Story By: James King, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
An Egyptian bodybuilder has managed to follow in the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger winning the Mr Olympia title after recovering from COVID-19.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, known as Big Ramy, has competed in the contest seven times but this is the first time that he has one which also leaves him with a USD 400,000 prize.
The 36-year-old is the first bodybuilder ever to win the Mr Olympia title and also the People’s Champ Award which he claimed in 2018 after being voted in by fans.
The Mr Olympia title was first held in 1965 and became internationally famous after the film pumping iron in 1977 which featured the buildup to the 1975 Mr Olympia in South Africa and launched the acting careers of both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno.
The year had seemed destined to work out badly for Elssbiay after he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to drop out of competing at the NPC European Championships.
He wrote on Instagram: “I stayed five months stranded in Dubai after the cancellation of [bodybuilding competition] Arnold Australia and now another big chance to qualify for Olympia just vanished in front of my eyes.
“But life goes on and the show must go on. If it was just about me I would go and compete. I have a little cough but nothing that bad, but it would be irresponsible for me to risk older people’s [lives].”
He was then given a special invitation to this year’s event and after his victory becomes the second bodybuilder from the Arabic world to win the title since the “Lion of Lebanon” Samir Bannout won in 1983.
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