💪 The Tragedy of the Most Shredded Bodybuilder

This edition of The Ripped Report clocks in at a lean 606 words, making it short enough to finish in between bench press sets. (Though we do not endorse being that person hogging up gym equipment while staring at a phone.)

Andreas Münzer was hailed as one of the most conditioned bodybuilders of his generation — but it came at a cost. Read more about Münzer's meteoric rise and tragic end.

It’s a battle between hammer curls and standard biceps curls. Which one of these biceps-builders belongs in your workout? Find your answers here.

Women’s Physique is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions at the 2022 Olympia. Here's a full preview of the showdown in Vegas.

HISTORY

The Legacy of Bodybuilder Andreas Münzer

Freakish physiques often define bodybuilding. Who can be the biggest? Who can be the leanest? And, more importantly, who can hit that right mix of both? In a sport where everyone is pushing toward the extremes, it’s difficult for any athlete to break away from the pack. Andreas Münzer did just that.

Known for his peeled physique, Münzer’s rippling striations were a hallmark whenever he posed on stage. He was like a walking, flexing chart of the human muscle system, with nearly every individual fiber visibly accounted for.

Münzer’s aim was to be the best — to be the next Arnold. Unfortunately, like so many bodybuilding stories before and since, his ultimate destination was an all-too-familiar one.

FACE-OFF!

Hammer Curls vs. Biceps Curls

Curls are the classic biceps-building exercise, but with so many different variations of the move, it’s not easy to pick the right one. To simplify things, we’re boiling this discussion down to the two main moves: standard biceps curls and hammer curls. 

These are arguably the two most popular versions of the curl, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. While you can’t really go wrong with either, you should know which works better for your goals. We settle the debate right here, right now. (Well, not literally here. In the link below.)

2022 OLYMPIA PREVIEW

Sarah Villegas Looks to Defend Her Crown 

The 2022 Olympia is only days away, and we’ve previewed nearly every division featured at the big show. And right now, we’re looking at the hotly contested Women’s Physique roster, which promises to be one the most competitive in its history. 

The only previous winner in this lineup is the two-time defending champion, Sarah Villegas. She’s a strong favorite this year, and her recent physique updates on Instagram have been nothing short of jaw-dropping. That said, she’ll have to compete against Natalia Abraham Coelho, who won the New York Pro and Pittsburgh Pro this year, and Brooke Walker, who took third at the Olympia last year. 

THE DROPSET

The Return of the Masters

• The Masters Olympia is officially coming back next August! The contest focuses on athletes in their forties and older and touts 10 divisions, including Men’s Open and Women’s Physique. 

• In more Olympia news, bodybuilder Sadik Hadzovic will not compete at the show this year. He announced his withdrawal earlier this week. 

• Want an energy boost without all the questionable ingredients? Get the scoop on these natural ingredients for your pre-workout shake.