Big Ramy will not be part of the lineup for “Mr. Olympia” 2024. The former two-time champion, Mamdouh Elssbiay, known as “Big Ramy,” will not participate in this year’s biggest bodybuilding event. This marks the second consecutive year he’s out of the competition. The news was first reported by Olympia President Dan Solomon.
Ramy reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning two Sandow trophies back-to-back in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the Egyptian fell to fifth place, and then took fourth at the 2023 “Arnold Classic.” After his 2022 defeat, IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger advised Ramy to consider stepping back from competition, but the professional athlete ruled out retirement. However, surprisingly, Ramy chose not to compete in the 2023 “Mr. Olympia.” During the “Dubai Pro” 2023 tournament, Elssbiay gave an interview to U.S. media, emphasizing that his return to the stage needed to be carefully planned. “I need to be more thoughtful to know when it’s best to step on stage and when to stop. I think this year I need to take a break from shows. If I have the chance to show the best version of myself and bring something different, yes, I will participate in the next show. This year, I won’t compete at Olympia,” he stated before last year’s Olympia, wishing all competitors the best. It’s worth noting that Big Ramy had not missed an Olympia since 2013.
Last year, after harsh criticism of Ramy’s physique, he underwent stem cell therapy. Many bodybuilding experts had commented on a decline in his lats, lower back, and triceps.
In April 2024, Ramy’s coach, Chris Aceto, refused to count out his athlete, stating that Elssbiay’s size would make a strong impression on viewers in Pittsburgh. However, Big Ramy did not appear at Jim Manion’s show. The “Pittsburgh Pro” 2024 took place from May 10 to 11 in Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania, USA. It’s one of the biggest shows of the year, featuring guest posers in the open bodybuilding category, including Samson Dauda, Hunter Labrada, Derek Lunsford, Andrew Jacked, Nick Walker, and Martin Fitzwater (Big Ramy was originally on this list instead of Martin).
The future of the Egyptian’s bodybuilding career remains uncertain, and Big Ramy has yet to provide any clarification on the matter.
