Brandon Curry – The long road to bodybuilding’s ultimate prize.
Brandon Curry’s long road to victory and establishing himself as one of the best bodybuilders in the world.
As the 2022 contest season is about to start, it will be another year that 2019 Mr. Olympia, Brandon Curry, will compete at the highest level.
In 2022, Brandon will be celebrating his 40th birthday, making him one of the oldest bodybuilders on the Mr. Olympia stage.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net believes that Brandon Curry is representing the “old guard” of bodybuilders that dominated the sport in the late 90’s and throughout the 2000’s.
The early years
Brandon Curry started his bodybuilding career between 2003 and 2004. Winning his first junior competition in 2003, gave Brandon Curry the confidence to move on to more prestigious events.
In 2005, Brandon moved up to the NPC Collegiate Nationals and won the overall title.
Between 2006 and 2007, Brandon would finish in second place at the Junior Nationals on two occasions and finally at the USA Championships.
Finally in 2008, Brandon Curry earned his pro card with class by winning the overall title at the USA Championships.
With his pro card in hand, Brandon would start preparing himself to step on the pro stage with the best athletes in the world, and with the goal of winning the Mr. Olympia one day.
The humble beginnings of a pro bodybuilder
Brandon Curry would make his pro debut in 2010, two years after earning his pro card.
Curry’s first contest was the Europa Supershow, placing eighth from a lineup of 26 competitors. This was an encouraging result for the young Brandon Curry. Brandon would improve two places at the Tampa Pro Show to finish in sixth in the same year.
2011 was a very important year for Brandon as he would make his debut in Toronto, New York and finally the Mr. Olympia.
Brandon would have the biggest test of his career at the 2011 New York Pro. Curry went on to finish in tenth place against some of the biggest and best bodybuilders at that time.
Brandon finally cracked the top three by placing third at the 2011 Toronto Pro. Brandon would fall two places from the previous year at Tampa by finishing in eighth.
At the 2011 Mr. Olympia, Brandon finished in eighth place. A great result for the young Brandon Curry from a lineup of 24 of the best bodybuilders in the world. At this time, Jay Cutler dominance was over and Phil Heath started his reign with Kai Greene at his best.
In 2012, Brandon would have the opportunity to compete at the Arnold Classic for the first time. Unfortunately, Brandon did not place. Branch Warren went on to win the show.
In the remaining shows in 2012, Brandon was a consisten top ten finisher by placing in seventh and eighth at three other events.
Hard work pays off and Brandon Curry is the perfect example of this. Nothing came easy to Brandon as he climbed the bodybuilding ladder, but he succeeded, improving show after show.
The first victory
2013 was another year to remember for Brandon Curry as he would finally earn his first pro victory.
Brandon went on to win the 2013 Arnold Classic Brazil. This would also earn him his qualification to the Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately at the 2013 Mr. Olympia, Brandon would not place in a very deep lineup. Phil Heath would win his second consecutive Mr. Olympia while Jay Cutler finished in sixth.
The 2013 Arnold Classic Europe was organized just a few weeks after the Mr. Olympia and Brandon would redeem himself.
Finishing eighth from 19 competitors at the 2013 Arnold Classic Europe was a very good result for Brandon Curry. The majority of competitors that competed at the Arnold Classic Europe, competed at the Mr. Olympia just a few weeks earlier. The show was won by Phil Heath.
2014 was a very quiet year for Brandon Curry by only competing at the Arnold Classic.
Brandon had to again settle for eight place at the 2014 Arnold Classic. By this time, the bodybuilding world was seeing Brandon as a second tier bodybuilder, finishing just above tenth spot at the majority of events he participates in.
Between 2015 and 2016, Brandon Curry was very active on the competition circuit. Competing in 17 events was not a easy task, but Brandon kept on pushing forward.
As Brandon’s results varied, he would not place at the Mr. Olympia in 2015 and 2016, but he would go on to win the Toronto Pro Show in 2015. In 2016, Brandon Curry would earn his place at the Mr. Olympia thanks to the amount of points he accumulated during the year.
Brandon silences his critics
With only two victories to his name in 6 years, the bodybuilding world started to look past Brandon Curry, never seeing him as one of the elite.
Brandon’s critics would be made to eat their words between the end of 2016 and 2021 when they were introduced to a new and improved Brandon Curry.
It was at the 2016 Mr. Olympia when Brandon Curry’s life would change forever. Brandon was introduced to Al Otaibi, a very successful bodybuilding coach that lives in Kuwait and trains his clients at the Kuwait’s popular Oxygen Gym.
After making up his mind after discussing the big move with his wife and family, Brandon Curry would spend most of the year training in Kuwait from 2017 till today.
The big decision paid off as as under the watchful eye of coach Al Otaibi, Brandon Curry registered three victories in 2017. Brandon won the New Zealand Pro, Ferrigno Classic and the Arnold Classic Australia. Finally, Brandon returned to the top 10 at the Mr. Olympia by placing eighth.
With his qualification already confirmed for the 2018 Mr. Olympia, Brandon dedicated the entire year to train for this contest in Kuwait. The 2018 Mr. Olympia would turn out to be another shocker, with Shawn Rhoden defeating 7X Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Meanwhile, Brandon Curry moved up to fifth place at the 2018 Mr. Olympia, proving to the critics that he has what it takes to challenge for the top prize.
Brandon Curry makes history
In 2019, this would be the year that Brandon Curry cements his name, as one of the best bodybuilders in the history of the sport.
Brandon qualified for the 2019 Mr. Olympia by winning the prestigious Arnold Classic USA. Defeating William Bonac and the late Luke Sandoe made Brandon Curry a instant favorite to lift the 2019 Mr. Olympia title.
Unfortunately, 2019 would see the late Shawn Rhoden suspended due to a personal legal matter. This would make the 2019 Mr. Olympia title vacant.
Big Ramy also pulled out of the show for various reasons related to injuries. It must be said that Big Ramy did not arrive in his best condition at the 2018 Mr. Olympia. By finishing in sixth place, he did not qualify for the 2019 Mr. Olympia.
With the 2019 Mr. Olympia vacant, and Brandon Curry winning the 2019 Arnold Classic, Brandon was still not named as a favorite to win the title but the majority of bodybuilding media.
The bodybuilders that were named as favorites to win the 2019 Mr. Olympia were Dexter Jackson, Roelly Winklaar and William Bonac.
When all bodybuilders stepped on the Mr. Olympia stage in 2019, it was evident that it would be Brandon Curry’s night. Regardless with Shawn Rhoden or Big Ramy not competing, Brandon Curry would have still been in contention to win with Shawn Rhoden or Big Ramy on the same stage.
Brandon Curry would be the final man standing, with William Bonac finishing in second and Hadi Choopan taking the final podium place.
Brandon went on to be one of the best ambassador’s for the sport of bodybuilding. Even when Covid-19 destroyed all his plans, Brandon made use of social media to promote the Olympia brand.
The last of the “Old Guard”
2020 would be another successful year for Brandon Curry. With his new supplement line in full swing, Brandon had only the 2020 Mr. Olympia to concentrate on.
The 2020 Mr. Olympia was more challenging for Brandon Curry. A “Special Invite” was handed out to Big Ramy due to not being able to qualify for the Mr. Olympia due to Covid-19. Phil Heath made his return and a chiseled Hadi Choopan managed to get into the USA to compete.
As all the bodybuilders stepped on stage, it was evident Phil Heath was not at his best and Big Ramy would be the one challenging Brandon Curry for his title.
Big Ramy would be the eventual winner of the 2020 Mr. Olympia, while Brandon Curry had to settle for second place. 7X Mr. Olympia Phil Heath finished in third, just ahead of Hadi Choopan.
Brandon Curry put his head down and concentrated on some of his week points to try to win his title back in 2021.
The 2021 Mr. Olympia saw Big Ramy win the title for a second consecutive time, with Brandon Curry finishing in second for the second year in a row.
After the show, Brandon Curry’s coach Al Otaibi was not pleased with the outcome. Otaibi said that they listened to the judges criticism and Brandon Curry presented a better package than 2020.
It was evident that Big Ramy was not at his best, but Brandon Curry presented a more balanced physique. Many believed that Brandon Curry was robbed from winning his second Mr. Olympia title.
The 2022 season will be a special year for Brandon Curry. Invited to compete at the 2022 Arnold Classic, Brandon Curry is already named as a favorite to win this event.
At the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Brandon Curry will literally be the only man on stage that competed against the legends of the past. At the age of 40 and after competing in over 40 professional bodybuilding events throughout his career, Brandon Curry is still at the top of his game.
Big Ramy and Roelly Winklaar have also been around for many years, but it is Brandon Curry that has been the most consistent. Roelly Winklaar did start at the same time as Brandon, but in the last two years, he unfortunately has lost a bit of momentum.
Respect must be given to Brandon Curry. He was the man that was written off as a second tier bodybuilder, to turn everything around and become the 15th man to lift the Sandow trophy.
Back in 2008, when Brandon won his pro card, he was labeled the “Next New Prodigy”. By working in silence and with great determination, Brandon Curry climbed to the top to win the biggest prize in the sport.
Hard work pays off and Brandon Curry is the perfect example of this. Nothing came easy to Brandon as he climbed the bodybuilding ladder, but he succeeded, improving show after show.
When Brandon Curry eventually retires from the sport of bodybuilding, and with Big Ramy not getting any younger, the bodybuilding world with have a new generation of athletes.
Eventually, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, Sergio Oliva Jr., Iain Valliere, Hadi Choopan, Regan Grimes and others will be the athletes dominating the Mr. Olympia stage.
Regardless of Brandon’s placing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, he will go down in history as one of the most humble and hard working bodybuilders in the history of the sport.
Brandon is loved by the fans and he will be one of the most popular bodybuilders at the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
If Brandon does not win back his Mr. Olympia title in 2022, will he be back in 2023? We will have to wait for his answer in December.
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