Urs Kalecinski is sizing up his competition three weeks from his Open Mr. Olympia debut. On Sept. 18, 2025, he set his sights on a top-10 finish, revealing who he can and can’t beat when he steps onstage.
Since Kalecinski’s move up to the Open, it’s been all gas, no brakes. After winning the ProMuscle Italy Pro, Kalecinski retested himself days later at the Europa Pro Championship in Germany—once again, he walked away with gold.
Despite his success, some in the sport aren’t sold on Kalecinski’s Open potential just yet. Namely, bodybuilding veteran Shawn Ray, who urged “The Miracle Bear” to skip this year’s Olympia in favor of making improvements. Now, we’re finally hearing from Kalecinski himself on how he believes he’ll stack up against contenders in Vegas.
Urs Kalecinski Names Bodybuilders He Can/Can’t Beat at 2025 Mr. Olympia
In the video, Kalecinski shared that he couldn’t beat or was uncertain about these names:
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Below are the bodybuilders that Kalecinski is more confident he can defeat:
- Brett Wilkin
- Akim Williams
- Brandon Curry
- William Bonac
- Ugolnikov “Good Vito” Vitalii
- Andrew Jacked
- Regan Grimes
- Tonio Burton
- Sasan Heirati
- Chenglong Shen
- Rubiel “Neckzilla” Mosquera
- Jordan Hutchinson
- Dorian Haywood
Kalecinski tempered his expectations for the Olympia and said his goal was to secure a top-10 finish.
“Top 10, I would say — that’s my personal goal,” Urs Kalecinski said.
Bodybuilding coach Chris Aceto has also opened up on Kalecinski’s chances. He explained that he expects an even better physique from Kalecinski when he makes his way to the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Aceto also discussed Kalecinski garnering comparisons online to former six-time Mr. Olympia champion Dorian Yates.
Lee Priest chimed in and weighed Kalecinski’s potential for the Mr. Olympia. During the recent Meathead Podcast with Ron Harris, Priest shared where he believes Kalecinski will land when the dust settles. Ultimately, he predicted he would secure a spot anywhere from 7th to 10th place. He emphasized that Kalecinski’s placement will partly be determined by which top athletes slip up.
Having won back-to-back pro shows, Kalecinski is carrying legitimate momentum heading into his next contest. Don’t miss the 2025 Mr. Olympia, set for Oct. 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fitness Volt will have live, comprehensive coverage of the action.
Watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Relive every moment from the 2025 Mr. Olympia, including prejudging, highlights, expert analysis, and full results. Explore our Olympia hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia. For minute-by-minute coverage, follow our Live Blog.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
