While the Arnold Classic doesn't carry quite the same weight in the bodybuilding world as the Olympia, it is still one of the sport's premier competitions and is largely considered ...
Britain’s Strongest Man 2022 Results: Tom Stoltman Wins Back-to-Back Titles
Feb 26, 2022
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 11: A saltire flag is pictured during day four of the abrdn Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, on July 11, 2021, in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Tom Stoltman's run of dominance continued Saturday after he won Britain's Strongest Man competition from Utilita Arena Sheffield in Sheffield, England.
The reigning World's Strongest Man and now back-to-back Britain's Strongest Man winner took four of five events.
This year's events were as follows: the 200-kilogram shield carry, the 360-kilogram axle deadlift for reps, the 150-kilogram axle press for reps, the sandbag toss and atlas stones.
Eleven competitors took the stage. The winner of each event earned 11 points, the second-place finisher got 10 and so on down the line. Ties resulted in half points (e.g., a tie for first among two men would result in 10.5 points).
Stoltman set the tone immediately after notching a world record of 65.3 meters in the 200-kilogram shield carry.
A new WORLD RECORD! 65.3m for @tomstoltmanofficial on the 200kg Shield Carry!
Stoltman and Adam Bishop tied for first in the axle deadlift (six reps), but the eventual winner took first all alone in the axle press with five reps.
Before the event, Luke Stoltman and Desmond Gahan pulled out of the competition. An official reason has not been provided.
The sandbag toss was the only competition that Stoltman did not win, and he lost it via tiebreaker to Shane Flowers. Both men were able to toss their six sandbags, but Flowers did so in a quicker time (18.38 seconds vs. 22.4 seconds).
Stoltman regained his position atop the event leaderboard in the atlas stones, where he carried all five stones in 21.57 seconds.
Now he'll look to become the back-to-back World's Strongest Man winner. The competition is scheduled for May 24-29 in Sacramento, California.
Autopsy: Bodybuilder George Peterson's Death Linked to Anabolic Steroid Use
Jan 21, 2022
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 01: Arnold Schwarzenegger interviews George Peterson after Peterson won Arnold Classic Physique as part of the Arnold Sports Festival on March 1, 2019, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
An autopsy has revealed steroids were a contributing factor in bodybuilder George Peterson's death.
Per the autopsy results obtained by TMZ Sports, Peterson's official cause of death was listed as "sudden cardiac dysrhythmia due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease."
It was also noted in the documents that "anabolic steroid use" contributed to his death.
The Mr. Olympia competition announced Oct. 6 that Peterson died at the age of 37.
"It is with great sadness that we report the unexpected passing of George Peterson, a champion on stage and off," the statement said. "Our condolences go out to his family and all who respected and admired one of the kindest men we have ever known."
Per TMZ Sports, Peterson was in Orlando at the time of his death preparing for the Mr. Olympia competition that was being held at the Orange County Convention Center.
Roger Lockridge of Muscle and Fitness noted Peterson was considered a favorite to win at Mr. Olympia before he died.
Peterson competed in Mr. Olympia each of the previous four years. He won the 2019 Arnold Classic Physique Championship.
Mr. Olympia 2021 Results: Prize Money Payouts for Winner and Top Contestants
Oct 10, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 07: Mamdouh
Mr. Olympia 2021 came down to a one-on-one battle between bodybuilding giants Mamdouh Elssbiay and Brandon Curry.
Both bodybuilders brought their best combinations of size and shredded muscle that they revealed with pristine posing routines.
But in the end, it was Elssbiay, better known as "Big Ramy" that proved once again that he's "Mr. Saturday Night" while defending his title as Mr. O in Orlando, Florida.
With the Egyptian bodybuilder leading the way, Curry came in second, while Hadi Choopan took third place and Hunter Labrada placed fourth.
For Big Ramy, winning his second Sandow Trophy in a row brings along with it a tremendous amount of bragging rights.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
There's also a handsome amount of prize money that comes along with placing and winning bodybuilding's most prestigious contest.
Elssbiay took home $400,000, Curry pocketed $150,000 and Choopan left Orlando with a very respectable $100,000 to put in his bank account.
Here's a look at the prize money for the Top 10 placements and how the top contestants faired.
Mr. Olympia 2021 Top 10 Placings
First Place — Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, $400,000
Second Place — Brandon Curry, $150,000
Third Place — Hadi Choopan, $100,000
Fourth Place — Hunter Labrada, $40,000
Fifth Place — Nick Walker, $35,000
Sixth Place — William Bonac
Seventh Place — Iain Valliere
Eighth Place — Justin Rodriguez
Ninth Place — Akim Williams
Tenth Place — Mohamed Shaaban
Coming into the weekend, Elssbiay was the heavy favorite to repeat, but there was some buzz surrounding Curry's chances of dethroning Big Ramy.
Those rumors proved to be true as Curry put together perhaps his best package of size and symmetry on the Olympia stage, but it was still not enough to overcome Elssbiay's sheer mass.
Phil Heath predicted that Choopan had a real chance to disrupt the defending champ and former champ's chances and he was not wrong.
Choopan was ripped and ready and had he weighed 30 more pounds, he'd have been the new Mr. O.
Then there was current Arnold Classic winner Nick Walker.
Analysts had him riding the momentum of his win two weeks ago into the Mr. Olympia, but it wasn't enough to crack the top three.
Two-time Arnold Classic winner William Bonac was also seen as a serious threat to the crown, but he failed to crack to Top Five.
Hunter Labrada, son of bodybuilding legend Lee Labrada, took fourth, which was four places higher than last year's eighth place.
Overall, most of the athletes performed as advertised, with overall size winning out again.
If Curry or Choopan want to beat Elssbiay next year, they'll have to find ways to add more size to their ripped physiques.
Mr. Olympia 2021: Latest Event Schedule and Info on Past Winners
Oct 9, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 07: Mamdouh
For reigning champion Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Ellsbiay, Mr. Olympia 2021 is all about separating himself from all of the top contenders participating in bodybuilding's biggest annual event in Orlando, Florida to defend his title.
It won't be a cake walk, though, because the field is set with an impressive lineup of competitors, including Hadi Choopan, former winner Brandon Curry (2019) and current Arnold Classic winner Nick Walker.
Big Ramy disrupted last year's battle between Curry and everyone's favorite comeback story, Phil Heath, with an overall package that was too refined and symmetrical to ignore.
Heath, a seven-time Mr. Olympia, came in third last year and won't be competing this weekend, but still has a pulse on what to expect.
"More than likely he [Ellsbiay] is the favorite, he is the guy who is going to repeat," Heath said on a podcast via Fitness Volt before touting Choopan's chances. "I’ve been able to see some pics, he’s looking really dangerous right now."
Choopan and Curry notwithstanding, the 16th Mr. O will try to join a long list of repeat Sandow Trophy winners on Saturday night.
Here's a quick look at the schedule of events and past winners.
With Big Ramy thwarting Heath's return to the Mr. O stage last year, there's no meaty comeback narrative to sell this time around.
But, there's always heat in a potential back-to-back title run.
There's also a bit of superstition.
Just like last year, Elssbiay left his native Egypt eight weeks ahead of the contest to live and train with coach Dennis James in Phoenix, Arizona to avoid any travel complications that might come up due to Covid-19 restrictions.
"I am back in Arizona and we continue where we left off. The workouts are hard, but I love it and I’m ready to do whatever it takes. Let the fun begin," Elssbiay wrote on Instagram.
According to BarBend, Big Ramy is coming in at around 305 pounds, so he is going to be formidable hitting his signature poses on stage.
2021 Mr. Olympia FIRST CALLOUT
Big Ramy William Bonac Hunter Labrada Hadi Choopan Nick Walker Brandon Curry
His biggest threat, Curry, already looks as if he's addressed the issues that kept him from winning last year: arms, legs and stomach.
As last year's runner-up, Curry is extremely motivated to not only reclaim the throne, but to show that his win in 2019 was no fluke.
Walker is hoping the momentum from his win at the Arnold Classic two weeks ago will propel him to the top spot this weekend.
Then there is two-time Arnold Classic winner William Bonac, who didn't compete in this year's Arnold, but will hit the stage for Mr. Olympia.
Bonac placed fifth at the Mr. O in 2020 and is already posting bold predictions of his winning the Sandow on social media.
"For those of you who don’t know, history is destined to repeat it. 👑#17👑," Bonac wrote on Instagram.
The 16 contestants are primed and ready for battle.
By the end of Saturday night, bodybuilding fans across the globe will know the answer to the burning question: Will Big Ramy repeat or will there be a 17th Mr. Olympia to take the crown?
Mamdouh Elssbiay, Brandon Curry & Top Contestants Competing at 2021 Mr. Olympia
Oct 9, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 07: Mamdouh
The time to crown Mr. Olympia 2021 has arrived. Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend kicked off on Thursday with the opening press conference, and the Mr. Olympia Men's Open finals are set to take place at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The winner of the Men's Open will take home the largest share of this year's $1.6 million prize purse—last year's winner won $400,000 of a $1.4 million pool.
On Friday, fans got to witness the prejudging for Mr. Olympia, and it became immediately clear that reigning champion Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay is going to have a battle on his hands.
Elssbiay's biggest challenge may come from 2019 winner Brandon Curry, who showcased an improved overall package on Friday.
"The 15th Mr. Olympia stepped on stage sporting improved legs, very large arms, and a tight—very tight—waist," Roger Lockridge of Bar Bend wrote.
Curry took second at last year's event but has a real shot at reclaiming his crown on Saturday.
Here, we'll take a closer look at Elssbiay, Curry and other top contenders for the title of Mr. Olympia 2021.
2021 Mr. Olympia FIRST CALLOUT
Big Ramy William Bonac Hunter Labrada Hadi Choopan Nick Walker Brandon Curry
Curry was trying to defend his title in 2020, but the massive and well-conditioned Elssbiay was in a league by himself.
By adding more mass to his frame and keeping the same cuts that helped him win the 2019 Arnold Classic and 2019 Olympia, Curry has made himself a real threat. Bulking up was a big part of Curry's strategy from the get-go.
"Big Ramy, in order to compare well against him, I think I have to be a little bit fuller," Curry said on his YouTube channel. "I can't diet down as much because I gotta keep the fullness in the quads, fullness in the legs, fullness throughout. So I've gotta have that pop and that roundness."
According to Derek Hall of Fitness Volt, things appeared to be "neck and neck" at the top of the competition during prejudging.
A tight race gives Curry a real shot at separating himself during the finals.
William Bonac
William Bonac has become a fixture at top International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) competitions in recent years. He has won the Arnold Classic twice (in 2018 and 2020) and was expected to be one of the favorites in Columbus, Ohio, this year.
Unfortunately, travel restrictions from his home in the Netherlands prevented Bonac from competing at the 2021 Arnold Classic. However, Bonac was able to sort out any travel issues and was present for Friday's prejudging at the Olympia.
The Ghana-born bodybuilder is a threat virtually every time he takes the stage. While he doesn't possess the sheer mass of a competitor like Elssbiay, he can set himself apart with a rare combination of symmetry, proportion and conditioning.
Bonac has appeared in the last seven Mr. Olympia competitions and took second to Curry in 2019. He finished fifth in the 2020 competition. While he isn't going to "outsize" the bigger athletes, Bonac is impossible to ignore on the posing stage.
Nick Walker
Momentum can be a driving force in the world of bodybuilding, and Nick Walker has it. One of the sport's up-and-comers, Walker didn't earn his IFBB pro card until last year.
Walker made his Arnold Classic debut this year and won. His quick rise has impressed bodybuilding legend and four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler.
"He's taking the steps, dude," Cutler said on his YouTube channel. "He's won New York, the same year Arnold Classic, and he's going to go to the Olympia and he's probably going to be in the top five. I mean, not many guys have been able to do that."
Two years ago, Curry rode the momentum of his Arnold Classic win to a Mr. Olympia title. Could Walker do the same in 2021? It's certainly not out of the question.
Mamdouh Elssbiay
To be the champ, you have to beat the champ—or, at least, that's how the saying seems to go. If any of the challengers are going to knock off Big Ramy, they're going to have to outshine one massive physique.
According to Lockridge, Elssbiay weighed in at 305 pounds fully clothed before prejudging. His size and stage presence will give Elssbiay an advantage on Saturday evening, though it won't be the deciding factor.
"It's all beautiful that he's 305 on the scale, but let's see tomorrow. Let's see him when his clothes get off, let's see tomorrow," Bonac said, per Hall.
Defending champions have traditionally had an edge at the Mr. Olympia, which is why there have been many repeats—there have only been 16 different winners since 1965.
Of course, we haven't had a repeat champion since Heath reigned from 2011 to 2017. Elssbiay will have to bring more than bulk to defend his title, though as he proved last year, he can peak with the complete package.
Arnold Classic 2021 Results: Winner, Highlights, Prize Money, Twitter Reaction
Sep 26, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: Steve Kuclo and Nick Walker compete in the Arnold Classic on September 25, 2021, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Arnold Classic returned Saturday night after a six-month delay. The annual bodybuilding competition was postponed from its traditional March date this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 event had a different feel for several reasons. The festival, which usually takes place over the course of an entire weekend, was condensed to a single day of competition with a total of $412,000 in prize money up for grabs.
Saturday's bodybuilding competition featured 42 athletes competing in three events, including classic physique, fitness international and bikini international.
2021 Arnold Classic Winners
Overall: Nick Walker
Classic Physique (Men): Logan Franklin
Fitness (Women): Missy Truscott
A new men's overall champion was guaranteed to be crowned even before the event started. William Bonac, who won in 2018 and 2020, announced Friday he was unable to make it to Columbus, Ohio, because of travel issues stemming from the pandemic.
Cedric McMillan, the 2016 champion, and Roelly Winklaar also weren't in attendance because of injuries.
Those absences opened the door for some new blood. Iain Valliere had plenty of momentum coming into the Arnold Classic. The 26-year-old won the Tampa Pro and Texas Pro bodybuilding shows in August.
Even though it seemed like Valliere had the momentum coming into the event, there was an indication during the pre-judging that Nick Walker and Steve Kuclo were favored by the judges.
Walker and Kuclo squared off in the final round of pre-judging, with Valliere on standby.
Per Greg Merritt of Barbell.com, Walker is the youngest winner (27) of this event in 30 years:
Nick Walker wins 2021 Arnold Classic. He's the youngest winner in 30 years. Full story here: https://t.co/8uGzfb5NYy
1. Nick Walker 2. Iain Valliere 3. Steve Kuclo 4. Justin Rodriguez 5. Akim Williams 6. Justin Rodriguez pic.twitter.com/C5WVxmw1H1
Fans who will be curious to know how Walker would have fared against Bonac will likely get their answer very soon. Both men are currently scheduled to take part in the Mr. Olympia competition during the Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend from Oct. 7-10.
The top four in the men's classic physique during the afternoon competition were Alex Cambronero, Logan Franklin, Courage Opera and Terrence Ruffin.
Cambronero, the 2020 winner in this event, was looking to become the first repeat champion in the classic physique since it was added to the rotation in 2018.
Instead, the judges chose Franklin for his first win at this event. He also won $10,000 as part of his prize package.
Franklin is the fourth different winner in the men's classic physique in the past four years. He joins a group that includes Cambronero, George Patterson and Breon Ansley.
The women's fitness competition turned into another triumph for Missy Truscott. The American star beat out runner-up Oksana Grishina and Ariel Khadr to retain her crown.
Truscott's win sets her up to potentially become the fourth woman in history to win Arnold Classic and Fitness Olympia titles in consecutive years. The three women currently in that group include Grishina, Adela Garcia, and Susie Curry.
World’s Strongest Man 2021 Results: Latest Point Standings After Day 2
Jun 17, 2021
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - MAY 06: Weightlifter Nedzmin Ambeskovic is seen during his training period for the "World's Strongest Man" competition which will be held in England on August, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 06, 2021. (Photo by Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The second day of qualifying at the 2021 World's Strongest Man competition didn't see a lot of movement on the leaderboards.
Day 2 of the qualifying round featured athletes in Groups 1, 4 and 5 competing in Fingal's Fingers, and Group 2 and 3 took part in the train push.
Four of the five leaders from Tuesday's opening qualifier remain in the top spot after Wednesday's event. Kevin Faires is the only one who fell off the initial pace, though he's still tied for second in Group 5.
After registering 8.5 points on Tuesday, Shaw added five more on the second day of competition thanks to his effort in the Fingal's Fingers portion of the event.
The American star was the only athlete to flip all five fingers. He finished in 40.47 seconds, faster than Maxime Boudreault (41.07 seconds), Gavin Bilton (46.62 seconds) and Jerry Pritchett (41.19 seconds) were able to flip four fingers.
Faires dropped into a tie for third place in Group 5 thanks to a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Fingal's Fingers event. He was able to flip four fingers in 36.31 seconds.
Luke Stoltman climbed into a tie with Bobby Thompson for the top spot in the group on the strength of a second-place finish. The British strongman completed four fingers in just 28.92 seconds.
— SBD World's Strongest Man (@WorldsStrongest) June 17, 2021
Things didn't run smoothly in the train portion of the competition. It was originally supposed to be a pulling event, but Andrew Gutman of Barbend.com noted problems with the train's brakes resulted in it being changed to a push.
Competitors wound up pushing the 20-ton locomotive instead of pulling the 50-ton load.
— SBD World's Strongest Man (@WorldsStrongest) June 17, 2021
Johnny Hansson set the pace for both groups with a time of 35.36 seconds. He still finds himself in fourth place in Group 2 but just one point behind Trey Mitchell and Mark Felix for the second spot.
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted led the way in Group 3, finishing his train push in 37 seconds. The Icelandic star is alone in second place and has an outside chance to catch JF Caron for the lead heading into the final day of qualifying.
The top two finishers in each group will move ahead to the finals starting on Saturday.
Mr. Olympia 2020 Results: Prize-Money Payouts for Winner and Top Contestants
Dec 20, 2020
2012 Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath, poses for a portrait Wednesday, September 18, 2013, in Los Angeles. Heath's quest for the Olympia title is the focal point of director, Vlad Yudin's bodybuilding documentary,
After some uncertainty two months ago if he would even be allowed to compete in the 2020 Mr. Olympia competition, Mamdouh Elssbiay was crowned champion Saturday night at the prestigious bodybuilding contest.
Big Ramy had to receive a special invite to the event after missing the Europa Pro show on Oct. 11 because he tested positive for COVID-19.
The final result wound up working out in spectacular fashion for Elssbiay. The Egyptian bodybuilder beat out 2019 champion Brandon Curry, seven-time winner Phil Heath, Hadi Choopan and William Bonac to win the top prize.
This year's field underwent several changes because of the pandemic. GenerationIron.com noted that Roelly Winklaar, Danny Hester and Iris Kyle had to withdraw. Winklaar has been a Mr. Olympia staple since 2010 and had back-to-back top-five finishes in the previous two years.
Even with the field not looking quite as deep as it once was, there seemed to be no shortage of competition for the top spot. Jacob Ladon of GenerationIron.com noted the pre-judging comparison rounds Friday indicated a "neck and neck" battle for the top four.
Each of the top five finishers in the final judging was included in the first callout lineup Friday. Akim Williams was also among that group but finished in sixth place in the final judging.
One year after finally having his breakthrough moment, Curry had another strong showing with a second-place finish. The 38-year-old was in a close battle with Elssbiay for the top spot, but the judges ultimately gave the nod to Big Ramy.
Heath, who returned to the Mr. Olympia competition after taking 2019 off, didn't appear to be at his best en route to a third-place showing.
At the @MrOlympiaLLC and my business partner Brandon Curry brought it. Phil Heath is amazing but off tonight. Rami is a clear third.
The Gift was looking to tie Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman for the most titles in Mr. Olympia history. His seven-year reign came to an end in 2018 when Shawn Rhoden came out on top.
This was a very different year for the event, which had to be moved from Las Vegas to Orlando because of COVID-19 restrictions. It normally takes place in September but got delayed three months to the end of the year.
Despite all of those obstacles, though, Big Ramy finally got to shine brightest on the biggest stage in bodybuilding.
Mr. Olympia 2020: Final Results, Top Videos and Predictions for 2021 Event
Dec 20, 2020
A contestant show his muscles during the Kiev Open Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The seventh time was a charm for Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay, who finally captured the elusive Mr. Olympia title for the first time in his career Saturday night.
Elssbiay, whose best previous finish was second in 2017, competed in his first Mr. Olympia in 2013. He beat out a strong 2020 field highlighted by seven-time winner Phil Heath and defending champion Brandon Curry.
Here's a look at the top finishers and their payouts (via Andrew Gutman of BarBend):
Champion: Mamdouh Elssbiay ($400,000)
Runner-up: Brandon Curry ($150,000)
Third: Phil Heath ($100,000)
Fourt: Hadi Choopan ($45,000)
Fifth: William Bonac ($40,000)
It's the third straight year the competition produced a first-time winner. Along with Curry in 2019, Shawn Rhoden triumphed for the first time in 2018 to end Heath's seven-year run.
Elssbiay posted comments on Instagram about the adversity he overcame leading up to this year's event.
"I wanna thank all the bodybuilding fans in the world for the love and support I'm receiving. I had many setbacks this year with a show canceled due to corona and a positive test. I also lost my main supplement sponsor earlier this year (will give more details in the coming days), but all that mattered is I kept working hard for that dream...To make my fans happy."
He been patiently waiting on the wings. Taking Ls.
"This victory is ours..." he wrote after the competition alongside a video accepting the trophy.
Elssbiay isn't likely to go on a Heath-esque run as a long-term champion. He's already 36 and his American counterpart was already in the latter stages of his dominant championship reign by that age, though he's remained competitive into his early 40s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOSZ_0ZDeDM
That said, Big Ramy should be viewed as the early favorite looking ahead to the 2021 competition as his performance Saturday showed he's finally struck the perfect balance with his physique.
He'll face plenty of competition in his repeat bid, however, with Heath and Curry working to get back to the mountaintop of professional bodybuilding.
