🏋️ big ramy wants a mr. olympia three-peat

Hello, and happy Monday! Here are some of the latest strength sports highlights you need to know. Today’s edition is brought to you by Force USA, makers of the highest-quality power racks, squat racks, and all-in-one home gyms you’ll ever find.

Truth be told, bodybuilder Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay's legacy is likely secure. But like all the great ones, the two-time reigning Mr. Olympia champion wants to achieve more.

Italian weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato is one of the best in the world. His recent showing at the 2022 European Weightlifting Championships proves as much.

This weekend saw the majority of the CrossFit Age Group SemiFinals held virtually. Among the more notable showings? A dominant performance from Games veteran Chyna Cho.

Time to get down to business.

Bodybuilding

Mamdouh Elssbiay Locks in Attempt at Third Straight Mr. Olympia Title

Two-time defending Mr. Olympia Champion Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay will assuredly go down as a bodybuilding legend. But in recent months, some have speculated that his commitment to any further competition may have waned.

Elessbiay has finally put those concerns to bed.

On June 2, 2022, Big Ramy shared a video of himself hard at work during training on his Instagram. Sure, it's not news in itself that an elite strength sports athlete pushes himself. That changes when you note Elssbiay's caption, "Back at work with my eyes on the prize."

The champion bodybuilder could not be more clear that he wants to make it a three-peat at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. We'll see how this living legend fares in that ambitious goal come December 15-18, 2022, in Las Vegas.

Weightlifting

Antonino Pizzolato Rewrites The Record Books

Weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato is used to wowing us with his prowess on a lifting platform. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist in the 81-kilogram weight class is quite adept with a barbell in his hands.

How he continues to feature at a prestigious European competition might be even more impressive.

On May 28-June 5, 2022, during the 2022 European Weightlifting Championships (EWC) in Tirana, Albania, Pizzolato outdid himself. While competing in the 89-kilogram weight class for the first time, the Italian athlete set a World Record clean & jerk of 217 kilograms (478.4 pounds). His eventual total of 392 kilograms (864.2 pounds) was also a World Record and helped him take home the glorious gold medal.

Pizzolato's stellar performance in an EWC contest is nothing new. His latest gold medal finish marks his third victory in four years at the event. At this point, we think it's fair to wonder whether anyone in Europe could beat him while he's at the top of his game.

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CrossFit

Chyna Cho's Redemption in CrossFit Age Group Semis

Despite a solid 11th-place result in the 2021 CrossFit Semifinals, Chyna Cho just barely missed out on a spot in last year's CrossFit Games. After a resounding performance this weekend, she's definitely made up for it.

The 2022 CrossFit Age Group SemiFinals were held virtually from May 26-29 and June 2-5. There, Cho certainly made her presence known. While competing in the Women's 35-39 division, the American athlete only finished lower than fifth once across six separate workouts.

As Cho wrote in an Instagram post, she was "proud" while glowing about her efforts. For a good reason. Thanks to her consistency, Cho is heading back to Madison, Wisconsin, for the CrossFit Games for the fifth time.

Here's more on Cho's CrossFit vindication.

Everything Else

A Young Weightlifting Phenom

• Antonino Pizzolato wasn't the only weightlifter to show out in Albania. Karlos Nasar, who is only 18-years-old, set three separate Junior World Records.

• Elsewhere in the CrossFit sphere, 2021 Rookie of the Year Mal O'Brien basically lapped the rest of the field at this year's Granite Games.

• Bodybuilders Lisa Kudrey and Mohamed Shaaban were some of the big winners at the 2022 Toronto Pro Supershow.

• It's almost summer, and that means suns out, guns out. Get your biceps ready for the warm weather with the preacher curl.

• There are so many ways to fortify your back. How the straight-arm pulldown will chisel your back as if you're a statue.