American bodybuilder Cydney Gillon is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the sport. The IFBB Figure veteran has been a mainstay in competitions for over a decade. In a recent Instagram post, Gillon shared the ab workout she likes to utilize as well as some crucial tips on performing each movement properly.
Cydney Gillon first made a name for herself with her stellar muscle shape, balance, and overall symmetry in the Figure division after a strong performance at the 2013 Toronto Pro Supershow. She earned an invite to the Olympia competition the following year in 2014, where she placed in the top ten in her maiden outing. She continued to work her way up over the years and won a handful of shows, such as the 2015 Wings of Strength Chicago Pro, the 2016 Pittsburgh Pro, and the 2017 Rising Phoenix Arizona Pro.
Gillon finally secured the coveted Sandow trophy by dethroning former two-time Olympia champ Latorya Watts in 2017. Once she took the throne, Gillon went on a rampage that saw her defend the title successfully five times in a row. Besides the Olympia, Gillon narrowly missed out on winning the Arnold Sports Festival to Candice Lewis-Carter on two occasions. Eventually, she won her first ASF show in 2019.
The 31-year-old created history after dominating the competition at the 2021 Mr. Olympia to become the winningest athlete in the division. Last season, Gillon returned to the Arnold Sports Festival and came out victorious over fellow standouts Jessica Reyes Padilla, Lola Montez, and Natalia Soltero. Then, she stunned the fans with an impressive package on stage at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. Padilla presented a tough challenge but failed to topple the dominant champion. Gillon further extended her lead and added the sixth Olympia title under her belt.
Gillon regularly offers insight into her training methods on her social media accounts. She revealed her unique mindset on cheat meals that helped her avoid burnout while staying on track with strict diets. While she follows a clean diet year-round, she believes in using ‘food festivals’ for cheat meals, where she eats what she wants.
Cydney Gillon shares ab workout & tips
Cydney Gillon shared the ab workout she utilizes every week to get her midsection ready for the stage along with some crucial tips to maximize the results of each movement.
“What does my ab workout look like?? ” she wrote. “Here are 3 of the movements I like to toss in every week.”
- Foam Roller Crunches
- Plank Knee Taps
- Planks
Tips:
“Exercise 1: There should be Zero strain in your neck. Make sure your hand is properly supported and you aren’t bending your neck versus using your abs
Exercise 2: Great if done efficiently. The core should be tight the entire time and the knees should not collapse to the floor. Plank first, drive knees down and right back up for each rep. This variation is good if your hip flexors are zapped from leg lifts or leg day
Exercise 3: Make sure your core remains engaged and try to make sure you don’t rock forward to your shoulders when the abs begin to fatigue. Start with a short count then work your way up.”
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Cydney Gillon provided some of her best tips for budding bodybuilding competitors three months ago. She encouraged practicing self-love to make the experience positive and stressed the importance of being accountable for the work you put in.
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Gillon leads the list of the most Figure Olympia wins in history with six. Based on her latest update, she has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon and will look to win gold again at 2023 Mr. Olympia later this year.