As the much-anticipated Olympia contest approaches, Derek Lunsford is strategizing on how best to challenge his teammate, Hadi Choopan. Recently, on The Menace Podcast, Lunsford revealed that he has successfully added 8-10 pounds of muscle and anticipates a head-to-head showdown for the top spot with Choopan this November.
An Unexpected Opportunity Fuels Lunsford’s Momentum
Lunsford’s momentum took a significant turn following his guest appearance at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. Stepping in at short notice for the two-time Mr. Olympia champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Lunsford, then the reigning 212 Olympia champion, held his ground against some of the best Open competitors such as Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Hunter Labrada, and Quinton Eriya. This unexpected performance sparked conversations about a special invitation for Lunsford to the Olympia.
Seizing the Chance at Olympia 2022
In September, the Olympia brass extended the anticipated invitation to the 212 standout. Lunsford, alongside his coach Hany Rambod, immediately sprang into preparation mode. His Open debut on the sport’s most prestigious stage saw Lunsford turning heads, creating an unforgettable spectacle.
In a nail-biting 2022 Olympia final, Lunsford, Nick Walker, and Hadi Choopan vied for the gold. After several demanding comparisons led by judge Steve Weinberger, Choopan clinched the victory. Despite securing the second place, Lunsford left a lasting impression and became one of the most talked-about personalities post-event.
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Mapping Out the Road to Victory in 2023
As he gears up for his second Open Mr. Olympia, all eyes are on Lunsford. He has kept his fans in the loop, sharing updates on his diet, training, supplementation, and mental preparation as he inches towards the showdown. In a candid conversation with Milos Sarcev, Dennis James, and Chris Cormier, Lunsford discussed his progress and the improvements required to outshine ‘The Persian Wolf.’
Derek Lunsford Gains 8-10 lbs of Muscle, Reveals Strategy for Overcoming Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Lunsford reveals that he has bulked up with an additional 8-10 pounds of muscle for the 2023 Olympia. He anticipates that enhancements to his quads, legs, and chest will be crucial in securing a victory over Choopan in November.
“I am in a better starting point. I don’t have to worry about a skin infection. I’m up a good 8-10 pounds easily,” added Lunsford.
“I think he’s the best in the world, Dennis,” said Chris Cormier. “I noticed a lot of guys have been standing just straight up and down with their legs.”
“If name names and I start kind of breaking it down this is the way I see it. Hadi is the champ and it was close. And if you look at the scorecards, it was myself and Hadi and then there was a pretty big gap between first, second, and then third, fourth, fifth, and on. So really, on paper… it’s just Hadi,” said Lunsford.
“Of course [Samson is a threat] the top five or six guys are very competitive,” added Lunsford. “I think what you’re going to see is Hadi and myself battling it out as the top two, and I think you’re going to see a re-run of the Arnold with Nick and Samson battling it out for third and fourth. That’s just my opinion. I think that’s a little premature for me to even say.”
“If I can – I’ve already seen improvements in my chest. If I can keep the fullness there, I think just being a bigger sharper harder version of last year is what I need to do. I don’t think I need to sit here and nitpick Hadi and say this is where I beat him. I just beat myself from last year.”
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Even though Lunsford and Hadi Choopan share the same trainer, Hany Rambod, Lunsford does not anticipate that this will have any particular impact on their performances at bodybuilding competitions.
“My success is their [my coach’s] success. At the end of the day if the coach has two people in the same division at Olympia and they are top two, if it’s me as a coach, I’d say flip a coin, I really don’t care let’s celebrate.”
Lunsford’s Upgrades and the Nick Walker vs Samson Dauda Face-Off: A Discussion
Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier concur that with improved abs, particularly the serratus muscles, Derek Lunsford will be an unassailable presence on stage.
“I still don’t think that you have abs dialed in the way it should be with the intercostal serratus and detail here,” said Sarcev.
“That right there [better abs] is going to be big in the judge’s eyes. I think no judge on earth would pick you second again if you brought that up. You already have the legs, you already have the chest, it’s just a matter of getting to the Olympia and showing that off,” Chris Cormier explained.
In Lunsford’s perspective, the 2023 Olympia will replicate the scenario of the Arnold Classic, where Walker engaged in a close contest with Dauda. However, this time around, they’ll be challenging each other for the third and fourth-place titles.
“The fact that Samson did win the Arnold, he beat Nick at the Arnold, I think that goes to show that he obviously can surpass Nick but I think Nick at the Olympia bringing the conditioning that he did at the Arnold I think that he can still beat Samson.”
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With an optimistic outlook, Lunsford is confident that he will secure a Mr. Olympia title before his competitor, Nick Walker. Sarcev, on the other hand, sees Lunsford’s potential as going even further, with the capacity to win multiple Sandow trophies.
“God willing I stay healthy and injury free. I’m still knocking on the door to that title,” said Lunsford.
“Absolutely, when I look at you, I think you’re a formidable guy that could be a multiple champion, multiple. You’re 30 years old,” said Sarcev.
Cormier has expressed his belief that Lunsford will clinch the Mr. Olympia title before Walker. Nonetheless, Cormier does foresee that ‘The Mutant’, Walker’s moniker, will secure a Mr. Olympia title eventually.
“I got Derek first, but I got Nick winning one,” said Cormier.
“Listen, man, I’m not the judge but I’m always going to bet on me,” said Lunsford. “I’m not in here to be anything but the champion.”
Maintaining a flexible approach, Lunsford has indicated that he would contemplate participating in the Arnold Classic next year, provided he emerges victorious at the Mr. Olympia event in three months.
“There is a possibility [I’d consider the Arnold Classic if I win the Olympia]. I have to do the Olympia and see how it goes,” said Lunsford.
Derek Lunsford Faces Training Challenges Head-On, Considers Future Competitions
Never one to retreat from rigorous training, Lunsford, as part of a special collaboration with Olympia TV and Chris Cormier, faced off against Samson Dauda in a formidable back-building workout. Fans were astounded by the magnitude of the athletes’ physiques, even months ahead of the most prestigious event in the sport. Dauda has openly declared that if he can enhance his back, he could prevent Lunsford, Choopan, and Walker from blocking his path to the Mr. Olympia title.
Walker, on the other hand, is of the opinion that the battle for the gold at the 2023 Mr. Olympia will be between him and Lunsford, and he doesn’t foresee Choopan successfully defending his title. However, there are those within the sport, like eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, who have more faith in Lunsford. Coleman has recently forecasted that Lunsford will outdo Choopan later this year, even naming Lunsford as his favorite bodybuilder of this generation.
As the clock ticks closer to Lunsford’s second Open Mr. Olympia contest, anticipation builds. Fans eagerly await to see whether Choopan can defend his title against a group of highly motivated contenders.
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Overview
In the upcoming Olympia contest, Derek Lunsford is formulating strategies to outperform his teammate, Hadi Choopan. On The Menace Podcast, Lunsford disclosed his 8-10 pounds muscle gain and anticipates a tough battle for the top spot with Choopan this November. His career took a significant turn in 2022 when he guest-appeared at the Pittsburgh Pro, leading to a special invitation to the Olympia. Despite securing second place in 2022, Lunsford left a lasting impression and has since been one of the most discussed figures in the sport. He is now preparing for his second Open Mr. Olympia and is eager to compete against an array of highly driven contenders.
Featured Image @Muscle and Fitness (YouTube) & @nick_walker39 @dereklunsford_ (Instagram)
