The first month of 2023 hasn’t even concluded, and Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, a.k.a. “Andrew Jacked,” has already kept his schedule jam-packed. The eighth-place finisher at the 2022 Mr. Olympia has followed that sterling top-10 performance by diving head-first right back into his training and nutritional plans. Part of the former note is connected to Jacked’s recent reveal he would start some work with a new trainer, Chris “Psycho” Lewis. The trainer is perhaps previously best known for his time working with the late 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden. Judging by a recent update, Lewis possibly seems on track to unlocking Jacked’s full potential.
On Jan. 26, 2023, Jacked posted a photo to his Instagram where he’s flexing his ripped chest and arm muscles. Per a general perusal of Jacked’s feed to this point in 2023, it’s the first relatively comprehensive look the bodybuilder has offered of where his physique stands over the last few weeks.
“When the hoodie comes off … chest and triceps work! … Training seems to be going pretty well.”
With the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) on the horizon in March, it might even be a great sign of Jacked’s prospects at the major contest.
While there’s a stacked cadre of competitors on tap for the 2023 AC, that doesn’t appear to be an intimidating gauntlet for Jacked.
Sure, a field that, at this time, features two-time AC winner (2018, 2020) William Bonac, two-time Mr. Olympia champion (2020-2021) Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, and Nick Walker (another former AC victor from 2021) may appear daunting from an initial glance. However, in this case, if Jacked was going to capture what would arguably be the biggest win of his career in Columbus, OH, on Mar. 2-5, 2023, he was likely to have to topple a set of elite peers anyway. From that perspective, overcoming stars like Bonac, Elssbiay, and Walker might be a great fortune because it would speak to, and validate, Jacked’s meticulous work in his preparation.
The athlete maintained as much during a recent Jan. 25, 2023, interview with Muscular Development while breaking down his feelings about his new training regimen and setup. Jacked also works with Chris Aceto, an experienced bodybuilding coach and consultant with 111 on-stage victories spread across his clients over the years.
“I like working with people that go together,” Jacked explained about what lies ahead in his prep work for the 2023 AC and other contests in the calendar year. “I think things will be very smooth. He [Chris Aceto] said it’s cool, so I’ll walk with him for the Arnold [Classic] … Aceto, ‘the real technician.’ He’s a wonderful guy. Well, both Chris’s. I’m working with Chris [Aceto] and Chris [Lewis]. Both of them are amazing people to start with. Amazing. It’s all business and not brotherly or intimacy or whatever.”
It’s apparent Jacked’s ambitions seem entirely valid based on the focused, hands-on attention and guidance he is now receiving. At the very least, his pair of trainers give him confidence for the journey ahead.
“Even ‘Psycho’ [Lewis], I told him, ‘Bro, I need a drill sergeant, not a brother,'” Jacked noted. “And he’s [Lewis] like, he wanted the same, too. We train and we go. There is no time for chitchat, smiling, whatever. No. We are in this for business and that’s exactly what I want. Aceto is doing his thing, too, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, good, awesome.'”
A pivotal year in Jacked’s career could await him. He might have put himself on the map with respective wins at the 2022 Texas Pro and 2022 Arnold Classic UK, but it’s readily apparent he’s not satisfied with such an early highlight reel. To work simultaneously with two elite trainers and put one of bodybuilding’s most significant competitions in his crosshairs speaks to the legacy Jacked wants to create. He seems to desire to be special, and such a strong mentality goes a long way in a sport of intense commitment.
Featured image: @andrewjacked on Instagram
