Listing the most epic moments from the past decade in bodybuilding.
The 2010s were filled with some pretty epic moments that will go down as major events in bodybuilding history. These are some of the defining moments of the 2010s in bodybuilding!
Big Ramy Steps on Stage at Over 300 Pounds
It was truly a shocking moment when Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay first burst onto the bodybuilding scene. He took the world by storm with his truly impressive size and muscularity and has continued to push the envelop ever since wowing fans at the 2013 New York Pro. Big Ramy continued to gain in size and eventually tipped the scales by being the first and, so far, only man to step onto an Olympia stage weighing over three hundred pounds! It was a truly epic moment that has yet to be repeated, and while it didn’t ensure a victory at the Olympia for the Egyptian powerhouse, it did cement Big Ramy’s name in the bodybuilding record books.
The Rise of Oxygen Gym Bodybuilders
Anyone paying attention to competitive bodybuilding in the last few years has come to learn of Oxygen Gym. The Kuwait based facility has produced a great deal of bodybuilding champions within the last few years alone and included at one time or another some of the biggest names in the sport. 2019 Olympia champion Brandon Curry, Big Ramy, Roelly Winklaar, and Hadi Choopan are just a few of the bodybuilders that were able to take their gains to the next level training out of the illustrious gym.
Shawn Rhoden Defeats Phil Heath
Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in modern bodybuilding, Shawn Rhoden was able to triumph over the reigning Olympia champion Phil Heath. Phil Heath was looking to pick up his eighth straight Olympia win to put himself in rarified air alongside Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman.
Old School Comebacks
In the 2010s comebacks seemed to be all the rage. Many old school bodybuilders made great effort to recapture some of their past glory and challenge themselves to step on stage against the modern era of bodybuilders at the Olympia. Both Kevin Levrone and Flex Wheeler made their returns to the Olympia stage more to prove to themselves that they still had plenty left in the tank than anything else. While they didn’t dominate the younger talents in their divisions, they certainly acquitted themselves well and brought some added excitement.
For those interested in taking a deeper look into Kevin Levrone’s comeback – check out our official documentary chronicling his final comeback competition in Born To Overcome.
Changing of the Guard
When Jay Cutler once again secured his Olympia champion status back in 2009 after being defeated by Dexter Jackson in 2008, the bodybuilding world was sure that the chief rival of Ronnie Coleman would continue to dominate the scene. But a young up and coming Phil Heath had other plans as he eventually took the crown in 2011 and subsequently initiating the Heath era in bodybuilding. It was a period of time that saw Phil Heath dominate everyone in the field, only being challenged by a certain chief rival.
Introduction of Classic Physique
The introduction of the Classic Physique division into the IFBB was a major occurrence in the last few years. Already it has produced several champions, rivalries and has generated a great deal of intrigue in the competitive bodybuilding circuit. With Breon Ansley and Chris Bumstead both sitting atop the division, many fans and pundits are already witnessing the makings of an epic rivalry between two of the top athletes in the division with guaranteed excitement to come.
Phil Heath vs Kai Greene Rivalry
If you’re a true fan of bodybuilding then you had to know this was coming. The rivalry between Phil Heath and Kai Greene was one of the most memorable moments of the 2010s to say the least. With both men trading victories and defeats, as well as some shoves along the way, it’s easy to see how the Phil Heath and Kai Greene rivalry captured the mind and hearts of bodybuilding fans. While the two may be on good terms these days, there’s no way that any bodybuilding fan will forget their epic moments on stage together, particularly when they nearly came to blows at the 2014 Olympia. There has never been a rivalry like it since, but one can only hope an exciting beef like this sparks again in 2020 and beyond. It brings intrigue, excitement, and just a sense of genuine passion for victory that a mild mannered rivalry could only hope to produce.
What do you think were the biggest moments in bodybuilding in the 2010s?
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
