Every professional bodybuilder dreams of a day they get to lift the Sandow trophy at least once in a lifetime. However, not many realize this dream because training for Mr. Olympia requires unparalleled effort. The Mr.Olympia championship started over five decades ago, and only 17 men won the Sandow trophy. It reflects how winning the prestigious title is not everyone’s cup of tea.

The IFBB Pro James Graham Hollingshead recently clarified the basic requirement to become Mr. Olympia. And the difference between champions and ordinary bodybuilders is now more apparent than ever. 

IFBB Pro spills beans on Mr. Olympia’s champion mentality that made the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger

Mass monsters worldwide compete at Joe Weider’s Olympia weekend, aspiring to win the most prestigious trophy. However, the desire to become Mr. Olympia has to be enhanced with intense training rituals, over the years. Not many could sustain such physical and mental strain. James Graham Hollingshead in his latest Instagram post, reflected on the champion mentality of Mr. Olympia champions like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman.

Spilling beans on the difference between Mr. Olympia’s champions and others, IFBB Pro said, “The person that wants to be Mr. Olympia was dreaming of that when they were a child.” The IFBB Pro opines that others just train without the burning desire to win the Mr. Olympia trophy.

 “The other people, they kind of stumble into this, they enjoy it, and they may train hard, but without that true inner desire and that hunger, like that thirst that needs to be quenched, why are you ever going to put in the same amount and obtain the same amount?” Hollingshead questions. He finally declares that bodybuilders who train without the passion to become Mr. Olympia could never win a Sandow trophy. “It’s not going to happen unless you’re some real freak with the genetics of an absolute god who just gets a response that other people don’t get,” he adds. And Hollingshead owns such a champion mentality.

The inspiring bodybuilding journey of 290 lbs IFBB Pro

Much like the bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollingshead started training in his teens and sustained multiple failures before securing IFBB Pro status. The champion had to overcome his family’s opposition to live his dream life as a winning bodybuilding icon. The idea of an ordinary 9-5 job didn’t appeal to the 290lbs monster.

Hollingshead wanted an extraordinary life and after much struggle earned a name in the bodybuilding domain. “When you are really about this, it will make sense. Grew up trained at my local gym and promised I’d carve a life out of my ambition,” he once said.

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As James Graham Hollingshead rightly pointed out, not many could sustain failures and struggles to live their dreams. Only a few with a champion mentality dare to push beyond limits to conquer their goals. What category do you belong to? Let us know in the comments below.

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