Eight days ago, on Nov. 4, 2020, James Hollingshead made noise in the bodybuilding world by being the first man to qualify for the 2021 Mr. Olympia. Now, he’s making headlines again by announcing that he will forgo competing at this year’s Olympia. However, he is not the first competitor to drop out. Flex Lewis and Cedric McMillan have already announced that they won’t be competing at the 2020 O, which is set to take place on Dec. 17-20, 2020, in Las Vegas, NV.
“The Shed” made his intentions known in a video on his YouTube channel, posted on Nov. 12, 2020. It was a decision he credits making with his prep coach, Patrick Tuor. You can check out the video below.
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“I’m in this place where I sat down, took time to consider all things, and I’m going to be real with you,” Hollingshead said in the video. “After much discussion with Patrick (Tuor), the plan now is to focus solely on improvements, and to shoot for the 2021 Mr. Olympia solely.”
Hollingshead earned the qualification for the 2020 Olympia by winning the Europa Pro in Spain in October of 2020. He flexed his guns and out-muscled Lukas Osladil, who is also qualified for the 2020 Mr. Olympia, for first place. Hollingshead went on to say that competing in the 2020 contest would mean leaving the United Kingdom early due to an impending national shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he also expressed optimism when talking about his plans.
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“For the first time, I can truly concentrate on the bigger picture — the main goal, the big dream,” Hollingshead wrote in an Instagram post. “I suppose all I want to say is that this next show is the one — the big one, the supershow. And we got our pass. Between now and then, we will move mountains to become the best we can be for those that have been behind me and those who are now. It’s going to be Epic.”
In that same post, Hollingshead explains how he’s competed in bodybuilding show after show. To stay in peak condition, bodybuilders need to scrupulously count their macros and stick to a strict and rigorous training split. It’s nearly impossible to gain quality muscle when one is in a constant state of dieting. So now, Hollingshead will have the chance to prepare with more energy and calories to train.
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The 2021 Olympia is currently scheduled to occur in September of next year when the annual contest usually occurs. If Hollingshead wins next year, he will be the first British man to attain the title of Mr. Olympia since Dorian Yates won six years in a row from 1992-97.
Featured Image: @hollingshead89 on Instagram
