Bodybuilding’s largest weekend of the yr is upon is. The 2025 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend returns to Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 9-12, and the primary occasion would be the 61st version of the Mr. Olympia contest.
The Males’s Open competitors will characteristic 20 athletes representing 10 nations. 4 of these males have held the Sandow Trophy of their illustrious careers. These 4 males need to preserve it that manner, whereas the remainder of the sphere need Bob Cicherillo to announce “and new” on Saturday night time.
Prejudging will happen at Resorts World Theater on Friday, Oct. tenth and the finals can be held the next night time. The complete lineup for the Males’s Open is under.
2025 Olympia Males’s Open Roster
PAST CHAMPIONS
Samson Dauda
The reigning and defending champion of the world is Samson Dauda, who will attempt to be the primary man since Huge Ramy to win two Olympias in a row. The nineteenth Mr. Olympia champion has traveled the world spreading the phrase of bodybuilding however is now locked in on bringing a second Sandow to the UK. Count on the champion to be greater than final yr whereas making an attempt to carry his conditioning in much more. If these goals are met, he can be powerful to beat. If he reveals up the identical as he did in 2024, he can be in for a protracted weekend.
Derak Lunsford
Ever since Derek Lunsford tasted defeat because the third-place finisher in 2024, he’s been hellbent on reestablishing himself because the primary man within the sport. Lunsford has received the Arnold Basic and the Pittsburgh Professional this season. He’ll attempt to pull off a uncommon feat in profitable each the Arnold and Olympia in the identical yr. The final to do it was Brandon Curry in 2019, who can also be on this lineup. Including the Pittsburgh Professional made this Lunsford’s private “Triple Crown” of six-figure prize contests.
Hadi Choopan
“The Persian Wolf” has taken silver every of the final two years after profitable the Olympia in 2022. Choopan and Lunsford are each making an attempt to develop into the second man to reclaim the title after shedding it onstage. Jay Cutler was the primary in 2009. Choopan has been laying low and staying quiet aside from an occasional social media publish. Don’t get that twisted, although. He’s been lifting lots. His conditioning can be among the many finest within the lineup. If he has somewhat further mass and the opposite two favorites are off even barely, Eugen Sandow can be returning to Iran.
Brandon Curry
The 2025 Olympia can be historic as a result of 4 previous champions will share the stage. A type of is Curry, who was the 2019 winner however completed in ninth place a yr in the past. He isn’t among the many favorites in response to many consultants, however his contribution to the game –
particularly being Mr. Olympia in the course of the first yr of the pandemic – garners respect. Regardless that he’s north of 40 now, don’t anticipate him to easily roll over in Las Vegas.
TOP CONTENDERS
If none of these males are the final man standing on Saturday night time, then we could have a twentieth Mr. Olympia champion, and it might very nicely be one in every of these males.
Nick Walker
After lacking the final two Olympias, “The Mutant” is anxious to get again on the Olympia stage. Nick Walker took second to Lunsford in a tiebreaker on the Pittsburgh Professional, then went on to assert his third New York Professional ring. As followers have seen on his movies and posts, he’s massive, conditioned, and prepared. Consultants knock his form and symmetry, however his muscularity and depth make up for that. He was third on the 2022 Olympia and received’t settle for something lower than gold right here.
Martin Fitzwater
Some followers might have forgotten that Martin Fitzwater was fourth in 2024, however with the thrill of the opposite champions and Walker taking the headlines, “The Martian” has no downside flying underneath the radar once more. The problem for him this yr is that he’s by no means overwhelmed Walker onstage. If he needs to face in opposition to the final three champs once more, he should change that.
Andrew Jacked
Andrew Jacked rounded out the highest 5 a yr in the past and may current some issues if he nails his conditioning this yr. He has the scale to face with Dauda and the form to carry his personal in opposition to Lunsford. Being within the first callout received’t be sufficient for him this yr, he needs a medal and gold if potential.
NOTABLE OLYMPIA DEBUTS
The remainder of the sphere have all earned their place to face with the most effective on the planet, however there are a couple of that can achieve this for the primary time.
Behrooz Tabani
After three years of making an attempt and being denied, the fourth time was the attraction for Choopan’s fellow countryman. Behrooz Tabani will make his long-awaited Olympia debut, and coach Milos Sarcev admits bias however feels he might be a contender to win primarily based on how he regarded when he arrived to america.
Brett Wilkin
“The Butcher” Brett Wilkin additionally needed to bow out of the Olympia when he final certified however wll make his first look on the large stage. Wilkin can be a darkish horse however might very nicely discover himself within the high 10 and even high six if issues work in his favor.
Urs Kalecinski
Former Basic Physique professional Urs Kalecinski lastly made the plunge into the deep by leaping into the Males’s Open, and he already has two wins to his credit score. This can be his Males’s Open Olympia debut, and followers can’t wait to see how he seems to be among the many finest on the planet in his new division.
Sasan Heirati
Sasan Heirati was working onerous and competing typically early within the yr however completed his 2025 season on a two-show profitable streak. HIs first Olympia look can be memorable one for him, and the expertise he beneficial properties might serve him nicely in 2026 and past.
By the top of this weekend, we’ll know for positive who the 2025 Mr. Olympia can be. Nonetheless, we all know one factor for positive now. This has the potential to be probably the most aggressive Olympia in historical past. In case you’re not going to be within the Resorts World Theater, ensure you’re close to a display screen so you may see the historical past unfold. For extra data on the 2025 Olympia Weekend, go to www.mrolympia.com, and subscribe to the M&F publication to remain within the know on all issues bodybuilding and health.
