💪 Why Dana Linn Bailey Hung It Up

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It’s ALWAYS a big week for bodybuilding. But you know what? The 2023 World’s Strongest Man is also underway, and these are the 10 giant athletes who will duke it out in the Finals this weekend. Thought you might want to know!

A different type of giant athlete would be the bodybuilders in the Men’s Open division. And eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman thinks one current contender, in particular, could be the future of the division. Who did he call out?

Dana Linn Bailey has a huge following, but she hasn’t competed on stage since 2015. Now, she’s finally discussing why she hung up the posing suit.

And do you really need a deload week? Here’s what the science has to say.

PREDICTIONS

Ronnie’s Pick for Mr. O

Ronnie Coleman is one of the greatest Men’s Open bodybuilders in history. He dominated the late ’90s and 2000s era and tied Lee Haney for the most Mr. Olympia titles ever with eight consecutive W’s. He’s known as “The King” for a reason, after all.

The legend recently hosted a Q&A on YouTube so fans could pepper him with whatever questions popped into their heads. And one of the questions that came through was if he thinks Derek Lunsford will win the 2023 Mr. Olympia title.

“Yes, I do,” Coleman responded confidently. The answer was short and sweet, but this isn’t the first time Coleman has gushed over Lunsford. In a recent workout video the two posted together, Coleman basically said the same thing, predicting that Lunsford has all the tools necessary to become champ. Watch the full Q&A with Coleman below.

STRONGMAN

Gentle Giants Lift Heavy Stones

Look, we know it’s not bodybuilding, but World’s Strongest Man is one of our favorite events of the year. True behemoths lifting impossibly heavy objects? Yep, count us in.

After several days of qualifying, we know the 10 athletes who will be battling over the weekend for the title of 2023 World’s Strongest Man. That includes THREE former champs who share SEVEN total titles. And some young upstarts are looking to put new blood on top of the podium.

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BODYBUILDING

Why Dana Hung It Up

The 2013 Women’s Physique Olympia champ Dana Linn Bailey is one of the most popular bodybuilders of her generation — and she’s maintained her strong following despite not competing on the stage since 2015.

Bailey says she only started taking lifting seriously in 2005 — and by 2006, she stepped on stage for the first time in the Figure division. By 2011, she transferred to the Women’s Physique class.

The highlight of her on-stage career came in 2013, when she won the first-ever Women’s Physique Olympia contest. Her time on stage then came to an end in 2015 at the Arnold Classic, where she was the runner-up to Juliana Malacarne in that show’s first Women’s Physique contest. Bailey hasn’t competed on stage since.

In a recent video on her YouTube channel, Bailey revealed why she stopped competing and why she believes she can have a more positive impact away from the sport of bodybuilding. Check it out below.

THE DROPSET

Time Off? You Don’t Say!

• We don’t LOVE staying away from the gym (that’s where our friends are!), but maybe give the heavy weights a rest from time to time. Here’s why a deload could be important for your long-term gains.

• Looking for at-home cardio options? We’ve got a list of the best treadmills for any goal, budget, or space!

• And it’s ALWAYS worth revisiting our favorite list of the all-time BEST BODYBUILDING RIVALRIES!