Sergio Oliva Jr., a standout in the Open bodybuilding arena, heralds a fresh chapter as 2023 wanes. In an illuminating session on RX Muscle’s YouTube platform, Oliva Jr. delineated his forthcoming professional path, detailing his transition from coach Chris Aceto’s wing to that of Neil Hill. Perhaps most notably, he unveiled plans for mentorship under the auspices of Dorian Yates, the revered six-time Mr. Olympia champion, all in preparation for the 2024 Arnold Classic.
The Legacy of “The Myth”
The name ‘Oliva’ is synonymous with bodybuilding royalty, and Oliva Jr. carries the weight of his father’s legendary reputation. His late father, Sergio Oliva—reverently dubbed “The Myth”—etched an indelible mark on the sport, clinching three Mr. Olympia titles and besting icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane.
A Formidable Force in Modern Bodybuilding
While the pinnacle of Mr. Olympia remains elusive for Oliva Jr., his accolades are nothing short of remarkable. With triumphant ventures in the Men’s Open Pro division, such as his victory at the New York Pro and a laudable fifth-place at the 2020 Arnold Classic, Oliva Jr. stands tall amidst titans like Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay and Dexter Jackson.
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Trials of 2023: From Personal Strife to the Competitive Stage
The year 2023 bore witness to Oliva Jr.’s resilience, both personally and professionally. A harrowing vehicular accident in March temporarily halted his pursuits, casting a somber shadow over his life. However, post his exoneration, Oliva Jr. displayed his undeterred spirit with a commendable comeback, seizing third place at the 2023 Musclecontest California Pro. As the 2024 Arnold Classic beckons, Oliva Jr. stands at the precipice of a new chapter, defined by resilience and renewed ambition.
Oliva Jr. Teams Up with Yates for 2024 Arnold Classic Preparation
Sergio Oliva Jr., in a strategic move for his next chapter in bodybuilding, has partnered with six-time Mr. Olympia winner, Dorian Yates, setting sights on the 2024 Arnold Classic.
“As for the bodybuilding news of what you’re speaking of is Dorian Yates will be training me. I don’t even know what to say. It’s kind of like a thing that happened on accident and now it’s the most exciting thing I think I’ve ever had happen.”
“Neither [of us approached each other] we have a mutual friend someone I knew who was living in Venice then I moved to Dubai and he was here, which it’s a small small world. I was telling him how I want to get on my Spanish it’s very important to me and I want to prep for my next show outside of Dubai.
Unfortunately because of the case I had the traffic accident, it’s just put a bad vibe on me being here. I cannot think about prepping for another show here. No matter what i was going to leave. Running into this guy who is friends with Dorian, who is like, ‘Oh you should train at this guy, it’s the gym he trains at.’ Next thing I know me and Dorian are hanging out and talking about training me for the Arnold Classic. It’s just one of those things, this is how life is supposed to happen I guess.”
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Learning from a Legend: Oliva Jr.’s Quest for Mastery with Yates
Inheriting insights from Chris Cormier’s experience under Dorian Yates, Sergio Oliva Jr. seeks more than mere bodybuilding techniques. He’s driven to master the art of surmounting challenges with grace and composure, a hallmark of Yates’ illustrious six-time Olympia reign.
“After Cormier was competing in the Olympias for years he then went out and stayed with Dorian. And Dorian was the first person who taught him how to properly train. If you talk to Cormier today, he’ll tell you how upset he is that it took so long for him to go out there and learn this type of training — it completely changes the whole difference of having good genetics and looking good and actually just transforming your body completely to your full potential.”
“I can’t imagine how it’ll be from the actual Miyagi himself. But for the life aspect of it… it’s one really good thing that I got from Aceto. If anything, he probably taught me more about life and being a good person.”
“Just talking to Dorian, this new him where you can turn it on and see him and he’ll even say himself that sometimes he has to calm himself down because he’ll injure himself. He’s still got that dog in him. But his philosophical way of looking at life and handling problems is definitely something that I will learn from and I need to learn from,” said Sergio Oliva Jr.
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Charting New Paths: Oliva Jr.’s Transition to Neil Hill
Sergio Oliva Jr.’s shift from Chris Aceto to Neil Hill wasn’t just a professional move. For Oliva Jr., it was about personal evolution. Despite the change, he holds Aceto in the highest regard, stating that he’s “the best person I’ve met in my life.”
“I think that’s something a lot of people don’t talk about and they don’t realize themselves when you go to a new coach that new coach can sometimes do a lot better because you did the trial and error with the past guy for so long now Neil my new coach can ask me a question, ‘Does this work and does this work?’ And I have those answers, rather than me and Aceto, me being 20-something years old weighing 100 pounds less figuring it out as we go. I think it’s good I’ve learned so much from him and now I kind of want to take that into the next level and really the mystery of going into a show not knowing what’s going to happen that’s exciting again.”
“Chris is the best person I’ve met in my life but of course easily in this industry. I was just talking to him this morning. I just got back from Spain last night and I was sending him some pictures from there, so it’s never going to be anything like that.”
“How many people with Chris have bad-mouthed Chris? Yeah, there’s a lot of coaches, sometimes it’s the athletes, sometimes it’s the coaches, but Chris has coached everybody. Who has ever been like ‘Oh, Chris screwed me over’. He doesn’t. He kills himself for his clients. I’ve seen this guy take care of his clients better than himself. There’s no way someone could have a problem with him.”
The Promise of Potential: Oliva Jr.’s Rising Star
While the spotlight of the Olympia stage is still ahead, many seasoned bodybuilding experts see Sergio Oliva Jr. as a force to be reckoned with. Earlier this year, the 1983 Mr. Olympia titleholder, Samir Bannout, expressed his belief that Oliva Jr. possesses the potential to claim the coveted title, suggesting a shift in mentality as the key.
Now, as Oliva Jr. contemplates relocating countries and prepping under the legendary Dorian “The Shadow” Yates, anticipation builds around what he will unveil at the 2024 Arnold Classic scheduled for early March.
For an in-depth look into Oliva Jr.’s insights, the full interview is available on the Rx Muscle YouTube channel:
Overview
As 2023 draws to a close, Open bodybuilder Sergio Oliva Jr. announces major shifts in his coaching lineup. Revealed on RX Muscle’s YouTube, Oliva Jr. moves from Chris Aceto’s guidance to Neil Hill, with the highlight being his training under six-time Mr. Olympia winner, Dorian Yates, for the 2024 Arnold Classic. Carrying the legacy of his legendary father, Sergio Oliva, known as “The Myth”, Oliva Jr. has shown remarkable prowess in his career, and these changes herald anticipation for his performance at the upcoming Arnold Classic.
Featured Image @thedorianyates @sergioolivajr (Instagram)