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There’s no doubting Joe Mackey’s strength and power. First, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League Men’s Open athlete recently joined the 900-pound deadlift club. Then, after losing 20 pounds in just about a month, he still managed to deadlift 850 pounds at the 2022 Iron Wars VI.
Now, it appears that Mackey is backing off of the iron and eyeing the stage.
On June 7, 2022, Mackey shared where his physique stands through a mutual post on Battle Up Productions’ Instagram. The update shows off Mackey’s body as he prepares for the 2022 IFBB Pro League Texas Pro on August 12-13, 2022, in Irving, Texas.
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Notably, the 2022 Texas Pro winner automatically qualifies for the 2022 Mr. Olympia on December 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV. While Mackey hasn’t confirmed this year’s Mr. Olympia is his long-term goal, it likely adds more incentive for the 37-year-old athlete. Mackey has not competed in a Mr. Olympia to this point in his career.
In this regard, Mackey sits in an interesting position. The bodybuilder routinely shares videos of himself attacking a variety of arms and leg workouts on his social media. That he trains strength like this while polishing his gargantuan physique is a delicate balance to juggle.
Given Mackey’s plans for training his body, it doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for him. He confirmed as much in another recent Instagram post.
“Having a plan every time I go to the gym has been what’s kept me successful with my training and my strength and shape,” Mackey wrote. “I know exactly how many reps, drop sets, and movements I’ll do per body part.”
Mackey’s Bodybuilding Life
Mackey first burst onto the competitive bodybuilding scene when he won the 2015 Ronnie Coleman Classic as a super-heavyweight (225-plus pounds). He eventually earned his IFBB Pro League Card by finishing in second place at the 2016 National Physique Committee (NPC) Nationals. To date, through five professional competitions, Mackey’s highest-ever result is an eighth-place finish at the 2020 Tampa Pro. His most recent bodybuilding contest was the 2021 Chicago Pro, where he took home a 12th-place result.
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As a Texas native, history might even be on Mackey’s side. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman also hails from the Lone Star State, as does rising star Hunter Labrada.
Winning the 2022 Texas Pro outright would be a sizable step forward for Mackey. Whether he intends to relay a potential fantastic result to a Mr. Olympia stage might be a conversation he has after this next contest.
The 2022 IFBB Pro League Texas Pro will take place on August 12-13, 2022, in Irving, Texas.
Featured image: @jmackey33_ifbbpro on Instagram