I have done quick look at NPC 2021 season so time to do the same with Ifbb Pro.
Record breaking numbers in Men’s Open
There was exactly twenty four competitions in the men’s bodybuilding calendar for 2021.
139 was a number of different competitors who took part in them, which is whooping 50 more than last year.
The biggest number entered in Europe at Romania Muscle Fest Pro, twenty-four in mens bodybuilding open, for contrast smallest number was at Ben Weider Natural Pro, where Eric Salazar competed against himself. Looking at the average number of entries across all pro shows it was fourteen. The Egyptians bodybuilders were the most active Hassan Mostafa and Mohamed El Emam, stepped on stage seven times, followed by fellow country men Mohamed Shaaban who did six shows just like Roelly Winklaar and Camilo Diaz.
From UK most active was Nathan De Asha with four shows and most importantly three wins (most pro wins in 2021 btw and 9 in his carrier). Samson Dauda did three shows and ticked off from his bucket list first ticket to Mr Olympia winning at EVLS Prague Pro. James Hollinghead stepped only once on his first Olympia where he placed twelve.
| Bodybuilding Open winners across 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Representing | Competition |
| Luis Rodriguez | USA | Indy Pro |
| Nick Walker | USA | New York Pro |
| Patrick Moore | USA | California Pro |
| Akim Williams | USA | Puerto Rico Pro |
| Andrea Presti | Italy | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Hunter Labrada | USA | Chicago Pro |
| Iain Valliere | Canada | Tampa Pro |
| Iain Valliere | Canada | Texas Pro |
| Nathan De Asha | Great Britain | Europa Pro |
| Nick Walker | USA | Arnold Classic |
| Nathan De Asha | Great Britain | Arnold Classic UK |
| Mamdouh Elssbiay | Egypt | Mr. Olympia |
| Nathan De Asha | Great Britain | Yamamoto Cup San Marino Pro |
| Shaun Clarida | USA | Legion Sports Fest Pro |
| Regan Grimes | Canada | KO Pro |
| Samson Dauda | Great Britain | EVLS Prague Pro |
| Rafael Brandao | Brazil | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Eric Salazar(Only competitor tho!) | USA | Ben Weider Natural Pro |
| Angel Calderón Frias | Spain | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Joel Thomas | USA | Toronto Pro Supershow |
The 2020, was a very difficult year for everyone and perhaps not the best time for professional debuts.
Therefore, only fourteen open decided to do so back then. But 2021 was whole different story as forty-six guys stepped on Pro stage for the first time!
Blessing Awodibu and Behrooz Tabani got the best results among that list, both taking third in their first pro show (technically Eric Salazar’s got the best result, winning professional debut on Ben Weider Natural Pro but he was the only contestant so that doesn’t really count).
Have to mention Brits, Rob Taylor who got eight at Europa Pro, Lewis Breed ninth at Bigman Weekend Pro and from my home country Mariusz Tomczuk who placed twelfth at Europa Pro.
Most occupier spots by those debuting on pro stage was seventh, eighth and sixteenth place.
Nine “newbies” represented US which is the most of all countries, five of them come from Egypt, four from Brazil and three each from Iran and Italy.
| 2021 Debuts in Open Bodybuilding | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Representing | Placing | Competition |
| Eric Salazar | USA | 1. | Ben Weider Natural Pro |
| Blessing Awodibu | Ireland | 3. | Indy Pro |
| Behrooz Tabani | Iran | 3. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Martin Fitzwater | USA | 4. | Texas Pro |
| Patrick Johnson | Denmark | 4. | Arnold Classic UK |
| Sarhan Sarhan | Palestine | 5. | Europa Pro |
| Mohamed Foda | Egypt | 5. | KO Pro |
| Eduardo Rodriguez | Paraguay | 5. | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Khaled Awny | Egypt | 6. | KO Pro |
| Emmanuel Longoria | Mexico | 6. | Toronto Pro Supershow |
| William Martins | Brazil | 7. | Puerto Rico Pro |
| Zach Merkel | USA | 7. | Chicago Pro |
| Mohammad Nsour | Jordan | 7. | Europa Pro |
| Ossama Ashour | Egypt | 7. | KO Pro |
| Emir Omeragic | Germany | 7. | EVLS Prague Pro |
| Robert Taylor | Great Britain | 8. | Europa Pro |
| Fabio Romagnolo | Italy | 8. | Yamamoto Cup San Marino Pro |
| Hamada Ahmed | Egypt | 8. | KO Pro |
| Bruno Oliveira Santos | Brazil | 8. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Hassan Jama | Canada | 8. | Toronto Pro Supershow |
| Khaled Alkazem | Kuwait | 9. | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Lewis Breed | Great Britain | 9. | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Anton Shal | Ukraine | 10. | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Jephte Cherenfant | USA | 10. | Tampa Pro |
| Kevin Brucher | Germany | 10. | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Douglas Fruchey | USA | 11. | Tampa Pro |
| Babacar Niang | Italy | 11. | Yamamoto Cup San Marino Pro |
| Brandon Hatton | USA | 11. | Legion Sports Fest Pro |
| Mahmoud Negm | Egypt | 11. | KO Pro |
| Seth Engman | USA | 12. | Indy Pro |
| Mariusz Tomczuk | Poland | 12. | Europa Pro |
| Jesus Martin Hernandez | Mexico | 12. | Legion Sports Fest Pro |
| Valeri Enchev | Bulgaria | 13. | Arnold Classic UK |
| Aldo Masolo | Italy | 13. | Yamamoto Cup San Marino Pro |
| Thiago Lins | Brazil | 14. | Puerto Rico Pro |
| Christian Salcedo | USA | 14. | Legion Sports Fest Pro |
| Thierry Afandonougbo | France | 14. | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Alan Bonadiman | Brazil | 15. | Puerto Rico Pro |
| Ayat Bagheri | Iran | 15. | Europa Pro |
| Scott Lightfoot | USA | 15. | Legion Sports Fest Pro |
| Aivars Grigjānis | Latvia | 15. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Eiren Gauley | Canada | 16. | Tampa Pro |
| Ahmet Koçak | Turkey | 16. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Artur Kovalev | Russia | 16. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Pouria Payoun | Iran | 16. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Toni Kohonen | Finland | 16. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
How was it in 212 pounds
So lets have a look how was it in 212 pounds (or should say 96.2 kg if you’re like me who prefers metrics that actually makes sense, god forbid any cave man who still uses stones ect.)
Just like in open there was significant difference, while in 2020, sixty-one pros appeared in nine competitions, in 2021 there was 118 different athletes at eighteen events (sadly both these years my favorite Muscle Contest didn’t happen in Ireland).
It is interesting that none of them managed to win more than once in this category although technically Angel Calderon did just his second win was in open at Bigman Weekend Pro where he made room for his mate Oleh Kryvyi to win his ticket to 212 Olympia “The beast from the east” came very close to winning two shows but due to very controversial judges decision at ELVS Prague Pro Ahmad Ashkanani won in the final. As for Olympia yet again we have seen new king, Derek Lunsford managed to beat 212 Olympia 2020 champ Shaun Clarida. Future may bring yet another champ as Derek does not rule out that he will not stay in the lightweight forever and may consider move to open.
Most interesting thing in 212 was that few started to play role of true giant killers, Shaun Clarida who confirmed that at the Legion Sports Fest Pro where he entered open and beat the likes of Regan Grimes, Sergio Oliva Jr., Max Charles, Patrick Moore and Cedric McMillan. As a lifelong competitor at the 212 Olympia, the 5`2 (157cm) next year he will have to think about which category he will actually compete at the Olympia. A same dilemma will be at already mentioned Spaniard Angel Calderon.
| 2021 212 Bodybuilding winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Representing | Competition |
| Tonio Burton | USA | Indy Pro |
| Nathan Epler | USA | New York Pro |
| Piotr Borecki | Poland | Puerto Rico Pro |
| Lucas Coelho | Brazil | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Keone Pearson | USA | Chicago Pro |
| Noel Adam | Mexico | Puerto Vallarta Pro |
| Kerrith Bajjo | USA | Tampa Pro |
| Ahmed Wardany | Egypt | Texas Pro |
| Vladimir Yakovlev | Moldova | Europa Pro |
| Kim Jun Ho | South Korea | Monsterzym Pro |
| Derek Lunsford | USA | 212 Olympia |
| Mohamed Khaled Embaby | Egypt | KO Pro |
| Ahmad Ashkanani | Kuwait | EVLS Prague Pro |
| Angel Calderón Frias | Spain | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Abdullah Al Saif | Saudi Arabia | Ben Weider Natural Pro |
| Felipe Moraes | Brazil | Musclecontest Brazil Pro |
| Oleh Kryvyi | Ukraine | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Douglas Connor | USA | Toronto Pro |
So going onto the stats on average, eleven bodybuilders took part in each year’s competition in the 212`s category.
The Tampa Pro was most popular with the pros , where we had twenty-five pros. The most active in 2021 was Samir Troudi from he stepped on stage six times, five times we have seen John Jewett, Nasser Sayed, Pasquale D’Angelo, Ahmed Wardany and Steve Benthin. Thirty-five men made their professional debut in the up to 212 pounds category this year, Tonio Burton, Mohamed Khaled Embaby, Felipe Moraes and Douglas Connor did their best and end up with victory. Piotr Borecki grabbed top spot in Puerto Rico , no Brits to report as Rob Taylor decided to move up to open, Julian-Lee Ramdhari UK`s Ben Weider 2019 winner got eighth at Bigman Weekend.
| 2021 Debuts in 212 Bodybuilding | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Representing | Placing | Competition |
| Tonio Burton | USA | 1. | Indy Pro |
| Mohamed Khaled Embaby | Egypt | 1. | KO Pro |
| Felipe Moraes | Brazil | 1. | Musclecontest Brazil Pro |
| Douglas Connor | USA | 1. | Toronto Pro |
| Nathan Epler | USA | 2. | Indy Pro |
| Chae Seongmin | South Korea | 3. | Monsterzym Pro |
| Mohamed Salah | Egypt | 3. | KO Pro |
| Bryan Balzano | USA | 4. | Indy Pro |
| Andrey Melnikov | Russia | 4. | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Abdulrahman Alkhashti | Kuwait | 4. | EVLS Prague Pro |
| Andre Luz Dos Santos | Brazil | 4. | Musclecontest Brazil Pro |
| Stephen Didoshak | Canada | 4. | Toronto Pro |
| Christyan Gomez | Honduras | 5. | Puerto Vallarta Pro |
| Wael Mohamed Amin | Egypt | 5. | KO Pro |
| Peter Kováč | Slovakia | 5. | EVLS Prague Pro |
| Ahmed Bat | Egypt | 6. | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Casey Castro | USA | 7. | Tampa Pro |
| Francisco Barrios | Argentina | 7. | Europa Pro |
| Daniel Sticco | Italy | 8. | Mr. Big Evolution Pro |
| Martin Gomez | USA | 8. | Chicago Pro |
| Mirnes Husanovic | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Julian-Lee Ramdhari | South African Republic | 8. | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Mahmoud Adel | Egypt | 9. | KO Pro |
| Ryan Walters | USA | 10. | Indy Pro |
| Iman Rezaei | Iran | 10. | Europa Pro |
| Hamza Jawad | Lebanon | 10. | KO Pro |
| Adnan Gosto | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10. | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| Todd Lee | USA | 11. | Texas Pro |
| Jesus Fernandez Riveiro | Spain | 11. | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| Charlie Williams | USA | 13. | Tampa Pro |
| Chad Merchant | USA | 14. | Indy Pro |
| Sealy Cruz | USA | 14. | Chicago Pro |
| Kevin Simpson | USA | 15. | Chicago Pro |
| Darius Milton | USA | 16. | Tampa Pro |
| Jose Suarez | USA | 16. | Tampa Pro |
Browse through other categories
The list could go with with other categories but it would take me too long to write article that only few will see anyway.
So just few quick mentions.
In Classic Darren Ferrell had fantastic start to the season first placing second at Heart of Texas but grabbing ticket to his first Olympia by getting top spot at San Antonio Pro 2021, Michael Dabul will join him at Olympia after winning Arnold Classic in Birmingham.
Men`s Physique – we will see return in 2022 Olympia of the British veteran Ryan Terry as he also got his top spot in Birmingham, close in achieving the same is Emile Walker who has 21 points and leading in that classification.
Moving onto female categories, in fitness we had sensational results with Alix Small winning her Pro Fitness debut at Europa Pro 2021 and went on to her first Olympia within the same year where she placed 12th. Michelle Mensah won pro card and immediately after first Pro show at Arnold`s UK in Birmingham so we will se her at 2022 Olympia.
Leading British Bikini Phoebe Hagan will finally go to Olympia 2022 after winning Arnold UK.
Figure British champ Rhea Gale won Mr Big Evolution Pro back in July 2021 which gave her qualification to second Olympia in 2021.(Unfortunately she did not place, she was 9th in 2020), when it comes to Figure I have to mention new European Pro Tereza Linhartova from Czech Republic, within the same year she won shows in two major federation.
After two wins and placing forth at biggest european Elite Pro event in Arnold Classic in Spain she decided to try join her twin Sister Gabriela in Ifbb Pro (Gabriela also moved to Ifbb Pro from Elite back in 2019) . To no surprise she did just that within first attempt at Fitparade Pro Qualifier in Budapest the very next day she placed third at the Pro show followed by wins at Prague Pro and Bigman Pro.
| Tereza`s placings | Category | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bodyfitness ELITE PRO | IFBB Elite Pro Czechia |
| 1. | Bodyfitness ELITE PRO | IFBB Elite Pro Georgia |
| 4. | Bodyfitness ELITE PRO | Elite Pro Arnold Classic Europe Spain |
| 1. and OVERALL | FIGURE | NPC Fitparade Budapest |
| 3. | FIGURE IFBB PRO | Fitparade Pro |
| 1. | FIGURE IFBB PRO | EVLS Prague Pro |
| 1. | FIGURE IFBB PRO | Bigman Weekend Pro |
| 2. | FIGURE IFBB PRO | Romania Muscle Fest Pro |
| 4. | FIGURE IFBB PRO | Toronto Pro |
That would be it from, let me know it the comments if I missed anything.
