The Item: Career Updates, Special Appearances, Contest Preparation, Andrew Oye's IFBB Pro Athletes Roundup
The Scoop: Just Reported: Over the weekend, IFBB Pro Branch Warren suffered an injury that has pulled him from contention for the upcoming 2011 Mr. Olympia contest next month (September 16). Known for his massive leg development, the 5'7", 275-pound athlete sometimes referred to as "Quadrasaurus" reportedly tore his left quadriceps tendon when he slipped while in Atlanta, Georgia, for a guest-posing appearance. Warren had surgery to repair the injury on Monday.
The "So What?": As reported in "Andrew Oye's Pro-Muscle Report," Branch Warren has enjoyed a strong season, thus far, on the bodybuilding contest circuit of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. In March, Warren kicked off the 2011 season by winning the Arnold Sports Festival's IFBB Pro Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Bodybuilding Championships in Columbus, Ohio (defeating IFBB Pro Dennis Wolf, IFBB Pro Victor Martinez and IFBB Pro Evan Centopani). Then Warren won the IFBB British Grand Prix Championships in May (defeating IFBB Pro Roelly Winklaar, Powerlifter IFBB Pro Johnnie Jackson and IFBB Pro Ronny Rockel). The NPC Branch Warren Classic Bodybuilding Championships was held in July in Texas (where IFBB Pro Flex Lewis guest-posed).
Among other locations, Warren has made numerous guest appearances in
Mexico, Dallas, and Tennessee, where the 36-year-old said, "I get to
travel the world and live out my dreams." This quad injury dashes his
dreams of battling MUSCLE INK Magazine cover athlete and 4-time Mr.
Olympia IFBB Pro Jay Cutler, as well as top-contender IFBB Pro Phil
Heath, for the 2011 Olympia title and Sandow trophy at the "Super Bowl
of bodybuilding." Yet, he and his wife IFBB Pro Trish Warren have made
their marks on the Arnold Classic -- Trish was the 3rd place finisher at
the 2011 Ms. Fitness International, and Branch has been a 5-time Top 5
finisher in Open Division bodybuilding invitational contest, as well as a
recurring winner of the "Most Muscular Award."
Andrew Oye's Verdict: While 6-time Mr. Olympia IFBB Pro Dorian Yates recently praised the Texan's work ethic, that non-stop work mode may have caused Branch Warren (by accident, of course) to injure his best physical feature -- his monstrous, tree-trunk wheels. The nickname of "Quadrasaurus" is a variation of the aliases of other athletes with well built legs, such as "Quadzilla" IFBB Pro Paul DeMayo and "Quadfather" IFBB Pro Tom Platz. Now unable to capitalize on his 2nd and 3rd place finishes at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend in 2009 and 2010, respectively, Warren leaves a prime spot open for the likes of IFBB Pro League athletes Dexter Jackson, Ronny Rockel, Dennis Wolf, Toney Freeman, and other top-tier physiques.
<< Back to
Pro-Muscle
Report Home ,
Pro-Muscle
Report Index