Ryan Terry on 2023 Olympia Win: ‘It Was 9 Attempts Up Until That Point & 21 Years of Training’

After more than two decades of training, Ryan Terry reached the pinnacle of the Men’s Physique division. In a recent Olympia TV YouTube video, Terry reflected on the sacrifices it took to become the newly minted 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia champion. In addition, he discussed the posing routine he sharpened to pick up the biggest win of his career. 

The Men’s Physique category is brimming with hungry and highly skilled contenders. Last year, the champ was Erin Banks, who captured his first title at the 2022 Olympia show. Meanwhile, Ryan Terry worked in silence with his eyes on Banks’ championship status. 

To kickstart his triumphant run in the growing division, Ryan Terry took on all comers at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro show, proving himself with a commanding second-place finish. Using the show as a lesson for the future, Terry brought one of his best looks ever en route to winning the 2023 New York Pro, hosted by head judge Steve Weinberger. 

His success ultimately led to him shocking the world in Orlando, Florida at the 2023 Olympia contest, where he overwhelmed Banks and former three-time titleholder Brandon Hendrickson to win his maiden Olympia trophy. Taking a final victory lap, Terry joined Bob Cicherillo and Flex Wheeler for an in-depth discussion. 

Terry Joins Bob Cicherillo and Flex Wheeler to Discuss 2023 Olympia Victory After 2 Decades of Training 

First, Ryan Terry talked about how the division has changed as of late, with a bigger focus on side poses. 

“In the early days it was straight on and back, then it started to transition to side poses. The last few weekends people hitting hands on hips straight on, for me personally, I feel like that’s a real true way being able to judge someone because you can show their pure aesthetics from the front and back, keep it simple.” 

“From the side I used to struggle with Jeremy Buendia’s like Philipino small waist it’s genetics, and it’s straight on, you couldn’t hide anything. It’s been great to see the last few shows it [the division] going that way.” 

With time to reflect on the big win, Terry underlined some advice he took from IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion, who advised him to improve his back. 

This past year, I really really wanted to focus on that because Tyler came and saw me at Flex Lewis‘ gym last year in Vegas for the Olympia.

He said just look you need to bring your back up, from the front it’s everything we want, but you turn to the back and lose places to the likes of Erin Banks and Brandon Hendrickson with these turtle shell backs.” 

Looking back on his 2023 Olympia prep, Terry credited a Monday to Friday focus on back training for his success. 

“I went away we trained Monday to Friday every week without fail. We did a lower back, and I did a thickness and lower back and I never missed a beat on that. I always focused my higher carb days around those training days so I could just maximize everything to their full potential. ‘

After New York, we put the size on but my posing wasn’t quite right. It was enough to win the New York Pro but again got more feedback, look, I needed to leave no stone unturned I need to know that I’ve given it my absolute everything this year because I felt like my condition and shape was getting better but I was losing places each year.” 

Aside from that, Ryan Terry underlined why posing skills were an essential ingredient to his career-changing victory: 

“I needed to hit my posing better and obviously bring my mid-rhomboids up and that’s what we did,” added Ryan Terry. 

Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo chimed in and mentioned that Terry only needed minor tweaks to his physique to win the Olympia. 

“Bringing it to a point that it would be undeniably first place for these judges and bringing in an Olympia title, and he could tell you more about that about how just a few tweaks made all the difference but the one thing I know Ryan did learn over the last couple of years, you gotta do what’s best for you.

You can’t fall into that routine of doing what everyone else is doing on stage. The arms come up more, the back gets pinched and it wasn’t working for Ryan. Anyone that seen him come out he hits that superman pose, he comes out dead center, everyone else twisted to make their wastes look this big. He came out and put it out in front of everybody,” explains Bob Cicherillo. 

Terry revealed he had to coach himself during his most recent prep. 

“This year I kept six pounds on from the New York Pro, I actually gained six pounds going in,” said Terry. I needed to prove myself, get in the trenches. I prepped myself, I hadn’t had a coach in years.” 

Moving forward, Wheeler advised Terry not to get caught up on being the most shredded and should simply focus on bringing his best package. 

“Now your body is in complete harmony right and you can just march right into that show. But I definitely want to challenge you to be the best on stage, not just shredded, not the biggest, not the quad monster, not the gunslinger, just the best,” said Flex Wheeler. 

Lastly, Ryan Terry went over his posing practice, which was comprised of an hour a day, perfecting his back and front shots for the judges. 

“I’d do thirty minutes posing to start with. What it was 30 seconds of front shot, I’d exhale everything and hold that for 30 seconds without breathing out the mouth but fully contract the whole time, relax 30 seconds do it again and do it 30 times and turn to the back and do the exact same thing.” 

“If it wasn’t for the competitors surrounding me and actually bringing me back into the room I would have probably been on the floor I would have passed out. It was just sure elation. The whole, obviously 10 years of attempting that stage, it was 9 attempts up until that point and 21 years training.” 

Known for his openness with fans, the reigning Men’s Physique Olympia has offered looks into his training methods. He utilizes consistent ab training and also walked fans through one of his high-intensity interval workouts, which continue to garner high praise from doctors such as Dr. Rhonda Patrick in the fitness community. 

Having trained for more than 22 years and coming up short nine separate times, Ryan Terry’s 2023 Olympia victory not only represents tenacity and willpower but the sacrifices it took to reach the highest honor in bodybuilding. 

RELATED: Ryan Terry Demolishes A Beastly Back Workout To Prepare For 2023 Olympia

Watch the full 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.

Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding Fitness Volt to your Google News feed: You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for even more content.