After a nine-year hiatus, the Men’s Open Masters Olympia will return at the 2023 Masters Olympia contest in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This competition is set to be a landmark event, with plenty of history to be made. In 2012, Dexter Jackson became the last Men’s Open Masters Olympia winner before the competition’s hiatus.
David Henry Aims to Extend Olympia Legacy at 2023 Masters Olympia
One of the competitors in the 212 lineup at the 2023 Masters Olympia is David Henry, a bodybuilder who knows how to make Olympia history. Henry was the first-ever Olympia champion in the 212 division, which dates back to before the weight cap was set at 212 pounds.
Newcomers Enter the Fray at Masters Olympia
For the first time, the Masters Olympia competition will feature several divisions, including the 212 division. This opens the door for newcomers to make their mark and potentially add their names to the list of Olympia champions. With a field of fresh faces and veteran competitors, the 2023 Masters Olympia is set to be an exciting and unpredictable event.
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David Henry’s Legacy in Bodybuilding
David Henry’s bodybuilding career has been one of noteworthy accomplishments, with a particular focus on the 212 division. In 2008, Henry was part of the lineup for the inaugural Olympia 202 Showdown when the weight cap was 202 pounds. The competition in Las Vegas marked the first time since 1979 that the Olympia had two different weight classes. The lightweight and overall Mr. Olympia titles that year went to Frank Zane, and the classes were later reunited in 1980, the year Arnold Schwarzenegger won his seventh Mr. Olympia title.
Henry won the inaugural Olympia 202 title after facing a strong lineup of contenders, including two future bodybuilding greats, Kevin English and Flex Lewis, who finished second and third, respectively. English went on to win the next three 202 Olympia titles from 2009-2011, and Lewis eventually overtook English to begin his string of seven titles once the weight cap was raised to 212 in 2012.
Although he never reclaimed his title after losing it in 2009, Henry has been a mainstay in the division in the years since. Despite being 48 years old, Henry has continued to compete actively and placed third at the 2022 Japan Pro. He also earned his most recent contest victory at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro. He’s qualified to be in the 2023 Masters Olympia 212 lineup, which has a 40-year-old minimum age requirement, and looks to continue his legacy in bodybuilding.
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The 18-Man Lineup for the 2023 Masters Olympia 212
- Anwar Darwish Ali
- Masoom Butt
- Fernando Noronha de Almeida
- Ricardo Plata Duran
- Jim Everton
- Derik Farnsworth
- Ahmed Fawzi
- David Henry
- Milton A. Martinez
- Zohir Mihoubi
- Bola Ojex
- Jicheng Qian
- Jonni Shreve
- Steve Thayer
- Ryan Walters
- Wayne Williams
- Jeff Williamson
- Hidetada Yamagishi
David Henry Aims to Secure a Place in Bodybuilding History with a Masters Olympia 212 Title
Winning the 2023 Masters Olympia 212 championship would be a historic moment for any competitor, as it would mark the first time that the event is being held for this weight class. However, for David Henry, the stakes are even higher. The only other athlete to have won both the Masters Olympia and Mr. Olympia titles is Dexter Jackson, who also secured the Sandow trophy in 2008 – the same year that Henry won his Olympia title.
For Henry, a victory in Romania would not only make him the first Masters Olympia 212 champion, but it would also solidify his legacy in the sport of bodybuilding. Having been a mainstay in the division since his 2008 victory, Henry has consistently placed highly in competitions, most recently taking third place in the 2022 Japan Pro and securing a win at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro. At 48 years old, he has met the 40-year-old minimum age requirement to compete in the 2023 Masters Olympia 212 lineup and is ready to make his mark once again.
Overview
The highly-anticipated return of the Men’s Open Masters Olympia competition is set to take place at the 2023 Masters Olympia in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, after a nine-year hiatus. This landmark event will feature several divisions, including the 212 division, providing a platform for fresh faces and veteran competitors alike to make their mark and potentially add their names to the list of Olympia champions.
One such veteran competitor is David Henry, who has a storied career in bodybuilding, particularly in the 212 division. Henry was the first-ever Olympia champion in this division before the weight cap was set at 212 pounds. He faces a significant challenge in securing a win in the 18-man lineup for the 2023 Masters Olympia 212, which includes several other experienced and talented competitors.
However, if Henry manages to secure a victory, he will cement his legacy in the sport and join the exclusive club of athletes who have won both the Masters Olympia and Mr. Olympia titles. Currently, Dexter Jackson is the only athlete to have accomplished this feat, winning the Sandow trophy in 2008 – the same year that Henry claimed his Olympia title. With the stakes so high, the 2023 Masters Olympia is set to be a thrilling and unpredictable event that will undoubtedly make history.
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