The 2022 Olympia Weekend is set to take place from December 16-18 in Las Vegas, NV, and the best bodybuilders in the world are already filling social media with head-turning workouts and physique updates as they prep for the biggest show of the year.
And when you use the word biggest, the first competitor to come to mind should be the reigning Mr. Olympia, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. On August 10, 2022, Elssbiay took to Instagram to provide a physique update, revealing that he’s tipping the scales at 336 pounds (153 kilograms) 18 weeks out from the contest.
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[Related: Brandon Curry Shares Physique Update as Olympia Prep Heats Up]
Since entering the IFBB Pro League in 2013, Elssbiay has weighed anywhere from 285 to 310 pounds on stage (129 to 140.5 kilograms) at a height of 5’10”. The only other Olympia champ to rival his size is eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman, who stepped on stage around 298 pounds at his heaviest. Chad Nicholls coached Coleman during Coleman’s reign atop bodybuilding from 1998 until 2005. Nicholls now coaches Elssbiay.
Though his legs are covered in the physique update, Elssbiay’s trademark boulder shoulders and small waist are already looking close to contest-ready. If that lone picture wasn’t enough, Elssbiay posted a video of himself hitting a few poses the very next day.
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[Related: Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Weighs 341 Pounds During Off-Season Training]
In an interview with bodybuilder Dennis James in January 2022, Ramy said he’s planning to bring “something different” to the Olympia stage this year. What that means isn’t clear yet, but it is clear that his trademark size isn’t going anywhere.
Big Ramy’s Chance at History
As a former champion, Elssbiay (along with 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry) is qualified for life to enter the Olympia in the Men’s Open division. If he wins the 2022 title, he will be the first competitor since Phil Heath — and the eighth man out of the 16 champions — to win the contest at least three times in a row.
The road to a three-peat won’t be easy, though. Aside from Curry, other top contenders include Hadi Choopan, Hunter Labrada, and 2021 Arnold Classic winner Nick Walker, who finished third, fourth, and fifth at the O in 2021, respectively.
Featured Image: @big_ramy on Instagram