The Mr. Olympia 2024 returns to the global consciousness for its 2024 edition. With it is a swarm of the biggest men and women you've ever seen, each hoping to end their weekends with their muscles bulging, their veins popping out and oil slathered all across their massive frames.
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Mr Olympia sees some of the largest men in the world face off their muscles on stage and before audiences worldwide to become crowned as the best bodybuilder in the world for that year, but what criteria do they need to meet to qualify?
The bodybuilding competition of the year is here. That's right — Mr. Olympia is back for its 60th anniversary and returning to Las Vegas.
2024 Mr. Olympia Competitors
Here are the athletes, listed by their qualification order:- Derek Lunsford (USA) – Defending Champion
- Hadi Choopan (Iran)
- Samson Dauda (UK)
- Theo Leguerrier (France)
- Rafael Brandao (Brazil)
- Martin Fitzwater (USA)
- Nicholas Walker (USA)
- Akim Williams (USA)
- Brandon Curry (USA)
- William Bonac (Netherlands)
- Behrooz Tabani (Iran)
- Nathan De Asha (UK)
- John Jewett (USA)
- Mohamed Foda (Egypt)
- Jonathan Delarosa (USA)
- Andrew Jacked (UAE)
- Hunter Labrada (USA)
- Bruno Santos (Brazil)
Past Olympia Champions
This year’s lineup includes three previous winners: 2023 champion Derek Lunsford, 2022 titleholder Hadi Choopan, and 2019 victor Brandon Curry, who remains eligible under a five-year rule. Notably, 2020 and 2021 winner Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay will not compete this year.The last time three former champions shared the Mr. Olympia stage was in 2020, when Curry, seven-time champion Phil Heath, and 2008 winner Dexter Jackson competed. That year, Elssbiay won his first title.
As 2023’s finalists, Lunsford and Choopan are widely considered top contenders, while Choopan and Curry are both aiming to regain the title, a feat only Jay Cutler accomplished in 2009.
Though some experts doubt Curry’s chances of a high placing in 2024, especially after a fourth-place finish in 2023 following hospitalization, he’s still a factor.
Mr. Olympia Top Contenders
Outside of the past champions, a few athletes stand out as major threats for the title. Samson Dauda, who placed third at the 2023 Mr. Olympia, finished second behind Choopan at both the 2024 Arnold Classic and Arnold Classic UK. While Dauda’s size is impressive, Choopan and Lunsford have historically outmatched him in conditioning.Nick Walker is another strong contender. Though he missed the 2023 Olympia due to a hamstring injury, he has a history of defeating both Dauda and Curry. After winning the 2024 New York Pro, Walker feels confident about his chances in Las Vegas, even going so far as to practice his victory speech. His conditioning could rival Choopan and Lunsford.
Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada have also been top-five finishers in the past. Both athletes qualified for 2024 late in the season, and if they bring their best, they could be contenders for the first callouts during pre-judging.
