The reigning Open champion, Derek Lunsford, is slowly stepping up his training in preparation for the most important competition of the year. He recently shared a photo on his Instagram showing his current form, which makes it clear that he’s heading to Las Vegas this September for no other reason than to successfully defend his Sandow Trophy.
Lunsford had an absolutely phenomenal 2025 season, during which he won the coveted “Triple Crown”—dominating the Arnold Classic, the Pittsburgh Pro, and, of course, Mr. Olympia itself. Since then, he’s treated himself to a thorough off-season, during which he focused on improving his weaker areas, specifically his chest and biceps. Now, roughly a quarter of a year before the competition, he’s moving into the final cutting phase.
“In 14 weeks… we’ll take the stage. Let the transformation begin,” Derek wrote alongside a recent photo of himself showcasing one of the widest backs in the entire IFBB Pro League.
The rivalry with Andrew Jacked is heating up
While Lunsford was resting and bulking up after winning his title, a massive threat emerged in the category. Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekea had a dream start to 2026, winning the Arnold Classic in Ohio and in the UK and taking home a cool million dollars in prize money.
The rivalry between the two competitors is growing increasingly intense. During a joint training session (the Olympia Battle Workout), things even went so far that Lunsford told Jacked straight to his face that he would simply never win Mr. Olympia.
The line of challengers is long
But Andrew Jacked is certainly not the only one setting his sights on the king. The field in Las Vegas will be packed to the brim:
- Hadi Choopan: The “Persian Wolf” has finished second at the Mr. Olympia for the past three years. But now he’s joined forces with legendary coach Milos Sarcev, which, on paper, makes him perhaps the biggest favorite to dethrone Lunsford.
- Samson Dauda: The 2024 Olympia champion decided to change his strategy after his last slump to fourth place (due to an excessive effort to achieve maximum leanness, which backfired). He bulked up to an impressive 158 kg (350 pounds) to ensure the same mistake isn’t repeated.
- Nick Walker: “The Mutant” is currently fully focused on the upcoming Tampa Pro, where he aims to secure his qualification for Las Vegas with a commanding victory.
- Martin Fitzwater: Last year’s fifth-place finisher at the Olympia, who managed to defeat Dauda at the Prague Pro, will aim to fight his way back to the very top after his recent fourth-place finishes at the Arnold Classic.
Will Lunsford’s weight be an advantage or a trap?
Based on footage so far, it seems that Derek Lunsford will bring what may be the best physique of his career to the stage. But not everyone is thrilled about his massive size. Former champion Samir Bannout recently warned him that overdoing it with mass gain and excessive size could ultimately backfire.
We’ll see soon enough how it all plays out and who will take home the title of the world’s best bodybuilder this year. The prestigious Mr. Olympia 2026 will take place in Las Vegas from September 24 to 27. And by all accounts, we have a lot to look forward to!
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