Phil Heath: a Mr. Olympia Gift

By Steve Blechman

Seven-time Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath is one of the few living icons in our sport. “The Gift” won seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles going up against some of the greatest bodybuilders of the modern era like his mentor, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and the incredible Kai Greene. Phil remains a fan favorite and a driving force in bodybuilding, and this year he will serve as commentator for the Mr. Olympia pay-per-view. On top of all that, Phil recently partnered with Transcend HRT to help expand the awareness of bodybuilders getting blood work done. MD is honored to have this bodybuilding legend on this month’s cover as we begin the countdown to Mr. Olympia weekend, December 15-18.

Ron Harris spoke with Phil about his new role as commentator and got his take on current champion Big Ramy as well as his challengers. Who better to provide insights on who might be able to nab the Sandow this year? Read more in “A Mr. Olympia Gift:7X Mr. Olympia Phil Heath Is Part of This Year’s Big Show!”

It’s extremely rare for a bodybuilder to win his first pro contest. Bodybuilding legends like Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, Lee Haney, Dexter Jackson and Jay Cutler did not. A few who did were Flex Wheeler, Phil Heath and Big Ramy. Now we can add Andrew Chinedu aka Andrew Jacked to that list. And how many people have gone into their first pro qualifier and smashed it, then their first pro show and smashed it, all in less than six months? The answer is, not many. Add Andrew Jacked to that list too. At 6-foot-2 and 292 pounds, he has an ideal skeletal structure with wide clavicles and narrow hips, allowing for a 30-inch waist. He has enough mass to stand next to anyone but also has an aesthetically pleasing shape and structure – and he’s already qualified for the Mr. Olympia after one show. Read more in “Andrew Jacked:The Genetic Wonder.”

Blessing Awodibu is one of the most exciting new pros to come along in years. After first establishing himself as a social media star on Instagram and YouTube, his pro debut in spring of 2021 was the most highly anticipated in some time. Things didn’t go his way at either the Indy Pro or New York Pro, but The Boogieman redeemed himself by returning to both events this past spring and nabbing back-to-back wins. Blessing’s rise has not been without controversy. “I didn’t come into this sport to make friends,” he tells Ron Harris this month. “I knew I would have enemies. A lot of hate comes my way for a reason. People look at me and they can’t deny my potential. That makes me a threat. Plus I have a loud mouth.” Blessing talks about his recent trip to Nigeria after 20 years away, the meteoric rise of his friend and fellow countryman Andrew Jacked, and why this year’s Mr. Olympia could very well be the best one ever for this Redcon1 athlete in “Blessing vs. The World! The Boogieman Is Ready to Take the Mr. Olympia Stage by Storm.”

As the conversation about the upcoming 2022 Mr. Olympia gets underway, one man who could be a favorite for a top spot is Akim Williams aka The Brooklyn Beast. At 5-foot-10 and 260 pounds, he displays freakish size along with round muscle bellies and tiny joints, a package that is tough for his fellow competitors to stand next to. Ron Harris spoke with him not long after he qualified for his fifth Mr. Olympia by winning the Tampa Pro, in spite of suffering injuries following a major car accident during his prep, something none of us knew until he had won the show. Get an update on this MuscleMeds athlete in “The Beast Is Back! Akim Williams Is On Track for the Mr. Olympia.”

“I remember seeing this motherf***er and this dude was HUGE! He was a monster, especially with those crazy arms and I was like, “how am I supposed to get PAST this dude?” Blessing Awodibu recalled seeing Michal Krizo in 2017. “I can see a new Phil Heath IN THE MAKING here, in the sense of Phil’s quality and round muscle bellies,” Milos Sarcev said of Krizo. “I’ve seen him posing in person a couple of times now. And it is stunning. I’ve been in this business for 40-something years, and talent like this doesn’t show up very often.” How far will Michal Krizo go? Could he challenge the likes of Big Ramy, EVER? What about THIS year, as many are predicting? Read more in “Super Freak Michal Krizo: Future Mr. Olympia Threat?”

Muscular Development is your number one source for building muscle, and for the latest research and best science to enable you to train smart and effectively. Our team of physicians, industry experts and research scientists has these reports on improving performance this month:

“hGH and Metformin Stack” Fat Attack

“Keto Diets Lower GH and IGF-1” Nutrition Performance

“Boost Muscle Growth With Phosphatidic Acid”Supplement Performance

“Insulin as a Physique Enhancer: Friend or Foe?” Muscle Growth Update

“Sustanon 250: All of the Above” Testosterone

“Build Monster Traps With Dumbbell Shrugs”Bodybuilding Science

The rest of the book is packed to the binder as usual – making MD your one-stop, most authoritative source for optimizing muscular development with the latest cutting-edge research on training, nutrition, fat loss, performance-enhancing drugs, muscle growth and bodybuilding science – and exclusive information from the industry experts, insiders and bodybuilding legends who make it all happen. See you next month! 

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