The 2023 Flex Weekend Pro will take place in Milan, Italy, and has quickly become one of the most anticipated shows of the IFBB Pro calendar. A total of three divisions will take to the stage on Sunday, September 10, including Men’s Open, Men’s Physique, and Bikini.
There are many notable competitors making their way to Italy for an opportunity to secure their qualifications for the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida.
Among them are Nathan De Asha, Regan Grimes, Blessing Awodibu, Theo Leguerrier, and Andrea Muzi who all have yet to ensure their spots at the biggest show of the year. You can find a full competitors list and a breakdown of the Men’s Open category below.
2023 Flex Weekend Pro Men’s Open Lineup
- Khaled Al Kazem
- Ali Jalil Naser Al-Zarqani
- Blessing Awodibu
- Giovanni Azpeitia
- Simone Bassanelli
- Andrea Bolzoni
- Tim Budesheim
- Maik Ciesla
- Nathan De Asha
- Roman Fritz
- Regan Grimes
- Theo Leguerrier
- Mikhail Maslov
- Andrea Muzi
- Artem Pakhniuk
- Dennis Reinhold
- Bruno Oliveira Santos
- Tomas Tabaciar
- Jan Turek
- Liang Yan
- Guosheng Yuan
UPDATE: 2023 Flex Weekend Pro Results and Scorecards
Top Names to Watch
Nathan De Asha
De Asha enters this contest as one of the more experienced competitors but endured a few setbacks before finalizing his return. He suffered two bicep tears, though judging by some of his updates, his arms look full, balanced, and detailed. In addition, De Asha has taken considerable measures to reduce the size of his waist, which accentuates his X-frame and capped shoulders.
He teased his ‘new’ and ‘different’ look while speaking with podcast host Dennis James. De Asha also revealed that he’s never looked this dry or big in his entire career. Already, fellow Open threat Blessing Awodibu has named De Asha the leading favorite heading into Sept. 10.
Even though he’s coming back from a hiatus, De Asha thrived in 2021, where he last competed and claimed gold at three shows consecutively including the 2021 Europa Pro Championships, the Arnold Classic UK, and the Yamamoto Cup.
Regan Grimes
Regan Grimes, trained by Milos Sarcev, will aim to make a statement in his bodybuilding return. Last year, Grimes placed seventh at the 2022 Arnold Classic and Boston Pro before suspending the season in favor of improvements. Grimes’ focus has been on cultivating enough size and muscle detail to stand with the best.
With classic lines, a slim waist, and a monstrous back, many fans expect Regan Grimes to contend for gold this weekend. Considering his latest progress photos, it’s safe to say Grimes appears on track to bring the best package of his career.
Blessing Awodibu
Blessing Awodibu is another top name looking to grant his passage to 2023 Mr. Olympia. Fans are excited to see “The Boogieman” back on stage. He focused on bringing up the conditioning and thickness of his legs. When Awodibu brings his best, he possesses very few flaws, and like Grimes, is known for having a strong back.
Awodibu enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, where he claimed gold at the 2022 Indy Pro and Steve Weinberger’s New York Pro. However, his debut on the Mr. Olympia stage saw him finish outside the top 15. He attempted to bounce back at the recent 2023 Chicago Pro but came up short in fourth place. In an interview with Bob Cicherillo, Awodibu admitted he came in off, but said he planned to correct those errors when he takes to the stage later this weekend.
Despite acknowledging De Asha as a frontrunner, Awodibu is confident in his own abilities, stressing that he can ‘stand with anyone.’ This could be Awodibu’s last opportunity to qualify for Olympia this year, and many fans see him as a favorite.
Theo Leguerrier
Theo Leguerrier showcased impressive consistency in his last 2022 season, having competed at seven IFBB Pro shows. His lone victory came at the 2022 Europa Pro Championships, though when he stepped up for 2022 Mr. Olympia, Theo, like Awodibu, was unable to secure a top-15 finish. With feathered quads and sharp conditioning, Leguerrier is always a dangerous opponent when he appears on stage.
Andrea Muzi
Andrea Muzi also put forth an incredibly busy season in 2022, where he competed in eight competitions. While Muzi didn’t take gold in any of those outings, he’s proven to be a wild card at shows given his ability to step on stage peeled. Muzi last finished outside the top 15 at 2022 Olympia.
In 2023, Muzi focused on adding mass to his frame without sacrificing his strong V-taper. With the right combination of size and conditioning, fans believe Muzi could steal the show on Sunday.
Men’s Physique and Bikini Lineups
Men’s Physique
- Aryan Ali
- Mohammad Ali
- Andrea Antonelli
- Adeyemi Awoyemi
- Simon Pietro Arena
- Ali Bilal
- Luca Biolo
- Alessio Foschi
- Febo Gambacorta
- Lenny Massouf
- Chao Peng
- Maxime Petrov
- Kenny Privet
- Ali Raza
- Giuseppe Riserbato
- Alessio Sbizzera
- Khalid Ahmed Shewiter
- Marcel Treichler
- Emile Walker
Bikini
- Milena Bonio
- Kristina Brunauer
- Noemi Cosentino
- Valerya Fedorenko
- Jessica Kavanagh
- Noemi Lavacca
- Ottavia Mazza
- Sarah Neuheisel
- Ines Neves
- Lisa Reith
- Henrieta Skupekova
- Giuditta Taccani
- Regina Tan
- Margherita Todeschini
- Patrizia Vaccaro
- Jade Kelsie Wolfenden
- Marisa Woo
All roads lead to the nearing Olympia contest for the 2023 Flex Weekend Pro Open winner, who will have the chance to square off against a historic lineup of competitors including the reigning champion Hadi Choopan in Nov.
Published: 8 September, 2023 | 1:52 PM EDT
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