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One of the most lauded events in fitness, the Arnold Sports Festival, is set to occur from March 2-5, 2023, in its one and only home of Columbus, OH. Since its inception in 1989 (as only a bodybuilding show), the event has grown to include over 50 sporting events, an expo, and plenty of sightings from the show’s namesake — seven-time Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Typically, the stand-out events for fans are the Arnold Classic (or AC, and the other bodybuilding events) and the Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). For fans who can’t attend the event in person, they can purchase a $59.99 pay-per-view with FanMio. It can be played on any Apple device, as well as on an Android TV, Google TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV.

2023 ASF Event Schedule

Below is an abbreviated (yup, that’s abbreviated) schedule for the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival. Head to the ASF’s website for a complete schedule.

Thursday, March 2

  • Arnold Amateur, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
  • IFBB Pro League Meet & Greet, from 7 – 9 p.m., Hilton Columbus Downtown

Friday, March 3

  • Arnold Amateur, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • USA Powerlifting, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — C-Pod
  • USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Union Station Ballroom
  • Arnold Expo, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
  • Arnold Strongman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
  • Arnold Strongwoman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
  • Classic Physique Prejudging, from 12:30 – 2 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
  • Fitness International Prejudging, from 12:30 – 2 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
  • Wellness International Prejudging, from 12:30 – 2 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
  • Wellness International Finals, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • Fitness International Finals, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • Arnold Classic Prejudging, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • Classic Physique Finals, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand

Saturday, March 4

  • USA Powerlifting, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — C-Pod
  • USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 8p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Union Station Ballroom
  • Arnold Expo, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
  • Pro Wheelchair Prejudging & Finals, from 10 – 11 a.m. Arnold Expo Stage
  • Arnold Strongman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Strongman Area
  • Arnold Strongwoman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Strongman Area
  • Men’s Physique Prejudging, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
  • Bikini International Prejudging, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
  • Men’s Physique Finals, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • Arnold Classic Finals, from 7 – 10 p.m., Battelle Grand
  • Bikini International Finals, from 7 – 10 p.m., Battelle Grand

Sunday, March 5

  • USA Powerlifting, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — C-Pod
  • USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 8p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Union Station Ballroom
  • Arnold Expo, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
  • Rogue Record Breakers, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Strongman Area

Some expected top contenders for the Men’s Open portion of the 2023 AC include Nick Walker, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, and Andrew Jacked. There will be a $300,000 prize for the victor.

Here is the complete Men’s Open roster for the 2023 AC:

2023 Arnold Classic | Men’s Open Roster

As for the 2023 ASC, reigning two-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Tom Stoltman and 2018 World’s Strongest Woman (WSW) champion Andrea Thompson headline the Men’s and Women’s rosters, respectively. They are as follows:

2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster | Men

*Note: Faires is replacing Maxime Boudreault, who broke a shin bone in February 2023.

2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster | Women

  • Tamara Walcott (U.S. Virgin Islands)
  • Andrea Thompson (United Kingdom)
  • Olga Liashchuk (Ukraine)
  • Inez Carrasquillo (Puerto Rico)
  • Melissa Peacock (Canada)
  • Hannah Linzay (United States)
  • Nadia Stowers (United States)
  • Victoria Long (United States)
  • Samantha Belliveau (Canada)
  • Donna Moore (United Kingdom)

2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Events

Here are the events and schedule for the 2023 ASC:

Friday, March 3

  • Event One: Wheel of Pain
  • Event Two: The Austrian Oak

Saturday, March 4

  • Event Three: Elephant Bar Deadlift
  • Event Four: Unspunnen Stone Throw
  • Event Five: Frame Carry

With defending ASC champion Martins Licis and runner-up Oleksii Novikov not participating, it could be anyone’s contest to win on the Men’s side. Meanwhile, for the Women, Thompson might face a stiff challenge from 2022 WSW winner Olga Liashchuk and three-time WSW winner Donna Moore (2016-2017, 2019).

The annual ASF acts as its own celebration of fitness and strength. The competitors in the 2023 AC and 2023 ASC should likely live up to that lofty objective.

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

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On Feb. 24-26, 2023, during the Powerlifting America (AMP) Classic Open Nationals, powerlifter Natalie Richards broke new ground for her weight class. In a first-place National Championship performance, Richards notched a 501.2-kilogram (1,105-pound) raw total and became the first-ever 57-kilogram powerlifter in AMP to break the 500-kilogram barrier.

As part of her historical total, Richards recorded an all-time raw competition-best deadlift of 221.3 kilograms (488 pounds). Richards completed the pull from a sumo stance with a mixed grip. The athlete wore just a lifting belt for the deadlift, a belt and knee sleeves for her top squat, and wrist wraps for her bench press. The angle of a clip featuring Richards’ lifts makes it unclear whether the competitor was also wearing a belt on her press.

The only major powerlifting organization with a 57-kilogram category is the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). According to its database, the IPF’s current raw all-time World Record total in the 57-kilogram division is 495.5 kilograms (1,092.4 pounds). That mark is held by France’s Jade Jacob, who captured it at the 2022 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Powerlifting Championships.

While Richards’ new total does not officially surpass Jade’s on an IPF level — because her achievement didn’t occur under its jurisdiction — she remains the first-ever 57-kilogram powerlifter to achieve at least 500 kilograms on a sanctioned lifting platform.

Marianna Gasparyan totaled 552.5 kilograms at 56 kilograms at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation’s The Showdown in 2020.

Here’s an overview of Richards’ all-time raw competition bests:

Natalie Richards (57KG) | All-Time Raw Competition Bests

  • Squat — 178.5 kilograms (393.5 pounds)
  • Bench Press — 107.5 kilograms (237 pounds)
  • Deadlift — 221.5 kilograms (488.3 pounds)
  • Total — 501.2 kilograms (1,105 pounds)

According to Open Powerlifting, Richards’ victory at the 2023 AMP Classic Open Nationals extends her current winning streak to three consecutive contests. Between occasionally simultaneous Junior and Open competitions, the athlete has only ever failed to finish in first place on two instances in 12 career competitive appearances.

Per the post’s caption featuring Richards’ 2023 AMP Nationals performance, the athlete will shift her training focus to preparing for the 2023 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. The contest scheduled for Jun. 11-18, 2023, in Valletta, Malta, will serve as Richards’ IPF debut. Provided the athlete can transfer her strength to the tentpole contest, she will have a firm place in the IPF World Record books this summer.

Featured image: @kingofthelifts on Instagram

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Blake Lehew has been a fixture in powerlifting for years. A former USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Juniors raw National Champion (2016) in the 74-kilogram weight class, Lehew now dominates at 82.5 kilograms. A stellar performance at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro, where the athlete attained the all-time heaviest total of 930-kilogram (2,050.3-pound), says as much. Judging by the latest update on his training progress, Lehew seems poised for even more pending greatness.

On Feb. 26, 2023, Lehew posted an Instagram video where he successfully pulled a 385-kilogram (848-pound) beltless deadlift. The powerlifter completed his pull from a sumo stance with a traditional grip, and he said he weighed 190 pounds at the time of the lift. What’s more, according to Open Powerlifting, the deadlift matches Lehew’s all-time raw competition best, also achieved at the latest American Pro.

“I believe the belt is a thing of the past for deadlifts.”

The beltless pull aside, Lehew had nothing else adorned to assist with the feat. He leaned fully on his strength to reach the lockout position.

In the caption of Lehew’s post, he alludes to an impending competition on his calendar. He has been hinting at these plans since the start of 2023. At the time of this writing, it is unclear which contest he is referring to, as he has not offered specifics on his social media platforms. The “six weeks out” reference would line up with a date sometime around Easter Weekend 2023 in early April.

Given that Lehew has mainly featured as a WRPF and United States Powerlifting Association competitor lately, there are a variety of possibilities.

Per the WRPF 2023 events calendar, there is the WRPF Face Off on April 2, the Drug Tested Out For Blood 2, the Southwest Showdown, and the War for the Valley on April 15. According to the USPA 2023 events calendar, the only date and contest roughly matching Lehew’s timeline is the 2023 USA Powerlifting Battle at Bionic Barbell on April 2.

Whichever event Lehew ends up featuring in soon, it seems apparent he’ll be ready to add another illustrious accomplishment to his resume. He should probably expect nothing less as one of powerlifting’s current stronger stars.

Featured image: @deadliftingorangutan on Instagram

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The 2023 Shaw Classic (SC) is set for Aug. 19-20, 2023, in Loveland, CO. With the contest roughly a half-year away, the growing competition’s namesake recently revealed what’s partly in store.

On Feb. 27, 2023, strongman legend Brian Shaw posted a YouTube video announcing the roster of competitors for this year’s SC. In the process, Shaw also announced that the 2023 SC would be the final professional strongman contest of his illustrious career.

YouTube Video

Shaw disclosed that there would be a 16th athlete at the contest. That athlete is unnamed at the time of this writing. Here’s an overview of the roster for the 2023 SC this summer:

2023 Shaw Classic Roster

Given his career of accomplishments — including four World’s Strongest Man (WSM) titles (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) and three Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) victories (2011, 2015, 2017) — Shaw was understandably emotional. It seemed to be a bit of a challenge revealing he’d soon put a bow on his professional strongman endeavors. Earlier in the year, Shaw also said that the 2023 WSM, occurring in April, will be his last.

“It’s tough to say those words, ‘this will be my final time,’ but it’s going to be,” Shaw said. It’s time to close this chapter of my career.”

According to Strongman Archives, Shaw made his first major strongman appearance at the 2007 America’s Strongest Man (ASM) contest. He would finish in sixth. Before becoming one of the greatest strongmen in history, Shaw would notch his first victory at the 2009 Venice Beach Grand Prix. After roughly 16 years of high-level competition, he’ll soon lift his final Atlas Stone onto a podium.

As for the 2023 SC, while the roster is confirmed, the events for the contest have yet to be announced. Shaw did not disclose when that reveal will happen, but Shaw says the layout will take the event to “the next level.”

Among the confirmed athletes, Maxime Boudreault recently broke a shin bone. The injury forced the Canadian strongman to withdraw from the 2023 WSM and the 2023 ASC. According to Shaw, Boudreault has maintained that he will be healthy and ready to go by the 2023 SC. The top three from the 2022 edition of the Shaw Classic — Trey Mitchell (defending champion), Shaw, and Mitchell Hooper — will return to the contest. Mitchell will be vying for a “three-peat” in a newer competition that will have had just four iterations come August.

The latest SC would have likely already been a tentpole contest in the 2023 strongman calendar. The announcement that an icon like Shaw will be stepping away from the sport at its conclusion adds a powerful and sentimental note.

More Strongman Content:

Featured image: @theshawclassic on Instagram

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On Feb. 24-26, 2023, during the Powerlifting America (AMP) Classic Raw Nationals in Austin, TX, powerlifter Ray Williams captured his seventh career raw National championship in the +120-kilogram class. The title count is a mix of Williams’ various wins in the USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Raw Nationals contests (2013, 2015-2019) and this new AMP conquest.

Williams wore a lifting belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps for his top back squat, just a lifting belt for his top deadlift, and only wrist wraps for his top bench press. What might make the athlete’s performance more impressive is that he finished the victory despite an apparent injury with limited details on the nature and severity.

At the time of this writing, it isn’t clear what Williams’ exact statistics on each of his best lifts were. According to the Instagram post detailing his output, all that’s clear is the competitor recorded a 1,000-kilogram (2,204.6-pound) total.

Williams’ seventh raw national title follows in a long line of achievements.

He’s a five-time International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Champion (2014-2018) in the 120-kilogram weight class. According to Open Powerlifting, he also holds the all-time raw squat World Record with a lift of 490 kilograms (1,080.2 pounds) at the 2019 USAPL Arnold SBD Pro American.

In addition, Williams’ name is written all over the IPF record books. Those accomplishments are as follows:

Ray Williams (+120KG) | IPF Raw World Records

  • Squat: 477.5 kilograms (1,052.7 pounds)
  • Deadlift: 398.5 kilograms (878.5 pounds)
  • Total: 1,105 kilograms (2,436.1 pounds)

Williams’ IPF raw squat World Record has stood for roughly six years now. Though, it appears some younger phenom powerlifters could be hot on his tail soon enough.

If the last two years of his track record indicate anything, the 2023 AMP Classic Raw Nationals might be Williams’ only competitive appearance of the year. If that’s the case, he certainly maximized his efforts.

More Powerlifting Content:

Featured image: @powerlifting_america on Instagram

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Phil Heath stopped competing after his third-place finish at the 2020 Mr. Olympia. The seven-time champion (2011-2017) hasn’t been seen on a stage in over two years, but he never retired. Even as he stays active in other endeavors at age 43, the door for a potential comeback remains open.

On Feb. 24, 2023, Heath posted a video to his Instagram where he walks through a few biceps and shoulder movements in front of a dumbbell rack at an undisclosed gym. A combination of the icon’s jacked look and a heartfelt reflection about a positive mental attitude while overcoming adversity could paint the picture of someone planning to don their posing trunks again.

To rise to the top of a rigorous sport like bodybuilding, an athlete has to sacrifice a lot in terms of nutrition and training on their respective journey. After making those kinds of sacrifices for years, it seems Heath is focusing on recalibrating himself gradually.

“One of the things which I had to fight throughout my life was my own reflection in the mirror,” Heath wrote. “I wasn’t staring into the mirrors in admiration of my hard work, but the work which is left to be done. Not just in my muscles but more importantly in my mind and spirit.”

It’s not clear what Heath is referring to precisely when he mentions his “fight,” but those are an intriguing choice of words. While characterizing where he’s previously put his energies — some of it elite bodybuilding — it’s almost as if Heath is setting the stage for a potential return.

“… My reason to fight will be my future version of self that achieves everything I’ve put my heart and soul into.”

As a former Olympia champion, Heath has a lifetime invitation to compete in the annual Mr. Olympia contest. Were he to make a comeback in 2023, this year’s iteration will take place in early November in Orlando, FL. A field featuring competitors like defending champion Hadi Choopan, Nick Walker, and two-time winner (2020-2021) Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay would await Heath.

While the 2023 Masters Olympia recently announced a $229,000 overall prize purse, Heath is not yet eligible for the Men’s Open portion of the returning contest. The competition starts its age guidelines for that division at 45. With a Dec. 18, 1979 birthday, Heath can’t feature there until late 2024 at the earliest. That doesn’t consider potential prep time and when future iterations of the Masters competition would take place.

Heath is not competing in the 2023 Arnold Classic but will be on hand to interact with the athletes and spectators. If he does indeed have a comeback planned in the works, it seems the legend is taking his time dipping his toes back into the water. He’s undoubtedly earned the right to bide his time and weigh all options as one of the faces of the sport.

Featured image: @philheath on Instagram

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After a decade-plus absence, the 2023 Masters Olympia contest will return this summer on Aug. 26-27, 2023, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. While the complete list of participating athletes over 10 competitive divisions will be revealed on Apr. 24, 2023, the contest organizers have revealed what some of the bodybuilders can potentially expect to win with respective exemplary performances. (Note: The roster probably won’t include one legend.)

On Feb. 23, 2023, the Masters Olympia announced that the overall prize purse for the 2023 iteration of the competition would be $229,000. Presumably, the money is in reference to what will likely be the showcase event in the Men’s Open division (ages 45 and up). At the time of this writing, it is unclear how that money will be divvied up in that category or, if applicable, amongst the other respective divisions.

In the last edition of the Masters Olympia, which took place in 2012, the 2008 Mr. Olympia champion Dexter Jackson won the Men’s Open portion. He would take home $75,000 for his efforts. For comparison’s sake to the competition’s modern return, here is an overview of the total Men’s Open winnings ($145,000) from the 2012 Masters Olympia:

2012 Masters Olympia | Men’s Open Prize Money

  1. Dexter Jackson: $75,000
  2. Toney Freeman: $35,000
  3. Dennis James: $20,000
  4. Edward Nunn: $10,000
  5. Ronny Rockel: $5,000

If the $229,000 in 2023 is indeed only for the Men’s Open, that means the organization will have increased the winning incentive by $84,000. If it is the purse for the entire contest, it is unclear how both editions compare from a broad scale at the time of this article’s publication.

Here is an overview of the classifications for each division at the 2023 Masters Olympia.

2023 Masters Olympia Divisions

  • Men’s Open — Age 45 and up
  • Women’s Open — Age 45 and up
  • 212 Bodybuilding — Age 45 and up
  • Men’s Physique — Age 40 and up
  • Women’s Physique — Age 40 and up
  • Classic Physique — Age 40 and up
  • Wellness — Age 40 and up
  • Bikini — Age 40 and up
  • Fitness — Age 40 and up
  • Figure — Age 40 and up

Participating athletes who wish to apply for a roster spot in the 2023 Masters Olympia have until April 10, 2023 to complete a relatively simple process. They must email contest organizers a “letter of intent”, which includes their age, nationality, competitive background, and any social media platforms. In their submissions, athletes have the choice to include a video that is no longer than one minute. They can also include any images of their physique. A full list of chosen competitors will then be announced on April 24, 2023.

While much of the bodybuilding world will be understandably fixated on the upcoming 2023 Olympia contest, the return of the Masters remains noteworthy. Giving a platform to established veterans who want to compete on stage could be considered a quality step forward for the sport overall. When the official list of competitors is revealed, there will be a better idea of who might put on a show in Romania.

Featured image: @mastersolympiaofficial on Instagram

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The 2023 CrossFit Open is still underway. In week two of its multi-week format, the 23.2 workout has been revealed. CrossFit HQ made a live announcement of the workout at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. It was a showcase battle between 2021 CrossFit Games Men’s runner-up Patrick Vellner and 2022 CrossFit Games runner-up Roman Khrennikov.

Workout 23.2 is divided into two parts. Part A is a combination of burpee pull-ups and shuttle runs. Part B features a one-rep max thruster.

YouTube Video

Here’s an overview of workout 23.2’s variations across various divisions:

RX’d

23.2A:

Complete a max amount of reps of these movements with a time limit of 15 minutes:

  • Five burpee pull-ups
  • 10 shuttle runs (one rep is 25-feet out and 25-feet back)

Add five burpees at the conclusion of each round.

23.2B:

Right after 23.2A, competitors have five minutes to do the following:

  • A one-rep max thruster (from the floor)

Scaled

Complete a max amount of reps of these movements with a time limit of 15 minutes:

23.2A:

  • Five burpees (jump to touch the pull-up bar on each rep)
  • 10 shuttle runs (one rep is 25-feet out and 25-feet back)

Add five burpees at the conclusion of each round.

23.2B:

Right after 23.2A, competitors have five minutes to do the following:

  • A one-rep max thruster (from the floor)

Foundations

23.2A:

Complete a max amount of reps of these movements with a time limit of 15 minutes:

  • Five burpees
  • 10 shuttle runs or walks (one rep is 50 feet)

Add five burpees at the conclusion of each round.

23.2B:

Right after 23.2A, competitors have five minutes to do the following:

  • One-rep max thruster (for optimal technique and load)

Adaptive Divisions

Given that there are eight Adaptive Divisions in the CrossFit Open, each will have its own variations and movement standards.

These respective divisions are Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Multi-Extremity, Vision, Short Stature, Seated Athletes (With Hip Function), Seated Athletes (Without Hip Function), and Intellectual. As is the case with Individual and Age Groups, each division has a Women’s and Men’s category.

The 2023 CrossFit Open will continue during the final week of February 2023, heading into the first week of the month of March.

Featured image: @crossfitgames on Instagram

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Maxime Boudreault has withdrawn his respective roster spots in the upcoming 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) and 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contests. The athlete cited a broken shin bone he suffered from a fall as the reason behind the moves.

“Fell on the ice yesterday and broke the small shin bone. Waiting to see the surgeon but staying optimistic.”

Boudreault posted an Instagram video on February 23, 2023, disclosing the news of his immediate competitive future being put on hold. While delivering the update, it appeared the athlete was being wheeled in for the care of his injury by his partner Samantha Belliveau, the 2021 Canada’s Strongest Woman (CSW) champion.

The timeline of Boudreault’s withdrawal from the 2023 ASC, which is scheduled for Mar. 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, OH, makes perfect sense. It likely would’ve been too much for a strength-based athlete to put the requisite stress on his body on such a short turnaround where he might not even be fully healed.

The 2023 WSM taking place on an Apr. 19-23, 2023, date — after occurring in late May during the 2022 iteration — seems to be an unlucky coincidence for Boudreault. While WSM scheduling has usually jumped around the calendar in recent years (the 2021 competition took place in June and the 2020 contest was held in November), the athlete may have been able to heal completely and compete if given more time.

On Feb. 22, 2023, the ASC revealed that Kevin Faires would replace Boudreault on the 2023 ASC roster. At the time of this writing, it is unclear who will take Boudreault’s place in the 2023 WSM.

Regarding recent competitive results, Boudreault captured the 2022 Canada’s Strongest Man (CSM) title in August 2022. He finished in fifth place during the 2022 WSM. To date, Boudreault’s best output at a WSM contest was when he stood on the podium in 2021, with only the legendary Brian Shaw and now two-time reigning WSM champion Tom Stoltman eclipsing him. As for his last ASC, the Canadian competitor garnered a sixth-place performance in March 2022.

Nevertheless, before he can build on any of this past precedent, Boudreault will be on the shelf until further notice.

Boudreault’s currently one of the bigger names in strongman and seems to have suffered an unfortunate bout of luck, knocking him out of two major contests. Seeing him compete again might be worth the wait whenever he returns fully healthy.

Featured image: @evolutionathleticsgear on Instagram

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