He won the Arnold Classic and would go on to become the fifteenth Mr. Olympia. Since then the Olympia has been his sole focus, but after two consecutive losses to Big Ramy in 2020 and 2021, he's making his way back to Columbus to recapture some of that magic from three years ago. I spoke with him while he was in Kuwait preparing to make history - hoping to be the first man to win the Arnold and the Olympia in the same year twice.
The 2021 Mr. Olympia is ancient history now, but I haven't spoken to you since then. Friday night's judging saw you just one point behind Big Ramy. Even though he ultimately won his second title, a lot of media and fans had you winning. How did it feel knowing so many were behind you?
For me, this sport is all about the fans. That's what keeps us active and driven. Without them, we'd be nothing. So hearing that definitely brings some satisfaction for the hard work we put in. The support of the fans means everything to me. Feeling that love and knowing they're rooting for me has a really positive impact. It's like winning, in a sense.
Seeing as it was so close, I'm curious to know if you ever got any feedback from the judges as to what they want to see from you next time.
We didn't discuss any details like that. A lot of the judges are supportive. They know ! brought an improved physique to the stage, and it was a close race. I just have to do more of the same. Every time I step on stage, I try to bring an improved physique with something different. That's my job; it's what I'm here to do.
This story is from the March 2022 edition of Muscular Development.
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This story is from the March 2022 edition of Muscular Development.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Best Cardio for Fat Loss - High Intensity vs. Low Intensity
Low-intensity cardiovascular exercise is the most common way to reduce body fat, despite mounting scientific evidence showing this form of cardiovascular training may not burn body fat as effectively as high-intensity cardio. In addition, low-intensity cardio has also been shown to inhibit muscle growth¹2, making the use of this approach to enhance your physique even more questionable.
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It seems like a decade has passed since the pandemic began in 2020. That was a chaotic year for all of us. MD sent me to Atlanta to cover the Chicago Pro, because restrictions in Illinois made it impossible to hold Tim Gardner's annual extravaganza there. The athletes still showed up in force to compete, and the Classic Physique division alone featured 30 men. When they came out to be adjudicated, one man stood out in a flash as the one to beat. I had never heard of Bryan Jones until that point aside from a vague recollection that he'd won the USA a couple of years before. With his braided and colored hair piled on top of his head in a gathered bun with the ends appearing to be some type of bizarre plant, I dubbed him \"The Kai Greene of Classic.\" That didn't stick, thankfully, because Bryan \"Lord\" Jones is a unique athlete in his own right. I knew I was looking at a man who was going to make waves in that division. A few months later he did just that, placing fifth in his first Olympia appearance. But we only saw him twice more after that, at the Arnold Classic and once again at the Olympia at the end of 2021. Since then, Jones has been working hard to build the additional size needed to successfully transition to the Open category. I spoke with him about his brief but notable time in Classic, and how he plans to make a big splash in Open.
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