Preparations surrounding the 2023 Arnold Classic are heating up as the show takes place in less than two weeks (Columbus, Ohio from March 2-5). In a recent RxMuscle interview, coaches Chris Aceto and Chris ‘Psycho’ Lewis touched on Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea‘s progress and potential as a future Mr. Olympia titleholder.
Andrew Jacked became a household name within the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in less than a year. He earned his pro card last March at the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur. Immediately after the victory, pros and fans alike took notice of his aesthetic flow and muscularity. Jacked proved himself months later at the Texas Pro and Arnold Classic UK, securing back-to-back wins as a rookie.
At last year’s Olympia competition, Jacked brought an impressive package, which earned him a spot in the first call-out. He finished eighth place in his debut at the annual event. His former coach, George Farah, revealed Jacked competed on the Olympia stage with a ‘103-degree fever.’
When Olympia ended, the bodybuilding world shifted its focus to the nearing 35th Arnold Classic. The prize money increased for the Open winner to $300,000, which prompted a few competitors to join the show, including Nick Walker, Jacked, Patrick Moore, and former two-time Mr. Olympia, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay.
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Jacked enlisted the help of bodybuilding guru Chris Aceto and Chris ‘Psycho’ Lewis recently – the same team that was responsible for training the late Shawn Rhoden to an Olympia title in 2018. Jacked has said it’s ‘been all business’ since making the changes. With the contest approaching, Aceto and Lewis discussed Jacked’s progress and whether or not he’s a future Mr. Olympia.
Chris Aceto and Chris Psycho Lewis Discuss Andrew Jacked’s Potential and 2023 Arnold Classic Prep
Given the progress he’s made in a short period of time, Aceto and Lewis have high expectations of Jacked.
“Andrew has proven himself to be – he’s already proven himself. And you know, I think that everything that you need to know about Andrew, which is most impressive, is that he was very successful with George Farah, very successful. I mean – just jumped in, won two shows, went to the Olympia, what he’d get seventh at Olympia, first try? He decided I want to do something different, which is odd because he won two shows with George and was seventh in the Olympia. People’s dreams are to crack the top 10,” says Chris Aceto.
Aceto promised Chris Lewis after Rhoden passed away that he would have another Mr. Olympia “soon.”
“After Shawn passed away and I told Chris, ‘Chris, I will guarantee you, you will have another Mr. Olympia soon.’ I think the question went to who, and I said, ‘we’ll never know, it’s going to be someone we don’t know,'” said Aceto.
“100% [Jacked can win the Mr. Olympia competition],” added Chris Lewis.
While he appreciated what Andrew has done to get to this point, Aceto thought it was best for him to get a more ‘hands-on’ trainer.
“I think if Andrew stays training with Chris Lewis, you will see something that – you know – I think that could come true. I think it all comes down to the training. I told Andrew – I lied, I spoke more than 11 words with Andrew. But I told Andrew, ‘Andrew, if you don’t it doesn’t matter if you work with me or don’t work with me, it’s important that you go to California as soon as you can and stay with Chris and you know, have somebody really hands-on,” said Aceto.
“The thing about Jacked’s physique is that it will be a direct result of the training that he’s doing with Chris,” Aceto said. “”I’m not going to say he’s harder, but he’s bigger now,” says Aceto.”
Chris Lewis Lewis Shares Andrew Jacked’s Best Shots, Says They Are Posing in 130-Degree Heat
After working with him for the last few weeks, Lewis suggested Andrew’s front lat spread and ab and thigh were some of his best poses. Lewis emphasized that his focus has been on improving Andrew’s back.
“He has four equally best shots. Front double, the front lat, the abs, and thighs, and he has four killer most muscular poses. I mean – I mean – I don’t want to give too much away, but you haven’t seen feathers in the quads since Kai Greene. It’s amazing. But that wasn’t our focus, our focus was the back.”
Andrew Jacked is posing in 130-degree heat for 45-minute sessions to prepare for the event. Lewis explained that he’s trying to ‘over-create’ the conditions of a bodybuilding contest.
“I don’t think guys pose enough. I don’t think they practice posing enough. So, we pose in 130-degree heat. I have five heaters in my posing rooms. Yes. After training for 45 minutes,” Lewis explained. “For the first few days, he was pouring sweat, his socks were getting wet. Every day it was a little bit, little bit, little bit, little bit less and it took a little more to get him to sweat. I’m trying to over-create the conditions that he’s going to have to go through on stage,” shared Chris Lewis.
This wasn’t the first time that Chris Lewis talked about Andrew Jacked’s back improvements. During a recent Olympia TV interview, Lewis said his back would be ‘jaw dropping’ at the 2023 Arnold Classic. In addition, Aceto stressed that Jacked would be at his absolute best in Ohio next month.
RELATED: King Kamali: Andrew Jacked’s Shape Will Be Nick Walker’s ‘Kryptonite’ at 2023 Arnold Classic
Andrew Jacked will face a deep lineup in less than two weeks. If he secures the Arnold Classic title in his debut at the contest, it will set Jacked up for another successful year in the sport.
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