After finishing in third place in the Classic Physique Showdown at the 2019 Olympia, George “Da Bull” Peterson III is going to leave that division to focus on competing in the 212 Bodybuilding division starting in 2020.
There had been speculation about this move for several months but he made the official announcement himself in an Instagram post on September 27. The decision has been met with a lot of approval by fans and bodybuilding insiders.
Peterson has made a big splash in the young Classic Physique division which includes him winning the 2019 Arnold Classic Physique show and placing third in the Olympia for three consecutive years. Breon Ansley won that title in both 2017 and 2018. Chris Bumstead left Las Vegas with the championship in 2019.
While Peterson has been considered a top star in the division, he had to make a weight point based on his height in order to compete in shows. At a height of 5’7”, Peterson had to weigh no more than 195 pounds.
He has made weight for every show he’s competed in with help from his coach, Justin Miller. The 212 bodybuilding division allows competitors to participate at any weight up to 212 pounds regardless of height. The prospect of Peterson being on stage with so much extra weight on his frame is why fans have been so excited for this change.
There is no official word on which show Peterson will make his debut in the new division. While he did place in the Top 3 at the Olympia for Classic Physique, he will have to earn a qualification in order to take part in the 2020 212 pound division contest. Being a native of New York, many of his fans are hoping he will compete in May’s New York Pro show. He’s not expected to make any official announcements about when he will compete anytime soon but when he does, BarBend will share that news and any other updates.
Featured Images: Instagram/georgep_dabull
