Kai Greene reacts: Can Phil Heath defeat returning Olympia champion Brandon Curry?
In a series of unfortunate delays and cancellations of big IFBB pro bodybuilding shows, one shining light has been the Mr. Olympia 2020. While postponed, the promoters are still insisting it will move ahead in December. Even more exciting is the fact that Phil Heath officially announced he would be returning to compete at the Olympia this year. But what does his old rival Kai Greene think of the return? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Kai Greene reacts to Phil Heath’s return and predicts what the clash between Phil and Brandon Curry will look like.
Phil Heath announcing his comeback to the Mr. Olympia 2020 is a big deal. If he should win this year, he will finally earn eight Sandow trophies putting him tied for the world record alongside Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney. Those are some big stakes for Phil and for Phil’s fans rooting him along.
It’s also important to note that the landscape is looking very different this year than it was the last time Phil Heath competed in 2018. While some might see Phil’s break as an opportunity for him to perfect his physique to something better than ever before – it’s also possible the break has put him off his game. How will he hold up against returning champion Brandon Curry?
Phil Heath after winning the Olympia Sandow trophy (above).
During our recent video conversation with Kai Greene, we asked him his thoughts on Phil Heath’s return. He also pondered about what the battle between Phil and Brandon Curry will look like in the finals stage.
At first, surprisingly, Kai Greene seems at a loss for words. He doesn’t know how to feel about Phil Heath’s return. He admits that Phil was always a great champion and so it’s exciting to see him compete again. But Kai also has some uncertain thoughts about what the world Phil is entering into.
Kai Greene goes off on a tangent about how much bodybuilding judging has changed since he competed years ago. He thinks that Brandon Curry’s big win last year is evidence that the criteria for what is the best physique is shifting. This always happens from era to era. Phil Heath just so happens to be in between eras at the moment. Many of the competitors Phil faced off against are no longer actively competing. How will Phil hold up against the latest crop of competitors? More specifically, how will he stand up against Brandon Curry?
Kai Greene likens it to apples and oranges (plus throws in a great Grapefruit joke while he’s at it). He thinks that both Phil Heath and Brandon Curry are different kind of bodybuilders. Their physiques are hard to compare. If both should come in the best shape of their lives – Kai’s not sure which way the judges will vote. It will come down to pure preference of aesthetic. The big question is – what preference do the judges have these days? Will they favor a 7x Olympia winning champion from nearly another era? Or will they favor a larger mass monster physique like Brandon?
Kai Greene ultimately doesn’t know which way they will swing the vote. It also largely depends on the kind of shape these competitors come onto stage with. With the world pandemic shifting life long term – it’s hard to even guess how well conditioned these athletes will be.
You can watch Kai Greene’s full reaction to Phil Heath’s Olympia 2020 return in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
