There were times when Cedric McMillan felt like the upcoming Mr Olympia to many fans. Mass, hardness, line – at the latest during his victory at the Arnold Classic 2017, the American thundered an irresistible package onto the stage. Everything seemed arranged for the great triumph. But why did it never come to that?
Cedric McMillan has always been the epitome of aesthetics
Cedric’s aesthetic has always been impressive. When the 1.85 meter tall athlete received the Pro Card at the end of the 2000s, many experts and fans were curious to see whether there would be any limits for the upstart with the breathtaking line. The American reminded many of the great bodybuilders from the 80s – a real contrast to mass monsters like Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler.
Growing up as a child Cedric in rather modest circumstances. He describes himself as a family man and is still close friends with his childhood friends. The athlete, who was extraordinarily great for a professional, liked to draw and write as a teenager, and was interested in music and culture. So it’s no wonder that the American still makes a very well-read impression today.
The early success of the likeable bodybuilder shows that Cedric has a gift that is second to none. Cedric won his very first amateur competition. Overall, he dominated the competition almost at will until he switched to professional business.
The esthete also set the first exclamation marks early on with the professionals. His victory at the New York Pro in 2012 at the latest catapulted the American into the field of favorites in many subsequent shows. A podium at the Arnold Classic 2014 – the year in which a certain Dennis Wolf took overall victory… We like to remember it – the expectations of many fans continued to rise.
Cedric wins the Arnold Classic 2017
Cedric was able to deliver first. In 2016, the well-read athlete fought a thrilling head-to-head race with Kai Greene as part of the Arnold Classic. While said duel just went to Kai, Cedric finally prevailed against the competition in the following year and won the second most important event on the bodybuilding calendar.
The giant’s victory speech in particular will be remembered by many fans. Cedric was humble, honored his competitors and allowed himself some fun with a visibly impressed Arnold Schwarzenegger. The personable professional with the crazy line seemed to be about to conquer the world.
But in bodybuilding the Mr Olympia competition is known to be the ultimate yardstick. In the context of the most important competition in the world, Cedric never even managed to appear in top form. Also in 2017, after the triumph at the Arnold Classic, the giant missed a lot in Las Vegas. No more than a sad tenth place jumped out.
A slip up? Not even close! In the following year, it was only ninth, and in 2019 it was seventh. While Cedric was able to present himself in great shape every now and then, the form on the Olympic stage was unfortunately never right.
In 2017, Dallas McCarver (April 9, 1991 – August 22, 2017) and Luke Sandoe (August 3, 1988 – May 7, 2020) started in Columbus. May you rest in peace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFCm5aA6u6w
Why did Cedric fail over and over again at the Mr. Olympia?
But why? Cedric’s fans will certainly remember his admission to the hospital shortly before the Mr Olympia competition in 2015. Dehydrated and in danger of his life, the American was helped just in time – Cedric had literally tried to drain himself completely.
Whether this bad memory always resonates while the final preparations for the Mr O weekend are pending? Probably only Cedric himself can really answer this question – if at all. Perhaps the Olympic problem has something to do with his full-time job as an instructor in the US Army. Perhaps this activity demands him more in summer – the final preparation time for the competition – than at other times of the year? We can only speculate about it.
Are Cedric’s prime over?
Even if Cedric’s heyday is slowly going down in history and a future Mr O top placement of the giant would be a real surprise, the American was and is an important part of the professional scene. Several victories on the tour and often the longest line at meet-and-greet events speak for themselves in this regard.
In addition, Cedric showed that you can also play up in modern bodybuilding – his victory at the Arnold Classic definitely put him temporarily on the top shelf – without verbally hitting the plaster or subordinating his entire everyday life to sport. Because his job, the family with four children and the circle of friends were never neglected with the sympathetic American according to the statements of his companions. And who knows: maybe Cedric will thunder another amazing pact on the stage in Las Vegas after all.
Author: Nico Schmidt – Images: Matthias Busse
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i saw him at romania open which won impressive athlet rip