Editor's Note: The 2024 Arnold Classic is underway. You can follow along at BarBend's live results page. The first night of the 2023 Arnold Classic weekend is in the bodybuilding history books. The ... Continue Reading
Ronnie Coleman vs. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay: A Fantasy Battle Between Bodybuilding Heavyweights
It seems like every bodybuilding generation has its own version of the “biggest man” in the sport. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, that position was filled by Ronnie Coleman, whose massive 295-pound ... Continue Reading
Darwin Uribe Withdraws from 2023 Arnold Classic Physique Contest
The 2023 Arnold Classic Physique contest roster is now set at seven competitors. On Feb. 21, 2023, Darwin Uribe announced that he withdrew from the competition, scheduled for Mar. 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, ... Continue Reading
Bodybuilding Is an Art, Which Makes It Hard to Treat Like a Sport
When John Haack broke the all-time bench press world record in the 100-kilogram class in powerlifting, there was no need for a second opinion. The record was set. Strength sports rely on provable, ... Continue Reading
Bodybuilding’s Uncrowned Mr. Olympia: Nasser El Sonbaty
Nasser El Sonbaty was an enigma in the bodybuilding world. Once tipped for Olympia glory, he soon became far more well-known as a man embittered by his experiences within the sport. Rather than retire into ... Continue Reading
Nick Walker Shares His Diet and Prep for the 2023 Arnold Classic
The 2023 Arnold Classic is scheduled for March 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, OH. It will feature some of the biggest names in the Men's Open division clashing for the highest prize purse in the contest's history ... Continue Reading
Six-Time Figure Olympia Champion Cydney Gillon’s Leg Day Doesn’t Need Heavy Weights
Bodybuilders at the most elite level of the sport, either vying for an Olympia title or maintaining the Figure Olympia title for six consecutive years, like Cydney Gillon, have an acute awareness of how ... Continue Reading
Andrew Jacked Changes Trainer and Nutritionist for 2023 Arnold Classic
IFBB Pro League Men's Open bodybuilder Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, also known as Andrew Jacked, is changing coaches for his 2023 Arnold Classic prep. The contest is scheduled for the weekend of March 2-5, ... Continue Reading
Six-Time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates Shows Off His Ripped Physique at 60 Years Old
From 1992-1997, Dorian Yates was the face of bodybuilding. In that time, the man known as “The Shadow” racked up six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, beating out top-flight competitors like Kevin Levrone, ... Continue Reading
2023 Olympia Set to Take Place Nov 2-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL
Bodybuilding fans can mark their calendars to attend the 2023 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend. The world championship event of the IFBB Pro League is set to take place on the weekend ... Continue Reading
Arnold Classic Announces $300,000 Prize Purse for 2023 Men’s Open Champion
Seven-time Mr. Olympia and Arnold Sports Festival (ASF) co-founder Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that the prize money awarded to the 2023 Arnold Classic champion will be $300,000. That is a 50 percent ... Continue Reading
James Hollingshead Shares His 3 Key Movements for Leg Day
At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV, James Hollingshead of the UK finished outside the top 15, scoring 159 points (80 points at pre-judging and 79 points at the finals). ... Continue Reading
Watch Bodybuilding Legends Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler Train Together
Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler competed against each other for the Sandow trophy for almost a decade in the early-to-mid 2000s. They were the top ... Continue Reading
Franco Columbu’s Controversial 1981 Mr. Olympia Comeback
[Bodybuilding] is, in many ways, the purest sport of all. Long before you achieve the physical contest level… bodybuilding will have provided you with an exhilarating match with nature. It's just you, your ... Continue Reading
IFBB Pro League Announces Ways to Qualify for 2023 Olympia
On Dec. 28, 2022, the IFBB Pro League formally announced the 2023 Olympia Qualification System, which determines the lineups for all 11 pro divisions to qualify for the Olympia Weekend every year. The ... Continue Reading
Here’s How Much Money Was Won at the 2022 Olympia
The 2022 Olympia weekend in Las Vegas, NV, on Dec. 16-18, 2022, was a lucrative event for the new Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan. He won a whopping $400,000 grand prize for winning the most significant title in ... Continue Reading
2022 Mr. Olympia Results — Complete Official Scorecards
The 2022 Olympia weekend in Las Vegas, NV, held from Dec. 16-18, 2022, has come to a close. The weekend was filled with expectations coming to fruition, such as six-time Figure Olympia champion Cydney ... Continue Reading
2022 Mr. Olympia Results — Live Updates & Coverage
Editor's Note: The 2023 Olympia is underway. Tune into BarBend's 2023 Mr. Olympia results page for complete coverage and live results. The 58th edition of the famed Mr. Olympia bodybuilding show, ... Continue Reading
Chris Bumstead Wins 2022 Classic Physique Olympia, His Fourth Consecutive Title
After pre-judging at the 2022 Classic Physique Olympia opening round on Dec. 17, 2022, three-time champion Chris Bumstead and Ramon Rocha Queiroz were the last men standing facing head judge Steve ... Continue Reading
Hadi Choopan Is the 2022 Mr. Olympia Champion
The Sandow Trophy represents a legacy in bodybuilding. The reigning Mr. Olympia holds that trophy high and proclaims himself the world champion of the Men’s Open division, the best of the best, and then ... Continue Reading
Maureen Blanquisco Wins 2022 Bikini Olympia
As the 2022 Bikini Olympia approached, a lot of buzz had circulated around the four champions of the division — 2021 winner Jennifer Dorie, 2020 champion Janet Layug, 2019 titleholder Elisa Pecini, and ... Continue Reading
Francielle Mattos Goes Back-to-Back, Wins 2022 Wellness Olympia
The second Wellness Olympia was bound to be a highly-competitive contest. The inaugural champion, Francielle Mattos, was met with multiple challengers to her title in the pre-judging round of the 2022 ... Continue Reading
Natalia Abraham Coelho Wins 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia
The 2022 Olympia featured 11 world championship bodybuilding contests, including the Women’s Physique Olympia. Two-time winner Sarah Villegas was looking to win her third straight title; if successful, she ... Continue Reading
2022 Figure Olympia Results — Cydney Gillon Retains
Many fans considered the 2022 Figure Olympia to be a formal coronation for Cydney Gillon, who sought a sixth title. However, pre-judging made it appear like a closer contest. Gillon still stood on center ... Continue Reading