💪 The STRONGEST Bodybuilders Ever

Shoutout to all the peeps who used up their Twosday karma building sick legs. On 11/11/11 — the last palindrome date — over 3,500 couples capitalized on the purported good luck by getting married in Vegas. Speaking of Vegas, a handful of Figure athletes are looking to secure their spot at the 2022 Olympia by winning [the Figure International competition]( at the Arnold Sports Festival. Keep reading for a list of the strongest bodybuilders, news of Akim Williams’ AC withdrawal, and a heady new series from BarBend and Generation Iron. LEGENDS Light Weight, Baby! [Ronnie Coleman 800-Pound Squat]( Courtesy of Ronnie Coleman on YouTube Something is mystifying about watching large, shredded people move elite-level weights. Ronnie Coleman’s body alone was envy-inducing, but to also know he could deadlift and squat 800 pounds and press 200-pound dumbbells made him a unicorn. At one point, every bodybuilding enthusiast has taken a scoop of pre-workout and queued up videos of Ronnie, Johnnie O, or Stan Efferding to get amped before the gym. As an ode to the big and the strong, check out our list of the strongest bodybuilders to ever compete. READ: [These 10 Athletes Are Among the Strongest Bodybuilders Ever]( --------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS The Arnold Classic Can't Catch a Break [bodybuilder Akim Williams]( Courtesy of @akim_bkbeast_williams on Instagram In what feels like the most unfortunate case of deja vu, yet another Men’s Open competitor has dropped out of the Arnold Classic. On Feb. 17, the Arnold Sports Festival confirmed to BarBend that Akim Williams is out of the contest for reasons unknown. Williams is the fourth competitor to drop out of the AC. That’s after Rafael Brandao, Nathan De Asha, and Mohamed Shaaban all withdrew. The ASF hasn’t announced any replacements for the four withdrawals, leaving the Men’s Open roster at 10. The Arnold Classic is set to take place March 4-5, 2022, at the Battelle Grand ballroom in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. READ: [Bodybuilder Akim Williams is Out of the 2022 Arnold Classic]( --------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS Make Some Brain Gains [JIM_P9A0415-rev]( Courtesy of Jim Stoppani Probably no one better encapsulates “brains and brawn” than Dr. Jim Stoppani, who has a degree in biochemistry, a doctorate in exercise physiology, and is the founder of JYM Supplement Science. He’s also living Kryptonite to every mom who says you can’t hold down a job if you have tattoos. To spread the knowledge of Jim, BarBend and Generation Iron teamed up to release “Jim Stoppani Explains.” The 10-video series features Stoppani breaking down popular and complicated training topics in an easy-to-understand way. First up: contralateral training and pre-exhaust. Take the 10 minutes and train your brain. READ: [BarBend and Generation Iron Release First Episode of Interview Series With Dr. Jim Stoppani]( --------------------------------------------------------------- CONTESTS A Wicked Sick Bodybuilding Show [2022 Boston Pro Preview]( Courtesy of @stevekuclo and @Justindifbb on Instagram Bodybuilding historians love to talk about California’s impact on the sport, but we say Massachusetts hasn’t gotten its fair shake. The state in which Tupperware® and disposable razor blades were invented is now launching the inaugural Boston Pro. On March 12, 59 athletes across seven divisions plan to compete in this new contest. Big names included Regan Grimes, Steve Kuclo, Erin Banks, and Missy Truscott. The winner of each division qualifies for the 2022 Olympia. The Boston Pro is a one-day event. Prejudging for the Boston Pro begins at 9 p.m. EST. The finals start at 6 p.m on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston. Tickets are available at [the Boston Pro’s website]( or Ticketmaster. READ: [2022 Boston Pro Bodybuilding Show — Full Rosters and Men’s Open Athletes to Watch]( --------------------------------------------------------------- ATHLETES Some Serious Competition [Cydney Gillon]( @vytamin_c on Instagram | Photo by Will Wittmann (@w_wittmannphoto on Instagram) The main event at the Arnold Sports Festival is always the Men’s Open Arnold Classic, but fans of the sport should dedicate as much attention to the Figure division. Debuting at the ASF in 2003, the Figure division has seen 11 champions. Two of them — Cydney Gillon and Natalia Soltero — are competing. Gillon is also a five-time Olympia champion, and although Soltero is the defending Figure International champ, Gillon is the arguable favorite to win. Some seasoned vets are also in the mix, like Jessica Reyes Padilla, who has won 11 pro shows and is entering her eighth competitive season. READ: [A Preview of the 2022 Arnold Classic Figure International Contest]( --------------------------------------------------------------- THE DROPSET Everything From Around the Web [please turn your images on] Courtesy of @kylekirvay on Instagram - Wearing a lifting belt, straps, and Converse® sneakers, bodybuilder [Joe Mackey pulled an 870-pound deadlift](. With this pull, Mackey can be considered one of the strongest pullers in the IFBB Pro League — past and present. - [The Classic Physique contest at the Arnold]( features top names such as Breon Ansley, Terrence Ruffin, and Urs Kalecinski. We break down who you should watch for in this stacked division. - Nick Walker recently walked his fans through [a chest and biceps workout](, wherein he structured the workout by feel. -  At the USPA Battle at Atilis meet in Bellmawr, NJ, [IFBB Pro League competitor Kyle Kirvay posted a 1,005-Kilogram (2,214-Pound) Raw W/Wraps total at 140 kilograms]( (308 pounds). He set four state records and a National bench press record. - [Blood flow restriction training (BFR)]( is a unique way to eke out more gains, and science says it’s not baloney. Is there something we missed? Email us at [info@barbend.com](mailto:%20info@barbend.com?subject=Tips!&__s=s54a3u1vmp5xzj41089k) Update your email preferences or [Unsubscribe]( here. --------------------------------------------------------------- [facebook](       [Feedback]( | [Podcast]( | [About](  55 WASHINGTON ST, STE 322, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Copyright © 2022 [BarBend.com](. All rights reserved.