At the 2024 Mr. Olympia, last year’s winner, Derek Lunsford, has a chance to establish the next great bodybuilding dynasty. This year’s “O” runs from Oct. 11 to 12 in Las Vegas, NV.
Since seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath’s last victory in 2017, only Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay has been able to win the Sandow trophy more than once. Ramy won’t be in Vegas this year.
The stakes are high for Lunsford, who made history in 2023 when he became the first bodybuilding athlete to have won the overall title in both the 212 and Men’s Open divisions. But Lunsford has a secret advantage that might help him become the back-to-back champ.
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Derek Lunsford’s Secret Advantage at the 2024 Mr. Olympia
For bodybuilding’s most devoted fans, it’s more of an open secret: The reigning Mr. Olympia’s advantage is based around not having to qualify for the event in the first place.
“Derek Lunsford has got the ideal situation,” four-time Olympia champ Jay Cutler said during a podcast on Oct. 4, 2024.
Cutler explained how the current Mr. Olympia can sit back and watch as the division takes shape, including which competitors look the best and who isn’t worth worrying about.
“He can stay locked in all year since he doesn’t have to qualify. [Lunsford] can just sit back and analyze each guy and say, ‘What do I need to do to beat you?’” Cutler continued.
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In addition to having a longer off-season period and, thus, a smoother contest prep, Lunsford also has a geographical advantage against some of his Men’s Open competitors.
“It’s hard for, like, an Andrew Jacked, who comes all the way over from Dubai and has to train out of his element,” Cutler said. “It’s hard for Hadi Choopan to train out of his element.”
Lunsford spent most of his time training for the 2024 Mr. Olympia at the world-renowned Mi40 Gym in Tampa, FL. But for some of his competitors, the journey to the Olympia stage is more than a figurative one.
Many of the presumptive top bodybuilders at the “O” this year live and train abroad — Samson Dauda is based in the United Kingdom, Rafael Brandao spends most of his time in Brazil, and so on.
Can Derek Lunsford Win the 2024 Mr. Olympia?
The Mr. Olympia is anyone’s game. That the Sandow trophy has so regularly changed hands over the last decade speaks to the division’s tremendously competitive climate.
In September, Cutler made note of the rise in competitiveness compared to his era of the sport, saying, “I’m just glad I’m not in there.”
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As the defending champion, the Mr. Olympia is Lunsford’s to lose. Furthermore, they say bodybuilding shows are won from the back. Lunsford boasts perhaps the most impressive back of any bodybuilding athlete on the planet. If he hits his mark with conditioning and poses well, Lunsford’s sit-back-and-watch strategy for the 2024 Mr. Olympia will likely pay off.
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Featured Image: @dereklunsford_ / Instagram
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