by Christian Duque
As extra bodybuilding contests are added onto the professional circuit plainly the powers that be need 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 received 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 although 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 needed to remain there.
What’s the motivation to offer 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 properly, however in case you’re within the Prime 5 there isn’t a actual incentive to compete. These guys had been thought-about potential Mr. O’s and so they all had large contracts that allowed them to eat, practice, and just about simply lay low yr spherical. Many made appearances at numerous expos and in-stores as a result of they commanded large audiences.
It’s to not say that being robotically 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 yr to be at their very best on the Olympia. There have been some issues with that principle that we’ll delve right into a bit. Then again, this idea additionally saved a number of the greatest guys from being seen throughout the nation and all over the world. Bodybuilding audiences need to see the very best guys potential. 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 might be Prime 10 on their greatest day. That’s not precisely the elite of the elite.
The brand new guidelines will now not give Prime 5 guys computerized {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 implies that each single man up there deserves to be there. The one guys who will get that computerized qualification can be the Prime 3. That raises the bar significantly greater.
On the fee we’re going, will the particular invite be the following to go underneath the chopping block? That’s debatable as a result of it’s not presupposed to be given yearly and it’s additionally solely discretionary. As long as the promoters can hold using the particular invite right 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 should 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 possible have earned his second Sandow.
One other chance is that ultimately they could cease computerized {qualifications} for previous Mr. Olympias. I, personally, suppose that will be going too far, however let’s assume now we have 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 perhaps on the downturn versus sustaining or enhancing.
The very fact of the matter is that if Ramy competed once more on the 2023 Olympia it’s potential he would have fallen outdoors 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 computerized {qualifications}? Once more, to every their very own, however the reality of the matter is that if the aim is to constantly enhance the manufacturing worth, then that may not be the very best look.
On a extra practical word, nevertheless, this rule change will be certain that extra prime guys will compete all over the world. There’s much 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 further bucks within the course of as properly. 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 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. Typically successful 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 properly.
The brand new rule additionally will make for a much more aggressive lineup. These guys are going to combat all of the more durable as a result of they’ll need the glory and in addition as a result of they most likely received’t need to put together. It’ll be fascinating if the Prime 3 contains two Mr. Olympias. Might you think about if the Prime 3 included three Mr. O’s? That means what if Derek received, Hadi took 2nd, and Brandon took third. The Prime 3 can be all Mr. Olympias. That may imply that everybody in addition to them must qualify for the 2024 Mr. Olympia. That may be a superb approach to break the brand new guidelines if I do say so myself. I imply what higher approach to convey a couple of revolutionary change than by inflicting pandemonium. We’d by no means hear the tip of it, a minimum of not till subsequent yr 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 fascinated by 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 having the ability to get it as simply as earlier than. I consider they name that provide and demand.
The brand new rule will scale back the variety of computerized {qualifications}, which is able to undoubtedly enhance their worth among the many better of the very best. It’ll be a really fascinating yr to come back. What’s your tackle the brand new rule? Good for the athletes? Good for the followers? Good for the game?