Written by Steve Blechman
11 October 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Is Bodybuilding Dead?

Hell No!!

 

            Leading up to the 2019 Mr. Olympia, on many occasions I came across people who said that professional bodybuilding is dying. I say, “Hell no!”

 

 

            I was excited about this year’s Mr. Olympia because we have a new champion! It was up for grabs! Whoever is at their best in the top four can win and the man that did was Brandon Curry. Curry had been the favorite since winning the 2019 Arnold Classic and has gotten better and more improved in every show he’s gone into. Brandon beat William Bonac at this year’s Arnold Classic, and also at this year’s Olympia. Last year’s People’s Champion, Roelly Winklaar came in fifth next to 2008 Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson. That’s what made this year’s Olympia so exciting! Any of the top four had a chance to win, even Cedric McMillan, who was my dark horse could have won; unfortunately, Cedric came in far from his best. Well now we have a new champion and a champion he is in every sense of the word. He will be a great representative for bodybuilding. Congratulations, Brandon Curry: Mr. Olympia 2019.

 

            What makes me most excited about the future of bodybuilding is 2020— when we begin the new competitive bodybuilding season in March at the Arnold Classic. I anticipate it will be a great lineup. I have been told by a reliable source that Big Ramy will make his first appearance since 2018 at the 2020 Arnold Classic.

 

            2020 will be a great year for competitive bodybuilding with the likes of seven-time 212 Olympia champion Flex Lewis competing for the first time in the open division. I am predicting that the 2020 Mr. Olympia will be the best Mr. Olympia in many years with the likes of Shawn Rhoden coming back to try and regain his title, as well as Flex Lewis competing for the first time in the open division, battling it out with Hadi Choopan, William Bonac and Dexter Jackson. I also anticipate we will see Big Ramy at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, especially if he wins the Arnold Classic.

 

            Perhaps we will see the return of Phil Heath trying to regain another Sandow, tying the record with Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney with eight Mr. Olympia titles! And who knows? Maybe Kai Greene will jump in as well, but I have a gut feeling that Kai Greene will appear at The Rock’s show, Athleticon. It’s a great fit for Kai because he is an entertainer! Of course, this all speculation on my part, but wouldn’t it be great if this all materialized? It could realistically happen, and could you imagine if Kai Greene also threw his hat in the 2020 Olympia? Is that far-fetched?

 

            Athleticon is on Friday, October 9th through Sunday, October 11th, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia and is being produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia. This will be three to four weeks after the 2020 Olympia. Of course, at this time, The Rock and Dany Garcia have not announced what role bodybuilding will play at Athleticon but I would bet that professional bodybuilding will be part of the event, and I predict will be the biggest prize money ever in the history of bodybuilding. Athleticon will be huge! The Rock is a big star and the highest-paid actor in film today. The Rock currently has over 156M followers on Instagram and 13.8M followers on Twitter! Like the Arnold Classic, it will have many different sports and fitness competitions. The Rock is a great bodybuilding fan and has followed professional bodybuilding for many, many years. Athleticon would be a great opportunity to promote bodybuilding worldwide! If this is true, Athleticon will do well for bodybuilding and fitness, by providing what I believe could be the highest prize money in professional bodybuilding, which is great for the athletes. The Mr. Olympia will still continue to be the number one most prestigious bodybuilding event.

 

            So, the future of bodybuilding, as I see it, will thrive in 2020 and beyond! Bodybuilding will never die. More people bodybuild and lift weights than play baseball globally! Muscular Development, now known as Muscular Development Media, has evolved as not just a magazine, but a bodybuilding media company. Muscular Development Media has transformed, over the years, from a publishing company to a global media company— a leading edge 24/7 content hub, delivering the best content for serious gym rats, strength trainers and bodybuilders alike. MD is not just a magazine anymore. We are a multimedia, multiplatform company that includes digital, point-of-contact IFBB contest coverage, interactive MD No Bull forums, cutting-edge video content, with over 217K YouTube subscribers. Muscular Development has engaging print, vast social media platforms, dedicated e-mail subscriber lists, podcasts and radio shows, including “MD Global Muscle Radio” worldwide (available on YouTube and podcast platforms) and our Muscular Development weekly newsletter, and now our newest upcoming show: CHARLES GLASS: TRAINER OF CHAMPIONS!

           

Hell no – bodybuilding is not dead!

 

Dwayne Johnson Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1171407982216667136

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2OzhDClumB/

 

Dany Garcia Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanyGarciaCo/status/1171407978987216898

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2O0lZAHtwV/

 

 

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