The new trend on social media is to compare 2026 with 2016. Ten years ago, bodybuilding was completely different from what it is today. During that time, dynasties in Olympia began and ended, categories emerged and idols were built.
Something that demonstrates this passage of time is the fact that, that year, Chris Bumstead – now retired from the stage – earned his “pro card” (professional card, in the free translation into Portuguese) and made his debut in the “IFBB Pro League” (“International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness Professional League”, which means Professional League of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness).
After winning the “IFBB North American Championships” in the “bodybuilding” category, Cbum moved to another division and made his professional debut at the “IFBB Dayana Cadeau Classic”, where he came in third place – on that occasion, runner-up went to Terrence Ruffin, Ramon Dino’s direct rival in the battle for the Olympia 2025 title, won by the Brazilian.
Another shock can be generated when thinking that, at that time, Wellness – considered one of the most marketable among the female divisions – was not even included on the most important stages of world bodybuilding. The inclusion of the category in Olympia only occurred in 2021.
Still on the female categories, another one that was not found at the Olympia was Women’s Bodybuilding. The division in question was not present in the most renowned competition in world bodybuilding between 2015 and 2019.
At the time, Mister Olympia was Phil Heath, who was on his way to winning his sixth title. The current holder of that title, Derek Lunsford, wasn’t even a professional bodybuilder at that point.
Finally, another exercise that shows how far 2016 is from today is to think that, in that year, names like Shawn Rhoden, Dallas McCarver, Cedric McMillan and George Peterson were still alive and competing.
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