Former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021) Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay entered the 2022 edition of the competition with high hopes. Had he been on top, he would have become only the ninth athlete to win the competition at least three times. Elssbiay would fall short of that lofty goal, leading to a fifth-place finish. Immediately, the Egyptian competitor reflected on the future of his career, vowing to return “stronger than before.” About a month later, in January 2023, it was revealed that Elssbiay would make his second career appearance at the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) in March. This is where one of the people closest to professional athletic exploitation thinks he can get back on track.
On January 29, 2023, Elssbiay’s coach Dennis James discussed the bodybuilder’s chances of winning the 2023 AC in Columbus, OH. In a battle that will likely require Elssbiay to defeat former AC champions such as Nick Walker (2021) and William Bonac (2018, 2020), James continued if Elssbiay shows top form, he will win his first ever AC title.
While breaking down the 2023 AC contenders, James spoke with fellow trainer Miloš Šarčev. In the latter, the view of Elssbiay on Mar. 2-5, 2023 competition will be a mistake.
“Great Ramy [Elssbiay] dropped from first to fifth [at the 2022 Mr. Olympia] and Nick Walker is in third, his highest place,” said Šarčev. “Obviously going to Arnold [Classic], you’d think the top-placed Olympian would be the favorite. But how do you ignore Big Ramy, twice [Olympia] champion? Okay, he slipped a bit, but think he’s in better condition.
On the other hand, James believes that Elssbiay should have won the 2022 Olympia, despite the final verdict against him. According to the coach, if Elssbiay looks the same as before, he can expect to put an AC trophy on his mantel.
“What I will say is if he [Elssbiay] to see that he looked towards the [2022] Five days without the Olympia, I don’t know why he won’t win the Arnold [Classic],” said James. ” … If he can put that weight back on and fill out like he used to and get the conditioning right.”
James and Šarčev are not the first famous members of the bodybuilding community to say that Elssbiay is one of the favorites for the 2023 AC. Former four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010) Jay Cutler believes that Walker should have pole position but a “100 percent” Elssbiay can do anything.
Elssbiay’s unusual entry into the 2023 AC may not only have to do with the athlete looking for a quick rebound from his disappointing output at the 2022 Olympia. In mid-January 2023, the Arnold Sports Festival revealed that the competition’s first prize will be $300,000 – an increase of $100,000 from last year. A person who is likely to be focused only on the preparation of the Olympia, Nick Walker, admitted that the big money was a big reason for him to participate in the 2023 AC. It’s not hard to imagine an Olympia-level bodybuilder like Elssbiay being similarly motivated.
That said, beating his elite peers again is probably first and foremost for Elssbiay. He noted that professional bodybuilding is his passion, and the implication of reaching the first place may have been prepared for a former champion.
Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram
The post Dennis James, Miloš Šarčev Believe Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Can Win 2023 Arnold Classic appeared first on Breaking Muscle.
