After spending more than a year without competing due to an injury, Gabriel Zancanelli will return to the bodybuilding stage in less than a month. The return will take place at the Ohio edition of the Arnold Sports Festival, the Arnold Classic Ohio. In an interview with the column, the athlete from Minas Gerais highlighted that he was at his peak physically and stated that he believes in the title.
“I’m seeing myself getting better and better. I think it’s important for athletes to have this perception, to know they’re at their peak. The preparation has been incredible and I believe the result will be the best possible”, says the first Brazilian in history to qualify for the Olympia in the Classic Physique category.
When asked if he believes in a possible victory against Mike Sommerfeld, who is the current champion of the tournament in question and will defend his title in this edition, Zancanelli claims that he has improved “the points that needed to be improved” and is direct: “I believe it. I will face very strong names and Mike is, in fact, the favorite. But I believe that, if I show a very dry physique and with the necessary volume, I can fight for the title. I can see myself in the first confrontation (…) the work is being done to be champion”.
Still according to Zanca, the nickname by which the bodybuilder is known, his advantages over his German rival are “conditioning, muscle separation and details”.
Forced pause
Zancanelli’s last competition took place at the 2024 edition of the Olympia. Considering the fact that the athlete obtained a result below expectations (16th) at the time, a possible break in the championships was already being sought by him and his coach, Fabrício Pacholok.
“Me and Pacho [apelido de Pacholok] we talked a lot about it [ficar um ano sem competir]. We knew it was necessary. We knew that, for me to have a growth curve compatible with my effort, a break was necessary”, points out the bodybuilder.
“I was torn because, in addition to enjoying competing, I knew that a year without stepping on stage could take me away from the media a little, which is also an important area for a bodybuilding athlete”, he adds.
Despite the understanding, Zancanelli’s plans were to compete again at the end of 2025, which was made impossible after a torn pectoral at the beginning of the season: “Being forced to take this break was one of the worst experiences of my life. Discrediting myself, thinking that my peak had already passed. I was overcome by anxiety, but I kept up my work as best I could.”
Finally, he reports that, currently, he is able to learn and observe positive points that this “forced break” generated: “Because of this situation, I was able to better develop some issues, like my YouTube channel, for example. So, today, I can see how necessary this period was”.
LINK PRESENT: Did you like this text? Subscribers can access seven free accesses from any link per day. Just click the blue F below.
