Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay Signals Green Light For 2022 Mr. Olympia Preparations

Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay has ranked as the top bodybuilder in the world since 2020 as the reigning Mr. Olympia champion. Despite some concerns about his commitment to the title, "Big Ramy" has made it clear that he’s not going anywhere in the Men’s Open division, at least for now. 

Back at work with my eyes on the prize.

Having won on the Olympia stage two years back-to-back (2020 and 2021), the 37-year-old Elssbiay is prepping his off-season to continue his dynasty. Ahead of his highly anticipated return, the Egyptian native shared an exhilarating montage, showing the massive bodybuilder beginning a new stage of preparation.  Watch the full clip, courtesy of his Instagram page below:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Mr Olympia Big Ramy (@big_ramy)

[Related: Nick Walker Approaches 300 Pounds During Off-Season Ahead of 2022 Mr. Olympia]

Elssbiay made a name for himself on some of bodybuilding’s most competitive stages for his immense volume of muscle mass. Though, when his conditioning is on par with the rest of his assets, the reigning champion is challenging to contend with. He sports some of the biggest and most detailed legs in the sport, which has no doubt kept him in title contention throughout his career. 

Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s Road to a Third Mr. Olympia Title Defense

Following the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, a show held by IFBB Pro League President Jim Manion, "Big Ramy" was absent after committing to a guest posing appearance. As a result, former 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford was tapped to replace Elssbiay and did so in the company of other top Olympia finishers like Brandon Curry, Hunter Labrada, and Nick Walker.

After going MIA for more than two weeks, the elite Men’s Open bodybuilder apologized to Manion and the community for missing the show. As of this writing, it remains unclear why exactly Elssbiay couldn’t fly to North America to fulfill his obligation. Some fans questioned Elssbiay’s commitment to the sport and whether or not he has the capabilities to remain on top of the Men’s Open leaderboard for the third year in a row. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Mr Olympia Big Ramy (@big_ramy)

[Related: Check Out Iain Valliere’s 272-Pound Physique 7-Weeks Out From the 2022 Vancouver Pro]

After capturing his second Mr. Olympia crown in 2021, Elssbiay was clocking in at nearly 300-pounds. Mid-January, the popular bodybuilder revealed an off-season weight of 341-pounds, suggesting he intends to weaponize his size like never before in 2022. 

From the looks of the current landscape, Elssbiay will face a group of ambitious contenders. Former 2019 Olympia winner Brandon Curry, who took runner-up at both Olympias in 2021 and 2022, will return to Las Vegas in December 2022. Bodybuilding standout Hadi Choopan will look to catch the big man slip, as Choopan came razor-close to challenging the champion with his third-place performance at the 2021 Olympia. Meanwhile, popular Men’s Open athletes Labrada and Walker will also vie for gold after missing the podium at last year’s event. 

There is still plenty of time until 2022 Mr. Olympia, and athletes are entering shows worldwide for an opportunity to grace the sport’s grandest stage. Elssbiay appears to be putting in the work during his off-season, and if he delivers as he has for the past two seasons, his dynasty as Mr. Olympia could claim a third straight year.

Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram | Photo by Will Wittmann (@w_wittmannphoto on Instagram)