Chinedu Andrew Obieaka, a.k.a. “Andrew Jacked,” has only been on the competitive bodybuilding circuit for a little bit while. Yet, after winning his first two International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League contests, the 2022 Texas Pro and 2022 Arnold Classic UK, Jacked is taken into account an ascending superstar. With a legendary bodybuilder on his side, the athlete will aim for certainly one of the game’s top challenges this December.
On Sept. 29, 2022, during an interview with Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Bob Cicherello (“Bob Chick”) on Olympia TV on YouTube, Jacked and his coach, four-time Arnold Classic champ Ken “Flex” Wheeler, discussed the upcoming 2022 Mr. Olympia. (Note: Jacked’s nutritionist George Farah was also in attendance as a subject.) Among the many more pertinent topics were how Wheeler feels in regards to the upcoming competition in addition to Jacked’s probabilities against two-time reigning champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay.
[Related: The 10 Best Dumbbell Exercises to Hit Your Lats]
There was a time when Jacked was an unknown entity. Then he earned his Pro Card on the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur in early March and won his first two IFBB Pro League contests. In such a short while, despite his inexperience, he’s already risen well through the ranks. This success, despite Jacked’s inexperience as an IFBB Pro League athlete, makes Wheeler consider Jacked is a budding bodybuilding titan.
“I competed probably over 40 times as an amateur before I even got into the National Physique Committee [NPC] because I used to be back within the Amateur Athletic Union [AAU] days. I used to be learning. I used to be developing,” Wheeler said, comparing his profession to Jacked’s. “But when you have a look at Andrew [Jacked], one NPC show, that’s it. Take a look at how much he modified from his Arnold Amateur debut, after which have a look at how much he’s modified on the Texas show. Then, just in a matter of fewer than two months, a little bit bit over two months, how much he’s modified going into the Arnold Classic [UK].”
Within the context of a stacked Olympia field featuring Elssbiay, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Derek Lunsford, Wheeler thinks Jacked has one other significant advantage — less wear and tear on his body.
“He [Jacked] has less mileage than any competitor that he’s ever competing against or ever going to compete against,” Wheeler explained. “That right there tells you this young man’s potential. Because nobody, even myself, has done what he’s done in such a brief time period. That’s rattling scary.”
[Related: How to Do the Hack Squat — Benefits, Variations, and More]
As for Jacked’s probabilities to truly win the Olympia and topple Elssbiay, Wheeler thinks there’s a gap under the fitting circumstances. Even with Elssbiay recently weighing in at a jaw-dropping 337 kilos at the top of his off-season, the door might be cracked open.
“Ramy is the person to beat,” Wheeler offered as a disclaimer. “But now you’re going to have guys competing against him which are taller than him and match his mass. I’m going to argue and say possibly, I’m being nice, but he [Jacked] possibly has higher symmetry and balance that he [Elssbiay] has.”
Even when Jacked doesn’t reach high expectations this yr by beating Elssbiay, there appears to be little doubt Wheeler thinks Jacked’s talent has him primed to be certainly one of bodybuilding’s next important fixtures. In the long term, whether the competitor lives as much as that promise is anyone’s best guess for now.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia will happen on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.
Featured image: @andrewjacked on Instagram