Rickey Moten Jr. is a Houston, Texas bodybuilder who did something very few athletes manage: he outgrew one division, reinvented himself in another, and climbed all the way to the Classic Physique Olympia stage. 💪
He started in Men’s Physique, earned his IFBB Pro card in 2016, then crossed over to Classic Physique — where he won a pro title in 2019 and finished seventh at the 2020 Mr. Olympia.
This is his full story, updated for 2026: the switch that changed his career, the San Antonio breakthrough, and where the Texas pro stands today.
Rickey Moten Quick Facts
| Full Name | Rickey Moten Jr. |
| From | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Age | Date of birth not publicly documented — see the FAQ below |
| Height | 5’9″ (175 cm), as commonly listed |
| Division | IFBB Pro League — Men’s Classic Physique (formerly Men’s Physique) |
| Pro Card | 2016 NPC USA Championships — Men’s Physique Class B winner |
| Pro Win | 2019 IFBB San Antonio Pro — Classic Physique |
| Mr. Olympia | 7th place, Classic Physique, 2020 |
| @officialrealt_ifbbpro |
Early Life and the Start in Men’s Physique 🏋️
Rickey Moten Jr. comes from Houston, Texas. Like many future pros, he was drawn to the golden-era look — and his idol growing up was four-time Mr. Olympia runner-up Flex Wheeler, whose shape and posing he studied closely.
Moten began competing in 2015 as a Men’s Physique athlete, placing third in Class B at the NPC Europa Dallas in his first recorded season.
The board shorts did not hold him for long. As his legs and upper body kept growing, it became clear his frame was built for more than the Men’s Physique stage.
The Pro Card: 2016 NPC USA Championships 🏆
His breakthrough came in 2016 at the NPC USA Championships, one of the toughest amateur shows in America.
Moten won Men’s Physique Class B and earned his IFBB Pro card — joining the professional ranks just a year after his first recorded contest.
He tested himself as a pro in Men’s Physique in 2017, including an appearance at the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro. But the writing was on the wall: his physique had outgrown the division.
The Switch to Classic Physique (2018) 🔄
In 2018, Moten made the move that defined his career — crossing over to the Classic Physique division, where posing trunks replaced board shorts and legs counted in full.
The impact was immediate. At the 2018 New York Pro, one of the strongest Classic line-ups of the year, he placed fourth — an announcement that a new name had arrived in the division.
It is a path other pros have walked since: Matt Greggo also started in Men’s Physique before finding his real home in Classic Physique.
2019: The Breakthrough Year — A Pro Win in Texas 🌟
Moten opened 2019 with sixth place at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, in a line-up won by George Peterson — sharing the stage with future stars like Wesley Vissers and Keone Pearson.
That summer he finished runner-up at the Tampa Pro, beaten only by Abner Logan. The first pro win was getting close.
It arrived on home soil. At the 2019 IFBB San Antonio Pro, Moten won the Classic Physique title, beating Dmitrii Vorotyntsev into second place — a Texas pro winning in Texas, and a ticket to the Mr. Olympia conversation. 🏆
2020: Arnold Top Five and the Olympia Stage 🎯
Moten carried the momentum into 2020. At the Arnold Classic in March, he placed fifth in a stacked Classic Physique field won by Alex Cambronero, ahead of many of the division’s established names.
The pandemic pushed the Mr. Olympia to December in Orlando — but Moten’s place on that stage was already earned by his San Antonio win.
At the 2020 Classic Physique Olympia, he finished seventh in the world, in a line-up topped by Chris Bumstead, Terrence Ruffin and Breon Ansley. For a man who had started in board shorts five years earlier, it was a remarkable peak.
Rickey Moten Contest History 📋
| Year | Contest | Division | Placing |
| 2015 | NPC Europa Dallas | Men’s Physique — Class B | 3rd |
| 2016 | NPC USA Championships | Men’s Physique — Class B | 1st (earned IFBB Pro card) |
| 2017 | IFBB Pittsburgh Pro | Men’s Physique | 17th |
| 2018 | IFBB New York Pro | Classic Physique | 4th |
| 2019 | Arnold Classic | Classic Physique | 6th |
| 2019 | IFBB Tampa Pro | Classic Physique | 2nd |
| 2019 | IFBB San Antonio Pro | Classic Physique | 1st 🏆 |
| 2020 | Arnold Classic | Classic Physique | 5th |
| 2020 | Mr. Olympia | Classic Physique | 7th |
Training and Diet Philosophy 🍗
Moving from Men’s Physique to Classic Physique meant rebuilding his training from the ground up — heavier weights, more volume and shorter rest periods, with far more attention to legs.
Earlier profiles of Moten describe a detail-focused approach as a competitor: isolation work to fine-tune weak points, and cardio used mainly during contest prep rather than the off-season, when the goal is adding size.
His eating followed the same practical pattern — meals prepped in advance for the week, built around staples such as eggs, lean meats, rice, yams, leafy greens and omega-3-rich fish.
The Flex Wheeler influence showed most in his presentation: polished posing and a premium on flow and shape over raw mass. ✅
Rickey Moten in 2026 🔮
Moten’s last recorded contest appearance remains the 2020 Mr. Olympia. No IFBB Pro League results carry his name from 2021 through 2026, and he has made no formal retirement announcement.
He remains Texas-based and active on Instagram as @officialrealt_ifbbpro, where he shares training content with an audience of more than 28,000 followers.
Whether “Real T” — as his handle calls him — ever returns to the Classic Physique stage is an open question. What is not in doubt is the résumé he built in just five seasons: a pro card, a pro win, and a top-seven Olympia finish.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
How old is Rickey Moten?
His date of birth has never been published by a reliable source, so this page does not print an age rather than guess. What is documented: he began competing in 2015 and earned his pro card in 2016.
How tall is Rickey Moten?
He is commonly listed at 5’9″ (175 cm). No official measurement has been published by the IFBB Pro League.
When did Rickey Moten turn pro?
In 2016, when he won Men’s Physique Class B at the NPC USA Championships and earned his IFBB Pro card.
Has Rickey Moten won a pro show?
Yes — he won the Classic Physique title at the 2019 IFBB San Antonio Pro, on home soil in Texas.
What is Rickey Moten’s best Olympia result?
Seventh place at the 2020 Classic Physique Olympia in Orlando — his only Olympia appearance, in a line-up won by Chris Bumstead.
Is Rickey Moten still competing in 2026?
He has no recorded contest appearances since the 2020 Olympia and has announced no comeback — but also no formal retirement. He stays active on social media from his base in Texas.
The Bottom Line ✅
Rickey Moten’s career is a lesson in knowing when to move. Men’s Physique made him a pro; Classic Physique made him a champion.
A pro card in 2016, a pro title in San Antonio in 2019 and seventh place at the 2020 Olympia — achieved in just five competitive seasons. If the comeback ever comes, Texas will be watching. 🌟