Empro Classic | 2023

   The moment after it happens, it will be a memory forever. For those who were not there, the only way to find out what happened is to listen to the story told by those who enjoyed the moment. The story will depend on the experience lived by each person. It will be different for competitors, coaches, judges, journalists, even for each person in the audience. This is my story behind the images of “EMPRO CLASSIC 2023”.

   Two competitions are held on the EMPRO CLASSIC weekend. Saturday is for amateur athletes and a Professional Show takes place on Sunday. The event has become a point of reference in Europe. More and more competitors move to Alicante to take another step on the road to their goals.

Both days the participants have great incentives to get on the stage. On Saturday the competitors want to get a “Pro Card“, which allows them to compete in the “IFBB Professional League“. On Sunday, at the pro show, the winner gets an invite to compete at the “Olympia” in Orlando.
EMPRO CLASSIC is completely linked to its creator, the promoter Emilio Martínez. His experience as a bodybuilder, competitor, promoter and businessman, transmits a personal character to this competition. Even though it is held in the same place as other events on the annual calendar, it takes on a totally genuine character. The excellent attention to the athlete and the spectacle offered to the public are difficult to replicate.

On Friday, when registration for the amateur event ends, the professionals begin to arrive. Some competitors decide to show their physique, as a notice to other competitors or as a gift to their followers.

   Registration seems simple, but it is the result of years of experience and a team of passionate people. Athletes receive their number, accreditation and certificate of participation. They go on stage with the rest of their category and show their weapons for Sunday. Then they book makeup, hairdressing, tanning and photography services. Salou TV already begins its informative work with the first interviews.

   The pro competitors won’t step on stage until Sunday, but social media immediately begins discussing who will take the ring and invite to the Olympia.

EMPRO CLASSIC PRO QUALIFIER

   The athletes of the amateur event can feel like professionals for a day. Emilio Martínez has raised the level of amateur competitions so much that there are almost no differences. They enjoy the same services, facilities and, of course, the stage that professional league athletes will step on.

Let the images tell the story of the EMPRO Classic, without forgetting that not all the protagonists are there, but all those who were captured in the photographs were protagonists.

   The activity starts early in the Tanning room. Cristina Chatti organizing the athletes. It depends on your work that everything develops without interruptions, guaranteeing the fluidity of the event

The public crosses the commercial area to access the “Gran Hall”. The competitors wait in the backstage. They warm up and receive the latest advice from the trainers.

– Men’s Classic Physique Novice –
– Men’s Classic Physique Novice –
– Men’s Classic Physique Masters + 35 –
– Men’s Classic Physique Masters + 35 –
– Jimmy Melinand, Men’s Classic Physique Junior –
– Jimmy Melinand, Men’s Classic Physique Junior –
– Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Sergiu Pavlenco, Raúl Rodas Muñoz –
– Sergiu Pavlenco, Raúl Rodas Muñoz –
– Jose Luis Castaño Rodriguez –
– Jose Luis Castaño Rodriguez –
– Sergiu Pavlenco, Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Sergiu Pavlenco, Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Men’s Classic Physique Open Class D –
– Men’s Classic Physique Open Class D –
– Overall Men’s Classic Physique –
– Overall Men’s Classic Physique –
– Victor Toledo Pardo, Overall Men’s Classic Physique –
– Victor Toledo Pardo, Overall Men’s Classic Physique –
– Victor Toledo Pardo –
– Victor Toledo Pardo –
– Sergiu Pavlenco, Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Sergiu Pavlenco, Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B –
– Victor Toledo Pardo –
– Victor Toledo Pardo –
– Nicolas Cantemir Sacristan –
– Nicolas Cantemir Sacristan –
– Nicolas Cantemir Sacristan, Men’s Bodybuilding Masters + 60 –
– Nicolas Cantemir Sacristan, Men’s Bodybuilding Masters + 60 –
– Men’s Bodybuilding Open Heavyweight –
– Men’s Bodybuilding Open Heavyweight –
– Men’s Bodybuilding Open Super Heavyweight –
– Men’s Bodybuilding Open Super Heavyweight –
– Pinto Canhao –
– Pinto Canhao –
– Men’s Bodybuilding Open Heavyweight –
– Men’s Bodybuilding Open Heavyweight –
– Julian Galarzo –
– Julian Galarzo –
– Julian Galarzo, Men’s Bodybuilding Open Super Heavyweight –
– Julian Galarzo, Men’s Bodybuilding Open Super Heavyweight –
– Héctor Defez, Vicent Just Ferrer –
– Miguel Angustia –
– Posedown Men’s Bodybuilding –
– Emilio Martínez, Miguel Angustia, Mike Thijsen –
– Women’s Figure Novice –
– Women’s Figure Novice –
– Dayner Marshall –
– Dayner Marshall –
– Women’s Figure Masters + 35 –
– Women’s Figure Masters + 35 –
– Women’s Figure Open Class A –
– Women’s Figure Open Class A –
– Becky Clawson, Emilio Martínez –
– Becky Clawson, Emilio Martínez –
– Jenny Kurth, Women’s Figure –
– Jenny Kurth, Women’s Figure –
– Kitti Egri –
– Kitti Egri –
– Women’s Wellness Open Class A –
– Women’s Wellness Open Class A –
– Emilio Martínez –
– Emilio Martínez –
– Women’s Wellness Open Class A –
– Women’s Wellness Open Class A –
– Men’s Physique Open Class F –
– Men’s Physique Open Class F –
– Men’s Physique Masters + 35 –
– Men’s Physique Masters + 35 –
– Men’s Physique Open Class D –
– Men’s Physique Open Class D –
– Men’s Physique Masters + 35 –
– Men’s Physique Masters + 35 –
– Men’s Physique Open Class E –
– Men’s Physique Open Class E –
– Men’s Physique Open Class B –
– Men’s Physique Open Class B –
– Alessio Sbizzera –
– Alessio Sbizzera –
– Lyndonn Escudero, Men’s Physique Open Class C –
– Lyndonn Escudero, Men’s Physique Open Class C –
– Assane Dieye Sosso, Overall de Men’s Physique –
– Assane Dieye Sosso, Overall de Men’s Physique –
– Hugo Fragua, Men’s Physique Open Class B –
– Hugo Fragua, Men’s Physique Open Class B –
– Alessio Sbizzera –
– Alessio Sbizzera –
– Alessio Sbizzera –
– Alessio Sbizzera –
– Melanie Navarro Garcia –
– Melanie Navarro Garcia –
– Women’s Bikini Open Class D –
– Women’s Bikini Open Class D –
– Donna Molinari –
– Donna Molinari –
– Women’s Bikini Overall –
– Women’s Bikini Overall –
– Vanessa Silva –
– Vanessa Silva –
– Giulia Bianchi –
– Giulia Bianchi –
– Giulia Bianchi, Becky Clawson, Emilio Martínez –
– Giulia Bianchi, Becky Clawson, Emilio Martínez –

   The EMPRO CLASSIC Amateur ends and the machinery to prepare the professional Show starts immediately, which will begin in a few hours and promises to be even more spectacular.

EMPRO CLASSIC PRO

   The day of the EMPRO PRO SHOW begins and we can see differences with the amateur event. The most obvious is the incredible expectation that this event has created, which is reflected in the full crowd. Hours before the doors open, there are hundreds of fans outside who have been lucky to get a ticket. The endless line of people runs even outside the VB Spaces. It is difficult to see a bodybuilding event today that motivates such a large mass of enthusiasts, but Emilio Martínez knows perfectly the ingredients that he need to cook a show that attracts both, competitors and his followers.

While the number of fans is increasing abroad, even the smallest detail is being revised inside. The team performs multiple tasks that the public never sees, but which are essential for each event to be more spectacular, without losing professionalism. A competition of this type begins to prepare months in advance, but the slightest mistake can lower an ever higher quality standard. Emilio Martínez always transforms his plans into reality, making the event an unrepeatable experience.

– El público espera la apertura de las puertas –
– Donde ayer descansaban las tarjetas “Pro Card” hoy lucen las invitaciones para el Olympia de Orlando –
– El equipo que controlará el Backstage y la subida a la tarima repasa sus notas –
– Segis aparece de los primeros en la mesa de jueces –
– Los jueces van tomando posiciones –
– David Catena comprueba el sonido –
– Women’s Physique –
– Women’s Physique –
– Hayley Brylewski –
– Hayley Brylewski –
– Uta Koehler-Spitzbart –
– Uta Koehler-Spitzbart –
– Yaiza Miranda Gonzalez –
– Yaiza Miranda Gonzalez –
– Women´s Physique –
– Women´s Physique –
– Birgit Andersch –
– Birgit Andersch –
– Ruth Petizco –
– Ruth Petizco –
– Katia Hermes –
– Katia Hermes –
– Ruth Petizco –
– Ruth Petizco –

   The Men’s Bodybuilding category has ten professional competitors of different nationalities (Spain, Brazil, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovakia). In the previous weeks, social networks and specialized media generated a large amount of content around the possible winner of the EMPRO PRO SHOW. However, once they go on stage, the training system used does not influence, the diet followed does not score, the controversies, the number of followers or the desire to go to the Olympia are not valued. It is time to show that you are the best here and now.

Only what happens in the few minutes they spend in front of the judges counts. The past disappears, the future is uncertain and only the present moment exists, this moment in this place. It’s part of the magic of competitive bodybuilding.

What begins to be lived in the VB Spaces is absolutely impossible to tell with words or images. When a mass of people vibrates together in such a way, the environment is charged with an energy that makes it difficult to control emotions. The music shakes the ground and fills the fans with euphoria. The public cheer on the athletes as if it were an epic battle. The professionals are making their presentations showing the result of the hard work done, but knowing that the invitation to the Olympia can only be won here and now, in these moments that will remain in the memory.

– Jorge Zamorano –
– Jorge Zamorano –
– Jorge Zamorano –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Andrea Presti –
– Andrea Presti –
– Emir Omeragic –
– Emir Omeragic –
– Petar Klancir –
– Petar Klancir –
– Andrea Presti –
– Andrea Presti –
– Joan Pradells –
– Joan Pradells –
– Jose Manuel Muñoz –
– Jose Manuel Muñoz –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Wellington Fernando Baptista –
– Wellington Fernando Baptista –
– Joan Pradells –
– Joan Pradells –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Michal Križo Križánek –

   The morning ends and the predictions begin in the minds of all the fans. The interval until the finals is a good time to recharge your batteries, visit the shopping area, discuss what you have experienced and even get a haircut to the beat of a DJ.

In the Backstage the athletes prepare for the finals.

– Women´s Physique –
– Women´s Physique –
– Sanna Nupponen –
– Sanna Nupponen –
– Romana Skotzen –
– Romana Skotzen –
– Uta Koehler-Spitzbart –
– Uta Koehler-Spitzbart –
– Figure –
– Figure –
– Lucas Alexander Guido –
– Classic Physique –
– Germán Pastor Cueto –
– David Martínez Campos –
– Classic Physique –
– Germán Pastor Cueto, Classic Physique –
– Ruth Petizco –
– Ruth Petizco –
– Wellness –
– Wellness –
– Leonida Ciobu –
– Leonida Ciobu –
– Wellness –
– Wellness –
– Leonida Ciobu, Emilio Martínez –
– Leonida Ciobu, Emilio Martínez –
– Ivi Escandar, Bikini –
– Ivi Escandar, Bikini –
– Petar Klancir –
– Petar Klancir –
– Roman Fritz –
– Roman Fritz –
– Joan Pradells –
– Joan Pradells –
– Jorge Zamorano –
– Jorge Zamorano –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Michal Križo Križánek –
– Andrea Presti –
– Andrea Presti –
– Michal Križo, Andrea Presti, Krystian Wolski –

The professional athletes step down from the stage and walk among an excited crowd.

– Michal Križo Križánek, Men´s Bodybuilding –
– Michal Križo Križánek, Men´s Bodybuilding –

   The EMPRO PRO SHOW 2023 ends. An event that has exceeded all expectations. The winners have already engraved their names in the memory of this competition. It is time to reflect on what happened and get excited again remembering it in your mind. The public evacuates the room while some competitors request feedback from the judges, who keep the same smile with which they began the event.

Outside, it is surprising to see how some athletes, after a tough competition, give away poses and take photos with their loyal fans who will always support them regardless of the result. Events like this show us that a new wave of fitness and bodybuilding fans is coming, wanting to emulate their idols and match their achievements.

   Empty rooms remind us the ephemeral nature of time. Right now the EMPRO CLASSIC 2023 is only a memory, but an indelible memory that will surely mark the fate of many competitors and fans.

   Emilio Martínez should be very proud of the success of the show that represents his brand. His personal character, his way of doing things, has set the standard very high once again, perhaps more than ever. But those who know him know that in his head the end of the event means no more than the beginning of the preparation for the next one.

Sometimes a picture can capture a moment in time and even make us remember a multitude of emotions. But if we put several images together according to a narrative, we can build a more complex story, full of details and even small stories within the main story. Thank you Emilio Martínez for allowing me to capture from my vision the hidden magic behind these events.

Text and images copyright © Alberto Durán. All rights reserved.

Alberto Durán

Photographer & Storyteller

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