The debate about who could walk away as the next Mr. Olympia winner is heating up, prompting Samir Bannout to discuss the show’s frontrunners. In a recent Old School Labs Podcast, Bannout recapped the Olympia Battle workout, suggesting that Derek Lunsford will shock the world in October looking ‘five times’ better than he did last year. In addition, Bannout offered his top three predictions for the nearing 2024 Toronto Pro Supershow June 8-9.
In four months, the biggest bodybuilding show of the year will return to Las Vegas, Nevada at the Resort’s World for its 60th anniversary. Derek Lunsford will aim to cement himself as a two-time Mr. Olympia winner after taking the honor from Hadi Choopan in 2023.
While Lunsford committed to his off-season, his rivals took a different path to the 2024 Mr. Olympia. Hadi Choopan picked up two consecutive victories at the Arnold Classic Ohio and UK shows whereas Nick Walker, who healed from injuries, claimed gold in his comeback at the 2024 New York Pro. With Samson Dauda also looming in the division, the bodybuilding community expects Lunsford to have his hands full in October, except for Bannout.
Samir Bannout Calls Derek Lunsford ‘Literally Untouchable,’ Says He’ll Be ‘5X Better’ at 2024 Mr. Olympia
Although Bannout admits Walker was harder than Lunsford and Dauda ‘by a landslide’ during the Olympia Battle workout, he refused to discount the former 212 champ’s chances on the big stage.
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“Right now, I’m looking, whatever Nick is doing, his muscle hardness is the way I want it to look like. I think Nick Walker right there, if we’re going to judge muscle quality right now, Nick by a landslide is harder than both. I mean, now we know that Derek is unbelievable, he’s made tons of progress. His legs got improved. I don’t think Derek is going to have an issue when he is doing his work and peaks.”
Bannout put his money on Lunsford to win the 2024 Mr. Olympia, adding that when he’s ready, he’s ‘literally untouchable.’
“I said it before, I put my money on Derek to take it all,” shares Bannout. “But Derek also has to be ready. The physique of Derek it’s like literally untouchable when he’s ready. Now, right here, I’m looking Nick Walker, whatever he’s doing, I said it a million times already, that him and Matt his coach are doing the right thing.”
He believes Dauda could pose a threat to Lunsford if he gets ‘shredded to the bone.’ However, given Lunsford’s improvements lately, Bannout suggested that he will be ‘five times better’ than he was at the 2023 Olympia.
“If he gets shredded to the bone, then I’m not going to, but right now, looking at the body, I think Derek is like super massive, he flows very well, and he’s maintaining a good midsection, a good middle.
His abs are not ripped now but I mean he’s keeping the V. I would say Derek is going to shock the world again but he’s going to look five times better than he looked last year.”
If Walker hopes to push into title contention, Bannout explained that he will need to keep his stomach tight, which was a problem ‘The Mutant’ struggled with during his guest posing appearance in Pittsburgh.
“I want Nick Walker to develop a habit; it doesn’t matter where he is, but to keep flexing the stomach. It’s a habit, he should make a habit of it. He’s got a great body, he’s the hardest but you should never let your stomach go. I don’t care if you had 10,000 calories before, you want to keep that stomach tight.”
“This is something that we learned back in the days. Frank Zane, he never lets his stomach relax. Labrada did the same thing, so I want Nick Walker to there are some things that will help Nick with his presentation.”
Bannout doesn’t believe Walker’s Olympia Battle workout performance got in the head of Lunsford.
“Derek knows he has all the weapons. So, even though Nick looked the best that day, I don’t think it’s going to play in his psyche that ‘Oh, he’s going to be ahead of me at Olympia.’ It’s fun times. It’s fun times hanging out doing these things.”
Bannout’s Top 3 for the 2024 Toronto Pro
- Winner — Hassan Mostafa
- Second Place — Akim Williams
- Third Place — Quinton Eriya
The 2024 Toronto Pro Supershow will witness competitors battle to earn an Olympia qualification. Bannout gave his thoughts on the favorites below, picking Hassan Mostafa to win.
“It would be hard for me to just say, considering everyone at 100 percent I would say Hassan and Quinton and Akim are top three. But, considering everyone is in top condition, but I think Hassan could win it because Hassan has lots of muscle on him. He’s got beautiful arms, beautiful back, muscle bellies are long and he’s put together by God nicely,” shared Samir Bannout.
This wasn’t Samir Bannout’s first time breaking down the potential action that will unfold at the 2024 Mr. Olympia. He was impressed with the improvements Walker showcased on the New York Pro stage but took issue with his tan, warning him that for the Olympia, ‘You have to have everything done perfectly.’
Although his money is on Derek Lunsford to retain his title, Bannout refused to underestimate Choopan, Walker, and Dauda in October. As for the 2024 Toronto Pro Supershow this weekend, he predicted Hassan Mostafa to comfortably come out on top.
RELATED: Samir Bannout Opens Up On 2024 Mr. Olympia ‘Major Rivalry’ Between Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan
Watch the full video from the Old School Labs Podcast below:
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