Urs Kalecinski moves up to Men's Open Bodybuilding!

Popular bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski, known for his successful career in the Classic Physique category, has announced a move to the Men's Open Bodybuilding category. He shared this decision, which surprised many fans, on his social media on August 20, 2025.

Health reasons as the main motivation

According to Kalecki, the main reason for the change is health issues and the difficulty of maintaining the strict weight limit in the Classic Physique category. Kalecinski said that constantly losing weight before competitions was compromising his physical and mental health, which led to depression and anxiety. He therefore decided to prioritize his health and a long-term sustainable career.

The end of an era and a new challenge

Kalecinski was one of the absolute best in Classic Physique, as evidenced by his third place finishes at the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition from 2022-2024. He was even considered one of the top favorites to win the title in 2025 after the departure of six-time champion Chris Bumstead. However, he has instead opted for a new and tougher challenge in the Royal Men's Open.

He is aware that he will face much more competition there and will have to put on additional muscle mass to measure up to the best. However, his goal is to reach his absolute best form without the weight limit.

Kalecinski is reportedly preparing to make his debut in the Men's Open category at the ProMuscle Italy Pro, which takes place September 6-7 in Milan. There he will try to qualify for Mr. Olympia.

His decision has sparked a lively debate in the bodybuilding community. While some, like Branch Warren, believe he has the potential to place in the top 10 at Mr. Olympia, others, like Dennis Wolf, believe he will need time to gain the necessary muscle mass to be fully competitive