An inside look at the 2022 INBA PNBA Pro/Am Team USA and Las Vegas Naturals competition.
The 2022 INBA PNBA Pro/Am Team USA and Las Vegas Naturals took place on September 23-24, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV. It was one of the bigger events in the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA). And part of the “Road to the Natural Olympia” series of competitions. Teams USA allowed competitors to qualify for the most significant natural bodybuilding event of the year, Natural Olympia.
Generation Iron had a film crew on the grounds and got clips of athletes preparing behind the scenes and a stage recap of the event.
Team USA Standout Competitors
Natural Olympia elite competitors competed at this show. One of those natural athletes is Tamer Barakat, the 2021 Natural Olympia Classic Physique champ, who prepared well for this show. He made a massive shift to his training plan that allowed him to hold onto more muscle. Barakat cut back on cardio and extended his contest prep.
Team USA was Barakat’s first show of the year. For peak week (the week before the show), Barakat said he relied more on a caloric deficit and adjusting his macronutrients than doing intense cardio as he’s done in the past. Barakat said this enabled him to preserve more muscle mass for the show.
You can see a picture Tamer Barakat uploaded on Instagram comparing his physique in 2021 versus 2022 below.
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The change Barkat made in his training to prepare for Team USA made a notable difference in the muscle mass Barakat holds.
The reigning Natural Olympia Classic Physique champ Derek Joe competed at this event. Since the Classic Physique division heavily relies on posing for scoring, Joe focused on practicing posing for Team USA.
You can see Derek Joe practicing posing to prep for Team USA below.
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Other athletes that competed at Team USA include PNBA Men’s Bodybuilding competitor Peter Cichonski, Classic Physique competitor Henrik Edstrom, Bikini Angels, Figure athlete Veronica Malloy, and Figure athlete Hilary Grant.
Natural Olympia
Natural Olympia is the most famous natural bodybuilding show globally every year. This year it takes place in Las Vegas, NV, from November 10-13, 2022. The most prominent natural bodybuilding league, the INBA PNBA, hosts this event.
Natural Olympia gives out the most considerable cash and prizes. And competitors are thoroughly drug tested under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines.
This year, Natural Olympia will see 6x Natural Olympia champ Kiyoshi Moody returning after eight years of retirement. The 2020 champ, Meshack Ochieng, will also make his way back to the Natural Olympia stage. So the Men’s Bodybuilding division will be stacked. As Philip Rciardo Jr. puts it, it will be a “dog fight for the top spot.”
Generation Iron will have a production crew on the grounds to get behind-the-scenes footage and a recap of Natural Olympia. So stay tuned to stay up to date on the Super Bowl of natural bodybuilding!
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