Larry Wheels is looking near-stage ready as he eyes his Classic Physique debut. In a recent YouTube video, Wheels demolished a strenuous chest workout and showed off his shredded physique one week before competing at the 2023 Amateur Olympia competition on November 1.
“Well even though I’m a week out I’m still no slouch so I might still be able to press a little bit more than you but not at the cost of me getting an injury. It seems like the curse doesn’t work on me just everyone around me.”
Larry Wheels is a record-setting powerlifting phenom who rose to prominence on social media with his charisma, strength, and engaging gym content. From arm-wrestling, and weightlifting, to strongman, Wheels has tried it all. Even though he’s built a tough exterior with countless training sessions, he admits he faced struggles with drug and sex addiction as an aspiring young adult.
Last year, Wheels announced that he was coming off all performance-enhancing drugs except testosterone replacement therapy. As a strength athlete weighing up to 270 pounds and with a height of 6’1″, Wheels can weigh up to and including 234 pounds to be eligible to compete in Classic Physique as per Tyler Manion’s announcement.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Looking to make his mark in the new category, Wheels took to YouTube to give fans an idea of the discipline and work that goes into his upcoming amateur Olympia showing.
Larry Wheels Smashes Chest Day 1 Week Before Competing at 2023 Amateur Olympia
Check out Wheels’ workout list below:
- Plate-Loaded Machine Chest Press — 4 sets | 7-10 reps
- Plate-Loaded Machine Incline Flye — 3 sets | 6 reps
- Plate-Loaded Machine Incline Press — 4 sets | 3-5 reps
- High-to-Low Cable Crossover — 4 sets | 7 reps
Plate-Loaded Machine Chest Press
“Two plates. Honestly no, maybe like three [is what I usually use].”
Wheels gave his thoughts on whether he prefers bulking versus shredding:
“Honestly it’s not that bad, I find bulking significantly harder because then you feel sick. When you’re doing bulking right you wake up full, you go to bed full, you’re never hungry, right? If you’re hungry and you’re bulking, you’re not bulking hard enough. So when I’m bulking there’s never a point in the day where I’m enjoying anything. Doesn’t matter what I’m putting in my mouth it just tastes like shit when you have it all day every day.”
Plate-Loaded Machine Incline Flye
In between sets, Wheels reflected on his new physique and whether he missed being heavier.
“Well, I’m a lot happier at 280 [pounds]. When you eat what you want whenever you want, see looking good is great for the odd time I look in the mirror and make a video outside of that, it’s a constant battle mentally of I can’t have that I can’t have this, and it’s not as fun as being huge and eating whatever you want.”
Plate-Loaded Machine Incline Press
“No more tandem deadlifts, thank God.”
High-to-Low Cable Crossover
“I never got into stage-ready condition, and I always said years ago I’m going to be the strongest Pro bodybuilder ever, and I never got that Pro card. So I have unfinished business, and that’s what I’m doing this for. A man is only as good as his word. Another thing I also put out there is a 1,000-pound deadlift, it’s not going to happen next year, but one day I’m coming for it,” Larry Wheels explained.
Find some shots from Larry Wheels’ posing session below:
After the training, Wheels reflected on his body’s mileage and injuries.
“I feel fantastic. I don’t have any permanent injuries besides this [bicep] my back feels brand new right, knees, joints, everything feels great. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to get out while I’m still healthy versus wait until I run my body into the ground and I have all these chronic injuries that are with me for the rest of my life.
I’m like I can get out now from powerlifting and strongman and live a long life without suffering chronic injury but if I keep doing that it’s only a matter of time before I do end up with those chronic lifelong injuries right? That’s why I’m like you know what I’m going to step away from it while I’m ahead of the game. The body is still fresh and healthy.”
Since Larry has always been known for his beastly physique, some were surprised he took to Classic Physique instead of the Men’s Open. According to Wheels, he didn’t want to push his physique to the ‘extremes’ of the Open class and argued that the Classic Physique category felt more like an ‘art form.’
Having tested his power in workouts with bodybuilders such as former eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman and former two-time Classic Physique Olympia Breon Ansley, Wheels is confident he has put together a look worthy of gold next week.
RELATED: “The Gym Saved Me” – Larry Wheels Talks Depression, Self Esteem, and Hanging w/ Wrong Crowd
Check out his full YouTube video below:
Relive every moment from the 2025 Mr. Olympia, including prejudging, highlights, expert analysis, and full results. Explore our Olympia hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia. For minute-by-minute coverage, follow our Live Blog.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
