Debates are raging about who will walk away with the prestigious Sandow trophy this October. In a recent Cutler Cast podcast, Regan Grimes weighed Derek Lunsford‘s chances of winning the 2024 Mr. Olympia against Hadi Choopan.
In the finals at the Mr. Olympia last year, Lunsford and Choopan engaged in an all-out war to determine who would become the 18th man to win the sport’s greatest title. Despite Choopan’s grainy hardness and bulletproof side poses, he couldn’t stop Lunsford’s back shots, which played a significant role in his victory. Lunsford’s accomplishment established him as bodybuilding’s first-ever two-division Mr. Olympia titleholder.
After Choopan came up short, he re-centered his mind and participated in the 2024 Arnold Classic. He presented an even better physique than at the Olympia en route to defeating Samson Dauda in Ohio. ‘The Persian Wolf’ didn’t stop there. He traveled to the UK and picked up another major win over Dauda at the Arnold Classic UK show.
With the title up for grabs again in four months, Men’s Open talent Regan Grimes took a closer look at the potential rematch between Lunsford and Choopan.
Regan Grimes Chats W/ Jay Cutler About Derek Lunsford’s Chances of Winning 2024 Mr. Olympia
Grimes believes Choopan’s physique from his last two contests would have overwhelmed Lunsford on the 2023 Olympia stage. However, he refused to dismiss the improvements of Lunsford throughout the 2024 season.
“The Mr. Olympia is Derek, do you feel he repeats, or you think Hadi?” asks Jay Cutler.
“I know Derek is going to get better from last year,” says Grimes. “Hany has him figured out so well.”
“[Derek] is very hard to beat. What we saw from Hadi at the Arnold Classic Columbus, I think he beat what Derek had this last year but if Derek gets better,” said Grimes.
Grimes thought Choopan won both Arnold shows handily and credited the former Mr. Olympia for his hard muscularity and striations.
“I mean, I feel like he progressed quite a lot from the Olympia to the Arnold. He was much harder, right? Glutes, everything was just striated everywhere. My favorite shot is the side,” says Grimes. “Shit is crazy.”
“I think if you’re like judging all the parts, front, back, side, you know, the condition, he wins [against Samson at both Arnold Classic contests]. Samson’s structure, silhouette I’d say is by far the best I think [in the IFBB Pro League].”
In addition to Grimes, other bodybuilding names have been vocal about the nearing Olympia showdown. Hany Rambod, who serves as a coach to Lunsford and Choopan, believes both men will contend for gold looking their absolute best in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bodybuilding legend and former seven-time Olympia titleholder Phil Heath has offered his two cents regarding the 2024 competition. In addition to previewing the Olympia show, he commented on Choopan’s conditioning from Ohio and the UK.
“Hadi Choopan looked sick. I think him and Derek are going to, I’m very excited for the 60th, let’s put it like that,” said Heath. “Oh, it was probably lymph nodes or something [Lunsford’s pointy lats], probably had swelling, part of the game, I guess.”
Following Lunsford’s impeccable guest posing appearance in Pittsburgh, the anticipation surrounding the Olympia has only intensified. Don’t miss the epic conclusion of the 2024 Mr. Olympia show taking place October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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