Mr. Olympia is a well-reputed professional bodybuilding contest. It is a competition of international level held on an annual basis by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB). The aim of the contest was to provide a means of earning for Mr. Universe winners. The competition was first held in 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City. A film based on the hype around Mr. Olympia contest was released in 1977 called Pumping Iron. This is the very film that helped launch the careers of renowned artists Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.
Mr. Olympia 2016 and the Contestants
The Mr. Olympia for 2016 will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 15th to 18th. There are thirteen contestants who have qualified to compete. Following is a brief background on each of them.
William Bonac
He is an IFBB recognized professional bodybuilder. He originally belongs to Ghana. His physique is appreciable. Bonac carries a lot of muscle mass in his legs while sporting an adequate upper body. According to critics, he has the potential to become a threat to his rivals on a regular basis.
Mamdouh Elssbiay(Big Ramy)
Elssbiay is commonly known by the nickname Big Ramy. He is a professional bodybuilder of Egyptian background. Last year, he broke the record of being the heaviest body builder to enter a reputed contest like Mr. Olympia. He achieved the fifth place last year in the same competition.
Kai Greene – Possibility
Kai Greene is a notable professional body builder associated with IFBB. His recent achievements include winning at the Arnold Classic 2016. He has a good record in Mr. Olympia. He was awarded the second place in the competition from 2012 to 2014. He has starred in personal documentaries Overkill and Redemption that showcase his preparation for 2009 and 2010 Mr. Olympia.
Phil Heath
Heath is the current Mr. Olympia title holder. He has been winning the title continuously since 2011. He had begun his bodybuilding career in 2002. Apart from such notable Mr. Olympia career, he has many other titles and achievements to his name.
Dexter Jackson
Jackson has a competition named after him; the Dexter Jackson classic which is a body building and fitness contest. He has a body building experience spanning over two decades. Apart from his personal career, he takes out time to mentor the next generation.
Steve Kuclo
Kuclo is also known as King Snake. He is a body builder of American origin. His early life consisted of many athletic activities. He started his competing career at the young age of eighteen.
Other contestants for Mr. Olympia include Joshua Lenartowicz, Kevin Levrone, Cedric McMillan, Lukas Osladil, Shawn Rhoden, Roelly Winklaar and Dennis Wolf. All of these contestants have passed through intense qualifying rounds and customized workout routines to take part in this popular contest.
The most important question is if Heath will carry on his legacy or will one of the other strong competitors will break his streak?
