by Christian Duque
The Masters Olympia is absolutely the highest honor in Masters physique-based sports activities. As with every different division, something that has Olympia in it, stands for being the very best on this planet; nonetheless, the Masters O is totally different in quite a few 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. In contrast to 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 yr, the Masters O was held in Tokyo. When’s the final time the open Olympia left america? Even throughout the pandemic, it moved from Las Vegas to Orlando, with some discuss 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 america is essentially the most energetic nation for bodybuilding on this 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 opponents may carry 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 may go on and on, however at the very least we’ve got a Masters O. In years previous, the occasion was forged to the aspect as a result of nobody knew find out how to promote it. Fortunately, the present Olympia proprietor, Jake Wooden, and his staff are advertising and marketing wizards. There’s simply a lot extra that may very well be and ought to be accomplished. 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 robust ambassador, somebody to look as much as, we may see the Masters O and the Masters divisions solely get higher.
Masters opponents run the gamut when it comes to age, from 35 to the 60’s and past. Whereas some of us collapse as they become old, many Masters opponents defy the growing older course of. They appear wonderful. Many have enormous dimension, others are available in with phenomenal situation, and fairly a number 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 opponents arrived as amateurs and left as full-fledged IFBB Professional athletes. That’s a fairly enormous bounce if you concentrate on it. You go from exhibits the place you’re competing with native guys who most likely eat effectively 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 seek out on a professional masters stage. You may need massive names like our reigning champion Dorian Haywood, possibly Vinny Galanti, possibly Dexter Jackson. You may also 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 after all 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 (type of like when Ronnie Coleman did his first present – for a health club membership!). I’ve additionally seen guys like that do a pair exhibits, get a professional card, and go on to scrub home. There are a number of strong masters opponents on the market. However only a few Masters opponents are conversant in 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 may, however he wasn’t a full-fledged Masters competitor. Don Youngblood was a great 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 mentioned, 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 title holds particular significance. Vince gained 5 Grasp Olympia titles and took the open Olympia stage seven occasions. For half a decade, once you considered Masters Bodybuilding, Vince Taylor got here to thoughts. And he wasn’t only a man who gained the title again and again. He flew the flag and he was very seen.
Being seen in Taylor’s day was completely totally different than at present. Again then it was the mid 90’s to the early 2000’s. The web was current, however nothing like it’s at present. Not one of the main social retailers 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 vehicles. And the dominant media format then was print. That introduced a complete host of issues. Positive, it’s good flipping via {a magazine} and protecting them as collectibles, however think about having to attend a month for information. Folks 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 at present.
So which means selling at present is method simpler, proper?
Nicely not so quick! Whereas there wasn’t social media within the outdated days and cellphones weren’t used the best way they’re at present, being seen was just about right down to a science. These days, you need to be energetic on social media, be on podcasts, and do your individual livestreams. That’s virtually a given. The largest mistake made, nonetheless, is relying an excessive amount of on social media. In some unspecified time in the future, there’s no comparability with being seen at expos, contests, and gymnasiums. There’s solely a lot you are able to do with social, identical 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 the Masters Mr Olympia must be the type of person that 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? Nicely, 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 robust Masters Mr O may are available in and prepared the ground.
Dorian Haywood may very effectively be the champion that the division wants. Though his reign could 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 embody the very best judges on this planet. Whereas Dorian could haven’t gained the prejudging, the judges who scored the present scored him as successful the finals overwhelmingly. On account of the finals and the affirmation spherical, Dorian obtained the win, however he didn’t actually get to rejoice. Often when an individual wins a title, they get to reside it up a bit. They get to be on Cloud 9 for days, generally weeks. In Haywood’s case it was completely totally different. He didn’t get to get pleasure from 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 assume both man lashed out on the different, but it surely needed to have been awkward for each. I really feel like Phil and different high Masters O guys can really develop the game as effectively, however for Dorian it’s make or break. And no matter bumps within the highway 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. Individuals are obsessive about the title Dorian gained. I see that as a win. It may not 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 accomplished in only one yr (e.g. Brandon Curry, Dexter Jackson, Derek Lunsford). Then examine 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 a giant expo or the Olympia rolled round. Hadi wasn’t significantly better. Like I mentioned, 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 advantageous. 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’d work with different high Masters professionals as effectively, however on the subject of 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’ve got it. That’s ENTERTAINMENT. It’s additionally CUSTOMER SERVICE. After the visitor posing routine, Dorian may converse. He may 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 remainder. That’s a giant 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 appreciated how he introduced himself, however his restraint with the entire controversy impressed me. I additionally obtained an opportunity to catch him on RON HARRIS MUSCLE. Being interviewed by an actual journalist like Ron Harris is an effective way to get press. Dorian held his personal very effectively 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 effectively. If he does an interview a month or each different month, that might be fairly cool. Within the interim he may IG Stay’s on his web page or just put up a number of occasions per week on his socials. Between that and touring the world, we may see some actual development within the Masters divisions. The Masters Mr O must be seen! Dorian may additionally converse to opponents and/or create the type of curiosity that might encourage individuals to need to compete. The extra individuals who compete, the higher!
