Sasan Heirati wins FIBO 2026: “We’re going back to the Olympia”
Sasan Heirati secured early Mr Olympia qualification with victory at FIBO 2026, declaring ‘it feels unreal’ after his first-place finish in Germany
By Gary Chappell
SASAN HEIRATI has qualified for the Mr Olympia after winning the 2026 FIBO Pro in Germany – securing his place on bodybuilding’s biggest stage far earlier than last season.
Heirati, who qualified for the Olympia in 2025 following a string of strong performances, returned to FIBO this weekend and went one better than last year’s runner-up finish. This time, he took the title.
Footage emerging from the event described the performance as an “absolutely lights-out showing”, as the Briton delivered what many are already calling his best package to date.
A step forward from 2025
Twelve months ago, Heirati pushed hard but fell just short at FIBO, finishing second. That result formed part of a run that ultimately saw him qualify for the Mr Olympia later in the season.
Now, there is no waiting. No chasing. No near misses. Just qualification, secured in April.
Writing on social media, Heirati said: "We’re going BACK to the OLYMPIA!! First place at FIBO Germany last night and it feels unreal."
Heirati’s rise has been built on steady improvements in condition and presentation, but this showing felt different.
Where previous contests saw him edged out, this time the overall package, size, condition and shape, appeared to land decisively in his favour.
And with qualification already secured, the focus now shifts entirely to refinement.
Olympia focus begins now
At 39, Heirati has previously suggested his competitive window may be limited. That makes moments like this count even more.
Instead of chasing qualification deep into the season, he now has time – time to improve, time to dial in and time to bring his best possible version to the Olympia stage.
For UK bodybuilding, Heirati’s win adds further strength to an already growing presence at the top level.
With Samson Dauda already established among the elite, Heirati’s continued progression ensures Britain remains firmly in the conversation.
Samson Dauda: From UK beginner to Mr Olympia champion
Long-time friend Chris Jones pays tribute as 2024 Mr Olympia marks a milestone birthday
By Gary Chappell
Samson Dauda is one of the biggest names in modern bodybuilding – and his rise to Mr Olympia champion has been years in the making.
He turned 40 on March 11 2026 in a milestone that feels almost surreal for those who remember the early days of his bodybuilding journey.
Because long before the Olympia title in 2024, the Arnold Classic victory and guest appearances around the world, Dauda was simply a young man walking into a UK gym with a modest ambition.
Early beginnings
As long-time friend and former NABBA Mr Universe Chris Jones recalls, when they first met back in 2009, Dauda’s goal was not world domination. It was something far simpler.
“I just want to get a bit bigger and put on a bit of muscle,” Dauda had said humbly back then.
Few sentences in bodybuilding history have aged quite like that one.
Samson Dauda at 40
Jones, who helped Dauda begin his journey during those early years and who has stayed close ever since, paid tribute to the champion in a heartfelt message marking his friend’s birthday.
“Happy 40th Birthday to my good friend Samson Dauda – the most humble and greatest champion I have ever had the privilege to know,” wrote Jones on his instagram account.
“It seems crazy to see just how far you have come ever since we first met back in 2009 at my old gym and you said those famous words – 'I just want to get a bit bigger and put on a bit of muscle'. Well you have certainly done that and then some.
“We have shared so many special moments through the years, through all the training sessions, the competitions on the amateur circuit, the contest preps, the triumphs and also the disappointments, which have all cemented our friendship.
“I cannot tell you just how proud I am of you and all that you have achieved and how you continue to be such a great ambassador for this sport.”
The long road to the top
Dauda’s rise did not happen overnight. Like many of Britain’s best bodybuilders, his career was built through years of amateur competition, incremental progress and relentless training long before the global spotlight arrived.
He eventually earned his IFBB Pro League status in 2017, winning the overall title at the Diamond Cup in Rome. After that, he steadily climbed the ranks of professional bodybuilding, winning the Arnold Classic in 2023 and becoming known for his immense structure, flowing muscle bellies and stage presence.
But the biggest chapter of the story came in recent years.
After pushing competitors close on the international stage, Dauda ultimately reached bodybuilding’s summit when he won the Mr Olympia title in 2024, becoming only the second British bodybuilder to win that crown.
For Dauda himself, the moment carried a deeply personal significance. In an article on Frontdouble following the victory, he described the achievement in simple terms: “This is a dream come true.”
For those who have known Dauda longest, however, the most remarkable thing about his journey is not the trophies.
It is that, by most accounts, the man himself has changed very little.
Despite reaching the pinnacle of professional bodybuilding, he continues to be widely regarded as one of the most approachable and grounded figures in the sport.
Jones’ birthday tribute reflects that sentiment, describing not just a champion, but a friend.
“Here is to you my friend, your legacy and your future and your happiness. I wish you a very happy birthday indeed.”
At 40 years old, Dauda now hopes to bring his best package yet to this year's Mr Olympia, with recent social media posts and guest spots showing that the mass absent from last year's competition is well and truly back.
And if his career so far has shown anything, it is that the journey which began with a simple desire to “put on a bit of muscle” has become something far bigger than anyone in that gym back in 2009 could have imagined.
Should IFBB Masters Pro Card winners only compete in Masters?
The new IFBB Pro League dilemma
By Gary Chappell
WHEN the dust settled in Milan at the NPC European Masters last month, a handful of athletes walked away with something bigger than medals: IFBB Pro League cards. For most people, this is the pinnacle of an amateur bodybuilding career – the ticket to the big league.
But in the days following the show, a quiet debate has begun around bodybuilding scene:
If you win your Pro Card in a Masters-only event, should you only compete in Masters? Or does earning that card give you the right – and the expectation – to step into the Open?
This is not an abstract discussion. It's already affecting athletes who stood on that stage in Milan. And those who did not.
What Is an IFBB Masters Pro Card?
An IFBB Masters Pro Card is awarded to competitors who win their class at age-restricted bodybuilding events, such as the European Masters.
Unlike Open Pro Cards, which are earned in unrestricted competition, the European Masters is only available to athletes over a certain age category, typically 35 or 40 and above.
However, once awarded, an IFBB Pro Card carries the same status regardless of how it was earned, allowing athletes to compete in Open professional divisions as well as Masters shows.
The core issue: A fairness problem nobody wants to talk about
At the European Masters, some competitors finished had, either this season or in previous seasons, placed behind athletes who were not even old enough to be eligible for that Milan show. Those younger athletes never got the chance to test themselves under the same judging panel, in the same format, on the same day.
Yet now, ironically, the older Masters athletes become IFBB Pros, while the younger, arguably better athletes from the same regional pool remain amateurs, partly because they are not old enough to win their professional status at a Masters show.
To many competitors watching from the sidelines, it raises eyebrows.
Is it fair that someone who wins a Pro Card in an age-restricted field can immediately jump into the Open Pro ranks – ahead of people who might have beaten them in a non-Masters comparison?
What the IFBB Pro League actually says
Winning a Pro Card – regardless of whether it’s from the Open, Juniors, or Masters – grants the same status:
You are a full IFBB Pro.
You may compete in any Pro division for which you qualify, including Open shows.
You do not have to stay in Masters competitions.
On paper, it is simple. In reality, it is more complicated.
Are Masters cards “easier”?
This is no disrespect to Masters athletes – in fact, quite the opposite. Many of them are incredible, often more complete, more conditioned and more polished than their younger counterparts. In fact, frontdouble.com recently published an article about how the Masters division is now raising the bar.
But the competitive depth in a Masters lineup is almost always thinner than the Open.
This means a Masters competitor can earn a Pro Card without ever beating the best amateurs in their region. And to some observers, that does not quite sit right. To others, however, it is simply the reward for longevity and commitment.
The practical consequence: Jumping the queue
Here’s the uncomfortable truth many athletes won’t say publicly:
With the greatest amount of respect, a Masters Pro Card can be considered a shortcut into the IFBB Pro League. And because stepping into the Open Pro ranks immediately raises your profile, it creates a situation where age-restricted victories produce Open-category professionals who did not get the nod when battling the top amateurs head-to-head. Perhaps this is why Masters Pro Card winners should compete only as Masters Pros, despite what the ruling says.
From a competitive integrity standpoint, that is a debate worth having.
So: Should Masters Pros stay in Masters?
There are three arguments:
1. YES – They should stay in Masters
Because the qualification was earned in an age-restricted setting. A Masters Pro should compete against other Masters Pros to maintain parity.
2. NO – A Pro Card is a Pro Card
The rules are the rules. If you’ve earned Pro status, you’ve earned the right to compete wherever you want.
3. The middle ground – a restructure
Some might argue for a system where:
Masters Pro Cards grant access to Masters Pro shows only, while Open Pro qualification must be earned against non-age-restricted competitors.
Where does this leave the European Masters?
The Milan show highlighted a structural reality in the sport:
You don’t need to beat the best amateurs to become an Open Pro — you just need to win the right show.
For some, that is an opportunity. For others, it is a distortion. But one thing is clear:
As Masters events continue to expand across Europe, this fairness question will grow louder, especially among the younger amateurs watching athletes they might have beaten step past them into the Pro ranks.
For clarity, no athlete should ever have their achievement devalued. And this is not what this article sets out to do. Winning any Pro Card requires discipline, sacrifice and a level of commitment most people will never understand.
But the sport evolves through honest conversations. And the European Masters has forced one.
Samson Dauda: ‘I paid the price for not being bigger’ after Mr Olympia loss
Former Mr Olympia Samson Dauda admits chasing condition cost him size as he finished fourth in 2025 behind Derek Lunsford
By Gary Chappell
SAMSON DAUDA says losing his Mr Olympia title "hurts" as he admitted chasing condition saw him sacrifice too much size.
Dauda, winner in 2024, was awarded fourth place at the Olympia contest in Las Vegas, USA. Derek Lunsford was announced the winner, reclaiming the title he first won in 2023.
Standing alongside Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, who finished second, and third-placed Andrew Jacked, Dauda appeared somehow slimmer than last year – if that is possible at a weight of about 280lbs plus.
But writing on social media afterwards, the Briton said: "Sometimes doing everything right still doesn’t give you the result you hoped for.
"We came in fourth this year at the Olympia. I won’t lie, it hurts. I listened, adjusted and brought the best version of myself to the stage… leaner, sharper and in the best condition of my life.
"But in chasing perfection, I paid the price for not being the bigger version."
Dauda's setback, however, has made the "fire burn even brighter" – which means it is definitely game on in 2026.
He said: "Still, I hold my head high. Because what we [coach and wife Marlenka] achieved was something special. The journey, the growth, the resilience… that’s what defines a true athlete.
"Massive congratulations to Derek on winning his second title and to all the incredible competitors who brought their absolute best this weekend. Sharing the stage with you all is an honour every single time.
"This isn’t the end, it’s a chapter. The fire burns even brighter now.
"Thank you all for the love, support and belief. We’ll be back. And we’ll make sure I'll be better and stronger."
Sasan Heirati, also from the UK, finished joint 16th, effectively out of the placings, on his Olympia debut, while Britain's Ryan Terry successfully defended his Men's Physique Olympia title, winning for a third consecutive time.
Carly Thornton-Davies and Llewellyn Davies qualify for Masters Olympia at Toronto Pro
Carly Thornton-Davies and Llewellyn Davies secured Masters Olympia qualification after winning at the Toronto Pro following a 25,500-mile journey
By Gary Chappell
IT IS said that bodybuilding is the loneliest of sports. But if you have your spouse in tow maybe you really can conquer the world.
As the sun began to set in the leafy Canadian city of Toronto on Sunday evening, a married British couple were emerging as the stars of the weekend. By winning their respective classes at the Toronto Pro in women's Wellness and Men's Classic Physique, the pair secured their place at the Masters Olympia.
By the time they return home, Carly Thornton-Davies and Llewellyn Davies would have flown almost 25,500 miles. To offer some perspective, the earth is 24,901 miles in circumference.
But the biggest journey is yet to come. And it is one they will cherish for ever.
The Masters Olympia will take place in Toyko, Japan, across the weekend of August 9 and 10. And it will mean a further round-trip of almost 12,000 miles. This is bodybuilding on the professional, world stage.
Some might consider it third-time lucky for the pair, this being the third competition after shows in Seattle and Miami. But luck would discount the hard graft that has been put it in at the gym, the relentless slog of cardio, the extreme discipline of what must seem now like continuous dieting. Make no mistake, reaching the pinnacle of your sport over the age of 40 has very little to do with luck.
"Mindset of success isn’t always achieving something when you want it," said Carly. "You have to work hard on becoming the character within, in order to be rewarded. I work, I show up and I believe in myself so much that the power that resides within my mind will eventually be displayed."
Llewellyn added: "What a whirlwind the past five weeks have been. We have done three shows in America and Canada and have experienced what it actually takes to make a magnificent obsession become a reality.
"We made a promise to one another and held hands each step of the way. And we refused to take no for an answer. And I can finally say we are coming home as IFBB professional bodybuilding champions and Olympians."
British success did not there, either. Open bodybuilder Sas Heirati secured his place at the Mr Olympia in Las Vegas in October. He took the Toronto Pro title, beating Regan Grimes, who had pipped him for first at the previous show in California.
Heirati said: "We did it! Finally a win, finally I’m going to the Mr Olympia after taking first place at the Toronto Pro Supershow. It was a pleasure to attend this awesome event. To say it feels unreal would be an understatement.
"I want to say a quick thank you to everyone who’s helped me get this far. We aren't done yet this season."
Lewis Breed returns to gym after serious car crash injuries
IFBB pro Lewis Breed has returned to training just days after a serious car crash left him with multiple injuries including fractures and internal bleeding
By Gary Chappell
LEWIS BREED is back in the gym just days after suffering serious injuries in a head-on car crash.
What happened to Lewis Breed?
He suffered a number of injuries in the car crash, including, concussion, fracturing his arm in three places, internal bleeding, damage to his kidneys and bladder and needing an operation on his coccyx
Breed, who revealed details of his plan to qualify for the Mr Olympia in an exclusive interview with frontdouble.com two weeks prior to the smash, posted videos of him working out with his hand still in plaster. He said: "First day back in the gym and having a play with what’s manageable. Not training like a lunatic. However, if I didn’t train it would turn me into a lunatic."
He used cuffs for some cable side lateral raises, saying: "I've never been a fan of cuffs. I like to grip and feel something. But with this we will do some cuff raises and see if it's manageable. See if we can get a good focus on the medial delt."
Breed can also be seen on the pec-deck. He moved the grip away from the hands, placing the bars into the elbow joint. He said: "I'm not putting any pressure on the wrist. I can get a nice squeeze in the pec and get some blood in there. That's all we need to do."
Finally he posted a video of some machine tricep work using the arm on which he has a cast. He said: "That's pretty decent. Because the fracture is on this underside, any pushing there is not going to cause any tension on to this side where the injury is. So that was quite nice, a nice squeeze on that one."
Breed had planned to compete at the China Open, followed by the Portugal Open in a bid to qualify for this year's Mr Olympia. And during an interview with frontdouble.com prior to the car crash, he gave thanks to his wife Holly for making him the bodybuilder he is today.
Breed had said: "My wife has a massive input. She's more invested in the sport than I am. She invests all of her time, all of her effort, researching everything that I need to be done. I am the bodybuilder I am today – I have gone from amateur, to pro, to top 10, to top six, to top three, because of my wife. Because she's so invested. Every single time I'm on stage, she analyses it. She speaks to the judges and says, 'they said this, this and this'. And we'll spend hours going, 'right, you need to do this, this is how we do it, this is how you apply this etc'. She books all my appointments, she books all my treatments. She tells me where I'm going, what I'm doing."
Sasan Heirati Vows to qualify for Mr Olympia after second at FIBO
Briton Sasan Heirati promises to reach the Mr Olympia after pushing Andrew Jacked close at FIBO with his best physique to date
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."
The key was in the detail of what Rosiek revealed next. The reason for this, he revealed, was because the federation were looking to introduce a Pro League in 2026. Basically, they need to build an army first.
That NABBA Pro League, says Rosiek, will look to include pro shows at every area show. As it stands, there are nine NABBA area shows, not including the NABBA England.
A BRIT SPECIAL: Matt Griggs won his NABBA Pro Card at last year's British Finals
Then, don't forget, there is the NABBA British Finals and NABBA Universe. Altogether, that means a potential Pro League of 12 shows.
Which other federation currently offers 12 competitions for professional athletes? The IFBB Pro League and the IFBB Pro federation. That's it.
The PCA currently offers pro competitions at the Universe, British Championships and World Finals.
But what NABBA are offering could change the landscape entirely. A proper British-based Pro League.
The key question, however, is this: Where is the money coming from?
Naturally, frontdouble.com has already asked NABBA this very question. The response was: "Our marketing team will be releasing and sending out a press release regarding this soon."
First of all – and with the greatest amount of respect – who knew that NABBA had a marketing team?
Secondly, we must return to something else Rosiek (below) said in his post from Tuesday, January 7.
"This means there will be lots of prize money. And it means a pro can earn proper money, which is what a pro is deemed to be," said Rosiek.
So how much is "proper money"? Some pros in both the IFBB Pro League and the IFBB Pro federation offer £15,000 as first prize. Is this what we are looking at? Or are we looking at something akin to the current PCA top prizes of £2000? Maybe it is somewhere in between. Whatever the case, NABBA must have some pretty concrete deals in place in order to be confident enough to use the language in which they have used.
What is certain is that if NABBA get this right, a proper British pro league is something UK bodybuilding is crying out for. Money talks at the end of the day. So for all their shortcomings over the past few years, NABBA could just have struck gold.
From injuries to insults, how Louise Plumb got the IFBB's attention – the story of the first female bodybuilder to turn Pro since Lisa Cross in 2018
By Gary Chappell
BACKSTAGE she had already retired. A decade of female bodybuilding extinguished in the stretch of a pump-up band. All due to the lack of competitors.
Louise Plumb was in Romania, competing at the Amateur Olympia as part of its Wings of Strength weekend at the end of August. Once again she found herself as the only female bodybuilder. IFBB rules state that there must be at least five athletes for professional status to be achieved.
But after three attempts at trying spanning almost four years, it took just 30 minutes to make her the first female bodybuilder to turn pro since Lisa Cross in 2018. And 10 days from the moment she had decided to retire.
Such a quick turnaround for a journey that had seen its fair share of ups and downs, not to mention hard graft and, sadly, body-shaming.
Roughly 16 years before this triumph, however, bodybuilding was barely on Plumb's radar.
"I came into it [female bodybuilding] late," she says. "And I had kids, I was in my thirties. I fell into it totally by accident. I lived abroad when I had my daughter. My husband back then was out all the time. We lived in France and I didn't know anyone. I had a cesarean, so I couldn't go anywhere. I had nothing to do, no one to talk to. And I just thought, well, I'll lose my baby weight later. Because I had two cesareans, I had to wait until after I was ready to exercise again. But when I was able to drop the weight, I got really heavily into running.
"When I came back over here, to help my running, I joined a gym. I did a bit of cross-training, did some spinning classes and stuff like that. And then I just kind of fell in love with body pump class. Then I started out-lifting the instructor and started getting muscly. I was getting bigger. But then I split with my husband and ended up moving to a cheaper gym, which was a bodybuilding gym. And I saw the pictures of the girls on the walls and I was like, 'I want to be like all of them'. And I thought, well, what if I could push myself to do a comp? It was just a little far-off dream. A little goal to reach. And I did it – and I came dead last.
From last place to wild card pick
"So I just sort of fell into it. It was never like a dream that I ever had to be a bodybuilder. I was doing some fitness modeling at the time after I had dropped all the baby weight and I started getting quite a good physique on me, in a small gym bunny kind of way. I did a few photo shoots as a fitness model. My husband didn't really like it. He thought I was getting too big, which is hilarious because I was tiny – I'm so much bigger than him now.
"I competed first with Pure Elite and came dead last in the Muscle Model class and the Mums That Lift class. But then I got an email off the guy who runs Pure Elite and he's nominated me as the wild card to go into the British or the World Finals later that year. He said to me, 'your posing was terrible, that's why you came last. But your physique was good'. So they wanted to give me another chance.
"Basically, all the poses my coach at the time taught me were hard poses. And that was completely wrong for the class. I said, it should be bikini poses, so I was terrified. I didn't smile once and was stiff as a board. It was hilarious. So because they gave me a chance to come back I made it a mission to nail my posing – and I came second. So I've got a Pure Elite Pro Card! And then from then on I just got the bug.
"Then I took a year out of bodybuilding and started doing strong woman. I did about 18 months of work in strong woman, did a couple of competitions for that as well. I did pretty well, but really injured my shoulder as a result of doing heavy benching all the time. They thought I tore a tendon, which I didn't, I got this huge bursa [fluid-filled sac] in there. I had it scanned and, every time I moved, this bursa was nudging on a nerve. It was so painful.
"So for a long time I couldn't do any benching and so shoulders and chest were both really difficult to train. But then I realised I had to stop doing strength training and come back to bodybuilding so I could work around the injury, otherwise I'd just never train."
By this point, it was 2020 and the Government had imposed the draconian UK-wide lockdown as part of their response to Covid. Undeterred, Plumb used her journey into strength training to her advantage during this period.
"I managed to pilfer some equipment," she says. "I got a bar, weights, a squat rack and a bench. So I just did bench, deadlift, squat, overhead press the whole lockdown. I got really muscly as well, it was mad. And then I got on a little food plan with my new coach over lockdown thinking, 'I just don't want to do what the rest of the world is doing and put on a ton of weight, I'm going to keep in shape and I'm going to train'. And I looked probably the best in the off-season I've ever looked. I trained hard, stuck to my food, did all cardio and felt pretty good."
Comeback at the Arnolds in 2021
"In 2021, before I started prep for that season, I spoke to my new coach, Afser Choudry, and I said to him, 'what do you reckon the chances are? Do you reckon I'm good enough to do bodybuilding? A, to get in that class, and B, do you reckon I'd have a chance at a pro card, even if it's coming down to women's physique'? And he was like, 'absolutely, yeah, go for it', go for it'. He's a very positive coach anyway. He's always going to say, yes do it.
"The majority of people hadn't trained through 2020, so I felt like I was in a really good position because I trained a lot and I was in pretty good nick. So that first prep was a breeze. The [excess] weight just fell off me, I've never been more shredded. I did the IBFA British Finals in 2021 and won that. Then I did the Arnolds, which I won won but there was only two of us on stage, so they couldn't give me a pro card because, at that time, the rules were a class had to include at least five competitors. And there wasn't even the option to apply for it [pro card] afterwards.
"The following year, 2022, I think I expected it [prep] to be the same and it wasn't. It was bloody hard. For whatever reason, the weight just wasn't shifting like it was before. And I wasn't cheating, I was doing everything by the book. I'm pretty strict when I'm on prep, I'm blinkered. I'm a bit of a control freak; if I can control it, I'll control it. The bits that are out of my control, I don't worry about it, because I can't change it.
"But I ended up doing the 2Bros British final – and I was the only one in the class. So by default I won and I became the champion. But it was pretty gutting."
Plumb tried to apply in writing for her IFBB Pro Card after this second victory but was told her legs were lacking; a strange comment given her legs are arguably her strongest body part.
She added: "Later, I ended up getting a tooth infection, which ultimately resulted in my tooth being pulled out. This is all while in the latter stages of prep. So I couldn't eat anything, I had to blend all my food. It was awful. And then I got something called dry socket, which is basically where they've pulled the tooth out, it doesn't heal and you just have a hole going straight down to your bone. Agony. I can't tell you how bad that was. Then I had to go on antibiotics, then the antibiotics messed up my prep.
"I had to just say, that's it, I've got to come off prep. So I decided to take a whole year out. I thought, 'my body's knackered, it's not working'. So I took 2023 off to bulk and to give my body a complete break thinking that, if I came back in 2024, hopefully the prep would be just as good as it was in 2021. And it was. It was a breeze."
The voice in your head that screams, 'you're not big enough'
Another reason why she took an entire year off was to add size. Much like all bodybuilders, Plumb is plagued by the false notion that she is not big enough.
She explains: "I wanted to just bulk during 2023 because, in my head, I thought I'm just not big enough. You see these girls, the pros, they're bloody massive. We all know pictures kind of make you look bigger than potentially you are in real life but I wanted to do a full on bulk.
"I know I normally lose roughly 20kg in a prep. So I thought if I could get myself up to 90kg, solid, then I'll lose my 20kg. I wanted to step on stage at about 70kg, because that's a really good weight for a female bodybuilder [Louise is 5ft 5in]. And I knew a lot of the pro girls are 70kg or over when they get on stage. So that was my target for the off-season.
"I ended up getting to 93.5kg – but it was horrific. Seven meals a day, force feeding, lethargic, low energy, having to train through it all the time. I considered it prep, but just like the bulking stage of prep, rather than your cutting stage. And I wasn't doing tons and tons of cardio, but a little bit just to get it [food] moving.
"I don't mind getting a little bit out of shape but, when you get to that kind of size, it's a whole different ball game. I felt like I was pregnant again and I could barely bend over to put my socks on. You're out of puff getting up the stairs and it's just the sheer extra amount of weight you're carrying. I had to get a whole new wardrobe of clothes. Nothing fit me. Nothing. I had to buy extra large men's size clothes across the board. Nothing else would fit. So I've got these shoulders... women's clothes just don't fit.
"I got to 93kg and ended up losing 25 in total. I did actually dip under 70 but for the first comp I did, I was hitting around 70kg and kept losing. So I did a warm-up show, the 2Bros MK Classic this year [qualifier], then I did the IBFA A1 Classic. I knew I was going to be out of shape for the qualifier but I thought, it doesn't matter. I'm aiming for Romania [Amateur Olympia] to peak in. So I wasn't in anywhere near decent enough shape, I don't think. But again, I was the only competitor. There's just so few women that compete in female bodybuilding that, over the last three seasons, I've had a grand total of four competitors.
"In my opinion, female bodybuilding over the last few years seems to have swung more towards the bikini girls. It's a more accessible and easier-to-achieve shape. And aesthetically, a lot of girls would prefer to look like that, which is fair. I can understand that. And as well, from the opposite sex, a lot more guys appreciate that look, which means more girls will want to look like that. And also, it's just not a long, hard slog [as female bodybuilding]. You could be training for a year or two, just diet down and you can step on stage. But if you're a bodybuilder, of course, you need to have been training for years and years.
"Female bodybuilding as a class, aesthetically, it's not a look that most women aspire to. You're on the fringe of kind of what's considered normal in society. You do get a lot of crap from people, more so as a woman than you do as a man."
Unacceptable insults – even from male bodybuilders
This was another hurdle Plumb had to overcome. Outside of the limited number of competitors, the injury setbacks and lockdown, the nasty side of the sport was never far away.
"For me, it's kind of water off a duck's back a little bit," she says. "I've had it since I started training. You divide opinion, don't you? It [female bodybuilding] is very Marmite. The majority of people say, 'you look like a man'. I've been called transsexual more times than I can remember. One TikTok post I put up, I had a comment saying I was an inspiration to the trans community, which I thought was hilarious. I thought it was either an amazing compliment or an amazing insult, one or the other.
"When I first started, it did bother me a little bit. The only time it really bothers me is when someone in the street says something to me in front of my children. There was one in particular I can remember. This was a good few years ago, 2017, actually. I was about two or three weeks out from comp and I took the kids to Longleat Safari Park. We were just queuing to go on a boat trip or something and there was a woman who was like, 'oh, my God, she looks absolutely disgusting'. She was looking me up and down and being really loud. And my girl heard. And at the time, she was about 10 years old and she was pretty upset about it. That bothered me a lot. But online, I don't really care. It's just trolls, isn't it? I think it's quite funny."
By this point, despite her relatively short competitive career, Plumb had been successful enough to make two attempts at achieving an IFBB Pro League card. Both times, however, she was scuppered by the rule over the minimum number of competitors in her class. Oh, and the seemingly laughable comment about her genetically gifted legs not being big enough.
Plumb needed a plan, one that would see her compete with a host of other female bodybuilders. She thought she had nailed it. But more disappointment was round the corner.
"I had a really good think about competitions for 2024," she said. "I needed to find myself a competition where there' would be quite a few girls. I'd kept a good eye on all the European shows to see how many girls were competing. I needed to pick a show that would be busy and that meant it's probably going to be the toughest one. I thought, OK then, I will just have to pitch myself against the best in Europe – which was terrifying.
"So I decided to go for the Romania Amateur Olympia, Wings of Strength one. The year previous, loads of girls turned up and a Pro Card was awarded. And I was like, well that's the one. The girl that won, I thought, bloody hell, she's good. So that was the other thing that kind of motivated me to work as hard as I did through the off-season and during prep."
"Like a starstruck fan in Romania"
"I turned up in Romania feeling like I was some little fan. I was walking around like, oh my God – I was starstruck. It was such a huge venue, massive banners everywhere. It was bigger than anything I'd ever seen. And then you've got Lenda Murray there. Alina Popa. And they were doing this kind of seminar. So I'm sat there thinking, I love them. People you've grown up admiring and adoring. Irene Anderson was sat in front of me. I thought it was brilliant.
"I'd entered women's physique and female bodybuilding because, again, I kept thinking I was too small. In female bodybuilding, you've got to have a cross-frame. And you need to have a significant hip sweep. You need to have a very good level of muscle separation. Muscularity. But really, you just need to be pretty big. Physique is similar, but just a bit smaller. So I thought, well, I'll enter both because I was still not convinced I was big enough.
"It turned out there was one other girl in the physique class – and just me in the female bodybuilding class. I couldn't believe it. Honestly, I was like, I've travelled all this way and it wasn't cheap. I got there a good three days before I had to compete because I wanted to be completely relaxed, I didn't want to be holding any water from the travel. I wanted to be settled. Plus the entry fee was about 250 quid. But you know, you just think, what the hell. And I did think this would be my final go at it; if I don't win it now, I'm going to retire. If I don't get it, I just can't keep banging my head on a brick wall. I can't keep going around the world trying to find people to compete against.
"When I saw it was only me I thought, 'brilliant, no pro card again'. I've done all this work, two year's worth. I thought, 'well, I've won Again. By default. Again'. It's pretty disappointing.
"But a guy called AJ, who runs a female bodybuilding channel, messaged me while I was backstage and he said, 'so you're competing today. how many people are in your class'? When I told him, he was outraged as well. He put a post up about me on Instagram, basically saying it's an outrage, in that there's not enough female bodybuilders and so no IFBB Pro Card would be awarded."
Plumb believes the problem stems from federations not marketing those female bodybuilding classes well enough. That and the ugly issue of body-shaming.
She explains: "It [the lack of female bodybuilders] is because the class isn't being pushed. Pages of Federations seem to allow people online to slag off the female bodybuilding class. I notice it a lot. The amount of people that were saying it's because female bodybuilders are disgusting – on bodybuilding forums. You'd assume these guys are bodybuilders themselves and they're all saying, 'no one wants to look at that, it's unnatural, it's gross'. There's so many comments like that. You may not like the look of it but you can appreciate the work, surely? You can respect them for what they're doing and not be a complete knob. They don't have to say that sort of stuff. You don't have to fancy it or want to f**k it. That's fine. But you don't have to slag it off publicly.
"It's crazy. Anyway, that's why I refuse to slag off bikini girls. I won't slag them off. I do think it's an easier route, but that's fine.
A future in female bodybuilding
"Anyway, so he wrote this post and Jake Wood [owner of the Olympia] was watching. So you had him, Alina Popa and Lenda Murray – and they all saw the post. I had Jake Wood and the head judge come backstage and find me. And they just said to me, 'are you going to apply for your pro card after this? I went, 'yeah, maybe'. And Jake Wood says to me, 'apply for it'. So I said, 'all right'. And he said, 'no, apply for it'.
"And then he found me after I'd done the finals [following pre-judging] and told me again that I should apply. We [Louise and Jack Wood] followed each other on Instagram and he messaged me three more times telling me to apply. You have to send stage photos with your application and it took a while for those to arrive. But within half an hour of sending it, I got an email back saying it [Pro Card] had been approved."
An unexpected reality check...
Naturally, Plumb was elated at the news of what she had achieved. All the years of hard work and sacrifice had paid off. She said: "I was over the moon. I took an instant screenshot sent to Mark [bodybuilder Mark Taylor, her partner]. It was a weird feeling. I spent that day just sort of floating around a little bit. But the next day I was like, well, now what? I've spent the last four years gunning for this. That's been the sole focus. I was hoping to get it [pro card] that day so I could do a pro show the following day. So I would have done the pro show the next day happily and then just gone, 'right, that's it, I'm going to retire'.
"What was interesting is that there was another female bodybuilding pro and she'd come from Iran and her luggage had got lost. She hadn't put a bikini in her hand luggage, so she didn't have one. And I got some random woman messaging me on Instagram saying, 'I see you're at the Olympia, you look about the same size as my friend. Can she borrow a bikini'? Now, I bought three bikinis in my hand luggage. And I just said, yeah, of course. Can you imagine the stress that she's under? I met her to give her the bikini and bloody hell, if we weren't the same size. And I thought, 'oh, that's interesting, because I just assumed all the other girls were going to be tons bigger'. So that was a bit of a reality check for me."
The key question is: What's next?
That reality check opened a whole new avenue of possibilities for Plumb. But she is taking her time on making a decision over her competitive future.
She said: "I've got to be honest with you, I'm fairly undecided at the moment. I've not written off anything. I'm taking a massive break from really strict food, really strict cardio and really strict training. I am still on somewhat of a plan. I am still training and I am still doing cardio. But I'm not killing myself over it. I've worked so tirelessly for the last four years doing this.
"I really just wanted to get a bit of life balance back. I've got kids as well. OK, they're are a bit older, they're teenagers – but they need me. They've got GCSEs, A-levels, doing university visits, driving lessons. I've competed really for the last 10 years, more or less. Even in the years I haven't competed, I've still been training and eating like I had been competing. My kids have been brilliant, they're so understanding. I never have any grief from them. But as a mother, you've got a constant sense of guilt.
"You go out with them and you can't enjoy food with them. You take them to the cinema, you're eating out of Tupperware in the cinema. My little girl, especially when she was smaller, is a bit of a feeder. So if ever she'd have anything, like a muffin, she'd always want me to have some. And I'd always have to say no and she'd always be upset. So I just wanted to have a bit of balance back in my life.
"But come January, I'm going to get back on a plan. I'm going to get back into training. Everything's going to go back into normal. I'll have my normal routine again. I think as bodybuilders, you're never satisfied, so you're always going to train and you're always going to try and improve. I'll carry on with that. But I'm not young anymore. And I've been competing for 10 years now. And I've done more than 20 shows. But I've been asked to do the guest posing at the IBFA A1 Classic, so that means I've got to go back on a prep. If I'm in prep and if I start getting in shape and I start thinking, 'oh, I look all right here', then I might look to jump into something."
With such iron determination, a killer physique and one which is clearly big enough, it would be a foolish person to bet against Plumb making some serious waves on the pro scene. For now, however, it is just a case of 'watch this space'.
From rugby player to best bodybuilder on the planet: The rise of Britain's finest
By Gary Chappell
SAMSON DAUDA says being crowned Mr Olympia is a "dream come true" and has revealed competing in France two weeks ago gave him the perfect information to dial in his condition.
Dauda became only the second Briton since Dorian Yates to win the coveted Mr Olympia title, when dethroning Derek Lunsford in Las Vegas on Saturday night. He also beat 2022 champion Hadi Choopan and 2019 winner Brandon Curry.
Dauda said: "This is a dream come true. This is unreal. This has just been amazing. We knew we were trying to bring something special this year and we knew we could do it. And to have it come to play and happen like this, I couldn't ask for better.
"It feels crazy, it feels [like I'm] over the moon. It feels like all that work all year, putting through everything, to stand on that stage and say 'we did it, against all [the odds], we did it'. There is nothing better."
Dauda received criticism in some corners for his decision to compete at the France Pro just two weeks out from the Olympia. But his surprise move paid dividends because he was given feedback from judges which made him knuckle down even more.
He said: "We really pushed things down because we got the feedback from the judges in France. We knew we had to dig deeper because I knew exactly what they wanted to see. The last two weeks I was doing an hour and a half cardio every day.
"Are you trying to starve me to death?"
"My wife [Marlena Gustowska his coach] was cutting my food so fast I was like 'are you trying to starve me to death'? She really pushed me down and she really wanted to me to shock the world. I don't even know how that happened but she said, 'trust me, you don't lose muscle. You're going to suffer. Even though you're going to hate me for it, trust me, you're going to thank me for it at the end'. Now we know we can achieve this look, I know how far I have to push things."
Speaking to the many fans gathered in Las Vegas, Dauda added: "For all the support you guys [fans] have given me, all your messages, all your love, I want to say thank you so much for everything. It has meant the world to me. We have been through a lot this year and you all stuck by me and I'm truly thankful."
Samson Dauda: From Rugby Player to Mr Olympia
Dauda has taken the bodybuilding world by storm, rising from relative obscurity to become Mr Olympia. However, his path to success was not always rooted in bodybuilding. His journey began on the rugby field, playing first on the wing before moving to outside centre. This is where he built the foundation of his remarkable physique and developed the discipline that would later propel him to greatness on the bodybuilding stage.
During a previous interview, Dauda said: “I was playing rugby for the town I was living in at the time and the guys I was in the changing room with would say, ‘wow, you have a great physique. Have you ever thought about competing'? “I was like, ‘what are you talking about'?"
Dauda spoke to local gym owner Chris Jones – a former NABBA Pro and now NABBA judge. Then he saw the 2013 Mr Olympia contest, which was won by Phil Heath.
“I was just blown away by it. I was like oh my God,” said Dauda at the time. “It just kind of caught me at that point and I was like ‘OK, you know what? I want to do this'."
Jones continues to be a close friend to this day and wrote a glowing tribute on social media: "Well, how do I even begin to put into words just how proud I am right now about Samson Dauda becoming the very best bodybuilder on the planet and becoming the 19th man in history to win the Mr Olympia?
There was something very special about Samson
"Right from the very beginning, it was obvious there was something very special about Samson. He used to work with my wife in 2009 at Basildon Hospital. A simple conversation about going to the gym and Samson wanting to get “a bit bigger”, led to my wife giving Samson my phone number. A few days later, he called me and arranged to come and see me at the gym.
"He walked in weighing about 150 pounds and I gave him a training plan and a diet plan and off he went happy with what we'd discussed.
"Around six months later, he came back to see me – and had gained around 15 pounds of pure muscle. It was blatantly apparent that Samson had a great ability to grow muscle even back then.
ON THE RIGHT PATH: Samson Dauda and close friend and early mentor Chris Jones (left)
"Fast forward a few years and we had so many adventures and experiences together. And with the persuasion of his wife Marlena, he agreed to do his first bodybuilding show. All the years of competing, going to regional qualifiers, British championships together and trying to make a mark. It was clear that Samson was destined for greatness.
"Through all the success, Samson is still the same humble, down-to-earth guy that he has always been and has always remained true and loyal to his friends.
"I will close this by saying that I am truly humbled and privileged to say that my mate Samson Dauda is now THE best bodybuilder on the planet. A nd he still comes down our gym [Evolve Fitness in Essex] to chat with us lads and eat and train. Well done Samson and Marlena."
Despite several accounts profiling his competition history, Dauda actually competed with at the IBFA Hampshire in 2013, winning his class and the overall.
“It just felt so natural to be on there, you know,” said Dauda. “One of the promoters came to me and said, ‘I think you can win this class [the overall]’. I was like ‘are you out of your mind’?”
Fast forward 11 years and Dauda is the best bodybuilder on the planet. Mr Olympia.
Early Struggles and Breakthroughs
Dauda’s entry into the competitive bodybuilding scene was not easy. He faced many of the challenges that come with starting a new sport – learning how to pose, understanding nutrition and perfecting his stage presence. His initial competitions were met with mixed results. But Dauda persisted, knowing that he had the potential to rise to the top.
It was not until he started learning the intricacies of professional bodybuilding that Dauda’s career began to take off. His physique, known for its symmetry, size and definition, started to catch the attention of judges and fans alike.
In 2021, Dauda had his breakthrough year, placing highly in several major competitions, including the Arnold Classic and IFBB Pro League shows. His combination of mass, aesthetics and an impressive posing routine set him apart from the competition.
The Road to Mr Olympia
By 2022, Dauda had solidified himself as a legitimate contender for the Mr. Olympia title. His transformation from a rugby player to a world-class bodybuilder is a testament to his work ethic and determination. His Nigerian heritage, combined with his British upbringing, gave him a unique identity and perspective in the sport.
Dauda’s rise to prominence is an inspirational story of resilience, discipline and ambition. And now he and wife Marlena know what he needs to do to dial in that Mr Olympia condition. So the question now is: Just how many can he win?
Dauda might well be known as the Nigerian Lion but right now there is no doubt he is Britain's best.
IFBB Pro vs IFBB Pro League: Why bodybuilders are getting confused
As IFBB Pro cards are awarded in the UK, confusion with the Pro League has sparked backlash across bodybuilding
COMMENT from the Editor
ONE aspect of competitive bodybuilding that always strikes me is the mutual respect competitors have for one another.
It makes bodybuilding stand alone from other sports. It flies in the face of what many perceive as the 'stereotypical' meat-head bodybuilder.
Sadly, however, one aspect of bodybuilding has become abundantly clear over the past 48 hours; an undercurrent of nastiness remains.
On Sunday, the British Physique Alliance awarded seven IFBB Pro cards to overall champions of different categories. The BPA did this following an agreement that was put in place between their federation and IFBB Pro president Rafael Santonja.
It is a similar agreement with which the UKBFF have been awarding IFBB Pro cards for years.
Only this time, there was uproar.
What is the difference between IFBB Pro and IFBB Pro League?
People were claiming that two pro cards being offered under the banner of 'IFBB' was confusing. This, despite the fact the same has been going on for the past seven years.
And this from the same people who purport to "loving this shit" whenever they refer to bodybuilding. I would suggest that if someone loved their sport so much, they would consume as much information as they could lay their hands on. Information, let's not forget, that has been in the public domain for seven years.
Still, let's go through it once more; a brief history for those who remain confused. We have reported this before, republishing an excellent piece from the website Evolution of Bodybuilding. In fact, we linked to this story in our preview of the BPA British Finals, which we published on Saturday evening.
'IFBB Pro' – as it is now called – is the original IFBB federation founded by Joe and Ben Weider in 1946. This is the federation that was, until recently, called IFBB Elite Pro.
The IFBB Pro League, on the other hand, was born in 2005. This is the 'federation' that still has rights to the Olympia.
Ben Weider empowered Jim Manion to run the Pro League under the banner of the IFBB. When Ben Weider retired, he handed over the overall IFBB presidency to Rafael Santonja (above).
In 2017, however, Manion informed Santonja that the NPC and the Pro League were leaving the IFBB and starting their own organisation. But Manion decided to keep the name 'IFBB', despite having no affiliation with that federation. If this is where the confusion reigns, then point the finger at Manion and no one else, for it is he who insists on using the IFBB name.
In response, Dr Santonja created a new pro division for the IFBB called the IFBB Elite Pro. This was, however, recently rebranded to the IFBB Pro.
Manion went on to expand the NPC and continued to run the IFBB Professional League. This includes the Mr Olympia and other pro events.
To reiterate, as it stands there is a federation called 'IFBB Pro' – the original IFBB created by Joe and Ben Weider.
FATHERS OF FITNESS: Ben Weider (left) and Joe Weider
Then there is what is still called – rightly or wrongly – the IFBB Pro League. One would imagine that, sooner or later, the Manions will rename this the 'NPC Pro League' or such like.
As mentioned, Manion's IFBB Pro League offers access to a number of pro shows and includes the biggest one of them all, the Mr Olympia.
Santonja's IFBB Pro remains the original bodybuilding federation set up by the Weider brothers and offers competitions such as the following:
IFBB Pro Arnold Classic, the IFBB Pro Night of Champions, IFBB Pro Mr Universe and the IFBB Pro World Championships.
This seems fairly clear. But still the vitriol on social media over the past few days has been baffling.
"Just to clarify, this [being an IFBB Pro after winning an IFBB Pro card] is not the same as being an IFBB Pro," cried one.
Read that again; 'being an IFBB Pro is not the same as being an IFBB Pro'...
"They [IFBB Pro cards] are pretend pro cards," bleated another, peppering this well-researched reply with as many crying-with-laughter emojis as they could. "They can’t get the Olympia therefore not real Pros."
What incredible logic. 'If you cannot try to qualify for the Olympia, you are not a real professional'.
Does this count for those other federations who offer pro status? NABBA, PCA, FitX, GBO?
Many bodybuilding purists would argue that being a pro with the federation started by Joe and Ben Weider – men who effectively created bodybuilding as a sport – is worth an order of magnitude more than those four mentioned above.
Not so, according to another, who claimed that competing as a professional with the federation started by the Weider brothers was "just the same as being a pro with the PCA or GBO".
When challenged on this point, this person then claimed they did not know where they were trying to devalue people's achievements. They signed off with one of those crying-with-laughter emojis. And in an instant, it was clear this was a deliberate attempt to belittle fellow bodybuilders. In a nutshell they were saying, 'you know what, you are really not as good as you think you are". Classy.
And as soon as that emoji dropped, this publication knew that its time was better spent doing anything else on the planet rather than engage further.
And even more tried to denigrate the IFBB Pro by labelling their pro cards as 'pretend', littering replies with those belittling crying-with-laughter emojis. This is a direct attempt to devalue the achievement. If everyone is entitled to their opinion, then those people, if they have competed before, should know better.
This week, frontdouble.com has also been accused of spreading "false advertising".
One person suggested we were "giving out false advertisement to con people to compete at this show [BPA British Finals] and leave athletes very disappointed when they soon realise they can’t compete at a Olympia qualifier!!!"
Is it a fact that they are disappointed? Or is this you projecting what your own feelings might be? Maybe they realise the tiny chance anyone has of actually qualifying for an Olympia. Maybe, just maybe, they knew the history of the sport they love and wanted to gain pro status with the federation founded by Joe and Ben Weider.
The accusation is also highly defamatory. The story regarding the BPA was published late on Saturday – three days after registration for their British Finals had closed. How we could possibly 'con' people from this point is beyond me. And that is not to mention the fact that we would never do such an absurd thing.
IFBB Pro card for a federation called IFBB Pro, not IFBB Pro League
We were quite explicit in our description of the pro card being offered too: tt was an IFBB Pro card. You know, to compete in the federation which is called 'IFBB Pro'.
We did not say there was a route into the IFBB Pro League. Nor did we say this particular card was a route to the Olympia. We did not mention the NPC's 'IFBB' Pro League because, if you know anything about the history of bodybuilding, you will already know that it is a separate federation. In fact, it is not a federation at all. It is a business. But that's another story. And is explained in the piece we linked to. As we now know how easily people are confused, you can read that story by clicking here.
We also explained how the IFBB Pro recently removed the word 'Elite' from its name.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this opinion piece, bodybuilding stands apart from other sports because of the widespread respect and camaraderie shown between rivals.
It is a shame that so many have shown this week that they all too keen to belittle, ridicule and laugh at those who they feel are beneath them. That's right, bodybuilders laughed at the achievements of their fellow bodybuilders. All because of the name IFBB.
What would Joe or Ben Weider think if you told them the pro card they were offering was 'pretend' or was 'not the same as being an IFBB Pro'?
Let's not 'pretend'. Those people do not share the true spirit of bodybuilding.
IFBB vs NPC: How Santonja and Manion shaped bodybuilding’s split
From the 2017 split to the fight over the IFBB name, the Santonja–Manion divide continues to shape modern bodybuilding
THIS week, KEVIN GRECH from the website Evolution of Bodybuilding, wrote an informative piece on the current situation regarding the IFBB and the NPC. With his permission, frontdouble.com is republishing his article below:
What Is the Difference Between IFBB and NPC?
The IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) is the global governing body for amateur bodybuilding, while the NPC (National Physique Committee) operates as a private organisation primarily in the United States.
Since the 2017 split, the NPC and IFBB Professional League have operated independently from the IFBB under Rafael Santonja, creating two distinct pathways for athletes pursuing professional status in bodybuilding.
By Kevin Grech
THE International Federation of Bodybuilding, better known as the IFBB, was founded in 1946 – 78 years ago – by two brothers, Joe and Ben Weider.
Joe and Ben dreamed of becoming the top magazine publishers focusing on health and fitness. And became the world’s greatest bodybuilding promoters.
Joe Weider focused on promoting the world’s best bodybuilding events, including the Mr Olympia and focused on the publishing company.
Joe’s brother Ben went on to focus on growing the amateur side of the sport. He travelled all over the world, building relationships and creating national federations. Today there are more than 200 national federations affiliated with the IFBB.
The IFBB has a solid structure, with a president, executive committee and members who vote democratically for every rule or new event.
SPORT'S FINEST: From left, Ben Weider, Ronnie Coleman and Joe Weider
Ben Weider was the president of the IFBB until 2006, when he retired and recommended Dr Rafael Santonja to replace him. At IFBB’s congress in 2006, a vote was taken and Dr Santonja became the new IFBB President, a position he still holds today.
Ben Weider also suggested that Jim Manion remain in charge of the IFBB Professional League – under the banner of the IFBB and Dr Santonja. It is a position he has held since the inception of the IFBB Professional League in 2005.
In 2017 there were significant changes in the sport. First, Manion resolved the NPC from a tax-free amateur organisation to a private company. It is owned by himself and his family. There are questions about whether he allegedly did this in a legal manner, which he denies.
At the 2017 Olympia weekend, Manion announced to Dr Santonja that the NPC and the Pro League were leaving the IFBB and starting their own organisation.
In response, Dr Santonja (below) created a new pro division for the IFBB called the IFBB Elite Pro. This was recently rebranded to the IFBB Pro.
The IFBB also continued to promote the biggest amateur events on the bodybuilding calendar, which include the IFBB European and World Amateur Championships. For the pro athletes, they can compete in numerous pro events that all lead to the IFBB Pro World Championships.
Manion went on to expand the NPC his amateur division and continued to run the IFBB Professional League. This includs the Mr Olympia and other pro events. Manion also has attempted to expand in Europe and other parts of the world, under the name NPC Worldwide. But he has a lot more work to do before he reaches the height of the IFBB.
The NPC and IFBB Professional League are not a federation, but a privately owned business owned by the Manion family. Allegedly, no votes are needed to change any rules.
BODYBUILDING LEGENDS: From left, Joe Weider, Lee Haney and Ben Weider
The fight for power
Before the split in 2017, the NPC and Manion were USA’s affiliates to the IFBB. This allowed amateur athletes to compete at amateur events such as the IFBB World Amateur Championships. Bodybuilding legends such as Lee Haney, Lee Labrada, Bob Paris, Mike Christian and others, represented the USA at these events.
Manion stopped attending the IFBB Congress at the IFBB World Championships. He also stopped sending athletes to represent the USA after 1998. But he continued to be affiliated with the IFBB and Santonja until 2017.
From 1946 till today, IFBB’s international events are a team sport, with athletes representing their country.
According to sources, Manion allegedly never liked to work under the IFBB and Dr Santonja. Allegedly, Manion expected Ben Weider to give him total control of the IFBB amateur and pro division. But Ben Weider had other plans.
Even though Manion was given the power to run the IFBB Professional League, he still had to work under the IFBB and Dr Santonja. As mentioned earlier, this would all come to an end in 2017.
Many experienced people within the NPC could have been the perfect candidate to be vice-president of the NPC and Professional League. But Manion (below) handpicked his grandson, Tyler, to run the show, keeping everything within the family.
The original and real IFBB under Dr Santonja
There are many trademarks and copyrights created with the IFBB name, but there is only one IFBB. That is the one created by Ben Weider. That is the one still growing under the watchful eye of current IFBB President Dr Santonja.
The NPC, NPC Worldwide and IFBB Professional League might still use the name IFBB, but they are not the real IFBB. They are not affiliated with the worldwide federation created by Joe and Ben Weider in 1946.
The IFBB is the only bodybuilding federation in the world recognised by the top sports establishments worldwide. No other federation or private entity comes close.
Manion knows the power of the IFBB name and he and his family will keep using it to promote his events until he eventually switches over to the new names they trademarked. It is only a matter of time before Manion changes his pro organisation from IFBB Professional League to NPC Pro. This would work perfectly with his NPC amateur division.
To make things worse for Manion and his bodybuilding company, Dr Santonja has decided to rebrand their pro division, IFBB Elite Pro, to IFBB Pro. This will be seen by the Manion family that Santonja is starting to tighten his hold on the IFBB name.
History cannot be denied. It is easy to understand where and when the IFBB started and where it is today. While many have important ties to the IFBB, such as Manion, the fact is that Santonja is the only true successor after Ben Weider.
FRONTDOUBLE COMMENT: This month, some UK competitions will be offering athletes the chance to win an IFBB Pro card. Recently, this card, rather than the NPC version, was described to frontdouble.com as a "Skoda v a Rolls Royce". Do you agree with this sentiment? Post your views below.
Chicago Pro 2024: UK Bodybuilders Davies and Thornton place fourth
UK bodybuilders Llewellyn Davies and Carly Thornton both secured fourth-place finishes at the Chicago Pro in their respective divisions
By Gary Chappell
A COUPLE who met through the bodybuilding circuit have just placed fourth in the same pro contest in Chicago.
Carly Thornton and Llewellyn Davies have been together three years and are one of the few competitive couples in the UK.
CENTRE STAGE: Davies looking shape in the centre with an abs and thigh pose at the Chicago Pro
Davies was making his pro debut, having secured his IFBB Pro Card in November at the NPC European Masters in Milan. Davies won the Classic Physique class In Italy with great flowing lines and a beaming smile.
At the Chicago Pro, Davies managed a respectable fourth place in a category of eight.
Thornton, a wellness competitor who has competed in the Masters Olympia, also took fourth place in a category of five.
Ahead of the competition she said on social media: "Power meets power and we take on the world."
And in a personal message to her partner, Thornton added: "Just under nine months ago you won your IFBB Pro status
"When we met we made a pack that we would push one another to excel
"The memories, the dreams, the goals, the experiences we have shared for the past three years has been astronomical. This is what truly living life to the fullest feels like.
"Today is the day you do your IFBB Pro debut at one of the biggest shows in the world. And you walk out there with Llewy D energy, vibes and personality. This is YOUR MOMENT and you are going to blow them away.
"This is YOUR moment to enjoy the mixed emotions that come with it and say “I AM F@CKING PROUD OF ME”.
"A man who strives for greatness.
"A man who over comes challenges.
"A man who is born to bring energy to everyone he meets.
"Go and DO what LLEWY D does."
Following his fourth-place finish, Davies said: So yesterday we ACHIEVED one of the most memorable moments in my sporting career.
"A fourth-place finish among nine other champions all of which were incredible athletes deserving of their accolades.
"It’s officially hit home after watching the footage back this morning with @carlythorntonofficial that I have a VERY bright future in this sport. Holding centre stage throughout most of the comparisons to be moved at the end.
"The crowd went wild during my routine and the amount of people who congratulated me post show on my stage presence and energy was very surreal.
"Now we know exactly what’s needed and it’s nothing drastic just some more tissue and we will be winning shows at the highest level.
"From the bottom of my heart I want to dedicate my debut to my wife to be as she made the vision come to reality, at home and in the gym. Her belief in me and constant focus on our progress as a couple is what makes this journey so rewarding.
"My coach @calum_teamprocoach absolutely nailed this prep from start to finish and was up at all hours for the last 10 days straight checking me in five times per day and changing things as needed. Even sending me zoomed in pics of my dieted face.
"Now it’s time to grow with no remorse – 125kg here we come."
The pair are just two of six UK athletes competing at the Chicago Pro. Deke Walker, Rob Thurston, Barbara Kiss and Romana Skotzen are also in the US.
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