Hidetada Yamagishi details the biggest threats to him at the Men’s 212 Olympia 2020.
This year will be Hidetada Yamagishi’s 10th appearance competing at the Mr. Olympia. Though he previously switched divisions from the Men’s Open to the Men’s 212, Hidetada has been a consistent threat at the Olympia each year that he shows up. So what does this year’s lineup look like and who will be the biggest dangers to his attempt at the trophy? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Hidetada Yamagishi explains the top competitors who will be the biggest threats at the Men’s 212 Olympia 2020.
Hidetada Yamagishi will be competing again at the Olympia weekend later this December. Though he started in the Men’s Open division, he has lately been competing in the Men’s 212. During our video interview with Hidetada, he explains how his mentality has changed about competing throughout the years.
He claims that in his earlier years, winning was the only thing that mattered to him. But as time has passed he is simply happy to be able to show up to the Olympia year after year. To try his best, improve personally, and be a part of the biggest event of the year is more than enough for him.
Some might find this to mean he has less fire to win. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Hidetada Yamagishi’s competition prep and training remain vigilant as ever. He simply has learned to enjoy the process more than worrying about winning. If he focuses on perfecting his physique – then the awards will come naturally.
Hidetada Yamagishi’s physique update 14 weeks out from the Mr. Olympia 2020 (above).
But who does Hidetada Yamagishi think will be his biggest threats going into the Olympia 2020 this year? The line up is looking quite different ever since Flex Lewis stepped down from the division in 2018. Since then we have had a new champion in the form of Kamal Elgargni. Will he be able to hold onto the title?
Hidetada sees Kamal as his biggest threat to the Men’s 212 Olympia title later this year – but he also admits there are many other top level athletes that might also be able to take Kamal down. Shaun Clarida and Derek Lunsford are two other names that top his list of the biggest dangers on Hidetada’s path to winning the gold.
What is certainly clear more than ever is that the competition is wide open for anything to happen. While Flex Lewis was reigning as champion – it seemed nearly impossible that he would be defeated. With Flex gone, there is a vacuum that needs to be filled. Can Kamal Elgargni continue to fill that space? Or will one of the various top contenders take it over? Can Hidetada be one of those top threats?
Only time will tell and with the Olympia 2020 only a few months away now, the energy will be picking up fast heading into the December.
You can watch Hidetada Yamagishi’s full comments about this year’s Men’s 212 Olympia lineup in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
