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With IFBB Pro and Olympia qualification options returning to Turkey in 2026, Burak King recently explained the exciting opportunities and dilemmas that are very close to his heart, as the Men\u2019s Physique competitor navigates his own Olympia qualification campaign this year.<\/p>\n
Burak King is one of Turkey\u2019s most famous bodybuilders, having moved from Izmir to the U.S. as a child, he was inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger\u2019s story<\/a> and wanted to find his own American dream. \u201cBodybuilding has created a lot of opportunities for me\u201d he tells M&F. Indeed, proving that hard work pays off, King was recruited as the coach to WWE Superstar Roman Reigns and is now working on the launch of his own supplement line, BK Nutrition.<\/p>\n King qualified for the pinnacle of bodybuilding when he stepped on stage at the 2022 Olympia and last year came an impressive second at the Chicago Pro.<\/a> It\u2019s no wonder, then, that King has become an inspiration in his homeland. \u201cThey\u2019ve been following my journey,\u201d he says, noting that avid bodybuilding fans even wait for him at airports for a selfie or an autograph. \u201cIt was kind of cool to see that,\u201d he reflects, surprised that his success was being noted back in Turkey.<\/p>\n Those who wish to follow in King\u2019s footsteps have a chance to go pro, or earn Olympia qualification points in 2026, but King says he\u2019ll need to wait and see how his own campaign pans out before making a decision on competing in Turkey. That\u2019s because the IFBB Pro League\u2019s official closing date for qualification<\/a> to the 2026 Olympia in Las Vegas is August 30, 2026. While taking place after that cut-off, the show taking place in Izmir, Turkey on September 17 to 20 will help bodybuilder\u2019s to qualify for the 2027 Olympia event instead, creating an opportunity for athletes to start next year\u2019s Olympia qualification campaign early, but it does mean that those who are entered into this year\u2019s Olympia would potentially have to miss the Turkey Pro as they focus on getting their prep locked in for Sin City.<\/p>\n Still, with Men\u2019s Physique competitors gaining instant Olympia entry if they can win two pro shows, Turkey is far from off the table for those who are already eying up a successful 2027. \u201cFirst of all, it\u2019s a good country to visit,\u201d explains King, noting that Turkey, much like England, Spain, Italy, or Greece, is an accessible location for bodybuilders who are perhaps European based and don\u2019t want the expense of traveling back and forth to the U.S. \u201cSo, if you\u2019ve got a choice of, say, a four-hour flight from England to Turkey against an 11-hour flight to Vegas, you\u2019re going to choose Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n While King can\u2019t confirm or rule out entry into the 2026 Turkey Pro at this stage of the season, he has high hopes for the country\u2019s contributions going forward, saying that the initial sign-up for entries has been highly encouraging. \u201cI hope in the future they do more shows,\u201d he says, touting the country\u2019s largest city, Istanbul as another location that could be positioned in a different part of the season.<\/p>\n For those who get on the road to qualification this year in Izmir, however, the American dream becomes ever closer. \u201cIf it gets in the way of me doing well at the Olympia, then I would have to skip out and just focus on getting ready for the Olympia, you know?\u201d shares King. \u201cBut if it turns out that I don\u2019t have this year\u2019s Olympia to compete in, I get to enjoy Turkey and I can throw my hat into the ring for next year, straight away,\u201d he adds. \u201cBut either way, I think Turkey is a big one.\u201d<\/p>\n For more information on attending or competing in the 2026 Expo Sport Izmir event, click here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n To follow Burak King on Instagram, click here.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhat Is the 2026 Turkey Pro and Why It Matters<\/h2>\n
Burak King\u2019s 2026 Competition Strategy<\/h2>\n