IFBB Professional League Men’s Open bodybuilders Regan Grimes and Antoine Vaillant have been training partners in the gym and opponents on the Olympia onstage. Grimes and Vaillant trained back together during Grimes’ prep for the 2025 New York Pro scheduled for May 17 in Teaneck, NJ.
Antoine Vaillant and Regan Grimes’ Back Day
- Superset: High Row and Pullover
- Seated Row
- Barbell Row
- Seal Row
Grimes followed Vaillant’s lead and explained that the duo already performed supersets of high machine rows, pullovers, and seated rows. He shared that he had used supersets frequently. Samson Dauda did as well for his 2024 Mr. Olympia prep. Grimes found multiple benefits to adding them to his training.
It’s fun; it’s faster but pretty intense. You’re soaked by the end of the workout.
Supersets, which combine two exercises and train them consecutively without rest, are a popular way to make workouts more challenging. They have been shown to help maximize potential hypertrophy and strength when time is limited. (1)
The third exercise in the session was traditional barbell rows in a squat rack. Vaillant suggested performing sets of eight to ten with “clean” form, meaning they should not swing or jerk the weight. Vaillant explained his mindset for this particular movement.
I try to move my shoulder blades forward and back [and] squeeze my whole back and traps.
They worked up to a top weight of 295 pounds on this exercise. The final movement was the Seal Row. Besides focusing on the upper back, Vaillant offered a bonus tip for viewers who wanted to try this exercise for bodybuilding purposes.
If you lift your legs like a seal, you’ll work your glutes and lower back.
Grimes performed a set with 155 pounds, then shared his feelings about the movement.
“The hardest part is the balance,” Grimes said. They performed sets of 15 reps with the same weight.
During the training session, Grimes was 14 weeks out of the New York Pro. He seeks a qualification for the 2025 Mr. Olympia contest. He ranked ninth in 2023 but did not compete at all in 2024. He aims to make history as the first athlete to win the New York Pro in two categories. He was the 2018 Classic Physique champion.
More Bodybuilding Content
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Wants You to Spice up Your Lat Pulldowns
- 5 Straightforward Weight Loss Tips From an Olympia Champion
- How Michal “Križo” Križánek Develops a Freaky-Massive Back
References
- Iversen, V. M., Eide, V. B., Unhjem, B. J., & Fimland, M. S. (2024). Efficacy of Supersets Versus Traditional Sets in Whole-Body Multiple-Joint Resistance Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 38(8), 1372–1378. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004819
Featured Image: @regangrimes on Instagram
