Should Big Ramy continue to compete or retire?
The two-time Mr. Olympia winner, Big Ramy, has been the main focus of numerous discussions on various podcasts.
Until the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Big Ramy was considered the best bodybuilder in the world, but reality hit, and he ended up finishing in fifth place.
Finishing in fifth at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, was a devastating result for the Egyptian champion.
Many suggested that Big Ramy takes a long break and returns for the 2023 Mr. Olympia, but Big Ramy decided to compete at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Ramy was immediately put to the side in the top four callout, similar to the 2022 Mr. Olympia, meaning that he basically had no chance to win the event.
Ramy managed to finish in fourth place, edging past the much smaller Shaun Clarida.
Suffering two disappointing results, would make any top athlete consider his or her future, after dominating for a number of years.
The results tell the story
Born on 16 September, 1984, Big Ramy will be 39, if he steps on stage at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Just shy of 40, Big Ramy will be one of the oldest athletes on the stage.
Big Ramy has been competing at the highest level since 2013, when he made his pro debut.
On his pro debut, Ramy went on to win the 2013 New York Pro, making a statement that he will eventually be a contender for the Mr. Olympia title.
Ramy went on to win a number of international Arnold Classic events, and he was a consistent top three finisher at every contest.
In regards to the Mr. Olympia, the younger version of Big Ramy always showed progress at the Mr. Olympia, consistently placing higher every year.
Big Ramy’s Results at the Mr. Olympia
2013 Mr. Olympia – 8th place
2014 Mr. Olympia – 7th place
2015 Mr. Olympia – 5th place
2016 Mr. Olympia – 4th place
2017 Mr. Olympia – 2nd place
2018 Mr. Olympia – 6th place
2019 Mr. Olympia – Did not compete
2020 Mr. Olympia – Winner
2021 Mr. Olympia – Winner
2022 Mr. Olympia – Fifth place
Until 2020, Big Ramy consistently achieved positive results at the biggest event of the year, climbing to the top from eighth place.
In 2019, Big Ramy slipped to sixth, but on his return in 2020, he would prove everybody wrong.
Finally in 2020, thanks to the “Special Invite”, Big Ramy was given the opportunity to compete at the Mr. Olympia, and he went on to win the show, with no objection.
2021 was the same story, Big Ramy was just too good, and his closest rivals were Brandon Curry and Hadi Choopan, with many arguing that Hadi Choopan could have also won the title.
Everything would change for Ramy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, with the younger athletes making their way to the stop, Big Ramy was not the dominant force we are used to seeing.
The title would go to the younger Hadi Choopan, who deserved the title, with his perfect balance of condition and muscle mass.
The new, younger generation of athletes, Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker, would push down the old guard, to finish in second and third respectively. 2019 champion Brandon Curry had to settle for fourth, and the defending champion Big Ramy finished in fifth.
Big Ramy is not the only bodybuilder fighting with Father Time, Brandon Curry is also finding it very difficult competing against the much younger athletes.
Should Big Ramy continue or retire?
Should Big Ramy continue with his bodybuilding career, or look back at his historic achievements, and call it a day on his career?
This is the question the majority of the most respected people in the industry is asking.
Focusing Bob Cicherillo and Dennis James, both have interesting and very good opinions about what Big Ramy should do.
On the Menance Podcast, Dennis James believes that Big Ramy should continue with his career. Milos Sarcev, Rich Gaspari and Chris Cormier believe that even though the judges are pushing him aside, Big Ramy should be a warrior and keep on fighting.
All the guests on the Menance Podcast agreed that Big Ramy should take a rest and come back with a improved physique.
Bob Cicherillo gave a more detailed explanation of what Big Ramy could be facing on his podcast, and what could affect his decision for the future.
Even though Bob is the Athlete’s Rep, he has the right to a personal opinion, and he did bring up some valid points.
Big Ramy was defeated fair and square at the 2022 Mr. Olympia and the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Bob also brings up a very important point that age is not on Big Ramy’s side. His physique changed substantially since his 2013 victory at the New York Pro. Unfortunately, Big Ramy’s physique is starting to show the battle scars of over 10 years of competing.
Ronnie Coleman, Phil Heath, Dorian Yates, and even Dexter Jackson’s competition results, started going downhill at a certain point. The physiques of all the former champions, and even Big Ramy, started to deteriorate as they got older.
Would Big Ramy be happy placing in the top five, and possibly winning a second tier event? After defending the Mr. Olympia title successfully for two consecutive years, Big Ramy might find it difficult mentally to settle for anything less.
Cicherillo also explained in detail what happens to a bodybuilder as he or she gets older, and how he or she has to change their training routines, to focus on maintenance, rather than adding size.
These topics are all valid for Big Ramy, and is an eye-opener for many athletes contemplating if they should continue with their careers.
If Big Ramy retires, he can say he accomplished everything in bodybuilding, and can move on to other projects related to the industry. If Big Ramy decides to continue, nothing can stop him, and he has the right to challenge for his third Mr. Olympia victory. If Big Ramy fails at the 2023 Mr. Olympia, reality might sink in, and he could possibly walk away from competitive bodybuilding.
If the Pro League sending Big Ramy a message?
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net does not believe that the Pro League, or even head judge Steve Weinberger, are sending a message to Big Ramy.
Big Ramy does not have the best physique at the moment, and the younger bodybuilders have made great improvements.
Standing next to 2023 Arnold Classic champion, Samson Dauda, Big Ramy’s weaknesses are exposed.
It must be noted that just a few months earlier, Samson Dauda placed behind Big Ramy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. From December 2022 to March 2023, Samson not only improved, but he ended up winning one the most prestigious shows in bodybuilding history, leaving Big Ramy behind.
View this post on Instagram
