It’s full steam ahead for bodybuilder Hunter Labrada, who believes he has the tools to snatch the Sandow trophy out of Derek Lunsford’s hands. In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Labrada set his sights on the next Arnold Classic and teased two bodybuilding shows on the horizon before planning to win the 2024 Mr. Olympia. In addition, he laid out his physique goals, talked about his health, and who he would like to face on stage this year.
As a Men’s Open star, Hunter Labrada finds himself in a unique situation. His father, Lee Labrada, led an illustrious career as an Open Pro. Serving as a guide and mentor, Lee has helped Hunter achieve success in the IFBB Pro League.
With Arnold Schwarzenegger boosting the 2025 Arnold Classic Open winner prize money to $500,000, Hunter Labrada, like his rival Nick Walker, has expressed interest in the show. However, before he aims to net half a million in contest earnings, Labrada has opened up in detail about his imminent competition plans.
‘Supremely Confident’ Hunter Labrada Talks Next Arnold Classic & 2024 Mr. Olympia: ‘My Goal is to Be My Best Ever’
After Jay Cutler asked Hunter Labrada if he could win the Mr. Olympia, the Open star didn’t mince his words:
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“Can you win the Mr. Olympia, can you win this thing?” asks Jay Cutler.
“I believe I can. I believe I can,” replied Hunter Labrada. “Easy easy to tell you my best look ever put on stage was Tampa Pro of last year. Did Texas two weeks later. I think I lost Texas because I couldn’t control my midsection in rounds four and five.”
In addition to his Mr. Olympia-winning ambitions, Hunter Labrada expressed interest in competing at the 2025 Arnold Classic for the historic $500,000 prize money.
“I think it’s borderline weird that I haven’t done an Arnold with my past placings and stuff. The only thing it’s come down to is, like just the timeline on it.
Every single year I’ve had to qualify before the Olympia and do the Olympia so by the time we finish with the Olympia I’ve been running and gunning for 24-30 weeks.”
“This year, I’m planning on doing it because the timeline works really well for me.”
Looking ahead, Labrada is confident in his future after remedying a handful of health setbacks like SIBO (small intestines bacteria overgrowth), Candida overgrowth, and leaky gut.
“This last year’s Olympia was my 11th show ever. There’s a lot of guys that have been on stage with me that have competed 30, 40 times and they’ve been there done that and they are still not nailing it.”
“I’ve done 11 shows, this year it’ll be 12, 13, 14. I’m going to do two shows before the Olympia again this year. Haven’t announced them yet you don’t get that exclusive, sorry guys.”
“Heading into this year, I have those internal issues fixed. I’ll just tell y’all, that I had very bad SIBO, very bad Candida overgrowth, and very bad leaky gut between Texas and the Olympia. That’s what I was dealing with, spent three months fixing it.”
With renewed health, Hunter Labrada revealed that he is the biggest and leanest he has ever been.
“I’m the biggest I have ever been in my life right now, significantly leaner and I am coasting in terms of food and supplements.”
As for who he would like to stand against, Hunter Labrada wants to compete alongside Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, Brandon Curry, and Nick Walker.
“Yeah, I want the whole top five again. I want Hadi, Brandon, Derek, Nick will be back this year,” said Hunter Labrada. “I think Nick is a good dude and I think he’s going to shock some people this year. I do [see his updates]. I think he would have been right there in the mix with Hadi and Derek last year, I’ll be completely honest.”
“He gets freaky conditioned man,” adds Labrada. “I think it [Mr. Olympia] will be more exciting than last year.”
With a ‘responsive’ and healthy body, Hunter Labrada’s goal is to be his ‘best ever’ on the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage.
“It’s about putting it all together for sure. I’ve kind of had themes for each year if you will in my head. Last year, the entire time it was about making myself proud. Because after the O last year I was so personally disappointed in the performance.”
“I am supremely confident that I’ll be able to get to that level of Tampa conditioning. My body has never been healthier and more responsive. That level of conditioning, I really think there’s still another gear.”
“I want to win the Olympia this year, my goal is to be my best ever,” adds Labrada.
Last year, Hunter Labrada redeemed himself with a ‘slingshot’ season, starting with a victory at the 2023 Tampa Pro, sporting one of the best looks of his career. From there, he took second place behind Andrew Jacked at the Texas Pro. When it was time to test himself on the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage, Hunter walked away in sixth place.
Considering Hunter Labrada has used the time away from the stage to not only add mass but improve his health, the Open star will enter his next competition brimming with confidence. While he has yet to clarify which shows he will participate in, fans can look forward to seeing him back on stage soon.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Hunter Labrada Shares How He Builds Crazy Big Legs During 2024 Off-Season
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