Erin Banks is among the former titleholders aiming to win back his Olympia crown next weekend. In a recent YouTube video shared on October 4, 2024, Banks discussed his progress, showdown with reigning champion Ryan Terry, and expressed interest in a future move to Classic Physique.
There’s no getting around it; when Erin Banks is on and peaked properly, he might have more weapons than any Men’s Physique contender on the roster. He boasts impressive structure, stature, and fullness, making him hard to stand against on stage. He reached the pinnacle of his career in 2022, having claimed Men’s Physique Olympia gold against a challenging lineup.
However, when it was time to defend his title in Orlando, Florida at the 2023 Olympia show, he failed to deliver the dry conditioning needed to take home the title. Instead, Ryan Terry pulled ahead on the scorecards to win gold while Banks exited The Sunshine State with bronze.
Erin Banks Talks Potential Move to Classic and 2024 Mr. Olympia Showdown With ‘Pretty Boy’ Ryan Terry
According to Erin Banks, the Men’s Physique division lacks the same competitive spirit as the Men’s Open division.
“When it comes to Men’s Physique, they don’t… they don’t — unfortunately it’s not like that [same competitive intensity as Men’s Open]. I wish it was because I would be the biggest shit-talker. I would go to another level of it.”
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Although he used to be more open to trash-talking, Banks said it’s been ‘frowned upon’ in the Men’s Physique division since 2021.
“But the thing is even just the minimum that they’ve gotten from me and since 2021, it’s frowned upon, it’s frowned upon, unfortunately. It made me step back and you know what let me do my thing get on stage, get off stage, less talking, let me get my shit back, and let’s go,” shares Banks. “But don’t get me wrong, I’m still that dog right here.”
He maintains that Men’s Physique is judged primarily by four principles: structure, conditioning, fullness, and presentation.
“First, when Men’s Physique is judged, I think the number one thing is structure, two is conditioning, three I mean how full you are, and four, I think the presentation of how you present it.
To be honest, Ryan won the Mr. Olympia last year based off he has the Men’s Physique structure, he’s always had, he’s been doing this for 12 years or however many years, he has that.”
Banks explained that Terry managed to defeat him and Brandon Hendrickson last year due to his abs, back improvements, and ‘out of this world’ conditioning.
“He’s always been that poster child for Men’s Physique, always. Pretty boy, got a great set of abs, but I think what catapulted him above me and Brandon last year was one, his improvements in his back, his conditioning was out of this world, and he just came in full all the way across the board. He was balanced in all areas.”
“Versus Brandon he may have been holding water in his back, me, not as conditioned, was pinching my back in my presentation so at the top of the tree, I can have the best structure in the world but if I’m off and you got people like Ryan Terry who’s been biting at the bit for so long and who is A-1 that day, he’s going to win.”
At 100 percent, Banks is confident no one can defeat him on stage, adding that “This year will be very different.”
“I believe if I was 100 percent no one will win. No one would win. But again, I was not at 100 percent and Ryan Terry was — he did his thing,” said Banks. “Going forward into this show with just the things that the judges have been looking for this year and giving me feedback on is I have to come conditioned and when I come conditioned I don’t think a lot of people are going to beat me. This year will be very different.”
He also teased a potential move to Classic Physique on the horizon but understands that he needs to bring up his legs to match his powerful upper body.
“Are you moving to Classic and my answer is yes, I will eventually move to Classic. Not just do Classic, I want to probably just do one show just to get my feet wet. But that’s it. I’m just going to do Classic once. One thing I have to do is build my legs to match my upper body when it comes to being that Classic look but that won’t be anytime soon,” he shared. “It’ll probably be three or four years down the road.”
Lastly, Erin Banks revealed that out of the entire Men’s Physique roster, his favorite physique is Brandon Hendrickson’s, his former posing coach.
“I’ve never said this but I’m a changed person,” says Banks. “I’m going to say Brandon Hendrickson has always been my favorite Men’s Physique frame. He was my posing coach in the very beginning when I went Pro.”
In addition to Ryan Terry, Erin Banks will have to out-perform many top-tier contenders if he hopes to leave Sin City with another championship. He has to overpower Brandon Hendrickson once again as well as surging threats Emanuel Hunter, Diogo Montenegro, and Corey Morris.
Erin Banks is already mapping out how he can emerge victorious next weekend. Don’t miss the return of the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest in Las Vegas, Nevada from October 11-12. The Men’s Physique prejudging and finals will light up the stage on Saturday, the 12th.
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