Josef Adlt

Michal Krizo is bodybuilding’s next big thing. And we mean big. On July 15, the Slovakian goliath, Michal Križánek, switched from the IFBB Elite Pro to the IFBB Pro League with hopes of competing in this year’s Mr. Olympia. The 31-year-old Krizo, who is 6’1″ and 290 lbs., dominated the Elite Pro, winning 13 of the 14 shows he entered. He was truly the face of the Europe-based organization, and the best professional bodybuilder outside the Pro League. Just after the announcement of his jump to the Pro League, he and his coach, Alexander Hlobik, and representatives from EVLS, his new sponsor, flew to the USA, introducing the country to Michal Krizo and introducing Michal Krizo to the American bodybuilding scene.

NEW YORK

The team landed in New York on July 18, and Krizo was hungry.

Michal Krizo
Hey Michal, that’s not authentic New York pizza. / Instagram

On New York’s Long Island, Krizo worked out in Bev Francis Powerhouse Gym, known as the East Coast mecca of bodybuilding, and posed for Olympia head judge Steve Weinberger.

Michal Krizo Olympia
Krizo hits a front double bi for Olympia head judge Steve Weinberger. / Instagram
Michal Krizo
Steve Weinberger with the newest potential superstar / Instagram

LAS VEGAS

Michal Krizo and the crew then flew to Las Vegas, home of the Olympia. There, Krizo trained in Flex Lewis’ Dragon’s Lair gym and met with and posed for three bodybuilding legends, all immigrants to America and now Vegas residents: Flex Lewis, Dennis Wolf, and Milos Sarcev.

Michal Krizo workout
Michal Krizo pumping up his triceps in the Dragon’s Lair / Instagram
Michal Krizo height
Milos Sarcev and Flex Lewis check out Michal Krizo in the Dragon’s Lair. / Josef Adlt

Milos Sarcev, an IFBB pro from 1991-2003, who has coached many pro bodybuilders, wrote on Instagram of the Slovakian: “First, pictures and videos don’t capture the real look—I promise you that. Michal looks much more impressive in person. Sheer size and muscle size can really be appreciated only to the naked eye—when you see him in person….There was no challenge at the Elite, so he didn’t have to push to the limits. Now, he’ll have the best of the best on stage with him, and he can’t wait to be tested. WATCH OUT!!!” Sarcev later offered a criticism: “He needs to bring up his back and he would be super dangerous.”

Michal Krizo age
Dennis Wolf, Michal Krizo, Alexander Hlobik at the Wolf’s Den / Josef Adlt

Krizo calls Dennis Wolf, who was born in the former Soviet Union and grew up in Germany, his bodybuilding idol. In Vegas, he met Wolf at his house and posed in the 2014 Arnold Classic winner’s outside home gym, the Wolf’s Den.

LOS ANGELES

Crammed in a car, the crew drove from Vegas to Los Angeles. There, Michal Krizo Krizanek met with Pro League promoter Robin Chang, toured Hollywood where he posed before Arnold Schwarzenegger’s star on the Walk of Fame, and trained in the West Coast and original mecca of bodybuilding, Gold’s Gym Venice.

In Gold’s, he met with another Vegas resident, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, who said: “He’s going to upset a lot of people, especially looking this good this far out [from his next contest]. Awesome. He looks great. Round. Detailed. He’s good with this shot [side triceps], a lot of striations here [delts], which a lot of guys don’t have. A lot of detail….He looks massive, man. Much more impressive in person….He’s doing the Prague Pro, so we’ll see what happens there. I imagine he’ll get a [Mr. Olympia] qualification to be standing with the best out there in December.

MIchal Krizo training
Michal Krizo working back in Gold’s Gym Venice / Instagram
Michal Krizo height
Jay Cutler watches Michal Krizo pose in Gold’s Gym. / JayCutlerTV YouTube

As Milos Sarcev said, Michal Krizo will need to fill out his back to be super dangerous in the IFBB Pro League. The rear lat spreads of current Mr. Olympia Big Ramy and top contenders Brandon Curry and Hadi Choopan will overshadow him. But Krizo can be dangerous right away. His arms, delts, and quads are phenomenal, most evident in his two best poses: front double biceps and most muscular.

With the EVLS Prague Pro on October 29, Krizo has a clear path to qualify for the Mr. Olympia, held on December 16-17 in Las Vegas. For now, fresh off his American tour, the Slovakian goliath is the next big thing. Will we still think that when the year is over? Michal Križo Križánek is likely to bring some much-needed excitement to bodybuilding in the second half of 2022.