Michael Kefalianos (Greek: Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός), first name also spelt Michalis and Mihalis, is a Greek bodybuilder with Greek and Australian dual citizenship[1] who is an International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) professional bodybuilder.[2][3] He is widely considered to be the best Greek bodybuilder.[4][5] In 2009 at the IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix he placed fourth and became the first Greek bodybuilder to ever qualify for the Mr. Olympia competition, which is held in Las Vegas once a year in September. He has since competed in more than 35 professional bodybuilding shows, with his career highlight the 2012 Mr. Europe win in Madrid, Spain.[6]

Michael Kefalianos
Bodybuilder
Personal info
NicknameThe King of Conditioning
The Spartan
DynaMike
Born (1970-08-16) 16 August 1970 (age 54)
Lagoudi, Kos, Greece
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight110 kg (243 lb)
Professional career
Pro-debut
  • IFBB Australia Pro Grand Prix IX
  • 2009
Best win
  • IFBB Mr. Europe Pro – 1st Place
  • 2012

Life, training, and amateur career

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He was born on the island of Kos in 1971.[7][8] After compulsory Greek Army service he started bodybuilding at 20 years of age.[8] He lived in Adelaide, Australia for four years with his Greek Australian wife Helen, daughter of immigrants from Kos, and they have four children.[8] He returned to Kos with his family.[9][10] Between 1998 and 2007 Michael was a regular winner of the Mr. Aegean and Mr. Hellas competitions. He now owns Olympian Gym Kos on Kos Island Greece where he still lives and has retired from competitive bodybuilding.[8]

IFBB Pro bodybuilder

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On 22 November 2008 he came first in the International North German Championship in Hamburg and earned his IFBB pro card by defeating other bodybuilders who had already earned their IFBB pro cards.[7][11]

Participation at Mr. Olympia

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He qualified for Mr. Olympia on his IFBB pro debut at the 2009 IFBB Australia Grand Prix.[12] He participated and ranked joint 16th in the IFBB Mr. Olympia contest in September 2009 for Australia.[2][13] He participated in 2010 Mr. Olympia contest but was not placed.[9] He qualified for 2011 Mr. Olympia at the 2011 IFBB Australia Grand Prix.[14] The 2012 season started with Michael's invitation to his first Arnold Classic in Ohio, where he placed 9th. In March 2012 he placed 2nd to Branch Warren at the Australian Grand Prix and qualified for his 3rd Mr. Olympia. The highlight of his career came on 28 April 2012, in Madrid, Spain where Michael won his first professional bodybuilding competition, the 2012 Mr. Europe Pro.

Competitive history

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Amateur career

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  • 2008 International North German Championship in Hamburg – 1st[7][11]
  • 2009 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur Championships – 3rd (earned IFBB Pro card at this event)[8][13]

Pro career

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  • 2009 IFBB Australia Pro Grand Prix IX – 4th (qualified for entry to Mr. Olympia)[12][15][16]
  • 2009 IFBB New York Pro – 11th[13][15][17]
  • 2009 IFBB Mr. Olympia – joint 16th[2][3][13][15]
  • 2010 IFBB Australia Pro Grand Prix X – 4th[13][15]
  • 2010 IFBB Orlando Europa Show of Champions – 4th[13][15][18]
  • 2010 IFBB Tampa Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships – 5th[13][15]
  • 2010 IFBB Hartford Europa Battle of Champions – 4th[13][15]
  • 2010 IFBB Dallas Europa Super Show – 5th[13][15][19][20][21]
  • 2010 IFBB Mr. Europe Pro – 6th[15][22]
  • 2011 IFBB Australia Pro Grand Prix XI – 3rd (qualified for entry to Mr. Olympia)[6]
  • 2011 IFBB British Grand Prix I Open Class – 5th[23]
  • 2011 IFBB FIBO Power Pro Germany – 5th[24][25]
  • 2011 IFBB New York Pro – 6th [26]
  • 2011 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 16th
  • 2011 IFBB Sheru Classic – 7th
  • 2011 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe – 8th
  • 2012 IFBB Arnold Classic – 9th
  • 2012 IFBB Australian Grand Prix – 2nd
  • 2012 IFBB FIBO Power Pro – 2nd
  • 2012 IFBB Mr. Europe Pro – Winner
  • 2012 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 16th
  • 2012 IFBB Sheru Classic – 5th
  • 2012 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe – 8th
  • 2012 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 9th
  • 2012 IFBB Masters Olympia – 6th
  • 2013 IFBB Arnold Classic – 12th
  • 2013 IFBB Australian Grand Prix – 6th
  • 2013 IFBB FIBO Power Pro – 7th
  • 2013 IFBB Arnold Classic Brazil – 7th
  • 2013 IFBB Mr. Europe Pro – 4th
  • 2013 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe – 12th
  • 2014 IFBB Arnold Classic Brazil - 8th
  • 2014 IFBB New York Pro - 7th
  • 2014 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe - 9th
  • 2014 IFBB Fitness House Pro Russian Grand Prix - 9th
  • 2015 IFBB Arnold Classic - 13th
  • 2015 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe - 13th
  • 2015 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro - 13th
  • 2016 IFBB Levrone Pro Classic - 7th
  • 2016 IFBB BodyPower Pro UK - 3rd
  • 2016 IFBB New York Pro - 11th
  • 2016 IFBB Arnold Classic Africa - 6th
  • 2016 IFBB Arnold Classic Asia - 12th
  • 2016 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe - 15th
  • 2016 IFBB Olympia Europe - 8th
  • 2018 IFBB New York Pro - 16th
  • 2018 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro - 11th

Sponsorship history

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  • Scitec Nutrition (inactive)
  • Healthy2Day.gr (inactive)
  • Bodybuilders.gr – The Largest Greek Bodybuilding & Fitness Site On The Web.
  • MHP - Maximum Human Performance (inactive)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Body building Titans invade Melbourne
  2. ^ a b c Mr. Olympia 2009 results scorecard Archived 18 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine IFBBpro.com
  3. ^ a b 2009 Mr Olympia Competitor Michael Kefalianos Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine IFBBpro.com
  4. ^ Ανάμεσα στους κορυφαίους ο Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός Translation: "Amongst the leaders Michael Kefalianos." Archived 25 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Kalymnian's Voice, 19 July 2010.
  5. ^ Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός ο Κορυφαίος Ελληνας Bodybuilder Translation: "Michael Kefalianos the top Greek bodybuilder." Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine INews.gr, 17 June 2010.
  6. ^ a b Kefalianos Wins The 2012 Mr. Europe Pro
  7. ^ a b c Body building Titans invade Melbourne Archived 10 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine neoskosmos.com, 16 March 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e Michael Kefalianos – Bio MichaelKefalianos.com
  9. ^ a b Ανάμεσα στους κορυφαίους ο Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός Archived 25 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Kalymnian's Voice
  10. ^ Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός Ο Κορυφαίος Ελληνας Bodybuilder Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine INews.gr, 17 June 2010.
  11. ^ a b Mike Kefalianos: The Greek Beast never2big.com
  12. ^ a b 2009 Australia IFBB Grand Prix Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Australia-Bodybuilding.com
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bodybuilder Profiles, Michael Kefalianos Archived 12 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Bodybuilding.com
  14. ^ 2011 Olympia Qualifiers, IFBBpro.com
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Michael Kefalianos Bodybuilders.gr
  16. ^ 2009 Australia Pro Grand Prix Contest Results Archived 18 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine IFBBpro.com
  17. ^ 2009 New York Pro Men Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine IFBBpro.com
  18. ^ Ρίξιμο! για τον Μιχάλη Κεφαλιανό στο 2010 Europa Pro Show of Champion Translation: "What a shot! for Michael Kefalianos at 2010 Europa Pro Show of Champions" Body and Style.net, 18 April 2010.
  19. ^ Πέμπτος ο Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός στο Dallas των ΗΠΑ Translation: "Michael Kefalianos fifth at Dallas in the United States." Newsbeast.gr, 16 August 2010. (Greek)
  20. ^ Στο IFBB Dallas Pro 2010 Ο Μιχάλης Κεφαλιανός Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine AegeanNews24.gr, 14 August 2010.
  21. ^ Essa Ibrahim Obiad wins 2010 Dallas Europa eMuscleMag.com, 16 August 2010.
  22. ^ Ronny Rockel Wins Mr Europe 2010 AussieBodyBuilders.com, 12 September 2010.
  23. ^ IFBB British Grand Prix & Fitness Expo Weekend Archived 18 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine GrandPrixExpo.co.uk
  24. ^ 2011 IFBB FIBO Power Pro Germany, Essen, Germany, GMV Productions, 16 April 2011.
  25. ^ 2011 FIBO Power Pro Championships Images Archived 19 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine, IFBBpro.com
  26. ^ 2011 IFBB New York Pro Bodybuilding Championships, Bodybuilders.gr
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