New blood will hit the 2026 Mr. Olympia stage this weekend as Anton Ratushnyi aims to make his debut count. In a September 22 post, he showed off his latest progress just three days before he competes.
Despite being a relative newcomer in bodybuilding, Ratushnyi has already picked up significant momentum. In 2023, he cemented himself as the youngest Classic Physique competitor to earn an IFBB Pro card at 22, a feat he accomplished at the NPC National Championships. From there, the Classic Physique star began repping out shows for experience.
He immediately jumped into deep waters at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro. Ratushnyi presented a stellar look in his Pro debut, helping him earn sixth place against elite athletes, including former two-time Arnold Classic champion Terrence Ruffin and Olympia contender Jose Manuel Munoz.
Two months later, Ratushnyi continued climbing the ranks and secured second place at the San Antonio Pro. The outing gave him valuable data about how to prep for a show. Having dialed in his peak, the 22-year-old claimed back-to-back titles at the 2025 Tournament of Champions Pro and the Southern Muscle Showdown Pro. With the biggest bodybuilding contest of the season almost here, Ratushnyi offered a look at his current condition.
22-Year-Old Anton Ratushnyi Looks Crazy Peeled 3 Days Out from His 2026 Mr. Olympia Debut
In the post, Ratushnyi showed off his latest physique update, sharing that he was depleted without a pump. He posed at the Dragon’s Lair, taking tips from seven-time 212 Olympia Flex Lewis:
“Little fasted check-in from @the_dragons_lair 🐉 No pump, depleted, 3 days out from @mrolympiallc. Getting ready to peak this look for the stage. If you look closely in the mirror, you can spot the GOAT @flex_lewis giving me some pointers. Such an honor to finally meet him and learn from one of the best,” shared Anton Ratushnyi.
Though he’s yet to grace the Olympia stage, bodybuilding veterans believe Ratushnyi’s ceiling in the sport is high. Seth Feroce weighed in on who has more bodybuilding potential between Ratushnyi and Sam Sulek. Feroce had high praise for Ratushnyi, predicting back in 2024 that he’d make the top five at the Classic Physique Olympia within two or three years.
Ratushnyi’s fresh muscle and aesthetics have also caught the eye of Lee Priest. He urged the 22-year-old star to immediately switch to the Men’s Open class, adding that Classic Physique ‘will only hold him back.’
“I think Classic will only hold him back. Maybe if you want to do it once, fine, but when you’re young and growing and look like that now, he’s going to be a great Open competitor with his muscles, his symmetry, his balance. Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about Classic for too long. I’d go straight to the Open myself,” said Lee Priest.
Fans are curious to see how Ratushnyi compares with the top names in Classic Physique, like reigning champion Ramon Dino and Mike Sommerfeld. They won’t have to wait long; the 2026 Mr. Olympia goes down from September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The livestream is free, and Fitness Volt will have play-by-play updates.
Get Ready for the 2026 Mr. Olympia
- How to Watch the 2026 Mr. Olympia Free Livestream
- 2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Preview
- 2026 Classic Physique Olympia Preview
