He began his statement by acknowledging the late John Meadows, who worked as his coach at different points in his career.
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“I had a certain angel watching down. First, it was Dallas [McCarver], then Luke [Sandoe], and now John Meadows. I planned on retiring after Tampa. I called Tyler [Manion] on the phone and said, ‘I’ve been doing this too long. I ain’t going out like that,” Cisternino said, referencing his tie for 16th place at the Tampa Pro 212 contest on Friday, August 6. “So if it taught me anything, it was that my goal tonight was to be the best 39-year-old bodybuilder I could be.”
The 13-year veteran also had some parting words for the competitors that he shared the stage with that evening.
No matter what the trophy says in front of you, enjoy the journey because, in the blink of an eye, it can be taken from you.
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Cisternino placed sixth in the Texas Pro contest, which Ahmed Elsadany won. His performance in Irving, TX caps a career that spanned 13 years as a professional, beginning with his victory at the 2008 NPC Nationals, which gave him his pro card for the IFBB Pro League.
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The first victory of Cisternino’s career came at the 2011 Europa Supershow 212 contest. He would go on to win six shows. His most significant victories are his back-to-back New York Pro 212 wins in 2015 and 2016. He had to have shoulder surgery in 2018 but came back to win the 2019 Niagara Falls Pro 212 contest, which was his final professional victory.
The New Jersey native competed at the Mr. Olympia on seven different occasions in the 212 division. He placed 13th on bodybuilding’s biggest stage in 2011 but never outside of the top 10 since then. His highest placing was sixth in 2015. His last appearance on the Olympia stage was in 2020, where he placed 10th. He’s faced three different Olympia champions in his career — Flex Lewis, Kamal Elgargni, and current 212 Olympia champion Shaun Clarida.
Featured Image by Will Wittmann
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