One among the Men’s Physique division’s fixtures is moving on to a latest phase in his profession.
For roughly the past half-decade, bodybuilder Andrei Lincan made a reputation for himself within the Men’s Physique division. After winning the 2017 Men’s Physique Amateur Olympia and earning his International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro Card, the 26-year-old competitor became a mainstay. He finished in the highest five on the 2020 Men’s Physique Olympia and captured noteworthy victories in contests just like the 2021 Republic of Texas Pro. Accordingly, he’s about to make a leap in a special direction.
On Nov. 7, 2022, in a video on his YouTube channel, Lincan announced that he could be making the transition to the Classic Physique division for the 2023 competitive season. Among the many greater reasons for the switch is he feels his ceiling is proscribed throughout the Men’s Physique category.
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Lincan’s realization that he may need to vary something up as a competitor is comparatively latest. After a second-place performance on the 2022 Texas Pro in August, Lincan began to reflect on whether he has a future as a Men’s Physique competitor. That was when it hit him that he desired to test his body and use various poses that his current division didn’t allow.
“After my last show on the [2022] Texas Pro, where I got here second, the feedback I got from them was that my arms were getting just a little too big,” Lincan noted. “Truthfully, I haven’t even trained them within the last yr or so and haven’t even done anything to make them grow. I feel the physique they’re searching for within the Men’s Physique category just isn’t a glance that I actually fit.”
In the intervening time, Lincan is coached by the legendary Hany Rambod, who can also be working with other bodybuilders like reigning three-time Classic Physique Olympia champ Chris Bumstead and former 212 Olympia winner Derek Lunsford. In line with Lincan, he hasn’t been capable of train or pose how he wants with Rambod, contributing to his mounting reservations.
“Each time I do a session with Hany Rambod, and even alone, I wish to flex,” Lincan said. “I wish to hit double biceps, side chest, and so forth. These bodybuilding poses are usually not Men’s Physique poses. I feel like my physique looks more impressive once I hit these poses somewhat than simply doing a Men’s Physique pose like back and front.
On top of that, I haven’t even been training the way in which I would like to coach. I feel like if I do train a bit heavier on my back or my chest, they’re telling me I’m getting too big and too far out of the Men’s Physique criteria …
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On the time of this writing, while he’s still a Men’s Physique competitor, Lincan hasn’t earned his qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. Based on the present IFBB point standings — where Lincan sits way outside of the crucial top three with just nine points — he’ll likely miss the competition barring a victory that might earn him an automatic berth. Qualification on a points basis ends on Nov. 20, 2022, and the Olympia contest will likely be held in mid-December. Lincan didn’t make clear if he still plans to try to compete on the Olympia.
With that sort of slate lined up, outside of his specific frustrations, it’s probably no wonder Lincan desires to shift gears in 2023. If his competitive transition goes well, perhaps he can proceed to flourish and shine with high placings in one other division.
Featured image: @andreideiu_ on Instagram