Tag: Sergio Oliva Jr.
Sergio Oliva Jr. Is Not Going Anywhere after Impressive Comeback Contest
American bodybuilder Sergio Oliva Jr. had been on the sidelines for an extended period of time until making his way back to the 2023 Musclecontest California State Pro this past weekend. In a recent post made on Instagram, Olivia Jr. issued a motivational message after turning in an impressive third-place performance in his comeback.
Sergio Oliva Jr., son of bodybuilding legend Sergio Oliva, followed in his father’s footsteps to become a Men’s Open bodybuilder. His addition to the sport generated a lot of buzz given he was the son of the three-time Mr. Olympia who defeated fellow icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, and Franco Columbu. Oliva Jr. presented a stellar combination of muscle mass, definition, and posing skills. He made his IFBB Pro League debut at the 2016 Pittsburgh Pro and took home the top prize at the 2017 New York Pro.
In 2018, Oliva Jr. scored back-to-back silver at the Chicago Pro and Tampa Pro. Then, at the Olympia competition, he finished 16th. After taking the year off in 2019, Oliva Jr. placed in the top five in his return at the 2020 Arnold Classic. He took another hiatus following a third-place finish at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro and sixth-placing at the 2021 Arnold Classic, where he won the Best Poser Award as well.
Oliva Jr. voiced his disapproval of the lack of emphasis Open athletes give posing after the show. While he doesn’t believe posing can outshine a stronger physique, he argued it could be the deciding factor in close battles. Then, he hit back at former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout and bodybuilding veteran Robby Robinson for bashing modern Open competitors.
Sergio Oliva Jr. / Instagram
Earlier this year, Oliva Jr. reflected on his father’s decorated career and feud with the Olympian organizers. He admitted he was worried their dispute might spill into his relationship with the organizers and believed he could win the coveted Sandow trophy if he comes at his best. He ignited speculation about his comeback with an insanely shredded physique update displaying striations in his delts two months ago.
Many suspected Oliva Jr. was gearing up for the 2023 Arnold Classic South America but he shut down the rumors while laying out his roadmap to becoming Mr. Olympia last month. He revealed his weight to be a massive 291 pounds and said he was focused on optimizing his peaking process for the best performance. Oliva Jr. announced his plans to compete at the 2023 New York Pro and 2023 Cali Pro a month ago. He fired back at his critics for labeling him an ‘Instagram bodybuilder’ and assured a strong comeback.
Sergio Oliva Jr. is going nowhere after an impressive comeback
In a recent Instagram post, Sergio Oliva Jr. issued a motivational message declaring his plans to stay active and compete in the sport after turning in an impressive performance at the 2023 Musclecontest California State Pro, held on May 27. He had confirmed his entry on short notice just days out from the show.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity and identified an issue with his conditioning due to traveling. Now that he overcame the mental hurdle of taking to a stage, he’s looking forward to a robust season of competition.
“When I used to see people say ‘I’m just so happy to be on stage’ I was like,” wrote Oliva Jr. “But this time for me it means something different. I Wanted to come for this Win of course but it genuinely was great to be free to do what I want to in my life. I did everything I could for this show (evvverythingand) never in my life worked as hard as I did.
“No excuses tho, guys like @andrewjacked and @hadi_choopan do what I did and travel nail their condition still. No matter what I’m back and never have to worry about being trapped again. No prep will ever be harder after this nightmare. I mostly want to say shout out to the IFBB letting guys condition like @rossflanigan_gainz and @beef_stu_97 get not only seen, but rewarded. These guys came with it and I’m happy to share the stage with them.”
RELATED: Sergio Oliva Jr. Rips Nick Walker Over Recent Comments, Nick Responds (Updated)
At the event, Sergio Oliva Jr. turned heads with his impressive build in his return and took bronze behind runner-up Tonio Burton and winner Ross Flanigan. While he wasn’t as active as he would’ve liked in the past, his latest performance is a promising sign he’s back on track and will continue to work his way up to Mr. Olympia.
Published: 30 May, 2023 | 6:15 PM EDT
Sergio Oliva Jr. Announces Surprise Entry for 2023 Musclecontest California State Pro Show
Fans will be happy to hear that Sergio Oliva Jr. will make his anticipated return to action this weekend. In a recent Instagram post, Oliva Jr. confirmed his arrival in Los, Angeles and revealed plans to compete at the 2023 Musclecontest California State Pro show on Saturday.
Sergio Oliva Jr. is the son of bodybuilding royalty, three-time Mr. Olympia Sergio Oliva, who led a decorated career during the 1970s and 80s that saw him defeat icons such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, and Franco Columbo.
His son, Sergio Oliva Jr. took the bodybuilding reigns and has shown immense promise as an Open class talent. Having earned first at contests like the New York Pro, Oliva Jr.’s combination of mass, class, and muscle balance make him a fan favorite. He continues to display improvements year to year and even stood out on the Arnold Classic stage back in 2020.
Oliva Jr.’s last competition came at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro where he secured third place. While the contest was won by Shaun Clarida, Oliva Jr. managed to defeat fourth-place finisher Tonio Burton. Recently, Burton won the 2023 New York Pro and guaranteed his spot on the Olympia stage in November. With history competing against each other, Sergio Oliva Jr. will look to once again defeat Burton this weekend.
Sergio Oliva Jr. Jumping into 2023 Musclecontest California State Pro Show This Weekend
Oliva Jr. shared late Thursday night that he arrived in Los Angeles, California after flying over from Dubai. In previous physique updates, Sergio Olvia Jr. revealed he’s been weighing around 286 pounds. With that in mind, fans expect him to easily be the biggest man on stage.
Find Sergio Oliva Jr.’s statement below where he hashtagged this weekend’s California show:
“We did it!! Never done this before and got on a plane across the world to hop on stage right away. I’m a stress ball of water but no matter what happens I’m soooooo happy to be able to just do what I love and be back in my home. GOD BLESS THE USA??@musclecontestinternational #TheCalPro” Oliva Jr. wrote.
The bodybuilding standout has faced considerable adversity in the lead-up to this contest. Oliva Jr. was arrested and jailed in March following a traffic accident. In the end, a man’s life was lost, however, Oliva Jr. was later found innocent of all charges except for some traffic violations. Nevertheless, he was forced to sit in prison for a few days, which he described as the worst experience of his life.
RELATED: Sergio Oliva Jr. Looks Jacked Recreating Legendary Father’s Poses
With his travel issues seemingly corrected, Oliva Jr. will aim to earn gold and his Olympia ticket for November. Fans are excited to see how he fares against last weekend’s New York pro finalists, Tonio Burton and ‘Beef’ Stu Sutherland.
Published: 26 May, 2023 | 10:47 AM EDT
Sergio Oliva Jr. Aiming for 2023 New York & Cali Pro, Fires Back at ‘Instagram Bodybuilder’ Label
Legacy bodybuilder Sergio Oliva Jr. is slowly inching his way back into competition after taking a brief hiatus. In a Bodybuilding University YouTube video, Oliva Jr. opened up on his comeback plans, criticized fans labeling him an ‘Instagram bodybuilder,’ and shared his thoughts on the future of Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s career. Being the son…
Sergio Oliva Jr. Looks Jacked Recreating Legendary Father’s Poses
American bodybuilder Sergio Oliva Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father, bodybuilding legend Sergio Oliva. In a recent post made on Instagram, Oliva Jr. showed off his jacked physique next to a picture of his father.
Former three-time Mr. Olympia Sergio Oliva was an elite Men’s Open contender for the better half of two decades between the 1960s and mid-80s. He started off in regional events before earning an entry into the 1966 Mr. Olympia. After placing fourth in his debut, Oliva took home the top prize in his next appearance.
Oliva earned the nickname ‘The Myth’ and successfully defended the title unopposed in 1968. The following year, Oliva went up against bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger in a fierce battle at the 1969 Mr. Olympia. In the end, Oliva added a third Sandow trophy to his collection. ‘The Austrian Oak’ later admitted Oliva was the toughest competitor he ever faced.
Oliva’s son Sergio Oliva Jr. made a name for himself in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open class. He cracked the top three at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro and placed sixth at the 2021 Arnold Classic Ohio, where he also won the Best Poser Award for the second year straight.
In Sep. 2021, Oliva Jr. voiced his disapproval of posing in the Open category. He claimed competitors mostly lacked the effort in following through with practice. A few weeks later, he pushed back on criticisms against modern bodybuilders made by veterans Samir Bannout and Robby Robinson.
Two months ago, Oliva Jr. reflected on the career of his late father and his dispute with the Olympia organizers. He shared that there was a possibility of his father receiving a suspension to make way for Schwarzenegger to win the contest in 1971.
Oliva Jr. got involved in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a man in Dubai last month. He was arrested and spent some time in jail before being released without any criminal charges. Following the incident, Oliva Jr. left fans stunned with a shredded physique update. He boasted a ripped midsection with striated delts.
Earlier this month, Oliva Jr. confirmed he would not participate in the 2023 Arnold Classic South America. He revealed his plan is to return at a later show in hopes of securing an invite to the Mr. Olympia event. While he wanted to compete sooner, the legal issues stemming from his accident in Dubai forced him to stay on the sidelines a little longer. He also opened up about the pressures he feels for his eventual comeback as well.
Sergio Oliva Jr. Mirrors father Sergio Oliva’s poses
In a recent Instagram post, Sergio Oliva Jr. showed off his jacked physique while recreating some of his late father’s poses.
“A continuation not a comparison,” wrote Oliva Jr.
Sergio’s update next to his father elicited a strong response from the bodybuilding community.
RELATED: Sergio Oliva Jr. Fires Back At Classic Bodybuilders For Criticizing Open Bodybuilding
Samir Bannout praised Sergio Oliva Jr. for his impressive package and extended his support to potentially win the Mr. Olympia contest two weeks ago. He encouraged Oliva Jr. to focus on developing the proper mindset and improving his conditioning levels to bring his absolute best to his next show.
Published: 25 April, 2023 | 4:51 PM EDT
Sergio Oliva Jr. Responds To Recent Criticism Surrounding Open Bodybuilding
Sergio Oliva Jr. recently made comments about some negativity around Open Bodybuilding.
There has been plenty of criticism surrounding Open Bodybuilding in recent months. This comes after a recent string of deaths and major competitions such as the Arnold Classic and Olympia. Many old-school bodybuilders have been critical of today’s sport, including Robby Robinson, Lee Haney, and Samir Bannout. Recently, Sergio Oliva Jr. responded to criticism and came to the defense of today’s Open Bodybuilding.
Oliva Jr. recently finished third at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest. Following the competition, Oliva Jr. took to Instagram to defend the sport and acknowledge the hard work and dedication that it takes to get to the top.
“The ig pages that constantly bash open bodybuilding won’t post these kinds of pics. They’ll run to post shiesty ass click bate posts to start drama and get traction to their pages only talking about who lost to who rather than how aesthetically pleasing that lineup was on Sunday. How much promise and potential was in the top 6 with so many up and coming future stars.”
Sergio Oliva Jr. has turned into one of the best posers in bodybuilding. He is the son of Sergio Oliva, a three-time Olympia champion who had many battles with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Because of this, Oliva Jr. has been around the sport for many years and has seen plenty of changes.
This generation of Open Bodybuilding is based on size and conditioning. This has caused an uproar because of the preparation that athletes go through and the dangers of some tactics. This has even caused Schwarzenegger to make a statement himself on how to improve the division.
“With all the talk about open bodybuilding shape being dead and this and that I didn’t see anyone you wouldn’t want to look like and Older bodybuilders who talk shit about our generation don’t watch every show (I get it) but then talk about what isn’t around anymore or what’s dead. I will say this the coverage for content from @legionsportsfest was a lil weak. Unless they are about to come out with a ton of footage there really isn’t a lot of the actual stage stuff.But anyone who was there or watched the live stream know it was so crazy at the end. So loud such a fight but at the same time spewing with comradely. We even had guys yelling from the back rooting us on.”
Sergio Oliva Jr. continued his intense response via Instagram by calling out some of the veterans for their lack of knowledge about today’s sport.
“But someone better tell @garystrydomofficial and @robbyrobinsonofficial and @officialsamirbannout and allllll of the other veteran bodybuilders that don’t contribute to any open athlete currently with training and mentoring ultimately which would make a difference yet rather sit on the side lines and complain that, bodybuilding isn’t just the top 3 at the Olympia. You don’t agree with that decision, fine. But quit with this exaggeration that the whole bodybuilding class doesn’t exhibit any old skl qualities that it started with. The problem is, all that stuff doesn’t get views and likes at the end of the day by the majority and it goes unseen. Like moments like this. #BodybuildingIsntDeadJustYourPerspectiveOfItIs“
Sergio Oliva Jr. will not be the only athlete to come out and support bodybuilding and the positive news surrounding the sport. This has turned into a storyline where there are two clear sides to take and neither seems like it is going to budge.
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Cedric McMillan and Other Pros Try to Qualify for 2022 Olympia at Legion Sports Fest
Cedric McMillan and other top pros will compete at the Legion Sports Fest to qualify for the 2022 Olympia.
It appears that some of the top bodybuilders in the world will be competing at the Legion Sports Fest to earn their spot at the 2022 Olympia. Competitors will include Cedric McMillan, Maxx Charles, and Sergio Oliva Jr. to name a few. The event is set to take place October 22-24.
For many the journey to qualifying for the 2021 Mr. Olympia is over. With the competition just around the corner, the 2021 Arnold Classic was the last chance to earn a spot at the show. Now the top pros will have to look forward to other upcoming competitions to qualify for the 2022 Olympia.
One of the first opportunities to qualify for next year’s show will be at the upcoming Legion Sports Fest. Some of the top pros in the business will vie for a chance to get an early qualification for the biggest show of the year.
2022 Olympia Opportunity
The event will feature some of the best bodybuilders in the game including Cedric McMillan, Maxx Charles, and Sergio Oliva Jr. All three hope to out perform the competition and earn a spot at the 2022 Olympia.
CONFIRMED TO COMPETE! @cedricmcmillan called @chrisminnes today to see if he could upgrade his appearance at the @legionsportsfest to COMPETING at the Legion. Cedric said that he is feeling healthier than ever and is ready to dial it in! We’re sure sitting next to @schwarzenegger all weekend at an EPIC @arnoldsportsadded a bit of extra motivation and inspiration!
It is confirmed; the Legion Sports Fest has a World Class lineup and keeps getting better! Head Judge @t_manionand his judges certainly have their work cut out for them!
We hope to see you in Reno, Nevada, on October 22-24. But if you can’t make it, you can still get in on the action with our live stream at tv.centerpodium.com.
Bonus! If you purchase the Legion Live Stream Package now, you will also get access to the 2018, 2019, and 2020 IFBB Pro and NPC Legion Sports Fest!
With an opportunity to earn a spot at the 2022 Olympia early, this can ensure that athletes have enough time to prep even better for next year’s show. Who will take the prize at the Legion Sports Fest, Cedric McMillan, Maxx Charles, or Sergio Oliva Jr.?
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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.
Sergio Oliva Jr. and Nick Walker Recent Beef Explained
Sergio Oliva Jr. and Nick Walker engaged in some serious beef.
Bodybuilding standouts, both looking to name for themselves got into a complicated beef. Sergio Oliva Jr. and Nick Walker had some back and forth online that sparking some beef between the two.
Beef makes the bodybuilding world go round it seems. Lately many bodybuilding competitors have been getting into some pretty heated exchanges online. In fact it seems as if Nick Walker continues to find himself in the middle of all these recent bodybuilding beefs. First it was Walker and Blessing Awodibu who had some beef ahead of the NY Pro. They have since put their rivalry to bed. But in the midst of that there appeared to be another beef brewing.
Nick Walker has since engaged in a bit of a back and forth with fellow Open Bodybuilding competitor Sergio Oliva Jr. The beef between the two appeared to have started because of some news revealed about Oliva.
During a podcast with Fouad Abiad, Nick Walker revealed that Sergio Oliva Jr. would not be competing at the Chicago Pro. It was news to everyone as Oliva had not commented on it himself. For that very reason, Oliva was pretty livid about the situation and decided to take his grievances to social media.
Sparked Beef
In the Instagram video Sergio Oliva Jr. explained that he trusted three people with the information. While he did not mention Nick Walker by name, the fact that bodybuilder had the info and shared it on the podcast would suggest that Oliva was speaking of Walker. This is speculation of course as nothing has been confirmed.
Sergio Oliva Jr. was certainly in his rights to be upset. As explained in the video it put him in a pretty bad spot from a business perspective to have the news break in that manner.
After this video dropped, Fouad Abiad left a pretty lengthy response in the comments. It revealed even more about what was going on between Sergio Oliva Jr. and Abiad. The two had a bit of a back and forth, both of them sharing their sides of the story.
So where does Nick Walker work into all of this? After all, so far it seems like the issue was between Oliva and Abiad. Well it appears that the beef between Walker and Oliva came to public fruition after a couple of social media posts made by the two.
Online Confrontation
It appears to have started with a post made by Sergio Oliva Jr. The caption in the post read as follows:
People get so upset when you say facts. I’m sorry I’m talking about your favorite bodybuilder. Doesn’t mean I’m lying when I say the shows have been weak. I’m not attacking anyone I said it’s not the winners fault they still killed it. I even said it’s no ones fault really. We all got screwed by COVID so people are getting their lives together and couldn’t do the beginning shows. But I just wanted to post this pic of @sas_heirati he got 5TH at NY Pro. This is what 5th place looked like.
Possibly in response to that post, specifically the notion of the shows being “weak” over the last year, Nick Walker posted the below.
Nothing weak coming in 17 weeks
Putting Things to Bed
From the looks of things, the beef has been heating up between the two. But it appears that Sergio Oliva Jr. tried to squash the beef in the comments of Walker’s post. They had a bit of a back and forth, but it appears like things have since calmed down.
The responses ended there, but it appears that Nick Walker recently commented in his stories saying that he and Sergio Oliva Jr. were now on good terms. It’s good to hear that the beef has been squashed, especially since the situation appeared for more personal than your usual trash talk. This situation was as much about friendship, family, and trust as anything else. To hear that things have since calmed down is certainly a positive outcome.
What do you make of this situation between Sergio Oliva Jr. and Nick Walker?
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Managing Editor 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.