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.

Here are the top five athletes in the 212 division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and the respective prize money they earned:

2022 212 Olympia Results

1. Shaun Clarida: $50,000 | 2022 212 Olympia Champion
2. Angel Calderon Frias: $20,000
3. Kamal Elgargni: $10,000
4. Ahmad Ashkanani: $6,000
5. Oleh Kryvyi: $4,000

In getting the ball rolling on 2022 Olympia victors, Shaun Clarida has won his second 212 Olympia in the last three years. The achievement might be more notable considering there were rumors that Clarida would be seeking a transition to the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Olympia. He ultimately stuck with the 212 because he had “unfinished business.” That business, with another 212 Olympia title in hand, has now likely concluded for the champion bodybuilder.

In no particular order as listed, here were the top 10 athletes that came out to be compared during the 212 Finals on Friday night:

• Bryan Balzano
• Felipe Moraes
• Kerrith Bajjo
• Shaun Clarida
• Angel Calderon Frias
• Ahmad Ashkanani
• Keone Pearson
• Oleh Kryvyi
• Dean White
• Kamal Elgargni

Here are how the respective comparisons shook out:

Comparison 1

• Bryan Balzano
• Kerrith Bajjo
• Oleh Kryvyi
• Dean White
• Felipe Moraes
• Keone Pearson

Comparison 2

• Kamal Elgargni
• Angel Calderon Frias
• Ahmad Ashkanani
• Shaun Clarida

Once the comparisons concluded, the respective top five athletes performed their usual individual routines, as listed below, before Clarida captured the title:

• Ahmad Ashkanani
• Angel Calderon Frias
• Oleh Kryvyi
• Kamal Elgargni
• Shaun Clarida

Here is the Finals schedule for the 2022 Olympia, the entire schedule for Saturday, and here’s how to keep up with the action. (Note: All listed times are in Pacific Standard time.)

Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

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

By the end of Friday night, the Finals will have concluded for over half the competition’s divisions. Though, some of the tentpole divisions, like the Men’s Open and the Classic Physique, still await the docket on Saturday. Though for Clarida, his competition is over, and he gets to do it by establishing his success at the very top of the 212 division.

Featured image: @mrolympiallc on Instagram

The post Shaun Clarida Wins the 2022 212 Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

This year’s edition of the Texas Pro featured eight competitive divisions, with Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, also known as “Andrew Jacked,” as one of the headline winners. The respective victors in each category received automatic spots in the 2022 Olympia on December 16-18 in Las Vegas, NV.

According to the IFBB Pro League website, the 2022 Texas Pro was a Tier 4 contest. That means the second through fifth place finishers earned points ranging from four to one in their potential qualification for the Olympia, respectively. Point standings for those athletes who have not won an IFBB Pro League contest before the Olympia will be finalized on November 20, 2022. 

Here’s an overview of results from the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Texas Pro:

2022 Texas Pro Results | Men’s Open

1. Andrew Jacked
2. Martin Fitzwater
3. Steve Kuclo
4. Kamal Elgargni
5. Quinton Eriya
6. Jephte Cherenfant
7. Carlos Emmanuel Longoria Rodriguez
8. Phil Clahar
9. Joseph Mackey
10. Eddie Bracamontes

Check out the results of the other contested divisions below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Do the Goblet Squat for Lower Body Size and Mobility]

According to NPC News Online, this was Andrew Jacked’s Pro League debut. He made quite an impression with aspects of his body like his arms, legs, shoulders, and abs to take home the victory. As a result, Jacked has earned his first shot at an Olympia contest in the process. Notably, Jacked joins an esteemed group of competitors who also won their first Pro League contest like Phil Heath, Flex Wheeler, Hunter Labrada, and Sergio Oliva Jr. 

Here are the respective results for the other Men’s divisions at the 2022 Texas Pro.

212 Division

1. Kerrith Bajjo
2. Cody Drobot
3. Jordan Janowitz
4. Ricky Moten Jr.
5. Martin Gomez
6. Ahmed Elwardany
7. Stephen Didoshak
8. Carlos A. Rodriguez Hernandez
9. David Robinson
10. Kevin Johnson

Classic Physique

1. Courage Opara
2. Valentin Petrov
3. Jorge Luis Guerrero Gallagos
4. John Le
5. Florian Poirson
6. Ashwin Lucas
7. Jared Thompson
8. Vincent Krause
9. Matt Maldonado
10. Adam Thomas

Men’s Physique

1. Daniel Ammons
2. Andrei Lincan
3. Charjo Grant
4. Jeremiah Maxey
5. Jeremy Coleman
6. Stan Morrison
7. Micah Thomas Jr.
8. George Brown
9. Anthony Gilkes
10. Zach Savole

The results for the Women’s divisions are below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Do the Bulgarian Split Squat for Leg Size, Strength, and Mobility]

Women’s Physique

1. Melissa Teich
2. Pamela Canfield
3. Ana Harias
4. Ashley Jones
5. Gessica Campbell
6. DeSunka Dawson
7. Heather Grace
8. Ashlynn Richardson
9. Rulying Bian
10. Michele Steeves

Figure

1. Jessica Reyes Padilla
2. Autumn Cleveland
3. Tamera Barrett
4. Felisha Livezey
5. Jennifer Zienart
6. Jessica L. Kendrick
7. Larhannah Robinson
8. Ashley Felperin
9. Amie Mock
10. Martina Yabekova

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: The Best Sled Workouts for Muscle, Strength, Fat Loss, and Recovery]

Bikini

1. Daraja Hill
2. Jodie Yuncker
3. Roxana Marquez
4. Jordan Brannon
5. Shelby Pierce
6. Anya Nicholson
7. Hope Castelli
8. Tamekla Carter
9. Carla Garthwaite
10. Monica Rubio

Wellness

1. Devyn Cambre
2. Lili Dong
3. Amanda Burnett
4. Diana Laura Verduzco Carreno
5. Jen Scarborough Zollars
6. Priscilla Lynd
7. Haley Johnson
8. Brooke Donnelly
9. Daniela Esquivel Castillo
10. Celeste Morales

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Do the Incline Dumbbell Curl for Bigger, Stronger Arms]

Per the schedule on the IFBB Pro League website, the next major competition on the docket for many of these athletes is the 2022 Yamamoto Cup in Italy on September 11. That contest will be Tier 4. It’ll be another sizable step forward on the journey to the 2022 Olympia in mid-December. 

Featured image: @w_wittmannphoto on Instagram

The post 2022 Texas Pro Bodybuilding Results — Andrew Jacked Wins In Stellar Pro Debut appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

This year’s Tampa Pro featured 10 different divisions with notable winners like Akim Williams (Men’s Open) at the head of the pack. The respective winners in each category earned automatic spots in the 2022 Mr. Olympia because the Tampa Pro is an official Pro League contest. 

Here’s an overview of the results from the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Tampa Pro:

2022 Tampa Pro Results | Men’s Open

1. Akim Williams
2. Kamal Elgargni
3. Quinton Eriya
4. Joseph Mackey
5. Phil Clahar
6. Eddie Bracamontes
7. Stuart Sutherland
8. Tim Budesheim
9. Seung Chul Lee
10. Morgan Aste

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Build Muscle: The Training and Diet Guide for Beginners and Advanced Lifters]

Williams’ victory is a solid result in his first contest since a ninth-place finish at the 2021 Mr. Olympia. The bodybuilder might channel this effort for a better result in December’s Olympia. His best career finish in the major contest was sixth place in the 2020 edition.

Williams’ dedicated work with aspects of his body like his shredded arms, shoulders, and legs was enough to overcome former 212 Olympia champ (2019) Kamal Elgargni — a newcomer to the Men’s Open division. While he didn’t win, a second-place finish is a quality result for Elgargni in his first time competing in a new category. 

According to the IFBB Pro League’s qualification standards, the Tampa Pro is a Tier 2 contest. Second through fifth place finishers in this competition earned points ranging from eight to five in their respective quests to qualify for the Olympia. That means a fourth-place result for a rising star like Joe Mackey earned him six points as he works for potential Olympia hopes. Mackey has another pending opportunity for more points (or automatic qualification with a win) in a Tier 4 contest at the 2022 Texas Pro on August 12-13, 2022, in Irving, Texas. 

The 2022 Olympia qualification period will conclude on November 20, 2022. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: The Best Sled Workouts for Muscle, Strength, Fat Loss, and Recovery]

Here are the respective results for the other Men’s divisions competing in the 2022 Tampa Pro. 

212 Division

1. Keone Pearson
2. Kerrith Bajjo
3. Nathan Epler
4. Cody Drobot
5. Ricky Moten Jr.
6. Ahmed El Wardany
7. Jason Joseph
8. Stephen Didoshak
9. Derik Oslan
10. Kevin Johnson

Classic Physique 

1. Courage Opara
2. Adely Annorat
3. Valentin Petrov
4. Armando Aman
5. Kim Santos
6. Keith Holmes
7. Matt Maldonado
8. Kiran Shrestha
9. Felix Burgos
10. Joe Brighty

Men’s Physique

1. Daniel Ammons
2. Andre Ferguson
3. Arya Saffaie
4. Burak King
5. Deke Roderique-Walker
6. Micah Thomas Jr.
7. Matthew Greggo
8. Josh Bridgman
9. Aroldson Etienne
10. Cam Harris

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Do the Bent-Over Barbell Row for a Bigger, Stronger Back]

Women’s Results

Here are the results for the Women’s divisions competing at the 2022 Tampa Pro:

Women’s Bodybuilding

1. Chelsea Dion
2. Sheena Ohlig
3. Sherry Priami
4. Victoria Dominguez
5. Gabriela Pena
6. Janeen Lankowski
7. Pauline Nelson
8. Tina Mauer Guadarrama
9. Tamara Makar
10. Jennifer Sweeney

Fitness

1. Aurika Tyrgale
2. Cerise deCardenas
3. Alayne Corum
4. Michele Gales
5. Kamarae Morales
6. Savahannah Byczek
7. Maria Laura Cerbelli
8. Cong Mou
9. Tess Mikayla
10. Corey Brueckner

Bikini

1. Aimee Leann Velasquez
2. Jasmine Gonzalez
3. Ivanna Escandar
4. Romina Basualdo
5. Daraja Hill
6. Danielle Combs
7. Jordan Brannon
8. Jodie Yuncker
9. Shelby Pierce
10. Niccole Guggia

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: Everything You Need to Know About How to Burn Fat]

Figure

1. Jessica Reyes Padilla
2. Cherish Richardson
3. Maggie Watson
4. Autumn Cleveland
5. Madison Dinges
6. Ashley Felperin
7. Jennifer Zienert
8. Larhannah Robinson
9. Paula Rojo
10. Danielle Rose

Women’s Physique

1. Jeannie Feldman
2. Ana Harias
3. Elena Aviles Romero
4. Diana Schnaidt
5. Michele Steeves
6. Heather Grace
7. Lenore Gregson
8. Yarelis Ramos Perez
9. Ashlynn Richardson
10. Racheal Brewer

Wellness

1. Diana Laura Verduzco Carreno
2. Priscilla Lynd
3. Alexis Adams
4. Lili Dong
5. Nerilde Garcia Strey
6. Bridgiamell Rodriguez Cruz
7. Alejandra La Fonseca
8. Kat Williams
9. Amanda Werner
10. Daphney Carter

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: How to Do the Goblet Squat for Lower Body Size and Mobility]

The next IFBB Pro League calendar contest will be the 2022 Texas Pro. That contest will take place on August 12-13, 2022, in Irving, Texas. The competition many of these athletes are working toward, the 2022 Mr. Olympia, will occur on December 16-18 in Las Vegas, NV. 

Featured image: @w_wittmannphoto on Instagram

The post 2022 Tampa Pro Results — Full Steam Ahead for Akim Williams appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On July 26, 2022, Elgargni revealed that he would compete in the upcoming 2022 Tampa Pro and Texas Pro contests in the Men’s Open division. This year’s edition of the Tampa Pro will take place on August 6 in Tampa, FL, while the Texas Pro occurs on August 12-13 in Irving, Texas. Elgargni, 51, made his announcement in partnership with BPI Sports over their Instagram profile. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: The Best Sled Workouts For Muscle, Strength, Fat Loss, And Recovery]

Elgargni’s plans come on the heels of the world-class bodybuilder showing recent significant progress with his physique. The strides the athlete has made seemed to be enough for him to jump from 212 — where competitors have a hard weight cap of 212 pounds — to the unrestricted Men’s Open.

I feel really, really good, and I’m excited with what I’m going to bring to the stage at both contests.

In his statement, Elgargni clarified that his body weight was around 224 pounds on the day of his announcement. That could still shift (i.e., upwards) by the time the 2022 Mr. Olympia rolls around on December 16-18 in Las Vegas, NV.

The Libyan athlete maintained that entering the 2022 Tampa Pro in a new division made the most sense because he currently calls the Tampa Bay area home. And since it’s only one week later, the 2022 Texas Pro also felt like a logical step to test himself.

At the time of this writing, neither IFBB competition has announced an official list of athletes who will participate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: The 20 Best Leg Exercises For Size And Strength]

A Wave of Change

Elgargni’s transition to a new bodybuilding division isn’t out of the ordinary compared to some of his peers.

In October 2021, Shaun Clarida competed in the Legion Sports Fest in the Open category, where he finished first. Clarida went on to take home a second-place result to Derek Lunsford in the 212 category during the 2021 Mr. Olympia. At the time of this article’s publication, Clarida is eligible for the 212 and Men’s Open classes at the 2022 Mr. Olympia but has not made a definitive choice. 

Lunsford himself could be another fascinating case. In mid-July 2022, over OlympiaTV, Chief Olympia Officer Dan Solomon said that Lunsford is “nowhere near 212 at this point” and implied that he may have to transition to the Men’s Open division at the upcoming Olympia. That speculation would line up with Lunsford’s recent training and nutritional parameters. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Elgargni’s Next Potential Obstacle

If he wanted to flex in the Men’s Open division, Elgargni will have to earn a spot in that division at the 2022 Mr. Olympia; he can do so by winning either of the Tampa or Texas Pro contests, or by finishing in the top three in the Men’s Open category by the time the Olympia qualification period ends on November 20, 2022.

As a former 212 champion, Elgargni has an automatic lifetime qualification in that division. 

Should Elgargni transition to the Open category at the 2022 Olympia, he’ll face an elite cadre of athletes. That includes two-time reigning champion Mamdouh Elssbiay (2020-2021), former Open winner Brandon Curry (2019), seasoned veteran Hadi Choopan, and some potential rising stars like Hunter Labrada and Nick Walker. 

Elgargni has an intriguing competitive path ahead of him. If all goes well, he could soon maximize it.

Featured Image: @ifbb_pro_kamal_elgargni on Instagram

The post Kamal Elgargni Will Transition to Men’s Open Division at 2022 Texas and Tampa Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On June 16, 2022, Elgargni provided an update on his current physique over his Instagram profile, with the 2022 Mr. Olympia roughly six months away. That competition will occur on December 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: Everything You Need To Know About How To Burn Fat]

After years of the prerequisite dedication to building muscle, Elgargni captured his first 212 Olympia title in 2019 once the legendary James “Flex” Lewis vacated it after a run of seven straight victories (2012-2018). Following that title, Elgargni came in second place to Shaun Clarida during the 2020 Mr. Olympia and finished in third place to Clarida (second) and Derek Lunsford (first) in 2021.

Before showing off where his physique stands at the time of this writing, Elgargni was previously most recently seen training his legs with rising star Nick Walker. 

About Kamal Elgargni

While Elgargni didn’t disclose his current body weight, the Libyan athlete has typically competed at around 211 pounds. It might be safe to assume that is what he will aim for by the time December 2022 and the latest Mr. Olympia rolls around. 

Here are some of the accomplished bodybuilder’s top results from his extended career that began when he was 29-years-old:

Kamal Elgargni | Noteworthy Career Results

• 2001 National Amateur Bodybuilders’ Association (NABBA) Mr. Universe (short) — First place | Competition debut
• 2002 NABBA World Championships (overall) — First place 
• IFBB World Amateur Championships (middleweight/light-heavyweight) — First place (2005-2006, 2008, 2013)
• 2005 World Games (middleweight) — First place 
• 2006 Asian Games (middleweight) — First place 
• 2007 National Physique Committee (NPC) Excalibur Bodybuilding Championships (light-heavyweight) — First place
• 2009 IFBB Arnold Amateur (light-heavyweight) — First place 
• 2009 World Games (heavyweight) — Second place
• 2011 World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF) World Championships (light-heavyweight) — First place 
• 2013 Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (ABBF) Asian Championships (overall) — First place 
• 2013 IFBB Mediterranean Amateur Championships (overall) — First place 
• 2018 IFBB Arnold Classic (212) — First place
• 2018 Mr. Olympia (212) — Third place
• 2019 Mr. Olympia (212) — First place
• 2020 Mr. Olympia (212) — Second place 
• 2021 Mr. Olympia (212) — Third place 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Related: Bodybuilder Chris Bumstead Trains During Q&A, Discusses Retirement, Recovery, And Avoiding Burnout]

Elgargni’s Near Future

As one of the more prominent names in modern bodybuilding, Elgargni will undoubtedly continue to plug away with his training as he starts to ramp up toward the Mr. Olympia. According to his social media, the Libyan athlete’s latest physique update is the first that he has shared in an approximate month.

It very well might not be the last anyone sees of the bodybuilder’s progress before the 2022 Mr. Olympia on December 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV. 

Featured image: @ifbb_pro_kamal_elgargni on Instagram

The post Bodybuilder Kamal Elgargni Displays Physique as He Seeks Return to Top of 212 Mr. Olympia Podium appeared first on Breaking Muscle.