The Delaware native will be performing at least one more routine when he takes the stage at the 2023 Masters Olympia on the weekend of Aug. 26-27 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. On May 4, 2023, Smalls gave the fans a sneak preview of what they could expect when he shared an Instagram reel of himself training biceps and triceps.

During the session, Smalls performed dumbbell spider curls, machine preacher curls, rope hammer curls, and lying single-arm triceps extensions in the clip. Details of the full workout weren’t shared in the caption of the post, but it’s clear that Smalls has been training hard and staying in superb shape since his last contest in 2021.

When he flexes those arms in Romania, he’ll be one of 19 pros competing for the first Masters Olympia championship since Dexter Jackson won the title in 2012. To qualify for the Masters division, athletes must be at least 40 years old. Here’s a look at the full roster.

• Vladimir Agrinskiy
• Slavoj Bednar
• Robert Burneika
• Maxx Charles
• Philip Clahar
• Kamal Elgargni
• Michael Ely
• Vinny Galanti
• Ken Jackson
• Rusty Jeffers
• Tony Lagrene
• Joshua Lenartowicz
• Sergio Lima
• Michael Lynn
• Marek Olejniczak
• Joseph Piersante
• Logan Robson
• Fred Smalls
• Ron Stevens

All 19 of those men will be looking to impress the judges enough to win the Masters Olympia title, a 2023 Mr. Olympia qualification, and $20,000 in first-place prize money. The top five finishers in the Men’s Open division will also take home financial rewards. The prize breakdown is below.

1st place — $20,000

2nd place — $10,000

3rd place— $5,000

4th place— $3,000

5th place — $2,000

Smalls turned professional at the 2010 NPC Nationals championships and he began competing in 2011. While his only pro win came at the 2015 Europa Dallas Pro in Dallas, TX, he qualified for the Mr. Olympia contest three times (2012, 2014, 2015) — his best finish in the sport’s biggest show was 13th in 2014. Smalls most recently returned to compete in the 2021 California Pro, where he finished in eighth place.

Featured Image: @ifbbpro_fredbiggiesmalls on Instagram

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One of the men in that 212 lineup is David Henry, who knows a lot about making Olympia history. He’s the first Olympia champion in the history of the 212, which dates back to even before the weight cap was 212 pounds.

Henry was a part of the lineup for the inaugural Olympia 202 Showdown in 2008, when the weight cap for the division was 202 pounds. That contest in Las Vegas, NV was the first time since 1979 that the Olympia had two different weight classes. Frank Zane won the lightweight and overall Mr. Olympia titles that year, before the classes were reunited in 1980 — the year Arnold Schwarzenegger came out of retirement to win his seventh Mr. Olympia title.

When Henry won that inaugural Olympia 202 title, he faced a lineup of contenders that included two eventual bodybuilding greats. Kevin English finished in second place — he would go on to win the next three 202 Olympia titles from 2009-2011. Flex Lewis placed third in 2008 and he would eventually overtake English to begin his own string of seven titles once the weight cap was raised to 212 in 2012.

Henry never reclaimed his title after losing it in 2009, but he’s been a mainstay in the division in the years since. As an active competitor, Henry most recently placed third at the 2022 Japan Pro and earned his most recent contest victory at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro. At 48 years old, he’s qualified to be in the 2023 Masters Olympia 212 lineup with its 40-year-old minimum.

The full 18-man lineup for the 2023 Masters Olympia 212 is below.

• Anwar Darwish Ali
• Masoom Butt
• Fernando Noronha de Almeida
• Ricardo Plata Duran
• Jim Everton
• Derik Farnsworth
• Ahmed Fawzi
• David Henry
• Milton A. Martinez
• Zohir Mihoubi
• Bola Ojex
• Jicheng Qian
• Jonni Shreve
• Steve Thayer
• Ryan Walters
• Wayne Williams
• Jeff Williamson
• Hidetada Yamagishi

Whoever wins this contest will make history as the first Masters Olympia 212 champion, but Henry has even more history riding on this coveted championship. The only competitor to have won both the Masters Olympia and Mr. Olympia titles is Dexter Jackson, who also won the Sandow trophy in 2008 — the same year Henry won his Olympia title.

If the United States Air Force veteran manages to take the win in Romania, his legacy in the sport may be even more secure than it already is.

Featured Image: @davidhenry_ifbbpro on Instagram

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On Apr. 25, 2023, an Olympia TV YouTube video featuring Jay Cutler and other bodybuilding figures like Terrick El Guindy, Steve Weinberger, and Alina Popa revealed the complete roster for the 2023 Masters Olympia. The overall prize purse for the participating competitors will be $229,000.

The headline division of the contest might be the Men’s Open class. Recent months have seen speculation about athletes such as Cutler, Johnnie Jackson, and Dexter Jackson (the last Masters Olympia champion in 2012) potentially joining the competition. As confirmed by this roster reveal, the seasoned veterans, who are in the midst of their respective retirements, will not feature at the 2023 Masters Olympia.

However, an established veteran and active titan in the main Olympia field, Kamal Elgargni, is now confirmed to be part of the Masters Olympia roster. Elgargni is most notably coming off a third-place result in the 212 division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He will compete in the Men’s Open at the return of the Masters Olympia. Elgargni may maintain this competitive set-up to prepare for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. The athlete previously clarified this would be his plan to stay consistent with his training and nutrition.

2023 Masters Olympia Rosters | Overview

Here’s a complete rundown of every division’s roster at the 2023 Masters Olympia.

Men’s Open

• Kamal Elgargni
• Logan Robson
• Marek Olejniczak
• Maxx Charles
• Michael Ely
• Michael Lynn
• Philip Clahar
• Robert Burneika
• Fred Smalls
• Joseph Piersante
• Joshua Lenartowicz
• Ken Jackson
• Ron Stevens
• Rusty Jeffers
• Sergio Lima
• Slavoj Bednar
• Tony Lagrene
• Vincent Galanti
• Vladimir Agrinskiy

212

• Anwar Darwish Ali
• Derik Farnsworth
• Bola Ojex
• Ahmed Fawzi
• Fernando Noronha De Almeida
• David Henry
• Jeff Williamson
• Hidetada Yamagishi
• Jicheng Qian
• Jonni Shreve
• Jim Everton
• Mason Butt
• Milton A. Martinez
• Ryan Walters
• Zohir Mihoubi
• Steve Thayer
• Ricardo Plata Duran
• Wayne Williams

Men’s Physique

• Adon Marcus
• Andrea Mosti
• Anton Antipov
• Byron Ross
• Arya Saffaie
• Michael Ferguson
• Myron Griffin
• Sharif Reid
• Terrence Teo
• Dajuan Freeman
• David Odom
• Everett Davis
• Everton Ribiero
• George Brown
• Harlan Taylor
• Joshua Petrecky
• Kenyon Leno
• Kevin Reeder
• Marcell Shippen
• Youcef Djoudi

Classic Physique

• Dawid Geler
• Dion Harris
• Ali Emre
• Esteban Smith 
• Darrem Charles 
• Alex Cambronero 
• Eric Perkins
• Greg Rando 
• Michel Perez
• Javier Martinez 
• Luis Garcia Martinez
• Kelvin Hinde
• Olushomo Oni 
• Richy Chan 
• Ross Caesar
• Vladimir Markov
• Shanti Mitchell 
• Peter Sciallo
• Thomas Connelly 

Women’s Bodybuilding

• Cheryl Mears 
• Abi Jimenez 
• Donna Salib 
• Evangelina Guzman
• Barbara Moojen 
• Jacqueline Fuchs 
• Marcela Venegas
• Dana Shemesh 
• Leah Dennie 
• Michelle Brent 
• Maria Segura
• Lori Conley 
• Silvia Matta 
• Vera Mikulcova 
• Reshanna Boswell 
• Virginia Sanchez
• Tananarive Huie

Women’s Physique

• Caroline Alves Dos Santos 
• Heather Grace
• Ivie Rhein
• Birgit Andersch 
• Jennifer Taylor 
• Alida Opre
• Candice Carr 
• Nathalee Thompson 
• Manuella Monteiro 
• Joanna Romano
• Larissa Araujo De Lima
• Lenore Gregson
• Stephanie Frederickson 
• Maria Liberman 
• Oksana Piari 
• Robin Mays 
• Uta Koehler-Spitzbart
• Susan Graham 
• Tanya Chartrand
• Suzanne Davis 

Figure

• Corrie Morales
• Dee Jackson 
• Dorota Ogonowska
• Georgina Lona 
• Jennifer Reece
• Alissa Carpio 
• Her Eun 
• Gina Palma
• Jessica Baltazar
• Jessica Reyes Padilla 
• Kim Clark 
• Martina Yabekova 
• Roberta Visintainer
• Larissa Penaloza
• Shelace Shoemaker
• Stella Miliani
• Veronica Gallego
• Zulfiya Bityeva
• Thais Werner
• Yelena Larina

Fitness

• Babette Mulford 
• Debbie Fowler
• Maria Laura Cerbelli 
• Marta Aguiar
• Minna Paljulahti
• Sally Kendall-Williams
• Stacy Simons
• Stephanie Jones 
• Tamara Vahn 

Bikini

• Aneta Szoltysek 
• Christy Brown 
• Geri Lara-Berger
• Ayleen Santander
• Gigi Amurao
• Angela Ruscilli
• Janine Herrera 
• Chelan Nour 
• Nucia Freitas Samo
• Elisangela Angell 
• Abbi Gaetano 
• Larissa Godoi
• Jessica Wilson 
• Michelle Hurst
• Susan Price
• Kerryne Henich 
• Merica Abbado 
• Nichole Guggia
• Patricia Lloyd
• Ruth Montes
• Nicole Jennifer Johnson

Wellness

• Carly Thornton
• Dani Treiger
• Anzhelika Ispodnikova
• Clarissa Sanchez
• Casey DeLong
• Joann Norwood
• Cinzia Massaro Clapp
• Elizabeth Williams
• Nerilde Garcia
• Flora Conte
• Houda Hmini
• Synara Santana
• Simara Walter
• Alessandra Pinheiro
• Liliana Velez Marin
• Oana Marinescu
• Nicollette Burns
• Tania Viegas

The return of the Masters Olympia means some of the more experienced bodybuilders in the sport get the chance to shine on a stage again. Who actually poses well and thrives won’t be determined until late August in Romania.

Featured Image: @ifbb_pro_kamal_elgargni on Instagram

The post 2023 Masters Olympia Roster Revealed appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Mar. 11, 2023, Jackson posted an Instagram video of himself working through an assortment of arm workouts, including a variety of biceps curls and triceps pushdowns. Just two days later, Jackson shared another clip where he performs various back movements, including seated cable rows and dumbbell rows. It is unclear if both videos were filmed the same day, but Jackson has an identical outfit adorned in each recording. Either way, they showcase a ripped Jackson seemingly powering through his training as he once did in his heyday.

It’d be impossible to parse any serious competitive intentions from two tidbits of Jackson getting after it in the gym, but his videos could be related to a pending comeback. With the 2023 Masters Olympia returning this late summer in Romania, the now-older Jackson would qualify for the hallowed contest. Notably, Jackson won the 2012 Masters Olympia — the last time the competition was held before its upcoming return.

A potentially lucrative prize would await Jackson were he to make a competitive comeback at the 2023 Masters Olympia. In late February 2023, the contest’s organizing body revealed that the overall prize purse would be $229,000. Jackson would also potentially not be the only older established athlete, past or current, to feature in the competition. Due to a younger age, seven-time Olympia winner Phil Heath must wait for at least two iterations, but former 212 Olympia champion (2019) Kamal Elgargni has stated his interest in potentially aiming for the Masters crown at 51 years old.

Regardless of his coming steps, Jackson’s overall resume has stood the test of time.

In the late-2000s, Dexter Jackson shocked the bodybuilding world. After the end of Ronnie Coleman’s mostly unprecedented Mr. Olympia dynasty run, Jay Cutler looked poised to follow in his footsteps. As Cutler vied for a third consecutive title in 2008, the then-three-time Arnold Classic (AC) champion (2005-2006, 2008) Jackson would topple the defending Olympia king. Jackson rising to the top of bodybuilding right as a new “Hulk” emerged might be one of the more legendary Olympia victories in the competition’s history.

To this day, “The Blade” is one of only four bodybuilders who have ever won at least one AC and the Olympia. The others are Coleman, Cutler, and Brandon Curry. Jackson is also the only bodybuilder to win the AC, Mr. Olympia, and Masters Olympia titles. Here’s an overview of the main achievements from Jackson’s competitive career:

Dexter Jackson | Career Highlights

• Arnold Classic champion: (2005-2006, 2008, 2013, 2015) — The record for the most AC wins
• Mr. Olympia champion: (2008)
• Masters Olympia champion: (2012)

Even if Jackson doesn’t return to a stage, it’s probably not surprising to see him continue to crush it with weights in hand. Icons like Jackson may retire from formal competition, but that doesn’t mean the fire to improve ever goes away.

Featured image: @mrolympia08 on Instagram

The post 2008 Mr. Olympia, 2012 Masters Olympia Dexter Jackson Looks Jacked in New Training Clips appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Feb. 28, 2023, Elgargni was a guest on the Muscular Development podcast with Ron Harris. The conversation saw the former 212 Olympia champion (2019) discuss his bodybuilding ambitions for 2023. In the process, Elgargni revealed that he isn’t ruling out the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia later this summer. The contest is scheduled for Aug. 26-27, 2023, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. With the competition returning for the first time in 11 years, this would be Elgargni’s first appearance.

At 51 years old, Elgargni is eligible for both the Men’s Open and 212 divisions at the 2023 Masters Olympia. (Note: Athletes must be at least 45 to compete under both classifications). At the time of this writing, Elgargni maintains he will compete in the Men’s Open to stay relatively consistent with his training and nutrition.

What’s more, Elgargni was frank about why he’d even consider competing at the Masters Olympia: he expects the prize money to be enticing. (Note: The show’s organizers have revealed that the overall prize purse is $229,000.)

“You never know what’s going to happen down the road but, yes, it is a good title [the 2023 Masters Olympia],” Elgagrni said. “We don’t hear much about it at the moment. We don’t know what the prize money is. I hope they do something good that makes people [want to compete]. At the end of the day, it’s a business. It’s work. It’d be silly if you’re spending more than what you’re getting. It’s a good title, but it should still be a decent amount of prize money.”

As for what else lies ahead this year, Elgargni is ruling out featuring in the Men’s Open at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Because of his perception that the judges favor size, he will stick to a 212 pursuit at the flagship competition instead. Then, after finishing up his 2023 AC appearance, the Tampa Bay, FL, resident plans to feature at the next Tampa Pro and potentially set his sights on the Masters Olympia.

Across the board, the athlete’s rationale was rather simple:

“I would love to do Tampa [Pro] again because I live in Tampa [Bay],” Elgargni said. “I would love to do it and maybe win it. To do the Olympia [Men’s] Open, no. No, no, no. I’m not thinking about the Olympia Open because the judges are not going to judge small, young, whatever they call me in the 212. Then, they’re going to judge mass monsters. If the way they judging changes, maybe you give it a try but I don’t think so. At the moment, I’ll do the Arnold [Classic], maybe the Tampa Pro in the Men’s Open, and then the Masters Olympia. That’s it. If everything goes well, I’ve done what I have to do.”

It’s been a little while since Elgargni stood at the top of any Olympia podium. In the event of a fruitful 2023, the superstar could find himself standing on two iterations of the podium.

Featured image: @ifbb_pro_kamal_elgargni on Instagram

The post Kamal Elgargni Keeps 2023 Masters Olympia In Play During Ambitious Year appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Feb. 23, 2023, the Masters Olympia announced that the overall prize purse for the 2023 iteration of the competition would be $229,000. Presumably, the money is in reference to what will likely be the showcase event in the Men’s Open division (ages 45 and up). At the time of this writing, it is unclear how that money will be divvied up in that category or, if applicable, amongst the other respective divisions.

In the last edition of the Masters Olympia, which took place in 2012, the 2008 Mr. Olympia champion Dexter Jackson won the Men’s Open portion. He would take home $75,000 for his efforts. For comparison’s sake to the competition’s modern return, here is an overview of the total Men’s Open winnings ($145,000) from the 2012 Masters Olympia:

2012 Masters Olympia | Men’s Open Prize Money

1. Dexter Jackson: $75,000
2. Toney Freeman: $35,000
3. Dennis James: $20,000
4. Edward Nunn: $10,000
5. Ronny Rockel: $5,000

If the $229,000 in 2023 is indeed only for the Men’s Open, that means the organization will have increased the winning incentive by $84,000. If it is the purse for the entire contest, it is unclear how both editions compare from a broad scale at the time of this article’s publication.

Here is an overview of the classifications for each division at the 2023 Masters Olympia.

2023 Masters Olympia Divisions

• Men’s Open — Age 45 and up
• Women’s Open — Age 45 and up
• 212 Bodybuilding — Age 45 and up
• Men’s Physique — Age 40 and up
• Women’s Physique — Age 40 and up
• Classic Physique — Age 40 and up
• Wellness — Age 40 and up
• Bikini — Age 40 and up
• Fitness — Age 40 and up
• Figure — Age 40 and up

Participating athletes who wish to apply for a roster spot in the 2023 Masters Olympia have until April 10, 2023 to complete a relatively simple process. They must email contest organizers a “letter of intent”, which includes their age, nationality, competitive background, and any social media platforms. In their submissions, athletes have the choice to include a video that is no longer than one minute. They can also include any images of their physique. A full list of chosen competitors will then be announced on April 24, 2023.

While much of the bodybuilding world will be understandably fixated on the upcoming 2023 Olympia contest, the return of the Masters remains noteworthy. Giving a platform to established veterans who want to compete on stage could be considered a quality step forward for the sport overall. When the official list of competitors is revealed, there will be a better idea of who might put on a show in Romania.

Featured image: @mastersolympiaofficial on Instagram

The post The 2023 Masters Olympia Will Award $229,000 in Overall Prize Money appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Instead, the winner of the “2009 World’s Strongest Professional Bodybuilder” title has since shifted away from posing to primarily focus on strength training — as one glance at his Instagram would indicate. That might change very soon. On Jan. 30, 2023, Jackson appeared in a podcast episode with Muscular Development, where he discussed upcoming plans. Over the course of the appearance, the seasoned pro elaborated on making a potential comeback at the 2023 Masters Olympia on Aug. 26-27, 2023, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

One of the main reasons Jackson says he is considering a comeback at age 52 is that he misses the thrill of competition. After spending so much of his life around high-level bodybuilding, walking away outright doesn’t appear to be easy for Jackson.

As for following through with any potential plans, Jackson maintained he hadn’t yet made any formal inquiries into competing at the 2023 Masters Olympia. For the time being, the idea of returning is more on the tip of his tongue — even if he has seemingly considered all of the possibilities.

“Nobody [the Masters Olympia organizers] reached out to me, and I haven’t applied yet,” Jackson clarified. “I’m mulling it over. It’s still in the works. I’m totally thinking about it. I mean, I miss competing like you would miss your left hand if it wasn’t attached to your body anymore … Honestly, I’m not one of those guys who is like, ‘yeah, I’m happy in retirement.’”

Judging by Jackson’s tenor and candor within this tell-all conversation, it might be harder to keep him away from the stage as time passes.

Sometimes an athlete just has to scratch their competitive itch.

” … I have to say, since they announced it [the 2023 Masters Olympia], each day more and more I’m thinking about it,” Jackson said. I figure by mid-February, I will be in or out. By mid-February, I have to say yes or no. More and more every day I’m leaning towards yes.” 

A pivotal decision in Jackson’s bodybuilding career awaits him.

He could elect to return and harness that competitive energy he notes he’s been missing. He doesn’t appear to have much to lose. At the same time, as he enters the thick of his 50s, there might not be too much of a rush to shift his life around on a dime again. Whatever lies ahead, he certainly has the current appearance of a man who wants to show off an elite physique again.

Featured image: @johnnieojackson on Instagram

The post Bodybuilding Fixture Johnnie Jackson Teases Masters Comeback at Age 52 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

The 2023 Masters Olympia announcement detailed that a full list of invited athletes for the entire roster will be revealed on Apr. 24, 2023.

To garner a place in the 2023 Masters Olympia, potential athletes must submit a “letter of intent” to an official email address — mastersolympia@mrolympia.com — that denotes their age, nationality, competitive background, and any personal social media platforms. In any submissions, athletes also have the option to include a video application — no longer than one minute) — and any images of their physique.

All applications must be submitted by Apr. 10, 2023. At the time of this article’s publication, it is unclear how the items in every athlete’s application will be evaluated for potential invitations.

Here are the age requirements for each of the respective divisions at the 2023 Masters Olympia:

2023 Masters Olympia Required Ages By Division

• Men’s Open — Age 45 and up
• Women’s Open — Age 45 and up
• Men’s Physique — Age 40 and up
• Women’s Physique — Age 40 and up
• Classic Physique — Age 40 and up
• 212 Bodybuilding — Age 45 and up
• Wellness — Age 40 and up
• Bikini — Age 40 and up
• Fitness — Age 40 and up
• Figure — Age 40 and up

In the last edition of the Masters Olympia in 2012 — which featured just the Men’s Open division — 2008 Mr. Olympia champion Dexter Jackson captured the crown. Jackson’s win came after the competition was absent for approximately nine years. Vince Taylor holds the most Masters Olympia titles, with five wins near the turn of the 20th century (1996-1997, 1999-2001).

There is no shortage of iconic competitors who could potentially pose on the stage in Romania in the Summer of 2023.

There’s Jackson, who technically remains the defending champion. There’s seven-time Mr. Olympia (2011-2017) Phil Heath, who stepped away from bodybuilding after a third-place result at the 2020 Mr. Olympia. He is evidently still keeping in shape, judging from his media presence.

There’s also Jay Cutler. The four-time Mr. Olympia (2006-2007, 2009-2010) did shoot down rumors of a Masters Olympia return in mid-October 2022, but those plans could potentially change in the coming months.

With a lot of time before the 2023 Masters Olympia kicks off, more concrete information — such as how fans can tune into the contest — will likely be revealed at a later time. Until then, some of bodybuilding’s elder statespeople can start earnestly training to show off their dynamite physiques in Romania next August.

Featured image: @mrolympiamasters on Instagram

The post The Masters Olympia Will Return in August 2023 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.