier to get out of the hole and a little harder at the lockout. So that makes the strength curve feel very unique,” Nippard stated.
Additionally, the pendulum squat machine enables pushing close to failure safely which makes it a good hypertrophy exercise.
After a few warm-up sets, Nippard got a working set of 8 to 10 reps under his belt with an RPE of 9. Following this set, he moved on to the next exercise of the day.
Exercise 3: Glute-Hamstring Raises
This hamstring focused exercise followed the pendulum Squats. Nippard and Norton performed this movement on the glute hamstrings raise machine. It uses weight for assistance and not for resistance. Therefore, the less weight you use, the harder the movement gets.
The duo performed three sets of this movement for 8 to 10 reps and jumped into the next exercise.
Leg Extensions
Nippard and Layne Norton performed this quad isolation movement next to the Prime Fitness leg extensions machine. The machine has three plate horns and loading the plates on different weight horns emphasizes different aspects of the range of motion.
Loading the weight on the top horn emphasizes the stretch aspect while loading it on the middle horn spreads the load more evenly throughout the range of motion. However, using the bottom horn can help emphasize the contracted position at the top of the movement.
“If you think about where you are strongest in a leg extension, you are actually strongest at the beginning. So you’re strongest in the stretched position,” Norton said.
He added:
“Another point I like to make about leg extensions is you really want to get the leg Extensions so that the pad goes under the seat as far as possible. The further back this pad goes, the more stretch you get in the quads. There is pretty conclusive literature demonstrating that the stretched position is really critical for hypertrophy.”
Nippard and Norton performed three sets of leg extensions and focused more on the stretched position of the calves. They performed a few partial reps in the stretched position at the end of the set as an advanced intensity technique and took to the final exercise of the day.
Leg Press Toe Press
Jeff and Layne wrapped up the training session with this exercise to train the calves. They performed 3 sets of this exercise for 12 to 15 reps and called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:
Warm-up
Bird Dogs – 5 to 10 reps per side
Hip and Back Opener – 5 reps per side
Workout
Exercise 1: Deadlifts
First warm-up set – 4 to 5 reps with 45 percent of the weight you intend to use for the working set
Second warm-up set – 3 to 4 reps with 65 percent of the weight you intend to use for the working set
Third warm-up set – 1 to 2 reps with 85 percent of the weight you intend to use for the working set
Working set – 1 set of 2 reps (Heavy Double) @ RPE 7 to 8
Exercise 2: Pendulum Squats
Warm-up sets – 2 to 4 sets of 2 to 5 reps (gradually add more weight)
Working set – 1 set of 8 to 10 reps @ 8 to 10 RPE
Exercise 3: Glute-Hamstring Raises
3 sets of 8 to 10 reps
Exercise 4: Leg Extensions
3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
Exercise 5: Leg Press Toe Press
3 sets of 12 to 15 reps
Jeff Nippard’s YouTube content is a potent source of Pre-workout motivation and bodybuilding knowledge. Stay tuned with Fitness Volt for more such fitness content.
You can watch the full video here, courtesy of Jeff Nippard’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 17 April, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT
Michal Krizo Tackles An Off-Season Leg Workout For Bulking
Bodybuilder Michal Krizo is utilising the off-season for bulking up. Recently, he went through a lower body workout to add more bulk to his girthy legs.
After a series of dominant performances in the IFBB Elite Pro League, Slovakia’s own Michal Krizo started his Olympia campaign by switching over to the NPC. He earned the IFBB Pro card with a dominant win at the 2022 Amateur Olympia Italy.
Making a return at the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro a few weeks later, Krizo managed to pull off a win in his Pro debut. However, his conditioning at the show became a big point of criticism. Undeterred by the negative feedback, Krizo went back to the drawing board and started preparing for the biggest challenge of his bodybuilding career as the win earned him a direct qualification to the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
The Men’s Open division at the 2022 Olympia boasted the most difficult line-up in recent memory. Krizo held his ground for the most part nevertheless and managed to finish in the top 15 on the grandest stage of bodybuilding.
Having received the necessary experience of competing at the elite level within a year of turning Pro, Krizo now readies himself to tackle the next competitive season. He is set to make a return at the 2023 Arnold Classic UK. The Slovak’s recent leg workout was a part of his effort to prepare his physique for the upcoming competitive season.
The short training session consisted of a few compound movements coupled with isolation movements for targeting major muscle groups in the lower body. The video of this session was posted on Krizo’s personal YouTube channel. So let’s jump right into it and see how Krizo is adding more bulk to his legs.
Michal Krizo goes through a leg workout
Hack Squats
Krizo kicked off the workout with this compound movement. Hack Squats offer similar benefits that traditional barbell squats offer in terms of primary muscle activation and strength gain. Just like the Barbell squats, Hack Squats target the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hip flexors, calves and core muscles. However, they are generally safer than traditional squats and put far less stress on the lower back.
Krizo got a few good sets of this movement under his belt and took to a quad-focused exercise afterwards.
Leg Extensions
The Slovakian bodybuilder performed this quad isolation exercise next to stimulate the quadriceps further. After pushing through all the sets of leg extensions, Krizo went back to working with a heavy compound exercise.
Leg Press
Quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, adductor and abductor muscles are the primary target muscles of leg press. It is a compound movement that can really help build bigger legs when done with correct form and technique. Krizo did a few reps of leg press in each set unilaterally and switched over to working with both legs for the last few reps. After working his way through some punishing sets, the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro winner took to the second isolation movement of the day.
Lying Leg Curls
Krizo next performed the lying leg curls which is a hamstrings isolation movement. Apart from working the hamstrings, leg curls are an excellent way to warm up the knee joints which are crucial in performing most of the lower body movements. Hence they make for a perfect first exercise as well. Krizo cranked out some solid sets of lying leg curls and took to the final exercise of the day.
Seated Calf Raises
Michal Krizo wrapped up the training session with a few sets of seated calf raises. This variation of calf raises works the soleus muscle that lies underneath the gastrocnemius muscle in the calf region.
Krizo pushed through a few heavy sets of the movement and called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:
Michal Krizo is one of the young up-and-coming contenders in the Men’s Open division of the IFBB Pro League. If he puts the right amount of work in and improves his physique enough, the Slovak can certainly push aside the older generation of bodybuilders and dominate the sport in the years to come.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Michal Krizo’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 16 April, 2023 | 11:00 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn Hits Back at Haters Who Fell for Synthol Fish Hook
American bodybuilder and model Mike O’Hearn carved his own space with his insane longevity in the fitness industry. In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, O’Hearn hit back at the haters who got fish hooked about his use of Synthol.
Fitness sensation Mike O’Hearn has proven to be one of the most consistent athletes of the last few decades. He first gained attention for his jacked physique as a bodybuilder who won the Mr. Natural Universe title four times. Besides competition, O’Hearn’s aesthetic qualities led him to succeed in modeling. He won Fitness Model of the Year seven times and has graced the covers of more than 400 magazines.
O’Hearn found his passion for acting in the early 90s. He started his run with supporting roles before getting the role of Thor and Titan in American Gladiators. He also made several guest appearances in popular television series like Days of Our Lives.
Given the extraordinary build of O’Hearn, there has been a ton of speculation about the possibility of steroid or Synthol use. In Jul. 2022, O’Hearn declined using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) and credited his physique to be consistent every day.
O’Hearn teamed up with Joseph Baena, son of bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, for a brutal arms workout in Aug. 2022. He opened up about his intense mindset about training as they performed the bicep and triceps routine.
The 54-year-old left the fans stunned with an impressive sneak peek of his role in the bodybuilding film Magazine Dreams last August. He showed off his shredded physique while playing the role of Brad Vanderhorn.
O’Hearn partnered with Baena for an ‘old-school’ upper body training session a few months ago. He mentored Baena through the back workout focused on enhancing longevity. He caused a stir in the community with his claims suggesting testosterone levels didn’t decline with time. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout chimed in voicing his disagreement with O’Hearn beliefs last October.
Following the rise in steroid accusations lodged against him, O’Hearn issued a fiery message pushing back on the allegations in Sep. 2022.
Mike O’Hearn admits fish hooking haters on Synthol use
In a recent YouTube video, Mike O’Hearn talked about tricking haters with a fish hook about his fictitious use of Synthol. He explained the promo stunt was based on his character in an upcoming project.
“Let’s talk about the rumors with Synthol,” said O’Hearn. “That was an easy troll by me because I knew majority would jump on it, not read anything, bypass that and just go this is awesome, gotcha! That’s the reason I kinda did it to just make you a little awake. I think it is stemmed from hate.
“It doesn’t matter what I say, it matters what I do. The evidence is there of what I do and have been doing for a lifetime.”
“I hope you guys understand it really doesn’t matter what you say. You can say pretty much anything but your actions are going to prove who you are as an individual.”
“For everybody that got fish hooked from the post about Synthol, that’s my character I’m playing on Monday. He’s a character I play on 911 that gets busted for synthol, drugs, and stuff. It was too easy not to fish hook you guys.”
Check out the 9-1-1 promo below:
Two months ago, Mike O’Hearn collaborated with Baena for a fierce shoulder workout. He lauded Baena for the improvements he made to his fitness levels by working on his dancing skills.
O’Hearn’s latest update might come as a surprise to those who fell for it but it certainly helped bring more attention to his upcoming role.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 16 April, 2023 | 2:44 PM EDT
Big Ramy Clears the Air with Bob Cicherillo on Retirement Calls
Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay is on a mission to redeem himself after slipping at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. In a recent video posted on YouTube, Ramy cleared the air with IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo regarding the criticism he received after getting dethroned and his plans ahead.
Former two-time Mr. Olympia Big Ramy has been a regular feature of the Men’s Open division since 2013. He turned heads with his freakish muscle mass and size that overwhelmed many mass monsters in the category. He scored gold at the 2013 New York Pro and retained his title in 2014 while working his way up the ranks. In 2020, Ramy secured his maiden Sandow trophy by dethroning Brandon Curry. He added the second title under his belt at the 2021 Mr. Olympia.
Last season, Big Ramy was looking to extend his lead at the top as he went up against a crop of new talent and proven contenders at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Ultimately, it was Hadi Choopan who knocked Ramy off the throne. Ramy suffered a setback and dropped down to the fifth place.
There was speculation about the possibility of an injury plaguing Ramy on stage in Las Vegas. Ramy did not let the result hold him back as he signed up for the 2023 Arnold Classic. He underwent stem cell treatment in preparation for the show. Dr. Khan reported positive findings after the treatment and expected Ramy to do better in Ohio.
Big Ramy at 2022 Olympia
His coach Chad Nicholls admitted the Olympia prep did not go according to plan. While he entered the event confident, a series of challenges halted the pair from bringing their best form.
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler extended his support for Ramy last month. He lauded Ramy for his impressive package and backed him to potentially pull off a triumphant comeback. In the end, Ramy slotted in fourth place at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Bob Cicherillo counted out Ramy’s chances in the sport aftiner the outcome last month. He stressed the need for Ramy to completely transform his whole physique if he wanted to get back in the judges’ good graces. However, he expressed doubts about the prospect. He doubled down on his take days later when he called on Ramy to step on the sidelines.
The 38-year-old issued a fiery message aimed at the critics who suggested he hang up his posing trunks. He made it clear he was in the game to stay and will not be leaving anytime soon.
Big Ramy clears the air with Bob Cicherillo on calls for retirement
In a recent YouTube video, Big Ramy made peace with Bob Cicherillo in light of their differences regarding his career.
“I hear many things. If somebody can’t give the game 100 percent,” said Ramy. “We have many things in the sport we can do not only the state, but we can support the sport of many things else. But me and Bob agree I can do that if my body responds.”
Ramy faced backlash for missing the guest-posing appearance at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. He confirmed he’d be at this year’s edition a few weeks ago and teased the anticipated showing when asked about his road to the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Maybe in Pittsburgh. Jim offered me to come, being the biggest name in the sport. When you close to him, he’s a great person and supports everyone and I never think I can do disrespect for any reason. Last year what happened, I really feel bad because I miss this show. It’s important for me because I respect this game and the fans.”
Cicherillo believes Ramy is past his best days and argued against giving him false hope about potentially reclaiming the Olympia title.
Ramy may not possess the package that won him the coveted Sandow trophy but he’s ready to give it his all in hopes of adding to his glittering resume.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 16 April, 2023 | 12:53 PM EDT
2023 Wasatch Warrior Pro Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Wasatch Warrior Pro took over Salt Lake City, Utah on April 15. This event was an Olympia qualifier for this year’s contest, featuring competitors from the Men’s Physique, Figure, and Bikini divisions.
Athletes have already begun qualifying for the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition, which takes place November 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. The deadline to earn an invitation to the contest is October 9. Unlike in seasons prior, the point system has been removed. With that in mind, bodybuilders will now have to earn their invitations by winning a pro show.
With less time to qualify for the annual Joe Weider’s Fitness Olympia and Performance Weekend, athletes are mapping out their route to bodybuilding’s biggest destination. Fans have already circled some frontrunners for the Men’s Physique show, like Corey Morris, Benquil Marigny, and Blake Alexander. The winner will have the opportunity to take on their division’s Olympia champion Erin Banks in the months to come.
2023 Wasatch Warrior Pro Winners
Men’s Physique: Corey Morris
Figure: Gabriela Consolmagno
Bikini: Aimee Leann Delgado
2023 Wasatch Warrior Pro Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Corey Morris
Second Place — Benquil Marigny
Third Place — Joseph Lee
Fourth Place — Kevin Brown
Fifth Place — Jamal Everette
Sixth Place — Dajuan R. Freeman
Seventh Place — Khali Quartey
Eighth Place — Brock Jenkins
Ninth Place — Franky Yan
Tenth Place — David Odom
Figure
Winner — Gabriela Consolmagno
Second Place — Gina Palma
Third Place — Ashley Howells
Fourth Place — Shana Malcolm
Fifth Place — Stacie Gladwell
Sixth Place — Destinee Silva
Seventh Place — Gabriela Estrada
Eighth Place — Kiira Poux
Ninth Place — Kate Grevey
Tenth Place — Rebecca Godwin
Bikini
Winner — Aimee Leann Delgado
Second Place — Jessica Wilson
Third Place — Malu Duarte
Fourth Place — Savannah Watchman
Fifth Place — Jackie Cheney
Sixth Place — Kimber Bonilla
Seventh Place — Brittany Gillespie
Eighth Place — Carlee Stevenson
Ninth Place — Toniesha Gaddis
Tenth Place — Heili Howell
2023 Wasatch Warrior Pro Scorecards
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 11:43 PM EDT
2023 Arnold Classic South America Results — Behrooz Tabani Wins
This year’s 2023 Arnold Classic South America kicked off April 14-16 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This competition served as a Mr. Olympia qualifier for the Men’s Open and Men’s Wheelchair divisions.
The bodybuilding calendar is currently underway as athletes aim to earn their respective invitations to the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition. This year’s Olympia takes place from November 2-5, in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Athletes from the Men’s Open division must win a pro show to guarantee their passage to the prestigious Mr. Olympia event. The point system has been removed and there are fewer months to qualify in 2023 compared to last year.
A few names got the attention of fans, who expect a very exciting show in Brazil. Vitor Hugo Boff is a leading threat this weekend. Boff was the 2022 Musclecontest Brazil Pro champ and made his debut on the Olympia stage last December.
Additionally, Emir Omeragic, who placed sixth at last year’s New York Pro was eager to prove naysayers wrong with a commanding performance. And perhaps the biggest frontrunner of the show, Behrooz Tabani, trained by Milos Sarcev, intends to do some damage. His lone pro show came at the 2021 Romania Muscle Fest Pro where he placed third behind Samson Dauda.
2023 Arnold Classic South America Winners
Men’s Open: Behrooz Tabani
Men’s Wheelchair: Coming soon!
2023 Arnold Classic South America Results
Men’s Open
Winner — Behrooz Tabani
Second Place — Wellington Fernando Baptista
Third Place — Emir Omeragic
Fourth Place — Josef Kveton
Fifth Place — Vitor Hugo Boff
Men’s Wheelchair
Coming Soon!
2023 Arnold Classic South America Scorecards
Coming Soon!
Fitness Volt congratulates the winners!
Catch full coverage of the 2023 Arnold Classic, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final and full results at our Arnold Classic coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 8:16 PM EDT
2023 Korea AGP Pro Results Hyo Jung Kim wins
It’s a busy bodybuilding weekend and competitors put it all on the line at the 2023 Korea AGP Pro on April 15. This show featured athletes from the Bikini division and served as an Olympia qualifier in Gyeonggi, Korea, for the biggest event in the sport later this year.
As it stands, athletes have until October 9 to earn their invitations to 2023 Olympia, which is slated to kick off November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. Unlike last year’s season, the point system has been removed; therefore, to qualify for this year’s Olympia show, athletes must earn their way by winning a pro show.
The top three Bikini finishers from last year’s Olympia contest (2022) were automatically invited back to the stage later this year. Ahead of the show, fans had their eye on a few names such as Xu Chanyu, Eun Jung Kim, and Hyojung Kim.
Check out the latest Bikini pro to earn their invitation below:
2023 Korea AGP Pro Bikini Results
Winner — Hyo Jung Kim
Second Place — Xu Chanyu
Third Place — Soo Hyun Bae
Fourth Place — Eun Jung Kim
2023 Korea AGP Pro Bikini Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 4:15 PM EDT
Video: Hafthor Bjornsson Tears His Pec During 252.5-kg (556.7-lb) Bench Press Attempt
It has been a few months since Hafthor Bjornsson announced that he was coming back to powerlifting. Initially, he only wanted to get back to lifting weights following his boxing venture, but that quickly grew into some much bigger goals. With the love for the sport reignited in him, Hafthor decided to try to break the All-Time Raw W/Wraps World Record Total by the end of 2023. He started putting on some weight and training professionally, which resulted in some impressive improvements. However, it seems that his exhibition will be cut short, or at least slowed down, since Hafthor just tore his pec muscle.
Wanting to test his strength and technique, Hafthor Bjornsson organized a powerlifting competition in his gym. The competition took place on April 15th, and lasted the entire day. Hafthor started off strong, but his day was ruined on the bench press. After successfully and easily locking out 230 kilograms (507.1 pounds) and 240 kilograms (529.1 pounds), Hafthor loaded 252.5 kilograms (556.7 pounds) for his final attempt.
Having never lifted this much weight before, Hafthor Bjornsson was eager to score a new competition PR. However, when he started to lower the 252.5 kilograms (556.7 pounds) down to his chest, his pec muscle torn. This resulted in a spine-chilling scream from the 2018 World’s Strongest Man, which only stopped after the spotters lifted the bar off him.
The video of the incident was shared by a Strongman promoter, Julian Howard, on Instagram. The footage clearly shows Hafthor’s pec muscle detaching, along with the sound of tearing.
Watch the video here:
Related: Hafthor Björnsson Drops The Bar on Himself After Squatting 340-kg (749.6-lb) For Two Reps; Avoids Serious Injuries
Hafthor Bjornsson will probably reveal the severity of the injury as soon as he completes all the necessary testing. However, pec tears can take months to recover, and it seems that Hafthor’s injury is very serious. So, it is likely that his ambitions of breaking the All-Time World Record will have to be prolonged.
Before tearing his pec, Hafthor Bjornsson had a relatively decent start to the competition. He squatted 380 kilograms (837.6 pounds) and 420 kilograms (925.9 pounds) on his first two attempts. Bjornsson then moved on to his third attempt of 445 kilograms (981 pounds) and crushed it. However, the third attempt was then disallowed because of his depth.
Hafthor Bjornsson also intended to return to Strongman in 2024, but this injury might affect those plans as well. Both Powerlifting and Strongman are notorious for their injuries. Hafthor’s risk was potentially even greater, seeing that he took two years off to train boxing. While doing that, Hafthor beat Eddie Hall in one of the heaviest fights in history. Shortly after the match, Hafthor realized that his love lies in strength sports.
The first thing Hafthor Bjornsson did after retiring from boxing was break a World Record in Strongman. He further improved his own Weight Over Bar record at the 2022 Rogue Invitational.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson’s Powerlifting Career
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Wraps
970
551.2
970
2425.1
551.79
Raw
474
1113.3
268.28
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
1
WRPF-Iceland
2018-12-15
Thors Powerlifting Challenge
Open
2425.1
551.79
Location
Iceland
Competition
Thors Powerlifting Challenge
Division
Open
Age
30
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
435.4
Squat
-925.9
970
-1014.1
970
Bench
518.1
540.1
551.2
551.2
Deadlift
859.8
903.9
-948
903.9
2
RAW-Iceland
2011-06-03
Íslandsmót
Open
2050.3
470.77
Location
Iceland
Competition
Íslandsmót
Division
Open
Age
22
Equipment
Wraps
Class
308.6
Weight
418.6
Squat
661.4
716.5
771.6
771.6
Bench
463
485
507.1
507.1
Deadlift
771.6
-837.8
-837.8
771.6
1
IKF
2010-09-22
Heildarúrslit
Open
474
110.15
Location
Iceland
Competition
Heildarúrslit
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
398.6
Bench
440.9
474
-496
474
GLP
78.04
1
WPC-Iceland
2010-03-20
Icelandic Championships
Open
1113.3
268.28
Location
Iceland
Competition
Icelandic Championships
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
346.2
Bench
330.7
352.7
385.8
385.8
Deadlift
617.3
683.4
727.5
727.5
1
RAW-Iceland
2010-02-27
Íslandsmót
Open
705.5
170.88
Location
Iceland
Competition
Íslandsmót
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
308.6
Weight
339.5
Deadlift
617.3
661.4
705.5
-727.5
705.5
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
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Related: Hafthor Björnsson Inducted into The International Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Hafthor Bjornsson has experienced multiple injuries during his career and successfully overcame them all. Hopefully he will do the same with this one and then continue where he left off. Bjornsson will undoubtedly soon come out with a statement revealing what the future has in store for him.
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 4:19 PM EDT
Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Scores 800-lb (362.9-kg) Raw Deadlift For Four-Rep PR
In bodybuilding, the emphasis is placed on developing an aesthetically pleasing physique rather than pure strength, which is not a top priority for most athletes in the sport. However, Joe Mackey is one of those who make a deliberate effort to get the best of both worlds. Boasting a humongous physique, with especially impressive arms, Joe also ranks among the strongest humans to walk the earth. He is not a stranger to impressive feats of strength, with the majority of his notable displays coming on the deadlift. This was the case once again, as Joe shared his newest four-rep PR on Instagram. After loading 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) on the barbell, Joe Mackey got into position and completed four swift reps with ease.
As per usual, Joe Mackey only used a lifting belt and lifting straps to complete the humongous set. He is also sticking to a conventional stance, which has proven to be his prowess over the years.
“800 lbs flew tonight, the time was a 1.1 second rep”
Watch Joe Mackey’s here:
Related: Off Season Muscle Growth — Here’s What’s In Bodybuilder Joe Mackey’s Grocery Cart
Joe Mackey’s deadlift abilities have always been mind-blowing, especially among bodybuilders. It seems that no one in the history of bodybuilding has ever deadlifted as much as him, having locked out 910 pounds (412.7 kilograms) in January. However, Joe is aiming to become the first bodybuilder to deadlift 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) as well.
In order to achieve the mind-blowing 1,000-pound (453.6-kilogram) deadlift, Joe Mackey sought help from fellow strength and bodybuilding enthusiast, Larry Wheels. With Wheels guiding him through the process, Joe Mackey hopes to shatter all limits. He has already shown improvement with this 800-pound (362.9-kilogram) four-rep PR, but there will be more to come.
Despite dedicating a lot of time towards improving his deadlifting abilities over the course of the past year, Joe Mackey has not neglected his bodybuilding career either. He put up two impressive performances at the end of 2022. The first one was a fifth-place finish at the 2022 IFBB Tampa Pro, with a ninth-place finish at the 2022 IFBB Texas Pro as well.
Related: Bodybuilder Joe Mackey Shows Off Insanely Shredded Physique Ahead Of 2022 IFBB Tampa & Texas Pro
Joe Mackey is doing everything in his power to get closer to four digits on the deadlift. He keeps a strict diet, with occasional massive cheat meals. In addition, Joe pushes his boundaries on other exercises. One of those is the Hack Squat, having recently performed five reps with 449 kilograms (990 pounds).
It is currently not clear when Joe Mackey will compete again or if he plans on attempting a new deadlift PR anytime soon. Nevertheless, it is apparent that he is making good progress toward his goal. Therefore, any goals he may have are certainly achievable.
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 1:47 PM EDT
Strongman Brian Shaw Opens Up About Battle With Leg Cellulitis: “This Has Been Extremely Challenging For Me”
As Brian Shaw’s long and strenuous training for his finals World’s Strongest Man competition nears its end, he has taken to YouTube to share the details of his “Road to WSM”. Just a few days ago, Brian Shaw revealed that he faced a severe leg infection in January, which chained him to a hospital bed for several days. Yet in his latest video, Brian unveiled additional footage of himself in the hospital and the aftermath of his first workout upon returning to the gym. Additionally, he talked about the difficulties he has experienced as a result of this unexpected setback.
Brian Shaw did not think much of his infection and thought that he would only go to the hospital for a few hours and come back out. However, that extended to a grueling eight days in the hospital. Even during brief instances where Brian attempted to take a stroll, he had to endure intense discomfort.
“I really thought this would be a one day process… It has proved to be anything but that. So, what I am dealing with is a very bad case of cellulitis… It is extremely aggressive.”
Brian Shaw also revealed that his exact infection was a severe case of cellulitis. For those who are not familiar with this case, cellulitis is an infection which appears suddenly and quickly spreads through the body. It is also located in the deeper layers of the skin and tissue. So, swift prevention is absolutely necessary.
“We’ve tried a series of different antibiotics that I have had to use through an IV.”
The task of attaching multiple IV lines to Brian Shaw proved to be challenging due to his notably dense skin and muscle tissue. In addition, it was another painstaking procedure that Brian had to go through countless times. His forearms also became sore and solid from all the injections, even to the point where doctors were not able to poke them anymore.
“They poked me a few times to try to get more, but they just said that my veins are hard to poke with IVs and also my veins reject them.”
Brian Shaw admits that this has been a very difficult process for him, despite his positive attitude towards everything. In just a matter of days, he went from lifting enormous weights to barely being able to stand up. That shows how much the infection has affected him physically, but it was also mentally draining.
“This has been extremely challenging for me… taking my leg from an elevated position, going down to the ground, standing up, and going to the bathroom is right now unbelievably challenging and painful… Anything is maybe going to seem easy compared to that.”
In as little as two hours after his hospital departure, Brian Shaw was back at his gym, getting ready to train. Despite his eagerness for a fresh start, he remained uncomfortable and weak in every aspect of his preparation.
“I feel like complete garbage if I am being completely honest. I wasn’t able to eat like I normally would… No training, and I am a guy who has trained religiously since highschool… More of a break than I can remember in my entire lifting career.”
Despite his desire to immediately jump back to lifting heavy weights, Brian Shaw had to refrain from potentially making his condition worse. Clearly, after being ill for over a week, Brian found himself in a challenging situation.
“It is crazy how easy the training was two weeks ago… But, I know how quickly I can bounce back… This now is a win, even though it is such a miniscule session overall for me.”
Watch Brian Shaw’s video here:
Related: Brian Shaw Announces The 2023 Shaw Classic Lineup & Reveals It Will Be His Final Competition
Brian Shaw’s goal was to continue building momentum and get back into peak physical and mental shape before the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition. So, judging by his recent training session, it seems that he was successful.
If Brian wins his fifth WSM title this year, he will tie Mariusz Pudzianovski’s record and be recognized for one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. Just four more days remain until the competition starts and we see Brian perform.
Published: 15 April, 2023 | 11:35 AM EDT