💪 10 Bodybuilders Who Had EPIC Olympia Debuts

How's everyone's bulking season going? Enjoy those cheat weeks while you can — we're about eight weeks away from the start of spring...

The Olympia is home to the best bodybuilders in the sport. And these 10 athletes came out of the box hot with some of the best debuts in the contest’s history.

What happens to an Olympia champion who suffers a devastating loss the year after winning it all? Jennifer Dorie talks all about it just weeks after losing her Bikini Olympia crown.

Looking for a new wrinkle to add to your gym routine? We’ve got a bench press-focused workout that will give your upper body a serious boost.

HISTORY

Getting Off on the Right Foot

Since its inception in 1965, the winner of the Mr. Olympia contest has been considered the IFBB Pro League‘s world champion. Now, there are 11 divisions contested under the IFBB banner, and all of them crown their own Olympia champion every year.

For many athletes, even the most successful ones, it can take years to claw to the top of the podium. Just look at Brandon Curry, who placed eighth at his first Olympia in 2011 and wouldn’t win it all until 2019.

Other competitors, however, find success far faster. Below, we gathered 10 athletes who had the most impressive debuts in Olympia history.

NEWS

Jennifer Dorie on Her Disappointing Olympia

Jennifer Dorie won the Bikini Olympia back in 2021, so she had plenty of momentum on her side when she took the stage at the 2022 contest. And while she was near the top of everybody's score sheet, the judges did not rule in her favor. In the end, Maureen Blanquisco took the title, leaving Dorie in the runner-up spot.

Last week, Dorie took to her YouTube channel to share how she felt about her presentation at the 2022 Olympia and her overall experience at the event. Though she expressed disappointment with certain aspects of her performance, she also believes she brought the best physique of her career to Las Vegas that night.

For bodybuilding fans, it’s a fascinating insight into how a competitor like Dorie reflects upon a title that was seemingly within her grasp, only for it to slip away right at the end.

WORKOUTS

Build Your Bench With Cluster Sets

Over the last few decades, the ever-popular bench press has built its reputation as a rite of passage for every gym-goer. But it's much more than a statement lift — in addition to chest strength, the bench press is also a key move for building your shoulders and triceps. In short, it’s exactly what your upper body needs if you're in the market for more size and strength.

And if you want more of the benefits that come with the bench, we’ve whipped up an entire workout focused around the move that is sure to get you moving more plates in no time. Check it out below.

THE DROPSET

Get Your Timing Down

• How long should your workouts last? We’ve got rules of thumb for your different goals and experience levels. ​​

• Six-time Figure Olympia winner Cydney Gillon recently talked about the secret behind her leg workouts. Turns out, you don't have to go heavy to get results.

• After a disappointing fifth-place finish at the 2022 Olympia, Big Ramy is looking to get his groove back by entering this March’s 2023 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

SOUND OFF!

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