Tia-Clair Toomey and Ricky Garard Dominate 2025 Torian Pro CrossFit Semifinal

Samson Dauda’s ex-coach says it’s time to stop chasing the 300-pound mark, Erin Stern is building elite delts with two simple tools, and Jay Cutler wants a bodybuilding “reset.”

June 08, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Two of Australia’s finest—Tia-Clair Toomey and Ricky Garard—just turned the 2025 Torian Pro into their personal highlight reel. Toomey snagged five event wins and proved she’s still untouchable, while Garard steamrolled the men’s field, claiming four event wins and locking in a dominant 594-point finish. With both already pre-qualified for the Games, two extra spots opened up—cue Peter Ellis and Isaac Newman stepping into the big leagues. If this was just the warmup, the Games are going to be explosive. [See Who’s Headed to Madison Next!]

Tempo training finally gets its moment in the sun. Over four weeks of eccentric overload—stretching out the lowering phase of every lift—lifters reported serious strength jumps, better muscle control, and a savage burn that felt… oddly addictive. The approach isn’t just about looking slow-mo cool; it’s scientifically backed to build resilience and size. Turns out, going down slow might be the best way to level up. [Dial It Down to Power Up!]

Even when the gym’s off-limits, your gains don’t have to shrink-wrap. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his go-to method for staying jacked on the sidelines: crank your protein intake and flood your system with essential amino acids. Backed by a meta-analysis of 19 studies, the approach helps retain muscle during layoffs, injuries, or busy seasons. In short, if you can’t train like Arnold, you can still eat like him. [Hold Onto Your Hard-Earned Muscle!]

With 19 weeks left until the 2025 Mr. Olympia, Nick Walker isn’t leaving any detail untouched. His recent pull-day session zeroed in on symmetry and refinement—hammering lats, traps, and rear delts to even out his already dense physique. The Mutant’s brutal volume and form-focused tweaks are a lesson in how the best chase perfection. Olympia favorites, consider this your warning. [Train Like a Mutant to Build Freaky Thickness!]

Rayno Nel just pulled off a Hollywood-level underdog story. Balancing his engineering job and rehab from a torn hamstring, he beat out reigning champ Tom Stoltman by just half a point to win the 2025 World’s Strongest Man. With consistency across all six events and a huge win in the Knaack Carry & Hoist, Nel proved grit can out-muscle experience. This win wasn’t just strong—it was historic. [Meet the World’s Most Relatable Strongman!]

The Syndicate Crown lived up to its name, crowning two rising stars: Brooke Wells and Ty Jenkins. Wells stormed through her events with veteran precision, while Jenkins delivered a breakout performance to lead the men’s leaderboard. With every rep, these athletes punched their ticket to the 2025 CrossFit Games—and gave us a sneak peek at who could be podium-bound. [Catch the Athletes Making Waves Early!]

The BMI chart has long been the gold standard for health metrics, but for lifters and athletes, it often fails the vibe check. It ignores muscle mass, fat distribution, and other key factors like age and sex. Experts say you’re better off looking at waist-to-hip ratios, body fat percentage, or DEXA scans for the full picture. TL;DR: Don’t let outdated math tell you you’re “overweight” when you’re just overbuilt. [Measure What Really Matters!]

Ahead of the 2025 Toronto Pro, Open heavyweights Akim Williams and Iain Valliere dropped their top nine picks—and they didn’t hold back. From safe bets to dark horses, their lineup mixes Olympia mainstays with hungry newcomers. They also hinted at potential shake-ups that could dethrone expected favorites and boost some lesser-known names into the spotlight. With qualification spots and bragging rights on the line, this show could shift the entire landscape heading into Olympia season. [See Who’s Set to Shock Canada!]

Avoid These 11 Workout Programming Mistakes If You Want Real Gains

Even seasoned lifters get tripped up by sneaky programming pitfalls. From too much variety to poor progression planning, these 11 mistakes are silent gain-killers. The article breaks down exactly how each misstep stunts growth—and how to course correct with simple, actionable tweaks. Whether you're programming for hypertrophy, strength, or endurance, this is the ultimate checklist to bulletproof your results. [Fix What’s Holding Your Progress Hostage!]

Two-time Figure Olympia champ Erin Stern isn’t here for gym excuses. Her latest shoulder session torches all three delts using only dumbbells and a resistance band—perfect for anyone training at home or on the road. With smart supersets and tempo manipulation, the workout packs serious punch in minimal time. It’s a masterclass in efficiency from one of the sport’s most consistent physiques. [Build Boulder Shoulders with Minimal Equipment!]

Jay Cutler is calling for a course correction in bodybuilding—and he’s not the only one. Reacting to Lee Haney’s “reset” comments, Cutler echoed concerns about physiques being pushed past the point of health. He believes too many top names are now sidelined with injuries or burnout, signaling a larger problem with how athletes are peaking. As the 2025 Olympia draws closer, fans and insiders alike are wondering if a new era of streamlined, sustainable physiques is finally on the horizon. [Time to Rethink the Mass Game?]

Bulking’s not dead, but it’s getting rebranded. Coach Milos Sarcev says Samson Dauda doesn’t need to tip the scales at 300 lbs to contend for the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Instead, he should focus on getting “chiseled”—aka classic lines, elite conditioning, and stage-ready polish. Sarcev’s strategy speaks to a growing shift in pro bodybuilding toward balance and refinement rather than brute size. [Learn Why Lean Could Beat Huge!]

No more eyeballing your PR. This deadlift calculator uses your reps and weight to project your one-rep max with science-backed formulas. Whether you're programming for progress or just want bragging rights, it’s a quick way to set smart goals—and avoid burnout from guesswork. It also lets you compare results across different estimation models so you can tailor your training to your lifting style. [Find Your True Max Now!]

Head judge Steve Weinberger presents Dorian Yates with the 60th anniversary Mr. Olympia ring📹💪

Snack Recipe of the Day: Peanut Butter–Oat Energy Cups

Craving a no-bake snack that hits the sweet spot between indulgent and energizing? These Peanut Butter–Oat Energy Cups are your answer. Mix 1⅔ cups rolled oats, ¾ cup crunchy natural peanut butter, ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, 3 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 teaspoons honey, 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Press the mixture into 24 mini muffin liners. Melt ½ cup dark chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon coconut oil, then spoon over each cup. Chill for 10–15 minutes, sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon flaky sea salt, and refrigerate until set, about an hour. Perfect for a protein-packed pick-me-up or a guilt-free dessert.

The Strength Bulletin

  • A new study shows that consuming a low-carb, high-protein meal before resistance training doesn't compromise performance compared to a high-carb meal or fasting. [Read the Full Text]

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