Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh 'Big Ramy' Elssbiay crowned Mr Olympia 2020
21 December, 2020
Egyptian bodybuilder Mamdouh Elssbiay has been crowned Mr Olympia 2020.
Also referred to as “Big Ramy", he has competed in seven Olympias - the professional men's bodybuilding contest - altogether since 2013, but it is the first time he has won.
Elssbiay, 36, previously won the People’s Champ Award, which is voted for by fans, in 2018.
He’s the first bodybuilder to win both Mr Olympia - that was claimed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1970 - and the People’s Champ Award.
Back October, Elssbiay issued a statement after he tested positive for Covid-19 and was struggling to compete at the NPC European Championships.
“I stayed five months stranded in Dubai following the cancellation of [bodybuilding competition] Arnold Australia and today another big chance to be eligible for Olympia just vanished in front of my eyes,” he wrote on Instagram.
“But life continues on and the show must go on. If it was nearly me I would go and compete. I have a little cough but nothing that bad, nonetheless it would be irresponsible for me personally to risk older people’s [lives].”
However, he was issued a particular invitation to the year's competition which saw a number of other bodybuilders withdraw, including names such as Cedric McMillan, Flex Lewis and James Hollingshead.
Just a week prior to the event, Roelly Winklaar also had to grab because he tested positive for Covid-19.
With this Olympia win, Elssbiay becomes just the 16th male bodybuilder and the next from the Arab world to win the Mr Olympia title because the contest were only available in 1965.
Samir Bannout, referred to as the "Lion of Lebanon" won in 1983.
The Mr Olympia top five for 2020:
Winner - Mamdouh Elssbiay, $400,000
Second place - Brandon Curry, $150,000
Third place - Phil Heath, $100,000
Fourth place - Hadi Choopan, $45,000
Fifth place - William Bonac, $40,000
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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