One of the Top IFBB Mr. Olympia Contenders Known for His Unique Crucifixion Pose
Born in 1953, Kalman Szkalak was among the best IFBB Pro who defended with top IFBB Mr. Olympia competitors like Frank Zane in 1978. Known for embracing the sports world with a competitive nature and defiant attitude from the beginning, he was quite popular for his huge frame and for beating top bodybuilders like Mike Mentzer in the 1977 competition of Mr. Universe.
Early Life of Kalman Szkalak
The life of Kalman didn’t go smoothly like a normal child. He and his family had been through a lot of trouble. And they had to flee from Bulgaria, their home country, as refugees at the time of the Hungarian Revolution. But, on the other hand, it didn’t stop him from achieving his goals and becoming one of the top bodybuilders of the golden era.
Competing as a pro bodybuilder and being popular in the golden era to becoming a competitive cyclist, Kalman is known for his uniqueness. After retiring from bodybuilding, his second love is cycling, and he has even competed across the country and won the national championships.
Kalman Szkalak’s Workout Routine
His workout routine is a bit different from regular types of workout splits. And one of such workout routine is below:
- Monday and Thursday: Chest, Back, Waist & Calves
- Tuesday and Friday: Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps, Calves & Waist
- Wednesday and Saturday: Thighs, Calves, and Waist
Kalman Szkalak’s Chest Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| BB Bench Press | 4 | 8 |
| Incline BB Bench Press | 4 | 8 |
| Decline BB Bench Press | 4 | 8 |
| Pulley Crossovers | 4 | 8 |
| DB Pullover | 4 | 8 |
Kalman Szkalak’s Back Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Chin – Ups | 4 | 10 |
| T – Bar Rowing | 4 | 8 |
| DB Rowing | 4 | 8 |
| Seated Cable Rowing | 4 | 8 |
| Behind The Neck Lat Pulldowns | 4 | 8 |
| Close Grip Pulldowns | 4 | 8 |
Kalman Szkalak’s Shoulders Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Seated Behind The Neck Press Superset W/ BB Upright Rowing | 4 | 8 |
| DB Side Laterals Superset W/ Cable Laterals | 4 | 8 |
| Bent Over Cable Rear Deltoid Laterals Superset W/ Bent Over DB Rear Lateral Raises | 4 | 8 |
Kalman Szkalak’s Thighs Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Leg Extensions | 8 | 20 – 10 |
| BB Front Squats | 5 | 20 – 15 |
| Hack Squats OR Leg Press | 6 | 15 – 10 |
| Leg Curls | 8 | 15 – 10 |
Kalman Szkalak’s Calves Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging Knee Raises | – | 200 |
| Roman Chair | – | 200 |
| Crunches | – | 200 |
Kalman Szkalak’s Biceps Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Incline Curls | 4 | 8 |
| Preacher Curls | 4 | 8 |
| Standing OR Alternate Curls | 4 | 8 |
| Machine Curls | 4 | 8 |
| DB Concentration Curls | 4 | 8 |
Kalman Szkalak’s Triceps Workout Routine
| Exercise | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Lying BB French Press | 4 | 8 |
| 1 – Arm Triceps Extensions | 4 | 8 |
| Triceps Press Down | 4 | 8 |
| Kneeling Rope Extensions | 4 | 8 |
| 1 – Arm Pressdown (Reversed Grip) | 4 | 9 |
Crucifixion – Kalman Szkalak’s Unique Pose in the Mr. Olympia
It’s needless to say that Kalman Szkalak is one of the audience’s favorites in the 200 Lbs category due to his unique Crucifixion pose. Further, the other competitor like Roy Callendar and Robby Robinson had a good show, but Kalman Crucifixion would steal the show. And his confidence and charisma were other things that wowed the viewers.
Cycling Career of Kalman Szkalak
Kalman first got into cycling due to his girlfriend’s introduction to triathlons, who beat him in three disciplines: bike, running, and swimming. Nonetheless, he realized cycling was his strong point compared to swimming and running, which caught his attention towards training for short cycling distance races.
Further, to get into cycling, he even had to lose muscles, which he managed to do. In addition, he mainly loves doing cycling as it keeps him up with the substitution of retiring from bodybuilding. Nonetheless, he loves and respects all sports, regardless of bodybuilding or cycling.
Wrapping Up – Kalman Szkalak’s Workout Routine
Being forced to move out of his home country, Kalman didn’t have an easy life. But he transformed his hardship into becoming a fearsome competitive person, which also helped him become a world champion. And if you’re questioning Kalman Szkalak’s workout routine, then here we’ve covered one. We hope you may find it helpful. Good luck!
