Screw the Different Rivals? – IronMag Bodybuilding & Health Weblog

by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN

To preface this whole article, I’m simply going to throw out the elephant within the room and get it over with, and that’s the truth that this text goes to rub some folks the unsuitable manner. Is that my intent? No. Do I respect their opinion as a lot as I hope they’d assist mine? Sure. However there are issues I imagine have to be mentioned and thrown on the market to start out some dialog concerning the route of bodybuilding and the IFBB.

So, to kick issues off on a brighter observe, I congratulate the IFBB on securing a cope with MIT45 and Rebellion Extracts — good for all events concerned. The truth that an extra $210,000 is now going into the pockets of rivals is wonderful.

The minimal prize cash for reveals within the males’s open (a complete of 21) might be getting an extra $10,000 of their checks. Bravo. Respect to the massive boys within the Males’s Open for what they do to realize the scale they carry round, and I do imagine they’re deserving of the cash they make.

In line with Tyler Manion, the breakdown for that is that the winner will obtain an extra $5,000, and second place will get an additional $4,000. Not unhealthy in any respect for these guys.

Now, for the half that’s going to trigger my cellphone to ring and inform me I must cease speaking in regards to the IFBB.

If You’re Not within the Males’s Open… The IFBB Doesn’t Give a Flying Turd About You

That’s a fairly intense tackle issues, proper? However show me unsuitable. I’m certain you’ll have guys who will wish to debate my stance as a result of they receives a commission by the IFBB to be diplomatic. However let’s be actual: earlier than the transfer to offer the massive boys extra prize cash, this was already a subject of debate about how a lot the opposite divisions have been getting paid.

However go forward and take a look at the prize cash hole between the Males’s Open and another division on the market. You may argue that because of Chris Bumstead, Basic Physique is without doubt one of the most fun divisions to look at and that he (alone) has introduced extra eyeballs to the game over the previous few years than any Males’s Open competitor on the market.

Bumstead has over 23 million followers on Instagram. What number of does the reigning Olympia champ (Derek Lunsford) have? Solely 1M. Which is odd as a result of Derek looks as if a very good dude. However does Chris get wherever near what the massive boys make in Males’s Open? Who has made a larger influence on the game between Chris and any of the final a number of Males’s Open Olympia winners? There’s no debate that Chris has.

In the event you comply with Chris, you’ll see him getting folks exterior the business fascinated with health and bodybuilding. Just lately, he and his model collaborated with the fellows (Navy SEALS) at GBRS, the place they acquired in some exercises and time on the vary taking pictures weapons. In the event you ask me, he’s far more fascinating than just about anybody else within the IFBB

I’d go as far as to say that if Chris Bumstead weren’t within the combine the previous few years, bodybuilding and Basic Physique would have fizzled out. It’s my opinion that whereas Males’s Open is actually the primary occasion of any IFBB present, Basic Physique is true on its tail.

Chris could by no means see the form of cash that the Open guys make for profitable reveals, however why can’t he be shut? Now, Chris does simply superb for himself exterior of profitable Olympia titles. Between older endorsements and now proudly owning his personal companies, he’s not going to be strolling right into a soup kitchen together with his hand out anytime quickly. And truthfully, I applaud all the pieces Chris has executed on this business and provides him an enormous quantity of credit score for rising the game and viewers over the past a number of years.

I’ve even printed a number of articles about how I feel Chris is the way forward for the business, how he’s the primary determine within the highlight today, and the way he can proceed to push ahead and form the way forward for the IFBB. Does that imply he must at some point step on an Open stage? No. Wouldn’t it be fascinating? Positive. However he’s formed his persona and his legacy in Basic Physique, and there’s completely nothing unsuitable with that.

[PULL IT BACK IN, MATT]

Sorry, I considerably went off on a tangent there with Chris, so let’s put the blinders again on and get refocused. Particularly, trying on the different divisions, clarify to me why it is sensible to compete apart from the truth that you really adore it. In the event you have been to receives a commission zero {dollars} to step on stage (and you continue to had all of the bills you wanted to pay to leap on stage) whereas everybody else was creating wealth doing it, would you proceed? As a result of basically, that’s what’s occurring.

You’ve got rivals exterior of the Males’s Open profitable reveals that make manner lower than the Males’s Open, and I’m not going to downplay their coaching, weight-reduction plan, dedication, or the rest. They practice and work their butts off to be the most effective of their respective divisions.

However take a look at the distinction within the 2023 Olympia prize cash for the winners:

• Males’s Open: $400,000
• 212: $50,000
• Basic Physique: $50,000
• Males’s Physique: $50,000
• Olympia: $50,000
• Determine: $50,000
• Health: $50,000
• Ladies’s Physique: $50,000
• Wellness: $50,000
• Bikini: $50,000

Sadly, the smaller reveals all year long pay out a fraction of those quantities for winners. As an example, Bikini rivals can stroll away with just a few thousand {dollars} for a win, and that is after wherever from 12-20 weeks of prep.

Think about your whole life revolving round preparing for reveals, and also you solely stroll away with a couple of thousand {dollars} (when you even win the present). Many rivals stroll away with zero {dollars} after investing all of the money and time simply to compete and be on stage. You may as properly go work at McDonald’s, the place you can also make more cash.

Once more, I’m certain this text goes to ruffle some feathers. I agree that Males’s Open deserves the massive paychecks as they put butts in seats. However $50,000 for the opposite divisions on the Olympia doesn’t even cowl their “dietary supplements” for the 12 months.

It makes you surprise if this transfer to pay the Males’s Open much more cash and say the heck with the remainder of the divisions might make folks rethink competing. Is it definitely worth the time being invested, the injury it might be doing to their physique… for what? Just a few thousand {dollars} (perhaps extra in the event that they place properly on the Olympia)? They will make extra as an influencer and coaching purchasers at a neighborhood fitness center.

It’s my opinion that the IFBB ought to look into what could be executed to assist the opposite divisions exterior of the Males’s Open. The newest transfer to offer Open winners much more cash all year long is a direct slap within the face to all the opposite rivals on the market who assist your group and assist pull in cash for YOUR reveals. With out them, you don’t have a corporation except you’re prepared to shed divisions and solely have Males’s Open.