The phrase ‘What have you done for me lately’ gets thrown around plenty in bodybuilding, and Akim Williams has done a lot. Taking to YouTube on December 4, 2024, IFBB judge Terrick El Guindy laid out where Williams needs to improve and explained why he belongs in the first callout at 2025 Mr. Olympia.
American mass monster Akim Williams is a bodybuilding veteran who continues to redefine his career with drastic improvements. He earned 10th place on the prestigious 2024 Mr. Olympia stage, a massive jump from tying for 16th in 2022. Williams has the assets needed to outperform his peers, having sculpted massive arms and a dense lower body.
He used those weapons effectively at his last pair of contests. ‘The Beast’ narrowly took second place behind Brazilian sensation Rafael Brandao at the 2024 Romania Muscle Fest Pro. He learned from his mistakes and dominated at the recent Bigman Weekend Spain event, securing gold and an impressive cash prize. In light of his powerful performance, some in the sport, such as El Guindy, believe he might claw his way into the first callout at the next Mr. Olympia show.
Terrick El Guindy Says Akim Williams Belongs in 1st Callout at 2025 Mr. Olympia But Needs to ‘Improve Back Poses’
According to El Guindy, Williams is ‘borderline Mr. Olympia’ from the side. While his front poses are also stellar, El Guindy suggested he improve his back double biceps and back lat spread shots.
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“Akim the Beast is in. Akim Williams wins in Spain. Great event, congratulations,” El Guindy shares. “Akim Williams is one of the best in side poses, side chest, and side triceps, Akim Williams is borderline Mr. Olympia.
He is fantastic. He’s also very good from the front, front double biceps and front lat spread. The issue has been the back, back double biceps and back lat spread.”
Having competed on the professional circuit for more than a decade, El Guindy was taken aback by Williams’ ability to improve from season to season. He believes his time would be well spent refining his conditioning and ensuring he keeps his abdominal section in control on stage.
“I think Akim Williams is getting better and better. His conditioning is getting better and the back poses are improving as well. What does he have to do for the Mr. Olympia?
He needs to maintain the conditioning and improve the back poses. Contain the abdominal section, he’s a massive guy with huge arms, he’s got beautiful genetics, beautiful lines.”
Given his physique and strengths, El Guindy believes Williams belongs in the first callout at the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
“It’s important for him, just as it is for Samson Dauda to keep the waist in. Just come in conditioned and have a little bit more back thickness, a little bit more back detail, the lats are a little bit high but I think Akim is getting better every show he does.
I’m a huge fan of this guy. I think Akim Williams belongs in the first call-out of the Mr. Olympia. That’s how talented I think he is.”
Akim Williams continues to find success as a top-caliber IFBB Pro, but he’s also teased his retirement. After rebounding from a problematic shoulder surgery, Williams stated that he planned to retire from the sport in two or three years. However, if he keeps winning Pro shows and improving as he has, perhaps that timeline could be extended.
With a 2025 Mr. Olympia qualification secured, Williams could take several months off before returning for the sport’s biggest event of the year, if he chooses. Regardless of the path he takes, it seems Williams’ trajectory in the Men’s Open continues to rise.
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Watch the full video from the OlympiaTV YouTube channel below:
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