2023 Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique Predictions — Top 7

Contenders from the Men’s Physique division will participate in the world’s biggest showdown at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest. The festivities will run from November 2-5 inside the Orange County Convention Center (Halls A and B) in Orlando, Florida. This article breaks down and analyzes the top seven athletes vying for gold. 

Established in 2012, the Men’s Physique category is aimed at competitors who prefer less mass with more aesthetics. The ‘beach body’ division has soared in popularity over the years with a flood of competitors joining the ranks season to season. 

The original Men’s Physique Olympia was Mark Anthony Wingson. In 2014, Jeremy Buendia ascended to the throne and cemented himself as a four-time Olympia winner. There have been other champions in Buendia’s wake such as Brandon Hendrickson (3-time champ: 2018, 2020-2021), and Raymont Edmonds (2019).

The latest to seize the crown was Erin Banks last year at the 2022 Olympia. With the title regularly shifting hands, the contest this year has never been more exciting, especially with Buendia’s highly anticipated comeback. 

2023 Olympia Men’s Physique Prediction Criteria 

Performances Leading Up to 2023 Mr. Olympia

Assessing a bodybuilder’s potential for success at the Olympia involves a comprehensive tally of factors like their recent competition performances. Our analysis encompasses a holistic review of their on-stage presence, which includes their physical prowess, level of conditioning, and artistry in their poses. 

Social Media and Physique Updates 

We maintain a vigilant watch on social media platforms to stay updated on athletes’ physical progress and training, providing valuable insights into their preparation and condition as they approach the Olympia.

News

Any developments or occurrences that have the potential to influence an athlete’s performance in the Olympia, including injuries, personal setbacks, or illnesses, will be considered in our forecasts.

Performances from Last Year’s (2022) Mr. Olympia

Although past performance does not guarantee future success, it serves as a valuable reference point. We analyze an athlete’s performance in the previous Olympia to assess their potential and compare their abilities to those of their competitors.

2023 Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique Predictions Breakdown — Top 7

7. Edvan Palmeira

Palmeira is boasting considerable momentum heading into his biggest Men’s Physique contest to date. Over the course of months, the rising talent made short work of the 2023 Sasquatch Pro and Mexico Grand Battle Pro. With freaky striations and vascularity, Edvan could prove to be a problem for many competitors hoping to get by with less mass. 

Having tested himself against the best on the Olympia stage in 2022, Palmeira turned in a statement fifth-place finish. With massive arms and great posing, Palmeira is always crafty on stage, and given his recent success, we see him turning in an stellar performance at Olympia. 

6. Ali Bilal

Bilal commands respect among Men’s Physique competitors not just for his shapely and aesthetic physique but because of his activity level. Bilal prefers to stay busy throughout the season and that has no doubt contributed to his exceptional muscle clarity and definition. Earning his qualification with a victory at the 2023 Flex Weekend Pro, Bilal is eager to establish himself as a title contender on the big stage. 

Last year, Bilal participated in the Men’s Physique Olympia and took ninth place. In light of his consistency and physique updates, we see Bilal improving dramatically.

5.  Charjo Grant

Charjo Grant — an immensely popular Men’s Physique talent — continues to rise to the occasion with steady tweaks to his muscle-bound body. Grant also maintains incredible consistency. He fought and earned gold recently at the 2023 San Antonio Pro following a busy three-show stretch. 

In his last Olympia outing, Grant took fourth place with one of his best packages to date. If Grant’s arms and back width are 100%, there’s no reason why the judges won’t take a closer look at him. We see him carving out a position in fifth place though he remains one of the more dangerous competitors at this event. 

4.  Diogo Montenegro

Diogo Montenegro is fighting for the center stage in each of his performances and for good reason. He brings a complete look, thanks to his fullness, roundness, and vascular conditioning. No stranger to challenging himself against championship-caliber foes, Montenegro understands the ins and outs of defeating savvy veterans on stage. 

Montenegro has used his time wisely ahead of this year’s Olympia. Instead of taking risks at additional shows, Diogo locked his prep down solely for a shot at Men’s Physique Olympia greatness. He took fourth last year, and with notable progress, we see him retaining that top spot. 

3. Brandon Hendrickson

There’s no denying what Brandon Hendrickson brings to the table: one of the division’s best-ever physiques, courtesy of an ironclad back, huge arms, and a powerful chest. This prediction was a very difficult one to arrive at because Hendrickson has long proven his worthiness as a champion and took runner-up at last year’s Olympia to champ Erin Banks. 

Hendrickson has achieved progress this season. However, with how the Men’s Physique landscape has changed, we see two men slightly ahead of the former three-time Men’s Physique Olympia titleholder…

2.  Kyron Holden

Holden shocked the world this year, having achieved a historic feat: defeating a reigning Olympia champion outside of the Olympia contest. He accomplished that legendary accolade when he out-pointed Erin Banks at the recent 2023 Legion Sports Fest Pro. Holden presented deeply separated abs and a drier midsection that paid off. He also held his own against the champ’s signature back poses. 

In his last Olympia performance, Kyron secured sixth place. Given the changes he made to his physique in such a short window of time, we see him making big waves on the Olympia stage. We predict Holden will once again push the champ, but this time, we see Banks getting the better of the exchange. 

1. Erin Banks

Erin Banks has turned his body into a Men’s Physique masterclass. His ability to pose, transition and not lose focus on stage makes him an efficient adversary. Not only did he bag the honor of Men’s Physique Olympia last year, but he also won the Arnold Classic title. Then, in 2023, Banks gambled on himself to win a second Arnold Classic. 

With the bitter taste of defeat lingering from his night in Reno, Nevada, Erin Banks is leaving nothing to chance in pursuit of a title defense. With enough conditioning and his patented freaky back fullness, we see Banks coming through with the big win to become a two-time Men’s Physique Olympia. 

Honorable Mentions & Dark Horses

Aside from those listed above, there are a number of honorable mentions and dark horses headed into this year’s Men’s Physique Olympia. For starters, Jeremy Buendia is making his return after a long hiatus.

Buendia hasn’t competed since 2018 at Olympia in fourth place. However, he’s kept fans updated on his training, diet, and progress ahead of the big comeback. Given his record and physique updates, we’d be foolish not to mention Men’s Physique royalty. 

Corey Morris and Ryan Terry are another two big names aiming to disrupt the order of the Men’s Physique hierarchy. Morris picked up a massive victory at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro whereas Terry left with gold at the Steve Weinberger’s 2023 New York Pro. 

• Corey Morris
• Jeremy Buendia
• Ryan Terry

A List of All Men’s Physique Olympia Winners Can Be Found Below 

Read also: All Men’s Physique Olympia Winners Since 2013

2023 Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique Competitors List 

• Mehdi Kabbadj (Morocco)
• Ming Chieh Tsai (District of Taiwan)
• Kahlia Ramzi (Algeria)
• Corey Morris (USA)
• Erin Banks (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 
• Jeremiah Maxey (USA)
• Joven Sagabain (Philippines)
• Edvan Palmeira (Brazil)
• Ali Bilal (Belgium)
• Ayoub Sulayman (Libya)
• Charjo Grant (USA)
• Reubeb Glass (USA)
• Adeyemi Awoyemi (United Kingdom) 
• Kyron Holden (USA)
• Emile Walker (United Kingdom)
• Jeremy Buendia (USA)
• JunHo Lee (South Korea)

Schedule 2023 Olympia Men’s Physique 

Olympia Prejudging Men’s Physique

Saturday, November 3 | 9:30 am

Olympia Finals Men’s Physique

Saturday, November 3 | 7:00 pm 

Wrapping Up 

Get ready for the ultimate 2023 Mr. Olympia Weekend experience with Fitness Volt! We’re here to provide you with all the info you need, from a complete rundown of results to exciting breakdowns and more.

We can’t wait to provide you with coverage of this unforgettable event. So, who’s your pick for the 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia title on November 4? Let’s hear your thoughts! 

RELATED: 2023 Olympia Qualification Rules and Deadline Announced; Point System Removed

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