Big Ramy Before His 2020 Olympia Win – the Early Years
As Muscular Development celebrates Big Ramy’s 2020 Mr. Olympia win, we look back at the events that helped shape his path to victory, with highlights from the MD archives. Today, Big Expectations! originally published in January 2014.
BIG EXPECTATIONS!
Did ‘Big Ramy’ Live Up to the Hype?
By Dan Solomon
What a difference a year makes, especially if your name is Mamdouh Elssbiay. Back when Mamdouh turned 28 years old in the summer of 2012, the chances are pretty good you had never heard of him. A few months earlier, the Egyptian-born bodybuilder nicknamed “Big Ramy” won the Amateur Olympia, an event held in Kuwait that allows its overall champion to join the IFBB’s pro ranks. Those in attendance marveled over his rare combination of size and championship structure. It was a highly advanced physique under any analysis, but the real shock came upon the realization that this newcomer had only been training for three years. Fans in Kuwait couldn’t believe what they had discovered, but it took several months for fans in North America to catch wind of the phenom – who was literally “growing” each day, on the other side of the world.
In the months to follow, Dennis James took young Ramy under his wings in preparation for his pro debut at the New York Pro, an event hyped as the return of Victor Martinez, the former Olympia runner-up who hadn’t competed since the fall of 2011. Unfortunately for Victor, the story of his return was fast overshadowed by the legend of the 280-pound Middle Easterner preparing for his first visit to the United States. When describing Ramy’s debut in New York, MD Senior Editor Peter McGough described the physique as “a living, breathing, flexing, Photoshop experiment, stomping its way across the stage and into Olympia contender status.” Big Ramy won the event, convincingly, joining the likes of Phil Heath and Flex Wheeler in that elite club of victorious first-timers, but this story was only beginning.
In the days and weeks to follow, photos circulated of Ramy’s walk across that New York City stage, images of a virtual stranger, loaded with so much muscle that fans began wondering if Phil’s reign would be challenged by a guy who outweighs him by a cool 50+ pounds. But in the case of Big Ramy, it wasn’t just the fans that were paying close attention. Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler boldly said, “He’s the real deal, a definite contender for the Mr. Olympia. He can push any one of us – me, Phil, and Kai.” How’s THAT for high praise? Cutler was actually calling this rookie a contender for the Mr. Olympia title? And it didn't end there. Flex Wheeler appeared on the “Pro Bodybuilding Worldwide” radio program and joined Cutler in declaring the newly crowned New York Pro champ a legitimate contender for the crown. The accolades were rolling in, the industry had taken notice, expectations were sky high!
Was everyone getting just a bit carried away? Less than a year ago we had never heard of him, and now the most respected experts in bodybuilding were calling him a legitimate contender to defeat Phil Heath?
A close analysis of Ramy’s physique reveals a remarkable combination of size and shape. 285 pounds of dense, well-proportioned muscle, packed on to the 5-foot-10-inch frame of a guy who only started training three years ago! The numbers are nearly as staggering as the images of his wide shoulders, massive quad sweep, narrow waist and advanced back development. In taking a closer look, it’s easy to see the formation of striated muscle lying beneath the skin, a quality not commonly found in bodybuilders of Ramy’s size.
As the 2013 Olympia drew closer, photos of his progress began circulating, and the arrival of each photo further raised expectations. Experts and fans alike were imagining how the smaller, reigning champ might struggle standing next to the massive Ramy. It was your classic “apples/oranges” debate, but not everyone was buying in. We’ve seen similar storylines before. Do you remember the infamous case of Alexander Fedorov, the Russian bodybuilder who many hailed as the heir apparent to Ronnie Coleman? The Fedorov hype-machine reached a pace so feverish that FLEX magazine put him on their cover leading up to the 2005 Olympia. How did that turn out? Not only did the Russian fail to pose any challenge to Coleman, but he ended up placing last – a reminder that hype and expectations can be more dangerous to a bodybuilder than heavy doses of estrogen.
By the time Olympia Weekend arrived, Big Ramy was viewed as a full-blown contender. During the opening press conference, someone asked the rookie if he could actually win the title, and with the help of a translator, he replied, “Maybe.” And who could blame him? Everyone around him, including his fans, had spent the prior four months telling him he’s the best bodybuilder since Schwarzenegger – but unfortunately for Ramy, the bodybuilders at THIS Olympia were far more dangerous than any of those who challenged Arnold.
When prejudging began, the detail and crisp muscle insertions on Heath immediately reminded fans why he’s the champion. For a moment, Ramy found himself playing the role of Lou Ferrigno at the ‘75 Olympia – the younger, massive newcomer, quickly brought back to reality when forced to stand alongside the more experienced champion. But make no mistake about it. Ramy “belonged” on that stage.
When the final placings were announced, Ramy landed in eighth, but the scorecard only tells a small part of the story. Those of us who watched the event unfold were quick to criticize his lack of championship-caliber condition. To put it simply, Ramy was smooth, retained water, and on this night lacked the detail and separation required to challenge the more seasoned contingency of Kai Greene, Dennis Wolf, Dexter Jackson, Shawn Rhoden and Heath.
In the world of bodybuilding, poor structure is difficult to overcome, but the most “fixable” indiscretion is conditioning. A few adjustments and tweaks can turn a bodybuilder from smooth to RIPPED from one contest to the next, a reality that bodes well for Ramy.
Every bodybuilder is in pursuit of that moment when everything falls into place, that elusive day when potential and reality collide, and the stars align. When reviewing the images on these pages, try to imagine what this physique will look like the day he finds the right formula.
What a difference a year makes. Mamdouh Elssbiay just turned 29 years old. When he turned 28, we didn’t even know his name. Today he ranks as one of the top bodybuilders on the planet. And when he turns 30 … well, you get the picture.
What Other Experts Are Saying About Ramy
Ron Harris, Bodybuilding Insider and MD Senior Writer – Ramy showed exactly what I expected him to after having seen him win the New York Pro back in May –jaw-dropping mass with a very pleasing structure and shape. I for one didn’t have the huge expectations for him to place in the top three or even possibly win, as some others did. Ramy is a massive diamond in the rough, and it’s going to take time to polish that diamond. I knew that in spite of his overwhelming mass, he couldn’t compare to the tremendous muscle quality and detail of men like Phil, Kai and Wolf, who have all clocked in many more years toiling against the iron. Is he a future threat? Without a doubt. He packed on the size of a Mr. Olympia champ in a shockingly brief span of time, and now he merely needs to season and mature that mass. As long as he stays healthy and injury free, Ramy will become more of a threat to take that Sandow trophy with every passing year.
Flex Wheeler, Hall of Fame Bodybuilder –At the Olympia, Ramy did not achieve the condition that I hoped or expected, but he proved how big he is compared to all the other athletes and showed his impeccable symmetry. Please keep in mind, it’s a bodybuilding show. He’s not the only one that did not achieve the condition that was expected.I was more impressed with him at the New York Pro. When assessing his future as a possible champion, I’ll remind you that I have placed eighthat the Mr. Olympia and as high as second place. Ronnie finished ninth one year then came back the next year to win the Mr Olympia eight times. So again, what happened this year was this year. Next year could be another story!
Shawn Ray, Hall of Fame Bodybuilder – Ramy made a big impression on the sport this past May in New York by beating a much smaller Victor Martinez. In Las Vegas, I believe he could have been as high as seventh place! I think he served notice that he is formidable,but still a work in progress serving up some youth to the lineup with both promise and potential! I was impressed that he didn't go “backward” from his pro debut in New York, which could be disastrous to the competitors down the road. He is definitely heading in the right direction, and I predict at least another win in 2014 and a return to the Mr. Olympia stage! I predict he’ll be top six next year at the Olympia.
Chad Nicholls, Bodybuilding Guru – I think overall, Ramy had a great first Olympia showing. This was the first time I had seen him in person, and I had huge expectations for him going into the show. After seeing him, I still think he has phenomenal potential and I think in the next couple of years he will be battling at the top of the sport, but he still has a lot of work ahead of him before he gets there. He mainly needs to focus on conditioning and maturing the ridiculous amount of muscle he has put on in a very short amount of time. I do, however, stand by my previous statements that Ramy is the future battle for Phil
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