Only 17 days stand between Derek Lunsford and the 2026 Mr. Olympia contest. In a September 8 video, he pushed through a daunting leg day session as he sets his sights on a third Sandow trophy.
In 2025, Lunsford pulled off a clean sweep. He won the 2025 Arnold Classic, Pittsburgh Pro, and Mr. Olympia consecutively. He didn’t just dominate the landscape; he became the only bodybuilder since Jay Cutler to win back the Olympia title after losing it onstage.
This year’s Open roster looks a bit different from 2025. Most notably, former 2022 Olympia winner Hadi Choopan withdrew from the event. He explained that visa and travel issues watered down his prep, leading him to take a step back. Despite his absence, Lunsford still has to contend with a stacked field of threats.
Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) has seemingly hit his prime. The Nigerian mass monster won the Romania Pro, 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio, and AC UK shows back-to-back. During a recent workout, tensions flared, with Lunsford telling Jacked he’d never claim Olympia gold.
Beyond Jacked, Samson Dauda is eager to exact vengeance. Lunsford took Dauda’s Olympia title and beat him last year in Ohio. Having taken a long off-season, Dauda wants to showcase more size without sacrificing detail. The prestigious show is headed for Vegas soon, and Lunsford is keeping training intensity as high as possible.
Derek Lunsford Grows Massive Legs for the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Find his exercises from the video below:
- Lying Hamstring Curls
- Seated Hamstring Curls
- Romanian Deadlifts
- Plate-Loaded Hip Thrust Machine
- Glute Kickback Machine
Some believe Lunsford will struggle when he hits the Olympia stage. King Kamali (Shahriar Kamali) recently suggested that Nick Walker will be a ‘big problem’ for Lunsford. Kamali stressed that “The Mutant” could even beat Lunsford from the back:
“If Derek is going to sit here saying what he’s said over and over again… I’m going to wipe everybody clean at the Olympia. You got to watch Derek; I’m talking to you now, man.”
“Nick can beat you. He will beat you in those back shots, your money shots. Nick can beat you. He has the hams. It’s not just a glute competition as Milos likes to say. Nick Walker is a big problem for Derek and Hadi,” said King Kamali.
With time running out, Lunsford is focused on bringing out the detail in his lower body. The 2026 Mr. Olympia takes place from September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fitness Volt will have live coverage of the action.
