After years of speculation and a huge hype on social media, Sam Sulek finally jumped into the competition carousel. And he proved he’s not just an internet sensation. After winning the NPC Legends Classic and taking gold at the Arnold Amateur in Columbus, he secured his pro card. Then, in his pro debut at the recent Arnold Classic 2026, he took eighth place in a packed Classic Physique competition and measured up against elite competitors such as Wesley Vissers.
While speculation abounded about his possible move to the Open category among the heavyweights in the past, Sulek seems to have changed his mind on the matter. His dream physique no longer weighs 300 pounds (about 136 kg).
The goal is aesthetics, not extreme bulk.
In a recent video, Sam openly admitted to fans that his “end-game” physique, or final goal, is more likely somewhere in the mid-range above 200 pounds (around 115 kg). Thus, a move to the Men’s Open is highly unlikely, according to him.
“I get this question all the time. People ask, ‘Dude, Sam, are you going to jump into the Open? How fast do you think you’ll grow?’ But I’m still under my weight limit for Classic Physique. I’ll never make the jump to Open unless for some reason I can’t make the weight for Classic – and I think I can always make that,” Sulek explained.
He also admitted that his view of the ideal physique has evolved:
“I used to be sure I was going to be a 300-pound monster. The 300-pound off-season was a done deal for me. But now I see it a little differently and I’m aiming more towards 250 pounds.”
What are his plans after the Arnold Classic UK?
Sulek revealed that he plans to get back into his normal routine after this weekend’s competition in Birmingham. But he doesn’t intend to make the mistakes typical of a post-training “rebound”.
“My plan is to just keep lifting, keep making progress, grow a little bit and eat. But I want to stay a little leaner for at least a little while so I don’t completely ruin this whole dieting phase overnight,” he said, adding that he’s not going to needlessly gain body fat just to get bigger at any cost. He wants to add food gradually and smartly.
Will he ever follow in the footsteps of Urs Kalecinski?
If Sulek does decide to make the switch after all, he wouldn’t be the first Classic Physique star to do so. In 2025, Urs Kalecinski shocked fans by making the jump to the Open category, and his move paid off – he went on to win the ProMuscle Italy Pro and Europa Pro competitions in quick succession.
For now though, Sam Sulek seems to be as happy as can be in his current category and is focused on gradually filling his weight limit. As long as the weight is not an insurmountable obstacle for him, he will most likely miss the Men’s Open royal category.
No posts have been made yet.
