Bodybuilding legends all praise Hadi Choopan’s conditioning.
Bodybuilding legends Lee Haney, Robby Robinson, and Milos Sarcev all agree that Hadi Choopan impressed them most at the 2021 Olympia. The legendary bodybuilders praised Choopan’s conditioning and Robinson even suggested that he was unimpressed by massive muscle alone.
Nostalgia can be a potent thing. It can dredge up terrible memories that many wish were forgotten. On the flip side it can recount a more sophisticated and fond time, a yesteryear that many wish could still exist. Bodybuilding legends of the Golden Era certainly identify with the latter statement. Many old school bodybuilders view the past as a time filled with aesthetic athletes who strived to embody the beauty of the human physique. These days however the focus has shifted to massive muscle and Golden Era bodybuilders seem less than impressed.
The 2021 Olympia has been a hotbed for discussion between the modern era of bodybuilders and the old school competitors of yesterday. While Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay repeated as Mr. Olympia this year, Golden Era bodybuilders have been heaping much praise on another competitor.
The Legends Speak
Eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney, Robby Robinson, and Milos Sarcev all agree; Hadi Choopan was one of the most impressive competitors on stage at the 2021 Olympia.
A recent post by the page Bis and Tris highlighted a conversation between the legendary bodybuilders. Each of them believed that Hadi Choopan had the best conditioning at the show. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that each of them believed Choopan should have taken top honors at the event. The conversation highlights below say it all.
Lee Haney: “without a doubt Hadi was the best conditioned athlete in the Mr. Olympia line-up?“
Milos Sarcev: “by far?“
Robbie Robinson: “that’s for sure. There are no more Lee Haney and ROBBIE ROBINSON.”
“1. Hadi. 2. Brandon. 3. Ramy.”
Robbie Robinson: “agree.”
Robbie Robinson: “size with beautiful muscle development AWESOME honestly. Ramy is just big. 300 lbs, his arms, his back, shoulders, be mountains of muscle. Unimpressed. I would expect something otherworldly. Craters of raw twitching muscle all over his body. They giving him the title on size alone.”
Are The Legends Right?
From the sounds of things, Robby Robinson isn’t very impressed by massive muscle. That should come as no surprise as his recent statements have confirmed that.
While he didn’t win the Olympia, Hadi Choopan did win the People’s Champion award. That in itself shows that perhaps Choopan’s conditioning is what the masses prefer. Still, you can take nothing away from Big Ramy or Brandon Curry for that matter.
Do you think Hadi Choopan should have placed higher?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.