In the late 1990s, deciding which division to compete in at a bodybuildingcompetition was easy. If you were a man, you competed in men’s bodybuilding,and if you were a woman, you competed in women’s bodybuilding. In the early2000s, several new divisions were added. This positive change provides optionsfor competitors based on preferences and strengths, but it can make choosing adivision more confusing.We will clear up some of the confusion by explaining how the three criteria—muscularity, conditioning, and symmetry (see the Criteria Defined section at theend of the chapter for definitions)—are judged in each division. The ideal lookfor each division differs. MEN’S DIVISIONS Men can enter the bodybuilding, classic physique, and physique divisions. Eachdiffers from the other two based on the...
It does not matter if you are new to bodybuilding or a seasoned competitor;choosing a bodybuilding sanction can be confusing. The growth of bodybuildinghas led to many new sanctions, and they seem to change every few years. Tocomplicate things further, some sanctions drug tests while others do not. It can beespecially difficult for a new competitor to know the difference between thesanctions. Even within drug-tested sanctions, testing policies may also differ,and that can make things even more confusing.In addition, new competitors may not understand the difference betweenprofessional and amateur competitions and who is eligible to compete at each.The process of obtaining professional status differs between sanctions. Somesanctions may accept a competitor’s professional status from another sanctionwhile others do not.This chapter...
In the introduction, our discussion of bodybuilding history left off around theturn of the century, when Mr. Olympia competitors were becoming larger andheavier. While “mass monsters” like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler dominatedthe early part of the 21st century, this led to the development of new divisions,and a large influx in competitors as the sport expressed an increased desire for a more streamlined and aesthetic look. This change can be seen in the physiques of more recent Mr. Olympia winners and top contenders; fewer were around the 300-pound (136 kg) mark onstage. For example, the physiques of 2008 Mr.Olympia Dexter Jackson (5' 6" [168 cm], 215 pounds [98 kg]), the seven-timeMr. Olympia Phil Heath (5' 9" [175 cm], 240 pounds...
