As the road to the 2026 Mr. Olympia continues to heat up, fans are dissecting every social media post from the sport’s biggest stars. Hadi Choopan gave us the latest example when he shared a cryptic Instagram story – that many believe could be directed at reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford.
The message, which did not mention anyone by name, appeared to address criticism about experience, status, and what it means to truly be the best in the sport.
“Please never speak of me as inexperienced because in chess sometimes the pawn becomes the minister and the king is checkmated.”
The post continued by warning against considering oneself the best simply because of current success, adding that even great champions lose.
Choopan didn’t identify the target – but bodybuilding fans quickly began speculating that the message could have been aimed at Lunsford.
Is Hadi Choopan Responding to Derek Lunsford?
The timing has certainly fueled the speculation.
Lunsford is now embracing a far more outspoken persona than fans have seen in the past. The reigning Mr. Olympia recently made headlines after declaring that he “owns” the Mr. Olympia position and suggesting that no one in the Men’s Open lineup was ready to take the title from him.
The comments represented a noticeable shift for Lunsford, who has traditionally carried himself as one of the sport’s quieter champions. Instead, he has increasingly found himself at the center of debates involving several of bodybuilding’s biggest names.
Lunsford has publicly discussed Andrew Jacked’s title chances, weighed in on the strengths and weaknesses of rival contenders, and recently cast doubt on Choopan’s ability to reclaim the Sandow.
Speaking about Choopan’s efforts to improve his lower body, Lunsford suggested those changes could potentially create new balance issues elsewhere in the physique, comments that generated significant discussion throughout the bodybuilding community.
With those remarks still fresh in fans’ minds, many immediately connected Choopan’s latest post to the reigning champion.
Derek Lunsford Has Embraced a More Aggressive Competitive Mindset
The speculation also comes as Lunsford continues to lean into a more confident and confrontational style ahead of Olympia season.
Generation Iron recently covered Lunsford’s comments about “owning” the Mr. Olympia title, as well as his assertion that he would not allow a “dud” competitor to take the crown from him. Those remarks sparked plenty of reactions among fans, with some applauding the confidence and others viewing it as an unusually aggressive approach from the champion.
Whether intentional or not, the comments have helped create storylines throughout the Men’s Open division, adding another layer of intrigue to an already stacked Olympia race.
Hadi Choopan vs. Derek Lunsford: One of Bodybuilding’s Biggest Rivalries
Trash talk or not, Choopan and Lunsford remain connected through one of the defining rivalries of modern bodybuilding.
Choopan captured the Olympia title in 2022, before Lunsford dethroned him in 2023 – and both athletes are firmly in the championship conversation this year.
The addition of contenders such as Andrew Jacked, Samson Dauda, and Martin Fitzwater has only made the battle more competitive, but fans continue to view Choopan and Lunsford as two of the division’s most dangerous threats.
A Message, A Warning, Or Just Coincidence?
At this point, there is no evidence that Choopan’s post was specifically directed at Derek Lunsford.
It could have been aimed at another athlete, a critic, or simply served as a motivational message. However, given Lunsford’s recent comments and his increasingly vocal presence within the sport, fans have been quick to draw their own conclusions.
Featured image via Instagram @dereklunsford_, @hadi_choopan
