by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
To preface this whole article, I’m simply going to throw out the elephant within the room and get it over with, and that’s the truth that this text goes to rub some individuals the flawed method. Is that my intent? No. Do I respect their opinion as a lot as I hope they might help mine? Sure. However there are issues I imagine have to be mentioned and thrown on the market to begin some dialog concerning the route of bodybuilding and the IFBB.
So, to kick issues off on a brighter notice, I congratulate the IFBB on securing a cope with MIT45 and Rebellion Extracts — good for all events concerned. The truth that a further $210,000 is now going into the pockets of opponents is wonderful.
The minimal prize cash for reveals within the males’s open (a complete of 21) can be getting a further $10,000 of their checks. Bravo. Respect to the massive boys within the Males’s Open for what they do to achieve the dimensions they carry round, and I do imagine they’re deserving of the cash they make.
Based on Tyler Manion, the breakdown for that is that the winner will obtain a further $5,000, and second place will get an additional $4,000. Not unhealthy in any respect for these guys.
Now, for the half that’s going to trigger my telephone to ring and inform me I must cease speaking concerning the IFBB.
If You’re Not within the Males’s Open… The IFBB Doesn’t Give a Flying Turd About You
That’s a reasonably intense tackle issues, proper? However show me flawed. I’m certain you’ll have guys who will need to debate my stance as a result of they receives a commission by the IFBB to be diplomatic. However let’s be actual: earlier than the transfer to provide the massive boys extra prize cash, this was already a subject of debate about how a lot the opposite divisions had been getting paid.
However go forward and have a look at the prize cash hole between the Males’s Open and another division on the market. You possibly can argue that due to Chris Bumstead, Basic Physique is without doubt one of the most fun divisions to observe and that he (alone) has introduced extra eyeballs to the game over the previous couple of years than any Males’s Open competitor on the market.
Bumstead has over 23 million followers on Instagram. What number of does the reigning Olympia champ (Derek Lunsford) have? Solely 1M. Which is odd as a result of Derek looks like a extremely good dude. However does Chris get anyplace near what the massive boys make in Males’s Open? Who has made a better influence on the game between Chris and any of the final a number of Males’s Open Olympia winners? There’s no debate that Chris has.
For those who observe Chris, you’ll see him getting individuals exterior the trade inquisitive about health and bodybuilding. Not too long ago, he and his model collaborated with the blokes (Navy SEALS) at GBRS, the place they received in some exercises and time on the vary capturing weapons. For those who ask me, he’s far more attention-grabbing than just about anybody else within the IFBB
I might go as far as to say that if Chris Bumstead weren’t within the combine the previous few years, bodybuilding and Basic Physique would have fizzled out. It’s my opinion that whereas Males’s Open is actually the primary occasion of any IFBB present, Basic Physique is true on its tail.
Chris might by no means see the sort of cash that the Open guys make for successful reveals, however why can’t he be shut? Now, Chris does simply fantastic for himself exterior of successful Olympia titles. Between older endorsements and now proudly owning his personal companies, he’s not going to be strolling right into a soup kitchen along with his hand out anytime quickly. And truthfully, I applaud every part Chris has performed on this trade and provides him an enormous quantity of credit score for rising the game and viewers during the last a number of years.
I’ve even printed a number of articles about how I feel Chris is the way forward for the trade, how he’s the primary determine within the highlight lately, and the way he can proceed to push ahead and form the way forward for the IFBB. Does that imply he must at some point step on an Open stage? No. Wouldn’t it be attention-grabbing? Positive. However he’s formed his persona and his legacy in Basic Physique, and there’s completely nothing flawed with that.
[PULL IT BACK IN, MATT]
Sorry, I considerably went off on a tangent there with Chris, so let’s put the blinders again on and get refocused. Particularly, wanting on the different divisions, clarify to me why it is sensible to compete aside from the truth that you actually like it. For those who had been to receives a commission zero {dollars} to step on stage (and you continue to had all of the bills you wanted to pay to leap on stage) whereas everybody else was earning profits doing it, would you proceed? As a result of primarily, that’s what’s occurring.
You might have opponents exterior of the Males’s Open successful reveals that make method lower than the Males’s Open, and I’m not going to downplay their coaching, weight-reduction plan, dedication, or the rest. They prepare and work their butts off to be the very best of their respective divisions.
However have a look at the distinction within the 2023 Olympia prize cash for the winners:
- Males’s Open: $400,000
- 212: $50,000
- Basic Physique: $50,000
- Males’s Physique: $50,000
- Olympia: $50,000
- Determine: $50,000
- Health: $50,000
- Girls’s Physique: $50,000
- Wellness: $50,000
- Bikini: $50,000
Sadly, the smaller reveals all year long pay out a fraction of those quantities for winners. As an example, Bikini opponents can stroll away with only some thousand {dollars} for a win, and that is after anyplace from 12-20 weeks of prep.
Think about your complete life revolving round preparing for reveals, and also you solely stroll away with just a few thousand {dollars} (for those who even win the present). Many opponents stroll away with zero {dollars} after investing all of the money and time simply to compete and be on stage. You would possibly as properly go work at McDonald’s, the place you can also make more cash.
Once more, I’m certain this text goes to ruffle some feathers. I agree that Males’s Open deserves the massive paychecks as they put butts in seats. However $50,000 for the opposite divisions on the Olympia doesn’t even cowl their “dietary supplements” for the 12 months.
It makes you marvel if this transfer to pay the Males’s Open much more cash and say the heck with the remainder of the divisions may make individuals rethink competing. Is it definitely worth the time being invested, the injury it could be doing to their physique… for what? A number of thousand {dollars} (perhaps extra in the event that they place properly on the Olympia)? They’ll make extra as an influencer and coaching purchasers at a neighborhood fitness center.
It’s my opinion that the IFBB ought to look into what may be performed to assist the opposite divisions exterior of the Males’s Open. The most recent transfer to provide Open winners much more cash all year long is a direct slap within the face to all the opposite opponents on the market who help your group and assist pull in cash for YOUR reveals. With out them, you don’t have a corporation until you’re prepared to shed divisions and solely have Males’s Open.
