All of your winners of the Classic Physique division at Mr. Olympia.<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\nThe Mr. Olympia<\/a><\/span><\/strong> contest is the largest bodybuilding show that fans look forward to, and competitors work towards every year. This competition is the premiere example of physical specimens, humans with the most amount of muscle mass<\/a><\/strong> and some serious shreds<\/a><\/strong>. The Olympia a real test of who has worked the hardest in the gym<\/a><\/strong> and on their diet<\/a><\/strong> all year to build, sculpt, and tone their physiques into shredded beings. In this post we will cover every winner of the Classic Physique Olympia in history.<\/strong><\/p>\nJoe and Ben Weider sprouted this event decades ago, in 1965, when Larry Scott<\/a><\/span> <\/strong>went on to win it back-to-back. And the Olympia has seen some amazing winners such as Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a><\/strong> and Ronnie Coleman<\/a><\/strong>. Now, we have a new champion, Derek Lunsford<\/a><\/strong> who competed against some great physiques like Hadi Choopan<\/a><\/strong>, the former champ, and Samson Dauda<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nAnd while most people always hear of the overall Men\u2019s Open winner<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, plenty of other events occur with plenty of competitors seeking the top prize. The Classic Physique division<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is one of them and is growing rapidly.<\/p>\nWhat is the Classic Physique Division?<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn 2016, Mr. Olympia expanded to include the Classic Physique division<\/strong>. Following certain rules and regulations separates this from other events at Mr. Olympia, but expanding allowed more competitors to want to compete, given that a better opportunity to win was possible. Plus, it only brings more attention to the sport, which is always good.<\/p>\nRelated: Every Winner Of The New York Pro Bodybuilding Show<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nThe Classic Physique division competitors don\u2019t rely on sheer mass as much as the Men\u2019s Open division. That\u2019s why the athletes in this division have a weight division linked to their height\u2013to prevent contenders from being too big.<\/p>\n
Instead, it\u2019s more artful, and posing<\/a><\/strong> plays an important part in the judging. The goal of Classic Physique is to mimic the look of the \u201cGolden Era\u201d of bodybuilding, with muscular but symmetrical<\/a><\/strong> physiques that perfectly flow together, topped off by good conditioning<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe Classic Physique division has only been around for less than a decade in the IFBB Pro League, and come competitors have won multiple titles. So the list of winners is short. The first outing for this class took place in 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Orleans Arena, with Danny Hester becoming the first-ever IFBB Pro Classic Physique champ.<\/p>\n
Below is a list of all the winners for the Classic Physique division at Mr. Olympia.<\/strong> You will find a short list of repeat winners, given that these athletes put everything they have into making this event as great as possible.<\/p>\nClassic Physique Olympia Winners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Danny Hester<\/strong> \u2013 2016<\/li>\n
- Breon Ansley<\/strong> \u2013 2017 & 2018<\/li>\n
- Chris Bumstead<\/strong> \u2013 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024<\/li>\n
- Ramon Querioz<\/strong> \u2013 2025<\/li>\n
- Niall Darwen <\/strong>\u2013 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nDanny Hester \u2013 2016<\/strong><\/h3>\nDanny Hester<\/strong><\/a><\/span> was the inaugural winner of the Classic Physique division at Mr. Olympia, setting a precedent for future winners. His desire for bodybuilding came as a passion for individual sports, and from there, it grew into something he loved, crafting and sculpting his physique. Winning many competitions and kicking things off for the Classic Physique division made him a real force in the bodybuilding community, and his passion for the sport still remains strong.<\/p>\nRelated: Every Winner Of The Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Show<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nBreon Ansley \u2013 2017 & 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\nBreon Ansley<\/strong><\/a><\/span> is next in line and took the next two titles for the Classic Physique division. Always athletic growing up, this pro bodybuilder had a football scholarship to Iowa State as a defensive end, but as many have experienced, an injury<\/a><\/strong> forced him to stop. Through this, however, he found bodybuilding and began competing, finishing highly, and establishing himself in the bodybuilding community. His two back-to-back wins cemented for him that he was capable of competing with the best.<\/p>\nChris Bumstead \u2013 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"2024](\"https:\/\/generationiron.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-Olympia-Chris-Bumstead.jpg\"\/)
![\"2024](\"https:\/\/generationiron.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-Olympia-Chris-Bumstead.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nChris Bumstead<\/a><\/span> <\/strong>was unstoppable for a span of time, as he took the title in the Classic Physique category at Mr. Olympia six years in a row, beating out some amazing competitors. Weightlifting at a young age, it is no surprise that he loves bodybuilding and is willing to do what it takes to see serious gains. He started out receiving guidance from pro bodybuilder Iain Valliere<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, but now worked closely under the supervision of renowned coach Hany Rambod, who has coached multiple Mr. Olympias, so it is safe to say that Chris Bumstead had the best advice during his career.<\/p>\nRamon \u201cDino\u201d Rocha Queiroz<\/strong><\/h3>\nA quickly rising name in the bodybuilding world, the classic physique division in particular, is Ramon Rocha Queiroz, also known as Ramon Dino. Coming in 2nd place at the 2022 and 2023 Mr. Olympia competitions, Ramon was right on the heels of reigning champ, Chris Bumstead until this year.<\/p>\n
2025 Ramon took home the title, solidifying a new face of the division. However, the class is growing with more and more competitors each show, so Ramon will be fighting to stay on top for sure!<\/p>\n
Niall Darwen<\/h3>\n
Niall Darwen seemingly came out of nowhere at the 2026 Olympia contest. From fifth place at the 2025 contest<\/a><\/strong>, to jumping all the way to first ahead of top competitors like Ramon Dino and Mike Sommerfeld, it was clear he put the work in during the offseason. <\/p>\nDarwen was also the winner of the division at contests like the NY Pro and Pittsburgh Pro, where it became clear that he was a force in the division.<\/p>\n
The question now is, can he hold the position next year? <\/p>\n
Classic Physique Olympia 2026 Recap<\/b><\/h3>\n
The 2026 Mr. Olympia<\/span><\/a><\/strong> contest was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 24-27th. As fan favorites and new up-and-comers sought to be the best, it was surely an exciting event to watch, and showed us some great talent. The 2026 Olympia also showed us a few Classic Physique competitors to look out for.<\/p>\nWrap Up<\/strong><\/h3>\nMr. Olympia is a great event full of amazing bodybuilding action, but you will find that these competitors always look to be the best. The Classic Physique<\/strong> division is a great category that has seen repeat winners but lends itself to the hard work of these three competitors thus far. Who knows where this event will go or if one of these winners will continue to dominate for years to come?<\/p>\n
\nLet us know what you think in the comments below.\u00a0Also, follow Generation Iron<\/strong><\/a> on\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, Twitter<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n*Images courtesy of Danny Hester Instagram, Breon Ansley Instagram, and Chris Bumstead Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Joe and Ben Weider sprouted this event decades ago, in 1965, when Larry Scott<\/a><\/span> <\/strong>went on to win it back-to-back. And the Olympia has seen some amazing winners such as Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a><\/strong> and Ronnie Coleman<\/a><\/strong>. Now, we have a new champion, Derek Lunsford<\/a><\/strong> who competed against some great physiques like Hadi Choopan<\/a><\/strong>, the former champ, and Samson Dauda<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n And while most people always hear of the overall Men\u2019s Open winner<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, plenty of other events occur with plenty of competitors seeking the top prize. The Classic Physique division<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is one of them and is growing rapidly.<\/p>\n In 2016, Mr. Olympia expanded to include the Classic Physique division<\/strong>. Following certain rules and regulations separates this from other events at Mr. Olympia, but expanding allowed more competitors to want to compete, given that a better opportunity to win was possible. Plus, it only brings more attention to the sport, which is always good.<\/p>\n Related: Every Winner Of The New York Pro Bodybuilding Show<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The Classic Physique division competitors don\u2019t rely on sheer mass as much as the Men\u2019s Open division. That\u2019s why the athletes in this division have a weight division linked to their height\u2013to prevent contenders from being too big.<\/p>\n Instead, it\u2019s more artful, and posing<\/a><\/strong> plays an important part in the judging. The goal of Classic Physique is to mimic the look of the \u201cGolden Era\u201d of bodybuilding, with muscular but symmetrical<\/a><\/strong> physiques that perfectly flow together, topped off by good conditioning<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Classic Physique division has only been around for less than a decade in the IFBB Pro League, and come competitors have won multiple titles. So the list of winners is short. The first outing for this class took place in 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Orleans Arena, with Danny Hester becoming the first-ever IFBB Pro Classic Physique champ.<\/p>\n Below is a list of all the winners for the Classic Physique division at Mr. Olympia.<\/strong> You will find a short list of repeat winners, given that these athletes put everything they have into making this event as great as possible.<\/p>\n Danny Hester<\/strong><\/a><\/span> was the inaugural winner of the Classic Physique division at Mr. Olympia, setting a precedent for future winners. His desire for bodybuilding came as a passion for individual sports, and from there, it grew into something he loved, crafting and sculpting his physique. Winning many competitions and kicking things off for the Classic Physique division made him a real force in the bodybuilding community, and his passion for the sport still remains strong.<\/p>\n Related: Every Winner Of The Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Show<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Breon Ansley<\/strong><\/a><\/span> is next in line and took the next two titles for the Classic Physique division. Always athletic growing up, this pro bodybuilder had a football scholarship to Iowa State as a defensive end, but as many have experienced, an injury<\/a><\/strong> forced him to stop. Through this, however, he found bodybuilding and began competing, finishing highly, and establishing himself in the bodybuilding community. His two back-to-back wins cemented for him that he was capable of competing with the best.<\/p>\n Chris Bumstead<\/a><\/span> <\/strong>was unstoppable for a span of time, as he took the title in the Classic Physique category at Mr. Olympia six years in a row, beating out some amazing competitors. Weightlifting at a young age, it is no surprise that he loves bodybuilding and is willing to do what it takes to see serious gains. He started out receiving guidance from pro bodybuilder Iain Valliere<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, but now worked closely under the supervision of renowned coach Hany Rambod, who has coached multiple Mr. Olympias, so it is safe to say that Chris Bumstead had the best advice during his career.<\/p>\n A quickly rising name in the bodybuilding world, the classic physique division in particular, is Ramon Rocha Queiroz, also known as Ramon Dino. Coming in 2nd place at the 2022 and 2023 Mr. Olympia competitions, Ramon was right on the heels of reigning champ, Chris Bumstead until this year.<\/p>\n 2025 Ramon took home the title, solidifying a new face of the division. However, the class is growing with more and more competitors each show, so Ramon will be fighting to stay on top for sure!<\/p>\n Niall Darwen seemingly came out of nowhere at the 2026 Olympia contest. From fifth place at the 2025 contest<\/a><\/strong>, to jumping all the way to first ahead of top competitors like Ramon Dino and Mike Sommerfeld, it was clear he put the work in during the offseason. <\/p>\n Darwen was also the winner of the division at contests like the NY Pro and Pittsburgh Pro, where it became clear that he was a force in the division.<\/p>\n The question now is, can he hold the position next year? <\/p>\n The 2026 Mr. Olympia<\/span><\/a><\/strong> contest was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 24-27th. As fan favorites and new up-and-comers sought to be the best, it was surely an exciting event to watch, and showed us some great talent. The 2026 Olympia also showed us a few Classic Physique competitors to look out for.<\/p>\n Mr. Olympia is a great event full of amazing bodybuilding action, but you will find that these competitors always look to be the best. The Classic Physique<\/strong> division is a great category that has seen repeat winners but lends itself to the hard work of these three competitors thus far. Who knows where this event will go or if one of these winners will continue to dominate for years to come?<\/p>\n Let us know what you think in the comments below.\u00a0Also, follow Generation Iron<\/strong><\/a> on\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, Twitter<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n *Images courtesy of Danny Hester Instagram, Breon Ansley Instagram, and Chris Bumstead Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat is the Classic Physique Division?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Classic Physique Olympia Winners<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\nDanny Hester \u2013 2016<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Breon Ansley \u2013 2017 & 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Chris Bumstead \u2013 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nRamon \u201cDino\u201d Rocha Queiroz<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Niall Darwen<\/h3>\n
Classic Physique Olympia 2026 Recap<\/b><\/h3>\n
Wrap Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n