Derek Lunsford etched his name in bodybuilding record books by becoming the first two-division champion in the 59-year history of the Mr. Olympia contest. Coming off that life-changing victory in Orlando, FL that earned him the most coveted title in the sport and a lucrative $400,000 prize, the 18th member of the exclusive Mr. Olympia
Derek Lunsford
The former 212 Olympian can officially call himself Mr. Olympia. Written by Stephen Sheehan, CPT Last updated on November 4, 2023 Unlike most of his peers in the Men’s Open division, Derek Lunsford entered the 2023 Mr. Olympia weekend having already experienced the thrill of having a first-place medal put around his neck at the
To say Derek Lunsford left a lasting impression at the 2022 Mr. Olympia would be a massive understatement. Transitioning from the 212 division, he made the most of his Men’s Open debut by coming within one spot of capturing the most coveted title in the sport of bodybuilding. Determined to topple reigning champion Hadi Choopan
To be the best, you have to beat the best. Considering how close he came to taking home the title in his Men’s Open debut, 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford certainly seems capable of toppling Hadi Choopan from his throne in just a few weeks. Yet even though the former 212 Olympia winner represents
Coming off a second-place finish in his Men’s Open debut, Derek Lunsford has his sights set on knocking defending champion Hadi Choopan off his throne at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. The former 212 Olympia winner (2021) boasts one of the best physiques in the sport, particularly when it comes to his upper body. With just
Lewis thinks Lunsford is on track toward history. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on July 18, 2023 Derek Lunsford could be the next heir apparent to true bodybuilding greatness. Already a former 212 Olympia champion (2021), Lunsford shined in his Men’s Open debut at the 2022 Olympia, finishing as the runner-up to the titanic
Per Šarčev, the defending champion need only worry about last year’s runner-up. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on July 11, 2023 The 2023 Mr. Olympia is slowly shaping up to be a contest of mammoth proportions on paper. As the Men’s Open division seemingly enters a new golden era, bodybuilding’s flagship contest resembles a
Cutler shared his thoughts on a stacked group of competitors. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on June 29, 2023 At the time of this writing, there is still so much to sort out in regard to the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest. Even with just over four months before bodybuilding’s tentpole competition, there is undoubtedly
Lunsford has had his personal battles but is on a mission for Olympia glory. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on June 15, 2023 This coming November in Orlando, FL, Derek Lunsford will chase ultimate greatness in the sport of bodybuilding. After finishing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up, the superstar athlete will plan to
Coleman appreciates Lunsford’s potential and approach to the sport. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on June 7, 2023 As the 212 Olympia champion in 2021 and the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up, Derek Lunsford doesn’t necessarily need endorsements from anyone on the outside looking in. He’s a bona fide modern superstar and seems destined for
This year’s Pittsburgh Pro felt like another appropriate preview of the Olympia. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on May 16, 2023 By now, many in the bodybuilding community understand the annual Pittsburgh Pro to be more than a major qualifying event on the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League calendar. In
Walker doesn’t think highly of defending champion Hadi Choopan’s chances for a repeat. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on April 18, 2023 There are still months to go before the 2023 Mr. Olympia in Orlando, FL, but some of the top contenders for the Sandow Trophy are already posturing for their title chances. The
Heath knows who he expects to win the next Olympia. He also knows how he might return to competition. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on April 12, 2023 Few bodybuilders will ever be able to match Phil Heath’s competitive rap sheet. With seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 2011-2017, only Arnold Schwarzenegger (seven Olympia
The bodybuilding legend put the current superstar through the wringer. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on April 5, 2023 Former 212 Olympia champion (2021) Derek Lunsford switched to competing in the Men’s Open last year and barely missed a beat. The superstar bodybuilder took home a runner-up finish at the 2022 Olympia, putting himself
Cutler believes the Men’s Open division is as stacked as it’s been in years. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on March 29, 2023 At this point in time, the Men’s Open division resembles a loaded gauntlet. Usually, a bodybuilding class will feature a champion, in this case, Hadi Choopan, and only another worthy contender
Bodybuilding gets a small taste of this year’s Olympia in early May. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on March 24, 2023 It’ll be a long wait for the 2023 Mr. Olympia. With this year’s flagship bodybuilding contest not occurring until Nov. 3-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL, there’s a lot of time for the stars
Just over one month into 2023, anyone with a set of eyeballs and access to social media can see that Derek Lunsford’s New Year’s resolutions must have included never fitting comfortably into a smart car and having to turn slightly when walking through doorways. At the very least, it was to pack even more muscle
Central Florida in November should be a raucous party. Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on January 20, 2023 Every year, the best bodybuilders in the world prepare with one central goal: to win the legendary Mr. Olympia contest. Sure, there are other tentpole events like the annual (and now rather lucrative) Arnold Classic. Still,