{"id":23261,"date":"2026-06-25T17:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=23261"},"modified":"2026-06-25T17:57:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:57:00","slug":"shawn-ray-says-dont-go-to-mr-olympia-if-you-cant-win-predicts-top-stars-will-be-gone-in-3-years-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=23261","title":{"rendered":"Shawn Ray Says \u2018Don\u2019t Go\u2019 to Mr. Olympia If You Can\u2019t Win, Predicts Top Stars Will Be Gone in 3 Years \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Some believe making it to the Mr. Olympia is an accomplishment, but not Shawn Ray. In a YouTube video from June 24, 2026, he stressed that if you\u2019re not going to win or earn money, don\u2019t compete at the Mr. Olympia.<\/strong> In addition, he predicted that most top Men\u2019s Open stars won\u2019t be around in three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Mr. Olympia<\/a> continues to serve as the most prestigious contest in the IFBB Pro League<\/a>. Since its inception in 1965, the event has helped elevate the sport, featuring countless bodybuilding icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a>, Dorian Yates<\/a>, and Ronnie Coleman<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2025, Derek Lunsford<\/a> earned gold at the \u2018Super Bowl of Bodybuilding.\u2019 While Regan Grimes<\/a> and Urs Kalecinski<\/a> qualified, Ray was adamant that they should have skipped the contest<\/a>. Ultimately, \u201cThe Miracle Bear\u201d landed in 12th place, and Grimes settled for 14th.<\/p>\n

With Quinton Eriya being the latest to qualify in 2026, Ray broke down why it would benefit athletes to avoid the Olympia until they\u2019re ready to win it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Get Fitter, Faster<\/em><\/h3>\n

Level Up Your Fitness: Join our \ud83d\udcaa strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Shawn Ray Says Skip Mr. Olympia If You Can\u2019t Win, Projects Top Open Stars Are Gone in 3 Years\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In the video, Ray shared that if you can\u2019t win the Mr. Olympia or earn money, \u2018don\u2019t go.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMy positioning is this: for me, the Olympia is hallowed ground. I think if you\u2019re going, you\u2019re going to win, you\u2019re going to at least compete, you\u2019re going to get paid. If none of those things are on the table, don\u2019t go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He explained that athletes don\u2019t gain true experience if they can\u2019t break into the first callout.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no real experience to be gained watching guys better than you get called out ahead of you, and then you come in with the pickup crew. We said that about Regan Grimes. We said that about Urs Kalecinski.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve said that before about numerous guys. I think I even said that about Jon Delarosa, who is a veteran.\u00a0I said that, not from the point that they are not good enough, some of them just aren\u2019t ready.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In three years, Ray predicted that most top stars in the Men\u2019s Open will no longer be competing:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIn three years, this guy [Quinton Eriya] is 34 years old. At 34, I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve even heard of Andrew Jacked. At 34, I\u2019m not sure we were even talking about Samson at 34 years old. We were talking about Derek and Nick, they are the exceptions, but in three years, this guy is going to be 34 years old, barely.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guess who\u2019s going to be gone? Samson, Andrew Jacked, Derek, and Hadi. There\u2019s four, Brandon Curry and William Bonac. I got six guys in three years, 2029, that will be gone, living their lives in their 40s doing God knows what. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Nick Walker is gone by that time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In that time, he argued Eriya could take over as a top Men\u2019s Open contender.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Get Fitter, Faster<\/em><\/h3>\n

Level Up Your Fitness: Join our \ud83d\udcaa strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBut guess who will be 34 years old, fully matured and ready to rock and roll, who would be the new Andrew Jacked, who would be the new Samson.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy would be sitting at the top of the Olympia in three years at 34 years old if he paces himself,\u201d shared<\/a> Shawn Ray.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Eriya has already made it clear he will compete at this year\u2019s Mr. Olympia despite Ray\u2019s call to skip it. Health is never a guarantee, and Eriya emphasized that it\u2019s an opportunity he refuses to miss out on, especially since it would be his debut at the contest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Ray sees major turnover shaking up the Men\u2019s Open class. The 2026 Mr. Olympia is scheduled for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Jay Cutler Breaks Down Whether Taller Bodybuilders Have the Edge at the 2026 Mr. Olympia<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the full video from the VOB Media YouTube channel below:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n