Lee Priest sees huge potential in Anton Ratushnyi at just 22 years old. In an August 19 YouTube video, he urged the rising star to head over to the Men’s Open division. In addition, Priest broke down odds on who is most likely to win the 2026 Mr. Olympia.
“Anton, I’ve said it before, is 22, yes, maybe do Classic once but when you’re that young, your testosterone is pumping, yeah, you’re on a little bit of gear too, but naturally he must have good genetics to look like that no matter what, like similar to I was.”
From the moment he emerged on the scene, fans have taken notice of Ratushnyi. In 2023, he became the youngest Classic Physique competitor to earn an IFBB Pro card. He used the success at the NPC National Championships to tighten his physique for his Pro debut.
At the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, he held his own against top-tier talent and finished sixth. He showcased improvements on the San Antonio Pro stage en route to a second-place finish. After repping out two contests, Ratushnyi found his footing, claiming back-to-back victories at the Tournament of Champions Pro and Southern Muscle Showdown Pro.
Currently, Ramon ‘Dino’ Queiroz sits atop the Classic Physique Olympia throne. He defeated Mike Sommerfeld to earn the title last season. While the bodybuilding community is ready to see Ratushnyi against the best in his division, some, like Priest, believe his physique is better suited for the Men’s Open.
Lee Priest Weighs Anton Ratushnyi’s Open Potential
During the latest Bodybuilding and Banter episode, Priest compared Ratushnyi to his younger self and believes his future lies in the Men’s Open class, where competitors do not have to adhere to height or weight restrictions.
“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.
“Do the Classic and see how you do in the Open shows after Olympia, why not?”
Priest’s 2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Win Odds
Find Priest’s Men’s Open odds for the top six below:
- Andrew Jacked — 21%
- Hadi Choopan — 19%
- Nick Walker — 18%
- Samson Dauda — 17%
- Martin Fitzwater — 15%
- Derek Lunsford — 10%
Despite being a relatively new bodybuilder, Ratushnyi has proven he can stack on size to get stage-ready. He recently showed off a dramatic physique transformation over four years. The Classic Physique standout added significant mass to his frame and retained his vascular conditioning.
Soon, fans should have a better idea of how Ratushnyi will fare against Olympia-level talent. He continues to garner hype ahead of the 2026 Olympia, set for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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