Historically, the Mr. Olympia contest has been dominated by athletes from or competing out of America. From Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, and Jay Cutler to Phill Heath, American athletes have records. However, Two decades after Dorian Yates, Big Ramy became the first non-American to win the Mr. Olypia while training outside of the United States. The 295 lb bodybuilding icon looked poised for domination after winning two Olympias. However, things changed for the worse in 2022.

The first Mr. Olympia from Egypt was the favorite going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Yet, when the dust settled, the defending champion had lost his crown and fell to fifth place. The results shocked the bodybuilding world, and Ramy returned to the drawing board. However, the two-time Mr. Olympia has made a shocking announcement, and bodybuilding fans are in disbelief.

An announcement no one saw coming

Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy ‘ Elssbiay has withdrawn from the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest. After his disappointing placing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, the Egyptian champion made some significant changes. Besides letting his injury-ridden body recover, the mass monster started stem cell therapy. Before the Arnold Classic, his doctor claimed he would look improved on stage.

Ramy lived up to the claims, making significant improvements to his physique compared to the last years Mr. Olympia. Things looked positive for Ramy after placing third in the Arnold Classic 2023. While he didn’t announce details on his prep for the upcoming Mr. Olympia, people thought he was getting ready to shock the world again. However, the shock came in the form of his latest announcement.

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The 39-year-old became the second high-profile bodybuilder to withdraw from this year’s Mr. Olympia. Earlier, Canadian bodybuilding icon Iain Valliere surprisingly announced his retirement weeks after qualifying for the Mr. Olympia after winning the Toronto Pro. Elssbiay’s decision has shocked bodybuilding fans across the globe.

How fans reacted to the bodybuilding icon’s surprise announcement

Fans couldn’t believe they won’t see Ramy on stage this year at the Mr. Olympia. Many began speculating about his health and career. “That’s sad, I hope he’s ok,” commented one worried fan. “His body is probably maxed,” guessed another fan. “So maybe it’s (the) end of Ramy’s career,” hypothesized a third fan. However, others felt Ramy made the correct decision.

After seeing a physically degraded two-time Mr. Olympia on stage last year, some fans believed the champion made the right call. “Congrats. You deserve the rest. Health first,” commented one fan. “Good. Steroids are terrible. Glad he’s taking his long-term health seriously,” wrote another fan.

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How did you react to the news? Do you feel Big Ramy will return next year? Write your thoughts in the comments section.