Bodybuilder and fitness influencer Sam Sulek is set to make a statement in his Pro debut. On Jan. 27, 2026, he pushed through a controlled workout and showed off his latest back gains ahead of the 2026 Arnold Classic.
“39 days out, and I am feeling good. So, morning weight was 238.5, which is about right.”
After years of teasing his entry in the sport, Sam Sulek made good on the promises. In 2025, he earned overall Classic Physique gold at the NPC Legends Classic. This allowed him to test deep waters at the Arnold Amateur event. When it was time to shine, Sulek didn’t crumble under pressure; he showcased improvements to secure his IFBB Pro card.
Thanks to the performance, he was automatically invited to the 2026 Arnold Classic (AC). At the contest, he’ll face some of the world’s best. Olympia runner-up and reigning AC champ Mike Sommerfeld stands out as a clear favorite. Fans also expect former 2024 AC titleholder Wesley Vissers to contend for gold. Sulek isn’t wasting time and appears to be conditioned ahead of the show.
Sam Sulek’s Workout for a Huge Back Ahead of the 2026 Arnold Classic
Find his exercises from the video below:
- Chest Supported Low Row Machine
- Single Arm Cable Pullover
- Lat Pulldown
Chest Supported Low Row Machine
Sulek explained that he isn’t lifting as heavy during this prep, so he can focus on squeeze and control. He believes this approach helps him warm up better for more demanding lifts.
“I’m going to go a little lighter today. Movement number one, light-ish, squeezing, controlled. This approach has bled into all of my lifts, starting with triceps. I used to think, okay, full stack, three plates slapped on the side, that’s how I should start triceps.
But now, I really like starting with light rope extensions, really burning, holding, squeezing. I just get a ton of activation. By the time my triceps or whatever muscle I’m hitting is pumped and burning, later on, if I do three sets here, really controlled, squeezing, when I move on to pulldowns, I feel good to do nasty reps because I’m already in the motion of things.”
Single Arm Cable Pullover
Before moving to lat pulldowns, he built his back with single-arm cable pullovers, prioritizing tight squeezes through repetitions.
“A pullover first, and then finish with a pulldown. I think that will be a good combo. This will be good. Five reps on either side, light enough that I can really squeeze it, but heavy enough that I still feel it, and really just as many as I can do, within reason,” he said.
Lat Pulldown
After lat pulldowns, Sulek practiced posing, noting how underfueled he’s feeling at this point in prep:
“I feel like a freak during these posedowns, but this is flat. Flat as shit. If I had a little fuel tank hovering over my head, talking about how much glycogen I’ve got, it’s low.”
While most newly turned IFBB Pros have mentors in their corner, Sulek took a different path. He revealed that he’s coaching himself en route to his next show. He appreciates the simplicity, rather than having to stress about sending progress photos to a coach.
Sulek has the chance to see how he fares against top-tier IFBB Pros in just five and a half weeks. The 2026 Arnold Classic is set for March 5-8 in Columbus, OH.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Sam Sulek Breaks Down 2,541-Cal Full Day Eating in Prep for 2026 Arnold Classic
Watch the full video from the Sam Sulek YouTube channel below:
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