Hey everyone! This was written about a week or two after last year's Mr. Olympia and I was wanting to do some more analysis of IFBB contests but it never really took off for me. However, I'm going to incorporate that into the blog this year. So I present some thoughts on the contest last September, specifically about Big Ramy. I'd love to know what you think so leave a comment on the bottom!
Spoiler alert, there's a new Mr. Olympia in town and rarer still he beat the reigning champ. By now everyone knows that Shawn Rhoden beat Phil Heath in Sin City last weekend, but almost as interesting is the question of what happened to Big Ramy AKA The Next Big Thing.
In 2017 the Kuwaiti bodybuilder was runner-up to Phil Heath in the Mr. Olympia and received much of the same criticism that has followed him throughout his IFBB career. Not many argued that as Heath came in like a wrecking ball and though he had put on some size, he was not spilling over and his symmetry and conditioning beat out Big Ramy in a contest that was panned by many spectators. The buzz had Ramy on the verge of becoming the first Middle Eastern champion since Samir Bannout in 1983.
Fast forward to the Orleans Hotel & Casino this year and it seemed like 2017 was long ago. Despite coming in with a massive package at close to 300 pounds, Ramy found himself in a disappointing 6th place. What went wrong? Ramy has gone on the record apologizing to his fans for his lack of conditioning and stating that he will be bringing a new package to the stage in the future, but does Ramy's package need to change or are we just seeing a shift in the judging?
Rhoden came in ripped as per his usual, but also larger in the upper body and emphasizing the classical lines we've come used to seeing in 2nd and 3rd place in the last few years. However, we also got to see Brandon Curry crack the top 5 and when compared to Big Ramy, Curry looks like he should be in the 212s. A ripped Roelly Winklaar and the hot upstart William Bonac rounded out the top 5 and, with the exception of Winklaar, all are known for their conditioning and symmetry.
Perhaps Ramy didn't do anything wrong, maybe he just brought the wrong package for this show. Perhaps cries from fans for a more aesthetic Mr. Olympia finally rang through to Head Judge Steve Weinberger and company who clearly emphasized conditioning over size this year, relegating a certified mass monster like Big Ramy and the now former champ Heath to lower placings.
Ramy has shown he can get ripped but it seems like the poster boy for Oxygen Gym tried to outsize Phil and though he did, it didn't help his cause. Winklaar was equally big, though not as tall, but had his conditioning on point so that his size didn't take away from his placing. Ramy will likely surface at the Arnold Classic in Columbus this spring, a show typically known for rewarding mass monsters, Branch Warren notwithstanding. For Ramy to compete with current Arnold champ Bonac and favorites like Curry and Cedric McMillan, he's going to have to bring down his size and cut himself to the bone.
Ramy has the potential to have a physique the likes of Dorian Yaters or a larger Lee Haney, but the size game can work against him. Knowing the Arnold judging favors aesthetics and with the mandate seemingly hitting the judge's table last weekend, Ramy might need to shift his program and focus on his lines and not his limits.
Spoiler alert, there's a new Mr. Olympia in town and rarer still he beat the reigning champ. By now everyone knows that Shawn Rhoden beat Phil Heath in Sin City last weekend, but almost as interesting is the question of what happened to Big Ramy AKA The Next Big Thing.
In 2017 the Kuwaiti bodybuilder was runner-up to Phil Heath in the Mr. Olympia and received much of the same criticism that has followed him throughout his IFBB career. Not many argued that as Heath came in like a wrecking ball and though he had put on some size, he was not spilling over and his symmetry and conditioning beat out Big Ramy in a contest that was panned by many spectators. The buzz had Ramy on the verge of becoming the first Middle Eastern champion since Samir Bannout in 1983.
Fast forward to the Orleans Hotel & Casino this year and it seemed like 2017 was long ago. Despite coming in with a massive package at close to 300 pounds, Ramy found himself in a disappointing 6th place. What went wrong? Ramy has gone on the record apologizing to his fans for his lack of conditioning and stating that he will be bringing a new package to the stage in the future, but does Ramy's package need to change or are we just seeing a shift in the judging?
Rhoden came in ripped as per his usual, but also larger in the upper body and emphasizing the classical lines we've come used to seeing in 2nd and 3rd place in the last few years. However, we also got to see Brandon Curry crack the top 5 and when compared to Big Ramy, Curry looks like he should be in the 212s. A ripped Roelly Winklaar and the hot upstart William Bonac rounded out the top 5 and, with the exception of Winklaar, all are known for their conditioning and symmetry.
Perhaps Ramy didn't do anything wrong, maybe he just brought the wrong package for this show. Perhaps cries from fans for a more aesthetic Mr. Olympia finally rang through to Head Judge Steve Weinberger and company who clearly emphasized conditioning over size this year, relegating a certified mass monster like Big Ramy and the now former champ Heath to lower placings.
Ramy has shown he can get ripped but it seems like the poster boy for Oxygen Gym tried to outsize Phil and though he did, it didn't help his cause. Winklaar was equally big, though not as tall, but had his conditioning on point so that his size didn't take away from his placing. Ramy will likely surface at the Arnold Classic in Columbus this spring, a show typically known for rewarding mass monsters, Branch Warren notwithstanding. For Ramy to compete with current Arnold champ Bonac and favorites like Curry and Cedric McMillan, he's going to have to bring down his size and cut himself to the bone.
Ramy has the potential to have a physique the likes of Dorian Yaters or a larger Lee Haney, but the size game can work against him. Knowing the Arnold judging favors aesthetics and with the mandate seemingly hitting the judge's table last weekend, Ramy might need to shift his program and focus on his lines and not his limits.
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