Will Hunter Labrada Make It to the 2024 Olympia?

Hunter Labrada is running out of time. The 2024 Olympia runs from Oct. 10 to 13 in Las Vegas, NV. Labrada, one of the big dogs in the Men’s Open yard, has yet to qualify as of Aug. 31.

Labrada plans to make a last-ditch bid for the Olympia by winning one of two bodybuilding contests in Europe in the coming weeks.

If successful, fans will see him on stage alongside reigning champ Derek Lunsford plus the rest of the star-studded Olympia cast. But should Labrada fall short, he’ll be out of the running altogether.

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Hunter Labrada & the 2024 Olympia

“I still have to qualify,” Labrada explained to Hany Rambod, who coaches both Lunsford and Hadi Choopan in the Men’s Open division, during an Aug. 14, 2024 episode of Rambod’s podcast, The Truth.

Labrada has marked the 2024 Promuscle Italy Pro on Sep. 8 as his avenue to the Olympia stage. “Italy is my Olympia right now,” explained Labrada.

But he’s got a contingency plan, too.

Rambod: “If you win the Italy show, are you going to shut it down after that until the Olympia?”

Labrada: “There’s another qualifying show a week after; the UK Pro. [My coach] and I talked about it, and if the prize money is impressive, we might do it regardless.”

Nothing is guaranteed, but Labrada seems to be in good spirits about his chances in Milan, where the last-chance qualifier is being held. He’s spent the last few weeks sharing training videos and physique updates across social media:

“Going to finish this out the same way we started. Strong,” Labrada wrote on Aug. 28.

“Mass with class. 14 days to win,” he said three days prior.

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At the Olympia, Labrada will face steep competition for a top-five finish. He made it as high as fourth place in ’21, but backslid to 7th and 6th in the following two years.

Rambod noted he’d seen substantial progress in Labrada’s physique in 2024: “You’ve made some marked improvements this year.”

Gut health made the biggest difference, as Labrada tells it. With improved conditioning and a commitment to snagging a last-minute ticket to the big show, Labrada definitely has the stomach to compete against the best in bodybuilding. But can he beat them?