Two-time Arnold Classic champion and three-time Mr. Olympia runner-up Kai Greene can now be counted as out of the 2019 Mr. Olympia contest. This is because the bodybuilding great will be on the other side of the world filming a movie.
Greene recently earned a role in an upcoming movie in India called “Pogaru” which is set for a 2020 release. Greene has been involved in other filming roles outside of bodybuilding, including in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things,” so being on camera in an acting role is nothing new to him. The filming of the movie is schedule to go beyond the Olympia weekend so Greene wouldn’t be able to train, diet, and prepare properly to compete in Las Vegas.
Greene was actually not qualified to compete in the Olympia anyway but was believed by many that he would be offered a special invite to compete should he have committed to the show.
Fans and media members of the bodybuilding community have been criticizing the show this year due to the lack of “star power” in the lineup. Current Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden is currently ineligible to defend the title due to his pending legal case. Seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath hasn’t publicly stated whether he will compete or not this year. He’s recently been supporting his partner, Shurie, as she recovers from surgery. Mamdouh Ellsbiay a.k.a. Big Ramy was injured and didn’t compete this season.
Cedric McMillan competed but failed to win a show this season and wasn’t able to compete in the summer due to his military commitments over the summer. The IFBB Pro League extended a special invite to him because of this and he will be in the show.
The Olympia weekend takes place September 12-15 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stay tuned to BarBend for more news and updates as it happens leading up to the event.
Featured image: @kaigreene on Instagram