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 folks the flawed means. Is that my intent? No. Do I respect their opinion as a lot as I hope they’d help mine? Sure. However there are issues I consider must be stated and thrown on the market to start out some dialog concerning the course of bodybuilding and the IFBB.
So, to kick issues off on a brighter word, I congratulate the IFBB on securing a cope with MIT45 and Rebellion Extracts — good for all events concerned. The truth that an extra $210,000 is now going into the pockets of rivals is wonderful.
The minimal prize cash for exhibits within the males’s open (a complete of 21) will likely be getting an extra $10,000 of their checks. Bravo. Respect to the large boys within the Males’s Open for what they do to achieve the scale they carry round, and I do consider they’re deserving of the cash they make.
In keeping with Tyler Manion, the breakdown for that is that the winner will obtain an extra $5,000, and second place will get an additional $4,000. Not dangerous in any respect for these guys.
Now, for the half that’s going to trigger my telephone to ring and inform me I have to cease speaking in regards to 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 positive you’ll have guys who will wish 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 large 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 may argue that because of Chris Bumstead, Traditional Physique is without doubt one of the most enjoyable 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 as if a very good dude. However does Chris get wherever near what the large boys make in Males’s Open? Who has made a better affect 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.
In the event you observe Chris, you’ll see him getting folks exterior the business keen on health and bodybuilding. Lately, he and his model collaborated with the fellows (Navy SEALS) at GBRS, the place they obtained in some exercises and time on the vary taking pictures weapons. In the event you ask me, he’s far more attention-grabbing than just about anybody else within the IFBB
I’d go as far as to say that if Chris Bumstead weren’t within the combine the previous few years, bodybuilding and Traditional Physique would have fizzled out. It’s my opinion that whereas Males’s Open is really the primary occasion of any IFBB present, Traditional Physique is true on its tail.
Chris might by no means see the sort of cash that the Open guys make for profitable exhibits, however why can’t he be shut? Now, Chris does simply tremendous for himself exterior of profitable 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 all the pieces Chris has performed on this business and provides him an enormous quantity of credit score for rising the game and viewers over the past a number of years.
I’ve even revealed a number of articles about how I believe Chris is the way forward for the business, 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 in the future step on an Open stage? No. Would it not be attention-grabbing? Certain. However he’s formed his persona and his legacy in Traditional 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 smart to compete aside from the truth that you actually adore it. In the event you 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 taking place.
You might have rivals exterior of the Males’s Open profitable exhibits that make means lower than the Males’s Open, and I’m not going to downplay their coaching, weight-reduction plan, dedication, or anything. 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
- Traditional Physique: $50,000
- Males’s Physique: $50,000
- Olympia: $50,000
- Determine: $50,000
- Health: $50,000
- Ladies’s Physique: $50,000
- Wellness: $50,000
- Bikini: $50,000
Sadly, the smaller exhibits all year long pay out a fraction of those quantities for winners. For example, Bikini rivals can stroll away with only some thousand {dollars} for a win, and that is after wherever from 12-20 weeks of prep.
Think about your complete life revolving round preparing for exhibits, and also you solely stroll away with a number of thousand {dollars} (in the event you even win the present). Many rivals stroll away with zero {dollars} after investing all of the money and time simply to compete and be on stage. You may as nicely go work at McDonald’s, the place you can also make more cash.
Once more, I’m positive this text goes to ruffle some feathers. I agree that Males’s Open deserves the large 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 yr.
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 might make folks rethink competing. Is it well worth the time being invested, the harm it could be doing to their physique… for what? Just a few thousand {dollars} (perhaps extra in the event that they place nicely on the Olympia)? They’ll make extra as an influencer and coaching purchasers at an area gymnasium.
It’s my opinion that the IFBB ought to look into what might be performed to assist the opposite divisions exterior of the Males’s Open. The newest transfer to provide Open winners much more cash all year long is a direct slap within the face to all the opposite rivals on the market who help your group and assist pull in cash for YOUR exhibits. With out them, you don’t have a company until you’re keen to shed divisions and solely have Males’s Open.