For Sam Sulek – slow and steady is the plan to win the Classic Physique race
Throughout Sam Sulek’s pro bodybuilding journey, many fans have wondered if Men’s Open would be a better fit for the viral superstar. After his 2026 Arnold Classic debut, the conversation arose again but Sulek shut down any hopes of a division change any time soon. In a recent video Q&A, Sam Sulek confirmed he still has work to do in the Classic Physique division before even considering a move to Men’s Open.
Sulek, 24, is more focused on maximizing his potential as a Classic Physique competitor. He recently placed eighth among 10 competitors in the 2026 Arnold Classic during his professional debut at the event that was held March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio. And is looking to focus on improving rather than changing up the entire gameplan.
“I get this question a lot,” Sam Sulek responded. “It’s like: How quick do you think I’m gonna grow? How easily do you think it is to put on 30 pounds of muscle? I’m still under my weight cap for classic.”
As long as he continues making weight, Sulek has no plans to move up.
“I would never move to open unless I, somehow, couldn’t make weight,” he said. “And I’ll always be able to make weight for classic.”
Seeking the Ideal Classic Physique Look
Sam Sulek then discussed his end-game look for his more than 4.46 million subscribers on YouTube.
“If we’re just describing what’s end-game Sam going to look like, I used to definitely think I was going to be a 300-pounder,” he said. “Like off-season, 300-pound Sam wasn’t even a question. It was gonna happen!”
Sulek isn’t quite so sure anymore, though.
“Now, I’m more like in the mid-200s. So, I guess we’ll see what happens,” he said. “There’s no way to know for sure, but it’s certainly not the plan.”
For now, Sulek said his plan is to “keep lifting and keep making gains, growing a bit, eat some food, stay a little bit leaner for at least a little while longer” and not undo his current dieting phase.
“If I went nuts, I could get back to peak-bulk-looking Sam body fat easily within about a month. It wouldn’t be that hard,” he explained. “So I want to gradually reintroduce food so I can get bigger but not pack on body fat for really no reason.”
Sam Sulek has been dieting after a promising showing in the Arnold Classic and was nearing the end of a period that he described as “slamming a bunch of fluids” to flush toxins from his body and fully rehydrate before resuming his workout routine.
Meanwhile, Sulek said he is in about the ideal physical shape for the time being, adding: “I should be right on the money if I keep going with a little bit of water restriction.”
Additional Bits of Advice
Sam Sulek added a few nuggets during a question-and-answer session with his YouTube audience, including:
- Peak-bulk Sam could probably beat lighter Sam in a fight.
- He recommends protein shakes for those who want to gain muscle mass.
- He will continue listening to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other accomplished pros to learn their insights.
- One of his favorite milestones during his young lifting career was when he no longer could touch his shoulders while flexing due to the size of his biceps and lats.
- Just getting up on the Arnold Classic pro card from amateur.
Another fan asked about his routine for developing his abdominal muscles, which Sulek said is not a concern. His abdominal muscles already are well-developed from his prior amateur athletics participation in gymnastics and while diving in college, so he doesn’t focus on further abs development.
What Is The Driving Force Behind Sam Sulek?
When asked about what satisfies him when going to the gym to work out, Sulek simply said that he enjoys it.
“The fun of the gym is the point. That’s what satisfies me,” he explained. “If I didn’t have any fun doing any of this, if I didn’t go to the gym because I just wanted to because I enjoy it, then I would never do it.”
He said it’s the same for most others who spend time in the gym, and none of them would do it if they didn’t have fun and didn’t want to do it.
You can watch the full video of Sam Sulek’s Q&A below:
*Featured images via Instagram @arnoldsports / YouTube Sam Sulek
