Chris Cormier on Giving Athletes Feedback: "I've Earned the Right to Talk and Critique"

Chris Cormier on Giving Athletes Feedback: “I’ve Earned the Right to Talk and Critique”

Cormier talked about constructive criticism and wanting to see new talent prosper: "Trying To Help The Next Generation Come Up"

Written by Doug Murray

Last Updated onAugust 12, 2023

In a sport where athletes display their bodies on stage, constructive criticism can be difficult to accept. In the latest Prime Time Muscle episode, Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy discussed why they have a right to give feedback and why it’s essential for the growth of the sport.

During Chris Cormier’s career, he proved himself against legends such as Ronnie Coleman, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone. While he wasn’t able to win a coveted Sandow trophy, Cormier dominated several pro shows on his way to becoming a mainstay in the Men’s Open division.

Taking feedback and constructive criticism as a bodybuilder can be difficult. Though, perhaps, the most popular athletes deal with it the most. Nick Walker who last placed third at 2022 Mr. Olympia is accustomed to receiving more than just constructive criticism. ‘The Mutant’ even mentioned that he’s had to deal with fans who have said he was going to die before reaching 27.

With feedback a hot topic in the sport, Cormier took a closer look. He sat down with Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy to lay out why constructive dialogue is crucial to seeing athletes reach their full potential on stage.

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Chris Cormier and Terrick El Guindy Talk Giving Feedback and Taking Criticism

Even though critiques can sometimes get out of hand, El Guindy believes it’s good for the sport’s health.

“You have guys that are huge fans, they end up being experts or they were former bodybuilders and they have their shows. I think they are a huge contribution to the sport, right? They are a huge contribution to the sport. But then it comes disagreements,” said Terrick El Guindy.

Given his decades of experience, Chris Cormier feels that he’s uniquely qualified to hand out bodybuilding advice.

“I’ve put in so much work. I feel like I’ve earned the right to talk and to give my opinion. Being that back in when I first walked into a gym to where I was on stage to my first competition that I went into in 1983 and still have been very active through all the time I’ve been involved in the sport since 1983 to the present.

Never taking years away from the sport or anything like that. Staying in all the posing rooms, all the gyms, around the world from Kuwait to China to Australia, I’ve spent a lot of time with the athletes around the world, trying to help the next generation come up.

I feel like the 11 shows I’ve won in the Pro ranks, the amateur shows I won, the people I’ve helped win the Olympia, Breon Ansley, such like that, helped build him up from the ground up into championship form, all the wins, all the people that I helped and all the younger generations. I’m helping bring them up. I’ve earned the right to talk and critique. A lot of people think we shouldn’t critique from this platform, but it’s what we do,” said Chris Cormier.

El Guindy added that competitors have a variety of ways to receive feedback, whether it be in person or online.

“Most of us [judges] out there on the internet providing information that can help the athlete reach their full potential. We can do that privately through an email, which a lot of times they share it on their Instagram, I’m fine, that’s my feedback to you.

That’s me trying to help you. Sometimes we do it right here. Iain Valliere was like, ‘Man I love watching the show because I can see what you’re telling me to do.’ Same thing with James Hollingshead, he said, ‘Terrick, I appreciate the feedback I like when Chris mentions to me. We do that because we want each athlete to reach their full potential,” said El Guindy.

In many circumstances, Terrick El Guindy will reach out and offer helpful feedback right after a contest, according to Chris Cormier.

“I know for a fact that my comrade here Terrick cares an awful lot, puts an awful lot into the sport and into the individuals. I know he’ll reach out to different individuals that compete and didn’t fare well or whatever. Who is contacting them? Not many people. But a person like Terrick is,” said Cormier.

Giving out blunt critiques can sometimes result in unwanted consequences, which is something Terrick El Guindy learned earlier this year. In an effort to promote a Prime Time Muscle episode, El Guindy posted an image on social media, labeling Iain Valliere and James Hollinghsead as ‘failures’ and ‘busts.’ Event announcer Bob Cicherillo discussed the ordeal and called for clickbait journalism to end once and for all.

Chris Cormier believes the sport benefits from criticism. As for Terrick El Guindy, he maintains that it’s an essential factor in helping an athlete reach their full potential.