by Christian Duque
As extra bodybuilding contests are added onto the professional circuit it appears that evidently the powers that be wish to hold the aggressive house reserved for the perfect on this planet. Given how little we see the highest guys on this planet competing it appears determined occasions name for determined measures. One tell-tale contest was the 2023 Arnold Basic. It bought so unhealthy when it was down to 6 guys that it was trying just like the second greatest contest on this planet was going to go stomach up. And what’s loopy is that regardless that the purse was $200k it simply didn’t appear to make a distinction. The highest guys had been already locked into the largest present on this planet and so they wished to remain there.
What’s the motivation to present your all – even when $200k is on the road – if it’s simply the second greatest bodybuilding present? You then take a look at the opposite contests. In addition they pay nicely, however in case you’re within the Prime 5 there isn’t any actual incentive to compete. These guys had been thought of potential Mr. O’s and so they all had large contracts that allowed them to eat, prepare, and just about simply lay low 12 months spherical. Many made appearances at numerous expos and in-stores as a result of they commanded enormous audiences.
It’s to not say that being mechanically certified was a license to be lazy, it’s simply to say that it meant these guys didn’t need to compete once more. It additionally gave them the luxurious of prepping all 12 months to be at their very best on the Olympia. There have been some issues with that idea that we’ll delve right into a bit. However, this idea additionally saved a number of the finest guys from being seen throughout the nation and around the globe. Bodybuilding audiences need to see the very best guys doable. In spite of everything, they’re unlikely to see the Prime 3 competing, however why not guys that took 4th, fifth, and sixth? In any other case the very best they’ll see is guys who could possibly be Prime 10 on their finest day. That’s not precisely the elite of the elite.
The brand new guidelines will not give Prime 5 guys automated {qualifications} for the next 12 months’s Olympia. This bombshell information comes after one other bombshell transfer that eradicated the factors system. The factors system gave guys who racked up sufficient 2nd’s, third’s, 4th’s and fifth’s the possibility to cobble up sufficient factors to get a spot within the Olympia.
When there have been some 20-30 guys on that stage it was argued that the Superbowl of Bodybuilding was beginning to look extra like a charity occasion. When you have got guys up there who nobody has ever heard of, that’s an issue. As soon as the factors system was scrapped, the Olympia pool shrunk by greater than half. And whereas the brand new rule gained’t dramatically shrink the variety of certified rivals, it signifies that each single man up there deserves to be there. The one guys who will get that automated qualification can be the Prime 3. That raises the bar significantly increased.
On the fee we’re going, will the particular invite be the following to go below the chopping block? That’s debatable as a result of it’s not speculated to be given yearly and it’s additionally fully discretionary. As long as the promoters can hold using the particular invite all the way down to a minimal, then I’d say it’s protected to remain. However who is aware of. Guys like Derek took 2nd and Ramy gained his first Sandow due to a particular invite. In any other case they wouldn’t have been on that stage to start with. Maybe the invite would possibly get indefinitely shelved. I imply think about how salty Brandon Curry will need to have been when the man who beat him in 2020 didn’t even qualify. If Ramy hadn’t been within the lineup, The Prodigy would probably have earned his second Sandow.
One other risk is that ultimately they could cease automated {qualifications} for previous Mr. Olympias. I, personally, assume that will be going too far, however let’s assume we’ve a brand new Mr. O in only a couple weeks. Let’s additionally assume that subsequent 12 months Ramy and Hadi compete. You’d have Brandon, Ramy, Hadi and whoever wins the 2023 Olympia all competing. That’s 4 guys all there as a result of they gained a title as soon as upon a time. That’s numerous our bodies up there by advantage of previous achievements. And in some circumstances, their physiques is likely to be on the downturn versus sustaining or bettering.
The actual fact of the matter is that if Ramy competed once more on the 2023 Olympia it’s doable he would have fallen exterior of the Prime 6. We noticed Cutler barely maintain on in 2013 and we’ve seen previous Mr. O’s like Samir Bannout even fall out of the Prime 10.
Do we would like Mr. O’s that aren’t even aggressive within the Olympia getting automated {qualifications}? Once more, to every their very own, however the truth of the matter is that if the purpose is to persistently improve the manufacturing worth, then that may not be the very best look.
On a extra real looking notice, nonetheless, this rule change will be certain that extra prime guys will compete around the globe. There’s way more contests on the schedule and plenty of of them are abroad. Numerous followers in South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe love bodybuilding however don’t actually get to see the highest guys competing. Now they not solely have an incentive to compete in qualifying, however they stand to make just a few additional bucks within the course of as nicely. Plus, the highest guys gained’t simply compete to compete. They’ve reputations to uphold and so they know the way merciless the pundits and trolls on social media might be. Even when there have been such a factor as “a simple win” and even when the lineups aren’t that deep, they’ll’t be seen trying lower than stellar. Generally profitable a simple present spells catastrophe for an athlete seeking to make a reputation for himself. Keep in mind, it’s not simply attending to the Olympia stage, however the way you get there. That’s important as nicely.
The brand new rule additionally will make for a much more aggressive lineup. These guys are going to battle all of the tougher as a result of they’ll need the glory and likewise as a result of they most likely gained’t wish to put together. It’ll be fascinating if the Prime 3 consists of two Mr. Olympias. Might you think about if the Prime 3 included three Mr. O’s? That means what if Derek gained, Hadi took 2nd, and Brandon took third. The Prime 3 can be all Mr. Olympias. That might imply that everybody in addition to them must qualify for the 2024 Mr. Olympia. That might be a positive solution to break the brand new guidelines if I do say so myself. I imply what higher solution to deliver a few revolutionary change than by inflicting pandemonium. We’d by no means hear the top of it, no less than not till subsequent 12 months when the Arnold Basic invite lists had been made public.
One thing tells me that there wouldn’t be a mere 5 or 6 guys excited about doing the present. It will draw out a who’s who and the 2024 contest season can be one for the report books.
Nothing makes an individual need one thing greater than not with the ability to get it as simply as earlier than. I imagine they name that offer and demand.
The brand new rule will cut back the variety of automated {qualifications}, which can undoubtedly improve their worth among the many better of the very best. It’ll be a really fascinating 12 months to return. What’s your tackle the brand new rule? Good for the athletes? Good for the followers? Good for the game?