Who is Mohamed Makkawy?
The Egyptian-born bodybuilder Mohamed El Makkawy (also known as Mohamed Makkawy) is regarded as one of the best of all time.
Short Career of Mohamed Makkawy
Mohamed Makkawy is the IFBB legend, who is 5’3″, and is arguably the most underappreciated athlete in the business. But Lee Haney, who Mohamed defeated five out of eight times, holds him in the same regard as Franco Columbu and Frank Zane.
Mohamed had a very successful career, winning many events and being awarded Egypt’s highest athletic honor. He has solidified his status as a pioneer in his field and a national hero.
Body Measurements of Mohamed Makkawy
| Full Name: | Mohamed El Makkawy |
| YEAR OF BIRTH: | 1953 |
| WEIGHT: | 155-165 lbs (70.3 – 74.8kg) |
| PROFESSION: | Professional Bodybuilder |
| NATIONALITY: | Egyptian |
| HEIGHT: | 5’3″ (160cm) |
Accomplishments
- 1999 IFBB Night Of The Champions – 19th
- 1997 IFBB Night Of The Champions – 16th
- 1997 IFBB Canada Pro – 19th
- 1997 IFBB Toronto Pro – 19th
- 1985 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 4th
- 1984 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 2nd
- 1983 IFBB Grand Prix Las Vegas – 8th
- 1983 IFBB Grand Prix England – 1st
- 1983 IFBB Grand Prix World – 1st
- 1983 IFBB Grand Prix Sweden – 1st
- 1983 IFBB Grand Prix Switzerland – 1st
- 1983 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 2nd
- 1983 IFBB World Pro – 1st
- 1982 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 7th
- 1982 IFBB Night Of The Champions – 4th
- 1982 IFBB World Pro – 4th
- 1982 IFBB Grand Prix Belgium – 1st
- 1982 IFBB Grand Prix Sweden – 1st
- 1981 IFBB Grand Prix Canada – 10th
- 1981 IFBB Grand Prix England – 8th
- 1981 IFBB Grand Prix Belgium – 10th
- 1981 IFBB Grand Prix Wales – 8th
- 1980 IFBB Night Of The Champions – 8th
- 1980 IFBB Canada Pro – 9th
- 1980 IFBB World Pro – 5th
- 1979 IFBB Canada Diamond Pro Cup – 8th
- 1979 IFBB Grand Prix Pennsylvania – NP
- 1979 IFBB Grand Prix Vancouver – NP
- 1978 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 6th
- 1978 IFBB Pro World – 7th
- 1978 IFBB USA Vs. The World – 4th
- 1977 IFBB Mr. International – 1st
- 1977 IFBB Mr. Universe, Lightweight – 2nd
- 1976 IFBB Mr. Universe, Short Class – 1st
- 1975 IFBB Mr. International – 1st
- 1974 IFBB Mediterranean Championship – 2nd
- 1972 IFBB Mediterranean Championship – 3rd
- 1969 Junior Powerlifting Championship, Egypt – 1st
Biography
Young Years
Mohamed Makkawy, who was born in Egypt, the country of the pharaohs, started weightlifting in 1976 when he was 14 years old and quickly developed a passion for exercise.
His initial goal in the gym was to build up his strength, but before long, he was making significant strides.
Where his devotion might lead him began to intrigue Mohamed. The inherently competitive Egyptian decided to train for a powerlifting competition.
Champion of Powerlifting
Mohamed’s rigorous training had paid off by the time he was 16 years old in 1969, and he was prepared to participate.
After completing a 135 kg clean and 110 kg snatch, he left his debut competition as the new Junior Middleweight Powerlifting Champion of Egypt.
He didn’t, however, find much fulfillment in the strength sport.
Following in the footsteps of celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mohamed set out to create the body of his dreams. He started his path into bodybuilding at this moment.
Bodybuilding
To achieve his goals, the future IFBB Pro upped his game during the following three years, and he soon had a commanding physique. Mohamed entered the IFBB Mediterranean Championship, his first bodybuilding competition, in 1972.
Despite not coming in first, he finished third and learned a lot about the sport. He was now more determined than ever to bring home his first trophy.
Card Pro
Mohamed Makkawy made major physical changes between 1972 and 1976. He excelled in every contest in which he participated, earning a reputation for his flawless symmetry.
He won the 1975 Mr. International and 1976 Mr. Universe competitions during this time, as well as taking third place in the 1974 Mediterranean Championship. Mohamed finally accomplished the goal he had set for himself at the beginning of his quest a year earlier.
His dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder came true in 1977 after winning his Pro Card in the Mr. Universe competition. But this was only the start.
Mohamed receives congratulations from Lee Haney after taking home the 1983 English Grand Prix trophy.
Getting Popular
After experiencing success in 1977, Mohamed decided to travel to America to pursue further success. Mohamed participated in 13 more competitions over the following 5 years, acquiring more experience and gaining notoriety for his amazing physique.
He managed to finish in the top three in every competition, but his best years as a competitor were between 1982 and 1983 when he won six awards and defeated competitors like Lee Haney.
Mohamed became one of the best bodybuilders in the world at the age of 30 in 1983 as a result of his winning streak.
Individual Training
Although Mohamed had achieved enormous success in his prime, the sport transformed over the last 16 years of his career, and the judges started to rank his remarkable symmetry below the new breed of bodybuilders who focused on size.
At the 1999 IFBB Night Of The Champions, Mohamed took the stage for the last time, refusing to sacrifice appearance for bulk.
The Egyptians decided to take a different direction at the age of 46 after creating a legacy throughout a 27-year career.
He started coaching a new group of bodybuilders, using his enormous knowledge to assist others to realize their own goals.
Training
Mohamed adhered to a rigorous training schedule to get his ideal body. He typically performed 5 sets of 8 to 25 reps. He worked out six days a week, each session concentrating on a different muscle area.
Workout Routine
Chest:
- Flat bench press (to the neck): 5 x 8
- 20° Bench press (to the neck): 5 x 8
- Incline bench press 40°: 5 x 8
- Bent arm pullover: 5 x 8
- Wide grip “Gironda” dips: 5 x 8
- Straight arm pullover: 5 x 10
- Back
- High bench rowing: 5 x 8
- Pullups to waist: 5 x 8
- Wide grip chins behind neck: 5 x 8
- Wide grip pulldowns to chest: 5 x 8
Legs:
- Hack squat: 5 x 8
- Seated pulley leg squeeze: 5 x 10
- Thigh curl: 5 x 10
- Thigh extension: 5 x 8
- Roman chair: 5 x 10
- Flat thigh extensions: 5 x 8
- Seated calf raise: 5 x 15
- Standing calf raise: 5 x 15
Abdominals:
- Lying leg raise: 5 x 15 to 25
- Hanging leg raise: 5 x 15 to 25
- Hanging knee–in 5 x 15 to 25
- Bent knee situps: 5 x 15 to 25
- Twisting situps: 5 x 15 to 25
- Cross ankle crunches: 5 x 15 to 25
Shoulders:
- Wide grip rows: 5 x 8
- 45° lateral raise: 5 x 8
- Kneeling cable raise: 5 x 8
- Bent over cable raise: 5 x 8
- Lateral raise: 5 x 8
- Cable lateral raise: 5 x 8
Biceps
- Incline dumbbell curl: 5 x 8
- EZ Bar curls: 5 x 8
- Cable short-range seated curls: 5 x 10
Triceps
- Parallel bar dips: 5 x 8
- Bent over triceps kickbacks: 5 x 8
- Triceps rope pulls: 5 x 8
Nutrition
Mohamed Makkawy is well-known for adhering to strict nutrition plans before competing. To prepare for a performance, he exclusively ate chicken, fish, or other meats without any carbohydrates.
Mohamed completely stopped eating as the show drew near and began supplementing his diet with amino acids and liver pills.
He would, however, be at his most vicious the final week before a performance, going without meals and subsisting solely on amino acids and liver supplements to reach top performance.
Diet Plan and Supplements
Mohamed’s diet plan would look something like this:
- Meal 1 – Chicken
- Meal 2 – Amino Acids and Liver Tablets
- Meal 3 – Fish
- Meal 4 – Amino Acids and Liver Tablets
- Meal 5 – Any Meat
Influences and Idols
Many modern-day celebrities draw inspiration from Mohamed. But he credits both of his trainers, Vince Gironda and Bob Kennedy, with pushing him in that direction.
What lessons Can We Take Away From Mohamed Mokkawy?
We have learned from Mohamed Makkawy to always pursue our dreams. He got his start as a junior in Egypt and left the sport as a legend.
Mohamed taught us that sometimes you have to give up things to succeed; for example, he would go without eating for the final week before a competition to get in the greatest shape possible.
This degree of tenacity and dedication is what elevated him to the status of a bodybuilding icon.