As for Labrada, the former fourth-place finisher (2021) at the Olympia can now begin his preparation for the Orlando, FL, contest this November in earnest. After a disappointing seventh-place result at the 2022 Olympia, Labrada had promised his best in a tour of redemption. With recent rigid training updates and this Tampa Pro victory, he appears to be making good on his word. A video below, courtesy of Mitchell Gilbert (@gilcoproductions on Instagram), features Labrada posing on stage at the 2023 Tampa Pro.

Here are the final standings for every division featured at the 2023 Tampa Pro:

Men’s Open

1. Hunter Labrada
2. Jonathan DeLaRosa
3. Lewis Breed
4. Joel Thomas 
5. Brady King 
6. Roy Evans 
7. Nathan Spear 
8. Fred Smalls 

212

1. Fabricio de Souza Moreira
2. Mohamed Embaby
3. Diego Montoya
4. Jason Nguyen
5. Robert Taylor
6. Kevin Johnson 
7. Toto Djong
8. Yumon Eaton
9. Leland DeVaughn Jr.
10. David Robinson
11. Pedro Encinosa
12. Isaiah Hawthorne*
13. Rachid Souki*

*Tied

Classic Physique

1. Matthew Greggo 
2. Carlos Dommar 
3. Robert Waterhouse 
4. Lucas Giaianni 
5. Camilio Diaz Garzon 
6. Jerark Toribio Perez 
7. Dino Estrada 
8. Jared Thompson
9. Caleb Walker 
10. Peter Sciallo 
11. Ivan Cabrera 
12. Logan Guthrie 
13. Amit Roy 
14. Lucas di Santi 
15. Kelvin Hinde 

Tied for 16th place:

• Krimo Ammari 
• Dylan Bursey 
• Rodrigo Coelho 
• Billy Danh 
• Corelle Draper 
• Keith Holmes 
• Christopher Mensah 
• Eslam Mohamed 
• Jesse Norris 
• Antwoine Powers 
• Caleb Robinson 
• Bennett Streets
• George Thibault

Men’s Physique

1. Arya Saffaie
2. Jeremiah Maxey
3. Alexander Toplyn
4. Kimani Victor
5. Deke Walker
6. John Stanley Sarmiento
7. Aroldson Etienne
8. Jemiase (Jay) Riggins
9. Steven Cao
10. Burak King

Women’s Bodybuilding

1. Michaela Aycock
2. Nicki Chartrand
3. Theresa Ivancik
4. Kyna Squarey
5. Julia Foery
6. Selyka Givan
7. Cristina Arellano Goy
8. Taylor Iraggi
9. Patty Corbett
10. Gabriela Pena De La Vega

Women’s Physique

1. Jeannie Feldman
2. Ivie Rhein
3. Robyn Mays
4. Mikaela Lindsey
5. Marika Jones
6. Heather Rigsby
7. Isabelle Jackson
8. Daphney Holmes
9. Kristyn Lia
10. Patricia Pizarro

Figure

1. Queren Pacheco
2. Oyku Basar
3. Lena Ramsteiner
4. Mariafernanda Laguna
5. Danielle Rose
6. Tamera Barrett
7. Corrie Morales
8. Edith Driver
9. Jennifer Johnson
10. Zulfiya Bitiyeva

Fitness

1. Allison Kramer
2. Aurika Tyrgale
3. Kristin Pope
4. Stacy Dawn
5. Anna Fomina
6. Stephanie Jones
7. Michelle Gales
8. Donnice Chow
9. Danielle Chikeles
10. Eileen Thomas

Bikini

1. Ashlynn Little
2. Arianna Brothers
3. Tatiana Lanovenko
4. India Paulino
5. Jordan Brannon
6. Liana Giannamore
7. Tamekia Carter
8. Sandra Merlo
9. Lauren Dannenmiller
10. Mary Ann Parks

Wellness

1. Rayane Fogal
2. Andrea Hrenko
3. Marissa Andrews
4. Quintaysia Goodley
5. Angela White
6. Devyn Cambre
7. Maria Paulette
8. Luz Stella Abinuman
9. Yami Partridge
10. Kim O’Connell

The 2023 Texas Pro is the next major IFBB contest on the calendar to look forward to for any athletes still seeking 2023 Olympia qualification. It will take place on August 19, 2023, in Arlington, TX.

Featured image: @gilcoproductions on Instagram

The post 2023 Tampa Pro Results — Hunter Labrada Wins appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 23, 2023, in one of the latest episodes of his podcast, Cutler broke down where he believes the current Men’s Open division stands before the onset of the 2023 Olympia this early November. To say the least, in a conversation with his manager Matthew M. Daniels, the icon maintained he has his eyes on a few familiar names and didn’t mince words about potential upstarts.

While Cutler didn’t offer specific thoughts on every prime Mr. Olympia competitor  — Nick Walker was mentioned in passing but not expanded upon — he did mostly touch every corner of the elite bodybuilders of the Men’s Open class. Here are some of Cutler’s thoughts on what’s sure to be a loaded Mr. Olympia stage in Orlando, FL:

Michal “Križo” Križánek

Cutler was impressed by Michal Križánek’s recent progress but still felt he hadn’t closed the gap enough on the other athletes.

“He [Križánek] was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body,” Cutler said. “The arms are some of the best in the business, and it’s looked like he made improvements, which, I think he did improve from his prior showings. But I don’t know if he came down in size a little bit to gather the condition. I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the [2023] Olympia.”

Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda

To some, after his runner-up Mr. Olympia finish in 2022, Derek Lunsford is the next heir-apparent superstar in bodybuilding. Cutler seems to be one of those people. However, after a recent mutual training session, Cutler ensured he talked up 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner Samson Dauda as a possible Olympia champion in his own right.

“We just saw Derek [Lunsford] and Samson [Dauda], too,” Cutler said. “They trained together a couple days ago and Derek looks tremendous, which he always has, and Samson looks tremendous, which he has for the past few years. Obviously, he’s the Arnold [Classic] winner. The question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold [Classic], and we could keep talking about that.”

Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry

Cutler believes that two established titans, Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry, have somewhat been overlooked in the popular conversation. That might be a mistake for the defending Olympia champion (Choopan) and the 2019 victor (Curry).

“Contention-wise, Hadi’s [Choopan] been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me,'” Cutler explained. “We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”

Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

After falling short of a “three-peat” in his Olympia title defense, there have been rumblings that Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay could take a break from bodybuilding to recharge. The Egyptian dynamo has quelled these conversations, maintaining that he’s training “angry” for Olympia redemption in the fall. Cutler believes this is the right mentality to have because:

1. Elssbiay doesn’t have time to waste as he nears the age of 40 and
2. Cutler thinks that Elssbiay, at his best, can still win the Olympia.

“Ramy [Elssbiay] sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for,” Cutler said ” … The point is he [Elssbiay] just needs to regroup and do what he does best and come in the best of his ability. There’s no real timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take a few years off. I hear his health is really great. I hear his training is really great. He’s had some atrophy compared to years prior on the arms, triceps, I think he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. But he looked great at the [2023] Arnold [Classic].”

Chinedu Obiekea aka “Andrew Jacked” and Hunter Labrada

Andrew Jacked finished on the podium at the 2023 AC and has already mapped out ambitious summer competitive plans as a way to qualify for the 2023 Olympia. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada is in hot pursuit of his own Olympia redemption with a streamlined training plan.

Cutler said he liked the duo’s talent but colored his commentary as if he still needed to see more from both athletes.

“I hear great things about Andrew [Jacked], too,” Cutler stated. “The big showdown is going to be Texas [the 2023 Texas Pro]. There’s going to be other guys, too. I know there’s a lot of international shows, but that’s going to be, like, who’s not going to qualify there [in Texas]. Those two guys [Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada] need to be in the [Olympia] lineup because they’re people we’re talking about. The question is, can Andrew come and win the [2023] Olympia and shock the world?”

More than most years, the 2023 Mr. Olympia is starting to resemble a relentless gauntlet from which only a true champion of champions will come out victorious. If an icon like Cutler professes so, such a competitive reality feels inevitable.

Featured image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram

The post Jay Cutler Names 8 of His Favorite 2023 Mr. Olympia Contenders appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 7, 2023, Labrada posted a video to his Instagram channel where he runs through a gamut of standard bodybuilding poses to show off his current physique. Given a simultaneously stacked and ripped look for one of the more prominent names in the sport, whatever Labrada is doing in the gym and in the kitchen seems to be working quite well thus far.

Per the caption of Labrada’s post, he maintained he’s staying more diligent than usual with his regimen. As the 2023 bodybuilding season heats up, the athlete said he’s keeping a keen eye over his look on a daily basis. He even detailed some notable shifts to his diet, especially as he centers less on mass-building.

Like his peer in reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion (2019-2022) Chris Bumstead, Labrada also seems to appreciate his eating less as a path to improved sleep. It looks like a world of fitness possibilities has opened for Labrada now that he doesn’t have to worry about fitting another meal into his overall schedule.

“One of the biggest changes I want to highlight is I went from six meals a day to five!” Labrada explained. “The reason: I get two hours more of sleep! I found myself just staying up to eat a lot recently, and now that the food was low enough for it not to mess with my digestion, I told [Ben Chow, Labrada’s trainer] I wanted to give it a try and I’m glad I did! The meals are more satiating, and I’m recovering even better with the extra sleep!”

Before Labrada can even conceive of an improved Olympia performance in Orlando, FL, this November, he must first earn his qualification. At the start of 2023, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) changed the Olympia qualification system for all divisions. The shift necessitates only past winners and top-five finishers from the previous Olympia iteration possess roster spots by default.

By virtue of his seventh-place result from 2022, Labrada is on the outside looking in for the time being. In what perhaps further signifies his mentality this year, Labrada plans to compete in both the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro on August 18-19 in Arlington, TX, and the 2023 Tampa Pro on August 3-5 in Tampa Bay, FL. Labrada will have to win at least one of the contests to secure his place at the 2023 Olympia. Nonetheless, he could understandably have the lofty ambition to triumph in both.

In the current pantheon of Men’s Open bodybuilders, Labrada has a lot of work to catch up to some of his superstar peers, like defending Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan and the 2022 runner-up in Derek Lunsford. At the very least, he seems to understand precisely how to fill in any gaps — by working as hard as possible.

Featured image: @hunterlabrada on Instagram

The post Hunter Labrada Looks Shredded Before Taking on 2023 Texas Pro and 2023 Tampa Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On May 23, 2023, Labrada shared an Instagram clip of himself capturing a 265.3-kilogram (585-pound) deadlift for four reps. According to the caption of his post, the four-rep pulling set is a lifetime personal record (PR) for Labrada. The bodybuilder completed his deadlift reps in his socks while wearing a lifting belt and utilizing lifting straps.

This deadlift four-rep PR isn’t the only instance of Labrada staying true to his training word so he can have a better performance at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. If anything, making a foray into polishing up his strength as a bodybuilder could be seen as Labrada going above and beyond.

In early February 2023, Labrada clarified that he would be aiming for a more streamlined physique moving forward in his career. His goal is now more about his body aesthetic and being a bit more ripped rather than focusing on sheer size. More recently, Labrada detailed his current pull workout while training for the 2023 Tampa Pro, set to take place on Aug. 3-5, 2023, in Tampa Bay, FL. Because of new qualification standards for the 2023 Mr. Olympia that only give past winners and top-five finishers automatic berths, Labrada will have to win a contest like the Tampa Pro to compete in November’s Olympia.

On stage, Labrada was one of the many Men’s Open contenders present to guest pose at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro in mid-May 2023. The other athletes like Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay are examples of rivals Labrada will attempt to overcome at the 2023 Olympia in Orlando, FL, this November.

In such a stacked overall Men’s Open field, anyone distinguishing themselves at the 2023 Olympia, let alone Labrada himself, could be a very challenging task. Based on the ongoing approach to his training during the 2023 calendar year, Labrada appears to be taking extra steps to try and stick out accordingly.

Featured image: @hunterlabrada on Instagram

The post Hunter Labrada Deadlifts 265.3 Kilograms (585 Pounds) for 4-Rep PR appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On May 12-13, 2023, while champions like Michael Daboul (Classic Physique) were crowned during the official Pittsburgh Pro, Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida all guest-posed during the contest. The only notable absence, especially in the current Men’s Open pantheon, was defending Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan. With nothing officially on the line for the slate of elite competitors, these six men still appeared on stage to tease how their sterling physiques are coming along for the 2023 Mr. Olympia in Orlando, FL, this early November.

Amongst the guest posers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, Lunsford might be the presumed biggest contender to Choopan’s title. Lunsford is in the midst of training to improve upon a runner-up result in his first-ever appearance in the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. One of Lunsford’s main rivals, Nick Walker, believes the former 212 champion (2021) should be favored to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman has also expressed his faith in Lunsford, anointing him as one of the next big things in the sport after a recent collaborative training session.

Walker’s faith in Lunsford is notable, given his status as one of bodybuilding’s top modern stars. Walker finished in third place at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and followed that up with a runner-up result at the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC). If anyone finally seems poised to break through from this field, it might be Walker.

Meanwhile, the 2023 AC victor, Samson Dauda, has started to receive hype as a legitimate Olympia titan. Icons like Jay Cutler have expressed that Dauda could be one of bodybuilding’s next big stars. It’s a label of high expectations that Dauda has not taken lightly. There’s also Elssbiay, who is coming off a disappointing sixth-place result at the 2022 Mr. Olympia after vying for a historic three-peat. The former two-time defending Olympia champion (2021, 2022) had previously skipped guest-posing at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro and now appeared to be trying to build momentum toward another Olympia victory this November.

Labrada is in a similar position to Elssbiay, though he doesn’t have the resume of past Olympia victories to lean on. The athlete has expressed profound disappointment in his 2022 Olympia performance and vowed to have a more streamlined physique in 2023 in hopes of a huge rebound.

To round out this guest-posing group, Clarida, a two-time 212 champion (2020, 2022), will not be competing in the Men’s Open division at the 2023 Olympia. The athlete wishes to eventually break James “Flex” Lewis’s record of seven 212 Olympia titles (2012-2018) and will exclusively focus his efforts on that mission moving forward.

Discerning the precise favorites for the 2023 Mr. Olympia would likely be impossible off one guest-posing appearance. Nonetheless, some of the top contenders for the tentpole contest made it a point to appear in Pittsburgh and show off what they might bring to the table in November.

With that, one of the unofficial first significant steps en route to this year’s Olympia is now in the rearview mirror.

Featured image: dereklunsford_ on Instagram

The post Derek Lunsford and Other Olympia Contenders Display Their Off-Season Mass Guest-Posing at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Labrada has openly shared his prep with fans and followers, as he did on a recent pull session workout published on his YouTube channel on May 8, 2023. He was 16 weeks out of the Tampa contest when that workout was filmed. Check it out below:

This was the first workout of Labrada’s contest prep. His back and hamstrings were the focus of this workout. The volume for his first few training sessions during this prep is higher than he is typically accustomed to and will decrease the volume as the contest approaches.

Seated Machine Row

Labrada started with a Rogers brand seated row machine. His heaviest set was with five 45-pound weight plates and a 25-pound plate on each side. By the last set, he was down to four 45s per side. Portions of three sets were shown, with the final one apparently a rest-pause set.

Why He Does It: Labrada started with a heavy rowing movement to help develop back thickness, specifically in his lower lats. This helps him increase his overall width and make his waist appear smaller.

How to Do It: Sit on a machine and position yourself so a stretch is necessary to grip the handles. Sit straight and tall with the handles in hand and arms outstretched. Pull the handles in toward the chest by contracting lats as the scapulae are depressed and engaged. Squeeze and hold this position briefly before easing the handles back to the starting position. Allow the lats to stretch before performing the next rep. 

Neutral Grip Lat Pulldown

The 2021 Chicago Pro winner moved to a lat pulldown for his second exercise. He attached two single handles to a connecting bar and sat on an adjustable bench with his chest against the back pad. Portions of three sets were shown, but the fourth one was shown in its entirety. Labrada performed 10 reps plus one assisted rep.

Why He Does It: Even though Labrada pulled in a different direction, his target for the second movement was also the lower lats. It’s likely he feels the need to bring up his lower lats because he devoted his first two movements of the session to them.

How to Do It: Position an adjustable bench with the back pad on the highest position next to a pulldown station. Grab the handles and sit on the bench with the chest on the back pad. Pull the handle down towards your upper chest by contracting the lats.

Squeeze and hold this position for a moment before releasing the tension slowly. There should be a stretch in the lats without allowing the pinned weight to touch the stack.

High Seated Machine Row

Labrada’s third back movement was another seated row but on a Magnum machine with multiple handles. He used two of them, with the majority of the reps performed with an underhand grip. This exercise biased the upper back.

Why He Does It: Labrada targeted the upper lats, rear delts, and rhomboids, and his underhand grip allowed him to pull farther back.

How to Do It: Sit on the machine and grab the handles with the preferred grip. The arms should be able to stretch while holding the handles without the pinned weight touching the weight stack. Pull the handles in and contract by drawing the elbows back. After a brief hold, allow the arms to return to the starting position. Repeat for the desired reps.

Lat Pulldown Machine

Labrada’s fourth movement was similar to his second as it was another lat pulldown. He used an overhand grip while lying back at an angle and pulling towards his chest, biasing the mid-back.

Why He Does It: The Nautilus machine Labrada used targeted his mid-to-upper back. That is a vital area for muscle separation as a back double biceps pose for the judges is a requisite in competition.

How to Do It: If you don’t have access to a Nautilus machine, a traditional lat pulldown station will work. Sit with the knees under the knee pads while holding the handles for the machine or attachment if on a cable station. Drive the elbows down and pull the handle towards the shoulders. Contract the upper back at the bottom before slowly returning to the starting position. Repeat for the desired reps.

Lying Leg Curl

Labrada shifted focus to his hamstrings with the lying leg curl. The specific machine he used let him emphasize the portion of the rep closer to peak contraction. Labrada highlighted three sets; the heaviest weight used was one 45-pound plate and three 25s.

Why He Does It: Labrada wants denser, thicker hamstrings. Doing a paused contraction and controlled negative help him control the weight.

“Not moving the weight with the muscle is wasted energy and wear and tear on your body.”

How to Do It: Lie face down on the bench and place the feet under the foot pad. The knees should connect to the pad on the machine. Bend the legs and lift the foot pad toward the glutes by contracting the hamstrings. Once at the top of the exercise, slowly return to the starting position and repeat.

Deadlifts

Labrada said he’s been deadlifting regularly for four months. He started pulling from blocks until he had the flexibility to pull from the ground. His heaviest weight was 224.4 kilograms (495 pounds). Portions of five total sets were shown.

Labrada’s final set was with 206.3 kilograms (455 pounds). He wore a weight belt and used lifting straps to support his grip.

Why He Does It: Deadlifts work the entire posterior chain, but Labrada appeared to bias his erectors and hamstrings because of his slower motion from the floor to near lockout. Since the exercise was last in his routine, he didn’t use as much weight.

How to Do It: If you’re using a conventional stance as Labrada did, stand behind the barbell with the feet at shoulder-width. Bend the knees and lower the upper body to secure a grip on the bar. Bend the knees and position the bar as close as possible to stack the shoulders over the ankles. Don’t allow the feet to move, keep arms straight, and keep the chest up and proud with the shoulders back.

Keep the spine and neck neutral after bracing before the initial pull. Think of driving the feet through the floor when beginning the ascent. Once the bar reaches the knees, think of driving the hips forward to stand tall with the weight. Once at lockout, flex the lower back by bringing the hips forward slightly. Slowly lower the weight back to the floor and repeat for the desired reps.

Sample Back Workout

A general sample workout that you can try is below.

• Low Seated Row — 2-3 x 8-12
• Neutral Grip Lat Pulldown — 2-3 x 8-12
• High Seated Row — 2-3 x 8-12
• Lat Pulldown — 2-3 x 10-12
• Lying Leg Curl — 2-3 x 10-12
• Deadlift — 3-4 x 8-12

Labrada finished seventh at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, three spots below where he placed in the 2021 contest. Since he finished out of the top five in 2022, he needs to win a pro show to qualify for the 2023 Olympia.

Labrada appeared confident he can win either or both the Tampa and Texas shows to clinch his 2023 Olympia invite. He was the 2020 Tampa Pro winner, so he knows how to perform on that stage. If he competes in the Texas Pro, it will be his debut in that contest.

Featured image: @hunterlabrada on Instagram

The post Hunter Labrada Shares His Pull Workout 16 Weeks Before the 2023 Tampa Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Mar. 26. 2023, during a YouTube episode of the Cutler Cast, Cutler discussed the state of the Men’s Open with his talent manager Matthew M. Daniels. The discussion saw the four-time Mr. Olympia (2006-2007, 2009-2010) express that he believes the current cadre of Men’s Open competitors is the best shape it’s been in since the 1990s.

Cutler’s thoughts about the 2020s Men’s Open compared to the 1990s are high praise. Some would find it challenging to see similarities to an era that featured eight-time Mr. Olympia (1998-2005) Ronnie Coleman, six-time Olympia winner (1992-1997) Dorian Yates and four-time Arnold Classic (AC) Champion (1993, 1997, 1998, 2000) Ken “Flex” Wheeler.

Cutler doesn’t have such qualms.

He thinks a group led by defending Olympia champion Hadi Choopan, runner-up Derek Lunsford, third-place finisher Nick Walker, and rising star (2023 Arnold Classic winner) Samson Dauda is bound to have more than a few close battles. Especially at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.

“Hadi [Choopan] is going to be very difficult to beat [at the 2023 Olympia],” Cutler said. “People forget quick, man. You guys got to remember, he’s knocked at that door and he kicked that thing in. Not even, you know, a better overall look, but what he is capable of … I think Derek [Lunsford] is going to be tremendously better and Samson [Dauda] peaked once already this year … it’s tough. And Nick Walker is even more hungry now.” 

Choopan, Lunsford, Dauda, and Walker aren’t the only potential top contenders. There’s still former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay to consider, along with 2019 Mr. Olympia and 2022 Arnold Classic winner Brandon Curry. The list of stars capable of winning the sport’s biggest title seemingly never ends.

It’s why Cutler thinks these men are right on par with the time of athletes like Coleman, Yates, and Wheeler.

“We’re falling back into that ’90s era of competitive [bodybuilding],” Cutler said. “We’re still not talking about Hunter Labrada, who I feel could be in the mix … There’s a lot of excluded people that we’re still excited about … We’re excited about an Open class, which I think fell off for a minute because the old guard was going out, and now the new guard has come in and a lot of new guys are solidifying positions now. It’s making it exciting again.” 

The margins of victory can be so slim in a sport like bodybuilding. Every competitor in the Men’s Open division certainly understands that fact. Cutler’s analysis of the state of this class might only be the tip of the iceberg for the coming shows it’ll put on.

Featured image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram

The post Jay Cutler Believes Bodybuilding’s Men’s Open is Returning to Its Greatest Era appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Mar. 23, 2023, the National Physique Committee (NPC) organizers of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro revealed who will be guest posing during this year’s competition the weekend of May 12-13. Here is an overview of big names who are expected to show off an early spring look at their physique with nothing tangible on the line:

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Athletes

• Derek Lunsford — 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up
• Nick Walker — 2022 Olympia third-place finisher
• Samson Dauda — 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) winner
• Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay — Two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021)
• Shaun Clarida — Two-time 212 Olympia winner (2020, 2022)
• Hunter Labrada
• Rafael Brandao

Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion (2019-2022) Chris Bumstead has also been announced to make a special appearance, but he is not expected to guest pose.

Save for the defending Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan, this list of guest posers at the latest Pittsburgh Pro is arguably a laundry list of potential contenders for the next Mr. Olympia title. There could always be an unexpected dark horse making a run out of the blue, but one of these names (with Choopan included) will likely be the 2023 Olympia victor.

Assuredly, there is no shortage of storylines leading into this first look at most of the main 2023 Mr. Olympia slate.

For Lunsford, after successfully transitioning from the 212 division, the athlete will now likely be pulling out all the stops to win his first Mr. Olympia title. Taking home a runner-up in his first Men’s Open try might have only been the start of a fruitful career in the top bodybuilding class. When it comes to Walker, “The Mutant” has submitted relatively disappointing performances of late. Two consecutive podium results at the 2022 Olympia and 2023 AC are nothing to sneeze at, but Walker expected to win. That makes what he brings to the stage in Orlando potentially even more exciting.

Elssbiay returns to guest pose at the Pittsburgh Pro after skipping the 2022 iteration. The former two-time Olympia champion has recently dipped a bit, performance-wise, and could be using the Pittsburgh Pro as a way to build some momentum heading into another Olympia appearance in the fall. Dauda surprised the bodybuilding world with his new AC title, but some established icons don’t think any coming victories will be much of a shock anymore. He’s undoubtedly seemed to establish himself as a household name.

Finally, amongst the main pantheon featured at the Pittsburgh Pro, Clarida will likely just be moonlighting guest posing among Men’s Open contenders as he pushes for a 212 Olympia title record. It doesn’t appear “The Giant Killer” will be slaying any of the athletes on stage in a primary competition any time soon. As for Labrada, after finishing in seventh place at the 2022 Olympia, he didn’t seem to be contending well with the outside noise. The athlete has been planning a streamlined physique in 2023, which he might show a glimpse of in the early stages in May.

At the time of this article’s publication, it is unclear what role Bumstead plans to play at the Pittsburgh Pro given that he isn’t guest posing. However, having another superstar on hand is always welcome by fans.

From a competitive perspective, nothing meaningful is on the line for any of these dynamos at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. They are merely there to partly provide a public update on their training progress while fulfilling IFBB appearance “obligations” of sorts. That said, seeing the current elite mix of Men’s Open bodybuilders is one rousing way to stir up debate and draw attention before they actually duke it out on stage later this year.

Featured image: @npcifbbpropittsburgh on Instagram

The post Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, And Other Men’s Open Stars Will Guest Pose at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Feb. 8, 2023, Labrada posted a testimonial to his YouTube channel, where he broke down some of his upcoming plans. Within it, he revealed he would no longer be strictly aiming for size in his training. Instead, the athlete maintained he wants to “minimize his waistline” as he focuses on other details of his physique during the 2023 competitive year.

Aside from tightening his waistline, Labrada was explicit about all of his new goals. He wants to hit the ground running with his off-season, and he wants better digestion as well as a bigger back in the process.

A world of possibilities might open up for a bodybuilder when they’re not pursuing sheer overall size.

“Everything needs to be thicker, but that is a main area [his back] of focus,” Labrada said. “In addition to that, I’m definitely placing a huge emphasis on this — this is going to be my first off-season, where everything else is big enough. I don’t need to be chasing size to the point where I’m hanging over the kitchen sink sick from how full I am all day. This off-season we are going to place a huge emphasis on eating more whole foods and supplementing in a way that we really optimize my digestion and minimize my waistline.”

As for specific ways to improve his physique otherwise, Labrada didn’t mention too many details. He did, however, maintain that he’ll focus on polishing up his abs, specifically with vacuum poses — where an athlete contracts their abs to target the deepest muscles. It’s a thought process that apparently began after his latest Olympia result.

“I’m going to continue training abs like I have been,” Labrada started. “It’s something [vacuum poses] that I started doing after the Olympia. I noticed it made a huge difference already … I’ve been doing them every single morning and it’s made a big difference already in a month. So I’m going to continue beating that drum and checking all the boxes daily, and doing what’s in my control as well as I can do it. At the end of the day, that’s all we can do.” 

To achieve his desired redemption, particularly if he should qualify for the 2023 Mr. Olympia, Labrada would likely have to think outside the box to make significant changes. Whether he can translate his new aesthetic-focused plans into something remarkable remains to be seen. Bodybuilding fans can likely be reassured that the experienced athlete will apply his fullest effort and attention to reach his current target.

Featured image: @hunterlabrada on Instagram

The post Hunter Labrada Isn’t Aiming for Sheer Size, Plans a Streamlined Physique appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Jan. 9, 2023, Labrada appeared in a video on Iron World’s YouTube channel to personally recap his 2022 Olympia journey. Amidst a performance he clearly wasn’t happy with, Labrada discussed the emotions behind it and alluded to what’s next as he looks to rebound in 2023.

Labrada’s seventh-place result at the 2022 Olympia bothered him so much that he maintained he was staying away from social media platforms to avoid getting caught up in any discussion about the contest. In addition, the athlete usually makes a point to regularly share some sort of training or nutritional video on his YouTube channel. At the time of this writing, he has not posted anything there since Dec. 23, 2022.

“I have been off social media,” Labrada said. “I haven’t been shooting YouTube videos. I have been seeing my family and friends and keeping to myself because it shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of y’all by now, but I did not do what I was planning on doing at the Olympia this year. This is going to be the first time I kind of unpack that.” 

Because he placed in seventh, and with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness’s (IFBB) recent changes to its qualification system, Labrada no longer has an automatic berth in the 2023 Olympia. As a result, he shared that he expects to compete in at least two sanctioned IFBB Pro League contests before the next Olympia to try and earn his keep. He did not share which competitions he will aim to participate in before the 2023 Olympia occurs sometime in Nov. 2023 in Orlando, FL.

Perhaps more importantly, Labrada disclosed he’d use the new competitive opportunities to try and figure out where he stands physically after apparently messing something up in his final Olympia prep.

” … Regardless, if I win the first one [contests), which I am going to do,” Labrada said. “The fact of the matter is I need to figure my peak out. We have a very good idea of where we went wrong in those final five days.” 

Despite his most recent shortcoming, Labrada seemed optimistic about the future. As much as his 2022 Olympia performance bothered him, he has his eye on the prize in 2023.

“I’m really confident heading into this year,” Labrada said. I”n addition to that confidence heading into this year, I’m [expletive] pissed off, man. I put this timer up in my gym and worked every day for 342 days from last year’s Olympia [2021] to this Olympia. I came up short. Plain and simple. I came up short of what I wanted to do. At the end of the day, this is something I’ve always really preached throughout my preps, is to keep your peace of mind.”

Regardless of what happens next for Labrada, his positive mindset will likely serve him well. He might even channel his apparent shame over what happened at the 2022 Olympia into focused, quality energy as motivation.

“How you respond to adversity is what really makes you,” Labrada said. “I will never forget that [expletive] feeling of that first callout being called and me not being in it. It was in front of God knows how many people.” ” … I’m going to show you a much different Hunter at the two Pro shows I do and at the Olympia because I am going to qualify this year.”

Featured image: @hunterlabrada on Instagram

The post Hunter Labrada Reflects on Disappointing 2022 Olympia, Will Be More Active in 2023 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

The main event of bodybuilding’s flagship competition started with pre-judging on Friday, Dec. 17, 2022, and left the door open for quite the battle on the ensuing Saturday. Any number of other contenders like Nick Walker, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Hunter Labrada could make a name for themselves after initial results, and as they try to topple Elssbiay and Curry.

Here is how pre-judging went for the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia:

Comparison 1

• Hadi Choopan
• Andrew Jacked
• Tonio Burton
• James Hollingshead
• Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
• Antoine Vaillant

Comparison 2

• Derek Lunsford
• William Bonac
• Vitor Boff
• Patrick Johnson
• Andrea Presti
• Charles Griffen

Comparison  3

• Iain Valliere
• Nick Walker
• Michael Krizanek
• Justin Rodriguez
• Mohamed Shaaban
• Akim Williams

Comparison 4

• Theo Leguerrier
• Brandon Curry
• Hunter Labrada
• Rafael Brandao
• Joel Thomas
• Mohammad Alnsoor

Comparison 5

• Blessing Awodibu
• Andrea Muzi
• Samson Dauda
• Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay

Eventually, the callouts over these respective comparisons shook out like this:

Callout 1

• Samson Dauda
• Brandon Curry
• Hadi Choopan
• Derek Lunsford
• Nick Walker
• Mamdouh Elssbiay

Callout 2

• Iain Valliere
• William Bonac
• Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea
• Hunter Labrada
• Rafael Brandao
• Michael Krizanek

Callout 3 

• Antoine Vaillant
• James Hollingshead
• Patrick Johnson
• Charles Griffen
• Justin Rodriguez
• Akim Williams

Callout 4

• Tonio Burton
• Vladyslav Sukhoruchko
• Blessing Awodibu
• Joel Thomas
• Mohamed Shaaban
• Mohammad Alnsoor

Callout 5 

• Andrea Presti
• Vitor Boff
• Theo Leguerrier
• Andrea Muzi

Callout 6

• William Bonac
• Samson Dauda
• Hunter Labrada
• Chinedu “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea

Callout 7

• Samson Dauda
• Hadi Choopan
• Brandon Curry
• Nick Walker
• Derek Lunsford
• Mamdouh Elssbiay

Curry and Walker had the pleasure of coveted center position during their final callout. Meanwhile, Elssbiay never stood in the center on his first callout, which also included Curry, Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, and Nick Walker. Ultimately, it is this group of six competitors sitting in a solid contending position for Saturday’s Finals.

Here is the entire schedule for the 2022 Olympia weekend. (Note: All listed times are in Pacific Standard time.) Here is how to watch and keep up with the action.

Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Judging

• Fitness Olympia
• 212 Olympia
• Figure Olympia
• Women’s Physique Olympia
• Ms. Olympia
• Wellness Olympia

6:00 p.m. — Finals

• 212 Olympia
• Fitness Olympia
• Figure Olympia
• Women’s Physique Olympia
• Ms. Olympia
• Wellness Olympia

6:00 p.m. — Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022

9:00 a.m. — Pre-Judging

• Classic Physique Olympia
• Men’s Physique Olympia
• Bikini Olympia
• Wheelchair Olympia — Pre-Judging and Finals

7:00 p.m. — Finals

• Mr. Olympia
• Men’s Physique Olympia
• Bikini Olympia
• Classic Physique Olympia

Saturday night will officially sort out whether Elssbiay can join some all-time legendary company, whether Curry can put himself in the conversation of more esteemed icons, or whether an ascending Men’s Open star can capture their first Mr. Olympia title.

Featured image: @mrolympiallc/Instagram

The post 2022 Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging Report appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

There is assuredly no shortage of storylines, but the Men’s Open portion of the contest will be the headline event. Two-time reigning Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay is seeking a legendary “three-peat” in potentially notching a third consecutive title. Contenders like Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Hadi Choopan will try to dethrone the Egyptian titan. Meanwhile, in the Classic Physique category, three-time defending champion Chris Bumstead is vying for his fourth straight championship. Expect athletes like a former two-time winner (2017-2018) Breon Ansley and Terrence Ruffin will attempt to push Bumstead.

To keep track of the action in every division across the entire contest, fans will have the option to livestream it all. Fans can purchase a pay-per-view premium package for $69.99 at the Olympia website — www.olympiaproductions.com.

There are over 200 athletes participating at the 2022 Olympia after a doozy of a qualification period over the 2022 calendar year. Here’s an overview of all the featured divisions at the 2022 Olympia:

2022 Olympia | Competitive Divisions

• Men’s Open (Mr. Olympia)
• Ms. Olympia
• Classic Physique Olympia
• Bikini Olympia
• 212 Olympia
• Fitness Olympia
• Men’s Physique Olympia
• Women’s Physique Olympia
• Wellness Olympia
• Wheelchair Olympia
• Figure Olympia

The expectation is that Elssbiay takes home his third straight Mr. Olympia title. Various legends of the sport, like eight-time Mr. Olympia (1998-2005) Ronnie Coleman, believe Elssbiay is a shoo-in for a victory. Another eight-time Olympia winner (1984-1991), Lee Haney, ironically asserted that Elssbiay is comparable to Coleman at the peak of his powers.

At the same time, the Men’s Open field might still resemble a gauntlet on paper. Lunsford is the former 2021 champion in the 212 division and, even with a recent transition, has drawn praise as a potential dark horse. Two top-five finishers from 2021 in Labrada (fourth) and Walker (fifth) have seemingly only improved while training over the last calendar year. There’s also Choopan, who has knocked on the door of victory with two podium finishes in the last three Olympias. Plus, not to be overlooked, some attention will fixate on William Bonac, who hasn’t finished outside of the top six since 2015.

Needless to say, while Elssbiay will be a heavy favorite (no pun intended), he should likely see the best from his respective peers in what certainly seems like a stacked field.

Featured image: @mrolympiallc on Instagram

The post How to Watch the 2022 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.