The Lebanese Lions believe that Olympia only needs to show the best.
To wrap up the 2022 calendar year, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) has published the criteria for the 2023 Olympia Qualifiers. The next iteration of the competition will take place in Orlando, Florida sometime in November 2023. Ahead of that competitive moment, former Mr. Olympia (1983) winner Samir Bannout recently discussed what he considers to be the main event in bodybuilding.
In an episode on January 3, 2023 Muscle Maturity Podcast, Bannout breaks down his current thinking about bodybuilding as a sport and where he thinks the flagship Mr. Olympia must evolve.Among the more noteworthy points, the former fitness giant highlighted that Qualification procedures for competitions should be stricter.
Perhaps the most significant change to the IFBB Olympia qualification system for 2023 is There will be no more points systemOnly the top five finishers in the 2022 Mr. Olympia, the top three finishers in other divisions in the 2022 Olympia and the winners of each of the respective IFBB Pro League matches in 2023 will be eligible for the November celebration in Florida.
In a leapfrog discussion, Bannout welcomed the change and said it wasn’t enough. With 30 contestants vying for the title at the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage, the field was too big, in Bannout’s experienced opinion.
“Olympia should never have more than 20 competitors. Never. That should be the limit. The best stuff should go to that stage,” Bannout said. “If you don’t make the top ten, it’s game over. I think the top five should qualify again.”
In terms of prize money, at Olympia 2022, men’s open champion Hadi Choopan has won all other Olympia divisions competing so far. This is a difference that Bannout doesn’t understand. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bennett thinks the classic physique department deserves more respect.
“Guys like Chris Bumstead, who was, honestly, the most qualified and professional guy at Olympia weekend, had a check for $50,000,” Benoit began. “Third place (Men’s Open) was awarded $100,000. How [expletive] can you explain
As for improving Olympia’s overall performance, Bannout noted that he thinks the tournament’s organizers should make a more serious effort to highlight past winners. For the former Olympia champion, his suggested plan is to continue building the mystique of the sport while catering to a loyal audience by paying homage to previous years’ Olympia champions.
“it [would be] It would be really cool to have all the Mr. Olympias on stage for just two minutes every ten years, at least or every 5-6 years,” Bannout proposed. “It would lead to a happier atmosphere and celebration.like arnold [at the Arnold Classic contest], he brought all the former Arnold Classic champions. “
Whether the IFBB and Olympia organizers will take Bannout’s recommendations and apply them in the future remains to be seen. Now, he’s just the latest legend in the sport who seems to be hoping for better from the athletes who come after him.
Featured Image: @officialsamirbannout on Instagram