Erin Banks to Brandon Hendrickson: "He's been crying all year."

This year the Men's Physique category is boiling! New champion Erin Banks weighs in on the dethroned Hendrickson and explains why he took a risk and lost to Kyron Holden at the Legion Sports Fest Pro 2023. Former champion Jeremy Buendia is also back in the mix, he's had a big break from competing and is looking to show his best again, so we have a lot to look forward to!

Banks talked about how he's trying to revive the category and why he lost out on finishing second.

"I wanted to expand my division. Again, I helped raise a lot of money for this show when I teamed up with Chris and Christian Guzman and of course I challenged all the top 10, 15 people to be on this show."

"He got 20 grand, but I'm going to raise the 60 grand," Erin Banks said. "He's definitely not (going to beat me) anymore. I'm bringing something completely different than four weeks ago."

As for Brandon Hendrickson, Banks said he never accepted defeat at the 2022 Olympics and said he "cried all year."

"You thought he beat me last year (Brandon Hendrickson) Absolutely not, he didn't. He cried all year. Ask him. Next question," Banks said.

"I don't know what he's talking about, I didn't say anything about it," Hendrickson replied. " It's not easy, but I've been there. I'm the only Men's Physique Olympia competitor who has been in these waters and who has lost the title not once, but twice, and won it back. I've never lost in Orlando and I plan on regaining it this weekend." added Brandon

Holden, who prevented Banks from winning gold four weeks ago in Reno, Nevada, has stepped in and said he wants to keep the positive energy going.

"Definitely. I'd like to build on what Jeremy said, purpose without a shadow of a doubt, I'm here to fulfill my purpose," Kyron Holden said. "I want to be that example that you can do it with a different kind of energy. I like to spread love, I like to spread harmony and I like to spread joy. And that's what I do. That's what I've been saying all along, and I'm going to complete this mission on Saturday."

Finally, Jeremy Buendia talked about his journey back to Olympia since his last competition four years ago.

"I was only 26 when I lost the Olympia title and I was still trying to figure out my role, my life and my purpose. After losing the title, I lost direction for a while, made some bad decisions and got caught in a loop for a while. I was in a kind of crisis or hole for a couple of years and it was very hard for me to get out of it."

"Physically, I was dealing with injuries, but also the mental aspects, trying to be a better person."

"Going through this preparation for the last nine months, it was a series of obstacles and a mental challenge because at the beginning of this preparation I didn't believe I could do it. Physically, my body has been through a lot. Mentally, I was not doing well and everyone told me that I had outgrown the division."

Source: fitnessvolt.com