The 2022 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, scheduled between Dec. 15-18 in Las Vegas, NV, hosted 11 divisions. However, the Mr. Olympia Men’s Open division is the most sought-after contest in the line-up. The Men’s Open bodybuilding roster consisted of 30 elite bodybuilders, each staking their claim at the elusive Sandow trophy.
While the reigning, defending, and two-time Mr. Olympia champ Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay was considered the favorite heading into the show, things changed drastically at the pre-judging round on Dec. 16. It was Hadi Choopan who bagged his maiden Mr. Olympia title after a hard-fought battle.
After the first and final pre-judging callouts, it was clear that Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, and the reigning champ Big Ramy were the frontrunners for the coveted Mr. Olympia throne. Furthermore, the pre-judging round hinted that Big Ramy was not the judges’ first pick.
Hadi Choopan showed up with his trademark muscle conditioning, size, balance, and shape to wow the fans and judges. His wide back, tiny waist, and sweeping legs made him stand out from the competition. His conditioning was unparalleled.
Derek Lunsford too showed up with his signature conditioning and X-frame. He ended up taking a runner-up finish at his maiden Open division appearance.
Lunsford and Choopan appeared to have momentum behind them heading into the Mr. O finals after the pre-judging round as they enjoyed most time at the center of the stage during the callouts.
While Nick Walker brought a significantly improved physique to the 2022 Olympia, he had to settle for a third-place finish. “The Mutant” had placed fifth at the 2021 Olympia.
The two former Olympia champs Brandon Curry and Big Ramy fell to the fourth and fifth places, respectively. This tells you something about the quality of the competitors at the 2022 O.
2022 Mr. O featured several high-profile debutants like Michal Krizo, Andrew Jacked, Samson Dauda, and Blessing Awodibu. However, none could touch Choopan when they stepped on bodybuilding’s biggest stage.
While Krizo and Jacked were in the second callout, Blessing fell to the fourth callout in the confirmation round. Dauda was a different story altogether. His muscle size, balance, conditioning, and aesthetics got him into the first callout. Dauda is also arguably the best poser in the Men’s Open division. His posing skills remind us of veteran bodybuilding legends Kai Greene and Kevin Levrone.
People Choice Award
Nick Walker bagged his maiden People’s Choice Award at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He unseated the two-time People’s Choice Award winner Hadi Choopan to win the championship belt. However, Choopan won’t be complaining as he won the coveted Sandow trophy.
Finals
Lunsford, Curry, Choopan, Walker, Dauda, and Big Ramy were in the first callout in the confirmation round on Dec. 17. They were also in the final callout in the confirmation round.
Big Ramy and Walker were moved to the center of the stage towards the end of the final confirmation round, giving them a fair chance to show the judges what they had on their competition. However, it was Choopan who won the division’s highest honor. The Persian Wolf didn’t hold back his emotions and had tears in his eyes as he accepted the Olympia gold medal.
Choopan’s victory at the 2022 O makes him the 17th Mr. Olympia champion in the show’s 58-year history.
2022 Mr. Olympia Results
Given below are the top 5 results:
- Hadi Choopan — $400,000
- Derek Lunsford — $150,000
- Nick Walker — $100,000
- Brandon Curry — $40,000
- Big Ramy — $35,000
2022 Olympia Results
Friday Night Results:
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Men’s 212 Bodybuilding Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Women’s Fitness Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Women’s Physique Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Figure Results
- 2022 Ms. Olympia Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Wellness Results
Saturday Night Results:
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Bodybuilding Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Men’s Physique Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Classic Physique Results
- 2022 Mr. Olympia Bikini Results
- 2022 Wheelchair Olympia Results
Fitness Volt congratulates each 2022 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend competitor for putting on a spectacular show!
Experience the excitement of the 2023 Mr. Olympia with our comprehensive coverage! From pre-judging and event recaps to in-depth analysis and final results, find everything you need at our Olympia coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia. Don’t miss out on the action!
Published: 18 December, 2022 | 2:01 AM EDT
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