IFBB Professional League Men’s Open bodybuilder Vitalii “Goodvito” Ugolnikov has withdrawn from the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, set for May 10-11 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Ugolnikov revealed that he suffered a right lat injury in training the week before the contest, which affected his ability to perform the mandatory poses. Photos of the injury and the announcement can be seen below in an Instagram post made on May 8, 2025.
“It’s with great sadness that I announce I will not be participating in the Pittsburgh Pro championship due to a major back muscle injury I suffered about a week ago and did not report before,” Ugolnikov wrote in the caption of his Instagram post. “Trying to alleviate the symptoms by preparing my body for the championship following a strict routine.”
Ugolnikov’s lat tear was not a complete rupture. While the injury is serious, he remains optimistic about a full recovery. He intends to compete at the 2025 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 9-12.
“This is not a complete rupture of the muscles in the back, but a minor rupture of muscle fibers,” Ugolnikov confirmed. “One month from now, I’ll return to my training routine. Thank you to everyone who supported me.”
Ugolnikov is qualified for the 2025 Mr. Olympia thanks to scoring his first professional win at the 2025 Arnold South America in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, April 5. At the time of this article’s publication, he was one of 11 athletes qualified for the Mr. Olympia contest.
Ugolnikov hoped to make bodybuilding history at the Pittsburgh Pro. The show had traditionally featured Men’s Open guest posers, but this is the first time the competition is holding a pro Men’s Open contest. The first-place award is $100,000, the third-largest purse in bodybuilding behind the Olympia and the Arnold Classic.
2025 Pittsburgh Pro Men’s Open Roster
Ugolnikov’s absence leaves 14 athletes in the Pittsburgh Pro lineup vying for the 2025 championship, including Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Martin Fitzwater, William Bonac, and Michal “Krizo” Krizanek. The full lineup is below:
- Joe Ballinger (UK)
- Pavel Beran (Czech Republic)
- William Bonac (Netherlands)
- Douglas Connor (USA)
- Marcelo Pedro Da Cruz (Brazil)
- Martin Fitzwater (USA)
- Ron Gordon (USA)
- Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
- Derek Lunsford (USA)
- Vincenzo Masone (USA)
- Justin Musiol (Germany)
- Leandro Sencini Peres (Brazil)
- Nicholas Walker (USA)
- Bartley Weaver IV (USA)
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Featured Image: @goodvito on Instagram
