by Christian Duque
As extra bodybuilding contests are added onto the professional circuit plainly the powers that be wish to preserve the aggressive area reserved for the perfect on this planet. Given how little we see the highest guys on this planet competing it appears determined instances name for determined measures. One tell-tale contest was the 2023 Arnold Basic. It acquired 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 despite the fact that the purse was $200k it simply didn’t appear to make a distinction. The highest guys have been already locked into the most important present on this planet and so they needed to remain there.
What’s the inducement 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. Additionally they pay effectively, however should you’re within the High 5 there is no such thing as a actual incentive to compete. These guys have been thought-about potential Mr. O’s and so they all had large contracts that allowed them to eat, prepare, and just about simply lay low yr spherical. Many made appearances at varied 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 should compete once more. It additionally gave them the luxurious of prepping all yr to be at their best possible on the Olympia. There have been some issues with that idea that we’ll delve right into a bit. Alternatively, this idea additionally stored a number of the finest guys from being seen throughout the nation and around the globe. Bodybuilding audiences should see the very best guys potential. In any case, they’re unlikely to see the High 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 High 10 on their finest day. That’s not precisely the elite of the elite.
The brand new guidelines will now not give High 5 guys automated {qualifications} for the next yr’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 will have 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 received’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 could be the High 3. That raises the bar significantly larger.
On the fee we’re going, will the particular invite be the subsequent to go beneath the chopping block? That’s debatable as a result of it’s not speculated to be given yearly and it’s additionally totally discretionary. As long as the promoters can preserve using the particular invite all the way down to a minimal, then I’d say it’s secure to remain. However who is aware of. Guys like Derek took 2nd and Ramy received 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 may 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 might 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 yr 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 received a title as soon as upon a time. That’s loads of 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 enhancing.
The actual fact of the matter is that if Ramy competed once more on the 2023 Olympia it’s potential he would have fallen exterior of the High 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 High 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 constantly improve the manufacturing worth, then that may not be the very best look.
On a extra sensible word, nevertheless, this rule change will be sure that extra high 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 a number of additional bucks within the course of as effectively. Plus, the highest guys received’t simply compete to compete. They’ve reputations to uphold and so they know the way merciless the pundits and trolls on social media could be. Even when there have been such a factor as “a straightforward win” and even when the lineups aren’t that deep, they’ll’t be seen trying lower than stellar. Typically successful a straightforward present spells catastrophe for an athlete trying 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 vital as effectively.
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 in addition as a result of they in all probability received’t wish to put together. It’ll be attention-grabbing if the High 3 contains two Mr. Olympias. May you think about if the High 3 included three Mr. O’s? That means what if Derek received, Hadi took 2nd, and Brandon took third. The High 3 could be all Mr. Olympias. That will imply that everybody moreover them must qualify for the 2024 Mr. Olympia. That will be a high-quality solution to break the brand new guidelines if I do say so myself. I imply what higher solution to carry a couple of revolutionary change than by inflicting pandemonium. We’d by no means hear the top of it, at the very least not till subsequent yr when the Arnold Basic invite lists have been made public.
One thing tells me that there wouldn’t be a mere 5 – 6 guys serious about doing the present. It could draw out a who’s who and the 2024 contest season could be one for the file books.
Nothing makes an individual need one thing greater than not having the ability to get it as simply as earlier than. I imagine they name that provide and demand.
The brand new rule will scale back the variety of automated {qualifications}, which is able to undoubtedly improve their worth among the many better of the very best. It’ll be a really attention-grabbing yr to return. What’s your tackle the brand new rule? Good for the athletes? Good for the followers? Good for the game?
