Michal "Križo" Križánek is the new IFBB Pro!!

The Olympia Amateur Italy 2022 amateur competition took place yesterday in Rome, Italy, and was one of Jim Manion's opportunities to compete for pro status in the IFBB Professional League.

Although there are many competitions of this kind, this one was the most anticipated not only for Slovak but also for Czech fans. On its stage, the Slovak giant Michal "Križo" Križánek, who only recently joined the NPC federation as an absolute star of the competitive IFBB Elite Pro federation, was also fighting for the opportunity to become a pro.

In the aforementioned IFBB Elite Pro, the 32-year-old has scored a total of fourteen triumphs, including four victories at the Arnold Classic Europe, one at the Arnold Classic Africa, and also two at the World Championships of this federation !

Michal started his stellar career in 2017, when he literally appeared as a phantom at the Extrifit Slovakia Cup at the age of 26. He dominated the competition with absolute ease. His second competitive start, which took place at the AMIX Patriot Cup 2017, also turned into a triumph.

He then went on to compete in the IFBB Diamond Cup Ostrava, where he fought for a transfer to Jim Manion's IFBB Professional League, and "Križo" was the hot favourite to win IFBB Pro status. Here, however, in the category over 100 kg he came up against the also great Blessing Awodibu, who dominated this competition and headed to the "big boys".

In the 2018 season Michal scored another triumph, at the EVLS Prague Amateur. At this time, however, there were very fundamental changes, when the IFBB International Federation, run by Dr. Rafael Santonja, ended its cooperation with Jim Manion's IFBB Professional League.

Manion reacted to this by founding his own international amateur federation, NPC Worldwide, while Santonja created the concept of a professional federation, IFBB Elite Pro. And it was the offer to move to this federation that Michal received. He did not hesitate for a moment, and for several long years he literally became its icon!

Michal Krizanek's results so far:

This summer, another turning point in Michal's career came when he headed to the competitive NPC with the goal of standing on the podium of the most prestigious bodybuilding competition in the world, Mr. Olympia!

The only thing standing in the way of his goal was "only" winning one of the qualifying competitions. However, many fans took this fact as a formality, and few doubted "Kriz's" success.
Michal chose the Olympia Amateur Italy 2022 competition, mentioned in the introduction, which took place yesterday, Saturday, October 8, to move among the "big boys".

Michal competed in the men's bodybuilding category over 102 kg, in which only four other competitors posed next to him. And it should be noted that compared to the Slovakian giant, most of them looked like "conditioners" only!

There was no doubt that Michal would dominate his category. He did, and headed to the battle for the overall winner, where next to him stood the winners of the other weight categories, i.e. up to 65, up to 70, up to 80, up to 90 and up to 102 kilograms.

Here his biggest rival was the winner of the second highest weight category, Harry Lehner. However, he could only offer a little more detail, especially in the abdominal area, otherwise he was losing in all respects to his more massive opponent.

Michal was massive, well prepared, symmetrical, balanced, and moreover, he was able to work on his back area again, which had been considered his only significant weakness so far.

The 32-year-old not only took home an absolute victory from Italy, but also a new IFBB Pro status!

As already mentioned, there was little doubt about his transfer! Fans were convinced that it was only a matter of time before "Križo" would stand next to other massive monsters on the stage of some of Jim Manion's IFBB Professional League competitions.

He was written about extensively after he visited the sought after and respected trainer Milos Sarchev. He was literally impressed with Michal at the time, stating that he believes "Križo" will pose a very serious threat to many, and if he improves his back, he even sees him as a future top contender for the Mr. Olympia title!

First of all, the pictures and videos don't capture the real look - I promise you that. Michal, when you see him in person, looks much more impressive. The sheer size and quality of his muscles can really be appreciated with the naked eye - when you see him in person. Keep in mind that he travels, doesn't eat, doesn't take supplements - He is 100% committed to impacting our federation...and that's why he signed up. He had no competition in the Elite Pro, so he didn't have to push the limits...but now he will stand on the podium among the best of the best!

Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler agreed with Sarchev after meeting "Kriz" and predicted that the Slovakian talent will be very dangerous if he makes it to the Mr. Olympia 2022 stage!
The four-time Mr. Olympia titleholder outlined some similarities between Krizanek and seven-time Olympia winner Phil Heath, as both have muscle fibers that are rarely seen today!

When will Michal appear on stage among the "big boys"? Most hope it could be today at the Tsunami Pro Cup Italy 2022, where our Milan Šádek and Honza Turek are also competing!

Michal himself, however, has already let it be known that it will be "only" in Prague at the EVLS Prague Pro 2022. This biggest and most prestigious event of the old continent will take place on 29 October at the Hilton Hotel.

And what do some of his new colleagues have to say about the new pro?

William Bonac - "Congratulations bro. Now we're on to the next challenge!"
Antoine Vaillant - "Welcome, big guy! Congratulations!"
Pavel Beran - "Now the real fun begins...Congratulations again!"

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