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The Olympia is the Superbowl of Bodybuilding. Whosoever wins this contest in any of the ten divisions offered can say they are the best in the world. That\u2019s the whole point of competing at the highest level of physique-based sports. I don\u2019t care who we\u2019re talking about, if you choose to compete in the NPC (National Physique Committee), you have two goals \u2013 one is to turn pro and the second is to compete at The O. It\u2019s as simple as that. While other federations pride themselves on having a top show, the Olympia is the top of the heap. Even rival federations, for example the IFBB Elite Pro, have no choice but to recognize the Olympia as being a cut above the rest. They may shy away from admitting so publicly, but they all know it\u2019s true. There\u2019s simply no other contest like it. Nothing compares to its history, and nothing comes close to its reach. This is just a fact. It may pain others to admit it, but it\u2019s true. There can be only one winner in each division. From there, however, there are other top honors to discuss. There\u2019s the runner-up spot, Top 3, and Top 6. If someone takes 2nd<\/sup> or 3rd<\/sup>, a strong case can be made for them being the uncrowned champ. Anyone in the Top 6 is in the mix, as well. These honors are reserved for a select few, but there\u2019s one other group that needs to be included, and that is the Olympia Top 10.<\/p>\n Being a Top 10 Olympian means that you\u2019re on the brink of greatness. It\u2019s a tremendous accomplishment that can result in sponsorships and commands media attention. There are competitors who spend an entire career waiting for this accomplishment. Whether you\u2019re 7th<\/sup> or 10th<\/sup> doesn\u2019t really matter. It\u2019s about getting there. A Top 10 competitor could be in the Top 6 as well. In fact, guys who wind up in the Top 10 might have battled on some level during first callouts. Imagine making it to the Super Bowl of Bodybuilding and having been on a stage in the same group as the champ! That\u2019s huge! And that doesn\u2019t just happen. If you\u2019re in the first callout, that means you\u2019re doing the business of bodybuilding. It means that you did what was needed to be done during your prep. It also means that you stood tall and posed hard. It means that the judges thought enough of you and your physique to include you with the very best in the world. Once a competitor makes Top 10, now they get a certain level of deference when doing other shows. They also get a much closer look at future Olympias they compete in. This is because they\u2019ve proven themselves. And isn\u2019t that a huge part of physique-based sports, anyways? Everything is a test. Everyone wants to know what you\u2019re made of.<\/p>\n So, who do I think will be in the Top 10 at the 2026 Olympia? This is perhaps the most fun of the whole year because the readers want to see what the writers and talking heads have to say when it comes to predictions. I remember back in the good ole days of the message boards, the regulars would have all out battles on who placed where. In the end, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the thing with predictions is that people get very offended if their favorite stars don\u2019t get love. In fact, many top bodybuilders will take to DM\u2019ing and\/or blocking media outlets if they don\u2019t a favorable prediction. That\u2019s where I think a lot of competitors need to get a grip.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, predictions don\u2019t matter. I mean all that matters is what the judges say, right? Yes and no. Some competitors feel that their fans need to show loyalty and heart. And what better way to prove this than by predicting them to win or receive top \u00a0honors? I don\u2019t get down like that. I never have. That might explain why I\u2019ve been blocked by guys like Phil Heath, Nick Walker, and others. But f*ck it! I write what I see and what I believe, and the same goes for my predictions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n