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After 60 years of sensational victories, shocks, upsets, and amazing competitions, the Mr. Olympia event continues to impress.
As the competitive landscape changes, we’re seeing more competitors switching divisions after becoming more frustrated with the intense weight cuts. While some are doing it for fun, others have decided to make the switch permanent. At a more natural weight, the belief is that they’ll look much better on stage without negatively impacting their health.
Following the shock retirement of Classical Sensation Chris Bumstead, many fans wondered who would be next to take the crown. German bodybuilder Urs Kalecinski, also known as ‘The Miracle Bear’, was at the top of the list. However, after he recently announced his switch to the Open Division, many wondered how he would line up against the big boys.
On September 7, 2025, Urs made his competitive Open Class debut at the Promuscle Italy Pro. It’s safe to say that his performance on the weekend didn’t go unnoticed!
Urs Kalecinski Earns 2025 Open Class Olympia Qualification In Italy Pro
On September 7, 2025, Urs Kalecinski made his Open Class debut at the Promuscle Italy Pro Event in Milan. This came only weeks after announcing a shock switch from Classic Physique after being touted as the next champ.
In a high-quality line-up, Urs took home the win, earning qualification to the 2025 Mr. Olympia Open Division. This makes him the first bodybuilder to qualify for both the Classic Physique and Men’s Open at the Olympia.
He’ll now prepare for the 2025 Mr. Olympia, which takes place on October 9–12. Whether he’ll compete in both divisions seems to be undecided.
Urs Kalecinski Earns 2025 Open Class Olympia Qualification In Sensational Promuscle Italy Pro Debut
The highly anticipated 2025 Promuscle Italy Pro event took place over the weekend in Milan, Italy, on September 7. Divisions included the Men’s Open, Women’s Bikini, and Women’s Wellness. In a high-quality Open line-up, Urs won his debut show, delivering an incredible overall package.
His win means that he’s earned his qualification to the 2025 Mr. Olympia mere days after announcing his switch. More importantly, he becomes the first bodybuilder to qualify for Classic Physique and Men’s Open in the same year. Classic Physique fans will now look forward to October 9–12, when Kalecinski will make his Open Olympia debut.
Take a look at Urs’s overall package, and it’s hard to argue against him switching to the Open Class. He brought the same conditioning that he’s become known for, but with much fuller muscle bellies.
He might not have been the biggest competitor on stage. However, his shape put him well above the pack in what was a high-quality line-up. Winning the title in Italy meant beating seasoned pros such as Quinton Eriya and Sergio Oliva Jr.
Even six-time Classic champ Chris Bumstead praised Urs following his victory in Milan.
“đŸ¤¯ (I’m not surprised but still)”
Chris Bumstead
Before we discuss what this might mean for the future of the Classic Division, here are the full Musclepro Italy Pro results.
2025 Promuscle Italy Pro Full Breakdown
These are the full results from the 2025 Promuscle Italy Pro. Check out the full breakdown alongside the official IFBB event scorecards.
2025 Promuscle Italy Pro Overall Division Winners
- Men’s Open — Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
- Women’s Bikini — Patrizia Vaccaro (Italy)
- Women’s Wellness — Pamela Rodrigues De Paula (Brazil)
2025 Promuscle Italy Pro Division Breakdown
Open Bodybuilding
| Place | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Urs Kalecinski (Germany) |
| 2 | Quinton Eriya (Canada) |
| 3 | Marc Hector (UK) |
| 4 | Sergio Oliva Jr. (USA) |
| 5 | Lewis Breed (UK) |
| 6 | Matthias Hollweck (Germany) |
| 7 | Theo Leguerrier (France) |
| 8 | Roberto Buonomo (Italy) |
| 9 | Tim Budesheim (Germany) |
| 10 | Emir Omeragic (Germany) |
Women’s Bikini
| Place | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Patrizia Vaccaro (Italy) |
| 2 | Kerry Sexton (UK) |
| 3 | Sara Punzetti (Italy) |
| 4 | Rani Stamatiadou (Greece) |
| 5 | Elisabet Vang (Sweeden) |
| 6 | Irina Magdieva (Italy) |
| 7 | Celina Hahn (Germany) |
| 8 | Nathalia Allende (Brazil) |
| 9 | Ornella Angileri (Italy) |
| 10 | Henrieta Skupekova (Slovakia) |
Women’s Wellness
| Place | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pamela Rodrigues De Paula (Brazil) |
| 2 | Valeria Bodanese (Brazil) |
| 3 | Klaudia Vanessza Csuri (Hungary) |
| 4 | Carlotta Tonelli (Italy) |
| 5 | Priscila Agudelo (Colombia) |
| 6 | Greta Valentini (Italy) |
| 7 | Isabelle Aguiar (Brazil) |
| 8 | Francisca Rivaud (France) |
| 9 | Sarah Milic (Slovenia) |
| 10 | Chiara Moroni (Italy) |
2025 Promuscle Italy Pro Official Scorecards
Men’s Open Bodybuilding
Women’s Bikini
Women’s Wellness
What Does This Mean For The Future Of The Classic Division?
Urs Kalecinski’s recent win in Milan clearly has significant implications for his career trajectory. He’s earned qualification for the Mr. Olympia, highly regarded as the hardest bodybuilding competition in the world. However, it also has implications for the Classic Division as a whole.
Kalecinski has long been a standout competitor in the Classic Division. He won the 2021 Tampa Pro and earned qualification for his first Olympia. Even as a clear underdog, he came forth, competing against Classic veterans such as Chris Bumstead and Breon Ansley.
In 2023, he followed this up by finishing third at the 2022 Arnold Classic behind Ramon Dino and winner Terrence Ruffin. In the following years, he cemented his place in the top three at every event he competed in. This meant that many saw him as the future Classic champion.
Urs switching to the Open means that the Classic Division loses a top contender. This is especially worrying after the retirement of Chris Bumstead. While a high-class field remains, other notable athletes have voiced their intentions to switch.
His win in Milan opens the door for other long-term Classic competitors such as Terrance Ruffin and Breon Ansley to take the Olympia title. While Ramon Dino will also be competing, he’s already said that he’ll switch to the Open eventually.
Classic Physique has always been about old school classical lines and a healthier physique. Many, including myself, still believe that the Classic Division is the future of the sport. However, Chris’s retirement alongside Urs’s win is slimming out the division.
Kalecinski’s move to the Open Class and his win in Milan underscore a growing trend. Many classical athletes are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the strict division weight limits. Most say that it’s unsustainable, especially if they’re looking to grow and bring their best physique to the stage.
His win could trigger more athletes to move divisions or force the IFBB Pro League to change the weight cap. While unlikely, something needs to be done if they are to retain many of their top athletes.
His success in the Italy Pro shows that the Classic Division can be used as a launchpad to the Open. Before this year, many thought that it would be impossible to make such a huge switch. However, with much bigger rewards and recognition, who can blame him?
Will more athletes make the switch to the Open Class, or will they maintain their focus on an old-school physique? Will the IFBB make changes in terms of competition rules or prize money in order to stop the switches? As we approach the 2025 Mr. Olympia, only time will tell!
Frequently Asked Questions
While the standard of competition in the Italy Pro was high, the Olympia represents a huge step up. Winning an IFBB Pro qualifier puts Urs in a position to be a potential top ten Olympia competitor.
When looking at the footage from the show, Urs definitely deserved the Open win. His incredible blend of muscle mass, shape, and conditions was undeniable. All three judges gave him the outright win on the scorecards.
The fact that Urs was able to win an open show sets an interesting precedent. Future Classic star Ramon Dino has already said he intends to switch. Dutch icon Wessley Vissers has also said he’ll do a show.
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