Derek Lunsford entered the competition as the defending champion with a clear goal—to become the first three-time Mr. Olympia winner since the era of the legendary Phil Heath. However, the competition was exceptionally fierce this year. Andrew Jacked arrived with an undefeated record following triumphs at the Romania Pro, the Arnold Classic, and the Arnold Classic UK. Samson Dauda, the 2024 champion, arrived in top form, bolstered by his recent victory at the Europa Pro (September 13).
Unexpected events also came into play. A huge loss for the field was the August withdrawal of last year’s runner-up, Hadi Choopan. In contrast, Nick Walker, who bounced back from last year’s sixth-place finish with a victory at the Tampa Pro, came to Las Vegas this year to fulfill his lifelong dream.
A Thrilling Finale and “Mutant’s” Triumph
During the evening finals, the top favorites battled it out in every required pose before the thrilling final pose-off. The heavyweights gave the judges nothing for free during the comparison, and the title was decided by millimeters.
As soon as the judging was over, a resounding verdict shook the arena: Nick Walker wins the coveted Sandow Trophy and becomes Mr. Olympia for 2026! The massive Samson Dauda fought his way to an excellent second place, while the dethroned defending champion, Derek Lunsford, had to settle for bronze.
Official Results and Prize Money for Mr. Olympia 2026
- 1st place: Nick Walker ($600,000)
- 2nd place: Samson Dauda ($200,000)
- 3rd place: Derek Lunsford ($100,000)
- 4th place: Andrew Jacked ($40,000)
- 5th place: Tonio Burton ($30,000)
- 6th place: Michal Križánek
- 7. Regan Grimes
- 8th: Behrooz Tabani
- 9th: Brandon Curry
- 10th: James Hollingshead
The Men’s Open Royal Division is the absolute pinnacle of bodybuilding, requiring uncompromising dedication to training and brutal strength. Equip yourself with men’s pieces from the exclusive limited-edition NEBBIA x Olympia collection and take your training to a hardcore level that will bring you closer to the form of champions themselves. Here are pieces for those who are truly serious about building muscle mass.
No posts have been made yet.
