Home Blog Page 58

Side Effects Of HGH Use

By
GI Team
-

HGH: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Everyone wants to build muscle and lose fat, that is a given. It’s the reason we all attempt to either train hard or consume a structured and healthy diet. For those who are genetically superior it could be all they need to build up a powerful and well muscled physique. When it comes to other normal humans however, it’s not so simple or easy.

In the minds of these individuals, patience may not be an option. It could take forever to see results and that means more time looking or feeling weaker, something that individuals want to mitigate as fast as possible. No one wants to go to the gym to look like they don’t even lift. For these individuals, they may turn to performance enhancing drugs. There is a lengthy list of steroids and other hormones that can pack on muscle or get you shredded in a short period of time, and one of them is human growth hormone (HGH).

While there are certainly a large amount of benefits of HGH, it also has its downsides. Let’s dive into all things involving HGH.

HGH Overview

What does human growth hormone actually do to you? Growth hormone fuels childhood growth and helps maintain tissues and organs throughout life. HGH is produced by the pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain). Growth hormone is a key component in shedding body fat and building muscle. Some even refer to HGH as “the fountain of youth” as it has a reputation for keeping you young in a sense.

However, starting at middle age and continuing as you grow older, the pituitary gland slowly reduces the amount of growth hormone it produces. This is where supplementation or introducing ways to combat the lesser amount of HGH would come in. First, let’s look at some different natural supplements and methods to increase growth hormone.

Over the Counter Growth Hormone Supplements

Just as with something like testosterone boosters to counter the effects of low T, there are supplements to counter the effects of low HGH. Supplements like HGH-X2 from CrazyBulk and GenF20 are some top examples of HGH boosting supplements. There is also Nugenix GH Boost, which comes from a fairly reputable brand.

What these supplements do is stimulate the pituitary gland to naturally produce more human growth hormone. This results in being able to drop body fat faster, as well as put on and maintain more muscle mass.

MK-677

Ibutamoren, typically known as MK-677, is a potent, long-acting, orally-active, selective, and non-peptide agonist of the ghrelin receptor. It is a growth hormone secretagogue, mimicking the growth hormone-stimulating action of the endogenous hormone ghrelin. It is not approved for human use, however it has crept into the bodybuilding community, as people have discovered it’s strong benefits for putting on size and keeping body fat low while increasing strength.

Ibutamoren may seem attractive for your gym goals, but don’t be fooled. As well as the health risk, it is prohibited both in-competition and out-of-competition under the World Anti-Doping Code. It is listed explicitly in the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

The side effects reported with MK-677 use include increased appetite, swelling, anxiety, numbness and muscle pain. It also causes bone mineral density to decrease and causes increased fasting blood glucose and decreased insulin sensitivity.

HGH as a PED

While there may be many natural supplements to increase your HGH levels, many people choose to supplement the actual hormone itself in order to have all of its benefits. Sometimes, doctors will even prescribe it if they deem necessary.

There certainly are a ton of benefits to increased HGH levels. Besides increased muscle production and fat loss, you gain increased strength into the bargain as well as increased bone fracturing healing and overall bone strength. It also promotes better brain function and sleep.

But HGH can also have some nasty side effects if not used properly or under proper supervision. Let’s take a look at those.

Body Part Enlargement

Okay, okay, get all the jokes out now, but HGH is not just for growing muscle, it enlarges everything. HGH actually can enlarge body parts such as fingers and toes as well as lengthening the jaw. Skeletal changes can also occur as well as enlargement of the internal organs including the heart which can lead to cardiomegaly, a common cause of death connected to HGH abuse. It also is believed to be the cause of the abdominal distention amongst many bodybuilders, where their abdomen sticks out.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Another effect of HGH usage is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is due to the side effect of skeletal muscle increase, often time users have reported muscle weakness and an occasional uncomfortable feeling of a “pins and needles” sensation. This symptom is associated with those who take an increased amount of HGH.

Elephant Epidermis

Something else that comes out of increased HGH levels is the thickening and coarsening of skin. It’s a consequence of increased protein synthesis and while it may sound cool to have thicker skin, keep in mind that it can be considered a sign of overproduction of HGH. The combined side effects can ultimately mean that the life span of a person with an overabundance of HGH can be considerably shortened.

Strength Wars Movie

How to Naturally Increase HGH

While there are plenty of supplements and other substances that increase your production of human growth hormone, what if you do not want to take anything? What if you want to just increase your levels as much as you can naturally? Well, luckily, there are a few different ways to do so.

Here are some possible ways to increase your overall HGH production:

Wrap Up

Overall, human growth hormone certainly is something that is crucial for putting on and maintaining muscle as well as keeping body fat low. As you get older, your body produces less and less and there are supplements to combat that. However, many people turn to HGH in the form of a PED, which can have nasty side effects.

Sure, using HGH can definitely pack on a lot of muscle pretty quickly, but it comes at the price of risking your health. Occurrences like enlarged organs and skeletal tissue can occur as a result, causing an array of health issues.

What are your thoughts on HGH?

Let us know by hitting up our comments below or head on over to our official Facebook and Twitter.

Source: https://draxe.com/human-growth-hormone/

Every Winner of the Bikini Division at Olympia

By
Terry Ramos
-
bikini olympia winners

Here’s a complete list of all the Bikini Olympia winners. 

Women’s bodybuilding has continued to grow in the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro. It started with the Ms. Olympia division in 1980, then expanded to the Fitness class in 1995, and the Figure division in 2003. And a little over a decade ago, in 2010, it added the Bikini category for female competitors–for a total of 10 Bikini Olympia winners.

Of course, this division attracted a lot of spectators from both men and women. In addition, the Bikini division brought a lot of new female bodybuilding talent into the pool because this category focused less on muscle mass. Instead, IFBB Pro Bikini competitors are judged on balance and shape. And overall physical appearance–complexity, skin tone, poise, and presentation. 

Sonia Gonzalez became the first Bikini Olympia champ in 2003. Since then, of the ten competitors to win in the last 12 years, only two have won on multiple occasions, Ashley Kaltwasser and Angelica Teixeira. 

Maureen Blanquisco became the 2022 Bikini Olympia champ this past weekend at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort and Casino. Below we’ll go through a complete history of the winners from 2010 to 2022. 

Bikini Olympia Winners 

Winner  Year (s)
Sonia Gonzalez 2010
Nicole Nagrani 2011
Nathalia Melo 2012
Ashley Kaltwasser 2013-2015
Courtney King 2016
Angelica Teixeira 2017-2018
Elisa Pecini 2019
Janet Layug 2020
Jennifer Dorie  2021
Maureen Blanquisco  2022

 

Sonia Gonzalez (2010)

Sonia Gonzalez was crowned as the first Bikini Olympia champ in 2003. Her fellow runner-up and third-place competitors soon won in the following years. 

Nicole Nagrani (2011)

After winning third place at the Bikini Olympia opener in 2010, Nicole Nagrani beat out the reigning champ Sonia Gonzalez the following year. As a result, Sonia Gonzalez moved to the fifth-place spot. 

Nathalia Melo (2012)

Nathalia Melo won the Bikini Olympia title in 2012 after finishing the previous year as the runner-up. And Nicole Nagrani moved to second. 

Ashley Kaltwasser (2013-2015)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ashley Kaltwasser (@ashleykfit)

In 2013, Ashley Kaltwasser emerged as one of the only two competitors to win an Olympia title on their debut–Cory Everson conquered this feat as Ms. Olympia in 1984. No male athlete has been able to pull this off, though. Katlwasser also was the first Bikini Olympia champ to defend her title, and she became one of two women to win multiple Bikini Olympia titles, dominating in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Moreover, Katwasser holds the record for the most wins with over 30 trophies. 

Courtney King (2016)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Courtney King (@courtneykiing)

Courtney King stepped in and ended Ashely Kaltwasser’s winning streak in 2016. But, unfortunately, Courtney King retired from competitive bodybuilding after clinching the Bikini Olympia crown. 

Angelica Teixeira (2017-2018)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Angelica Teixeira (@angelicaht)

The 2016 runner-up, Angelica Teixeira, took advantage of King’s retirement and grasped the title in 2017. The Brazilian became the second athlete to defend her title, winning back-to-back after her victory in 2018. 

Elisa Pecini (2019)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ELISA PECINI (@isapecini)

Elisa Pecini interrupted Teixeria’s quest to beat Ashley Katlwasser’s three-year win streak when she became the Bikini Olympia champ in 2019. Teixeira received third place. 

Janet Layug (2020)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Janet Layug (@janetlayug)

The 2019 second-place finisher, Janet Layug, clinched the Bikini Olympia title in 2020. She had previously won other titles, but up until 2020, Olympia eluded her. Despite 2019 being her best year yet, winning Japan Pro Bikini, Asian Grand Prix Pro Bikini, Bikini International, and Arnold Classic Australia Bikini. Until this point, the competition was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the show moved to Orlando, FL, due to the pandemic. 

Jennifer Dorie (2021)

Janet Layug announced that she wouldn’t return to the Olympia stage after her 2020 win, making room for a new champion in 2021. The female bodybuilder to replace Janet Layug on the throne was Jennifer Dorie. She beat out the former champ Ashley Kaltwasser, who received third, for this title. 

Maureen Blanquisco (2022)

The reigning 2022 Olympia champ is Maureen Blanquisco. She recently became the new champ this past weekend (December 15-18, 2022) in Las Vegas, NV. Last year, she received fourth place. 

Wrap Up

The Bikini Division is one of the latest Olympia categories after Ms. Olympia, Fitness, and Figure for female bodybuilders. Adding that category brought more eyes to the sport and paved the way for more women competitors. The women in the Bikini division aren’t as muscular as the other female division. Instead, the competitors are judged on their beauty, poise, and muscular conditioning.

Sonia Gonzalez was the first Bikini Olympia winner. Ashley Kaltwasser has racked up the most titles, and Angelica Teixeira follows close behind. Maureen Blanquisco is the reigning champ after winning the division at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort in Casino that took place December 15-18, 2022. 

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as we continue releasing all the Olympia divisions winners!

Arnold Schwarzenegger Comments On Big Ramy’s Loss, Changes He Needed To Make: “He Could Have Won Again”

By
Greg Patuto
-
Arnold Olympia

Arnold Schwarzenegger recently had comments on Big Ramy’s performance at the 2022 Olympia.

The 2022 Olympia is officially in the books and champions have been crowned. Now, many have been making comments on how the Men’s Open division played out. This includes the greatest of all-time Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Men’s Open division was expected to be one of the deepest in recent memory and that is what happened on stage. Big Ramy headlined the competition as the reigning two-time champion. He was considered a big favorite coming in but that seemed to go out the window during prejudging. There were many who were a threat to the title, including new champ Hadi Choopan.

During a recent interview with Nick’s Strength and Power, Schwarzenegger discussed Ramy’s performance and what he needed to do in the offseason.

Big Ramy Hometown Kafr El Sheikh

Arnold Schwarzenegger: “He Could Have Won Again”

Big Ramy finished fifth over the weekend, being jumped by four bodybuilders who made improvements in the offseason. According the Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ramy only had to make slight adjustments and enter the same as 2021.

“He could have won again. All he had to do is just stay the same, the way he was, decrease his waist by one inch, and increase his calves by one inch. That’s all he had to all year long and he would have won again.”

Big Ramy has been one of the mass monsters in Men’s Open since he burst onto the scene. Nick Walker is in the same category of incredible size and conditioning. The division has become about size but Schwarzenegger believes that quality is still the most important aspect on stage.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mr Olympia Big Ramy (@big_ramy)

“What a lot of these guys do is they think bigger is better. Bigger is not better. Better is when you go and create more symmetry, more definition, more muscle separation. When you have a body where one body part does not steal something from the other body part.”

“For Example, when I saw Ramy, his double bicep from the front and back is awesome. But the deltoids now and the upper pectoral muscles that go into the deltoids, now when he lifts up are so enormous, it made his enormous biceps actually disappear. All of a sudden, his arms look smaller than they were. Why? Because his deltoids were overshadowing his biceps and his arms.”

The 2022 competition included many newcomers to go with veterans that are still at the top of their game. This made for incredible performances. Now, sights can be set on 2023 and another rendition of the biggest show of the year.

At the end of the show, Arnold Schwarzenegger credited the judges for getting it right this time around.

“The winners that they picked this year, I couldn’t even criticize one placing. As we all know, it’s a matter of opinion anyway. One could always say that Derek was better than Hadi or Nick was better than Brandon, that always goes on. The bottom line is that when I look at the top five of the Olympia, I thought that the judges really did a great job.”

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2023 Olympia Will Reportedly Return To Orlando During First Week Of November

By
Greg Patuto
-
Olympia stage

The 2023 Olympia will return to Orlando after being held in Las Vegas this year.

The 2022 Olympia is now in the books and competitors can begin to prepare for the 2023 show. According to Olympia President Dan Solomon, the competition will be returning to Orlando during the first week of November next year. The exact date of the show has not been confirmed but assumptions can be mad that it will be Nov. 3-5, which is the first weekend of the month.

Due to the pandemic, the Olympia was held in Orlando in 2020 and 2021. The competition returned to Las Vegas this year and was the site that saw an extremely deep group of athletes take the stage across the board.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by B&T, Est. 2014 (@bisandtris)

Along with the Olympia, the Masters Olympia will be returning in 2023. This is something that Dan Solomon and Olympia owner Jake Wood have discussed at length and decided to bring back. This competition will be held from Aug. 25-27, 2023 at the BT Arena in Cluj Napoca, Romania.

READ MORE: 2022 Olympia Bodybuilding Results For All Divisions 

Hadi Choopan 2022 Mr. Olympia Champion
photo credit courtesy of @dotsenko_gi

2023 Olympia Moving Back To Orland

The Olympia will be moving back to Orlando, which is the site that saw Big Ramy win two titles. This year, he dropped to fifth in what was an extremely entertaining Men’s Open division. Hadi Choopan catapulted into the top spot and was able to grab the elusive Sandow Trophy. Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker rounded out the top three and showed that the new generation of bodybuilders is here to stay.

In other divisions, there were many new champions crowned. Erin Banks (Men’s Physique), Natalia Abraham Coelho (Women’s Physique), and Maureen Blanquisco (Bikini) all captured their first titles. Shaun Clarida returned to 212 rather than competing in Men’s Open and regained his title.

Now, all attention can be put on the 2023 competition. Athletes will begin preparing their physiques for another rendition of the Super Bowl of bodybuilding.

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Gut Health: Why It’s Important in Bodybuilding and How to Optimize It

By
Terry Ramos
-
stem cell therapy and muscle growth

Gut health plays an essential role in bodybuilding. 

Many want to gain muscle and get stronger, but it takes work. You can’t build muscle effectively if you don’t have the proper nutrition or training program. One critical aspect to consider when building muscle mass is gut health. Research has found that chronic diseases like autoimmune disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are linked with poor gut health (1). A healthy gut microbiome is vital for your overall health and wellness, so this shouldn’t be taken lightly by bodybuilders looking for the best results possible from their hard work in the gym.

What Is Gut Health and Why Is It Important in Bodybuilding? 

Gut health is a term thrown around, but what does it mean? Gut health refers to the condition of your digestive system. The gut microbiota is the collection of microbes that live inside your intestines, where they help you digest food, absorb nutrients, and keep harmful bacteria at bay.

The importance of gut health for bodybuilders can’t be overstated. It has been shown that gut flora is essential in gaining muscle mass, losing weight, and feeling energetic throughout the day. 

gut health in bodybuilding

What Leads to Poor Gut Health? 

Poor lifestyle choices, such as insufficient sleep, alcohol abuse, and eating unhealthy foods, leads to gut health issues (2). Moreover, a lack of physical activity can also alter your gut bacteria (3). 

Chronic diseases like autoimmune disorders and IBS are linked with poor gut health. These chronic diseases can negatively impact your ability to gain muscle, which is why it’s so crucial that you know how to fix your gut health if you have one of these conditions. 

In addition, your gut health is essential in your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and determines how it reacts to different foods and substances. For example, poor gut health will increase the likelihood that the foods you eat will be processed into fat by your body. 

How to Fix Your Gut Health 

To fix your gut health, you want to examine your diet, sleep, and exercise regimen closely. In addition, probiotics, prebiotics (fiber), and anti-inflammatory foods are great for your gut health. 

  • Probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in your gut. They help with digestion and the immune system, and they’re present in foods like yogurt, kimchi, kefir, and sauerkraut.
  • Prebiotics: Prebiotics are the foods your probiotics eat that mainly consist of fiber. Fiber is found in whole grains, legumes (beans), fruits, and vegetables; it helps promote regularity by bulking up the fecal matter so it passes through your system better.
  • Anti-inflammatory foods: These include beans and salmon or other fatty fish such as mackerel or sardines; nuts like almonds; seeds such as pumpkin; cabbage family vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower; berries like blueberries or strawberries; and turmeric root.

Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals

gut health and bodybuilding

Eating smaller meals more frequently may help you digest food better and feel full for longer. It also contributes to overall health, keeping your metabolism high and your body burning fat. Try eating three or four small meals daily instead of two big ones.

Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important things to focus on when trying to improve your gut health because it’s when our bodies tend to recover from exercise and other stressors. 

Stay Hydrated

To help keep bacteria levels balanced in your system, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day. 

Reduce Stress

Stress also leads to poor gut health. So make sure you’re eating healthy, getting plenty of exercise, getting quality sleep, and doing relaxing activities to reduce stress levels. Studies show that stress can alter your gut bacteria, causing you to release metabolites, toxins, and neurohormones that can change your eating habits (4). 

Supplements 

Of course, there’s only so much you can do through diet and lifestyle changes to improve your gut health. And it can be tough always to consume the right foods needed for a healthy gut. That’s why it’s always beneficial to include a quality supplement for optimal gut health. A premium supplement taken daily will ensure that your gut stays healthy. Because we know life happens. And no one has a perfect diet. 

One gut health supplement we recommend is Inno Supps Complete Gut Health Stack. It’s a three-step approach that attacks every angle of a bad gut. The Complete Gut Health Stack comprises Inno Cleanse (removes toxic waste), Inno Gut Restore (renews gut health, relieves stomach discomfort), and Inno Gut Protects (repairs gut lining, supports long-term digestive health). Together, this stack will:

  • Substantially improve digestion
  • Prevent bloating and constipation
  • Aid weight loss
  • Increase energy levels
  • Strengthen your immune system
  • Improve your mood

InnoSupps Gut Health Stack

InnoSupps Gut Health Stack

This three-step approach arms you with EVERYTHING you need to transform your gut and overall health. Flush out toxic waste, flood your system with pre and probiotics, PLUS strengthen and repair the gut lining with postbiotics.
Shop Inno Supps

The Inno Supps Complete Gut Health Stack will flush out toxic waste and flood your system with probiotics and prebiotics. Moreover, it will strengthen and repair your gut lining with postbiotics. This gut health supplement stack is imperative for bodybuilders since it will help you reach your fitness goals and protect you from the damaging effects of poor gut health, such as difficulty building muscle and losing weight. 

Final Word

If you want to be at the top of your game in bodybuilding, it’s essential to consider the state of your gut health. Poor gut health can negatively impact every aspect of your life, including your ability to gain muscle. Luckily, there are some easy steps that you can take to improve your gut health and make sure that it stays in tip-top shape. This includes foods containing probiotics and prebiotics, such as fruits and vegetables, and yogurt. In addition, taking the right supplement will keep your gut health functioning at peak performance. 

References 

  1. Bull, M. J., & Plummer, N. T. (2014). Part 1: The Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 13(6), 17–22.
  2. Conlon, M. A., & Bird, A. R. (2014). The impact of diet and lifestyle on gut microbiota and human health. Nutrients, 7(1), 17–44. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7010017
  3. Monda, V., Villano, I., Messina, A., Valenzano, A., Esposito, T., Moscatelli, F., Viggiano, A., Cibelli, G., Chieffi, S., Monda, M., & Messina, G. (2017). Exercise Modifies the Gut Microbiota with Positive Health Effects. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2017, 3831972. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3831972
  4. Madison, A., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2019). Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human-bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition. Current opinion in behavioral sciences, 28, 105–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.01.011

How The Dumbbell Squeeze Press Can Pump Your Pecs

By
Austin Letorney
-
strong man

This exercise is something to really pump your pecs.

For those of us looking to boost our pushing power and chest strength, there are a multitude of exercises we can try in order to achieve this. Whether it be staple chest exercises, or those that are not as well known, the possibility for growth is amplified with the dumbbell squeeze press.

Putting this exercise into your routine will allow you maximize muscle growth and see those pecs really pop, something all of us bodybuilders shoot for. Its important to incorporate new exercises into your routine to constantly keep your muscles working. The squeeze press is a great exercise to work on confusion and really start to target those pecs to unbelievable growth.

What makes this exercise unique is the squeeze portion of the lift that works to create high amounts of tension in the chest, in particularly the inner fibers. Unlike the traditional dumbbell press, the squeeze press will see your hands closer together, so while range of motion may be slightly more limited, you compensate with enhanced hypertrophy for optimal benefits. A great exercise to target the inner and outer regions of your pecs, transitioning from the traditional dumbbell press to the squeeze press will be worth it.

Let’s take a look at the dumbbell squeeze press and see how this exercise can really pump up those pecs. From what it is, to muscles worked, and the great benefits surrounding this exercise, we’ll also show you how to perform this as effectively as possible so you see serious growth and a chest you can be confident in.

strong man

About The Dumbbell Squeeze Press

The dumbbell squeeze press is an effective chest pressing exercise that will work to seriously enhance strength and size in your pecs, as well as other upper body muscles. Since this exercise requires no real extra mobility in the shoulder joint, athletes love this exercise for it allows great growth with minimum pain.

While we all can bench and perform those traditional chest exercises, it is worth noting that performing the dumbbell squeeze press can reinforce proper horizontal movements, especially when it comes to pressing. The squeeze press is ultimately great at forcing you to train the muscle you want to stimulate by working on isolating it more than others to really push for strength and size.

Muscles Worked

What you get out of the squeeze press is a seriously targeted chest as your pecs will be the main muscle group targeted. With a focus on your pecs, you will start to see that strength and size appear in no time. Other muscles worked from the squeeze press are your triceps, serratus anterior, and deltoids.

strong man

Benefits Of The Dumbbell Squeeze Press

Increased Chest Strength & Size

The squeeze press will work to increase hypertrophy in your chest so you see that desired strength and size really come to fruition. Through increasing resistance and working to target your chest more than other muscles, ultimately, your pecs will have no choice but to grow. As you get stronger, you will see an increase in weight, leading to more confidence and that extra level of muscle building power (1). Pushing capabilities are more than important when looking to advance our training and performance and this will start to show you just how important it is for your bodybuilding progress or other sport specific movements.

Decreased Shoulder Pain

Given the movement and slightly less range of motion as compared to the more traditional chest exercises, you will see less shoulder pain with the squeeze press. As more fragile joints in our bodies, our shoulders sometimes need that little extra love in order to fully work to our benefit without feeling pain and growing weak, thus leading down the road to injury. Take advantage of the squeeze press and see the growth you want without the shoulder pain (2).

Allow Triceps To Work

Like many pushing exercises, the triceps do get work so you feel a bit of an arm burn as well. You most likely have paired your days up by pushing and pulling movements, so why not give those other pushing muscles some love when doing a great pec exercise. That horseshoe-shaped arm is just around the corner, but you need those well-balanced triceps to make it happen and through incorporating this exercise into your routine, you work the triceps as a result of the need to get that weight not only up, but as you work hard to squeeze the dumbbells together.

How To Perform This Exercise

Here are the steps for performing the dumbbell squeeze press:

To start, set yourself up like you are about to perform a traditional dumbbell press. This would be laying on a bench, feet around shoulder width apart and firmly planted. Your core will be engaged and the dumbbells will be in each hand extended over your head. For this exercise, place the dumbbells flat together. As you lower, keep the dumbbells squeezed together as tight as you can, as if something was between them and it cannot fall. As you drive through your feet, work to push that weight up as effectively as possible. Return to the starting position and repeat for your desired number of reps.

Wrap Up

The dumbbell squeeze press is a great exercise designed to really target your pecs and work to see that much needed hypertrophy we all seek. For those of us looking to enhance our chest day routine, the squeeze press is something that can be incredibly beneficial and work on not only growth, but also muscle confusion and challenge our range of motion, as opposed to the traditional dumbbell press. Look into placing the dumbbell squeeze press into your routine today and really start to see the desired growth you seek most. You won’t be disappointed by the results as you start to see that physique of yours shine.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Envato

References

  1. Uribe, Brandon P.; Coburn, Jared W.; Brown, Lee E.; Judelson, Daniel A.; et al. (2010). “Muscle Activation When Performing the Chest Press and Shoulder Press on a Stable Bench vs. a Swiss Ball”. (source)
  2. Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Women’s Health Watch (2019). “Ouch! Shoulder pain and how to treat it”. (source)

5 Stretches For Bodybuilders To Optimize Growth & Size

By
Austin Letorney
-
Bodybuilder Stretches

Don’t skip out on stretching and lose muscle growth.

Stretching is one part of a workout that is easy to ignore. For whatever reason, many bodybuilders jump into the workout, get it done, and leave without a second thought as to offering our bodies some relief. Or worse, we know we should stretch but find some excuse to leave the gym before our guilt takes over.

For those who want those big muscles and toned aesthetic but hold out on stretching and don’t bother, you’re missing out on the opportunity for big gains with your muscles in and out of the gym to aid in your overall bodybuilding and flexibility goals.

What stretching actually does is stretch a connective tissue, known as fascia, that surrounds your muscles and expands the space around them allowing for more room for your muscles to grow. So without doing a simple routine before and after a workout, you are only limiting the gains you worked so hard the last hour for. Forget muscle size for a second.

Stretching primarily aids in recovery and can help avoid injury while also aiding in range of motion, keeping you in the gym and not stuck on the couch. What starts as pain and tightness can lead to a host of unfortunate possibilities resulting in injury or worse for bodybuilders from a lack of range of motion.

stretching

With the ability to increase flexibility, range of motion and muscular strength, and avoid injury, stretching should be at the center of your pre- and post-workout even before touching a weight. That tightness and pain can be uncomfortable in the gym, limiting your body’s ability to work at maximum capacity, and can bleed over into your everyday life. Don’t let careless procrastination or a stigma stop you from achieving those gains. A simple static stretching routine can lead to you looking and feeling great proving to the naysayers who is in charge.

The Role Of Fascia

Fascia is a tough connective tissue that encloses the muscles keeping them in place in your body. Fascia hugs the muscle tight and can restrict muscle growth, hence why stretching is important. The best time to stretch is right after working a muscle group because the muscles are full of blood, pushing on the fascia and creating pressure. That tight, swollen feeling after a good set of bicep curls or a mean bench press is an example of this.

By stretching this muscle group right after training them, you add more pressure to the fascia, leading to expansion and ultimately big gains. Stretching is great for a pre-workout warm up, a post-workout recovery session, or mid-workout expansion to ensure you stay on top of your game and looking bigger than ever, either with static stretching or dynamic stretching, to help with posture as well.

Bodybuilder Stretches

Shoulder Stretch

Shoulder stretches are great for relieving muscle tension, pain, or tightness in both your shoulders and neck. As an important point of connection between your arms and upper body, your shoulders should be a focal point of stretching to keep you nimble and loose to really enhance your training routine.

This basic shoulder stretch starts with your right arm across your chest. With your left hand, pull gently toward your body and hold for a brief pause. Repeat by following the same idea for your left arm and this stretching exercise will work wonders for your training routine.

Another great shoulder stretch requires a towel or a band but can be really beneficial. Using a band, place your left arm above your head and grasp the band, letting it hang down your back. Grab the lower end with your right hand and slowly raise your left hand. Start slow with this and as you develop more flexibility, feel free to push it a little more. Repeat the same steps and switch arms with a comfortable position.

Bodybuilder Stretches

Biceps/Chest/Shoulder Stretch

This stretch is great to target your chest, shoulders, and biceps. As a focal point for many bodybuilders, these three muscle groups tend to take a beating in the gym and a good, solid stretch can alleviate much of the discomfort and tension that comes with working so hard and stretching for flexibility to promote better exercise.

A stationary object is required for this workout to enhance your training. Holding onto whatever object you are using, extend your arm. Rotate your body gently away from the object while keeping a solid posture. You will feel the stretch and it is important to not push it too hard. Only do what your body allows. Hold for however long you desire, but ideally around 30-60 seconds. Repeat the same process with the other arm muscles.

Bodybuilder Stretches

Triceps/Lats Stretch

Two commonly overlooked muscle groups for stretching are your triceps and lats. Triceps stretching can prevent tightness, increase circulation, and aid in flexibility. Your lats are the largest muscle in the upper body and stretching is crucial for injury prevention and increasing your range of motion for your muscles and exercise.

This simple stretching technique is great for both groups. Start with both arms extended overhead. Bend one arm down behind your head and with the opposite hand, grab your elbow. Gently pull on the elbow until you feel the stretch in your triceps and lats. Hold for however long you desire and repeat with the other side to really stretch your muscles.

Bodybuilder Stretches

Upper Body Stretch

This upper body stretch may seem silly at first, but it is great for giving that all around stretch. With nothing truly required except a chin-up bar, this stretch is more than easy and can give your upper body everything it needs for your muscles, like your back, to succeed.

Grab the chin-up bar with both hands and hang for as long as you desire. Try different grips and relax with your breathing. You should feel this stretch in the entire upper torso.

Bodybuilder Stretches

Quads/Hips Stretch

While the upper body usually gets most of the attention, you should never neglect your legs. Those two limbs that keep you grounded are vital and should never be taken for granted. For tight quads and hip flexors, this exercise is a great two-in-one stretch to really work your hips, lower body, and aid in better workouts.

Start in a kneeling lunge position. Your front knee should be bent at 90 degrees and your back leg should be extended behind you. With a tight core and glutes, gently reach back and grab your back foot, pulling it toward your hip. You will be able to go deeper into the stretch by relaxing and breathing into it. Repeat the same process for the other side and feel the great effects stretching has to offer for your muscles.

Wrap Up

While stretching may seem boring and potentially useless, it is quite the contrary. Stretching provides a host of benefits to your daily workout routine and will make you feel great. Whether it be injury prevention, increased flexibility, mobility, and circulation, or muscle expansion, stretching will allow those gains to be made with no extra work. Try these simple stretches pre- and post-workout for a warm-up and recovery, or mid-workout for that serious muscle size expansion we all work hard for. Start stretching and see those gains in action.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images Courtesy of Envato

Hadi Choopan Is The New 2022 Mr. Olympia Champion

By
Derek Dufour
-
Hadi Choopan 2022 Mr. Olympia Champion
photo credit courtesy of @dotsenko_gi

An impressive journey ends in a massive victory for Hadi Choopan – the 2022 Mr. Olympia champion.

Starting as a threatening Men’s 212 competitor who had trouble making his way to the United States only a few years ago – Hadi Choopan has won the 2022 Mr. Olympia. In what will be considered one of the most amazing journeys in modern bodybuilding history, Choopan has entered the small but elite list of Olympia champions.

The 2022 Mr. Olympia was hyped as one of the most impressive athlete lineups in recent memory. Some even note that it may be one of the most impressive in all of Olympia history. Hadi Choopan was a bodybuilder who had always locked in the top 5 of the competition over the last three years. Despite this, many counted him out for 2022 due to the massive amount of talent knocking on the door.

Instead of being knocked out of the top five, Hadi Choopan brought the best physique of his entire career, rose up above the new blood, and became the 2022 Mr. Olympia champion. His success is not only notable as a new champion – but as a bodybuilder who transitioned from Men’s 212. As proof that size and mass monster mega weight is not always what is necessary to earn the Sandow trophy.

RELATED: 2022 Olympia Bodybuilding Results For All Divisions

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Generation Iron (@generationiron)

Hadi Choopan Dedicates His Gold Medal To Women In Iran

After an emotional victory, Hadi Choopan was interviewed on stage by Bob Cicherillo, as is traditional for the Mr. Olympia champion. Choopan took the moment to shed light on the ongoing protests in Iran – dedicating his trophy to the women of his country.

Speaking in Farsi but translated by an on-stage translator, Hadi Choopan stated:

“I dedicate this medal to all the noble women of Iran and the people of Iran wherever they are and I hope… racism ceases to exist among us and that we can all be friends and be proud of each other no matter what country we’re from.”

Hadi Choopan’s Journey From Men’s 212 to Mr. Olympia Champion

In 2017, Hadi Choopan started making waves as a threatening competitor in the Men’s 212 division. Specifically, his battle against Flex Lewis at the Asia Grand Prix turned heads. Choopan lost but many believed that he should have won that competition. It was at this moment that his name filled every bodybuilding media outlet headline. He hasn’t faded since. If anything, he rose more and more in hype and fame up until this moment.

Fast forward to 2019. Hadi Choopan was dead set on making his way into the Olympia competition. But visa issues have constantly plagued his journey into the United States to physically compete. He was unable to make it in the past – and it seemed 2019 would be no different.

Instead, a last minute victory was received. Choopan earned a visa and arrived in the United States with only a few days before the Olympia competition. Not only that – but he was also set to shock the world in a different way. Instead of competing in the Men’s 212 division, he decided to compete in the Men’s Open.

At the time, it seemed insane. Many thought he would be demolished because of his smaller height and size. Instead, he earned third place. It was a celebration in and of itself. Yes, he would have made more money by possibly winning the Men’s 212. But the respect he earned as a high placing Men’s Open competitor was more valuable to him. Plus he had a plan. This wasn’t a one-off choice. He would continue to compete in the Men’s Open for the rest of his career.

After 2019, Hadi Choopan would rock back and forth in placing but always keep himself in the top 5. He became a real and expected threat. He was now one of the go-to pro bodybuilders in yearly predictions leading up to the big show.

It all clicked this year in 2022. Despite having new threats in the form of Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford (another former Men’s 212 competitor), Choopan didn’t falter. He rose up and earned his victory. He is now in the pantheon of Mr. Olympia champions.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Generation Iron (@generationiron)

Hadi Choopan Representing Iran With His Olympia Victory

Generation Iron recently announced the release of Generation Iron Persia. While the film focuses on a wide array of Iranian pro bodybuilders – one of its featured athletes is Hadi Choopan. The film chronicles his 2019 journey to compete and earn his visa. But it also dives deep into how much his Persian culture is vital to his identity as a pro bodybuilder.

Iranian bodybuilders have been on the rise since the 80s. The middle east, in general, has been producing fantastic bodybuilders. Oxygen Gym has been considered the modern Mecca of bodybuilding.

With this victory, Hadi Choopan has solidified the Iranian rise in bodybuilding. He represents the entire Middle Eastern region and the impressive bodybuilders who have fought hard to have a presence in the IFBB Pro league.

Wrap Up

Hadi Choopan has constantly improved. He brought paper-thin conditioning back into focus for the Men’s Open division – after years and years of criticism for bloated guts and soft physiques. He is now a leader of a pack of Men’s 212 athletes all transitioning into the Men’s Open division. He is proof that it’s possible to become a champion, not due to 300+ pound size, but with laser focused aesthetics, conditioning, and fullness.

Will we see Hadi Choopan as a repeat Olympia Champion? Only time will tell – but his consistency offers promise of future victories. However, fellow Men’s 212 competitor (and champion) Derek Lunsford is literally nipping at his heels. With a second place victory, Lunsford will surely challenge Choopan in 2023. We can’t wait to see that battle.

Generation Iron has been providing beat-by-beat coverage of the entire 2022 Mr. Olympia. You can see our full coverage of the big show right here. And make sure to stay tuned for more updates as we continue to cover the aftermath of this epic competition.

3 Big Takeaways From The 2022 Mr. Olympia

By
Derek Dufour
-
2022 Mr. Olympia
photo credit courtesy of @dotsenko_gi

The biggest 2022 Mr. Olympia takeaways after an exciting event full of shakeups.

The 2022 Mr. Olympia has come to a close and brought about a truly exciting event matching the hype behind such an impressive and massive lineup. We have a new champion in the form of Hadi Choopan and finally saw the Olympia debut of some truly anticipated names including Andrew Jacked and Michal Krizo.

Beyond Hadi Choopan’s massive victory, the top five placings in the 2022 Mr. Olympia signal a regime shift currently underway. You can check out our full coverage of the 2022 Olympia results across all divisions right here. But in this article we are going to discuss the possible insights this year’s competition has given us – and what it could mean for the future of this event and the sport as a whole.

Check out our three major takeaways from the 2022 Mr. Olympia right here:

1. Men’s 212 is taking over the Men’s Open division

While Hadi Choopan has not been in the Men’s 212 division for quite some time, it’s important to note that this is the division where he got his start. Just over four years ago, many fans and even experts scoffed at the idea of Choopan competing in the Men’s Open. His notable smaller size overall and his shorter height had many worry that he couldn’t compete agains “the big boys.”

Instead, Hadi Choopan earned third place in his first ever Mr. Olympia showing. He continued to land in the top five with each successive year – and now is the new Mr. Olympia champion.

But Choopan is not alone in this incredibly successful transition. Derek Lunsford landed second place at this year’s Olympia. That’s exactly one year after he won the Men’s 212 Olympia title. Let that sink in. Lunsford claims to have gained about 25 pounds of additional muscle in one year. A transition that fast and successful is often unheard of.

And let’s not forget about Shaun Clarida. While Clarida ultimately stuck in his lane with the Men’s 212 division (and earned himself a second Olympia victory), he was seriously considering competing in the Men’s Open division as well. This idea came after he competed in Men’s Open, and won, during the Legion Sports Fest competition.

We have no way of knowing what place or how well Clarida would have done in the Men’s Open this year. But his absolutely astonishing conditioning very well could have gotten him into the top five. It’s that same consistent conditioning that eventually helped Hadi Choopan earn his very own Mr. Olympia trophy.

Sprinkle in the fact that there’s an alternate universe where Flex Lewis didn’t retire and came through on his plan to compete in the Men’s Open Mr. Olympia – and you have four massively successful Men’s 212 competitors that could (or could have) made waves in the biggest division in bodybuilding.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Generation Iron (@generationiron)

2. Bigger isn’t always better

In 2018, the late Shawn Rhoden shocked the world by defeating Phil Heath and becoming a Mr. Olympia champion. What was notable about this is he outshined others who were much larger than him. After years of judges rewarding size, Rhoden won on conditioning and symmetry. Unfortunate events followed by his tragic death ultimately never allowed us to Rhoden compete at the Olympia again.

Yet at the time it seemed that the judges reset their course back to size – with Brandon Curry and then Big Ramy winning the Olympia over the next few years. The whole show seemed like a size game yet again. Which is why Nick Walker was so hyped going into this year’s big show (he placed third, by the way, which still shows promise for his future).

With Hadi Choopan winning the Mr. Olympia this year, he re-solidified that size is not always the be-all end-all to winning the show. Will this be a single drop in the bucket before someone like Nick Walker takes the throne? Only time will tell – but Choopan’s win sends a message to all athletes that size is not the only path to victory.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Generation Iron (@generationiron)

3. Nick Walker sets himself up as a future Olympia champion

With all of the focus on Hadi Choopan right now, it may be easy to lose steam behind the hype of Nick Walker. But there’s a reason why he won the People’s Choice award at this year’s event. His package was more on point than last year. His size was more impressive. He earned third place – moving up from his fifth place finish last year.

Of all the younger athletes rising up in the league, Nick Walker has truly pulled ahead of the pack. Most importantly, Walker is very young. If he can keep the passion and consistency we’ve seen – there is no doubt that he can become Mr. Olympia in the near future.

At only 28 years old, he has a lot of time to keep building and improving. Unlike many of the other athletes in the top five – Walker has a potential decade plus of peak competing ahead of him.

Every competitor wants to go into the big show aiming for victory or nothing. But this shouldn’t be seen as a loss for Nick Walker. This is a sign that he is here to stay and will be a threat for years to come.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Generation Iron (@generationiron)

Wrap up

It’s hard to believe that just over five years ago, we had the same Mr. Olympia champion for seven years straight. In the past five years, we’ve seen four new champions. This is a sign of true change in generations and talent. It’s an exciting time to be watching the sport and with athletes like Andrew Jacked and Michal Krizo just getting started – there’s much more excitement in store for us down the road.

Generation Iron Fitness Network will continue to cover Mr. Olympia post-show updates as they become available.

2022 Olympia Bodybuilding Results For All Divisions

By
Greg Patuto
-
2022 Olympia Hadi Choopan

Mr. Olympia 2022: The Complete Results.

The 2022 Olympia returned to Las Vegas after spending two years in Orlando due to the pandemic. Now, the event is back home and continues to grow.

The full 2022 Olympia results have been announced and it was highlighted by the Men’s Open division.

Hadi Choopan has been a threat to the crown over the last three years and has finally reached the top. He has been named the new Mr. Olympia champion. Derek Lunsford finished as the runner-up in his first Men’s Open competition. He made the jump from Men’s 212 and showed that he belongs in Open bodybuilding.

Big Ramy entered the competition as the reigning two-time champion but was put to the test immediately in prejudging. Many competitors, such as Brandon Curry who finished fourth, were in great shape from the start. Nick Walker improved his position from last season and finished third.

The Men’s Open division headlines the show with one of the deepest lineups we have seen in quite some time. It lived up to the hype this year and showed that the new generation of bodybuilders have arrived and are here to stay. Prejudging was very telling, with different competitors being placed next to one another.

The event began on Friday with prejudging in the morning followed by the announcement of results from six divisions. To end the night, the Men’s Open competitors took the stage for prejudging. Below, you can find the full results from Friday night.

Olympia 2022 Winners

Here are the first place winners for each division at the 2022 Olympia.

  • Men’s Open: Hadi Choopan
  • Classic Physique: Chris Bumstead
  • Men’s 212: Shaun Clarida
  • Men’s Physique: Erin Banks
  • Pro Wheelchair: Harold Kelley
  • Ms. Olympia: Andrea Shaw
  • Fitness: Missy Truscott
  • Figure: Cydney Gillon
  • Bikini: Maureen Blanquisco
  • Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
  • Wellness: Francielle Mattos

Mr. Olympia 2022 Results

After many thought he could have been crowned champion in 2021, Hadi Choopan came in just as conditioned in his best shape and reached the pinnacle of the sport. In his first competition in Men’s Open, Derek Lunsford finished as the runner-up.

After winning two consecutive titles, Big Ramy dropped to fifth this year. Brandon Curry had finished as the runner-up to Ramy in each of the last two years and ended up fourth. Nick Walker jumped into the top three as well.

Classic Physique Olympia 2022 Results

Chris Bumstead 2022 Olympia

The Classic Physique division continues to grow in size and in talent year after year. With plenty of young talent, a familiar name remained at the top. For the fourth consecutive year, Chris Bumstead has won the Classic Physique Olympia title.

During prejudging, Bumstead and Ramon Rocha Queiroz were paired up throughout. The top two was determined early and it took the judges some time to pick a winner. This continued on Saturday night as the group went through comparisons. Ramon Dino finished as the runner-up while Urs Kalecinski improves one spot from last year and jumps into the top three.

  • First Place – Chris Bumstead ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Urs Kalecinski ($10,000)
  • Fourth Place – Breon Ansley ($6,000)
  • Fifth Place – Mike Sommerfeld ($4,000)
  • Sixth Place – Terrence Ruffin
  • Seventh Place – Fabian Mayr
  • Eighth Place – Wesley Vissers
  • Ninth Place – Alex Cambronero
  • Tenth Place – Michael Daboul

Men’s 212 Olympia 2022 Results

Shaun Clarida 2022 Olympia

Shaun Clarida was qualified for both 212 and Men’s Open, after winning the Legion Sports Fest Pro in his debut in Open Bodybuilding. Clarida won this title back in 2020 and ultimately chose to stick with 212 in hopes of earning his title back — and that is exactly what he was able to do.

Angel Calderon Frias was able to improve upon his standing for 2021 and finish as the runner-up while Kamal Elgargni rounded out the top three.

  • First Place – Shaun Clarida ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Angel Calderon Frias ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Kamal Elgargni ($10,000)
  • Fourth Place – Ahmad Ashkanani ($6,000)
  • Fifth Place – Oleh Kryvyi ($4,000)
  • Sixth Place – Keone Pearson
  • Seventh Place – Kerrith Bajjo
  • Eighth Place – Felipe Moraes
  • Ninth Place – Bryan Balzano
  • Tenth Place – Dean White

Men’s Physique Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

Erin Banks is able to reach the top of the division and be crowned Olympia champion for the first time. It was clear during prejudging that the Men’s Physique division was going to come down to two competitors.

Brandon Hendrickson finished as the runner-up to Banks after a title in 2021 and three in the last four years. Diogo Montenegro was able to catapult himself into the top three this year.

  • First Place – Erin Banks ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Brandon Hendrickson ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Diogo Montenegro ($10,000)
  • Fourth Place – Charjo Grant ($6,000)
  • Fifth Place – Edvan Palmeira ($4,000)
  • Sixth Place – Kyron Holden
  • Seventh Place – Ryan Terry
  • Eighth Place – Corey Morris
  • Ninth Place – Ali Bilal
  • Tenth Place – Andre Ferguson

Figure Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

Cydney Gillon continued her dominance in the Figure division by winning her sixth consecutive title. In 2017, Gillon took the title from Latoya Watts and has not relinquished it since. She continues to be the class of the division and turned in another strong performance this year.

Lola Montez climbed into the top three and solidified her spot in the Figure division. Jessica Reyes Padilla earned second place after a strong performance.

  • First Place – Cydney Gillon ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Jessica Reyes Padilla ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Lola Montez ($12,000)
  • Fourth Place – Jossie Alarcon Becerra ($7,000)
  • Fifth Place – Natalia Soltero ($6,000)
  • Sixth Place – Nicole Zenobia Graham
  • Seventh Place – Stephanie Gibson
  • Eighth Place – Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
  • Ninth Place – Ericka Morales Morgan
  • Tenth Place – Nadia Bradford

Fitness Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

Missy Truscott is back on top after winning the show in 2020. Reigning champion, who has won three of the last four, Whitney Jones did not compete this year due to health issues. Missy Truscott finished as the runner-up last year and was able to regain her title.

Jaclyn Baker joined Truscott in the final callout during prejudging and earned her place as the runner-up. Arnold Classic champion Ariel Khadr rounded out the top three.

  • First Place – Missy Truscott ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Jaclyn Baker ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Ariel Khadr ($12,000)
  • Fourth Place – Sara Kovach ($7,000)
  • Fifth Place – Michelle Fredua-Mensah ($6,000)
  • Sixth Place – Tamara Vahn
  • Seventh Place – Michaela Pavleova
  • Eight Place – Minna Pajulhati
  • Ninth Place – Allison Kramer
  • Tenth Place – Terra Plum

Women’s Physique Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

After finishing as the runner-up in each of the previous two years, Natalia Abraham Coelho was crowned Olympia champion.

After winning in each of the last two years, Sarah Villegas finished as the runner-up. Brooke Walker rounded out the top three and proved to be a force all day long. Walker continues to improve her standing in Women’s Physique.

  • First Place – Natalia Abraham Coelho ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Sarah Villegas ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Brooke Walker ($12,000)
  • Fourth Place – Barbara Menage ($7,000)
  • Fifth Place – Ivie Rhein ($6,000)
  • Sixth Place – Jeannie Feldman
  • Seventh Place – Anne-Lorraine Mohn
  • Eighth Place – Melissa Teich
  • Ninth Place – Winsome White
  • Tenth Place – Marie-Solange Essoh

Ms. Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

The Ms. Olympia competition was back for its third year since a short hiatus and Andrea Shaw was looking to complete the three-peat. That is exactly what she did as Shaw continues to prove that she is the one to beat in the division.

The top four from the final callout during prejudging finished at the top of the standing Friday night. Angela Yeo put on quite a show during her first Olympia competition. She impressed during prejudging and was able to finish as the runner-up to Shaw. Helle Trevino finished third while Margie Martin earned fourth place in her final Olympia competition.

  • First Place – Andrea Shaw ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Angela Yeo ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Helle Trevino ($12,000)
  • Fourth Place – Margie Martin ($7,000)
  • Fifth Place – Branka Njegovic ($6,000)
  • Sixth Place – Michaela Aycock
  • Seventh Place – Theresa Ivancik
  • Eighth Place – Alcione Santos Barreto
  • Ninth Place – Chelsea Dion
  • Tenth Place – Michelle Jin

Wellness Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

Francielle Mattos earned her second Olympia Wellness title when it was all said and done. Mattos was crowned inaugural champion in 2021 and came in as the one to beat.

In the end, the top three remained the same. Mattos was able to win for the second consecutive year. Angela Borges and Isabelle Nunes switched position from 2021. Borges finished third while Nunes jumped one spot into the runner-up position.

  • First Place – Francielle Mattos ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Isabelle Nunes ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Angela Borges ($12,000)
  • Fourth Place – Kassandra Gillis ($7,000)
  • Fifth Place – Rayane Fogal De Souza Santana ($6,000)
  • Sixth Place – Giselle Machado
  • Seventh Place – Marissa Andrews
  • Eighth Place – Yarishna Ayala
  • Ninth Place – Leonida Ciobu
  • Tenth Place – Bruna Seredich

Wheelchair Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

Harold Kelley has won the Wheelchair Olympia for the fifth consecutive year. On Saturday afternoon, the best Wheelchair bodybuilders in the world took the stage for competition and it was Kelley who reigned supreme once again.

In March, Gabriele Andriulli defeated Harold Kelly at the Arnold Classic. Andriulli finished as the runner-up and has solidified his spot in the division. Antoni Khadraoui finished third during the event.

  • First Place – Harold Kelley
  • Second Place – Gabriele Andriulli
  • Third Place – Antoni Khadraoui
  • Fourth Place – Pierre Kavalin
  • Fifth Place – Adelfo Cerame Jr.
  • Sixth Place – Woody Belfort
  • Seventh Place – Tyler Brey
  • Eighth Place – Tory Jones
  • Ninth Place – Chad McCrary
  • Tenth Place – Bradley Betts

Bikini Olympia 2022 Results

2022 Olympia

This was a group that featured many former champions and a new one has been named as Maureen Blanquisco won the Bikini Olympia title.

Blanquisco and Jennifer Dorie, who finished as the runner-up, separated themselves during prejudging and it stood firm during the finals. Ashley Kaltwasser rounded out the top three.

  • First Place – Maureen Blanquisco ($50,000)
  • Second Place – Jennifer Dorie ($20,000)
  • Third Place – Ashley Kaltwasser ($12,000)
  • Fourth Place – Daraja Hill ($7,000)
  • Fifth Place – Lauralie Chapados ($6,000)
  • Sixth Place – Aimee Leann Delgado
  • Seventh Place – Phoebe Hagan
  • Eighth Place – Janet Layug
  • Ninth Place – Elisa Pecini
  • Tenth Place – Romina Basualdo

Official Olympia 2022 Scorecards

2022 Olympia 2022 Olympia

Results Olympia 2022 Olympia

2022 Olympia 2022 Olympia 2022 Olympia

2022 Olympia 2022 Olympia 2022 Olympia

2022 Results

Fitness

Men's 212 Figure Figure 2

Women's Physique Ms. Olympia

Wellness Wellness 2

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

1...575859...1,516Page 58 of 1,516

REVIEWS

RECENT POSTS

© Copyright 2021 Generation Iron Brands LLC, The Vladar Company