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Masters bodybuilding and fitness has been at the forefront of physique-based sports probably for the last 30 years. Masters competitors can range anywhere from over 35 years of age all the way up to I don\u2019t know \u2013 70 or 80 years old. Some have a road to the pro card, others do not but what really matters is that there are many bodybuilders that discover the stage well into their adulthood and even into their \u201cold age.\u201d But what is old age? That is so relative and so subjective.<\/p>\n
As somebody that has covered Master\u2019s Nationals and covered a number of masters level contests around the country, I can tell you that age really is just a number. It doesn\u2019t really mean anything. And if you really want to get technical about it, muscle actually looks better when it\u2019s older. Now there\u2019s a difference between being older and getting into muscle and muscle maturity. I think anybody that knows what they\u2019re talking about would tell you that, but it just so happens that when people start lifting later in life and develop a muscular physique they do tend to get that muscle maturity a little bit faster than competitors that are younger in age. It may not be scientific but it has been my experience based on doing hundreds, if not thousands, of interviews throughout the country.<\/p>\n
Competitors that have maybe picked up the weights for about 5 or 10 years and started competing in their 40s and 50s have more mature musculature than guys that have started competing at 20 or 25 after 5 or 10 years. I know that sounds confusing but maybe reread it a couple of times until it makes sense because I assure you it does. The problem with masters physique-based sports is that the Masters Olympia has not had a very steady track record. It has gone through periods where it was held every year to where it is now where it is held every other year. But even aside from that, there were gaps of time where the title wasn\u2019t even offered.<\/p>\n
There are several pro masters shows, like the Masters Pro World which I have covered on a couple of occasions in Pittsburgh. There are also masters events throughout the country. There are pro qualifiers like the Masters Nationals and the Masters USA\u2019s. The Masters USA\u2019s is where legendary bodybuilder Marc \u201cThe Machine\u201d Lobliner turned pro. Probably the biggest misconception is that earning a pro card in the Masters is easy. It\u2019s anything but because you\u2019re dealing with a series of individuals that have really put their all into getting that card. The problem is once they get the card what do they do with it? There aren\u2019t a lot of shows that represent big titles.<\/p>\n
The Master\u2019s Pro world is the biggest one that comes to mind, but if you want to be the best in any division, regardless of age, you have to compete at the Olympia. This is why the Masters Olympia title is so important. When you are Mr or Ms Olympia in whichever physique-based division you compete in, you can actually market yourself as the best competitor in the world in that given division. It\u2019s not just marketing, but it\u2019s also about respect. You want to be able to say that you can go anywhere in the world and say you are the best. You can\u2019t do that by winning the Arnold Classic, you can\u2019t do that by winning the Master\u2019s Pro World, you can only do that by winning an Olympia contest.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the Olympia there is simply no greater title. There is no title that has more respect, more history, and more legitimacy. Now, the Olympia used to move around the world. For example, there was a year it was in Helsinki Finland, there was another year that it was in Pretoria, South Africa which is where Pumping Iron was filmed; other years it was in other places but primarily the Olympia has been in the United States. I would say the Olympia has been in the United States probably for more than 30 continuous years. But the Masters Olympia, at least the last couple Master Olympias, were held in Romania and the most recent one was held in Japan.<\/p>\n
Now why on Earth would the Masters Olympia be held abroad when the Olympia Weekend is in Las Vegas, Nevada? Well that is because the Masters Olympia was promoted by someone besides Jake Wood. Even though Jake owns the Olympia, he did not directly promote the last Masters Olympia held in Japan. He did promote the Master\u2019s Olympia held in Romania. At least I believe he did.<\/p>\n
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