by Christian Duque
The Masters Olympia is absolutely the highest honor in Masters physique-based sports activities. As with all different division, something that has Olympia in it, stands for being the very best on the planet; nevertheless, the Masters O is totally different in plenty of methods. For starters, it hasn’t had a steady run. That proper there makes it stand other than each different Olympia occasion. However there’s extra to speak about. Not like the opposite divisions that every one have a house within the Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, NV, the Masters O is other than the Open divisions.
And this 12 months, the Masters O was held in Tokyo. When’s the final time the open Olympia left the US? Even through the pandemic, it moved from Las Vegas to Orlando, with some speak of Atlanta. It didn’t go to Mexico Metropolis or Warsaw. The competition as we all know it, has been within the U.S. for many years. And that’s as a result of the US is essentially the most energetic nation for bodybuilding on the planet. Why couldn’t they put the Masters O in Philly, Atlanta, or Dallas? Why not put it someplace tropical like Hawaii, SoCal, and even Destin, FL. Wouldn’t that make extra sense? Having the Masters Olympia someplace the place rivals might deliver their households and make a trip? However no. They selected Tokyo. And earlier than that? Romania. Who the hell goes to Romania? The place will or not it’s subsequent, Iceland? I imply come on.
I might go on and on, however a minimum of we’ve a Masters O. In years previous, the occasion was solid to the aspect as a result of nobody knew how you can promote it. Fortunately, the present Olympia proprietor, Jake Wooden, and his group are advertising wizards. There’s simply a lot extra that might be and ought to be performed. The Masters want somebody to information them. As with something, bodybuilding is the flagship division. And that’s the place 2025 Masters Mr Olympia Dorian Haywood is available in. If the Masters have a powerful ambassador, somebody to look as much as, we might see the Masters O and the Masters divisions solely get higher.
Masters rivals run the gamut by way of age, from 35 to the 60’s and past. Whereas some of us crumble as they become old, many Masters rivals defy the ageing course of. They appear superb. Many have big dimension, others are available with phenomenal situation, and fairly a couple of are capable of strike that particular look that mixes them each. I’m talking from firsthand experiences. I had the advantage of protecting about three or 4 NPC Masters Nationals the place choose rivals arrived as amateurs and left as full-fledged IFBB Professional athletes. That’s a fairly big soar if you concentrate on it. You go from exhibits the place you’re competing with native guys who most likely eat nicely and practice, to professional exhibits the place you possibly can face off with some badasses. You by no means know who you’re going to search out on a professional masters stage. You might need massive names like our reigning champion Dorian Haywood, possibly Vinny Galanti, possibly Dexter Jackson. You may additionally face a masters professional out of a faraway land that’s come to scope out the competitors. There’s some guys I’ve by no means heard of and by no means seen they usually simply blow me away. Hidden expertise exists. Belief me, I’ve seen it. After which in fact there’s the phenoms. They arrive in all ages. Take a man who’s by no means competed earlier than and competes on a whim (form of like when Ronnie Coleman did his first present – for a gymnasium membership!). I’ve additionally seen guys like that do a pair exhibits, get a professional card, and go on to wash home. There are quite a lot of strong masters rivals on the market. However only a few Masters rivals are acquainted with the Masters Olympia.
The Masters O was massive when it had a dominant champion. When Dexter gained the title, it was largely a one-off. He did it as a result of he might, however he wasn’t a full-fledged Masters competitor. Don Youngblood was a very good champion, however we misplaced him too quickly. Who is aware of, possibly he would have grown the division. Robby Robinson additionally held the title when he defeated Lou Ferrigno within the 1990’s. That stated, the Masters had one nice champion that stands out from all others. Each division has one. In Males’s Physique there’s Jeremy Buendia, in 212 there’s Flex Lewis, and in Masters Bodybuilding, that distinction goes to the G.O.A.T. Vince Taylor! So far, his identify holds particular significance. Vince gained 5 Grasp Olympia titles and took the open Olympia stage seven occasions. For half a decade, while you considered Masters Bodybuilding, Vince Taylor got here to thoughts. And he wasn’t only a man who gained the title time and again. He flew the flag and he was very seen.
Being seen in Taylor’s day was completely totally different than right this moment. Again then it was the mid 90’s to the early 2000’s. The web was current, however nothing like it’s right this moment. Not one of the main social shops existed. There was no IG, no Tiktok. Fb didn’t launch till 2006. Being seen didn’t imply being on-line. It required planes, trains, and cars. And the dominant media format then was print. That introduced an entire host of issues. Certain, it’s good flipping by way of {a magazine} and preserving them as collectibles, however think about having to attend a month for information. Individuals these days can’t go ten minutes with out reaching for his or her telephones. And that’s one other phenomenon. When Taylor dominated Masters Bodybuilding, cell telephones weren’t a factor like they’re right this moment.
So meaning selling right this moment is method simpler, proper?
Effectively not so quick! Whereas there wasn’t social media within the outdated days and cellphones weren’t used the way in which they’re right this moment, being seen was just about all the way down to a science. These days, it’s a must to be energetic on social media, be on podcasts, and do your personal livestreams. That’s nearly a given. The most important mistake made, nevertheless, is relying an excessive amount of on social media. Sooner or later, there’s no comparability with being seen at expos, contests, and gymnasiums. There’s solely a lot you are able to do with social, similar to there’s solely a lot you do in individual. There must be a mixture and whoever holds the title must be a go-getter. Which means that the Masters Mr Olympia must be the form of person who doesn’t simply sit round ready for alternatives to fall from the sky. In any case, when you’re an Olympia champion, it’s all however anticipated that you just’re set, proper? Effectively, not with Masters Bodybuilding and different Masters divisions. I really feel like they nonetheless should show themselves extra. That’s, once more, the place a powerful Masters Mr O might are available and prepared the ground.
Dorian Haywood might very nicely be the champion that the division wants. Though his reign might have gotten off to a tough begin with the controversy associated to the scoring and public outcry for Phil Clahar, Haywood rode out the storm. He additionally has his followers and individuals who thought he ought to have gained. A few of these of us embrace the very best judges on the planet. Whereas Dorian might haven’t gained the prejudging, the judges who scored the present scored him as profitable the finals overwhelmingly. On account of the finals and the affirmation spherical, Dorian bought the win, however he didn’t actually get to rejoice. Often when an individual wins a title, they get to stay it up a bit. They get to be on Cloud 9 for days, typically weeks. In Haywood’s case it was completely totally different. He didn’t get to take pleasure in these first few days because the champ. However that’s okay. Each Dorian and Phil understood that the choice was with the judges. I don’t suppose both man lashed out on the different, nevertheless it needed to have been awkward for each. I really feel like Phil and different prime Masters O guys can actually develop the game as nicely, however for Dorian it’s make or break. And no matter bumps within the street he endured upon being topped, that’s simply a part of life. Not all the things is peachy eager, however he can use these experiences for seminars and books to return. He took the stage at a contest few had been speaking about and after he gained, he took a title everybody can’t cease speaking about. We’re occurring 4 weeks. Persons are obsessive about the title Dorian gained. I see that as a win. It won’t be a heat and fuzzy win, however a win’s a win.
Being #1 is nice, however in bodybuilding, the division rests in your shoulders. Look what some open Mr O’s have performed in only one 12 months (e.g. Brandon Curry, Dexter Jackson, Derek Lunsford). Then evaluate that to Huge Ramy, for instance. The man held the title for 2 years and didn’t develop squat. After his wins, he’d return to Egypt and wouldn’t be seen from until an enormous expo or the Olympia rolled round. Hadi wasn’t a lot better. Like I stated, the nice ones stand out, however the dangerous ones do too.
Solely time will inform if Dorian is likely one of the greats. From some interactions I’ve had with, I really feel like he’ll do exactly superb. I simply hope that promoters of Masters beginner and professional exhibits will attain out to him for visitor posing alternatives. And I hope he reaches out to a few of them too. I’d hope they might work with different prime Masters execs as nicely, however close to rising Masters Constructing, the reigning Masters Mr O must be there. Think about having a Masters professional present or a Masters beginner present and having your reigning Mr Masters O pose onstage. Dim the lights, work the sound system, throw some fog machines and lights and there you will have it. That’s ENTERTAINMENT. It’s additionally CUSTOMER SERVICE. After the visitor posing routine, Dorian might converse. He might additionally do a seminar. Then there’s the expo circuit. I believe the reigning Masters Mr O ought to be at FIBO, Arnold, BodyPower and the remaining. That’s an enormous a part of being seen, as is press.
I haven’t seen many Dorian interviews so I’d be mendacity if I advised you I favored how he introduced himself, however his restraint with the entire controversy impressed me. I additionally bought an opportunity to catch him on RON HARRIS MUSCLE. Being interviewed by an actual journalist like Ron Harris is a good way to get press. Dorian held his personal very nicely and can solely get higher with time. My hope is that the entire up-and-coming podcasts hit him up. And I’d hope he’ll attain out to some as nicely. If he does an interview a month or each different month, that may be fairly cool. Within the interim he might IG Stay’s on his web page or just submit a couple of occasions every week on his socials. Between that and touring the world, we might see some actual progress within the Masters divisions. The Masters Mr O must be seen! Dorian might additionally converse to rivals and/or create the form of curiosity that may encourage individuals to wish to compete. The extra individuals who compete, the higher!