{"id":11463,"date":"2023-03-10T19:15:34","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T20:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=11463"},"modified":"2023-03-10T22:44:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T22:44:53","slug":"larry-wheels-will-compete-in-classic-physique-division-in-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/larry-wheels-will-compete-in-classic-physique-division-in-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Wheels Will Compete in Classic Physique Division in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over the years, Larry &#8220;Wheels&#8221; Williams has done it all in <a aria-label=\"strength (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"220095\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-build-strength\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">strength<\/a> sports. He&#8217;s shined as a powerlifter. He&#8217;s moonlighted as a strongman. On occasion, he&#8217;s even shown off commitment to a strict diet and <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/two-a-day-workouts\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220140\">training<\/a> plan to partake in bodybuilding. It&#8217;s this latter niche that Wheels will be placing a particular focus on for the foreseeable future. <\/p>\n<p>On Mar. 9, 2023, Wheels was interviewed by <em>RxMuscle<\/em> about his upcoming athletic endeavors. In a planned return to bodybuilding, the former Men&#8217;s Open participant revealed <strong>he would<\/strong> <strong>be preparing to compete in the Classic Physique division sometime in 2023<\/strong>. A recent Instagram post on his own page would verify these plans, where Wheels wrote that he&#8217;s &#8220;starting prep&#8221; for the competitive category. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube\"><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/larry-wheels-classic-physique-2023\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/lyteCache-12.php\" alt=\"YouTube Video\" \/><\/a><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a data-lasso-id=\"220044\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/front-foot-elevated-split-squat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">How to Do the Front Foot Elevated Split Squat for Size, Strength, and Athleticism<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a data-lasso-id=\"220045\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/split-squat-vs-lunge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">Split Squat vs. Lunge: Upgrade Your Single-Leg Training<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Per <em><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/contests.npcnewsonline.com\/contests\/2018\/npc_national_championships\/7np7\/larry_williams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220141\">NPC News Online<\/a><\/em>, Wheels last competed as a bodybuilder during a Men&#8217;s Open first-place performance at the 2021 National Physique Committee (NPC) Mid-Florida Classic.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond trying his hand at bodybuilding again, Wheels&#8217; rationale for featuring in the Classic Physique category seemed logical. After recent health developments like <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/larry-wheels-deadlift-793-pounds-trt\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220142\">transitioning from steroid use to Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)<\/a>, a back injury that knocked him out of competition <a aria-label=\"in the summer of 2022 (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"220098\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/larry-wheels-withdraws-from-2022-middle-east-strongest-man\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">in the summer of 2022<\/a>, and some exciting developments in his personal life, Wheels appears ready to place more of a premium on his health.<\/p>\n<p>None of this planned shift means Wheels won&#8217;t push full steam ahead anymore, but it does appear to suggest he&#8217;ll be more practical. Transitioning to the Classic Physique division is a part of that mission. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cWhere I\u2019m at with my journey right now is taking a healthier approach to achieving my goals,\u201d Wheels said. \u201cI\u2019m recently engaged. I intend on having a family.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>At a height of 6-foot-1, on par with four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion <a aria-label=\"Chris Bumstead (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/chris-bumstead-2023-arnold-classic-plans-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220143\">Chris Bumstead<\/a>, Wheels maintained a realistic perspective. He doesn&#8217;t think vying for <a aria-label=\"Men&#039;s Open (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/2022-mr-olympia-results\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220144\">Men&#8217;s Open<\/a> victories is worth it based on his physical dimensions, due to the larger-sized physiques typically rewarded in the Open division. The same sentiment holds true to any of his <a aria-label=\"strongman (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/2023-arnold-strongman-strongwoman-classic-results\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220145\">strongman<\/a> or <a aria-label=\"powerlifting (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/larry-wheels-mock-powerlifting-meet-trt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220146\">powerlifting<\/a> pursuits in the sense that Wheels doesn&#8217;t have to push his body to the limit as much. <\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s because sheer mass isn&#8217;t the primary aim of the <a aria-label=\"Classic Physique division (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/arnold-schwarzenegger-classic-physique-replace-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220147\">Classic Physique division<\/a>, and it presents Wheels a potentially more sustainable path to success.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>&#8220;Doing Classic [Physique], I\u2019m already as big as I need to be,&#8221; Wheels said. &#8220;If not, I have to gain a few more pounds and then cut down to the cutoff at 220 or 230 [pounds]. I think I look great and could actually be competitive, and arguably unhealthy but not to the extent to the extreme if I were to do Open bodybuilding, <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/2023-worlds-strongest-man-events\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"World\u2019s Strongest Man (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"220099\">World\u2019s Strongest Man<\/a> events, or try and achieve another powerlifting World Record. I think I can have more longevity in Classic Physique.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CplExRRv4Mo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CplExRRv4Mo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CplExRRv4Mo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Larry (@larrywheels)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a data-lasso-id=\"220047\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/back-and-biceps-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">The Ultimate Back and Biceps Workout for Every Lifter<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a data-lasso-id=\"220048\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/clean-and-jerk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">How to Do the Clean &amp; Jerk for Total-Body Strength and Power<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moving up and down divisions in bodybuilding can be challenging. It asks the athlete to change their approach to <a aria-label=\"nutrition (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"220100\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-eat-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">nutrition<\/a> and the gym. However, if anyone has proven they have the requisite versatility, it&#8217;s Wheels \u2014 a bona fide strength sport jack-of-all-trades.<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image: @teampersonalrecord on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/larry-wheels-classic-physique-2023\/\">Larry Wheels Will Compete in Classic Physique Division in 2023<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\">Breaking Muscle<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the years, Larry \u201cWheels\u201d Williams has done it all in strength sports. He\u2019s shined as a powerlifter. He\u2019s moonlighted as a strongman. On occasion, he\u2019s even shown off commitment to a strict diet and training plan to partake in bodybuilding. It\u2019s this latter niche that Wheels will be placing a particular focus on for the foreseeable future&#8230;.<br \/>\nThe post Larry Wheels Will Compete in Classic Physique Division in 2023 appeared first on Breaking Muscle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":""},"categories":[20,1,21,22,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11463"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11463"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11466,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11463\/revisions\/11466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}