Tag: Terrick El Guindy
Terrick El Guindy Says Hadi Choopan Sent a ‘Clear Message’ to Derek Lunsford W/ 2024 Arnold Classic Win
The dust settled in Columbus, Ohio with Hadi Choopan emerging as the 2024 Arnold Classic champion. In a recent YouTube video, judge Terrick El Guindy recapped the event and discussed Choopan’s chances of swiping Derek Lunsford’s Olympia title in October. Actions speak louder than words — and that was certainly the mantra Hadi Choopan lived […]
The post Terrick El Guindy Says Hadi Choopan Sent a ‘Clear Message’ to Derek Lunsford W/ 2024 Arnold Classic Win appeared first on Fitness Volt.
Carlos Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro for Olympia Entry
American bodybuilder Carlos Thomas Jr. is one of the fastest-growing names in the fitness industry. He’s set to make his pro debut and has gained a ton of attention already. In a recent video uploaded on Olympia TV’s YouTube channel, Thomas Jr. backed himself to join the Mr. Olympia roster by defeating Hunter Labrada and Andrew Jacked at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. first rose to prominence for his insane muscle mass, size, and symmetry after dominating the competition at the 2021 NPC National Championships. He emerged as one of the most promising prospects after his victory in the super heavyweight division and overall. The win earned him his pro card. However, he has been on the sidelines in preparation since.
Although Thomas Jr. intended to participate in the 2023 New York Pro, which concluded with Tonio Burton taking home the top prize two months ago, he was forced to pull out of the contest due to a major issue with his ulcer colitis. He did not let the setback hold him down and plans to finally make his highly anticipated pro debut at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
There has been a surge in budding talent in the Men’s Open division over the last few years. Legacy competitor Hunter Labrada, son of Lee Labrada, established his place in the mix of title contention with a fourth-place finish in only his second Mr. Olympia appearance in 2021. He received a lot of praise for his jacked frame and posing skills going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Along with Labrada, rising sensation Andrew Jacked made waves with his aesthetic package. He turned in one of the best rookie seasons last year, scoring back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 Texas Pro and 2022 Arnold Classic UK.
In the end, Labrada missed the mark on the Olympia stage last December. He dropped out of the top six and settled for seventh place. As for Jacked, he turned in an impressive performance and cracked the top ten in his Mr. Olympia debut, finishing eighth.
Both competitors are on the hunt to secure their entry for the 2023 Mr. Olympia and will face Carlos Thomas Jr. at the nearing Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. Confirmes He’ll Do 2023 Texas Pro
In a recent YouTube video, Carlos Thomas Jr. confirmed his plans to compete at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
“Yes, I’m doing the Texas Pro,” said Thomas Jr. “Less than five weeks they’re going to see something that’s going to be brand new and it’s going to shock a lot of people. We’re going to be bringing some enthusiasm to the sport for the rest of the year.”
Thomas Jr. opened up on his reasons for pulling out of the New York Pro due to ulcer colitis.
“Issues we had going into New York with the ulcer colitis, that kind of put a damp on everything. We chose the show kind of far this out because I wanted to take things a little bit slower and make sure that I didn’t incur any flare-ups from the stress of trying to force the body to get ready. We were just kinda going like when it’s ready, it’s ready. So far, it’s been going in a smooth and consistent pace, barely any hiccups. That’s why we chose Texas because it was one of the ones that was farthest out and allowed us to make manipulations and not stress my body out.”
Thomas Jr. opened up about his struggles with heartburn in the past and argued he would’ve won the New York Pro if he competed.
“I used to get a lotta heartburn as a teenager and young adult so in my early 20s. But I’ve been on my gut health regimen for a while now making sure I’m taking my salad and meat, but I’m also doing aloe Vera juice, apple cider vinegar, mushroom root extract, lemon juice, things like that to help with the acidity of my stomach and help break down food. I haven’t been getting any heartburn now for a while.”
“Yeah, I think it’s a show I would have been able to win. I love my boy Tonio, Beef Stu, great guy, but I think bringing in the package that we’ll bring in coming into Texas, it would have been one that I could’ve easily won.”
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo & Olympia Judge Shower Praises on Thomas Jr. for his immense potential
Bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler and IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo lauded Carlos Thomas Jr. to be a top-five contender at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yep, if he nails the condition,” said Wheeler.
“Top 5? Absolutely! He’s going to have a chance to prove it because the front-runner, expected favorite as he should be coming up is Hunter Labrada. Everybody knows that. You’re going to take on a guy who’s been as high as fourth place in the Olympia. If Carlos can bring it and beat Hunter Labrada and knock him out of contention and put yourself in there, you got to be feeling really good about your chances of making that top six at the O.”
Thomas Jr. reacted to receiving praise from four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler.
“It’s still shocking to hear. He told me, ‘hey man, you have the potential to go all the way.; That to me was like blown away. I’m just always blown away even to hear you guys talk about me in this way. I still kind of see myself as a middleweight from back in 2017 so I’m always just humble and gracious.”
Cicherillo believes Carlos Thomas Jr. has everything it takes to become a superstar. Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Cicherillo both agreed his side chest post could stand with the best in the game.
“As we talk physiques, and Flex and I have been talking physiques for many many years, we’re always looking at the same first things,” said Cicherillo. “You’re looking at symmetry, proportion, and shape. He checks all those boxes. He ain’t missing nothing. You’re looking for muscularity and conditioning follows up, you got to have everything. Every box has to be checked. But we’re looking for the basics here. Does he have any weak points? Not really. Yes, the back needs to come up, gotta keep that midsection tight, the legs are tremendous. He’s got more quad sweep than anybody we’ve seen come along in a long long time. His back can be eeasily brought up. His thickness from the side can literally hang with anybody right now at the Olympia level. He checks every box to be a superstar. Now the only thing you got to do is actually do it okay.”
“That pose is incredibly. You can put it next to Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan and he looks incredible here,” said El Guindy.
Wheeler and Cicherillo debated whether Men’s Open now prefers shorter contenders over taller ones.
Wheeler: “It went back to a short men’s game. It’s not a tall guy’s game right now. Look at number one and number two in Mr. Olympia.”
Cicherillo: “Wait a minute. I’m going to challenge you on that one big time because you’ve got Samson and Jacked who are both big men coming up and I don’t know if it’s a short man’s game.”
El Guindy backed Thomas Jr. as the best amateur competitor of the last decade.
“In my opinion, he’s the best amateur we have seen in the last decade. He has the thickness and he has the front and side poses to go against some of the top Olympians. If his back is improved, we might just be seeing the future of bodybuilding.”
Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro, Will Take the Year Off Otherwise
Carlos Thomas Jr. explained why he’s confident he’ll beat Hunter Labrada at the show.
“Great physique and this dude is former top four. I feel like my side poses, I have the thickness from top to bottom thickness, hamstring, quads, that’s front to back, I’ll have everything that pose but better. From the front, I feel like I have a better taper, better legs. He has tremendous arms but I feel like my arms match up just as well. From the back, he may have more maturity but as far as muscle wise, I’ve picked that up as well. And conditioning, we’re going to be right on the money comparable. From the glutes and hams, I’ll be strong in that standpoint as well. Ab and thigh, I got that one too.”
He made the case for himself to beat Andrew Jacked at the event.
“He’s awesome but honestly, I remember seeing him at the Arnold. I was there in person. He looked great, tremendous. However, I do feel that in certain poses I just fare better. If we’re talking front double, he has a great front double, great taper but I feel like I have one just as well and I’m thicker than him in certain areas; my legs, my arms, I have better lat thickness. I honestly feel like my front lat spread would bode well against his. Mine is just a more complete pose from top to bottom.
“I really fill in a lot of gaps in that pose. You’ll barely see any. Then, same thing from the side, leg thickness, arm thickness, chest thickness, I feel like I bode well in all those shots. The back poses too, top to bottom, hamstrings, glutes, arms, and everything. I just honestly think that all these poses I just edge them out in certain areas such as in muscularity, symmetry, so I would bode well against them because their weaknesses are my strengths and if anything, you can toss them up one shot, the back double maybe.”
If Thomas Jr. doesn’t come out on top, he will likely take to the sidelines for the year.
“Yeah, I would probably shut it down most likely, I would say I’m about 85 percent sure. I’m no stranger to going back and doing the work.”
Fans will be excited to see Carlos Thomas Jr. inject some fresh blood into the Men’s Open class when he faces Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada on stage in less than five weeks at the 2023 Texas Pro.
You can watch the full video below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/k6hTimnQTvo
Published: 21 July, 2023 | 7:50 AM EDT
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge List Best Backs & Legs in Bodybuilding History
Bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier has found a place as a respected analyst since moving on from professional competition. He amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience stemming from his decades of work in the sport. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Cormier and Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy listed the best backs and legs in bodybuilding history.
Chris Cormier first gained attention for his massive muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division in the 90s. He placed fourth at the 1994 Arnold Classic and turned in a strong performance to get a sixth-place finish in his Mr. Olympia debut in 1994. While he did not win the contest, Cormier was a consistent top-eight finisher and scored two bronze medals. He hung up his posing trunks after a final outing at the 2007 Montreal Pro Classic.
Earlier this year, Cormier heaped praises on 2022 Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan for his insane consistency in the last five years. He believes Choopan is one of the hardest-working athletes and could defend the title successfully with his refined conditioning and posing abilities.
El Guindy and Cormier made the case against the need to get glute implants and injections in bodybuilding as it could create imbalances, which would result in docked points. The pair broke down the immensely successful careers of the two winningest athletes in bodybuilding, Dexter Jackson and Ashley Kaltwasser three months ago. Cormier ranked Jackson’s resume at the top due to the fierce competition he went up against in fewer shows than available today.
Cormier extended his support for budding Open contender Michal Krizo to become a major force in the near future two months ago. Based on Krizo’s raw look, Cormier is convinced he could be a title contender if he continued to improve at a decent rate.
Last month, Cormier lauded reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead for his immense success and analyzed his chances in the Open class. He argued Bumstead could battle it out in some poses and warranted a special invite to compete in the Open Olympia.
Chris Cormier picked the arms of Robby Robinson as the greatest ever along with his crazy biceps peak while El Guindy favored the arms of seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath last month.
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge List Best Backs in Bodybuilding History
In a recent YouTube video, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy shared their thoughts on the competitors who had the best back muscle development of all time. The duo agreed on former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout having the best back, ahead of legendary bodybuilders like Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, and Phil Heath.
“If you’re going to go with the best backs, I’d say the ‘Lion of Lebanon.’ When I started competing, he was the Mr. Olympia at the time,” said Cormier. “It was 1983, he won the Olympia and I didn’t think it was real because being a teenager. You’re looking at all the striations, the Christmas tree so deep all across the lats.
“Ali Malla was another one who had an awesome back from back in the day, the back double bicep along with that, every shot from the back looked like it was pasted on, like Plato actually pasted on. I didn’t think those triceps were real because I didn’t know that you can get those little lines.”
“Then you gotta go with Lee Haney. He also had a magnificent back, him and Dorian Yates. Robby Robinson had the back double not so much the last bit but the back double. Flex Wheeler had a crazy back double bicep. Then, there was also Ronnie Coleman. You can not ever speak about this without Ronnie Coleman.”
El Guindy said, “Ronnie Coleman 1999 back double biceps and back lat spread, Dorian Yates 1993 back double biceps and back lat spread, Mohammed Benaziza 1991 Night of Champions, black lat spread and very thick on the back double bicep. Let’s mention guys that didn’t win shows, didn’t become legends, such as Joel Stubbs, he had an incredible back double bicep. In terms of quality, it’s hard to beat Samir Bannout.
“Let’s not forget about one of the guys that people don’t appreciate, stop right now and start appreciating Phil Heath. Phil Heath 2013 back double biceps might be one of the prettiest things you’ve ever seen.”
Cormier & El Guindy on Best Legs Ever
‘The Real Deal’ and El Guindy gave their takes on the competitors who brought the best legs in the history of bodybuilding. They agreed on ‘The Quadfather’ leading the list with Cormier in the mix as well.
El Guindy said, “With back you can go many directions but with legs only one; big, shredded, massive, dense, and it hasn’t gotten better. It’s the only guy in the world with those legs, Tom Platz. Paul De Mayo possibly second, Chris Cormier, and then you got Branch Warren had legs for days.
“2013 Big Ramy’s legs with all that separation, incredible. 2022 Big Ramy without the separation not incredible,” he continued. “Tom Platz is number one for me. Maybe Chris tied with Paul De Mayo and Branch Warren but they were different styles of legs.”
El Guindy added Coleman but Cormier did not agree. They believe there is no clear contender with massive legs in contemporary bodybuilding.
“I’m also going to say Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath. One time I saw Phil Heath guest posing in Los Angeles and his legs looked massive.”
“Renel Janvier had the glutes, quads, fibers all over,” said Cormier. “You didn’t have to say Ronnie Coleman because he started out with some of the smallest legs in the sport and ended with some of the biggest legs in the sport. Dorian had big legs in certain poses, not all around. He had the calves obviously., It wasn’t just the quads, it was overall density of the leg and his whole body, the back, the whole shot was just crazy.”
El Guindy added, “I’d like to see more legs from Nick Walker. That’s one of the things. Nick Walker is known for his muscularity on top. He needs more flaring quads to minimize the waist. At this point in this generation, we don’t have anybody specific that we go has wow huge legs.”
Two weeks ago, Chris Cormier and El Guindy backed rising Open sensation Andrew Jacked’s chances at dominating the sport for the next few years. They identified 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda as the biggest threat standing on Jacked’s way to glory.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 9 July, 2023 | 12:09 PM EDT
Terrick El Guindy On Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Forever Legacy’: ‘He’s an Icon of Modern Times’
Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s overall impact on bodybuilding is tough to measure given his accolades, but Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy gave it his best shot. In a recent Olympia TV YouTube video, El Guindy recapped Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career, evaluated his physique, and named him the most iconic bodybuilder of all time.
No one can deny that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the most famous and recognizable figure in bodybuilding today. But he didn’t achieve that status overnight. He had to work diligently, stay disciplined, and maintain consistency in his pursuits both on and off the stage.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Schwarzenegger dominated the sport with his unique and impressive physique highlighted by his massive biceps and full chest. These features set him apart from the rest of the IFBB Pro League competitors at the time.
En route to winning seven Sandow trophies, Schwarzenegger faced some cutthroat opponents during his tenure, such as Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva, who both won the Mr. Olympia title three times. He also had a close call with Mike Mentzer, who many think should have beaten Schwarzenegger in the controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia comeback, like Samir Bannout. Looking back on his career, Schwarzenegger mentioned that Oliva was his toughest opponent by far.
Aside from bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger has enjoyed great success as an actor, philanthropist, and politician. He continues to take part in TV shows and films, many of which have gained considerable traction over the last few months. To honor one of the greatest talents of this generation, bodybuilding judge Terrick El Guindy took a closer look at Schwarzenegger’s career and accomplishments.
Terrick El Guindy Reviews Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Documentary, Physique, and Legacy
El Guindy named Schwarzenegger the greatest icon in bodybuilding.
“I loved this documentary. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest icon in bodybuilding and for many of us, the greatest icon in the acting world. Who doesn’t love his movies? Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legacy and will be a legacy forever.”
Then, El Guindy shared his thoughts on Arnold’s physique before he went on to become a dominant champion.
“This guy has very very large clavicle bones, huge structure, he’s massive. But he needed to be more conditioned to overcome the winner Frank Zane. Now, Arnold is a younger competitor he has all the potential but in order for him to beat some of these smaller more experienced bodybuilders, he’s going to have to work on his conditioning.”
El Guindy said Arnold’s initial goal was to be like his idol Reg Parks.
“His hero was Reg Park. Yes. Hercules. He was always always thinking about him. He wanted to be like him. He saw him in the movies, he saw him in the magazines, and eventually, he met him in London. He was the Arnold for Arnold Schwarzenegger. And yes, Reg Park is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all times and he was Arnold’s hero. Like everyone else, Arnold always, and like us, had a hero.”
El Guindy took a closer look at the physique Schwarzenegger brought to 1968 Mr. Olympia where he lost in second to Frank Zane.
“He came to America to compete in 1968 against Frank Zane. He thought – he was convinced – that he was going to win that competition. He was the big shot in Europe. Everybody knew him and he did not win. He came in second. He was huge but he wasn’t conditioned. He lost to Frank Zane who eventually became a great friend along with Franco Columbo and helped him become more conditioned for the future. Frank Zane and Franco Columbo are the two bodybuilders that truly helped Arnold become better,” said Terrick El Guindy.
Lastly, El Guindy underlined Arnold’s courage and said he continues to ‘carry the legacy of bodybuilding for all of us.’
“Arnold was very courageous in this documentary, opening up to all his great victories but also some of the mistakes that he has made in life. He has succeeded after all. He has managed to have a great career and a great family life. And I commend Arnold because all of us make mistakes and Arnold just like any other human, has made mistakes but he has survived. He has survived from the beginning to the end to become this icon of modern times. Arnold Schwarzenegger lost many friends like Franco Columbo, he lost his hero Reg Park, but he continues to carry the legacy of bodybuilding for all of us.”
Schwarzenegger recently looked back on the struggles he encountered during his acting career. In an honest interview with Academy Museum, ‘The Austrian Oak’ talked about an ‘unbelievable turnaround’ in acting despite some in the industry suggesting that his muscles and accent would get in the way of procuring movie roles.
Bodybuilding hasn’t always been as mainstream or accepted as it is nowadays. Schwarzenegger has discussed this at length before. However, he believes the turning point for the sport’s popularity came following his role in the popular docudrama Pumping Iron in 1977.
Having built his name with seven Mr. Olympia titles, acting projects, politics, and philanthropy, Schwarzenegger’s story shows what is possible from someone who started from very humble beginnings.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals The Reason For Using The ‘Suicide Grip’ For Bench Press
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 4 July, 2023 | 9:34 AM EDT
Terrick El Guindy, Chris Cormier Talk Bodybuilding Conspiracies & Andrew Jacked v Samson Dauda
Whether or not taller competitors have an edge in bodybuilding has long been debated. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Terrick El Guindy shared with Chris Cormier why stature is overrated in bodybuilding. In addition, they discussed a possible battle between Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia.
The currents of the Men’s Open division have been choppy and unpredictable lately. With Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford taking the No.1 and No. 2 spots on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage, many have begun to question if the category is swaying to favor physiques with less size and more detail, shape, and symmetry.
Following Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s unceremonious drop to fifth place and the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, El Guindy believes a new era of aesthetic bodybuilders is taking over the Open. This sentiment was also shared by 1990s standout Kevin Levrone. However, he believes Chris Bumstead is to thank for the rise of aesthetics in the Men’s Open.
In Nov., Dauda plans to bring his best to dethrone Choopan. And while Andrew Jacked shares the same goal, he has yet to qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia show. He’s targeted the 2023 Texas Pro in mid-Aug. where he intends to defend his title from last year successfully. Given the similar statures of Dauda and Jacked, Cormier and El Guindy discussed a pobable showdown between the two.
Terrick El Guindy Says Stature in Bodybuilding Is ‘Highly Highly Overrated’
While stature and height can be imposing, El Guindy argued it’s overrated as shorter athletes have found success in the Open such as Lunsford and Choopan.
“This thing about stature… is highly highly overrated, highly overrated. I mean look at Hadi Choopan. He’s one of the shortest guys and he’s Mr. Olympia. Shaun Clarida out of all the 212s he’s possibly the shortest 212 and he is Mr. Olympia 212,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Listen a lot of people are talking about Chris Bumstead’s stature and how tall he is right now, well look at the history of the sport. The first Classic Physique champion was one of the shortest guys, Danny Hester. We move on to Breon Ansley, well what happened to the stature when Breon Ansley was beating Chris Bumstead? That wasn’t in play. It’s highly highly overrated.
It looks imposing on stage to look at a guy like Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked but at the end of the day we’re judging the best bodybuilders and in this case, Hadi Choopan is the superior bodybuilder based on the 2022 Mr. Olympia,” said El Guindy.
Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan are shorter than Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Andrew Jacked, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Michal Krizo, Rafael Brandao, Iain Valliere and they are all placing ahead of them. I’m telling you right now, this height stuff is highly overrated.”
Cormier added that Lee Haney looked taller than he actually was while competing at the height of his career.
“Lee Haney made everyone look like children next to them and he wasn’t actually that tall but he appeared that way because he was so imposing. No [he wasn’t the tallest] but just the way his body looked,” said Cormier.
Conspiracy Theories in Bodybuilding? Terrick El Guindy Says ‘Stop It Right Now’
El Guindy said there were conspiracies about who would win the 1998 Mr. Olympia. He added that there were rumors Big Ramy would win Olympia in 2013 and that never materialized either.
“All the conspiracies, so many conspiracies that Ronnie was going to win the ninth Mr. Olympia, he didn’t. So many conspiracies, oh who is going to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia? Nobody had it in mind that it was going to be Ronnie Coleman. He came out of nowhere. Oh, Big Ramy wins the New York Pro in 2013 and doesn’t win the Olympia approximately 7-8 years shows up in shape and wins the 2020 Olympia.
“Shawn Rhoden, nobody had him on the map winning against the supposed eight-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath so he could equal Ronnie Coleman and equal Lee Haney. It didn’t happen. Shawn Rhoden won. Stop it. Just stop it right now.”
El Guindy & Cormier Compare Andrew Jacked vs Samson Dauda
Cormier gave Jacked credit for an extremely busy schedule and said if he adds 10-15 pounds he’ll have a ‘devastating physique.’
“His [Andrew Jacked’s] body of work over the rookie season. It’s a huge body of work. He hasn’t had an off-season, he’s been trying to improve body parts on the fly, trying to improve posing on the fly, he’s a great showmen is what I’ve noticed.”
“Talking to both Chris’s, he was in 293-ish area for Olympia but maybe 10 pounds lighter at the Arnold Classic. With the length of his arms and legs and everything, you’re going to see that difference. Even the muscle appeared a lot harder, you’re going to see the fullness,” said Cormier. “I feel like if he came with that same type of tightness but add another 10-15 pounds if you could, then that’s a devastating physique.”
El Guindy emphasized that Andrew Jacked’s biggest enemy is Samson Dauda. He believes if Andrew was by himself on stage, he would have freak factor similar to Ronnie Coleman.
“At the Olympia Samson gets the first call out. Samson Dauda goes into the Arnold and places ahead of him. First place and third place. Samson Dauda is tall, not as tall as Andrew Jacked but he possesses more muscle density than Andrew Jacked. Andrew Jacked I thought was more conditioned than Samson Dauda,” said El Guindy.
“The biggest enemy for Andrew Jacked is Samson Dauda. He takes the impact away. If you see Andrew Jacked by himself, oh my God that’s the next coming of Ronnie Coleman. Then you bring Samson Dauda next to him and you go that’s kind of a Lee Haney-type of guy. If we didn’t have Samson Dauda, all of us would be betting on Andrew Jacked to dominate the business for the next 10 years.”
Chris Cormier isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran keen on discussing Andrew Jacked’s future. Recently, Jay Cutler gave his thoughts on the topic as well. Considering the improvements Jacked made from the Olympia to the Arnold, he believes it’s possible he could shock the world, assuming he qualifies for the event.
In the meantime, other top contenders are gearing up for their prep, like 2022 Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford. He joined Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast recently, where they discussed a number of topics including his progress, anxiety, and dealing with depression.
It remains to be seen if taller competitors truly have an advantage over their counterparts. Though El Guindy and Cormier agree if Andrew adds more tissue, he’ll be a dangerous threat to anyone on the Olympia stage, even the champion.
RELATED: Big Ramy Discusses Mental State Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off, I Need to Give It Everything”
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 9:21 AM EDT
Greatest Arms Ever? Chris Cormier Picks Robby Robinson & Olympia Judge Says Phil Heath
Figuring out who has the best arms ever in a sport like bodybuilding is a difficult task. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy tackled the challenge and named which bodybuilders they believe possessed the best arms of any competitor regardless of era.
Chris Cormier is uniquely qualified to speak on the matter given his decorated résumé filled with accomplishments. His eye-catching balance of chest fullness, biceps, and deeply separated quads made him a perennial Mr. Olympia threat despite never taking home the prestigious honor. As with most of his contemporaries from the 1990s, Comier competed often and shared the stage with heavy hitters like Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and Flex Wheeler.
On the other hand, El Guindy is a bodybuilding promoter and judge. He routinely officiates contests and through the years has developed a keen eye for physiques irrespective of category. With regular appearances on the Prime Time Muscle Olympia TV program, El Guindy’s gift of gab makes him a fantastic ambassador for the sport.
In their latest endeavor, El Guindy and Cormier teamed up for a gun show judging contest. They both proposed their picks in the arms race. In addition, they disclosed honorable mentions and named who currently holds the biggest arms in the sport.
Chris Cormier: ‘Robby Robinson Has The Greatest Arms Ever, No One Will Outshine Those Peaks’
Without taking size into account, Cormier credited Robinson’s arms as the best ever given his pronounced biceps peak, which he still displays today well into his 70s.
Robby Robinson / Instagram
“Robby Robinson! The Black Prince is my go-to when it comes to arms. I’ve watched as a kid and training with him personally and I would saw, when he would do a preacher curl, his biceps would come up, over, then, back, and down. Up, over, back, and down, double scoop ice cream scoop on top of an arm [impressive peaks]. That’s what I would see every time on Robby Robinson. He had the brachialis, the triceps, I don’t think anyone outshined those peaks, ever,” said Chris Cormier.
Terrick El Guindy: “Phil Heath, Freakiest Arms I’ve Ever Seen”
Guindy said he was most blown away by the full muscle bellies in Heath’s arms.
“In my opinion to have the best arms in the history of bodybuilding – a lot of us focus on biceps but it’s got to be biceps and triceps… I’m going to tell you that Phil Heath had amazing freaking arms, okay. It was the triceps, the biceps, and it was the muscle bellies on the arms.”
“I could choose one arm to just borrow and go down Santa Monica with a sleeveless shirt, it would be Phil Heath,” argued El Guindy. “Freakiest arms I’ve ever seen. Lee Priest had freaky arms too but they were a little bit too compact. They were impressive but they didn’t stretch so much.”
Phil Heath / Instagram
As for honorable mentions for greatest arms, Cormier and Guindy agree on Roelly Winklaar and Ramon Queiroz. However, in terms of pure size, Nick Walker has the biggest and most impressive arms of any competitor in the IFBB Pro League right now.
“Let me tell you, I saw Roelly Winklaar’s arms, man!” added Guindy.
“Those arms bro… you can’t even – I mean his forearms are about as big as most people’s biceps peaks, alone just the forearms. You can’t go wrong with those guys mentioned already,” The Real Deal shared.
“It was a few months back and shits crazy my man. He [Ramon Dino] had those crazy forearms laying down on the table. They looked like somebody’s legs. I was looking at this guy and going, why do you have such big forearms. And the reality is he did a lot of bars in Ekiti where he’s from. Incredible arm development. Nowadays, the competitor in the Open that has the biggest most impressive arms in my opinion is Nick Walker,” replied El Guindy.
This isn’t the first time competitors from past eras took a closer look at arm development. Months ago, former four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler shared a throwback video of when he and Ronnie Coleman had their biceps measured. While the race was close, Coleman’s were bigger, topping out at a massive 23.5 inches. Meanwhile, Cutler’s were 22.5 inches at the time.
Comparisons of Walker’s arm size and Coleman’s surfaced recently as well. The eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder found the online discussion funny. After being critical of the Bro Chat Podcast for the comparison, Coleman specified that muscle separation must also be taken into account when measuring arms.
Interestingly, Cormier and Terrick El Guindy left ‘The King’ out of the discussion, despite being known for some of the biggest arms of any competitor. Given the sport’s subjective nature, fans will never agree as a whole on which athlete had the best arms of all time.
Watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Related:
Published: 10 June, 2023 | 12:11 AM EDT
‘Chris Bumstead Should Get an Invitation’ to Open Olympia’: Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge
Canadian bodybuilder Chris Bumstead is easily one of the most popular contenders in the sport. What makes his success even more impressive is the fact that he doesn’t compete in the Men’s Open division, which generally serves as the main attraction of any event. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, bodybuilding Hall of Famer Chris Cormier and Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy shared their thoughts on how Bumstead would fare if he switched divisions and voiced their support for him to receive an invitation to compete in the Open class at the Mr. Olympia competition.
Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead first gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, definition, and symmetry in 2017 when he took silver at Mr. Olympia. He fell short of former two-time champion Breon Ansley for the second time in 2018 before exacting revenge the following year in 2019 to win his maiden Sandow trophy. Once he reached the top, there was no stopping him as he racked up three successful title defenses.
Bumstead is coming off his fourth win at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. Following the victory, he announced his ambitions to win another title and opened up about finding his passion for bodybuilding again.
Four months ago, Bumstead gave his take on testing out the waters of the Men’s Open division. He expressed a desire to get a special invite and compete in the Open Arnold Classic contest on the condition that the event took place two or three weeks after Mr. Olympia.
Bumstead joined forces with Brazilian standout Ramon Rocha Queiroz for a heavy back training session earlier this year. Then, he teamed up with German sensation Urs Kalecinski for a sleeve-busting arms workout two weeks later.
Chris Bumstead With Coach Hany Rambod
‘CBum’ gave fans a look into his 3,500-calorie diet that he utilized in the 2023 off-season two months ago. He tipped the scales at 253 pounds and targeted adding more muscle mass to his frame. Then, Chris Bumstead showed off his massive back while crushing an intense upper-body workout. He later collaborated with seven-time 212 Olympia champion Flex Lewis for a taxing back training session.
Coach Hany Rambod wants Bumstead to bulk up to 255-258 pounds by the time off-season rolls out to start gearing up for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Olympia judge breaks down Chris Bumstead’s chances in the Men’s Open class
Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy shared his thoughts on how Chris Bumstead would look competing against the mass monsters of the Men’s Open division.
El Guindy lauded Bumstead for his mindset and believes he won’t aim for an extended run in the Open category.
“Chris Bumstead lives on his own pace,” said El Guindy. “He will not do anything to prove anything to anybody. If Chris Bumstead gets married and has two kids, looks at his wife and says I’m done, and everybody thinks he’s going to win the Mr. Olympia, he’s done. I give him a lot of credit because he’s a free-spirited guy who’s not going to be swayed by money or titles.
“If he does an Open bodybuilding show, I believe it’s going to be for fun. I think he’s going to give his best but I don’t think he’ll do on our terms he will do on his terms. He could very well show up at a show in Texas, here and there.
“Do I think that’s his career? I personally don’t. I don’t think Chris Bumstead will be known as an Open bodybuilder when he retires even if he competes. His legacy will be as the greatest Classic Physique of all time.”
Chris Bumstead / Instagram
Chris Cormier & El Guindy want ‘CBum’ to get an invitation
Chris Cormier and El Guindy extended their support for ‘CBum’ to receive an invitation for participating as an Open athlete.
“There’s some poses we would be dying to see Chris Bumstead up there against some of the top guys hitting the front lat spread, side chest, ab and thing, and such like that,” Cormier said. “Maybe even start just like Derek did. Go to Pittsburgh, try your luck on stage and see how you fare and just take it from there.
“Yeah I would give [Bumstead an invitation],” added Cormier. “He’s the most popular bodybuilder we have in the sport.”
El Guindy said, “If Derek got an invitation, Chris Bumstead should get one in my personal opinion, I’m not a decision maker.”
Chris Bumstead reflected on his partnership with former coach and Men’s Open standout Iain Valliere about two weeks ago. He credited Valliere for helping him stay healthy and succeed at a young age without using heavy amounts of steroids.
Even though Cbum competes in the Classic Physique division, his impact on the Open class is undeniable. Recently, 1990s bodybuilding veteran Kevin Levrone argued that Bumstead’s efforts have resulted in a new era of aesthetics in Open bodybuilding.
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo weighed in on Bumstead’s chances in the Open class and backed him to present a challenge against the likes of former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Samson Dauda, and Nick Walker if he added 15 to 20 pounds.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead on Fantasy Match-Up vs Arnold Schwarzenegger: ‘I Think I Would Beat Him’
Published: 2 June, 2023 | 9:15 AM EDT
Comparing Bodybuilding’s Winningest Athletes – Dexter Jackson & Ashley Kaltwasser by Olympia Judge & Chris Cormier
Bodybuilding icon Ashley Kaltwasser trumped over fellow legend Dexter Jackson as the most winningest athlete in the history of the sport. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and bodybuilding Hall of Famer Chris Cormier shared their analysis and comparison of Jackson and Kaltwasser’s careers.
Dexter Jackson first gained attention for his insane muscle mass, detail, and conditioning levels in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. He made a splash in his debut at the 1999 Arnold Classic and placed seventh. He proved to be one of the most consistent and disciplined athletes in the game with regular competitive appearances.
In 2005, Jackson took home the top prize at the Arnold Classic. He successfully defended the title the following year in 2006. Besides the Arnold Classic, he was a mainstay of the Open class at the Olympia contests from 1999 to 2020. Jackson was at the height of his powers between 2002 and 2010, always placing in the top four at Olympias. After placing third at the 2007 event, many counted out Jackson’s chances at the win. However, Jackson came back stronger and dethroned former four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler in 2008 to win the coveted Sandow trophy.
‘The Blade’s final appearance came at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, where he placed ninth. He hung up his posing trunks with a record five Arnold Classic titles under his belt.
Dexter Jackson continues to work out regularly. He gave fans a look into a brutal back workout in April 2022. Then, he followed up with a jacked physique update showing off his biceps in an intense training session.
The 53-year-old left the fans in awe of his lean physique in another update last October. Last month, Jackson ignited rumors of a potential return for the Masters Olympia with a ripped workout update.
Olympia judge & Chris Cormier share analysis of Dexter Jackson’s insane career
Dexter Jackson
In a recent YouTube video, Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy, Tim Wilkins, and Chris Cormier lauded Dexter Jackson for his insanely successful career in a comparison with Ashley Kaltwasser.
“Ashley has just surpassed Dexter on the wins,” said Wilkins.
El Guindy: “She currently has 37 pro victories.”
“Now, Dexter was the winningest bodybuilder of all time with the male,” El Guindy said, “Obviously, we can look at it and say possibly male bodybuilding is a little bit of a harder enterprise than Bikini. You gotta come in with striated glutes like Dexter did. You gotta add a lot of muscle and Dexter has done that. But Ashley Kaltwasser has done something that… 37 pro victories.”
Cormier argued Jackson’s run was more impressive due to the nature of the competition he was in combined with a lack of as many shows as now.
Cormier: “If you’re talking Bikini, you’re talking more like the beauty, the aesthetic of the body. It’s not like you’re trying to force a lot of mass, forcing a lot of food down your throat, going through the grueling workouts, the posing rounds, all this stuff. But if you look at Dexter Jackson’s whole cabinet of wins is probably filled with eight Arnold Classics, he’s got Mr. Olympia title under his belt, competing all around the world from Australia to the Iron Man. I don’t know all his wins off the top of my head but I guarantee you he won the shows.”
“It’s a higher degree of difficulty and then even in the later part of his career, he was still beating some of the guys that’s actually competing at high level right now,” said Cormier. “He was beating those guys. I know he thinks he was looking the best but that wasn’t the same Dexter Jackson I was going against. That guy was etched out, that’s when we gave him the name ‘Blade.’ These guys then were still getting beat by Dexter and it wasn’t even the Dexter I went up against. I call him the Jordan of bodybuilding.”
El Guindy: “Dexter Jackson’s first bodybuilding show was in 1992. His last one was in 2020. That’s 28 years of bodybuilding.”
Cormier: “Just depending on how it’s going to play out but I don’t think anyone in this lifetime that we know of is going to be [breaking Dexter’s record].”
Last month, Dexter Jackson confirmed he had no intentions of making a comeback to competition. He reflected on his career and stressed the importance of recovery and machine training for longevity. Then, he crushed a brutal arm workout while teasing a mystery project.
Ashley Kaltwasser has been a force to reckon with in the Women’s Bikini division since conquering the Olympia title in her 2013 debut. She went on a dominant run over the next three years that saw her win the 2014 Arnold Sports Festival, and the 2014 Toronto Supershow, and extend her Olympia reign with two successful title defenses. In 2016, Kaltwasser lost the Olympia title and dropped down to the fourth place.
Having maintained a packed competitive schedule, Kaltwasser took to the sidelines for the 2017 season and returned in 2018. From 2018 to 2020, she slipped down the ranks in Olympia contests but continued to rack up trophies in other shows such as the 2018 Vancouver Pro and 2019 Mile High Pro.
In 2021, Kaltwasser put her foot to the gas as she competed in 14 shows throughout the year, winning eight and never placing out of the top four. Her impressive streak continued last season with another 12 contest participation. She scored gold in seven, including the 2022 Arnold Classic UK.
Kaltwasser opened up about her reasons for staying busy as a competitor last month. While many enjoy taking a longer off-season, she likes to be active to stay motivated for prep and not miss out on any opportunities.
The 34-year-old offered her expertise on improving contest preps a few weeks ago. She went over the common pain points of combating bloating, managing water and sodium intake, and hunger cravings.
Wilkins & Olympia judge says Ashley Kaltwasser can win another 15-20 shows
Wilkins and El Guindy heaped praises on Kaltwasser for her extraordinary track record and believe she could cement her status as the greatest with another dozen or more titles in the next few years.
“This competitor, Ashley Kaltwasser, she’s a track and field star in the state of Ohio,” El Guindy said. “Her ability to maintain the great conditioning weekend after weekend, display incredible physique, and continue to win shows is impressive. She is the winningest bodybuilder of all time. She’s got 37 titles.”
“Ashley Kaltwasser had the ability to do possibly 10 or 15 shows a year and win a lot of them. Dexter had to do it for a long period of time.”
Wilkins: “If she’s got five more years doing 3-4 shows a year plus the O, she’s a lock to win 3 or 4 of those shows. She could end up with another 15 to 20 wins and cement that untouchable.”
Guindy: “I think that’s the goal. I talked to her coach Adam Bonilla and he’s got great athletes but Ashley is the main horse there. His intention with her is to win as many as possible. She’s not slowing down guys. If she won 10 shows last year, she wants to win 15 this year.”
Ashley Kaltwasser offered some of her best tips on maintaining proper nutrition on show days earlier this month. She recommended eating light foods and not consuming too much protein to ensure an empty stomach.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 24 April, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT