The recent guest posing event at the 2024 Pittsburgh Pro gave fans a look into the future of the Men’s Open. Taking to a recent YouTube video, judge Terrick El Guindy assessed the physiques of each competitor, and offered advice for the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest.
It was an action-packed night in Pittsburgh with a star-studded lineup of guest posers on display. Reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford set the tone with improved leg development, and some fans were especially impressed with Nick Walker‘s physique, as he intends to compete in under a week at Steve Weinberger’s 2024 New York Pro.
In addition, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked, Hunter Labrada, and Martin Fitzwater also made lasting impressions. But that wasn’t all; Classic Physique stars Ramon Queiroz and Urs Kalecinski shined on stage, laying the foundation for a legendary Mr. Olympia event.
Judge Terrick El Guindy Breaks Down Pittsburgh Guest Posing Event, Examines Each Athlete’s Physique
Terrick El Guindy acknowledged that Lunsford improved the size of his legs and added a new layer of thickness to his back.
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“Derek Lunsford. The Mr. Olympia. Legs, the legs were bigger. Yes. That was a point of focus for him and it looks like it’s working. I also think even though his back was already phenomenal, I also think his back is even getting better. He’s added a layer of thickness to his back.
So, Derek knows Hadi is coming but he’s not staying still. He’s also improving. The Mr. Olympia is going to be incredible.”
Although he believes Dauda’s back shots have come up, El Guindy suggested dieting earlier to improve his conditioning.
“Samson Dauda, massive, aesthetic, beautiful as always. I don’t think we are going to see Samson back on stage until the Olympia but this is a good time for Samson to decide what he is going to do in terms of his conditioning. Maybe start dieting a little bit earlier. I also think his back double biceps and his back lat spread is vastly improved. So, Samson might show up at the Olympia at his all-time best.”
While some have criticized Walker for his shape while guest posing, El Guindy underscores that Walker always enters contests in condition.
“Nick Walker. Humungous. Massive. A lot of people said he could have been a little bit tighter. I am the first one to tell you that one of the most consistent bodybuilders in terms of conditioning has been Nick Walker, so it’s hard for me to believe that he’s going to go to the New York Pro and not be conditioned. That’s one of the guys that’s always conditioned.”
El Guindy isn’t worried about Walker and suspects he will bring top-tier conditioning to New York.
“I’m not worried at all about Nick Walker. I think he’s going to show up in New York and I think he’s going to be conditioned.
Now, obviously, we are all speculating here but if you are in Nick Walker’s camp or a fan of Nick Walker, I wouldn’t be so concerned. This guy has done it many times. He knows his body. Matt Jansen knows his body. I think they are going to bring it.”
Martin Fitzwater continues to make a name for himself in the Open, and El Guindy believes he could be a factor on the Olympia stage with more muscle.
“Martin Fitzwater, man, coming out of a great victory in Detroit, now he wanted to guest pose, he’s doing the New York Pro, conditioning and shape but he’s not as big as some of these guys. He’s not as big as Derek Lunsford. He’s not as big as Nick Walker. I think Derek Lunsford right there next to him kind of showed him that he still has a little bit to go.”
El Guindy was blown away by the size of Andrew Jacked but clarified that he needs to dial in his conditioning to stand against the best in the world.
“Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada, both of them impressed me a lot. A lot of mass on both of them. Andrew Jacked is a statue, tall, beautiful, huge legs, he looks like he’s filling up. If this guy fills up and he’s conditioned, I don’t even know where we’re going with bodybuilding, we are just getting some guys from another planet. He is that good, but we need to see it at the Mr. Olympia.”
El Guindy says Hunter Labrada’s ‘x-factor,’ lines and mass could spell trouble for names like Walker and Lunsford on the horizon.
“Hunter, as I always say, he is the x-factor. He’s got the small waist but he can add a lot of muscle to his frame so guys like Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker can be actually attacked by Hunter Labrada because he’s got the lines and he can carry a lot of mass.”
Lastly, El Guindy reflected on the guest posing appearances of Ramon Queiroz and Urs Kalecinski.
“I want to talk to you about the Classic Physique guys that came in and mixed it up with the big guys. Ramon looked incredible, big, small waist, the legs were huge. And I think that’s a lesson for a lot of the other competitors. Get on stage and pose right next to the big bodybuilders. Urs Kalecinski looked incredible.”
“My co-host at Olympia Live, Bob Cicherillo, he said, ‘Terrick, I think Urs has to go to the Open, his frame allows him to have a lot more mass. I think he can go to the Open.’ Well, that’s going to be his decision. He’s one of the most successful Classic Physique guys,” shares Terrick El Guindy.
Following the guest posing event in Pittsburgh, head judge Steve Weinberger and Nick Walker spoke candidly about his physique and performance. Weinberger believes shape and conditioning will be Walker’s best route to victory against the reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford.
The anticipation surrounding the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest continues to ramp up after the action in Pittsburgh. Fans look forward to seeing their favorite athletes back on stage this October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada for bodybuilding’s biggest event of the year.
Watch the full video from the OlympiaTV YouTube channel below:
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