Some in the online fitness community may have had doubts, but Larry “Wheels” Williams is quite serious about transitioning to the Classic Physique bodybuilding division. The athlete affirmed these ambitions with a recent update.
On Mar. 18, 2023, Wheels posted two revealing photos on his Instagram to showcase his bodybuilding training progress. In the brief caption, the athlete asks rhetorically if he’s “looking classic yet,” indicating that the post is a teaser of how far he’s come in his plans. In one photo, Wheels has both of his arms outstretched as if to show off a seemingly lengthy wingspan. In the other picture, he performs a vintage pose of flexing both biceps.
In both images, Wheels tenses his abdominals in a vacuum pose — a hallmark of the Classic Physique division. It’s apparent from both images that Wheels has lost an undisclosed measure of weight while trimming down. Ultimately, the update is a stunning showcase of a transformation for a man far more known for his strength, power, and mass in the gym and in sanctioned competitions.
At the time of this writing, it is unclear exactly when Wheels plans to debut as a Classic Physique bodybuilder. The athlete has only previously noted that it would happen sometime in the year 2023.
That leaves open a bevy of potential opportunities to compete alongside athletes like two-time Classic Physique Olympia runner-up (2020-2021) Terrence Ruffin, 2022 Classic Physique runner-up Ramon Rocha Queiroz, Urs Kalecinski, and another newcomer in Andrei Lincan. Reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead is strictly focusing on winning a fifth consecutive title in the next iteration in November. Wheels would have to earn prior qualification with a triumph in another contest to feature on bodybuilding’s most prominent stage as a Classic Physique competitor.
Whenever Wheels does plan to compete in the Classic Physique class, it’s bound to be the culmination of a long and winding recent journey. After recent health developments like transitioning from steroid use to Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), a back injury that knocked him out of competition in the summer of 2022, and plans of starting a family, Wheels is staying ambitious but realistic with his fitness goals.
Being part of the Classic Physique category might have been the next logical step, given its potentially less strenuous demands on the body. Wheels’ last appearance as a bodybuilder was a first-place performance in the Men’s Open division during the 2021 National Physique Committee (NPC) Mid-Florida Classic.
Some athletes might tease lofty goals but, eventually, let them dissipate and fall by the wayside. This potential outcome clearly couldn’t be further from the case for Wheels, whose hype for the Classic Physique division continues to build.
Featured image: @larrywheels on Instagram
