The 2023 Flex Weekend Pro took place on September 10 in Milan, Italy, and was easily one of the most stacked contests of the year. This event was a 2023 Mr. Olympia qualifier for athletes from the Men’s Open, Men’s Physique, and Bikini divisions.
The deadline to qualify for the marquee Mr. Olympia competition will expire in approximately one month on October 9. That means time is running out to guarantee entry and there are fewer opportunities available for competitors who wish to step on the sport’s biggest stage in Orlando, Florida.
Making matters more challenging, the point system has been removed, so in order to clinch a spot on the big stage, athletes must claim gold at a Pro show like this one. The 2023 Flex Weekend Pro was full of Open threats who know what it’s like to perform on the Olympia stage. Roman Fritz, Nathan De Asha, and Regan Grimes all stood out as favorites, which gave the judges an especially difficult job this weekend.
2023 Flex Weekend Pro Winners
- Men’s Open: Nathan De Asha
- Men’s Physique: Ali Bilal
- Bikini: Lisa Reith
2023 Flex Weekend Pro Results
Men’s Open
- Winner — Nathan De Asha
- Second Place — Regan Grimes
- Third Place — Roman Fritz
- Fourth Place — Shouming Yan
- Fifth Place — Blessing Awodibu
- Sixth Place — Theo Leguerrier
- Seventh Place — Tim Budesheim
- Eighth Place — Jan Turek
- Ninth Place — Maik Ciesla
- Tenth Place — Dennis Reinhold
With such a star-studded lineup, fans enjoyed the prejudging rounds and instantly got a teaser of what was to come in the finals. The mass and stature of Regan Grimes were impossible to ignore. He brought a shapely physique and easily looked the biggest of his IFBB Pro career.
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Grimes last competed at the Boston Pro in seventh place, and it’s evident he took the off-season to heart as his improvements were immense. As usual, his back detail stood out and certainly overpowered De Asha’s from those poses.
Before this competition, De Asha said he was willing to suffer and starve for this victory, and it seems he followed through on those words. Nathan hadn’t competed since his Yamamoto Cup Pro victory in 2021, but his refined conditioning made him very difficult to contend with, and despite Grimes’ size, De Asha’s density from the side also carried him on stage. Following a very close battle, Nathan De Asha won gold and is now qualified for the nearing 2023 Mr. Olympia contest! Grimes finished second and Roman Frtiz took third.
Men’s Physique
- Winner — Ali Bilal
- Second Place — Emile Walker
- Third Place — Lenny Massouf
- Fourth Place — Mohammad Ali
- Fifth Place — Adeyami Awoyemi
- Sixth Place — Chao Peng
- Seventh Place — Febo Gambacorta
- Eighth Place — Alessio Sbizzera
- Ninth Place — Andrea Antonelli
- Tenth Place — Luca Biolo
In the Men’s Physique category, competitors wasted no time during prejudging. Emile Walker and Ali Bilal were leading the pack, as they presented conditioned upper bodies with balanced arms. Walker last took third place in August at the 2023 T.R.U. Athlete Pro in London. With a chip on his shoulder, he looked to have brought one of his best looks yet.
Ali Bilal, on the other hand, last stepped on stage at the 2023 Sheru Classic Pro India, where he earned bronze against a tough lineup. This time, Ali Bilal nailed the perfect balance of symmetry in the finals and won first place! Emile Walker took second place and Lenny Massouf finished third.
Bikini
- Winner — Lisa Reith
- Second Place — Ottavia Mazza
- Third Place — Kristina Brunauer
- Fourth Place — Velerya Fedorenko
- Fifth Place — Noemi Cosentino
- Sixth Place — Jade Kelsie Wolfenden
- Seventh Place — Marisa Woo
- Eighth Place — Giuditta Taccani
- Ninth Place — Sarah Neuheisel
- Tenth Place — Patrizia Vaccaro
In what turned into a high-stakes Bikini showdown, competitors Lisa Reith and Ottavia Mazza put on a show, and both brought aesthetic physiques and posed gracefully, making the judges’ night especially tough. Ottavia Mazza entered this show with hype and momentum, having recently won the 2023 T.R.U. Athlete Pro Bikini title in August.
Meanwhile, Lisa Reith was looking to get her revenge after taking second place at the same show Mazza took gold at ( 2023 T.R.U. Athlete Pro). After a few very close comparisons in the finals, Lisa Reith won first place and took home gold at the 2023 Flex Weekend Pro! Ottavia Mazza placed second and Kristina Brunauer took third.
2023 Flex Weekend Pro Scorecards
Our team at Fitness Volt wishes the winners good luck on the Olympia stage!
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