Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

The biggest contest in strongman, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), will take place on Apr. 19-23, 2023. After occurring in Sacramento, CA for 2021 and 2022, this year’s edition is changing it up by being set in Myrtle Beach, SC for the first time in the contest’s 46-year run. By the end of the weekend, another all-time strength champion will write another stirring chapter in the strongman history books.

Admission is free for fans attending the 2023 WSM in person at Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place, and gates open to the public at 7 a.m. Eastern time. There will be a fan festival area and a general admission viewing area for spectators. For those who wish to watch the 2023 WSM at home, there is no option to view it live. In the US, CBS Sports Network will air the 2023 WSM beginning on May 28, 2023. In the UK, the 2023 WSM will air on Channel 5 in December. In the meantime, the 2023 WSM’s various social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, will feature behind-the-scenes coverage while 15-time WSM athlete Terry Hollands conducts interviews with the competitors.

Tom Stoltman is the two-time defending WSM champion. The strongman is seeking history in the form of the third “three-peat” in the history of the flagship strength contest. To date, the only athletes to have ever successfully won three consecutive WSM titles were the United States’ Bill Kazmaier (1980-1982) and Iceland’s Magnús Ver Magnússon (1994-1996).

Here is the 30-man roster for the 2023 WSM:

2023 World’s Strongest Man Roster

• Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom) — Defending two-time WSM champion
• Pavlo Kordiyaka (Ukraine)
• Evan Singleton (United States)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Trey Mitchell (United States)
• Adam Bishop (United Kingdom)
• Aivars Šmaukstelis (Latvia)
• Kevin Faires (United States)
• Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted (Iceland)
• Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
• Rauno Heinla (Estonia)
• Bobby Thompson (United States)
• Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
• Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
• Spenser Remick (United States)
• Eddie Williams (Australia)
• Konstantine Janashia (Georgia)
• Graham Hicks (United Kingdom)
• Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Mathew Ragg (New Zealand)
• Gabriel Rhéaume (Canada)
• Brian Shaw (United States)
• Fadi El Masri (Australia)
• Jaco Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
• Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf (Australia)
• Mark Felix (United Kingdom)
• Pa O’Dwyer (Ireland)
• Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou (Burkina Faso)
• Thomas Evans (United States)
• *Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine) — *Withdrawn
• *Maxime Boudreault (Canada) — *Withdrawn

The WSM organization will reveal the Qualifying Round groups for the 2023 WSM on Apr. 18, 2023 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. While unconfirmed, it is anticipated there will once again be six groups of five competitors each. Hollands will conduct the group announcement in front of a live audience in Myrtle Beach and it will be livestreamed.

2023 World’s Strongest Man Events Schedule

Here are the events and their scheduling for the 2023 WSM:

Qualifying Stage Day One

• Event One: Loading Race — April 19 | 8 a.m., Sand Stage
• Event Two: Deadlift Machine — April 19 | 11:29 a.m., Land Stage
• Event Three: Log Ladder — April 19 | 4:49 p.m., Sand Stage

Qualifying Stage Day Two

• Event Four: Conan’s Wheel — April 20 | 8 a.m., Land Stage
• Event Five: Kettlebell Toss — April 20 | 1:20 p.m., Sand Stage
• Event Six: Stone Off — April 20 | 6:13 p.m., Land Stage

Rest Day — April 21, 2023

Final Day One

Just 10 strongmen will advance to the Final after the Qualifying Round.

• Event One: Fingal’s Fingers — April 22 | 8 a.m., Street Stage
• Event Two: KNAACK Deadlift — April 22 | 10:41 a.m., Sand Stage
• Event Three: Reign Shield Carry — April 22 | 2:18 p.m., Street Stage

Final Day Two

• Event Four: Max Dumbbell — April 23 | 8 a.m., Land Stage
• Event Five: Vehicle Pull — April 23 | 10:10 a.m., Street Stage
• Event Six: Atlas Stones — April 23 | 1:54 p.m., Sand Stage

Stoltman’s “three-peat” pursuit aside, there are other notable storylines to watch at the 2023 WSM.

For example, four-time WSM champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) Brian Shaw will compete in his last-ever WSM. Long-time WSM competitor Mark Felix will also be putting a bow on his WSM career. The 2023 WSM will mark the athlete’s 18th appearance at the contest.

Meanwhile, other potential bona fide WSM contenders include Mitchell Hooper. The Canadian athlete has won four of his last five strongman contests and blitzed the 2022 WSM in his debut by qualifying for the Final. Even while nursing a lat muscle injury, Oleksii Novikov will be someone to watch, too. Novikov has qualified for the podium in 15 straight competitions dating back to July 2021. Aside from Shaw and the defending champion Stoltman, Novikov is the only other former WSM winner (2020) in the field.

As past WSM editions have shown, anything can and likely will happen in Myrtle Beach. The only reality that seems inevitable is that some of the world’s most physically powerful people will show off their sheer strength to an admiring crowd in person and at home.

Featured image: @theworldsstrongestman on Instagram

The post How To Watch the 2023 World’s Strongest Man appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ronnie Coleman and Ken “Flex” Wheeler had a great bodybuilding rivalry. Of his eight overall Mr. Olympia victories from 1998 to 2005, Coleman would best Wheeler for four of them (1998-2000, 2002). The closest Wheeler came to toppling Coleman were consecutive runner-up finishes in both the 1998 and 1999 editions. The 1998 contest, in particular, holds a special place in bodybuilding history as Coleman’s first Olympia win. It’s that very same contest in which Coleman believes Wheeler gave him an initial advantage.

On Apr. 12, 2023, Coleman discussed parts of his bodybuilding career in a segment of a conversation with current bodybuilding star Derek Lunsford. Coleman and Lunsford recently trained together in a meeting of past and present superstars. In his discussion with Lunsford, the legend revealed it was Wheeler who introduced him to iconic trainer Chad Nicholls and changed his nutritional outlook.

According to Coleman, when Wheeler introduced Coleman to Nicholls sometime before the 1998 Mr. Olympia, he altered the course of bodybuilding history.

His eventual rival helped turn Coleman into the all-time legend he’s now known as.

“A lot of people don’t know it but Flex Wheeler is pretty much the reason why I won the [1998 Mr.] Olympia because he turned me on to Chad Nicholls,” Coleman told Lunsford.

At first, Coleman had trouble reaching Nicholls. However, that was only a minor and expected impasse in the pair’s training relationship. Eventually, they’d get together, and Coleman’s dynastic run would start soon after.

“He [Wheeler] gave me his number and I called Chad [Nicholls] but Chad didn’t pick up the phone,” Coleman explained. “I said, ‘Flex [Wheeler] why’d you have me call this guy Chad, he didn’t pick up the phone.’ He [Wheeler] says, ‘Nah, he’s just like that, man. Call him again, and he’ll call you back.’ He [Nicholls] called me back and the rest is pretty much history. I won my first Olympia that year [1998] by hooking up with him.”

How did Nicholls change Coleman’s Olympia preparation approach? Per Coleman, among other tidbits, the trainer revamped his nutrition, eventually having the athlete eat almost a full pound of food in every meal.

“He [Nicholls] changed everything I was doing, everything,” Coleman said. “I went from doing, like, an hour of cardio a day to two hours. I went from eating half a pound of food with every meal to a whole pound. I went from training maybe 45 minutes to an hour a day to about maybe an hour, an hour and a half, sometimes an hour and 15 minutes of training because I was trying to do some of everything.”

In recent years, long after after his work with Coleman, Nicholls is perhaps most notable for his partnership with former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021) Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. The trainer’s son, Morgan, is also an ascending powerlifter.

Even while he never beat Coleman for a Mr. Olympia title, Wheeler can still boast four Arnold Classic (AC) victories (1993, 1997-1998, 2000) as well as a runner-up placing in the 1993 Mr. Olympia, behind six-time winner Dorian Yates. With his competitive record, Wheeler is often considered one of the greatest bodybuilders to never win the sport’s most prestigious title. With both legends’ careers now in the rearview mirror, the former rivals each have something to hang their hat on. It’s ironic, then, that without Wheeler’s training intervention, Coleman perhaps never ascends to bodybuilding prominence.

Featured image: Ronnie Coleman on YouTube

The post Ronnie Coleman Credits Flex Wheeler For Helping Start His Mr. Olympia Dynasty appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

Mateusz Kieliszkowski hoped to finally break through with a World’s Strongest Man (WSM) victory in 2022. Yet, roughly two months before the contest, the Polish strongman withdrew after suffering a leg injury. After a three-year WSM absence, Kieliszkowski’s return nears in Myrtle Beach, SC, on Apr. 19-23, 2023. It seems he’s pulling out all the stops. Quite literally.

On Apr. 12, 2023, Kieliszkowski shared an Instagram video of himself pulling a 32-ton (64,000-pound) truck. Kieliszkowski also lists the weight in his post as 70,547 pounds, but that is a likely typo or conversion error. The athlete writes that the monstrous truck-pulling feat is the last stop in his 2023 WSM prep before taking time to appropriately recuperate his strength.

In his post, Kieliszkowski explains that he really only spent three weeks on hardcore preparation focused on the 2023 WSM. He maintained that his last true WSM preparation in 2019 was much more comprehensive and may have led to his eventual second consecutive runner-up performance. On this occasion, the athlete did not clarify precisely why he took less time to prepare, which may be related to lapses in the timeline related to his leg injury. The athlete also participated in the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) in early March, where he earned second place. That competition could’ve shuffled around his training plans as his competitive energy was momentarily diverted elsewhere.

As such, Kieliszkowski isn’t setting expectations for his individual performance very high. He’ll be happy with a solid qualification as something to build on for the future with quality patience and planning.

“Three weeks behind is not enough time to make miracles happen,” Kieliszkowski wrote in a translation. “That’s why I don’t ask for much from myself. The goal is to get to the [2023 WSM] Final and then everything will be clear in the process. Next recovery, return to training and old form and then hit 2024 with full force.”

At age 29, Kieliszkowski is one of the more established modern elite strongmen with the profile to back it up. According to Strongman Archives, in addition to his WSM runner-up finishes in 2018-2019, Kieliszkowski is a five-time Poland’s Strongest Man (PSM) champion (2015-2019). He is also a two-time winner of the Giants Live World Tour Finals (2018-2019) and came in first during the 2019 World’s Ultimate Strongman.

It’s clear that in the late 2010s, Kieliszkowski turned himself into a strongman powerhouse to be reckoned with. His 2023 ASC runner-up performance might be evidence “The Polish Terminator” is on his way back to prominence. Even if Kieliszkowski believes he’s behind the eight-ball with the 2023 WSM, the titan could very well come to surprise many people in Myrtle Beach.

Featured image: @kieliszkowskimateusz on Instagram

The post Mateusz Kieliszkowski Pulls 32-Ton Truck as His World’s Strongest Man Return Nears appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

Brian Shaw will end his strongman career on his terms in 2023. The upcoming 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) will be the four-time champion’s (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) last appearance in the prestigious contest. Then, in late August, the 2023 Shaw Classic (SC) will be his last-ever strongman competition. These plans to close a legendary career on a healthy note were almost in jeopardy.

On Apr. 13, 2023, Shaw posted a “Road to WSM” video to his YouTube channel where the athlete revealed he was healing from a right leg infection in late January 2023. While Shaw didn’t initially describe the precise nature or severity of the infection, it apparently almost led to unfortunate disaster in the form of him losing his leg.

In the video, where Shaw lies in a hospital bed in recovery, he doesn’t mince his words about the greatest fear of his infection. He described the worst possible scenario — amputation — which apparently could’ve been one treatment considered.

Fortunately, Shaw avoided this outcome.

“The biggest thing is that it didn’t go into my bloodstream,” Shaw explained. “So, if I would have waited potentially any longer, the big fear would be it going into my bloodstream. Once it does that, the outcome might not be as good, meaning a possible amputation.”

Despite this monumental obstacle in his path, Shaw kept his eyes on the prize. With the ball out of his court, all the strongman could really do was positively frame his situation and hope for the best. Even from the hospital, the legend didn’t let his almost dire circumstances get him down. He kept up with his nutrition with the idea he would eventually leave the medical facility healthy.

Why? Shaw had is crosshairs fixed on another WSM title and a fruitful end to his career as motivation.

“When you battle some adversity like this, you just have to find a way,” Shaw said. “… I’m trying to get five meals in a day right now. The goal is to walk out of here having not lost a lot of bodyweight.”

Ultimately, Shaw had quite the optimistic outlook, comparing his infection to some of the adversity he battled en route to winning the 2013 WSM title. Roughly three months before that contest, Shaw underwent nerve surgery and still went on to victory. Following his recent infection troubles, Shaw hopes for similar results this time, as his strongman career comes to a close.

“This has reminded me the most of 2013,” Shaw explained. “In 2013 I had to have a nerve release surgery done approximately three months out from the WSM. So, I’ve been telling myself, as I’ve been sitting here, that this leg infection is not as bad as that.”

Editor’s Note: In a follow-up video posted to his YouTube channel on April 14, 2023, Shaw clarified that he was officially diagnosed was an aggressive form of cellulitis — a bacterial skin infection — and spent a total of eight days in the hospital.

Featured image: SHAWSTRENGTH on YouTube

The post Brian Shaw Overcame Leg Infection That Threatened His Final World’s Strongest Man appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Research of the Week

Unintended effects of “child neglect” laws.

Mosquitoes love light pollution.

The Indo European expansion may have used ships, not just horses.

Why did duelers in the South use inaccurate weapons?

During energy restriction, both moderate and high volume lifting can preserve lean mass. Just lift!

New Primal Kitchen Podcasts

Primal Health Coach Radio: Dallas Travers

Primal Kitchen Podcast: Peak Performance Through a Primal Lens with Brad Kearns

Media, Schmedia

Is ice cream (a little) good for you?

Can anything stop the feral hog invasion of Texas?

Interesting Blog Posts

Fructose.

Good deep fryers.

Social Notes

Setbacks are smaller than they appear.

Everything Else

The genetic timeline of the human brain and cognition.

Things I’m Up to and Interested In

Tradition always wins when it comes to food: Korean clay fermentation pots make better kimchi than modern steel or plastic ones.

Good transhumanism: Wearing fish skin to heal severe burns.

This is very bad: Ozempic, the new weight loss drug, causes a LOT of lean mass loss.

Fascinating: The founding crops of early agriculture were far more diverse than previously thought.

Interesting: Metabolic syndrome severity test.

Question I’m Asking

How’d you score on the above test?

Recipe Corner

• Gluten-free but not low-carb, unless you leave out the noodles: Pho Saigon.
• Thai basil chicken.

Time Capsule

One year ago (Apr 8 – Apr 14)

• Dear Mark: What is Turkesterone, and Can It Help Me Build Muscle?—Can it?
• Are There Any Good Carbs?—Well, are there?

Comment of the Week

“Methane suppressants for cows to curb climate change.

Hmm… Would it stop farting in humans? It could be the blockbuster pill of the decade. Imagine teenagers beating a path to your door with $15 each for a pack of pills to stop farting before a big date night. Early retirement for whoever markets that. Dumber stuff has made people rich.“

-Not a bad idea..

The post New and Noteworthy: What I Read This Week—Edition 217 appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

When it comes to prolific, successful resumes, few modern strongmen might be able to match the profile of Jean-François Caron, aka “JF Caron.” Later this year, the 40-year-old strongman world could see the veteran return to the sport after taking some necessary time away.

In a YouTube interview with Laurence Shahlaei on Apr. 6, 2023, Caron revealed he would attempt a strongman comeback sometime in late 2023. The nine-time Canada’s Strongest Man (CSM) champion (2011-2019) had previously suffered two torn patellar tendons during the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). After a period of recovery, Caron maintained he was training again to return to form.

While largely bedridden while recovering from his injuries, Caron had lost 60 pounds of body weight. Making a jump back to the upper echelon is no guarantee after what the veteran endured, but he seems committed to making it happen through his training. Some recent 400-kilogram (881.8-pound) deadlifts and 270-kilogram (595.2-pound) back squats for reps are demonstrations of the power Caron is reassembling.

That said, it may still take some time before he’s ready to square off with some of the strongest people on the globe in an official competitive capacity. He still has a lot of progress to make before he can perform the requisite movements needed to shine as a professional strongman again.

“The power is there. It’s just not fluid like before,” Caron said. “… Changing directions … I’m not safe like before. Explosive movements will take more time.”

Caron declared that he will begin working on event-focused training with 2021 CSM victor Gabriel Rhéaume once he returns from the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM). That contest will take place on Apr. 19-23, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, SC. At the time of this writing, Caron has not outlined an exact training timeline.

As for Caron’s overall profile, he has quite the mantle to lean on.

According to Strongman Archives, the athlete has appeared in over 80 competitions and earned nearly 20 victories, including his CSM title reign and a win in the 2022 Forca Bruta. Before his recent injuries, Caron had competed 11 of 13 WSM contests since the year 2008 (missing 2009-2010) and placed among the top 6 in seven consecutive editions (2015-2021).

It’s unclear precisely when Caron will try to compete again, but he stated an expectation to be ready to compete by October. Whether he has eyes on the 2023 Rogue Invitational, typically held in late October, wasn’t clear.

If he is healthy enough, Caron did share that he will try to compete again at the 2023 Magnus ver Magnusson Classic. At the time of this writing, that competition does not have a concrete date, but it usually occurs around late November in Iceland, based on past precedent.

Whether the strongman fixture returns to relative prominence in Iceland or at a later date, the strength athlete is sure to be welcomed back, by fans and peers alike, after the devastating injury that many expected to be career-ending.

Featured image: @jfcaronstrongman on Instagram

The post JF Caron Will Attempt Strongman Comeback In Late 2023 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

Seven American strongmen will be featured in the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), set to take place on Apr. 19-23, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Led by legendary four-time WSM champion Brian Shaw — who will be competing in his last WSM this year — this stacked group of strength athletes is as follows:

• Brian Shaw — Four-time WSM champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016)
• Bobby Thompson — American log lift record holder (217.5 kilograms/478.5 pounds)
• Trey Mitchell — Reigning two-time Shaw Classic (SC) champion (2021-2022)
• Evan Singleton — First-ever Arnold Strongman Classic UK (ASCUK) champion (2021)
• Kevin Faires — Dinnie Stones Walk World Record holder (31 feet, seven inches)
• Spenser Remick — 2022 Official Strongman Games (OSG) champion
• Tom Evans — Winner of the 2022 Shaw Classic Open and 2022 Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Six of these American athletes recently came together for a powerful WSM training session about a week before the biggest contest in strongman. Evans was noticeably absent, likely due to his last-minute addition to the WSM roster as a replacement for the injured Pavlo Nakonechnyy. On Apr. 11, 2023, Shaw posted a video on his YouTube channel chronicling the group’s time together.

The six American athletes performed five movements that somewhat mirror events expected at the 2023 WSM.

They began the day by loading sandbags and a weighted keg onto a platform. The weights and distance weren’t revealed. While it was impossible to recreate its exact format in advance, this was in reference to the Loading Race from the Qualifying Stage of the competition.

“Definitely a good start with these guys. All of us are primed and ready for World’s Strongest Man. But this is the tune-up and, at the end of the day, iron really does sharpen iron,” Shaw said after completing the first training medley. “So it’s why I wanted to have these guys out and in the gym with me heading in. My goal is for them to push me, me to push them, and all of our levels to go up. Collectively, that’s what’s going to happen.”

They then shifted to a log ladder with five implements that featured gradually increasing weight. Only Singleton and Faires failed to lift all five logs. The Log Ladder will be the final event of the first day of the 2023 WSM.

Next, the group threw in some heavy overhead dumbbell work and a single Fingal’s Finger. Unlike the start of the session, no one amongst the American group of competitors is guaranteed to perform these events at the WSM, as they comprise different portions of the two-day Final.

To close their day together, the six took to the Conan’s Wheel, where the athlete’s task is to carry around a heavy implement in a circular, fixed motion as far as possible. The Conan’s Wheel will likely be a climactic moment for some WSM competitors as it starts the second day of Qualifying.

Here is an overview of the complete 2023 WSM event schedule:

Qualifying Stage Day One | Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2023

• Event One — Loading Race
• Event Two — Deadlift Machine 
• Event Three — Log Ladder

Qualifying Stage Day Two | Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023

• Event Four — Conan’s Wheel 
• Event Five — Kettlebell Toss
• Event Six — Stone Off

Final Day One | Saturady, Apr. 22, 2023

Ten athletes will advance from the Qualifying stage to the Final.

• Event One — Fingal’s Fingers
• Event Two — KNAACK Deadlift 
• Event Three — Reign Shield Carry 

Final Day Two | Sunday, Apr. 23, 2023

• Event Four — Max Dumbbell
• Event Five — Vehicle Pull 
• Event Six — Atlas Stones

Of the seven American competitors, it would stand to reason that Shaw and his championship pedigree may likely fare the best of the bunch at the 2023 WSM. Someone like Mitchell, with his two consecutive SC victories, could also be a dark horse. Mitchell’s best-ever WSM placing was in 10th at the 2021 iteration.

This isn’t to say that Singleton, Faires, Thompson, and Remick won’t thrive. Just because there are presumed favorites, doesn’t mean another American stud can’t come out of the blue to level a talented field.

Featured image: @shawstrength on Instagram

The post Brian Shaw Led 5 American Strongmen in World’s Strongest Man Training Session appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

On Apr. 13, 2023, powerlifter Julius Maddox shared an Instagram clip of himself completing a raw 330-kilogram (727.5-pound) bench press during a training session. In his post, Maddox lists the weight as 730 pounds, but that was a likely typo. To add an extra degree of challenge, the mighty Maddox performs the lift with a long pause at the bottom of his repetition. While it’s impossible to discern how much of a challenge this added for Maddox on a numerical basis, it’s undoubtedly an impressive feat for one of the globe’s premier bench pressers.

Maddox completed his feat while wearing wrist wraps and did not appear to have a lifting belt adorned around his torso.

Athletes who add any kind of pause to their bench press are likely looking for increased tension in their chest and arm muscles. Keeping their loaded barbell at the bottom forces the amount of time an athlete has to keep their weight stable before lifting it back up. In addition, adding a pause to a bench press removes the momentum athletes can sometimes use after lowering their weight.

All this to say: Maddox lifting almost 730 pounds while pausing for nearly two seconds is an accomplishment to behold.

For those who are rabid fans of upper body strength in the form of the bench press, Maddox usually offers a treat. The bench press extraordinaire owns the all-time raw World Record of 355 kilograms (782.6 pounds) in the +140-kilogram weight class. According to Open Powerlifting, the athlete scored that mark at the 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III. Notably, it was not in a full power meet, as Maddox only performed a bench press at the contest — a usual approach for the competitor whenever he appears on a sanctioned lifting platform.

Maddox has been in pursuit of a 362.8-kilogram (800-pound) press for some time. One of the last times Maddox shared significant progress on this strength journey was a 361-kilogram (796-pound) bench press personal record (PR) from May 2022. Maddox has not added to that weight or made a formal attempt at reaching the 800-pound barrier since. Though, it appears an attempt could be forthcoming in 2023.

At the time of this writing, only one other person, Daniel Zamani, has ever broached the 800-pound bench press barrier. The Iranian athlete notched a 365-kilogram raw bench press (804.7-pound) during a February 2022 training session. Maddox and Zamani had previously teased a friendly bench press battle at the 2022 Iron Wars V, but that entanglement fell through due to undisclosed reasons.

Tidbits like Maddox’s long-pause lift show that his remarkable milestone might finally be around the corner. Plus, given that no person has yet to eclipse the raw 800-pound mark in an official competition, Maddox can still win this all-time strength race.

Featured image: @irregular_strength on Instagram

The post Julius Maddox Crushes a 330-Kilogram (727.5-Pound) Bench Press With a Long Pause appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

Modesty and consistency have likely described Samantha Rice’s powerlifting outlook. The powerhouse recently gave the sport’s community another example of her unique strength and transcendence.

On Apr. 10, 2023, Rice shared a comprehensive Instagram post recapping her 90-kilogram weight class, first-place performance at the 2023 USA-UA Pioneer on the Beach. By the competition’s end, Rice captured three all-time raw World Records on her squat (267.5 kilograms/589.7 pounds), deadlift (280 kilograms/617.3 pounds), and total (702.5 kilograms/1,548.7 pounds). Rice wore a lifting belt for her top pull and a belt and knee sleeves for her top squat. The contest, which marked the third Pioneer title of Rice’s career (2020-2021, 2023), took place on Apr. 8, 2023, in South Padre Island, TX.

According to Open Powerlifting, Rice’s squat record milestone officially takes back the 90-kilogram World Record from Sherine Marcelle. Before Rice took the record back, Marcelle had held the record for just about two weeks after scoring a 262.3-kilograms (579-pound) squat at the 2023 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Femme Fatale III.

Regarding Rice’s deadlift, she eclipsed her own previous raw all-time record milestone of 275 kilograms (606.2 pounds). The competitor notched that previous achievement in a first-place performance at the 2022 United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Pro Raw Championships.

Finally, last but not least, Rice’s new record total also rewrites her own tally in the record books. The previous 90-kilogram all-time raw World Record total of 687.5 kilograms (1,515.6 pounds) was also set by Rice at the 2022 USPA Pro Raw. In the span of just about half a year, Rice has added 15 kilograms (33 pounds) to her record total.

Here’s an overview of Rice’s top stats from her Pioneer on the Beach performance:

Samantha Rice (90KG) | 2023 Pioneer on the Beach Top Stats

• Squat — 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds) | All-Time Raw World Record
• Bench Press — 155 kilograms (341.7 pounds)
• Deadlift — 280 kilograms (617.3 pounds) | All-Time Raw World Record
• Total — 702.5 kilograms (1,548.7 pounds) | All-Time Raw World Record

Per Open Powerlifting, Rice’s competitive record, which dates back to August 2014, is unblemished. The athlete has never lost a sanctioned powerlifting contest. At this meteoric rate, it’s unclear when or if she ever will.

In her Instagram post, Rice beamed about her latest competitive exploits. She also considered how she might spend a well-earned and lucrative $20,000 cash prize.

“I came home with $20,000, my third Pioneer championship belt, and three all-time World Records,” Rice wrote. “Surrounded by some of the best people in my life … that’s what makes this all worth it. Now, time for a new Momma SUV!”

Featured image: @quadslikemom on Instagram

The post Samantha Rice (90KG) Sets 3 World Records at 2023 Pioneer On The Beach appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Originally Posted At: https://breakingmuscle.com/feed/rss

Few bodybuilders will ever be able to match Phil Heath’s competitive rap sheet. With seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 2011-2017, only Arnold Schwarzenegger (seven Olympia wins) and Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney (eight Olympia wins each) are on par with the modern titan. Such a reality potentially makes Heath’s prognostication for the 2023 Mr. Olympia all the more intriguing.

On Apr. 11, 2023, Heath appeared in a YouTube interview with The Voice of Bodybuilding, Bob Cicherillo, to discuss the upcoming Olympia. In the process, Heath named some of his top contenders for the title, including defending champion Hadi Choopan. The living legend even touched upon what it would take for him to return to the stage in posing trunks.

Before breaking down who he thinks could topple Choopan, Heath gave the athlete a wholehearted endorsement for a repeat title. It’s Choopan’s background, in addition to his elite fitness, that Heath thinks provides the champion with bodybuilder an edge over his peers.

“I think Hadi’s [Choopan] a repeat champion,” Heath said. “… You got to look at someone’s origin. Champions have a specific origin of how they got here in the first place. You think of someone that has grown up in that environment in Iran. Everything matters. This thing means everything to him and his country. There’s a lot of expectations, but he’s met those expectations in a very quick period of time. He’s never really been off.”

As for who could unseat Choopan, Heath likes the potential of Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker. Perhaps not by coincidence, Lunsford was the 2022 Olympia runner-up after transitioning from the 212 class, while Walker finished in third place.

For different reasons, this trio appears to be bodybuilding’s top Cerberus monster of sorts.

“It’s a three-headed monster at this point,” Heath explained. “It’s either Derek [Lunsford] and I can make a case for Nick [Walker]. Nick is an anomaly, he’s very different … It’s going to cancel out a lot of guys because of the density and muscle maturity, because those two [Choopan and Walker] won’t be out-conditioned. The cool thing about Derek [Lunsford] is, now he’s comfortable in that [Men’s] Open body. He’s a hard worker, got a good support system, a good coach.”

As for his own personal competitive prospects, Heath still has no forthcoming plans to return to a bodybuilding stage. The 43-year-old icon never officially retired but hasn’t competed in nearly three years. His last competitive appearance on-stage was a third-place finish at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, when Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay captured his first title.

Heath told Cicherillo that, at the right lucrative price for one of the sport’s biggest names, he might well return to compete soon enough.

“I produce a lot of numbers,” Heath clarified. “I know my worth, it’s worth way more than $100,000 [Heath’s purse for third place at the 2020 Olympia] … There’s definitely a number, they [Olympia organizers] have to come up. It would have to make sense … We would have to have a meeting of the minds and actually figure it out.”

Featured image: @arnoldsports on Instagram

The post Phil Heath Names Top 2023 Olympia Contenders, Teases Potential Return appeared first on Breaking Muscle.