Derek Lunsford is heading to the 2025 Arnold Classic, igniting discussions about his physique. In a recent YouTube video shared on January 11, 2025, Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier discussed if Lunsford has the greatest back of all time.
Known for his jaw-dropping rear lat spread and back double biceps pose, Derek Lunsford managed to utilize these weapons to win his maiden Sandow trophy in 2023. As a former 212 Olympia (2021), this victory established him as the sport’s first-ever two-division Olympia winner.
However, when it was time to defend the honor, his peak did not go according to plan at 2024 Olympia. His legs lacked the volume needed to overwhelm Hadi Choopan and first-place finisher Samson Dauda. Lunsford’s challenges didn’t stop there.
His long-time coach, Hany Rambod, decided to retire from training athletes. Enlisting the help of bodybuilding guru Chris Aceto, Lunsford plans to exact revenge against Dauda at the nearing 2025 Arnold Classic, leading to heated discussions about the quality of his back.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier Talk Derek Lunsford’s Back, Says It Could ‘Contend for the Best of All Time’
During the YouTube video, Cormier opened up on training with Lunsford. Even though his posterior chain is thought to be one of the most powerful in the IFBB, Cormier believes there’s still room for improvement.
“We’re going to work some chest and back before I leave. Back is today, chest is tomorrow,” said Cormier. “I want to solidify his back.”
“I want his lower lats to be more developed,” he adds. “For me, what I see, the lower lats with the insertions go into your body, the lat insertions. Everyone has lat insertions, everyone has where the lat attaches down into your body. Right there, is not very developed as I want it to be.”
Sarcev believes Lunsford masterfully displays his back with a twisting pose used by bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“When he goes to the pose and he turns to the side chest but before side chest he does that twisting back shot, Arnold’s, with one arm, and you can see the back pop. Then, he turns around and it’s like happening, right? Quiet audience and music is always pointing up like something spectacular is happening. Then, he hits that pose and it’s just like ice age. Winter is coming kind of thing.”
With bigger biceps peaks, Milos Sarcev argued Derek Lunsford could contend for having the best back of all time.
“I think his back double biceps is probably, if he had bigger biceps peaks, okay, he could probably contend for the best of all time,” said Milos Sarcev.
“I know he could use some more peak. I would like him to do everything to make that peak happen now. That’s working the outer part of the bicep, the shorter head of the bicep, that’s going to make the peak. I get all of that. Then, the brachialis, I can break him all the way down but I’m just saying overall,” explains Chris Cormier.
While Lunsford is happy to have a new coach, some in the sport believe it was the wrong move to join forces with Aceto, namely Shawn Ray. He explained that at Lunsford’s level in the sport, he should no longer require dieting and/or supplementation assistance.
Luckily, fans will find out if Lunsford’s coaching change produces improvements on stage. Don’t miss the 2025 Arnold Classic, taking place from February 27 to March 2 in Columbus, Ohio!
RELATED: Nick Walker Joins Derek Lunsford to Debate Who Has the Best Poses at ‘100 Percent’
Watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
