Saturday, December 21, 2013

Musclemania® Pro Benjamin Radič meet his new fan Patrik Novak at a local Slovenian nutrition store yesterday. After an exciting season including winning MM Britain in London, Ben is training for his MM Pro debut at MM Universe in Miami in June. At 5'9", 225 lbs. he says, "I am not fat or in contest shape. I just keep good condition through the holidays and then I will really tighten up next month."
Sporting 21" arms, Kenyan bodybuilder Kevin Oochieng continues to grow as he prepares for Musclemania® Africa in Nairobi in August. The 5'7", 190 lbs, casino security guard is among the most popular in the region. He trains in the gym owned and managed by MM Pro Fred Sanya Shaka.
'13 Musclemania Physique Superbody Champion Nick Morrell has completely changed his body since taking the '12 Model Superbody title. Adding 10 lbs. of muscle created a whole new physique on stage. And, now the 23 year old Pennsylvania college student is training hard core for next season and wants to transform himself, again. "I am learning more about my body, what it takes to grow and still keeping it all lean," Nick says. At 5'7", 185 lbs. and classic shape, he's going to be one sick looking bodybuilder next year.  - Photo Credt: Jimmy Murtaugh

Sunday, December 15, 2013

After a two year absence from competition, Musclemania® World Champion Nathan Wallace returned to Las Vegas to claim the gold! The 5'10", 195 lbs., nutrition manager brought to the stage classic mix of symmetry, size and condition. Nathan trains on the Gold Coast of Australia and does natural powerlifting competitions in the off-season which is what he credits his thick, muscle density and size.
Super junior natural phenom Jay Diaz has competed in 3 Musclemania® shows and impresses more with each outing. The 5'10", 190 lbs., 22 year old, New Jersey college student is lifetime natural and is training for MM New England at Foxwoods and MM Universe in Miami next season. - www.musclemania.com - Photo Credit Jimmy Murtaugh
Musclemania® Universe Champion Jilian Navarro & protege Nico Scipione are two of the fastest rising stars. The Philadelphia hommies are both college students and occasionally catch a workout together. At 5'7", 185 lbs, the 22 year old Julian is doing his "lean bulk" regimen as he prepares for his MM Pro debut. Nico is training for his first show next spring and wants to dominate the junior division.
Indian bodybuilding star Mobin last competed 3 years ago, but the 5'8", 180 lbs. Bangalore trainer says he's training to return to the stage at Musclemania® India next year. "I have already been on my diet for a couple of months because I want to be ready," Mohammed says. "Its been really hard, I am sacrificing so much. But, I really want to win and get sponsored to compete in America." MM India is expected to have over 1,000 competitors including all divisions, so Mohammed will need to be more than ready at any time in his competitive career.
Musclemania® Pro Ty Ogedegbe is what bodybuilding is all about - naturally hardcore. He said this morning, "Whenever things aren't going my way, I take a minute in the mirror & speak to myself. I ain't crazy? I confirm what I already know, what I've got and what I'm made of."
Colombia junior Juan David Ibarguen has never competed and says he won't until he is ready to win. "I have been training for 4 years and don't miss a day in the gym." Juan says. "I'm weighing around 92 kgs. now (202 lbs.) and I want to keep growing and getting more cut. I don't know when I will compete, but when my body says its ready, then I will be ready." -www.musclemanialatino.com
It may have been his third try, but Las Vegas teenager Brandon Flihan made it all worthwhile. The 6', 210 lbs., college student has been persistent in his 3 year journey and truly looked incredible. Brandon says, "I'm excited after the Musclemania win, but I am not slacking and am already back to building. I've got to make this dream become a reality, and I will NOT stop until it happens. This off-season I plan on keeping my diet clean and maintaining a low percentage body fat."
Just off his first show three weeks ago, Cameron Osbourne is already hitting the gym like he's got another show next week. The 6'3', 205 lbs., 19 year old former high school jock says, "I hit some really light weight shoulders today. Getting these really weird feelings in my shoulder. It almost feels like pinched nerves. So, I focused on detailing the small muscles on my body (rear delts, outer calves, upper inner chest, my rhomboids, etc.) and did a ton of stretching."
The Musclemania® America Champs hosted the best natural women bodybuilders in the world! Taking the show was an incredible Patricia Payne of Kansas City (C). The 5'3", 115 lbs., 39 year old trainer is a 3x Musclemania Champion as well as 8 other major international titles. Pat and her husband, MM Pro Law Payne, are sponsored by Nutrabio. Placing at the show (L-R) Eunju Bae(5th, Korea), Melanie Redington (3rd, Alaska), Martyna Sarozi (2nd, Spain) and Celine Ruchard (4th, Switzerland).

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Fitness America Weekend™ Team Champs was just awarded to Team Australia, a hotly competitive group of 6 competitors who accumulated 95 points by winning multiple classes or divisions. Top Aussie point winners included  new Musclemania® World Champion Nathan Wallace (20 points), Ms. Bikini America™ Hattie Boydle (27 points) and Kristen Lonie (20 points). Other Top 5 Teams including:
Team Savage Warrriors (2nd Place, 82 points), Team Korea #1(3rd Place, 71 points), Team Australian Natural Bodz (4th Place, 65 points) and Team New Mexico Iron (5th Place, 60 points). Complete placings and scores are available here .

Competitors can represent a trainer or coach, local, regional or national fitness centers, sports clubs or other companies and national teams. Teams can be composed of 3 to 10 people and each with a team leader. Each team may have competitors that are competing in different classes and divisions. And, if a team gets too large, then they can split and form two or more separate teams.

In the 2014 season, the following shows will feature the Team Championships:
  • Fitness Universe Weekend
  • Fitness America Weekend
  • Fitness Asia
  • Fitness India
  • Fitness Latino
  • Fitness Mexico
  • Fitness New York
  • Fitness Paris
  • Fitness Texas
Musclemania® World Pro Champion Ulisses Jr. is back at work in London and still looking crazier than ever! "Ya, I'm back at Reebok running the PT program and working with our clients," Ulisses says. After scoring big in Las Vegas, he
went to New York for a few days of shooting with some major commercial photographers.
When Musclemania® Pros Julian NavarroChul Soon and Ty Ogedegbe (L-R) lifted their shirts for fans and media in Las Vegas last month, it was a series of 8-packs on full display!  Julian was in town to spend the weekend at the Musclemania® World but says he's training for next season for his MM Pro debut. Chul was thicker and overwhelmingly impressive but not as tight to win the show.  Ty was coming off his big MM Universe victory 5 months earlier but faced a much stiffer line-up than in Miamiand did not make the Top 5 cut in Las Vegas.
Musclemania® Pro Dickens Lambert may have been Team Canada Captain in Las Vegas last month, but the '12 MM Universe Pro Champion didn't shed his clothes to compete. The 5'10", 210 lbs., trainer says he's focused on building right now. "I'm working
on taking my physique up to another level," Dickens says. "I want to have a whole new look when I get back on stage next year."
Azz Matinee has competed only once, but the 6', 175 lbs. French National Police officer nearly won the Musclemania Paris Physique Show. Since then, he has been inundated by sports media and photographers wanting to shoot him. "I have been training for a couple of years, but really only recently got serious with my diet and conditioning," Azz says. "Now that I know what to do, I am training for size and keeping it lean and hard. I really want to come on stage with a new body next time." Azz trains twice a day including cardio and split routines and favors Black Protein, a French sport supplement brand.
True to tradition, Team Korea fielded an incredible line-up of talent at last month's Musclemania® in Las Vegas. Of course, Chul Soon always excites audiences with his incredible physique and stage performance but was beat out by Ulisses. Taw Ho Shin took the LW Class and Choi Seong Wook the MW Class with both becoming new MM Pros! With two MM Korea shows held every season in Seoul and with over 400 competitors in each, the pool of natural talent is incredible and no wonder why Team Korea always dominates the international shows.
Donte Franklin (L) and Cameron Osbourne (R) were two impressive juniors at Musclemania® America in Las Vegas last weekend. At 6', 215 lbs. and 22 years old, Dont'e placed 2nd MM America Junior and is the MM Mid America Tall Champion. At 6'3", 185 lbs. and just 19 years old, Cameron was competing for the first time and a standout in MM America Physique Tall.