One of the last 2022 Mr. Olympia qualifiers in the U.S. is on deck this weekend located in Reno, Nevada as bodybuilders wage war at the Legion Sports Fest Pro. With time running out to qualify, athletes who win in their respective divisions will be awarded an invitation to 2022 Mr. Olympia.
The Legion Sports Fest show is notoriously competitive, and there are many Men’s Open contenders who are still vying for their 2022 Mr. Olympia qualification. Athletes have until November 20, 2022 to qualify for the contest. This year’s Olympia contest takes place December 15 – 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro show saw a former 212 Olympia champion shake up the Men’s Open lineup. Shaun Clarida made a successful transition in his Open debut and won the title, defeating competitors who outsized him like, Canadian standout Regan Grimes and Sergio Oliva Jr.
While many expected Justin Rodriguez to take time off after such a busy season, he’s back in Nevada looking to qualify for yet another Olympia contest. He will be tasked with facing contenders Tonio Burton and Jamie Christian this weekend.
Update: 2022 Legion Sports Fest Pro Results: Tonio Burton wins the Men’s Open Bodybuilding title
Men’s Open Bodybuilders to Watch
Justin Rodriguez
Justin Rodriguez intends to make a statement this weekend. He had a busy season last year, where he competed at four IFBB Pro League shows. Justin managed to claim the 2021 Indy Pro title but was unable to regain his momentum at the New York Pro, placing runner-up. Then, he finished fourth at the 2021 Arnold Classic and eighth at Olympia that same year.
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Staying busy, Rodriguez returned to action earlier this year, and his physique updates were quite promising. While many expected him to contend for the title at the 2022 Arnold Classic, he ended up in fifth. A week later, he impressed at the Boston Pro but was narrowly defeated by “The Conqueror” Willaim Bonac.
His last two performances were the 2022 Indy Pro, where he finished fourth, and then fifth at the 2022 New York Pro in May.
As a result of an active season, Justin Rodriguez could possibly earn an invite to Mr. Olympia based on points. Athletes can acquire points throughout the season (via the Olympia Qualification System) with top finishes at tiered bodybuilding shows.
The top three bodybuilders with the most points in their respective divisions are invited to compete at 2022 Olympia later this year. Rodriguez has the third-most points, currently behind Theo Leguerrier and Andrea Muzi.
Tonio Burton
Burton is another name fans are keeping a close eye on ahead of the 2022 Legion Sports Fest Pro. A 212 competitor, Burton attracted a lot of attention last year with his stellar conditioning. Tonio claimed victory in the 212 division at the 2021 Indy Pro. Then, he finished 10th at 2022 Olympia in 212 Bodybuilding.
Before capping off the season, Burton made his debut in the Men’s Open division at last year’s 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro. He finished fourth, though many were impressed by the size he gained in such a short period of time. As it stands, Burton isn’t qualified for 2022 Mr. Olympia but that could soon change if he brings an undeniable package to the stage this weekend.
Jamie Christian
As one of the tallest bodybuilders in the world, fans have circled Jamie Christian’s name ahead of this weekend’s marquee event. He was unable to make the top five at the two IFBB Pro League shows he competed in last year but has made considerable improvements to his overall package in 2022.
Jamie brought his talents over to Italy at the Yamamoto Cup Pro recently. He finished the show in fourth place but left many in the community impressed with his balance and size. Christian also brought a conditioned package to the 2022 Arnold UK contest but faced a deep lineup and finished the show in sixth.
Should Christian shine this weekend and win the Legion Sports Fest Pro, he will be awarded his first opportunity to compete on the Mr. Olympia stage.
How To Watch The 2022 Legion Sports Fest Pro Livestream
Three days of streaming are included in the package, which features bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongman events taking place October 7-9, 2022, for $44.95, or consumers may order the event individually for $109.87.
2022 Legion Sports Fest Pro Official Men’s Open Lineup
- Tonio Burton
- Jamie Christian
- Stan de Longeaux
- Rafael Del Real
- Stephen Frazier
- Eiren Gauley
- Carlos Rodriguez Hernandez
- Kenneth Jackson
- Eric Langlois
- An Nguyen
- Jojo Ntiforo
- Jorge Abraham Trejo Reyes
- Carlos Emmanuel Longoria Rodriguez
- Justin Rodriguez
- Pavel Vashchenko
- Todd Whitting
RELATED: IFBB Indy Pro Announces Closure After 7 Years
The 2022 Legion Sports Fest Pro is one of the last Olympia qualifiers to take place in the United States. Time is running out for athletes to earn their qualifications to compete at bodybuilding’s most talked about event of the year.
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