Larry Wheels Earns His IFBB Pro Card With Dublin Win
It’s official — Larry Wheels has completed his mission to become an IFBB Pro bodybuilder.
The American mass monster has pulled off a staggering career arc worthy of its own biopic — and now there’s going to be yet another chapter written.
From a self-described skinny teenager lifting makeshift dumbbells on a Caribbean island to breaking three world records in powerlifting, Wheels is one of the game’s most likable figures.
A decade ago, he set himself the task of becoming the strongest bodybuilder to compete in Classic Physique, and in Dublin, Ireland, he took a big leap toward realizing that goal.
Here’s how it played out.
Larry Wheels Wins Gold
Larry Wheels, born Larry Williams, traveled to Muscle Contest Ireland on May 16 with the sole aim of claiming his IFBB Pro Card.
The 30-year-old gave himself two shots at getting his hands on the coveted prize, entering both the Open and Classic Physique divisions.
“I can say hands down this is the best package I’ve ever brought to the stage,” he said.
Despite boasting a monster frame, Larry was clearly outgunned in the Open division — his first of the day — posing next to competitors with tree-trunk legs and ultra-thick muscles.
“I’m looking at that as a warm-up,” he added. “I’ve got to make a couple of adjustments like pinching my shoulder blades and my back double.
“I was a little bit too tight and not opening up on my side chest, and not flexing my hamstring far enough in the back double. So I can make all those adjustments now for Classic.
“No surprise I’m not thick enough to compete with the super heavies in Open, but that was never the intention. My goal is to be competitive in Classic.”
After finessing his form during the down period, Larry entered the Classic Physique Class D posedown with renewed confidence — shining with insane back width and long head biceps that looked ready to pop out and start their own routine.
He was awarded first place in Class D, before entering the battle for that Pro Card. Four finalists were whittled down to two, but it was Larry who would emerge victorious — realizing a decade-long dream in the process.
“Wow, I’m just flooded with dopamine at the moment,” he said during a vlog of the event.
“I really put 100% into this prep — it was brief but effective. I took home the Pro Card, and the journey it took to get here was absolutely insane. It took over 40 hours for me to reach Ireland.
“It was a mixture of long layovers, a missed flight, getting stopped at customs, and then not sleeping for the last five days out of sheer adrenaline, excitement, and fear of maybe even missing the show and all the prep going to waste.
“But I believe before you are able to reap the rewards of your hard work, oftentimes you are trialed by the universe to see if you are deserving of it — and I definitely went through some trials to get here.”
Larry wasted no time putting his Pro Card to good use, jumping into the Pro Classic Physique showdown later that evening.
“The pro debut was just a bonus,” Larry admitted. “That’s why we picked this show — just to see how I stack up against top-level guys.
“And I think it’s safe to say the lineup here is stacked. There’s multiple Olympians on stage — these guys are thicker, fuller, harder.
“It really sets the tone for if I want to continue competing in the Pro League in Classic — what I need to improve on, what I need to look like to be able to stand next to these guys in the first callouts, and potentially go to Olympia one day.”
What’s Next for Larry Wheels
As a longtime admirer of Stan Efferding — a man who also conquered the worlds of bodybuilding and powerlifting — the Pro Card clearly meant more than just a license to compete to Larry.
“It took over 12 years for me to achieve that for myself, and today is that f*cking day,” he said.
“I’ve broken three all-time world records in powerlifting, and now I have my professional card as a Classic Physique bodybuilder.”
In the wake of his incredible achievement, Larry is taking a nine-month break from the stage to make some “substantial improvements.”
For now, though, it looks like he’s rediscovered his mojo and love for training through competitive bodybuilding — and long may that continue.
Larry Wheels vs. Sam Sulek?
While some time in the lab is clearly the priority, Larry is eyeing up a posedown with fellow fitness megastar Sam Sulek next year.
The 23-year-old also scooped his Pro Card this year, finishing top of the tree in the Classic Physique Division at the 2025 Arnold Amateur event.
If the two did get on stage together, it would be a legendary moment for fans who have followed the pair on YouTube since their early days in the gym.
Sam Sulek vs. Larry Wheels in 2026? We’re absolutely here for it.
