Bodybuilder Hadi Choopan will not rest until he has a second Sandow trophy on his mantle. In a recent YouTube video shared on January 8, 2025, judge Terrick El Guindy discussed what will define Choopan’s legacy and named him Samson Dauda’s greatest threat heading into the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
Known for his extreme conditioning levels, it didn’t take long for Hadi Choopan to marry all aspects of bodybuilding to earn the sport’s ultimate crown. After many appearances on the prestigious podium, Choopan nailed his peak in 2022 against a stacked lineup to become the Mr. Olympia champion.
However, his second title didn’t materialize in 2023 as he planned. His teammate, Derek Lunsford, presented arguably his most complete physique to date en route to becoming a two-division Mr. Olympia winner. Choopan, who surrendered his title to Lunsford, went on a show rampage afterward.
He defeated Samson Dauda not once but twice. First, he battled ‘The Nigerian Lion’ at the 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio event, where he left fans blown away by his blend of size and conditioning. Then, Choopan secured gold against Dauda at the 2024 Arnold Classic UK show. However, when they met for a third time in the same season, Dauda showcased incredible improvements to become the newly crowned Mr. Olympia, leaving Hadi Choopan back on the hunt for gold.
Terrick El Guindy Discusses Hadi Choopan’s Legacy, Says He’s Samson Dauda’s Biggest Threat at 2025 Mr. Olympia
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In a recent YouTube video, Terrick El Guindy explained why Choopan winning multiple Mr. Olympia titles will be essential to his lasting legacy. In addition, he broke down why Choopan poses the biggest threat to Dauda in 2025.
“Hadi Choopan right after the Olympia, placing second, he said, I’m not going to do any other show. I’m going to prepare myself for the 2025 Mr. Olympia. I fully believe Hadi Choopan believes he can beat Samson Dauda and Derek.”
El Guindy highlighted that Choopan’s legacy will be defined by the number of Sandow trophies he earns, adding that he wants to be remembered like legends of sport such as Franco Columbu and Sergio Oliva.
“He knows his legacy will be defined by how many Olympias he has won. If he wins one, he joins a great selection of people. Samir Bannout, Chris Dickerson, Shawn Rhoden, Brandon Curry. But he wants to be with the two and three guys.
He wants to be with Franco Columbu, Frank Zane, Sergio Oliva, Big Ramy, that makes a difference when you’re talking about the history of bodybuilding and that’s why he said I’m not doing the New York Pro, I’m not doing the Arnold, I’m not doing any other shows. I want to be Mr. Olympia again.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 Olympia, Terrick El Guindy believes Choopan is ‘The Nigerian Lion’s’ biggest threat.
“He is the biggest threat to Samson Dauda. When it comes to conditioning, he’s been the most consistent bodybuilder on that stage. When it comes to placing, he’s been more consistent than anybody. He’s been more consistent than Derek and Samson.”
He pointed out that Choopan taking a year off to fine-tune his conditioning makes him especially dangerous, considering he consistently brings an ultra-detailed physique to competitions.
“He’s very dangerous and now he’s got a whole year off going into the Olympia,” he adds. “No, Hany [Rambod] is retired. One thing is for sure, Chris, like you were saying, this guy knows exactly what to do to get peeled.
He got peeled before he met Hany, he’s peeled during Hany, he’s going to get peeled after Hany. When he’s 75 years old and we bury him, he’s going to be peeled. That’s Hadi Choopan right there for you.”
Despite many bodybuilding legends, including Dennis James and Milos Sarcev, predicting that Hadi Choopan would enter the 2025 Arnold Classic to challenge Samson Dauda, it’s evident that ‘The Persian Wolf’ is focused on reclaiming the prestigious Olympia title. Having openly disagreed with the results of the 2024 Mr. Olympia, Choopan has the potential to bring a lethal physique to the prestigious stage, which will undoubtedly reaffirm his dominance in the Open division.
Though fans will have to wait a while before Hadi Choopan steps onto the competitive stage again, one thing is certain: when he arrives at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, he will bring a level of conditioning and intensity that make him a formidable contender for the title.
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