đź’Ş The Uncrowned Mr. Olympia?

February 03, 2023

We're all about chasing that pump, so forgive us for some brevity: This entire newsletter was written while holding a wall squat.

Viscous teardowns made him one of the most controversial bodybuilders of the late 1990s and early 2000s. But what's the real story behind Nasser El Sonbaty's legacy?

Shaun Clarida is a true giant killer, and he's looking to knock down some big competitors in the Men's Open division at the 2022 Arnold Classic. Check out his latest physique update: Do you think he has a shot?

And plateaus are every athlete's worst enemy. For bodybuilders, they can happen with both hypertrophy and strength. We break down how to bust through whichever holdup is holding you back.

Let's build that brain mass!

HISTORY

The "Uncrowned" Mr. Olympia?

Image: @thearchivesofbodybuilding on Instagram

Strap in, because this is hypertrophy history if we've ever read it.

Nasser El Sonbaty was an enigma in the bodybuilding world. Once tipped for Olympia glory, he soon became far more well-known as a man embittered by his experiences within the sport. Rather than retire into a life of guest-posing stints and personal appearances, he chose to launch an offensive against everyone he felt had wronged him throughout his career, attacking officials and fellow competitors in a series of scathing interviews in the final years of his life.

But how could a fan favorite who seemed poised to become an Olympia champion become so outspoken and angry toward the entire industry?

PHYSIQUE UPDATES

A Giant-Killing Back

Image: @shaunclarida on Instagram

The 2023 Arnold Classic, scheduled for March 2-5, will feature 10 bodybuilders in the Men’s Open category. Among those athletes are two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, 2022 Mr. Olympia bronze medalist Nick Walker, and reigning two-time 212 Olympia champion Shaun Clarida.

On Jan. 31, Clarida took to his Instagram page to share his physique five weeks out from the Arnold. Sitting at 190 pounds, he posted a photo of himself performing a lat spread pose to show off the muscle density in his back and the sharp condition and detailing throughout.

But could he really win? We break down his chances below.

TRAINING

Bust Through Like the Kool-Aid Man

GIF: Giphy

We're in the plateau-busting business. And business is BOOMING.

Hitting a plateau in your training is never fun. You’re no longer building muscle or you’re not losing weight, even though you started off so well. You were making great progress for a little while, and then it all ground to a halt. What are you doing wrong?

Chances are, there are relatively easy fixes to break through your physique plateaus. Some of these may be related to your nutrition plan, while others are going to be adjustments to make in the weight room — or even the bedroom.

THE DROPSET

Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture

Image: Ryan Terry on YouTube