Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay is finally speaking out as to why he decided not to participate in this year’s Mr. Olympia contest. In a video shared via Instagram on September 19, 2024, Ramy touched on a few issues that led to him taking more time off from the sport.
Ramy’s last Olympia contest in 2022 saw him enter as a commanding favorite. Tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, fans and bodybuilding veterans thought he’d hold the Sandow trophy for a long-standing reign. However, at the event, he was overpowered by a handful of contenders, including the winner Hadi Choopan.
He ended up finishing fifth, which was a historic drop in placings considering his status as a two-time champion (2020,2021). He rebounded nicely at the 2023 Arnold Classic, securing fourth place while surging Men’s Open star Samson Dauda went on to win gold. While Ramy received stem cell therapy to shore up his lats and triceps, which held him back at Olympia, it’s still uncertain as to when fans can expect him to step back on stage, though he did provide some details regarding his future.
Big Ramy Clears the Air on His Bodybuilding Future and Not Competing at the 2024 Mr. Olympia
IFBB Pro 212 bodybuilder Mazin Al Rahbi translated Big Ramy’s 11-minute video and shared key points with sources at RxMuscle. Below, you can find out what the former two-time Mr. Olympia had to say about his future in the sport as well as misconceptions surrounding why he’s decided not to participate at this year’s 60th anniversary event.
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Key Points from Big Ramy (Translated by Mazin Al Rahbi)
- He is still recovering
- He had visa issues (for Europe)
- He makes it clear that his not competing had nothing to do with his stance on the Palestine/Israel conflict
- He listened to advice given to him from [important voices] in the industry that he should fully recover before he ever competes, so no Olympia until he feels he can show up in better shape than ever – because his fans want him to win, not just compete
- He urges fans to be respectful, work hard, etc
Find Ramy’s full video below.
Speculation around Big Ramy’s next show and bodybuilding future has raged on since his last outing. Former Olympia winner Samir Bannout opened up on his future, underlining that he had the potential to still ‘do well’ at bodybuilding shows. While he doesn’t believe Ramy will regain his Mr. Olympia title anytime soon, he mentioned that the Egyptian star still has a lot left in the tank.
“Big Ramy is a sad story right now. I heard he’s not able to compete after he’s done the stem cells. I talked to Ramy. I actually did the stem cell myself and so I asked Ramy what he thinks,” shares Bannout. “He told me that he felt great and he felt it after and it shows. His photo, remember John, back a year or so ago we’re doing the podcast and we saw atrophy in certain muscle in some areas.”
There’s no denying that when Ramy competes at his best, he brings a freak factor that few bodybuilders can stand against. He has talked about retirement in the past, but it appears he has no intention of going away quietly. Once he feels he’s recovered enough and can return to action, he plans to win the Mr. Olympia again, not just participate.
Despite his absence, this year’s Mr. Olympia contest promises to be a historic one. Don’t miss the 60th-anniversary event from October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada next month!
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