Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay is an Egyptian IFBB Pro bodybuilder and two-time Mr. Olympia champion. 🏆
He rose from working as a fisherman in a small Egyptian village to the top of bodybuilding in under a decade. His back-to-back Olympia wins in 2020 and 2021 made him the first Egyptian ever to hold the title.
Injuries ended his reign after 2022, and after years of comeback talk, he told fans in April 2026 that he does not think he will compete again. This biography covers his full story, updated for 2026.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Mamdouh Mohammed Hassan Elssbiay |
| Nickname | Big Ramy |
| Born | 16 September 1984, Al-Sebea, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt |
| Age | 42 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Contest weight | 295 lb (134 kg) |
| Off-season weight | 310 lb (141 kg) |
| Division | Men’s Open |
| Pro debut | New York Pro, 2013 (won) |
| Best wins | Mr. Olympia 2020 and 2021 |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Family | Married, three daughters |
| Business | Founder of the Red Rex supplement brand (2022) |
Early Life: From Fishing Boats to the Gym
Big Ramy was born on 16 September 1984 in Al-Sebea, a fishing town in Egypt’s Kafr El Sheikh governorate. He grew up in a family of fishermen and worked as a fisherman himself.
Looking for a better living, he moved to Kuwait in 2009. There he found work and, in 2010, joined the famous Oxygen Gym in Kuwait City, where his genetics quickly turned heads.
The change was dramatic. In 2011 he weighed around 200 lb; by the time he stepped on stage at the 2012 Amateur Olympia in Kuwait, he weighed about 286 lb.
That same year he won the Kuwait Golden Cup and then the overall title at the Amateur Olympia Kuwait. The overall win earned him his IFBB pro card and launched one of the fastest rises in the sport’s history.
The Rise: New York Pro Winner and Olympia Climber
Ramy made his professional debut at the 2013 New York Pro — and won it. Weeks later he placed 8th at his first Mr. Olympia, an exceptional result for a rookie.
In 2014 he repeated the pattern: another New York Pro win and an improved 7th place at the Olympia. The sport now knew his name.
2015 brought his first Arnold title. He won the Arnold Classic Brazil — the first Egyptian to do so — added 2nd place at the EVLS Prague Pro, and broke into the Olympia top five.
In 2016 he won the Kuwait Pro, took 2nd at the Arnold Classic Europe and the Prague Pro, and placed 4th at the Mr. Olympia. Each year, the placings kept improving.
2017 was his breakout at the very top. He won the Arnold Classic Europe and pushed the great Phil Heath hard at the Olympia, finishing 2nd.
A flatter 6th place followed in 2018, and he missed the 2019 Olympia while dealing with a shoulder problem. In March 2020 he returned with 3rd place at the Arnold Classic in Columbus — and everything was set for the run of his life.
The Two Mr. Olympia Titles
The 2020 Mr. Olympia was moved to December in Orlando, and Ramy’s road there was not smooth. In October 2020 he tested positive for COVID-19, which forced him out of the Europa Pro.
Two months later he arrived in Orlando at around 295 lb with the best conditioning of his career — and won. He became the first Egyptian Mr. Olympia, only the second Middle Eastern winner after Samir Bannout in 1983, and the first non-American champion since Dorian Yates in 1997.
In October 2021, again in Orlando, he defended the title against Brandon Curry and Hadi Choopan. Back-to-back Sandow trophies put him in very rare company in Olympia history. 🥇
Mr. Olympia Record Year by Year
| Year | Mr. Olympia placing | Other highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 8th | Won pro debut at the New York Pro |
| 2014 | 7th | Won the New York Pro again |
| 2015 | 5th | Won Arnold Classic Brazil; 2nd in Prague |
| 2016 | 4th | Won Kuwait Pro; 2nd at Arnold Classic Europe |
| 2017 | 2nd | Won Arnold Classic Europe |
| 2018 | 6th | — |
| 2019 | Did not compete | Sat out with a shoulder injury |
| 2020 | 1st — Mr. Olympia | 3rd at the Arnold Classic (Columbus) |
| 2021 | 1st — Mr. Olympia | Successful title defence in Orlando |
| 2022 | 5th | Title lost to Hadi Choopan |
| 2023 | Did not compete | 4th at the Arnold Classic — his last contest |
The Fall: 2022, Injuries and the End of the Reign
Ramy went to Las Vegas in December 2022 as the two-time defending champion and the favourite. He arrived off his best, and the judges placed him 5th as Hadi Choopan took the title.
He improved at the 2023 Arnold Classic, finishing 4th behind Samson Dauda — but it turned out to be the last time he stepped on a competitive stage.
Head judge Steve Weinberger publicly pointed to deterioration in Ramy’s lats and triceps, areas linked to nerve and muscle problems. Ramy underwent stem cell therapy and chose recovery over rushing back.
He skipped the 2023 and 2024 Mr. Olympia contests to focus on his health, telling fans he would only return if he could come back at his best.
The Comeback Story — and His 2026 Decision
For three years, the comeback rumours never stopped. In April 2025 Ramy said there was an “80% chance” he would return at the 2025 Mr. Olympia — a story we covered in our report on Big Ramy’s 2025 comeback comments.
That July he posted a bold “I will be back” message. But when the 2025 Olympia came around in October, he was not on stage.
The clearest answer came on 17 April 2026. Asked in an interview with Beyond The Stage TV whether he would return, Ramy said: “No, I don’t think I’ll be back. I think it’s enough and I’m looking to my business.”
He added that he still loves and supports the sport, but like Ronnie Coleman before him, he has accepted that his competing days are over. Wikipedia now lists him as a retired bodybuilder.
Life After the Stage
Ramy has stayed in the industry he loves. In 2022, after years of representing other supplement companies, he launched his own brand, Red Rex, and he has also worked as a contest promoter.
As a former Mr. Olympia champion, he remains eligible to enter the Olympia for life — so the door is never fully closed. But by his own words in 2026, business, not bodybuilding, is now his focus.
Training Approach
Ramy was the defining “mass monster” of his era. At 5 ft 9 in, he competed at about 295 lb — among the heaviest Olympia champions ever, with legs long reported at around 35 inches.
His training under longtime mentor Dennis James, and later coach Chad Nicholls for his Olympia wins, was built on high-volume work. Machines and free weights were combined to hammer each muscle group, with legs a clear priority.
Feeding that much muscle took a famously large diet of repeated high-protein meals. Readers building their own mass-gain plan can start with our guide to the best protein powders for muscle gain.
Personal Life and Family
Ramy is married and has three daughters. He keeps his family largely out of the spotlight, and his wife’s identity is not confirmed in major reporting.
Family was with him from the very start of the dream: around the weekend of his 2013 New York Pro debut, his wife was expecting their youngest daughter. He won the show anyway — the perfect start to his pro career. ❤️
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Ramy retired?
He has not filed a formal retirement announcement, but in April 2026 he said plainly, “I don’t think I’ll be back,” and explained he is focused on his business. He has not competed since the 2023 Arnold Classic.
How many Mr. Olympia titles did Big Ramy win?
Two. He won back-to-back in 2020 and 2021, becoming the first Egyptian champion in the contest’s history.
How tall is Big Ramy and what did he weigh on stage?
He is 5 ft 9 in (175 cm). His listed contest weight was 295 lb (134 kg), rising to about 310 lb (141 kg) in the off-season.
Why did Big Ramy stop competing?
Injuries caught up with him after 2022, including visible deterioration in his lats and triceps that judges linked to nerve and muscle issues. He chose stem cell therapy and recovery over competing below his best.
What is Big Ramy’s net worth?
Online sources commonly estimate around $10 million, built from prize money, sponsorships and his Red Rex brand. No verified figure has been published, so treat that number as an estimate only.
The Bottom Line
Big Ramy’s story is one of bodybuilding’s great rises: a fisherman from Al-Sebea who reached the Olympia stage within a year of turning pro and stood on top of the sport in 2020 and 2021. 💪
His reign was shorter than many expected, ended by injuries rather than rivals. But two Sandow trophies, a trail of pro wins and a nation’s pride make his legacy secure — with or without a comeback.