It is peak week and competitors are gearing up to bring their all-time best to the sport’s biggest event of the year. In a recent YouTube video shared on October 7, 2024, Samir Bannout, a former Olympia winner in 1983, gave his top 10 Men’s Open picks days before the show kicks off from October 11-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It’s been an unpredictable year in bodybuilding and fans couldn’t be more thrilled to see the best of the best back on stage. The 2024 Open Bodybuilding Mr. Olympia lineup took a damaging blow after Nick Walker decided to bow out of the prestigious contest. He also withdrew from Olympia last year due to a hamstring injury.
There is palpable tension in the air as the world’s greatest aim to make history, which includes the current reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford, Olympia champion Hadi Choopan as well as other surging threats such as Texas Pro winner Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda.
Samir Bannout Shares His Top 10 Men’s Open Picks for 2024 Mr. Olympia
Below, you can find Bannout’s official picks:
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- Winner — Derek Lunsford
- Second Place — Andrew Jacked
- Third Place — Hadi Choopan
- Fourth Place — Samson Dauda
- Fifth Place —
Nick Walker(Out of 2024 Mr. Olympia) - Sixth Place — Brandon Curry
- Seventh Place — Hunter Labrada
- Eighth Place — Rafael Brandao
- Ninth Place — Mohamed Foda
- Tenth Place — Theo Leguerrier
Interestingly, Samir Bannout is under the impression that Andrew Jacked could shock the world when he competes at his third Mr. Olympia competition. Given the improvements he displayed at the 2024 Texas Pro, Bannout believes he has a solid case for jumping into second place this year in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While many veterans of the sport such as Dennis James and Milos Sarcev have backed Hadi Choopan to win, Bannout sees the event unfolding differently. He has Lunsford winning a second title with Choopan securing a fourth-place position.
Olympia President Dan Solomon has confirmed that the coveted Sandow trophy will be dipped in gold to celebrate this year’s 60th anniversary of Mr. Olympia. Whoever emerges victorious will procure the special trophy joining the likes of Phil Heath, who won a golden Sandow following his win at the event’s 50th anniversary a decade ago.
Athletes have only four days before taking the stage for Men’s Open prejudging on Friday evening. Don’t miss full coverage of the 2024 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, Nevada here at Fitness Volt.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Iain Valliere Shares His Top 10 Men’s Open Picks for 2024 Mr. Olympia
Watch the full video from the Old School Labs Podcast below:
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