German bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski had perhaps the most unexpected showing at the 2024 Olympia so far, at least among the Classic Physique Olympia competitors.
- Fans packed into the Resorts World Theater on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, to watch the Classic Physique Olympia pre-judging event. This was the first real opportunity to see how the division’s leaders look at this year’s “O.”
Kalecinski took a different approach for this year’s Classic Physique Olympia than he’d done in years past. “The Miracle Bear,” as he’s known, went into hibernation during his contest prep to both preserve his mental health and surprise the crowd at the Olympia.
It seems to have worked.
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Urs Kalecinski 2024 Classic Physique Olympia Pre-Judging
While most of the Classic Physique Olympia superstars, including five-time champ Chris Bumstead, publicize the ins and outs of their prep diet, Kalecinski went “shadow mode” in 2024.
- Less than a month out from the big day, Kalecinski touched on the rigors of prepping to compete on bodybuilding’s biggest stage. “Put yourself in my shoes,” Kalecinski said on Sep. 22. “If you wouldn’t feel any pressure, call me and tell me your secret.”
Kalecinski could be seen shrouded in a large, oversized sweatshirt in the weeks leading up to (and during) the 2024 Olympia. His strategy is reminiscent of Bumstead’s iconic Carhartt jacket from 2022 or Dorian Yates’ penchant for concealing his physique backstage (that’s how he earned his nickname, “the Shadow”).
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Kalecinski, just 26, has long been regarded as the division’s “little brother,” despite placing fourth, third, and third at the Classic Physique Olympia between 2021 and 2023. But Kalecinski’s package this year seems to signal a new era for the Bear.
- Kalecinski made first and last callouts during the Classic Physique Olympia pre-judging session, and he deserved it. Kalecinski seems to have added significant muscle mass, particularly to his arms which historically had been a weak point for him.
- He was joined in the final callout by Bumstead and Mike Sommerfeld, who appears poised to leap from 8th in 2023 to a top-five finish in ’24.
Is Kalecinski in shape enough to improve his placement at the Classic Physique Olympia? Hard telling, but fans won’t have to wait long. The finals are set for Oct. 12 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Stick with BarBend for up-to-the-minute results.
One thing’s for sure — the Miracle Bear emerged from hibernation looking bigger and badder than ever.
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Featured Image: @the.miraclebear / Instagram
