by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
Each time I hear Michal Krizo open his mouth, I can’t cease yawning. This dude ran his mouth so exhausting earlier than turning into an IFBB professional that you simply’d assume his jaw was product of stone.
Not too long ago, he stated that if he had competed within the Prague Professional, he would have positioned second, edging out Chris Bumstead.
After stomach chuckle, I made a decision I’d write an article. Now, I’ve gotten away from bodybuilding articles for over a yr now, primarily as a result of the game is boring AF currently. However this complete Michal Krizo nonsense appears to have pulled me again in.
Hear, I like some good shit-talking and rivalry within the sport. However for the love of every thing holy, at the least again it up. I have a look at Krizo the identical method I have a look at guys like Sergio Jr. They each like to run their mouths however can’t again it up with wins. They’re each delusional in considering their physiques are higher than what they really are.
I completely get it — hype is forex. Followers, media, and even rivals themselves thrive on daring predictions, trash discuss, and guarantees of domination. However generally, the hype practice derails, leaving everybody questioning what went improper. And that’s the place Michal Krizo is at the moment.
We watched and listened to Krizo yap his jaws abroad, saying he’d destroy IFBB professionals earlier than turning professional. Now that he has his professional card, we’re all left asking: What occurred to all of the smack discuss and domination you spoke of?
On this article, I wish to dive deeper into the hype that was Michal Krizo and the whole letdown of what he has been since getting his IFBB professional card.
Disclaimer: This text is for informational functions solely and isn’t meant to deal with or diagnose any situation. It is suggested that you simply converse along with your physician earlier than beginning any train program, altering your day by day vitamin, or including any dietary supplements to your routine.
The Michal Krizo Hype Machine
For individuals who’ve adopted Michal Krizo’s journey, it’s unimaginable to overlook how he burst onto the scene. A freakish physique with jaw-dropping dimension, insane vascularity, and a social media following that rivaled seasoned IFBB professionals.
Earlier than he even stepped on an IFBB stage, Michal Krizo had established himself as a power to be reckoned with within the beginner circuits, particularly within the Elite Professional division. He didn’t simply appear like a contender — he acted like one, too, making daring claims about how he’d dominate and destroy IFBB competitions and rivals.
From afar, Michal Krizo had a formidable physique, however then once more, he wasn’t standing subsequent to IFBB professionals when he was within the Elite Professional division.
In interviews and on social media, Michal Krizo continuously criticized the standard of rivals within the IFBB, insinuating that they had been overrated and lacked the type of package deal he dropped at the desk. He promised to crush the competitors, claiming it was solely a matter of time earlier than he ascended to the highest.
However there’s a giant distinction between speaking the discuss and strolling the stroll — and Michal Krizo has but to show himself to followers and rivals. In spite of everything, what main IFBB reveals has he gained? Give it some thought… I’ll wait.
Profitable His Professional Card
In 2022, Michal Krizo earned his IFBB professional card, and bodybuilding followers all over the world began paying nearer consideration and had been ready for the smack-talking to carry its weight on the stage.
Together with his imposing dimension and towering stage presence, the anticipation for his IFBB debut reached a fever pitch. Followers had been already picturing him on the Olympia stage, pushing veterans like Large Ramy, Hadi Choopan, and Nick Walker to their limits.
Sadly for Michal Krizo, it’s one factor to dominate within the beginner leagues or a distinct federation; the IFBB is a distinct animal.
The extent of competitors, the requirements of judging, and the depth of the expertise pool are in contrast to the rest within the sport. And whereas Krizo’s debut was met with curiosity and pleasure, it didn’t take lengthy for the cracks within the facade to point out.
The Actuality of Being within the IFBB
Since incomes his professional card, Michal Krizo has been removed from the dominant power he promised to be. In his preliminary outings, he appeared spectacular however didn’t ship the knockout blow he had alluded to throughout his rise.
Certain, he has the muscle mass, the construction, and the uncooked potential, however on the subject of the finer particulars — conditioning, symmetry, and presentation — he hasn’t fairly lived as much as the hype. He’s a mammoth of a person, however that’s all he has going for him.
You may’t win a present merely since you’re a mass monster — that you must be conditioned, which he has but to point out.
And let’s not sugarcoat it: the IFBB isn’t a league the place you possibly can coast on potential alone. It’s a battleground the place solely essentially the most polished and ready athletes take residence the massive checks.
For all his bravado and shit-talking, Michal Krizo hasn’t cracked the higher echelon of rivals. Whereas he hasn’t been an entire catastrophe, he’s fallen effectively wanting the lofty expectations he set for himself.
Overhyped or Overwhelmed? (Or Each?)
The issue with Krizo’s hype machine is that it set him up for failure earlier than he even had an opportunity to succeed. By making such daring claims and belittling the competitors, he created a goal on his again. Each misstep, each weak displaying, and each loss is magnified as a result of individuals keep in mind the trash discuss.
Bodybuilding followers are fickle. They’ll rally behind somebody with potential, however they’ll additionally activate that individual simply as rapidly in the event that they don’t ship. Michal Krizo is studying that the exhausting method.
Some may argue that Krizo remains to be adjusting to the extent of the IFBB and that it’s too early to label him a flop. In spite of everything, it takes time to refine your physique to match the requirements of top-tier competitors. However others will level out that Krizo’s personal phrases have labored in opposition to him.
Once you declare you’re going to dominate, individuals anticipate you to dominate — not simply present up and look huge (*yawn*).
A Lesson Realized… However Repeated
If there’s one takeaway from Michal Krizo’s story, it’s that actions converse louder than phrases. In bodybuilding, as in life, discuss is affordable. It’s simple to make daring claims if you’re the massive fish in a small pond, however when you enter the ocean, you must show you belong there.
Michal Krizo nonetheless has time to show issues round, however the clock is ticking. The bodybuilding world doesn’t watch for anybody, and the competitors solely will get more durable with every passing yr. If he needs to shed the label of “overhyped flop,” he must do extra than simply present up — he must dominate, similar to he stated he would.
Till then, Michal Krizo will stay a cautionary story for aspiring bodybuilders: don’t let your mouth write checks your physique can’t money. You’d assume he would have discovered that by now, however with the most recent feedback about Chris Bumstead, maybe he thinks he can bully round a Basic Physique competitor? Truthfully, I don’t assume he needs to get on stage with Cbum. I imagine Chris would hand him one other “L” within the IFBB since Krizo doesn’t have an entire package deal for the stage.
Can Michal Krizo Again Up the Speak?
Right here’s the underside line earlier than you begin saying I’m a hater or that I’m dissing on the game of bodybuilding and the IFBB. As a fan of the game, I wish to see everybody succeed. There’s nothing higher than an important underdog story or a redemption. However Michal Krizo must again up the discuss with outcomes. If he doesn’t, his profession may find yourself being remembered not for his achievements however for the hype he couldn’t dwell as much as and the shit he talked.
Solely time will inform if Michal Krizo can rise to the event or if he’ll stay a first-rate instance of why humility issues in bodybuilding. Till then, the jury remains to be out. However one factor’s for positive — he’s received a protracted method to go earlier than he can declare the throne he as soon as stated can be his.