Tag: nEWS
Sarah Villegas Upset To See Women’s Bodybuilding Left Off 2022 Arnold Classic Schedule
Two-time Olympia champion Sarah Villegas offering to sponsor women’s bodybuilding events.
Sarah Villegas has turned into one of the top competitors in women’s bodybuilding. This has come after two consecutive Olympia championships in the Women’s Physique division. It is not surprising to see that Villegas was upset to see Women’s Physique and women’s bodybuilding as a whole left off the list of scheduled events for the 2022 Arnold Classic.
The Arnold Classic is scheduled for March 3-6 and will take place in Columbus, Ohio. It will get back to normal scheduling after being moved to September this year due to COVID-19. This was a one-day event that featured just four events — Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Fitness, and Bikini. With the event getting back to normal in 2022, Villegas was disappointed to see some divisions being left off and made an offer to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Villegas took to Instagram to offer Schwarzenegger and Arnold Sports Festival to say she will take $20,000 of her own money and sponsor the Women’s Physique division at the competition.
“I’m very disappointed to learn that the @arnoldsports has excluded Women’s Physique and Women’s Bodybuilding from the 2022 Arnold Classic roster.
I’m extending an offer to @schwarzenegger and @arnoldsportswhere I will personally sponsor all prize money for the Women’s Physique category at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival if they choose to add the category to the roster. LET THE GIRLS COMPETE.”
Women’s Physique was not present during the Arnold Classic this year. Just two weeks after the event, Sarah Villegas was on stage in Orlando winning her second Olympia title in a row in the division. If Schwarzenegger does not accept this offer, Villegas still plans to give back to the division.
Villegas will still shell out $20,000 if her offer is rejected. She will spread this out over three shows. Villegas plans to give $10,000 to the winner of the 2022 Texas Pro and $5,000 each during two different shows. These two shows are yet to be determined.
“My offer stands, however if it is not accepted, here is what I am going to do to support my category:
I’ve decided to spend $20,000 out of my pocket this coming year to support the Women’s Physique division at multiple Pro shows: $10,000 for the 2nd annual “Sarah Villegas Women’s Physique Distinction Award” that will be awarded to the WPD winner at the 2022 Texas Pro, and two additional $5,000 first place checks that will be awarded to the first place WPD winners at 2 other Pro shows (shows TBD).”
It is unknown is Schwarzenegger plans to accept this offer but even if he does not, Villegas does not condone negative comments toward him. She made it a point to speak highly of Schwarzenegger and all he has done for the sport of bodybuilding.
“Ps. I respect Arnold for the athlete and the pioneer he has been, so please no negative comments towards Arnold or The Arnold Sports organization. I’m doing this in a positive way to support the Women’s Physique category, the category that I love so much. #WeAreWomensPhysique #WPDstrong ✊”
Sarah Villegas is attempting to make moves strictly for the love of the Women’s Physique division. This is a story that will have a chance to add more information if a response if made from Schwarzenegger or his company.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Iain Valliere: Men’s Open Bodybuilding Is About To Explode In Popularity After A Lull
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Two years ago, Iain Valliere thought the future of Men’s Open bodybuilding was looking grim… now he thinks it’s about to explode into new levels of popularity.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – bodybuilding has been going through a bit of a transition period over the last five or six years. The old guard of champions have slowly stepped down to new younger athletes – but the younger athletes have yet to truly enter their final form. This explains criticism of conditioning issues and questions of whether or not Classic Physique could take over as the number one division. Iain Valliere was worried as well just a few years ago – but now he believes we are on the verge of a new rise in popularity. In our latest GI Exclusive, Iain Valliere explains why Men’s Open has had a lull… and why he thinks it’s about to explode to new heights.
Iain Valliere is a Men’s Open bodybuilder who has been getting a lot of hype and attention in 2021. He’s not alone. He’s one of many younger athletes finally coming into their own and catching attention at major shows. Hunter Labrada, Regan Grimes, Sergio Oliva, and Nick Walker have all been turning heads. The best part? They aren’t even at the prime of their careers yet.
During our conversation, we asked Iain Valliere what his outlook for the Men’s Open division was in the next decade. He answered that if we had asked him two years ago, he would be pretty pessimistic. However now in 2021, Valliere is extremely optimistic and confident that the division is about to see a massive rise in attention.
Iain Valliere rewinds us back just a few years. Classic Physique was newly introduced during a controversial moment in the sport. Many fans and even experts were complaining about Men’s Open physiques. They felt the physiques were too soft and too bulky and that aesthetics were falling to the wayside. At the same time, Classic Physiques focus on aesthetics over mass monster size really caught on. It’s now one of the most exciting divisions in the sport. Many wondered if it could overtake Men’s Open as the most popular division – or at the very least change the way Men’s Open physiques looked.
During this time, we also had constantly shifting Olympia champions. First a final win from a waning Phil Heath, then Shawn Rhoden’s more aesthetic physique, then Brandon Curry – who received some criticism for the state of his physique at the time. Iain Valliere thought things were looking grim. Where was the excitement for the original division that made bodybuilding great?
But then suddenly everything changed. The younger bodybuilders were finally making headroom on the stage. They built more of a fanbase and are the first generation to really embrace and be born with the social media era. Valliere believes that this engagement with social media alongside physiques that are finally coming into better form are bringing Men’s Open bodybuilding back to a boil.
“I think right now when you look at how many young guys there are that have been really good about putting content out and giving access to the lives of pro bodybuilders and keeping that tradition alive,” Iain Valliere stated in our interview. He continued:
“…And I think there are so many promising young athletes… guys like me and Nick. Hunter, Akeem, Nathan, James Hollingshead. Guys that are in their early 30s that are so promising that are also so good at talking to their fans and so good at putting good information out there. I think these guys are gonna be the leaders on the forefront of keeping that division growing. And I think really over the next five, six, seven years – I think it’s going to explode again.”
In 2013, the film Generation Iron gave an inside look into many of the greatest bodybuilders competing at the time. As of today, many of those athletes are now retired or slowly stepping aside. On top of that, the insight into pro bodybuilders’ lives has blown wide open due to social media. It was a turbulent time of change but it seems that the change is finally making headway to a new pinnacle era of the sport. Perhaps Valliere is right. In the next five or six years we very well may have another Golden Era of bodybuilding.
You can watch Iain Valliere’s full comments on Men’s Open bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Kali Muscle Hospitalized After Suffering A Heart Attack
Kali Muscle has suffered a heart attack due to a 100% clogged left artery.
Kali Muscle took to YouTube on November 7th, 2021 to announce that he has suffered a heart attack. The video was taken from his hospital bed. He appeared stable in the video and stated that the heart attack was caused by his left artery being 100% clogged. He is recovering well and should be leaving the hospital in one or two days.
Kali Muscle is a bodybuilder, fitness influencer, actor and entrepreneur from Oakland, California. Also sometimes also known as “Mr. Muscle.” Kali rose to fame as a YouTube guru who attracted millions of subscribers on his channel – which he still maintains to this day.
Kali Muscle admits that he had been suffering from edema, the swelling of his feet and ankles, for many years. In fact, he claims the issue tracks back all the way to his teenage years. Being young, he didn’t think much of it. But he does also admit in more recent years he was concerned about the swelling. Kali also states that he had a physical a few years back and was told “something about his heart” but ignored it.
Due to his past issues, he does not consider the heart attack a wake up call. But he also acknowledges that this will be a life-changing moment in being more serious about his health. “Health is everything,” he states in the video and later says, “God is using me as an example.”
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Kali Muscle then takes us through the moments leading up to the heart attack. A few days ago, he went to the dentist for some dental work. This required some form of anesthesia. After getting home he took vicodin the next day to help with the pain. When he woke up, he felt a burning pain in his chest. He likened the pain to heart burn.
Since he thought the pain was heart burn, he took some over the counter medication to help subside it. After two ours with no change in the burning chest pain – his girlfriend suggested the he go to the hospital. Upon running tests at the hospital, he was informed he was having a heart attack and was rushed to surgery.
Due to his left artery being 100% clogged – they were able to put a stint in the artery. He did not require to be put to sleep for the surgery, which he claims put him at ease during this emergency.
According to Kali Muscle, he ultimately ignored early warning signs for about 15 years. At the end fo the video, he emphasized using his situation as an example for all of his followers to prioritize health. He then mentions Shawn Rhoden:
“Make sure you guys take care of your health. That’s what I’e been talking to you about anyway. And you know, God is using me as an example. ‘Cause as we just saw, you know, RIP Shawn Rhoden.”
At this moment Kali Muscle became emotional, paused, and held back tears. After recomposing himself, he continued:
“Some people don’t get a second chance, man. I got my twins and I gotta live, man.”
News of Kali Muscles heart attack comes just one day after the tragic passing of Shawn Rhoden. While not confirmed, the initial reports claimed that Rhoden suffered a heart attack in his sleep. His passing has been mourned by the bodybuilding community with athletes like Flex Lewis also calling for a change in the sport’s health protocols.
Earlier in October, pro bodybuilder George Peterson also passed away just days away from competing in the Mr. Olympia 2021 competition. Again, while the cause of his death has not been revealed – his death alongside Shawn Rhoden’s have put a spotlight on pro bodybuilding and health concerns. For Kali Muscle, it appears that he had a long history of heart issues beyond his life as a bodybuilder.
The entire staff at Generation Iron would like to wish Kali Muscle a speedy recovery and well health as he moves forward from this medical emergency. Also make sure to stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more updates as they become available.
Flex Lewis Pays Respects To Shawn Rhoden And States: “Something Needs To Be Done”
Flex Lewis pays tribute to Shawn Rhoden after his passing and believes “this life could have been saved.”
The bodybuilding community was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden. While there has been no official announcement for the cause of his death – original sources speculated it was caused by a heart attack. Many bodybuilding fans, athletes, and coaches have paid their respects to the late pro bodybuilder. Including Men’s 212 legend Flex Lewis – who took to Instagram to not only pay tribute but think aloud on the recent deaths that have struck bodybuilding.
Flex Lewis made a lengthy post on Instagram – and it’s clear he took time to thoughtfully explore his thoughts not only on Shawn Rhoden’s passing but the many too-soon deaths in bodybuilding over the past year.
In the post, Lewis states that he took several hours to write the post and rewrote it many times before making it public:
“This has taken several hours to write/ rewrite deleted. Why am I writing another obituary for another close friend ? We only yesterday spoke about plans to meet up today, after 3wks on the road I was looking forward to catching up with my friend. I took the call about Shawns passing at 2am and not slept since. All day I have tried to make head n tails of it, but I started to think of some the wonderful memories I had with Shawn, we traveled the world competing together, working expos, shows, guest posings and I will hold on to them memories dearly. My heart goes out to his daughter who is around the same age as Adiena I have posted photos of our last win together were we got to celebrate with our Olympia trophies and our biggest trophies our daughters.”
Flex Lewis Pays Tribute to A Man, A Friend, And An Athlete
Flex Lewis was not simply a fellow athlete – but a friend to Shawn Rhoden and was set to actually meet up with Rhoden this very day (as of this writing). It’s clear that first and foremost Lewis wanted to pay respects to a man, a friend, and a legendary athlete.
And it seems Flex Lewis felt the need to make that specifically clear due to a swarm of online comments speculating on the cause of his death, connecting it with other deaths, and turning the passing of his life into some sort of anti-bodybuilding message. He goes on to express his frustration with some of the communities reaction to Rhoden’s passing:
“As the night turned to morning I started to see posts and read some of the most unbelievable things today, just like I did when Dallas passed away. I am deactivating comments because quite honestly I don’t wanna read opinions on how you thought he died, and what he should or shouldn’t done. Celebrate a man, a Mr Olympia champion whom you have cheered for, met at a expos taken photos with.”
A Call For Change
Despite this frustration, Flex Lewis does believe that something needs to change in the sport. While he doesn’t want Shawn Rhoden’s death to only represent talking points for health issues in bodybuilding – he does acknowledge that to completely ignore the past year’s growing list of young deaths cannot be an option.
Flex Lewis closes out his statement claiming that “something needs to be done for the future” of bodybuilding:
“I do agree that something needs to be done for the future, too many athletes are not having regular health checks, I feel lives can be saved if something is implemented or you can’t compete.We lost a good man today, a friend, a father and a champion, I say this with great sadness but I feel this life could of been saved.”
Most notable is the final sentence of Flex Lewis’ statement. He seems to believe that Shawn Rhoden’s death was preventable. We won’t know that for sure until more information comes out on the cause of his death. Regardless, calling for better health measures in any sport does not sully the lives already lost – nor does it matter if these deaths are strictly connected to bodybuilding. Better health measures is always a good thing. If this is what helps spark improvements then so be it.
Lewis makes this confidently clear in his post. He wants to mourn the man first, and hope for a healthier future second. Both can be respected equally.
It’s clear that Shawn Rhoden’s passing is still fresh in the community’s minds and each individual is reacting to the news differently. Generation Iron would like to once again send condolences out to friends, family, and anyone affected by this tragic loss.
Canelo Alvarez Knocks Out Caleb Plant, Plus UFC 268 Results
Who took home victories in tonight’s boxing and UFC fights?
Canelo Alvarez versus Caleb Plant isn’t your average boxing match. In fact, it’s the first of its kind. Never in the history of boxing has there been a unified Super Middleweight Champion of the world. Canelo and Plant are set to battle for the right to call themselves unified champion.
On the same night UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is set to defend his title for the second time against Colby Covington in a rematch. UFC 268 will also feature another rematch between Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili.
The Results
Canelo Alvarez vs Caleb Plant
Canelo Alvarez knocks out Caleb Plant in round 11.
Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington
TBA
Rose Namajunas vs Weili Zhang
Rose Namajunas defeated Weili Zhang by unanimous decision.
Did you watch the fights tonight?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
The GI Team is here to provide top news and original content for the new generation. The generation of bodybuilders who are pushing the sport to bigger and better places. Join The Movement. Become a part of Generation Iron!
2021 EVLS Prague Pro Results
Who will win Men’s Open during 2021 EVLS Prague Pro?
The 2021 EVLS Prague Pro took place on Saturday and it was highlighted by the Men’s Open. Some of the top competitors in the world gathered in the Czech Republic to gain that automatic qualifier to the 2022 Olympia. This event is set to take place in December 2022 in Las Vegas.
Regan Grimes already has his qualification for the biggest event of the year but he was quickly back on stage during the Prague Pro. Grimes was victorious during the 2021 KO Pro Egypt just one week ago but felt a need to get back on stage. Grimes has looked incredible during post-Olympia competitions and this could be because of a change made with his coach.
Grimes was a name to watch coming into the show, along with Nathan De Asha. It has been a bit of a tough go for De Asha when it comes to travel but he was able to get on stage during the Prague Pro. He has three victories so far in 2021. De Asha has been providing physique updates so it was not a surprise to see his performance on Saturday.
Samson Dauda was also quickly back on stage after appearing in Egypt last week. He finished third at the event, behind Grimes and Mohamed Shaaban. Dauda wasted no time getting back on stage. Rafael Brandao made his return to competition and it will be interesting to see the course of action he takes moving forward.
There were six divisions in total where winners would qualify for the 2022 Olympia. The full results have been announced and the winners have claimed their prizes. Check out the full breakdown, along with scorecards, from each event below!
2021 EVLS Prague Pro: All Division Winners
Men’s Open:
Men’s 212: Ahmad Ashkanani
Classic Physique:
Men’s Physique:
Bikini:
Figure:
2021 EVLS Prague Pro Breakdown
Men’s Open
Results coming soon!
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Men’s 212
Full results coming soon!
First Place – Ahmad Ashkanani
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Classic Physique
Results coming soon!
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Men’s Physique
Results coming soon!
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Bikini
Results coming soon!
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Figure
Results coming soon!
First Place –
Second Place –
Third Place –
Fourth Place –
Fifth Place –
Sixth Place –
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 EVLS Prague Pro. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden Reportedly Dead At 46 Years Old
Pro bodybuilder and former Mr. Olympia champion Shawn Rhoden has died.
More sad news has hit the bodybuilding world in already tragic year – pro bodybuilder and former Mr. Olympia champion Shawn Rhoden has reportedly died of a heart attack. He was 46 years old. The pro bodybuilder was a modern legend in the sport who also faced serious controversy in the years after winning the Mr. Olympia in 2018.
Very little information has been revealed at the time of this writing. But sources close to Generation Iron have reported that Shawn Rhoden suffered a fatal heart attack. Posts on social media from fellow athletes, experts, and fans have begun to pour out Saturday morning for the late pro bodybuilder.
An aspiring soccer player in his early teens, Shawn Rhoden discovered bodybuilding in 1992. One of his earliest inspirations was the former Mr. Universe champion Yohnnie Shambourger. Rhoden entered into his amateur bodybuilding career – only to face several injuries that pulled him out of competing. Shortly after, his father passed away.
The combination of these two events led to Shawn Rhoden developing an addiction to alcohol – completely derailing any chance of returning to a career of competitive bodybuilding. However, after putting much work into slow recovery, he returned to the sport and eventually earned his IFBB Pro card in 2010.
Shawn Rhoden placed 11th at his Mr. Olympia debut in 2011. Just one year later he rose up to third place. From that moment on, Rhoden remained in the top five at the Mr. Olympia competition year after year. He was seen as a serious threat to the title and was well known and respected for his smaller more aesthetic physique compared to the “mass monster” body types of his fellow competitors.
In 2018, Shawn Rhoden defeated Phil Heath in the Mr. Olympia. He was 43 years old – making him the oldest bodybuilder to ever win the title. His win was also notable for being the first person to dethrone Heath, who had won seven straight titles in a row and was looking to tie the world record of eight championship victories.
Leading up to his Mr. Olympia victory, a documentary was filmed chronicling his training and prep leading up to the competition titled Flexatron: Becoming Shawn Rhoden. The documentary also dove deep into his past exploring his upbringing, his series of injuries, the tragic passing of his father, and his alcohol dependence. Generation Iron distributed the film in 2019, releasing less than one year after his Mr. Olympia victory.
In July 2019, Shawn Rhoden was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow female bodybuilder at a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. The accusations claimed the events took place in October 2018 – very shortly after his Mr. Olympia win. He was formally charged in July of 2019. Shortly after the official charge, American Media Inc (AMI) issued a statement officially banning Rhoden from competing at the Mr. Olympia competition. This decision was to be reconsidered upon the conclusion of legal proceedings. Up until his passing, the accusations against Shawn Rhoden were never proven nor cleared.
Despite controversy, Shawn Rhoden was seen as a legend in the sport by many fans and athletes in the community. His excellent conditioning and near-Classic Physique made him a unique standout representing an older era of the sport. He is one of only 17 competitors to ever win a Mr. Olympia title.
The bodybuilding community has already begun an outpour of condolences via social media:
This is still a developing story. Generation Iron will continue to update as more information becomes available. The entire Generation Iron staff sends condolences to friends and family of Shawn Rhoden during this tragic time.
Larry Wheels Shares Exercise To Build A Massive Back
Larry Wheels recently posted a video of a workout to build a huge back.
Larry Wheels is a well-known powerlifter who is seen moving huge weight in the gym during workouts. Recently, Wheels shared a video to Instagram performing a 220kg (485lb) back row.
In his caption, Wheels claims this is the best workout to develop a huge back. In the video, Wheels is seen moving the large weight up to his stomach and returning it to the floor at a rapid pace. He is making the lift look easy despite the incredible amount of weight.
“485lbs/220kg rows for reps develop a huge thick back.@ulissesworld@teampersonalrecord for the straps I’m using!”
Larry Wheels has been putting up some huge numbers in the gym. Just a week ago, he set a new PR with a 140lb shoulder press for 17 reps. He has also shown big numbers performing an overhead press. Wheels is also known for his massive squats.
In September, Wheels set a new personal best with a 950lb squat. This came one week before he suffered a quad injury performing the same lift. Wheels was seen dropping the huge weight off his back after his quad seemed to pop. This forced him to take some time off but he quickly returning to the gym.
Wheels has been putting up some huge numbers because of his work as a powerlifter but has also dabbled in the sport of arm wrestling. This was a venture that did not last long but Wheels had some big-time matchups against the likes of Schoolboy. While Wheels has made his return to powerlifting, he plans to compete in arm wrestling once again.
Larry Wheels announced he will be taking on powerlifter Brandon Allen in an arm-wrestling match. This will take place on CoreSports.world in December. Wheels will not be the only high-profile athlete appearing at the event as both Hafthor Bjornsson and Devon Larratt will be present.
This is a chance for Wheels to compete against an athlete who has a similar background. This will be an exciting match because of the preparation done by the two competitors. There is a chance that this is an even match that makes for some must-see action.
One thing we do know is that Larry Wheels is known for his trend of setting different personal records in the gym. That has continued recently and he is continuing to share some workouts to build up different body parts.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Eddie Hall Raises Charity Wager To Hafthor Bjornsson to $200,000
Eddie Hall has now raised his offer to Hafthor Bjornsson to $200,000.
The boxing match between Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson has plenty of hype and there is not even a date set yet. This began with plenty of personal history but the stakes have been raised in recent weeks. Now, Hall is willing to offer $200,000 for a charity match against Bjornsson.
This began with an original offer of $100,000 from Hall. This money would be donated by the loser of the fight to the charity of choice of the winner. This adds another exciting dynamic to a boxing match that has been a long time coming.In a recent Instagram post, Hall doubled his original offer.
“Well, it’s been over a week and he’s ignored me, and I’ve heard from a mutual friend that he doesn’t want to do the deal because he’s scared to lose. Which, I don’t blame him. So, I want to make this a bit easier for you Thor, and please everyone put pressure on him now. So the new deal is, if I beat you, you have to pay $100,000 to my choice of charity. If you beat me, I will pay $200,000 to your choice of charity.”
“Come on now, don’t ignore me, this is for charity. We’ll get the promoter to put it right into the contract, so there’s no getting out of it. So everyone put pressure on Thor, and don’t ignore me again. Let’s pull the deal on this, let’s do something good for charity.”
During his video, Hall mentions that be believes Bjornsson did not accept his offer because of a fear of losing. Because of this, he raised the stakes to try and persuade the strongman turned boxer to accept the challenge.
Eddie Hall suffered a torn tricep that kept him out of the original fight scheduled for September. This allowed Devon Larratt to step in his place and take on Hafthor Bjornsson. The two have been linked for years now in the sport of strongman. This is because of deadlift world records and World’s Strongest Man competitions. Now, the two have a chance to meet in the ring to see who is the better boxer.
Hafthor Bjornsson has more experience in the ring under his belt but Eddie Hall has been training through his injury. Now that he is back to seriously gearing up to take on Bjornsson, he has made it clear that a wager for charity is on the table.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 18: Shaun Clarida & Flex Lewis’ Men’s Open Future
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Craig Golias reacts to Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open win and debates about his potential in Men’s Open Olympia alongside Flex Lewis and Hadi Choopan.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias discusses the growing number of Men’s 212 athletes moving to Men’s Open including Shaun Clarida, Flex Lewis, and Hadi Choopan. He also talks thoughts on Only Fans and neck training.
The bodybuilding season might be coming to a close but there’s still a lot of exciting news coming out of the sport post Olympia. While the European Tour is no where near as momentous as it was in decades past, some interesting results have surfaced over the last few weeks. The biggest news was not simply Shaun Clarida winning a Men’s Open competition – but his announcement that he wants to try and compete in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open Olympia next year.
This news alongside Hadi Choopan’s switch two years ago and the impending debut of Flex Lewis in Men’s Open is bringing a wave of Men’s 212 athletes into Men’s Open. How will it all turn out? Vlad Yudin connected with Craig Golias for a new episode of Talking Huge to discuss at length. Let’s jump into it.
Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open Victory
At the Legion Sports Fest Pro 2021, Shaun Clarida turned heads by announcing he would compete in the Men’s Open division. This put him against the likes of Regan Grimes and Sergio Oliva Jr. Even more surprising were the results – Clarida beat out Grimes and Oliva Jr. for his first victory in Men’s Open. We asked Craig Golias his thoughts on the victory.
While Craig Golias congratulates Shaun Clarida for the victory – he doesn’t see this as a big change for Clarida’s career. In Craig’s opinion, Clarida wasn’t going up against the best of the best Men’s Open competitors. Craig also points out that Clarida isn’t just any Men’s 212 athlete – he’s the former Olympia champion. A Men’s 212 Olympia champion going against a lineup of non-Olympia champion Men’s Open competitors is very different than if Clarida was competing in the Men’s Open Mr. Olympia.
Of course, it seems that Shaun Clarida knows this as well. He’s already made a statement in a recent interview claiming that he’d like to try and compete in the Men’s Open Olympia. In his perfect world, he’d be allowed to compete in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open. If and when that occurs, we’ll be sure to follow up with Craig Golias on his take.
The Bigger Picture: More Men’s 212 Athletes Move To Men’s Open
We also asked Craig Golias his opinion in the wider view regarding Men’s 212. Over the past few years, a handful of impressive Men’s 212 athletes have moved over into Men’s Open. Hadi Choopan has been competing in Men’s Open Olympia for three years and has made it into the top 5 each year. Flex Lewis has been preparing for his Men’s Open debut at Mr. Olympia – but has not yet competed due to personal circumstances. And now – Shaun Clarida looks to be making waves in Men’s Open.
Could this be a signal that size is starting to play less importance in Men’s Open? After decades of “mass monster” physiques reigning supreme, will aesthetics start edging out size as a deciding factor for victory? Craig Golias is excited to see what happens. He’s curious to see what Shaun Clarida can do in Men’s Open Olympia. He’s by far the shortest competitor in Men’s 212 to make the transition. Craig is most excited for Flex Lewis. He believes if any Men’s 212 competitor could move up and win Men’s Open Olympia – it would be Lewis.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also discusses the world of Only Fans and if he would ever make an account. He also talks about neck training and gives an update on his nerve damage injury. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!