It has been one of the hottest divisions at the Olympia Weekend since its inception back in 2016. For the 2024 Classic Physique Olympia Preview on October 10-13, a record 63 competitors will fight for the gold medal and the title of the best bodybuilder in the world.
Defending champion Chris Bumstead will look for a sixth consecutive title to maintain his iron grip on the No.1 position.
The division caters for the classical look of bodybuilding, emphasizing conditioning and symmetry rather than size alone. Weight and height classes ensure that the athletes present physiques that are in balance. The athletes execute the five key poses to present the physique, while the top competitors enter the final round to perform a 60-second posing routine.
2024 Mr. Olympia Roster
First, 64 athletes were slotted to compete in the 2024 Olympia Classic Physique division before former Arnold Classic champ Terrence Ruffin decided to pull out of the contest. He plans to take an extended off-season to work on his physique and show up with better chances for gold at the 2025 Olympia.
Here’s the full list of competitors:
- Tomas Adame (USA)
- Ahmed Hameed Aleidani (UAE)
- Osmar Alanis (Mexico)
- Kim Angel (Spain)
- Breon Ansley (USA)
- Justin Badurina (USA)
- Vahid Badpei (Iran)
- Jihoon Bang (South Korea)
- Chris Bumstead (Canada) — Reigning Champion
- Bjay Carswell (USA)
- Han Jin Choi (South Korea)
- Adrian Cyronek (Poland)
- Michael Daboul (UK)
- Niall Darwen (UK)
- Carlos Dommar (Venezuela)
- Mauro Fialho (Spain)
- Logan Franklin (USA)
- Breno Freire (Brazil)
- Fanni Fuadi (Indonesia)
- Diego Alejandro Galindo Garavito (Brazil)
- Jian Gao (China)
- Matthew Greggo (USA)
- Jorge Herrera (Mexico)
- Junior Javorski (Brazil)
- Shicheng Jin (China)
- Tyler Johnson (Canada)
- Nathaniel Joiner (USA)
- Fabio Junio (Brazil)
- Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
- Chen Kang (China)
- Andrei Kozhokar (Russia)
- Hyun Seok Lee (South Korea)
- Eric Lisboa (Brazil)
- Livingstone Livinho (Brazil)
- Antoine Loth (Spain)
- Stephane Matala (France)
- Matheus Menegate (Brazil)
- Everson Costa Melo (Brazil)
- Jose Manuel Munoz (Spain)
- Richard Nagy (Hungary)
- Damien Patrick (USA)
- JaeHun Park (South Korea)
- Gabriel Pereira (Brazil)
- Zhivko Petkov (Bulgaria)
- Ramon Rocha Queiroz (Brazil)
- Luca Reger (Germany)
- Emanuele Ricotti (Italy)
- Abdullah Al-Sairafi (Kuwait)
- Lamar Shaw (USA)
- Daryn Shirbayev (Kazakhstan)
- Julio Simoes (Brazil)
- Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
- Fabiony Sylvain (USA)
- Tony Taveras (USA)
- Andres Eduardo Taveras (Dominican Republic)
- Mikhail Timoshin (Russia)
- Robert Timms (USA)
- Wesley Vissers (Netherlands)
- Shitian Wang (China)
- Jeremiah Willies (USA)
- Kellen Wilson (Canada)
- Soomin Yoon (South Korea)
- Gabriel Zancanelli (Brazil)
Top Athletes To Watch — 2024 Classic Physique Preview
These are the frontrunners to claim the winner’s cheque:
Chris Bumstead
The popularity and physique of Chris Bumstead keep going upwards, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. This Canadian bodybuilder has already won five consecutive Olympia titles and is favored for his sixth in 2024.
What made him stand out was a perfect mix of muscle size, symmetry, flow, conditioning, and aesthetics-things that make him tough to beat.
Although the rumors of retirement did rounds, Bumstead is still dedicated to his sport, focused on continuing his reign and solidifying his place among the sport’s all-time greats. Injuries to his quad, lat, and bicep haven’t held him back, and pundits believe if he is 100 percent on show day, he’ll be untouchable at the 2024 Olympia.
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Wesley Vissers
Wesley Vissers has been the breakout star of the 2024 season. Coming off a seventh-place finish at the 2023 Olympia, he sent shockwaves throughout the sport of bodybuilding with his first-place finishes at the 2024 Arnold Classic US & UK, beating out well-known names like Ramon Queiroz, Urs Kalecinski, and Breon Ansley. Those victories cemented him as a heavy player looking to dethrone the reign of Chris Bumstead at the Olympia.
Vissers’ aesthetic physique, complete with muscle size, symmetry, and conditioning, is in a class of its own. Certainly, commentators and judges consider him one of the best front double biceps poses in the sport, making him nearly unbeatable from the front.
He confidently boasted that neither Queiroz nor Kalecinski would be on par with him at the 2024 Olympia. Vissers, also known as “The Dutch Oak,” took things one step further by saying that leg development is where Bumstead’s major flaw is, which could very well be his potential downfall.
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Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Ramon Rocha Queiroz, widely known as “Ramon Dino,” burst onto the scene with his fifth-place finish in his Olympia debut in 2021. Since then, he has been among the closest rivals of Chris Bumstead, taking second places at the Olympia competitions of 2022 and 2023.
While the physiques are somewhat similar between Queiroz and Bumstead, the Brazilian standout has a better development in the arms and shoulders area, catapulting him into a higher ranking over his challenger in those categories. Many people believe that Queiroz was not at his best during the competition where he lost to Wesley Vissers at the 2024 Arnold Classic US. Analysts say this will be a much tougher battle for Vissers at the 2024 Olympia.
Queiroz has spent the offseason building his size and conditioning. With his eyes on peaking perfectly, he’s looking to dethrone Bumstead at this year’s competition.
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Urs Kalecinski — 2024 Classic Physique Preview
Then, German bodybuilding sensation Urs Kalecinski burst into the Olympia limelight along with Ramon Queiroz and has since never looked back, always placing in the top five. His outstanding performances reaped two bronzes-one at the 2022 Olympia and one at the 2023 Olympia.
Kalecinski has a balanced physique, well-proportionate muscles, and great aesthetics, which make him a formidable competitor. He is excellent at posing, underlining his quality on stage and giving him the plus.
Kalecinski has been on the offensive going into 2024, targeting nothing less than gold at the sport’s biggest event, the Olympia.
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Breon Ansley
Classic Physique Olympia two-time winner in 2017-18 and onetime winner of the Arnold Classic announced he’ll be retiring from the division once he competes at the 2024 Olympia. Ansley, who plans on now making a home in the 212 division, thinks that Classic Physique’s height and weight restrictions put a cap on his real potential.
Ansley has been criticized by the judges for his leg development in the past, and he has certainly taken that to heart while working on some major improvements during the off-season. He said he intends to go out on top at the 2024 Olympia, capturing his third Olympia title.
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Underdogs — Michael Daboul & Mike Sommerfeld
Michael Daboul and Mike Sommerfeld have been two of the top Classic Physique athletes who have been doing incredibly well, but have yet to get the recognition they deserve. Both placed top eight at the 2023 Olympia and have been constant threats throughout the 2024 season.
In addition, the same Sommerfeld has been ahead to call out some of the big challengers like Ansley, Queiroz, Vissers, and Kalecinski on social media that they couldn’t stand a match to him at Olympia 2024. This Classic Physique is getting hyped between the fans.
If Bumstead doesn’t take the title, there might be a new Classic Physique Olympia champion for the first time since 2019.
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How to Watch — 2024 Classic Physique Preview
It will be a one-day event; the Classic Physique Olympia will take place on 12th October. The prejudging gets a slot in the morning, while the crowning of the champion is left for the night session.
Here is the detailed schedule of the Classic Physique Olympia contest:
Olympia Saturday Pre-Judging (9:30 a.m.) — 10/12/2024
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center (South Hall, Floors 1 & 2)
- Classic Physique Olympia
- Men’s Physique Olympia
- Bikini Olympia
- Wheelchair Olympia Pre-Judging & Finals
Olympia Saturday Finals (7:00 p.m.) — 10/12/2024
Location: Resorts World Theatre
- Men’s Physique Olympia
- Bikini Olympia
- Classic Physique Olympia
- Mr. Olympia
If you can’t make it to Las Vegas in the second week of October, the 2024 Olympia will be available for purchase via pay-per-view. You can purchase the Olympia PPV for $74.99 from Olympia’s official website.
Want to save a few bucks on your bottom line? Stay tuned to Colosseum Strength, as we will be covering every single second of the 2024 Olympia.
Previous Classic Physique Olympia Champions
Below are all the Classic Physique Olympia winners since its inception in 2016:
| Year | Winner | Location |
| 2023 | Chris Bumstead | Orlando, FL |
| 2022 | Chris Bumstead | Las Vegas, NV |
| 2021 | Chris Bumstead | Orlando, FL |
| 2020 | Chris Bumstead | Orlando, FL |
| 2019 | Chris Bumstead | Las Vegas, NV |
| 2018 | Breon Ansley | Las Vegas, NV |
| 2017 | Breon Ansley | Las Vegas, NV |
| 2016 | Danny Hester | Las Vegas, NV |
Overview
With the 2024 Classic Physique Olympia right around the bend, all eyes will fall upon reigning champion Chris Bumstead in his bid to capture a record-setting sixth title. Strong challengers such as Wesley Vissers, Ramon Rocha Queiroz, and Urs Kalecinski are coming forward to vie for the title. Everything is set for a thrilling competition on October 12, where the athletes will present their hard work, dedication, and incredible physiques. The fans are assured of a very captive performance in aesthetics and artistry as the cream competes for the prestigious gold medal. Who will emerge victorious in this highly competitive field? Only time will tell!
Featured Image – 2024 Classic Physique Olympia Preview – Credit: @the.miraclebear, @breonma_, @ramondinopro, @cbum, @wesleyvissers, @ahmad_askr_team, @mikethebadass (Instagram)
