Then the nightmare began.

Truscott’s dream of becoming a three-time champion dissipated during the performance round due to a devastating set of injuries that left her in a tremendous amount of pain and unable to complete her routine. On Nov. 11, 2023, the decorated Fitness competitor discussed the extent of the damage in a video posted on her YouTube page, revealing she suffered not only a torn ACL but also meniscus tears on both sides of her left knee.

In the aftermath of her heartbreaking experience in Orlando, FL, Truscott admitted to dealing with “excruciating” pain in her left quadriceps and left knee. Worried that she may have also torn her quad on stage, she was able to breathe a small sigh of relief after receiving her MRI results.

Although Truscott’s surgeon informed her that she tore her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus on both the outside and inside of the same knee, the two-time Fitness Olympia winner avoided the worst-case scenario.

“The quad is intact, so I’m extremely happy about that,” Truscott explained. “I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel here. My surgeon is very confident that I will make a full recovery. It’s just going to take some time.”

With her prehab and post-op rehab already scheduled, Truscott will have surgery “in the near future” to fix her damaged knee ligaments. Facing a tough road to recovery that should take several months, she expressed gratitude for all the support she’s received in the wake of her significant setback.

[Related: 5 Exercises to Help Athletes (Possibly) Prevent Injury]

Although she seemed optimistic about the future, Truscott didn’t have quite the same cheery attitude about a controversial move made by one of her peers.

During her fitness routine, 2021 Fitness Olympia champion Whitney Jones threw a shark prop off a pole — an act Truscott deemed “petty” and “beneath a champion.” Considering Truscott’s Team Apex Training logo includes a great white shark, it certainly seems Jones made a conscious decision to incorporate the reigning champion’s signature animal in a degrading manner.

“You wouldn’t see Chris Bumstead bring a dinosaur to the press conference, or Derek Lunsford bring a wolf to the press conference,” Truscott said. “I think she tried to take a shot at me and totally missed.”

Ultimately, though, the well-respected former champion took a bigger-picture approach when speaking about the future of the sport.

“I’ve made a career out of bodybuilding and I’m so excited to see that the IFBB Fitness division is growing,” Truscott said. “We have a lot of talented women coming into the sport and I’m super excited to see this year how much it’s going to grow.”

Vowing to return better than ever, Truscott does not have to worry about qualifying for the 2024 Olympia thanks to her former champion status. However, it will be interesting to see if the apparent rivalry between her and Jones continues whenever the two Fitness competitors share the stage again.

Featured Image: Missy Truscott / YouTube

The post Missy Truscott Suffered Dual Meniscus Tears and a Ruptured ACL During the 2023 Fitness Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Forced to withdraw from the biggest competition of the season because of a torn hamstring, Walker recently revealed he suffered even more damage than initially thought. In a video posted on his Instagram page on Nov. 6, 2023, “The Mutant” delivered an update about his injury status and his mindset as he embarks on the road to recovery.

After congratulating Derek Lunsford for becoming the 18th Mr. Olympia and the first two-division champion, Walker divulged more details about his health status. Not only did Walker suffer a serious hamstring injury in the leadup to the Olympia, but he also hurt his calf.

“I think it was Friday, we went and got the MRI done and it came back that I do have a partial hamstring tear and a grade 1 strain, little tear in my calf as well,” Walker said. “Nothing crazy, nothing too significant that would require surgery, so that’s great news. I’m very happy, literally very happy about that.”

Luckily for Walker, a grade 1 strain includes mild damage to individual muscle fibers that typically causes a small loss of strength and motion. On the other hand, a grade 3 strain involves a complete rupture of a muscle or tendon and usually requires surgery to reattach the damaged structure. So, even though Walker’s Olympia dream turned into a bit of a nightmare, he avoided the worst-case scenario.

The 2021 Arnold Classic winner noted that his doctors were “very impressed” with how quickly his body started the healing process. Despite dealing with a major setback at the most inopportune time, Walker displayed maturity and humility when discussing his injury.

“I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and I can’t seem to find what reason this,” Walker explained. “This was supposed to be a really special moment. I’m just holding on to that saying, things happen for a reason, for greater things to happen, so that’s what we are going to do.”

[Related: 2023 Amateur Olympia Results]

Although Walker can’t crush a leg workout anytime soon, he won’t let that stop him from preparing to compete again in 2024. Focused on training his upper body and testing his limits as he recovers, he vowed to return stronger for next year’s Olympia.

However, whether Walker will have an opportunity to participate in the sport’s tentpole contest is far less certain than his conviction about making a comeback. Due to changes to the Olympia Qualifying System, only the top three finishers from the Mr. Olympia contest automatically qualify for next year’s event.

With Walker already ruling himself out of the 2024 Arnold Classic, he will have to win an IFBB Pro League show to secure a spot in the Men’s Open lineup for the 2024 Olympia. Then again, perhaps promoters will grant “The Mutant” his request to receive a special invite to share the stage with the newly crowned champion and the rest of the Olympia hopefuls.

Featured Image: nick_walker39 / Instagram

The post Nick Walker Reveals He Suffered More Than Just a Torn Hamstring Before Bowing Out of 2023 Mr. Olympia  appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Two years removed from capturing the 212 Olympia title in Orlando, FL, Lunsford made history by becoming the first two-division champion in the history of the Mr. Olympia contest. The USA native emerged victorious from a crop of elite competitors headlined by defending champion Hadi Choopan and 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda.

[Related: 2023 Mr. Olympia Results: Complete Coverage and Live Updates]

The battle for the prestigious Sandow Trophy started Friday during the prejudging round of the 59th edition of the prestigious contest. Unsurprisingly, Lunsford and Choopan — who both train with legendary coach Hany Rambod — quickly separated themselves from the rest of the pack with their elite conditioning and sheer amount of muscle mass.

Dauda’s sizable frame and imposing physique also stood out during the prejudging phase. And despite speculation about potentially bowing out due to health issues, 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry showed well during his latest attempt to climb back to the top of the Men’s Open mountain.

Callout One

• Samson Dauda
• Andrew Jacked
• Hadi Choopan
• Derek Lunsford
• Brandon Curry
• Hunter Labrada

Callout Two

• Hassan Mostafa
• Regan Grimes
• Michal Krizanek
• Tonio Burton
• Charles Griffen
• Andrea Presti

Callout Three

• Phil Clahar
• Theo Leguerrier
• Roman Friz
• Justin Shier

Callout Four

• Andrew Jacked
• Brandon Curry
• Michal Krizanek
• Hunter Labrada

Callout Five

• Hadi Choopan
• Derek Lunsford
• Samson Dauda

The final callout featured a dramatic three-person pose-off between Choopan, Lunsford, and Dauda. All three competitors put on terrific showings, though Dauda appeared to tire a bit toward the end. There was still plenty of anticipation about whether Lunsford could unseat Choopan, who displayed plenty of energy while interacting with the crowd during his routine.

Lunsford appeared to have some luck on his side when he earned the nod from the fans by winning the 2023 People’s Champion title and belt. Not long after taking home the fan-voted award, the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up etched his place in bodybuilding history books by officially earning the 2023 Mr. Olympia title and $400,000.

2023 Mr. Olympia Results

Here’s how the top five shook out for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, along with the prize purse by position.

1. Derek Lunsford — $400,000
2. Hadi Choopan — $175,000
3. Samson Dauda — $100,000
4. Brandon Curry — $40,000
5. Andrew Jacked — $35,000

[Related: Chris Bumstead Claims Fifth Consecutive Classic Physique Championship at 2023 Mr. Olympia]

Proving he’s capable of doing whatever’s necessary to get his body into championship shape, Derek Lunsford deserves tremendous credit for becoming the 18th Mr. Olympia. It took a tremendous amount of dedication, diligent dieting, and intense training to construct a physique that convinced the judges to put Choopan in the No. 2 spot in 2023.

Plus, the fact Lunsford accomplished that feat just two years after he asserted his dominance in an entirely different division speaks volumes about his genetic gifts, work ethic, and mindset.

Featured Image: mrolympiallc / Instagram

The post Derek Lunsford Becomes the First Two-Division Champion at the 2023 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

The Canadian native put on a dominant showing in front of the judges and fans inside the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, cementing his case as one of the greatest bodybuilders of his generation.

[Related: 2023 Amateur Olympia Results]

Bumstead’s well-proportioned physique and impressive posing routines helped him edge out an impressive field of Classic Physique competitors that featured strong performances from Terrence Ruffin and two-time Classic Physique Olympia champion (2017-2018) Breon Ansley. Once all the athletes showcased their sculpted shoulders, defined abdominals, and shredded backs, the judges made their first decision:

Callout One

• Jae Hun Park
• Wesley Vissers
• Michael Daboul
• Terrence Ruffin
• Mike Sommerfeld
• Vahid Badpei

Callout Two

• Breon Ansley
• Urs Kalecinski
• Roman Rocha Quieroz
• Chris Bumstead

To no one’s surprise, the final callout saw a familiar face square off in an epic posing battle against Bumstead: Ramon Rocha Quieroz. Coming off a huge victory at the 2023 Arnold Classic, he looked fantastic on the Olympia stage, boasting a balanced physique with no apparent weaknesses. Ultimately, though, the 2022 Olympia runner-up fell short for the second straight year in his quest to unseat Bumstead from his throne.

2023 Classic Physique Olympia Results

Here’s how the top five shook out in the 2023 Classic Physique Olympia division:

1. Chris Bumstead – $50,000
2. Ramon Rocha Querioz — $20,000
3. Urs Kelecinski — $12,000
4. Breon Ansley — $7,000
5. Terrence Ruffin — $6,000

[Related: Major Change to Mr. Olympia Qualification System Will Have Immediate Impact on 2023 Contest]

Speaking with Bob Circherillo on stage after his latest Olympia victory, Bumstead revealed that he tore his lat 10 weeks out from the biggest show of the year. Although he initially had doubts about whether he could overcome the setback, he credited the support of his fiancee, as well as legendary trainer Hany Rambod, for helping him maintain a strong mindset throughout his journey to the Olympia.

Four weeks after suffering his lat injury, Bumstead returned to the gym for his first back workout. Just like he did after getting hurt, he wept.

However, the decorated champion said he shed tears for a much different reason.

“I realized I would not have felt that much joy and gratitude if I had quit,” Bumstead said.

Featured Image: mrolympiallc / Instagram

The post Chris Bumstead Claims Fifth Consecutive Classic Physique Championship at 2023 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

2023 Olympia Winners

Listed below are the 2023 Olympia winners by division, along with their respective prize purse. This section will be updated throughout the competition.

• Women’s Amateur: Sharon Ramos
• Men’s Amateur: Luiz Esteves
• 212 Olympia: Keone Pearson — $50,000
• Women’s Figure: Cydney Gillon — $50,000
• Women’s Physique: Sarah Villegas — $50,000
• Fitness: Oksana Grishina — $50,000
• Ms. Olympia: Andrea Shaw — $50,000
• Wellness: Francielle Mattos — $50,000
• Wheelchair: Karol Milewski — $50,000
• Men’s Physique: Ryan Terry — $50,000
• Classic Physique: Chris Bumstead — $50,000
• Bikini: Jennifer Dorie — $50,000
• Mr. Olympia: Derek Lunsford — $400,000

How to Watch the Olympia

If you want to catch the action live, you can still purchase tickets to the event at mrolympia.com. However, tickets have sold out for a highly anticipated Saturday night showdown that will see Mr. Olympia, Men’s Physique Olympia, Bikini Olympia, and Classic Physique Olympia champions crowned.

Luckily, you can still see who reigns supreme by streaming the action via pay-per-view. Available on olympiaproductions.com for $74.99, the pay-per-view provides access to the Pre-judging and Finals rounds for all divisions, the Olympia press conferences, and the Olympia EXPO. 

2023 Olympia Schedule

Based on the most current information available on the official Olympia website, here’s a day-by-day breakdown of what’s taking place at the Orange County Convention Center during Joe Weider’s 2023 Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend:

Tuesday, Oct. 31

• Amateur Olympia Women’s Judging and Finals: 8 a.m. EST

Wednesday, Nov. 1

• Amateur Olympia Men’s Judging and Finals: 8 a.m. EST

Thursday, Nov. 2

• Olympia Press Conference: Noon EST
• Meet the Olympians: 7 p.m. EST (VIP & Insider Club Entry); 8 p.m. EST (General Public and Media Entry)

Friday, Nov. 3

• Olympia World Fitness EXPO: 9 a.m. EST (early entry for VIPs, Club Members, and EXPO Early Entry Weekend Pass Holders); 10 a.m. EST (General Public Entry)
• Olympia Pre-Judging (Fitness, 212, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. Olympia, and Wellness): 9:30 a.m.
• Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging: 6 p.m. EST
• Olympia Friday Finals (212 Olympia, Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. Olympia, and Wellness): 6 p.m. EST

Saturday, Nov. 4

• Olympia World Fitness EXPO: 9 a.m. (early entry for VIPs, Club Members, and EXPO Early Entry Weekend Pass Holders); 10 a.m. EST(General Public Entry)
• Olympia Pre-Judging (Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini): 9:30 a.m. (VIP and Insider Club Member entry at 9 a.m.) EST
• Olympia Saturday Finals (Mr. Olympia, Men’s Physique, Bikini, and Classic Physique): 7 p.m. EST

2023 Olympia Division Rosters

Plenty of familiar faces will walk across the stage over the weekend. For a complete list of the 2023 Olympia competitors, utilize the division-by-division breakdown below.

• Men’s Open (Mr. Olympia)
• 212 Olympia
• Classic Physique
• Men’s Physique
• Wheelchair
• Ms. Olympia
• Women’s Physique
• Wellness
• Fitness
• Figure
• Bikini

Men’s Open (Mr. Olympia)

• Hadi Choopan (Iran) — Reigning Champion
• Derek Lunsford (USA)
• Brandon Curry (USA)
• Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
• Behrooz Tabani (Iran)
• Tonio Burton (USA)
• Ross Flanigan (USA)
• Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
• Phil Clahar (USA)
• Andrea Presti (Italy)
• Hassan Mostafa (Egypt)
• Justin Shier (USA)
• Roman Fritz (Germany)
• Hunter Labrada (USA) 
• Chinedu Andrew Obiekea (Andrew Jacked) (UAE)
• Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)
• Regan Grimes (Canada)
• Theo Leguerrier (France)
• Charles Griffen (USA)
• Nick Walker (USA) — Withdrew before the contest due to an injury
• Brett Wilkin (USA) — Withdrew before the contest due to a health issue

212 Olympia

• Shaun Clarida (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Felipe Fierro (Chile)
• Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
• Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait)
• Felipe Moraes (Brazil)
• Kerrith Bajjo (USA)
• Piotr Borecki (Poland)
• Andrei Melnikov (Russia)
• Roman Iushchenko (Ukraine)
• John Jewett (USA)
• Chris Jones (USA)
• Fabrizio de Souza Moreira (Brazil)
• Naser Mohamed (Kuwait)
• Keone Pearson (USA)
• Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)
• Oleh Kryvyi (Ukraine) 
• Hossein Kalateh (Canada) 
• Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria)

Classic Physique

• Chris Bumstead (Canada) — Reigning Champion
• Ramon Rocha Queiroz (Brazil)
• Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
• Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
• Woilid Baatout (France)
• Eric Brown (USA)
• Daniil Famponte (USA)
• Andrei Kozhokar (Russia)
• Michael Daboul (United Kingdom)
• German Pastor (Spain)
• Eric Wildberger Lisboa (Brazil)
• Samuel Paquin (Canada)
• Damien Patrick (USA)
• Damian Kuffel (Poland)
• Vahid Badpei (Iran)
• Laszlo Kiraly (Hungary)
• Antoine Loth (Spain)
• Carlos Dommar (USA)
• Fabio Junio Ramos Vale (Brazil)
• John Le (Canada)
• Marcus Perry (USA)
• Diego Alejandro Galindo (Brazil)
• Matthew Greggo (USA)
• Stephane Matala (France)
• Jared Thompson (USA)
• Jae Hun Park (South Korea)
• Alejandro Cambronero (Costa Rica)
• Eduardo Oliveira (Brazil)
• Shicheng Jin (China)
• Shi Tian Wang (China)
• Wesley Vissers (Netherlands)
• Christopher Ziller (Germany) 
• Gabriel Zancanelli (Brazil)
• Courage Opara (USA)
• Terrence Ruffin (ISA)
• Maxime Yedess (France) 
• Breon Ansley (USA) — Two-time former champion
• Hasan Alibrahim (Netherlands)
• Junior Javorski (Brazil)

Men’s Physique

• Erin Banks (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Mehdi Kabbadj (Morocco)
• Ming Chieh Tsai (District of Taiwan)
• Kahlia Ramzi (Algeria)
• Corey Morris (USA)
• Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
• Diogo Montenegro (Brazil)
• Mahmood Al-Maghrabi (Bahrain)
• Emanuel Hunter (USA)
• Mauro Fialho Garcia, Jr. (Spain)
• Carlos DeOliveira (Brazil)
• Benquil Marigny (USA)
• Riccardo Croci (Italy)
• Derrick Stevenson (USA)
• Ryan Terry (United Kingdom)
• Emmanuel Costa (Brazil)
• Daniel Ammons (USA)
• Andre Ferguson (USA)
• Vinicius Mateus Veiro Lima (Brazil)
• Vitor Chaves (Brazil)
• Joseph Lee (USA)
• Victor Manuel Ramirez Chavez (Costa Rica)
• Bhuwan Chauhan (India)
• Sidy Pouye (Spain)
• Yoon Sung Lee (South Korea)
• Jason Huynh (USA)
• Anderson Arruda (Brazil)
• Jeremy Potvin (USA)
• Drew Cullen (USA)
• Ismael Dominquez (Mexico)
• Arya Saffaie (USA)
• Rodrigue Chesnier (France)
• Febo Gambacorta (Italy)
• Rafael Oliveira (Brazil)
• Jonas Jamena (No Country Listed) 
• Jeremiah Maxey (USA)
• Joven Sagabain (Philippines)
• Edvan Palmeira (Brazil)
• Ali Bilal (Belgium)
• Ayoub Sulayman (Libya)
• Charjo Grant (USA)
• Reuben Glass (USA)
• Adeyemi Awoyemi (United Kingdom) 
• Kyron Holden (USA)
• Emile Walker (United Kingdom)
• Jeremy Buendia (USA)
• JunHo Lee (South Korea)

Wheelchair

• Harold Kelley (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Gabriele Andriulli (Italy)
• Antoni Khadraoui (Algeria)
• Josue Golrila Albino (Brazil)
• Mohammadreza Tabrizi Nouri (Canada)
• Tyler Brey (USA) 
• Karol Milewski (Poland)
• Woody Belfort (Canada)
• Tory Jones (Canada)
• Bradley Betts (USA)
• Tim Caldwell (USA)
• Jason Metcalf (USA)

Ms. Olympia

• Andrea Shaw (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Angela Yeo (USA)
• Sherry Priami (USA)
• Natalia Kovaleva (USA)
• Julia Whitesel (USA)
• Alcione Barreto (Brazil)
• MayLa Ash (USA) 
• Kristina Mendoza (USA)
• Michaela Aycock (USA)
• Reshanna Boswell (USA)
• Chelsea Dion (USA)

Women’s Physique

• Natalia Abraham Coelho (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Sarah Villegas (USA)
• Brooke Walker (USA)
• Anne-Lorraine Mohn (France)
• Pamela Canfield (USA)
• Elena Aviles Romero (Spain)
• Emily Schubert (USA)
• Emilija Martic (Canada)
• Romana Skotzen (United Kingdom)
• Zana Benta (Brazil)
• Caroline Alves Dos Santos (Brazil)
• Amy McKown (USA)
• Danielle LaMartina (USA)
• Jeannie Feldman (USA)
• Ivie Rhein (USA)
• Karina Goncalves (Spain)
• Alex Hall (USA)
• Marie-Soulange Essoh (USA)
• Julia Monroe (USA)

Wellness

• Francielle Mattos (Brazil) — Reigning Champion
• Isabelle Nunes (Brazil)
• Angela Borges (Brazil)
• Kassandra Gillis (Canada)
• Alexis Adams (USA)
• Renata Guaraciaba (Brazil)
• Amanda Burnett (USA)
• Gisele Machado (Brazil)
• Tefani Sam Razhi (USA)
• Sandra Colorado Acal (Spain)
• Lili Dong (China)
• Leonida Ciobu (Moldova)
• Frida Paulsen Stern (USA)
• Lisa Meiswinkel (Germany)
• Johanna Calcano (USA) 
• Danai Theodoropoulou (Australia)
• Elisa Alcantara (Dominican Republic)
• Rayane Fogal (Brazil)
• Wynter Addams (United Kingdom)
• Marissa Andrews (USA) 
• Nerilde Garcia Strey (Brazil)
• Daniele Mendonca (Brazil)
• Jacqueline Huescas Rios (Mexico)
• Ismara dos Santos (Brazil) 
• Andrea Hrenko (USA)
• Victoria Reyes Villa (Mexico)

Fitness

• Missy Truscott (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Jaclyn Baker (USA)
• Ariel Khadr (USA)
• Darrian Tissenbaum (USA)
• Oksana Grishina (Russia)
• Tiffany Chandler (USA)
• Amber Steffen (USA)
• Sara Kovach (USA)
• Jodi Boam (Canada)
• Allison Kramer (USA) 
• Minna Pajulahti (Finland) 
• Whitney Jones (USA)
• Michaela Pavleova (Slovakia)
• Stephanie Jones (USA) 
• Taylor Learmont (Canada)

Figure

• Cydney Gillon (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Jessica Reyes Padilla (Puerto Rico)
• Lola Montez (Canada)
• Bojana Vasiljevic (USA)
• Donya Jackson (USA)
• Gabriela Consolmagno (USA)
• Madison Dinges (USA)
• Cherish Richardson (USA)
• Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira (USA)
• Natalia Soltero (Mexico)
• Jennifer Zienert (Germany)
• Kristen McGregor (Jamaica)
• Adela Ondrejovicova (Slovakia)
• Gina Palma (USA) 
• Autumn Cleveland (USA)
• Ericka Morales Morgan (Guatemala)
• Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra (Mexico)
• Queren Pacheco (Mexico)
• Oyku Basar (Turkey)
• Tereza Linhartova (Czech Republic) 
• Wendy Fortino (USA)
• Gabriela Linhartova (Czech Republic) 
• Nicole Zenobia Graham (USA)
• Rhea Gayle (United Kingdom) 
• Lena Ramsteiner (Germany)

Bikini

• Maureen Blanquisco (Norway) — Reigning Champion
• Jibin Park (South Korea)
• Ivanna Escandar (Spain)
• Amanda Marques (Brazil)
• Phoebe Hagan (United Kingdom)
• Jennifer Dorie (Canada)
• Ashley Kaltwasser (USA)
• Nittaya Kongthun (Thailand)
• Alessia Facchin (Italy)
• Lauralie Chapados (Canada)
• Brenda Farias (Brazil)
• Aimee Leann Delgado (USA)
• Eszter Ozcella (Hungary)
• Hyo Jung Kim (South Korea)
• Vania Auguste (USA)
• Romina Basualdo (USA)
• Savannah Watchman (USA)
• Zsofia Reka Molnar (Hungary)
• Elisa Pecini (Brazil)
• Sierra Swann (USA)
• Reijuana Harley (USA)
• Cristobalina Pajares (Spain)
• Eli Fernandez (Mexico)
• Jessica Wilson (USA)
• Jordan Fisher (USA)
• Jil Meret Schmitz (Thailand)
• Areum Song (South Korea)
• Lexus Redmond (USA)
• Tatiana Lanovenko (Russia)
• Dahya Jeon (South Korea)
• Ariel Barley (USA)
• Tara Grier (USA) 
• Savannah Dolezal (USA)
• Gessica Brun (Brazil)
• Halanna Jully (Brazil)
• Ashlyn Little (USA)
• Jordan Brannon (USA)
• Ottavia Mazza (Italy)
• Ariana Brothers (USA) 
• Maria Alexsandra Santos Rocha (Brazil)
• Yurika Shigemoto (USA)
• Tamekia Carter (USA)
• Lisa Reith (Germany)
• Daraja Hill (USA)
• Valerya Fedorenko (Ukraine) 
• Reyna Perez Mecalco (Mexico)
• Jourdanne Lee (USA)
• Iulia Baba (Romania)
• Ndeye Ndour (USA)
• Kristina Brunauer (Austria)
• Jessica Nicole Dolias (USA)
• Roxana Marquez (USA)

About the Mr. Olympia Competition

First held on Sept. 18, 1965, the Mr. Olympia competition has gone from being hosted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music to taking place in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Much of its growth can be attributed to the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose sheer size and muscular build helped him secure six straight Mr. Olympia titles from 1970-75. And before he turned his attention to acting, The Austrian Oak took home the Olympia crown a seventh time in 1980 for good measure.

Over the ensuing decades, several other stars emerged in a sport that saw competitors continuously get bigger as better equipment, supplements, and science became available. South Carolina native Lee Haney set the gold standard by holding the Mr. Olympia title for eight years (1984-91). Not long after, Ronnie Coleman introduced himself to the bodybuilding world by starting his eight-year championship run with a victory at the 1998 Olympia.

In between those nearly decade-long streaks, Dorian “The Shadow” Yates dominated the stage with six consecutive Olympia titles of his own. Most recently, Phil Heath enjoyed a brilliant run at the top of the podium, ripping off seven wins between 2011-17.

With interest in fitness and bodybuilding growing over the years, the competition has seen several changes. Rather than anointing just one champion, the contest has become the crowned jewel of Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, where athletes compete in multiple divisions with specific judging criteria that lead to vastly different body types being featured on stage. Still, the Mr. Olympia finals remain the most anticipated event on the schedule.

Featured Image: Chris Bernacchi

The post 2023 Mr. Olympia Results: Complete Coverage and Live Updates appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Determined to topple reigning champion Hadi Choopan from his Mr. Olympia throne, Lunsford enters this year’s contest as one of the prohibitive favorites. With his fellow competitors preparing to showcase their physiques during the Nov. 2-5 weekend in Orlando, FL, the former 212 Olympia winner (in 2021) hit the gym with legendary coach Hany Rambod for his final training session before he steps on stage.

Not only did Lunsford share highlights from his chest and triceps workout, but he also provided insight into his diet and mindset in a vlog posted on his YouTube channel on Nov. 1, 2023.

With the most important show of the year right around the corner, Lunsford seems satisfied with how the prep process has gone. Between drinking two gallons of water per day, doubling his dosage of probiotics for digestive health, and being diligent with his diet, the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up has put himself in a position to make a legitimate run at the title.

“I’ve never actually felt this good right before a show,” Lunsford said. “I just understand how this process goes better now. It’s a combination of growth as an athlete and also mental maturity in terms of not allowing myself to be overwhelmed with stress and anxiety and worry.”

After consuming a pre-workout meal of fish and white rice, he joined forces with Rambod one last time. The workout begins at the 15:20 mark of the video above.

Plate-Loaded Chest Press Machine

Lunsford started the session on the plate-loaded chest press machine. After warming up with a 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plate per side, he pushed his pecs further by adding a 25-pound (11.3-kilogram) plate on his next set. For his top set, the 2023 Mr. Olympia hopeful worked with 115 pounds (52.2 kilograms) worth of plates per side, making sure to squeeze out the final few reps before moving on to the ensuing chest exercise.

Pec-Deck Machine

Next, Lunsford aimed to stretch and contract his pectoral muscles and serratus anterior using the pec-deck machine. To do so, he made sure to utilize the full range of motion, opening up his chest completely before bringing his arms together at the top of the movement.

Rather than allowing Lunsford to grasp the pec-deck machine’s handles, Rambod reminded his client to keep his hands open so he could get all of his muscle fibers to fire.

Incline Dumbbell Press

Moving over to the dumbbell section of the gym, Lunsford laid down on a bench to perform an incline press. Working with a pair of 50-pound (22.7-kilogram) dumbbells, he maintained a fairly neutral wrist position as he lowered the weight until his elbows formed a 90-degree angle.

Once he let the dumbbells reach chest level, Lunsford drove them back up, making sure to engage his triceps at the top. He only performed two sets of this exercise before switching up his method of blasting his pecs.

Plate-Loaded Incline Press Machine

For another push-based movement, Lunsford hit the plate-loaded incline press machine. An easy warm-up set with a 45-pound plate on each side set the stage for a second set with double the amount of weight.

Although his client could go heavier, Rambod refused to let Lunsford increase the intensity. Instead, he had him perform a third set with the same load to wrap up this portion of the workout.

Cable Crossover / Low-to-High Flye

In a similar movement to the pec-deck machine, Lunsford worked his chest with a classic bodybuilding exercise: the cable crossover. Designed to maintain tension through a long range of motion, this exercise forced the top 2023 Mr. Olympia contender to push a little harder than some of the other exercises.

Rambod changed the angle of attack by dropping the cables down to the lowest setting for a low-to-high flye variation. Lunsford kept a supinated (palms-up) grip as he raised his hands in front of him and squeezed the upper part of his pecs at the top.

Cable Rope Triceps Pushdown

For more triceps work, Lunsford performed several sets of cable rope triceps pushdowns. Again, Rambod kept the load manageable, encouraging his client to push his hands apart and lock out his triceps on every rep. Lunsford maintained a slight forward lean during the exercise to ensure his triceps did all the work.

Single-Arm Triceps Extension

After working both arms with the rope, Lunsford performed single-arm triceps extensions using a handle attachment. This isolation movement allowed the 2021 212 Olympia champion to target the medial head of his triceps while also engaging his obliques.

Standing Calf Raise Machine

The final exercise of Lunsford’s final workout before the Olympia had nothing to do with his upper body. Instead, Rambod had him perform calf raises on a plate-loaded machine. Even though he only used a 45-pound plate on each side, Lunsford achieved a visible pump throughout his lower legs from stretching and contracting his calves from a standing position.

Olympia-Bound Chest and Triceps Workout

Lunsford’s last workout certainly didn’t look as intense as some of his other training sessions leading up to the Olympia. However, that makes sense given the timeline and his need to perform well on stage. Still, you can utilize this chest- and triceps-focused protocol to build muscle and upper-body strength at your own pace:

• Plate-Loaded Chest Press Machine
• Pec-Deck Machine
• Incline Dumbbell Press
• Plate-Loaded Incline Press
• Cable Crossover / Low-to-High Flye
• Cable Rope Triceps Pushdown
• Single-Arm Triceps Extension
• Standing Calf Raise Machine

There’s no doubt Derek Lunsford has the dedication and drive to be the last man standing at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. And even though he and Hadi Choopan both train with Hany Rambod, you can be sure last year’s runner-up has every intention of beating out the defending champion. With an elite physique and the mindset to match, don’t be surprised if Lunsford leaves Orlando with a new achievement on his bodybuilding resume.

Featured Image: Derek Lunsford / YouTube

The post 2022 Runner-Up Derek Lunsford Crushes Final Workout Two Days Out From 2023 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Unfortunately for Nick Walker, his Olympia journey has already come to an end due to a hamstring tear he suffered while training for the most important bodybuilding show of the year. Despite his best efforts, the third-place finisher at the 2022 Mr. Olympia could not overcome an injury that occurred at the worst possible time.

With the 2023 Olympia weekend about to get underway in Orlando, FL, from Nov. 2-5, Walker announced his decision to bow out of the contest via an Instagram post on Oct. 31, 2023.

Although he looked stage-ready on the surface, the 2021 Arnold Classic winner revealed his hamstring remains a major issue.

“I tried to push through it. I tried to do whatever I could and get whatever treatment I could, but it just gradually got worse,” Walker explained. “It did not progress in any way, shape, or form. Me and my team thought it was best that we just pulled out because we knew there was just no shot of us placing top-three at this point, or higher. And we do not want to drop placing.”

Of course, recent changes to the Olympia Qualifying System stipulate that only the top three finishers in the 2023 Mr. Olympia automatically secure a spot in the 2024 contest. Even though Walker finished behind only Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford in the Men’s Open division a year ago, he surely would have faced an uphill battle to fend off the likes of 2023 Arnold Classic champion Samson Dauda and 2019 Mr. Olympia winner Brandon Curry for third place on one fully healthy leg.

After delivering the news to promoters and officials, the 2021 Arnold Classic winner said he received nothing but support from IFBB Pro League president Jim Manion and Olympia owner Jake Wood.

“They asked me if I ever needed anything and that just makes me proud to be part of this organization,” Walker said.

Moving forward, there are major ramifications for everyone involved. Walker faces a tough task to recover from a torn hamstring and remind everyone why he was considered one of the top contenders to take home the Mr. Olympia crown in 2023. Meanwhile, his absence opens the door even wider for someone like Dauda, Curry, or even Hunter Labrada, who took home the 2023 Tampa Pro Men’s Open title in August, to punch their ticket to next year’s show with a top-three finish.

After all, with Walker, two-time Mr. Olympia champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, 2022 Bigman Weekend Pro winner Brett “The Butcher” Wilkin, and 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow winner Ian Valliere all withdrawing for various reasons, the stage won’t be quite so crowded (or competitive) with a few big names missing.

Although it would be easy for Walker to view his setback negatively, he showed impressive resolve and inner strength when speaking about what’s next.

“If I learned anything from this is that anything can happen at any given second,” he explained. “But it’s how you handle it; it’s what you do that defines who you are and the character you will become.”

Featured Image: nick_walker39 / Instagram

The post Untimely Setback Forces Nick Walker to Withdraw From 2023 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

While you can watch the contestants pose in person by purchasing tickets to the event at mrolympia.com, you don’t necessarily have to travel to the Sunshine State to see bulging biceps, sculpted shoulders, and defined abs. You can catch all the action from Joe Weider’s 2023 Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend from the comfort of your own home via pay-per-view for $74.99 on olympiaproductions.com.

Not only does the package cover pre-judging and finals for all divisions, but it also includes the Olympia press conferences and Olympia EXPO. As a bonus, the pay-per-view also includes coverage of the 2023 Amateur Olympia, which is scheduled to take place from Oct. 31 through Nov. 1, 2023.

2023 Olympia Schedule

Once the action kicks off in Orlando, there will be ample opportunities for fans to see athletes from all 11 divisions display their physiques for the judges. With a jam-packed schedule and plenty of anticipation about who will be crowned Mr. Olympia this year, here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s taking place at the Orange County Convention Center.

Note: All times listed below are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Tuesday, Oct. 31

• Amateur Olympia — Women’s Judging & Finals: 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 1

• Amateur Olympia — Men’s Judging & Finals: 8 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 2

• Olympia Press Conference: Noon

Friday, Nov. 3

• Olympia World Fitness EXPO: 9 a.m.
• Olympia Pre-Judging: 9:30 a.m.
  • Fitness
  • 212
  • Figure
  • Women’s Physique
  • Ms. Olympia
  • Wellness
• Olympia Friday Finals: 6 p.m.
  • 212 Olympia
  • Fitness
  • Figure
  • Women’s Physique
  • Ms. Olympia
  • Wellness
• Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging: 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 4

• Olympia Pre-Judging: 9 a.m.
  • Classic Physique
  • Men’s Physique
  • Bikini
  • Wheelchair — Pre-Judging & Finals
• Olympia Saturday Finals: 7 p.m.
  • Mr. Olympia
  • Men’s Physique
  • Bikini
  • Classic Physique

New Qualification Rules

There will be more pressure to perform than ever before for the current crop of contestants. After all, changes to the Olympia Qualifying System (OQS) will make it more difficult for athletes to earn an automatic berth in the 2024 contest.

On Oct. 23, 2023, Olympia owner Jake Wood delivered a major update via Instagram about new rules that will have an immediate impact on the bodybuilding community.

“Starting with this year’s event, only the top 3 in the Mr. Olympia will automatically qualify for the following year’s Olympia. We are making this change in an effort to add some additional star power to the various regional events held worldwide. This change is being made with the full support of the IFBB Pro League as we all share an interest in maintaining a system that strengthens events at all levels,” Wood wrote.

With only the top three finishers punching their ticket to the 2024 Olympia, that could leave some talented competitors on the outside looking in once everything culminates in Orlando. And given the quality depth in some divisions — especially Men’s Open and Classic Physique — the battle to be one of the last three people standing should be particularly fierce.

Complete Olympia Rosters by Division

You may be familiar with household names like Chris Bumstead and Derek Lunsford, but other lesser-known bodybuilders will also do their best to impress the judges over the weekend. Here’s a full division-by-division breakdown of the rosters for the 2023 Olympia.

• Men’s Open (Mr. Olympia)
• 212 Olympia
• Classic Physique
• Men’s Physique
• Wheelchair
• Ms. Olympia
• Women’s Physique
• Wellness
• Fitness
• Figure
• Bikini

Men’s Open (Mr. Olympia)

• Hadi Choopan (Iran) — Reigning Champion
• Derek Lunsford (USA)
• Brandon Curry (USA)
• Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
• Behrooz Tabani (Iran)
• Tonio Burton (USA)
• Ross Flanigan (USA)
• Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
• Phil Clahar (USA)
• Andrea Presti (Italy)
• Hassan Mostafa (Egypt)
• Justin Shier (USA)
• Roman Fritz (Germany)
• Hunter Labrada (USA) 
• Chinedu Andrew Obiekea (Andrew Jacked) (UAE)
• Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)
• Regan Grimes (Canada)
• Theo Leguerrier (France)
• Charles Griffen (USA)

212 Olympia

• Shaun Clarida (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Felipe Fierro (Chile)
• Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
• Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait)
• Felipe Moraes (Brazil)
• Kerrith Bajjo (USA)
• Piotr Borecki (Poland)
• Andrei Melnikov (Russia)
• Roman Iushchenko (Ukraine)
• John Jewett (USA)
• Chris Jones (USA)
• Fabrizio de Souza Moreira (Brazil)
• Naser Mohamed (Kuwait)
• Keone Pearson (USA)
• Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)
• Oleh Kryvyi (Ukraine) 
• Hossein Kalateh (Canada) 
• Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria)

Classic Physique

• Chris Bumstead (Canada) — Reigning Champion
• Ramon Rocha Queiroz (Brazil)
• Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
• Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
• Woilid Baatout (France)
• Eric Brown (USA)
• Daniil Famponte (USA)
• Andrei Kozhokar (Russia)
• Michael Daboul (United Kingdom)
• German Pastor (Spain)
• Eric Wildberger Lisboa (Brazil)
• Samuel Paquin (Canada)
• Damien Patrick (USA)
• Damian Kuffel (Poland)
• Vahid Badpei (Iran)
• Laszlo Kiraly (Hungary)
• Antoine Loth (Spain)
• Carlos Dommar (USA)
• Fabio Junio Ramos Vale (Brazil)
• John Le (Canada)
• Marcus Perry (USA)
• Diego Alejandro Galindo (Brazil)
• Matthew Greggo (USA)
• Stephane Matala (France)
• Jared Thompson (USA)
• Jae Hun Park (South Korea)
• Alejandro Cambronero (Costa Rica)
• Eduardo Oliveira (Brazil)
• Shicheng Jin (China)
• Shi Tian Wang (China)
• Wesley Vissers (Netherlands)
• Christopher Ziller (Germany) 
• Gabriel Zancanelli (Brazil)
• Courage Opara (USA)
• Terrence Ruffin (ISA)
• Maxime Yedess (France) 
• Breon Ansley (USA) — Two-time former champion
• Hasan Alibrahim (Netherlands)
• Junior Javorski (Brazil)

Men’s Physique

• Erin Banks (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Mehdi Kabbadj (Morocco)
• Ming Chieh Tsai (District of Taiwan)
• Kahlia Ramzi (Algeria)
• Corey Morris (USA)
• Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
• Diogo Montenegro (Brazil)
• Mahmood Al-Maghrabi (Bahrain)
• Emanuel Hunter (USA)
• Mauro Fialho Garcia, Jr. (Spain)
• Carlos DeOliveira (Brazil)
• Benquil Marigny (USA)
• Riccardo Croci (Italy)
• Derrick Stevenson (USA)
• Ryan Terry (United Kingdom)
• Emmanuel Costa (Brazil)
• Daniel Ammons (USA)
• Andre Ferguson (USA)
• Vinicius Mateus Veiro Lima (Brazil)
• Vitor Chaves (Brazil)
• Joseph Lee (USA)
• Victor Manuel Ramirez Chavez (Costa Rica)
• Bhuwan Chauhan (India)
• Sidy Pouye (Spain)
• Yoon Sung Lee (South Korea)
• Jason Huynh (USA)
• Anderson Arruda (Brazil)
• Jeremy Potvin (USA)
• Drew Cullen (USA)
• Ismael Dominquez (Mexico)
• Arya Saffaie (USA)
• Rodrigue Chesnier (France)
• Febo Gambacorta (Italy)
• Rafael Oliveira (Brazil)
• Jonas Jamena (No Country Listed) 
• Jeremiah Maxey (USA)
• Joven Sagabain (Philippines)
• Edvan Palmeira (Brazil)
• Ali Bilal (Belgium)
• Ayoub Sulayman (Libya)
• Charjo Grant (USA)
• Reuben Glass (USA)
• Adeyemi Awoyemi (United Kingdom) 
• Kyron Holden (USA)
• Emile Walker (United Kingdom)
• Jeremy Buendia (USA)
• JunHo Lee (South Korea)

Wheelchair

• Harold Kelley (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Gabriele Andriulli (Italy)
• Antoni Khadraoui (Algeria)
• Josue Golrila Albino (Brazil)
• Mohammadreza Tabrizi Nouri (Canada)
• Tyler Brey (USA) 
• Karol Milewski (Poland)
• Woody Belfort (Canada)
• Tory Jones (Canada)
• Bradley Betts (USA)
• Tim Caldwell (USA)
• Jason Metcalf (USA)

Ms. Olympia

• Andrea Shaw (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Angela Yeo (USA)
• Sherry Priami (USA)
• Natalia Kovaleva (USA)
• Julia Whitesel (USA)
• Alcione Barreto (Brazil)
• MayLa Ash (USA) 
• Kristina Mendoza (USA)
• Michaela Aycock (USA)
• Reshanna Boswell (USA)
• Chelsea Dion (USA)

Women’s Physique

• Natalia Abraham Coelho (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Sarah Villegas (USA)
• Brooke Walker (USA)
• Anne-Lorraine Mohn (France)
• Pamela Canfield (USA)
• Elena Aviles Romero (Spain)
• Emily Schubert (USA)
• Emilija Martic (Canada)
• Romana Skotzen (United Kingdom)
• Zana Benta (Brazil)
• Caroline Alves Dos Santos (Brazil)
• Amy McKown (USA)
• Danielle LaMartina (USA)
• Jeannie Feldman (USA)
• Ivie Rhein (USA)
• Karina Goncalves (Spain)
• Alex Hall (USA)
• Marie-Soulange Essoh (USA)
• Julia Monroe (USA)

Wellness

• Francielle Mattos (Brazil) — Reigning Champion
• Isabelle Nunes (Brazil)
• Angela Borges (Brazil)
• Kassandra Gillis (Canada)
• Alexis Adams (USA)
• Renata Guaraciaba (Brazil)
• Amanda Burnett (USA)
• Gisele Machado (Brazil)
• Tefani Sam Razhi (USA)
• Sandra Colorado Acal (Spain)
• Lili Dong (China)
• Leonida Ciobu (Moldova)
• Frida Paulsen Stern (USA)
• Lisa Meiswinkel (Germany)
• Johanna Calcano (USA) 
• Danai Theodoropoulou (Australia)
• Elisa Alcantara (Dominican Republic)
• Rayane Fogal (Brazil)
• Wynter Addams (United Kingdom)
• Marissa Andrews (USA) 
• Nerilde Garcia Strey (Brazil)
• Daniele Mendonca (Brazil)
• Jacqueline Huescas Rios (Mexico)
• Ismara dos Santos (Brazil) 
• Andrea Hrenko (USA)
• Victoria Reyes Villa (Mexico)

Fitness

• Missy Truscott (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Jaclyn Baker (USA)
• Ariel Khadr (USA)
• Darrian Tissenbaum (USA)
• Oksana Grishina (Russia)
• Tiffany Chandler (USA)
• Amber Steffen (USA)
• Sara Kovach (USA)
• Jodi Boam (Canada)
• Allison Kramer (USA) 
• Minna Pajulahti (Finland) 
• Whitney Jones (USA)
• Michaela Pavleova (Slovakia)
• Stephanie Jones (USA) 
• Taylor Learmont (Canada)

Figure

• Cydney Gillon (USA) — Reigning Champion
• Jessica Reyes Padilla (Puerto Rico)
• Lola Montez (Canada)
• Bojana Vasiljevic (USA)
• Donya Jackson (USA)
• Gabriela Consolmagno (USA)
• Madison Dinges (USA)
• Cherish Richardson (USA)
• Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira (USA)
• Natalia Soltero (Mexico)
• Jennifer Zienert (Germany)
• Kristen McGregor (Jamaica)
• Adela Ondrejovicova (Slovakia)
• Gina Palma (USA) 
• Autumn Cleveland (USA)
• Ericka Morales Morgan (Guatemala)
• Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra (Mexico)
• Queren Pacheco (Mexico)
• Oyku Basar (Turkey)
• Tereza Linhartova (Czech Republic) 
• Wendy Fortino (USA)
• Gabriela Linhartova (Czech Republic) 
• Nicole Zenobia Graham (USA)
• Rhea Gayle (United Kingdom) 
• Lena Ramsteiner (Germany)

Bikini

• Maureen Blanquisco (Norway) — Reigning Champion
• Jibin Park (South Korea)
• Ivanna Escandar (Spain)
• Amanda Marques (Brazil)
• Phoebe Hagan (United Kingdom)
• Jennifer Dorie (Canada)
• Ashley Kaltwasser (USA)
• Nittaya Kongthun (Thailand)
• Alessia Facchin (Italy)
• Lauralie Chapados (Canada)
• Brenda Farias (Brazil)
• Aimee Leann Delgado (USA)
• Eszter Ozcella (Hungary)
• Hyo Jung Kim (South Korea)
• Vania Auguste (USA)
• Romina Basualdo (USA)
• Savannah Watchman (USA)
• Zsofia Reka Molnar (Hungary)
• Elisa Pecini (Brazil)
• Sierra Swann (USA)
• Reijuana Harley (USA)
• Cristobalina Pajares (Spain)
• Eli Fernandez (Mexico)
• Jessica Wilson (USA)
• Jordan Fisher (USA)
• Jil Meret Schmitz (Thailand)
• Areum Song (South Korea)
• Lexus Redmond (USA)
• Tatiana Lanovenko (Russia)
• Dahya Jeon (South Korea)
• Ariel Barley (USA)
• Tara Grier (USA) 
• Savannah Dolezal (USA)
• Gessica Brun (Brazil)
• Halanna Jully (Brazil)
• Ashlyn Little (USA)
• Jordan Brannon (USA)
• Ottavia Mazza (Italy)
• Ariana Brothers (USA) 
• Maria Alexsandra Santos Rocha (Brazil)
• Yurika Shigemoto (USA)
• Tamekia Carter (USA)
• Lisa Reith (Germany)
• Daraja Hill (USA)
• Valerya Fedorenko (Ukraine) 
• Reyna Perez Mecalco (Mexico)
• Jourdanne Lee (USA)
• Iulia Baba (Romania)
• Ndeye Ndour (USA)
• Kristina Brunauer (Austria)
• Jessica Nicole Dolias (USA)
• Roxana Marquez (USA)

[Related: The Best Bodybuilding Workout for Each Body Part]

Even if you don’t have access to the pay-per-view, Breaking Muscle will provide all the results from the 2023 Olympia on a live leaderboard. So, make sure to visit us throughout the weekend for the latest updates from the most prestigious bodybuilding contest of the year.

Featured Image: mrolympiallc / Instagram

The post How to Watch the 2023 Olympia Contest appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

With Bumstead and his peers making their final preparations for the 2023 Mr. Olympia show, the pressure is squarely on the four-time champion’s shoulders to fend off a crowded field headlined by 2023 Arnold Classic winner, and last year’s Olympia runner-up, Ramon Rocha Quiroz and Urs Kalecinski, who finished third at the 2022 Classic Physique Olympia. Luckily, though, Bumstead looks more than capable of delivering another first-place performance when he hits the stage for the Nov. 3-5 weekend in Orlando, FL.

Showcasing the size and symmetry needed to reach the top of the Classic Physique mountain, Bumstead gave fans an intimate look at his intense training style in a shoulder day workout vlog posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 26, 2023.

Before embarking on his workout, Bumstead showed his preferred method for promoting a great pump, energy, and focus. He mixed his signature blue raspberry pre-workout supplement from Raw Nutrition with Pump, a stimulant-free pre-training supplement designed to increase blood flow and improve muscle fullness. That formula provided Bumstead with 200 milligrams of caffeine plus 10 grams of L-citrulline and an unspecified amount of beta-alanine — two non-essential amino acids found in many bodybuilding supplements.

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Coming off a high-carb day that reinvigorated his brain and replenished his muscle glycogen stores, the determined bodybuilder hit the gym with a full tank and excellent focus. The intense workout begins at the 8:55 mark of the video.

Bumstead and his training partner started with a classic shoulder day exercise: the dumbbell lateral raise. A time-tested deltoid-building movement, Bumstead used a pair of 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) dumbbells for his first set. He dropped down by five pounds (2.2 kilograms) on each of his next two sets, completing 12 reps on each one.

Plate-Loaded Shoulder Press Machine

Next, Bumstead showed off his strength on the plate-loaded shoulder press machine by working with five 45-pound plates per side on his first set. He removed one plate for his next set of this seated overhead press variation, making sure to control the weight throughout the movement.

Bumstead’s training partner provided plenty of verbal motivation (and a little bit of assistance) to help the reigning Mr. Olympia squeeze out the final few reps on his second and third sets. This push-based exercise directly targeted the front delts while also recruiting the triceps during the lockout phase.

Reverse Pec-Deck Machine

After hitting his shoulders from the frontal plane, Bumstead switched up his angle of attack by working on the reverse pec-deck machine. Making sure to keep his arms extended and his chest firmly against the pad, he retracted his shoulder blades and squeezed his rear delts and rhomboids at the top of every rep.

An exercise primarily aimed at increasing thickness and overall muscular development in the posterior shoulders, this adduction-based movement provided Bumstead with a terrific pump, bringing out the championship-level definition in his upper back.

Rope Cable Front Raise

After giving his anterior delts a break with the last exercise, Bumstead directly targeted them via the rope cable front raise. Setting up with a slight forward lean and a pronated (palms down) grip, he recruited his front delts to lift the rope from knee height to shoulder level so his arms were parallel with the floor.

Using an unspecified amount of weight, it took every bit of effort for Bumstead to push through sets of 12 repetitions of the isolation movement. In addition to working all three deltoid heads (anterior, lateral, and posterior), this front raise variation also required his serratus anterior to act as a stabilizer during the exercise.

Standing Shoulder Press Machine

Despite having already performed an overhead press variation earlier, that didn’t stop Bumstead from going back to another push-based movement. This time, though, he utilized a standing shoulder press machine — and a much lighter load.

Bumstead started with 95 pounds (43 kilograms) worth of plates per side, making sure to keep a neutral wrist position and his core engaged. After two sets that included partial reps at the end, he performed a drop set with a single 45-pound plate per side.

Cable Lateral Raise

For his final shoulder exercise, Bumstead performed a lateral raise variation. Rather than going the single-arm route, he worked both arms simultaneously by crossing the cables in front of him.

Undoubtedly feeling the effects of his muscle-building efforts, Bumstead made sure to keep his palms down and head neutral as he spread his arms apart and raised them to shoulder level. The four-time Mr. Olympia only showed one set of this exercise.

Seated Calf Raise/Tibialis Raise

Even though it was labeled a shoulder workout, Bumstead worked on his lower body for a brief time by alternating seated calf raises with a unique tibialis raise to work the muscles along the front of his lower leg.

Beginning with the seated calf machine, he utilized a technique in which he flexed his calves halfway up before completing a full rep, Bumstead worked with a pair of 45-pound plates. Again, he only showed one set of this exercise before moving to a specialized seated machine that provided resistance as he raised his toes upward, working one leg at a time.

Classic Bodybuilding Shoulder Workout

Bumstead’s approach to working his deltoid so near to a major contest may not be typical of his standard muscle-building session but, as a whole, it may provide a high-intensity change of pace for your next upper body workout. If you were tempted to follow in the footsteps of the winningest champion Classic Physique has ever seen, here’s a recap of his pre-contest session.

• Dumbbell Lateral Raise
• Plate-Loaded Shoulder Press Machine
• Reverse Pec-Deck Machine
• Rope Cable Front Raise
• Standing Shoulder Press Machine
• Cable Lateral Raise
• Seated Calf Raise

As the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest nears, other Classic Physique competitors can look forward to trying to take down a champion who just keeps getting better. With a winning mindset and the body to match, Chris Bumstead couldn’t be in a better position heading into the most important weekend of the year. And if he remains on the same path he’s been on for nearly half a decade, who knows how many more titles he’ll have a few years from now.

Featured Image: Chris Bumstead / YouTube

The post Chris Bumstead Trains Shoulders Two Weeks Out From Trying to Capture Fifth Consecutive Mr. Olympia Title appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

With the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest scheduled for Nov. 3-5, there’s now even more pressure on the competitors’ sculpted shoulders to impress the judges with their physiques and posing routines. In a move that could have career-altering implications, the Olympia Qualifying System (OQS) will only grant the top three finishers in the Mr. Olympia an automatic berth in the following year’s contest.

On Oct. 23, 2023, Olympia owner Jake Wood shared an Instagram post detailing the rationale behind the groundbreaking decision:

“In recent years, the top 5 finishers in the Mr. Olympia division have received an automatic qualification to the following year’s Olympia, but after consulting with the IFBB Pro League we have decided to make a change.

Starting with this year’s event, only the top 3 in the Mr. Olympia will automatically qualify for the following year’s Olympia. We are making this change in an effort to add some additional star power to the various regional events held worldwide. This change is being made with the full support of the IFBB Pro League as we all share an interest in maintaining a system that strengthens events at all levels.”

The new rule applies not only to the Men’s Open division, but also to the other 10 divisions — 212, Men’s Physique, Classic Physique, Wheelchair, Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, Figure, Fitness, Wellness, and Bikini.

Most importantly, the change will be effective immediately, which should make the upcoming show in Orlando, FL that much more competitive. Finishing among the top five at the sport’s most recognizable contest has always been seen a serious achievement. However, athletes in this year’s lineup may be that much more hungry for a higher placing and more likely to consider a result outside of the top three a significant disappointment.

Of course, this is just the latest shift in the Olympia qualification setup. In December 2022, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) decided to do away with the point system that gave competitors a chance to qualify for the Olympia. Previously, the athletes who finished with the three highest point totals over the course of the season automatically punched their ticket to the biggest show of the year.

But with the point system no longer in play, that has placed even more emphasis on performing well when it matters most. With the qualification period running from Nov. 21, 2022 until Oct. 9, 2023, here’s the path athletes from all divisions (except Wheelchair Bodybuilding) faced to earn a spot in this year’s Mr. Olympia show:

• Top five from the Men’s Open 2022 Mr. Olympia
• Top three from other 2022 Olympia divisions
• Winner of each Open contest held during the qualification period

That benefitted someone like Samson Dauda, who fell just short of a top-five finish at the 2022 Olympia with a sixth place finish in his Olympia debut. However, by taking home the title at the 2023 Arnold Classic, “The Nigerian Lion” earned a $300,000 prize and a spot in the 2023 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open lineup.

Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the rule change impacts the competitive landscape. Reducing the number of automatic bids from five to three undoubtedly ramps up the importance of the other qualifying shows on the schedule.

With two fewer spots up for grabs at the Olympia, some athletes may need to shift their priorities and attack their training more aggressively to come out on top in other key contests.

Dauda did exactly that by getting in prime shape for the Arnold Classic and capturing top honors for his efforts. Ditto for Justin Shier, who made the most of his IFBB Pro show debut in July by winning the 2023 Chicago Pro and securing his own spot in the Men’s Open lineup for the 2023 Olympia.

Most recently, Charles Griffen accomplished his goal of getting a chance to compete against the best of the best at the Orange County Convention Center. Despite suffering a torn pec back in April, the determined bodybuilder completed his comeback in championship fashion by winning the title at the 2023 Legion Sports Fest Pro on Oct. 8, 2023. Griffen may face an uphill battle to finish high amongst a crowded group of accomplished competitors, but he certainly deserves credit for grabbing the final qualifying spot.

Ultimately, allowing only the top three finishers at the Olympia to qualify for the following year’s contest could be viewed as both a positive and a negative. On one hand, it raises the stakes significantly when everyone steps on stage for the most anticipated show of the year. On the other hand, it could leave a few competitors on the outside looking in if they don’t emerge victorious at one of the qualifying contests on the calendar for 2024.

Featured Image: @mrolympiallc / Instagram

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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 a major threat to Choopan’s chances of claiming the crown in consecutive years, that doesn’t mean the two titans can’t benefit from some friendly collaboration.

With the 2023 Mr. Olympia show set to take place the weekend of Nov. 3-5, Lunsford recently teamed up with the reigning champion for an intense chest workout led by legendary trainer Hany Rambod. In a poignant example of iron sharpening iron, the two bodybuilders showcased their incredible physiques and work ethics in a pec-focused training vlog posted on the Evogen Nutrition YouTube channel on Oct. 19, 2023.

Prior to hitting the weights, Rambod put everything in perspective by pointing out that all the athletes in the Men’s Open division have leveled up, which should make this year’s Olympia “an absolute dogfight.” With two of the top contenders joining forces for a muscle-building session at Evogen Nutrition HQ in Irvine, Texas, the workout kicked off near the 1:20 mark.

Incline Machine Chest Press

After consuming a serving of Evogen Nutrition EVP AQ Liquid Glycerol, a specialized pre-workout supplement that enhances blood and muscle volume, Lunsford started out on the incline chest press machine. Working with three 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plates per side on his first set, he made sure to completely lockout his triceps at the top of the movement.

Choopan followed with a set of his own before Rambod ramped up the intensity by adding another 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plate per side. During the initial part of the workout, Lunsford credited the 22-time Olympia-winning trainer with helping him make improvements in 2023.

“That connection is so much better this year, it’s crazy,” Lunsford told Rambod. “Once you told me in the offseason to slow it down, back off the weight a little bit, control it, then I actually started connecting with the muscle. Then I started adding more weight, and now I feel really strong and connected with the muscle.”

Incline Machine Power Press

Before diving into the next exercise, Rambod noted the significant differences in training styles between two of his top athletes.

“Derek’s used to doing much less volume, in general,” he said. “Hadi’s used to doing a ton of volume. So he goes in and does four or five sets. He’ll do like eight exercises. It’s like we’ve got to force him sometimes to cut back.”

Lunsford and Choopan proceeded to blast their pecs and triceps on the incline machine “power press,” using a neutral-grip to adjust muscle recruitment. The training team started out with three 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plates per side. As the load increased and fatigue set in, Rambod encouraged Lunsford to finish with partial reps.

Incline Machine Flye

Next, the duo made their way to the incline flye machine for four sets of this staple chest exercise. Emphasizing both the stretch and the squeeze portions of the movement, Choopan worked with a slightly heavier load than his peer.

Between sets, Lunsford shared some insight into what it’s like to train alongside someone who he will aim to defeat in Orlando, FL.

“As far as the competition’s concerned we’ll leave it to the day of the show,” Lunsford explained. “But all in all we’re brothers in iron, we’re brothers and teammates here at Evogen, and I’m happy to be training with him, and you got to respect the champion.”

Incline Dumbbell Press

Following three machine-based movements, Rambod switched things up by having his athletes work with dumbbells on an incline bench press. Choopan started with 119 pounds (54 kilograms) in each hand, carefully lowering the dumbbells to his chest before driving them back up.

Meanwhile, Lunsford worked with a weight that appeared to be a little lighter than his counterpart. Still, he made sure to squeeze out every rep of an exercise designed to target the upper pec and front delts.

Flat Machine Chest Press

Next, Ramod went with another bench press variation, this time calling upon Panatta’s unique “Super Horizontal Multi Press” machine for a flat version of the push-oriented movement. He helped Lunsford get familiar with the mechanics of this specially designed chest press machine, which allows the user to get a similar experience as using a barbell with the added benefit of being able to change the bar position, range of motion, and type of bar grip for a significantly more targeted approach.

“It works great for not only chest but you can also use it for triceps because you can go ahead and invert the bar, and it’ll take you into a cambered position so you can do a close-grip bench,” Rambod explained.

Lunsford and Choopan’s trainer also took some time to point out common mistakes he sees athletes make when training chest, including trying to push with their shoulders instead of their chest, having weak triceps, and not bringing the bar or dumbbells directly across their chest. Those technical errors can prevent lifters from maximizing their ability to build bigger, stronger pecs.

Decline Machine Flye

To target the lower pec, Rambod had Lunsford and Choopan utilize the decline machine flye. The eccentric portion produced significant tension on the lower portion of their chest muscles, forcing both bodybuilders to dig deep to squeeze their hands as close together as possible on the concentric portion.

Machine Dip

The second-to-last exercise Lunsford and Choopan performed hit their chest from a different angle. They executed high-volume sets of dips on a plate-loaded machine, focusing on slow and controlled movements.

Rambod emphasized the importance of body positioning and maintaining a strong core throughout the exercise. Although dips are typically viewed as a triceps builder, he noted that leaning forward “will activate much more chest” than staying upright, which recruits more of the triceps.

Cable Flye

Finally, the group made their way to the cable machine for several sets of flye variations. Lunsford and Choopan hit their pecs from multiple angles — something Rambod expounded upon near the end of the workout.

“Change up the position of the pulley,” he explained. “Go high, go mid-point, go low. What you want to do is you want to be able to create variation so that your chest does not get used to the same exercises week to week. When you give variation, you’ll get muscle growth.”

Championship-Caliber Chest Day Workout

• Incline Machine Chest Press — 4 x 8-15 
• Incline Machine Power Press — 4 x 8-15 
• Incline Machine Flye — 4 x 8-15 
• Incline Dumbbell Press — 4 x 8-15 
• Flat Chest Press Machine — 4 x 8-15 
• Machine Decline Flye — 4 x 8-15 
• Machine Dip — 4 x 12-15
• Cable Flye — 4 x 12-15  

As two of the favorites to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia, Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford bring elite physiques and unparalleled dedication to the mix. Joining forces for a chest workout showed they’re both humble enough to put any egos aside in order to bring out the best in each other. However, only one man can leave Orlando with the Mr. Olympia title, and only time will tell whether Choopan, Lunsford, or another competitor will earn that coveted crown.

Featured Image: Evogen Nutrition / YouTube

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Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay has decided to forgo an opportunity to win his third Men’s Open championship by officially taking himself out of the mix for the upcoming competition scheduled to take place from Nov. 2-5, 2023 in Orlando, FL.

Elssbiay, who won his first Sandow trophy in 2020, spoke with RXMuscle on Saturday, Sept. 23 about his decision to back out of the 2023 Olympia.

“I have to be smart to know the best time for me to be on stage and the best time for me to stop a little bit,” the 39-year-old told RXMuscle’s Siddique Farooqui. “I think this year I have to get a break for the show, and if I have the chance to come better and bring something different, yeah, I would be in the next show.”

A native of Egypt, Elssbiay has helped the sport expand throughout the Middle East thanks to his sizable frame and success on stage. Ironically, he revealed his decision during the 2023 Dubai Pro, an event that undoubtedly draws more attention thanks in part to the two-time Olympia winner.

“For many people in the Middle East, that’s not making them happy. But I work hard to give them the best version of Ramy, and I don’t think this is the right time to go to Olympia this year,” Elssbiay explained. “Me and my team spoke about that and I think the best thing we can do right now, we’re looking forward to the other goal. Yeah, we’re thinking about next year.”

Not long ago, it looked like Elssbiay had a chance to completely take over as one of the preeminent figures in the sport. Yet since capturing top honors at the Olympia in both 2020 and 2021, it’s been a difficult two-year run.

Elssbiay went from winning back-to-back titles to placing fifth at the 2022 Olympia. Following that disappointing showing, he fell short of expectations again by finishing in fourth place at the 2023 Arnold Classic.

Moving forward, it’s clear Elssbiay and his team have their sights set on coming back bigger and better than ever in 2024. However, his absence from the 2023 Olympia lineup certainly raises questions about whether he can reclaim his place atop the Men’s Open division in the near future.

With Elssbiay removing himself from the competition roughly five weeks out, it will be interesting to see who replaces him in a stacked field of contenders that includes reigning champion Hadi Choopan, former 212 division winner Derek Lunsford, and 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry.

Featured Image: Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay / Instagram

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