The Real Sailor Popeye

Due to his world's largest biceps, bodybuilder Mustafa Ismail earned the nickname "Papai the Sailor". Although this Egyptian Popeye is severely allergic to spinach, unlike his cartoon counterpart, who derives his strength from spinach, Mustafa cannot tolerate greens. The 24-year-old Egyptian, whose 78cm biceps girth, says spinach is to him what Kryptonite is to Superman.

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1. Mustafa entered the Guinness Book of Records last year as the man with the largest biceps. The bodybuilder was born in Alexandria and then moved to the States in 2007.

2. As a child, he was very fat, but soon returned to his homeland as a real "Hulk". Mustafa Ismail lives with his wife Karolina in the USA. “I am the first Egyptian who got into the Guinness Book of Records. In Egypt, they gave me a real holiday, because they are very proud of me.

3. Thanks to his body, Mustafa has already visited many countries.

4. Many stop him on the street and ask to touch his biceps - many do not believe that they are real. Also, many say that he inspired them to go to the gym.

5. Although Mustafa also has critics: many argue that his muscles are not real, that he uses steroids, implants or synthol - synthetic oil, with which bodybuilders “whip” their muscles.

6. But "Big Mo" (as Mustafa was nicknamed) denies all this. He can lift 272 kg. He even underwent an ultrasound on Japanese TV to prove that his biceps are real. "It hurts, but I'm proud of myself."

7. Despite his fame, Mustafa is still firmly on his feet and works 70 hours a week at a gas station in Milford, Massachusetts. In his free time, he can only be found in the gym.

8. His three-hour workout starts at 5 am. As a teenager, Mustafa was a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

9. "It's not about lifting a lot of weight, it's about proper technique and achieving the best results." Mustafa eats 3 kg of meat, 4 kg of carbohydrates and drinks 11 liters of water a day, and then washed it all down with three protein shakes.

10. “Before I started exercising, I was fat and was always embarrassed to take off my T-shirt. In the pool, I always wore a T-shirt." However, Mustafa is not happy with his record. He intends to add another 20 cm to his biceps to reach 101 cm in girth.

11. He also plans to make his shoulders even bigger than his biceps. “I will try, although it will take maximum effort. You have to focus and prepare well. To reach this level, you have to believe in yourself. And I can do it if I just keep practicing. It might take about a year." The only drawback according to Mustafa himself: "I will look scary."