By Gary Chappell
SASAN HEIRATI has vowed that he "will qualify for the Mr Olympia this year" after finishing second at FIBO in Germany.
With what many perceive was his best look to date, Heirati pushed eventual winner Andrew Jacked to the limit. It was Heirati's second successive runner-up placing, after he also finished second at the Detroit Pro, missing out to William Bonac.
Writing on social media, Heirati said: "I WILL keep going, I WILL keep improving,and I WILL get to the Mr Olympia THIS year.
"I may not have won FIBO, but I won in many other ways. And I’ve never been more driven to keep climbing. Thank you EVERYONE for the endless support, comments and messages, I’m extremely grateful, I’m going to do my best to get back to you all. But for now it’s time to fly home to my amazing family."
The support for Heirati was not in short supply. Reigning Mr Olympia and fellow Brit Samson Dauda said: "Great job brother. Had no doubt you were going to kill it."
Renowned coach and former IFBB Pro Milos Sarcev added: "You earned LOVE and RESPECT from all of us. Keep going. Keep climbing."
While Jacked was clearly the bigger man, Heirati's condition was second to none, particularly his quads. Heirati's shape and aesthetics were also superior to the winner.
In a recent podcast, Heirati hinted that this run could be his last and that he could retire within two years.
He told the Think Big Bodybuilding podcast: "I'm 39 now. And I have seen some aging in certain body parts and some aches and pains. But as a whole, after speaking to Chris [coach, Chris Aceto], I'm at my best, definitely. So for the foreseeable I'm going to try and keep going. Not for too long, because I want to be around for my kids. So I reckon I'll give it the next year or two."
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