Hidetada Yamagishi is quickly finding himself as a frontrunner ahead of the 2023 Masters Olympia contest. In a recent Instagram post, ‘Hide’ posed and showed off his current physique 18 weeks from stepping back on stage.
Yamagishi, known for his balanced proportions and lower body detail, established himself as a force in two divisions during the 2000s. He switched between categories and earned invitations to compete at the Mr. Olympia show in 212 Bodybuilding and the Open.
While he never laid claim to a prestigious Sandow trophy, Yamagishi pushed some of the sport’s best 212 talent. His highest Olympia finish saw him place third, trailing behind Jose Raymond and seven-time 212 mainstay Flex Lewis.
Last year, Yamagishi revealed that he was stepping away from the sport. Even though he’s found success with a growing YouTube channel, the Masters Olympia comeback after 11 years piqued his interest. The official roster has yet to go public, but Hidetada made it clear he’s coming out of retirement for one last show in August.
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Hidetada Yamagishi Looks Diced 18 Weeks from 2023 Masters Olympia
With his 50th birthday around the corner, Yamagishi shared a progress video a few months away from his next contest. Given his conditioning levels, proportions, and size, many fans believe Yamagishi could end up fighting for the Masters Olympia title.
“18 weeks out @mastersolympiaofficial” Hidetada Yamagishi wrote.
Another bodybuilding staple from the 2000s, Jay Cutler, teased a possible stage return. His physique went viral online after posing with fitness influencer Lexx Little. Following their collaboration, Cutler explained that he’s transforming his body for a ‘Fit for 50’ challenge, not to make a return at the Masters Olympia in Romania. In a show of honesty, Cutler underlined that he only plans to take testosterone replacement therapy for the transformation while staying away from compounds like Trenbolone.
In a series of Cutler Cast podcasts, the four-time Mr. Olympia shared that he will be in Romania for the Masters Olympia contest but won’t be competing on stage. With the show slated for this Summer, fans have begun brainstorming who might compete. Adding excitement to the weekend, the Olympia organizers announced a total of $229,000 in prize money to be distributed among 10 divisions.
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Cutler shared that the Masters Olympia roster will be revealed on April 25. Former 212 Olympia Kamal Elgargni has expressed interest in the event but left the door open until the ‘prize is right.‘ Regardless of who enters, it appears Hidetada Yamagishi is on track to shake up the competition.
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