Few bodybuilders in history have carried the sheer size that Mamdouh Elssbiay brought to the stage. Known to the world as Big Ramy, the Egyptian became one of the biggest men ever to compete at the highest level, and for two years he sat on top of the sport as Mr. Olympia. His story, from humble beginnings in Egypt to the pinnacle of professional bodybuilding, is one of the most remarkable in the modern era.
Here’s a complete look at Big Ramy: where he came from, how he reached the top, the decline that followed, and the training behind that colossal physique.
This article is a biographical profile compiled from public reporting and interviews.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Mamdouh Elssbiay |
| Known as | Big Ramy |
| Born | 16 September 1984, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Division | IFBB Men’s Open |
| Mr. Olympia titles | 2 (2020, 2021) |
| Off-season weight | Up to around 336 lb (152 kg) |
| Known for | Being the 16th Mr. Olympia and one of the largest bodybuilders ever |
From Egypt to Kuwait: Humble Beginnings
Mamdouh Elssbiay was born on 16 September 1984 in the Kafr El Sheikh region of Egypt, where he grew up in modest circumstances and spent time working as a fisherman. It was an ordinary start that gave little hint of the extraordinary physique to come.
Seeking better opportunities, Elssbiay emigrated to Kuwait around 2010. There he found his way to the famous Oxygen Gym, a training facility that would become central to his rise. Backed by the gym’s resources and coaching, his frame responded to training in a way few bodies ever have. Within a remarkably short time, a big but unknown Egyptian had transformed into one of the most talked-about prospects in the sport.
A Rapid Rise Through the Pro Ranks
Elssbiay’s ascent was meteoric. He made his IFBB Pro debut at the 2014 New York Pro and won it outright, an extraordinary result for a competitor so new to the professional stage. That victory announced him as a genuine force in the Men’s Open division.
Over the following years he steadily climbed the Mr. Olympia rankings, improving his placing and his package as he worked with respected coaches and refined his conditioning. He finished as high as runner-up before eventually breaking through, edging ever closer to the sport’s ultimate prize as his combination of size and shape matured.
In 2020, Big Ramy reached the summit, becoming the 16th Mr. Olympia. His blend of unprecedented mass and improved conditioning proved too much for the field, and he claimed the Sandow trophy that had eluded him for years. He backed it up in 2021, defending his title and becoming a two-time champion, joining an elite group in the sport’s history.
At his peak, Big Ramy was a spectacle. Standing on stage at well over 300 pounds of contest-conditioned muscle, with famously enormous legs and a silhouette that dwarfed his rivals, he embodied the mass-monster era of Open bodybuilding. Many believed his reign would last for years.
The Decline and Recent Years
Bodybuilding is unforgiving, though, and Big Ramy’s time at the top ended more abruptly than anyone expected. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia he entered as the favourite but was overtaken by a sharper, more detailed field, dropping all the way to fifth place as Hadi Choopan took the title. For a two-time champion, it was a historic fall.
He rebounded somewhat with a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Arnold Classic, but injuries then kept him off the Olympia stage in 2023, and he sat out again in 2024, citing his physical condition and recovery. In the years since, his competitive future has remained uncertain. He has repeatedly hinted at a comeback and continued to signal his intention to return when healthy and at his best, insisting he would only step on stage again if he could bring a package worthy of his legacy. Whether or when that full-scale return materialises, his place among the sport’s champions is already secure.
Training and Physique
Big Ramy’s calling card was always size, and his training reflected it. He is known for a high-volume approach that combines machines and free weights, hammering each muscle group with substantial work to maintain his enormous frame. His back and legs in particular became the stuff of legend, with quads and hamstrings that few competitors could match.
For everyday lifters, the takeaway isn’t to copy a genetic outlier’s volume, but to appreciate the principles underneath: consistent progressive training, high-quality volume, and relentless work on weak points. The foundations of mass are the same for everyone, built on hard compound work like squats and deadlifts and sensible training volume, which we break down in our guide on how many exercises per muscle group. His legendary lower-body development also puts him in the conversation with the great leg specialists of the sport, like Tom Platz.
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How many Mr. Olympia titles has Big Ramy won?
Two, in 2020 and 2021, making him the 16th Mr. Olympia and a two-time champion.
Where is Big Ramy from?
He was born in the Kafr El Sheikh region of Egypt and developed his competitive career after moving to Kuwait, where he trained at the renowned Oxygen Gym.
Why did Big Ramy stop winning?
He lost his title at the 2022 Olympia, dropping to fifth as the field’s conditioning surpassed his. Injuries and recovery then kept him off the Olympia stage in 2023 and 2024, and his competitive status has remained uncertain since.
Is Big Ramy still competing?
As of recent years his return has been uncertain. He has repeatedly signalled his intention to come back when fully healthy, but has emphasised he will only compete if he can bring his best physique.
The Bottom Line
Big Ramy’s journey from a fisherman in Egypt to two-time Mr. Olympia is one of the great underdog stories in bodybuilding. He redefined how much size the sport could contain and dominated at his peak with a physique the world had rarely seen.
His later decline is a reminder of how quickly things change at the elite level, but it does nothing to diminish what he achieved. Whatever comes next, Mamdouh Elssbiay’s name is permanently written into the history of the Mr. Olympia.
