Derek Lunsford won the iron throne — no, not that one — in 2023. After defeating incumbent (and teammate) Hadi Choopan at the Mr. Olympia, Lunsford found himself with a microphone in his hands. Literally and figuratively.
Lunsford, 31, hasn’t been shy about voicing his issues with certain parts of bodybuilding culture since his ascension. Namely, the negativity he sees as pervasive throughout the sport.
“[Bodybuilders] need to stick together and support each other instead of constantly criticizing,” Lunsford remarked to four-time Mr. “O” Jay Cutler on Jul. 29.
With less than two months until Lunsford must attempt to deter various claimants to bodybuilding’s seat of power, Choopan included, the only man to ever win both the Men’s Open and 212 titles wants to see more positivity in physique sports.
“Bodybuilding Is Too Negative”: Derek Lunsford
Lunsford joined Cutler as a guest on his podcast, Cutlercast, around three months prior to the 2024 Olympia.
They discussed how Cutler feels about his iconic quad stomp, the surprising weight of the Sandow trophy, and what Lunsford perceives as rampant negativity in bodybuilding.
“We need to talk more about how incredible bodybuilding competitors are,” said Lunsford. “I want people to think of us as the new-age Avengers.”
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Lunsford heaped praise on both Cutler and Ronnie Coleman as prominent voices in the space who use their platforms to uphold bodybuilding as a sport, instead of jabbing at other athletes.
“It’s discouraging to hear from those people” — Lunsford avoided naming any specific individual — “who constantly criticize and critique. All they’re doing is bringing the sport down. I want to hear people talking up not just me, but my competitors as well.”
Our Take
Lunsford’s heart is in the right place, but negativity is inextricable from sports. Any sport or event which ranks athletes implicitly criticizes them; in bodybuilding, you’re docked points for flaws, not awarded for highlights.
But criticism is the ugly side of showmanship. Lunsford is on the money in saying that his colleagues don’t need to relentlessly peck at each other, especially after the big show is over and done with.
Choopan, who like Lunsford is coached by Hany Rambod, famously stormed off stage at the 2023 Olympia when he realized he’d lost to Lunsford.
Choopan was subjected to the same scrutiny and criticism as Lunsford but didn’t come out on top. His pride seemed to have gotten the better of him, and it almost ruined the moment.
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On the other hand, bodybuilding rivalries steeped in criticism (and sometimes outright hating) electrify the sport and engage the fans. Think Phil Heath and Kai Greene trading blows at the Olympia press conference year after year, then getting up close and personal on stage in 2014.
If you land on the “bodybuilding is more sport than art” side of the debate, it’s a hard sell to pitch camaraderie when only one man can leave the stage with the Sandow in-hand. That said, a rising tide lifts all ships, and there is certainly plenty of negativity in bodybuilding culture.
Maybe Lunsford can turn that tide.
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Featured Image: @dereklunsford_ / Instagram
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