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Bodybuilding fans of all ages are eyeing Sam Sulek very carefully. He\u2019s doing his pro debut at the second biggest contest in physique-based sports, 2026 Arnold Classic. Talk about being a glutton for punishment! A lot of pundits wonder why Sulek didn\u2019t make his debut at a smaller contest where he may have qualified for the Olympia with ease. I will say that it\u2019s quite ambitious to think Sulek will be at the O the year he debuts, but Sam has been defying the odds from Day 1. We can\u2019t forget that Sam wasn\u2019t even supposed to compete. He was all about the training and the eating. Most of the videos focused on him driving to and fro the gym. He didn\u2019t compete because he didn\u2019t see the purpose in it. Why diet down? Why have to lift differently? He was writing his own ticket \u2013 his way.<\/p>\n
But then something happened. I think I realized just how competitive bodybuilding is. I\u2019m sure he knew it all along, but everyone gets bit by the bug differently. I\u2019ve interviewed thousands of physique-based athletes and everyone decides to compete for different reasons and at different times.<\/p>\n
Do I think Sam was given his pro card too soon<\/em>? I absolutely do. I mean, he half-earned it, but the other half I think was easily attributed to his massive social media following. Will the Arnold be the same? I don\u2019t think so. I think the competition is too stiff and the judges will probably be indifferent to Sulek\u2019s surging social media numbers.\u00a0That said, the DLB factor could come into play with Sulek. If he can just somehow win one Arnold or one Olympia, then he\u2019ll have a lifetime to promote. The flaw in that thinking is that a title didn\u2019t get Sulek into bodybuilding and title won\u2019t be what keeps him around. He\u2019s doing this for himself. He\u2019s coaching himself, training himself, it\u2019s all SAM. You must respect that. There\u2019s no higher level of accountability than that.<\/p>\n Perhaps, just perhaps, Sam wants to compete at the Arnold Classic because he wants to see how he\u2019ll fare at the elite levels. This type of competition is reserved for the Big 3 (the Olympia, the Arnold Classic, and New York Pro). There\u2019s also other big shows, like the Dubai Pro, where there would be similar judging. Sometimes social media stars really want to push their luck \u2013 or see how good they are. It\u2019s almost like they want to be humbled with a shitty placing (and maybe feel like EVERYBODY ELSE for a change). At least then they will really know where they stand. I think there might be some of that with regards to Sam expressing interest in competing in Columbus for his pro debut.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n