The race to become the next Classic Physique Olympia champion is on, and Mike Sommerfeld has his eyes on the crown. In a recent YouTube video, aired on August 20, 2025, Sommerfeld named his top three threats at Olympia and discussed Urs Kalecinski’s move up to Men’s Open.
Going under the radar in 2024, no one saw Sommerfeld coming. He gave six-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead a run for his money at the last Mr. Olympia but took second place. Undeterred, he gained momentum after laying claim to the 2025 Arnold Classic title.
The Classic Physique Olympia lineup was recently shaken up. Kalecinski, who has taken third place on the prestigious stage for three consecutive years, decided to move into the Men’s Open class, as he’s currently sitting 37.4 pounds above the weight limit for Classic. With “The Miracle Bear” out of the picture, Sommerfeld gave his thoughts on what lies ahead.
Mike Sommerfeld Previews His Biggest Threats at 2025 Olympia, Predicts ‘Amazing’ Future for Urs Kalecinski in Men’s Open
During the YouTube video, Sommerfeld reflected on how he climbed the Classic Physique ladder over the years.
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“The IFBB Pro League changed the rules, so we had some more pounds to gain. So, we skipped the Arnold [in 2024] and tried to gain as much muscle as possible. What we did – I trained twice a day.
We increased my calories like never before, and I spent all the time in Dubai. What I did was essentially sleeping, eating, and training. I was able to eat the best quality foods.”
Sommerfeld emphasized that Kalecinski switched divisions because he didn’t want to give up any more size.
“It’s definitely fact that he’s not competing in Classic, but it’s not about me, it’s just about he’s too big and he doesn’t want to lose the size,” explained Sommerfeld.
He predicted Kalecinski would have a bright future in the Open, pointing to his taper and tight waist.
“Baby Ruhl. Honestly, I believe that he will make great, great, improvements, and he will be an amazing athlete, especially for the Open. Coming from Classic with such a setup, tight waist, great taper, just adding some more muscle here and there will look like magic. I’m really excited to see him,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Sommerfeld said he doesn’t believe he’ll win Olympia, stressing that only the judges can decide the next champion.
“If I would say I think I’m going to win the show, I would be lying straight to your face and that’s not what I’m going to do. I don’t know who is going to win the show.”
As for his biggest threats, Sommerfeld named the following:
- Ramon Queiroz
- Terrence Ruffin
- Jose Manuel Munoz.
“I don’t believe I will win the show because nobody knows. Steve, Tyler, the great judges will decide that but before we have to put in the work and I will work believe me. That’s what I do the best. If I count myself out, if I’m not competing in Classic, it’s going to be Ramon, Ruffin, and Josema. [Jose Manuel Munoz]”
Sommerfeld isn’t taking chances ahead of the Olympia, so he’s incorporated two-a-day training sessions in the lead-up to the event, focusing on pulling movements that can help grow his delts, chest, and triceps. He believes this change in frequency will translate onstage.
Sommerfeld is in position to challenge for the Classic Physique Olympia title in less than eight weeks. The 2025 Mr. Olympia is set for October 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Watch the full video from the OlympiaTV YouTube channel below:
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