After the huge crowds at RiminiWellness 2023 (held last weekend), where he was involved in various events, training moments and workshops, the new competitive season of Andrea Presti, icon of Italian bodybuilding, which aims, this year too, to qualify (after the last two consecutive participations, 28 years after the appearance of the last Italian athlete) at “Mister Olympia” (for the “Open” category, i.e. without weight limits), which insiders have always considered the most important international bodybuilding event (it has been held annually in the United States since 1965).
After participating in the 2022 edition of “Mister Olympia” (held last December, in Las Vegas), for the 2nd consecutive year, 28 years after the appearance of the last Italian athlete, Andrea Presti, ready for a new challenge (starting from the Empro Classic in Alicante), with the aim of conquering the 2023 final of the IFBB Pro world circuit (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness), scheduled from 2 to 5 November 2023, in Orlando ( in Florida/USA), at the Orange County Convention Center.
“The perspective, for the current year, is to retrain to Mr. Olympia, but, above all, to continue to grow as an athlete. Another year of experience will be essential to try to climb the world rankings. This goal is combined with the desire to promote the culture of bodybuilding in Italy, as I did last week at RiminiWellness, without ever forgetting the many social initiatives in schools… This year the qualification for the final of Mister Olympia is even more challenging, because it is mandatory to win at least one round of the IFBB Pro circuit and the technical level of the athletes present, in the international arena, is rising year after year. Bodybuilding is a very technical sport and now widespread on all continents.
I’m very focused and I’m working hard with coach Mauro Sassi, because qualifying for the final in Orlando in November is a historic goal not only on a personal level, but above all for the promotion of bodybuilding in Italy, of which I proudly bring competing colors. Mister Olympia is an incredible driving force for growing the culture of this sport in our country. Commitment that I will continue to pursue in the next few years – explained the blue Andrea Presti.“
From a competitive point of view, the 2023 competition calendar (under the aegis of the IFBB Pro brand) includes 29 competitions between the United States/Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Japan and Europe (events scheduled in Spain, Czech Republic, Romania, France, Portugal and two in Italy).
The 35-year-old champion from Brescia (originally from Val Camonica, and raised in judo as a young man, before choosing bodybuilding) won, in 2022, the qualification for the most important world specialty trophy by winning the “Mister Big Evolution Pro”, in Portugal (Estoril), under the guidance of coach Mauro Sassi. Test, the Lusitanian one, confirmed, also in this new season (again at Estoril), on 9 July 2023.
In Italy the sporting discipline of bodybuilding is growing rapidly and attracts an increasing number of athletes (pro and amateur). It is part of the largest number of members of the gym circuit, estimated in our country at no less than 18 million members.
“Mister Olympia” is the most important international bodybuilding event and has been held annually since 1965. It became popular above all for the 7 world titles won by bodybuilding champion Arnold Schwarzenegger, before becoming an actor, producer and Governor of California.