Following Nick Walker’s major victory at the 2024 New York Pro, bodybuilding veterans have turned their attention to the biggest show of the year. In a recent episode of The Menace podcast, Dennis James and Milos Sarcev opened up on who could win the prestigious 2024 Mr. Olympia title if all contenders hit the stage at 100 percent.
The 2024 Mr. Olympia Weekend is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary from October 10-13, as the event returns to Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2023, Derek Lunsford narrowly triumphed over Hadi Choopan at the Mr. Olympia, which has ignited speculation about who could take his title on the horizon.
Even though he surrendered his Sandow trophy last November, Choopan has been out for redemption since. He handily won the 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio and UK shows, solidifying his status as the clear-cut number-one contender. After guest posers stormed the Pittsburgh Pro stage, that only complicated the title picture, with a handful of athletes standing out, from Walker, and Andrew Jacked, to Derek Lunsford.
Dennis James, Milos Sarcev Discuss 2024 Mr. Olympia Frontrunners: ‘It’s at Least, a 5-Man Show’
Should all contenders display their physiques at 100 percent, Dennis James and Chris Cormier named Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada as two names that could potentially upset the competition’s favorites.
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“Let’s imagine something that’s never going to happen, it would be awesome if it would happen one time. But everybody coming in at 100 percent… with the improvements they made, especially, Andrew. I think Andrew overall made a lot of size improvements,” said Dennis James.
“Hunter will move up, drastically, I think,” adds Chris Cormier.
Although many have predicted that the 2024 Mr. Olympia will feature a rematch between Choopan and Lunsford, Milos Sarcev contends this is a five-man show, not a two-man battle.
“Let’s say they all nail the condition 100 percent. Who is really, I mean, potentially anybody could win the Olympia, potentially, but who would really battle for that title?” asks James. “If we are really honest.”
“Listen, it’s not a two-man show like people are presenting. It’s at least a five-man show. Then, throw in Big Ramy if he does compete, which we don’t know. But, you think Samson and Andrew cannot contest for the title? I mean, come on,” shares Milos Sarcev.
According to Sarcev, Hunter Labrada, Andrew Jacked, and even Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay have the tools to win the Sandow.
“Hunter, of course, Big Ramy, hell yeah. I mean, this is how it is. I always talk about the 90s and all that stuff how competitive the top 10, it would flip flop a week later.”
“All of them have the tools to win,” explains Sarcev. “Andrew Jacked at his absolute best going next to Derek at his absolute best. Pose by pose, consider everything, shape, aesthetics, thickness, blah, blah. Andrew is bigger right?”
At 100 percent, Sarcev argued that Andrew Jacked could topple Lunsford on the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage. However, Carlos Thomas Jr. envisions the two-division champion retaining his title.
“So, then you can imagine, Andrew, the way he was in Texas next to Carlos Thomas, and then put like 15 pounds on him. Then what happens? Pose by pose, you know, attribute by attribute, can he beat? Of course, he can. Is this going to happen? God knows.”
“I think Derek still takes it,” says Carlos Thomas Jr.
Dennis James says it’s a ‘guarantee’ that Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, and Hadi Choopan will be ‘on’ at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, which he can’t say the same for Andrew Jacked or Samson Dauda — two of the Open’s tallest competitors.
“If they come in super peeled it’s going to be hard for somebody who is a foot shorter, or how many inches shorter, to beat him. Listen, I get you what you’re saying. But listen, I’m saying this because we can almost guarantee that Derek is going to be on.
You can guarantee that Nick is going to be on. You can guarantee that Hadi is going to be on. So, those are the three shorter guys. But we can never guarantee that Samson, Andrew that they are going to be on. There’s no guarantee.”
Dennis James and Milos Sarcev aren’t the only bodybuilding mainstays breaking down the potential action in Las Vegas. Jay Cutler recently gave his thoughts on who might walk away victorious at the 2024 Mr. Olympia. In light of his guest posing appearance in Pittsburgh, Cutler appears confident in Derek Lunsford’s chances of retaining his title, comparing his side shots to the 3D muscularity of Phil Heath.
Fan intrigue around the 2024 Mr. Olympia continues to build with enthusiasts debating who will come out on top. In the months to come, will the bodybuilding community see a new contender emerge in the Open division?
RELATED: Dexter Jackson Talks Men’s Open at 2024 Mr. Olympia, Says Nick Walker Can’t Beat Hadi Choopan
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