“Ben and Joe Weider are really the pioneers who made bodybuilding what it is today,” Riley Janzen said. “So to win the [2017] Ben Weider Legacy Cup and my pro card was almost surreal. It’s one of those things that I’ll never forget and will always cherish.” Janzen made the commitment to go for pro status in 2011 after winning his first show. “I was hooked after that and wanted to see how far I could take it.”
Janzen hasn’t had a smooth road to the IFBB. He is a survivor of an autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome. The immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system. It can lead to weakness, numbness, and eventually, possible paralysis. “Guillain-Barré was diagnosed in 2006. Within a few days I was completely paralyzed from the neck down. After weeks of close calls and complications I finally was transferred to a rehab hospital. In total I spent five months in hospitals, and it took well over a year to recover.” Janzen attributes his recovery to a strong will to fight and a mental toughness to do whatever he had to in order to recover.
His status as GBS survivor is an incredible testament to that willpower that also led him to his new status of IFBB pro. He admits he’s far from done and plans to compete in 2018. “Everything needs to improve if I’m going to be a contender at the pro level. My main focus right now is to stay healthy and injury-free. It’s just a matter of putting in the work every day.”
JANZEN’S QUAD WORKOUT
Hack Squat| SETS: 3-4 (warmup) | REPS: 15
Hack Squat| SETS: 3* | REPS: 10-15
Front Squat** | SETS: 4 | REPS: 10, 10, 10, 6-8
Leg Press| SETS: 3 | REPS: 15-20
Walking Lunge| SETS: 3 | REPS: 20 per leg
Sissy Squat| SETS: 2-3 | REPS: 10-15
NOTES:
Stretch post-workout. *Last set is a dropset. **Place small plate under heels for quad emphasis.
