The 2024 Arnold Classic Physique champion Wesley Vissers is diligently preparing for the 2024 Olympia in October. Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman claimed Vissers could unseat the reigning five-time Classic Physique champion, Chris Bumstead. In pursuit of this goal, Vissers invested significant effort and time into building his personal training space, coined the “Vintage Gym.”
On Aug. 18, 2024, Vissers offered a virtual tour of his meticulously designed gym, confidently stating that it’ll revolutionize his training.
[Related: 7x Mr. Olympia Phil Heath Uses the “Three T’s” For Bigger Arms]
Vissers’ Vintage Gym Setup
Vissers reveals that 10 gym80 machines were added to his Vintage Gym, which he describes as a vintage bodybuilding gym.
This will totally change the prep for this Olympia and the future competition.
Acquiring the equipment required significant planning. Vissers cut out pictures of the equipment from a gym80 magazine and spread them on the floor to help him understand how he wanted everything set up.
‘You’ve got to figure out beforehand how many square meters to add with the new floors, how many machines fit in there, and how do you configure them so they fit together as well and put them a bit in a logical order so you don’t have arms and legs and chest and back all in a chaotic manner,” said Vissers.
Wesley Vissers’ Leg Workout at the Vintage Gym
Vissers is committed to rigorous leg days 10 weeks out from the 2024 Olympia. Here’s a list of his leg exercises that he tests on his new equipment:
- Machine Seated Calf Raise
- Machine Nordic Curl
- Machine Free Squat
- Machine Leg Press
- Machine Lying Leg Curl
Machine Seated Calf Raise
Vissers begins his leg training with seated calf raises. He prepares the machine, positions himself, and adopts a neutral grip to grasp the support for enhanced stability. He prefers this machine over his previous one, noting the latter was a less reliable, cheaper model.
Vissers enjoys the sturdiness of his new machine and likes how he can move through his full range of motion without the weight plates touching the ground. Additionally, the equipment doesn’t hurt his quads because of its thick padding.
Machine Nordic Curl
Vissers describes this machine as a perfect match for his half-Norwegian heritage. Vissers performs this exercise with slow, controlled eccentrics, highlighting the importance of the stretch for muscle growth. (1)
“Normally, I would have to go crazy in a leg curl to feel half of what I’m feeling now. This is going to be a big difference,” described Vissers. “Of course, during the prep, you can build a lot of muscle, but you can maintain it better this way and get those cuts to showcase on the stage.”
Machine Free Squat
Vissers introduces his latest equipment innovation, the free squat with back support. He selected this machine for its unique advantages over traditional options like the leg press, hack squat, and conventional squat, offering more range of motion, stability, versatility, and sturdiness.
“Research says that you build more muscle in the stretch. The builder that engineered this machine thought about that. Whether you want the weight to be difficult at the top or the bottom is your choice, but I prefer the bottom to be heavier for maximum results,” said Vissers.
Machine Leg Press & Machine Lying Leg Curl
Vissers takes to the leg press machine, where he appreciates the machine’s angle and the plate’s alignment with his ankle movement. Vissers executes multiple unilateral sets on the lying leg curl, concluding his leg day.
Vissers’ Upper Body Building Machines
Vissers showcases some of the other equipment he acquired for his upper body, including:
- Chest Press Machine (has an inbuilt drop set function)
- Triceps Dip Machine
- T-Bar Row
- Preacher Curl Machine
Vissers reports an excellent workout, absent aches or pains. As he prepares for the 2024 Olympia, he eagerly incorporates leg extension and curl machines with his new equipment into his training.
Reference
- Hody, S., Croisier, J. L., Bury, T., Rogister, B., & Leprince, P. (2019). Eccentric Muscle Contractions: Risks and Benefits. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 536. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00536
Featured image: @wesleyvissers on Instagram
