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Regarding elite-level bodybuilders, Derek Lunsford has always been at the top of the pile. Winning the 212 Olympia title in 2021 made him one of the world’s best. If he had finished there, he would still have long been remembered.
However, Lunsford is no ordinary competitor. After switching to the open class, he sensationally took the 2023 Mr. Olympia title. In doing so, he became the first-ever bodybuilder to win two Olympia divisions.
As is often the case in high-level sports, the road to success is paved with challenges and obstacles. Dropping down to third at the 2024 Mr. Olympia represented a huge setback in Derek’s competitive aspirations. For many, it meant that he was seemingly out of the conversation.
Winning the 2025 Arnold Classic shocked many, including myself. Beating the current Olympia champion Samson Dauda put his name firmly back into contention. In a recent YouTube video, he discussed his plans to the delight of many of his fans.
Key Takeaway
Derek Lunsford is one of the best bodybuilders in the world. He’s the first man to hold two Olympia titles after winning the 212 and Open Divisions. Furthermore, he’s long been a fan favorite because of his larger-than-life personality and transparent approach to competing.
His recent 2025 Arnold Classic win shocked fans around the world. In doing so, he beat the current Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda. This put his name firmly back in contention as a potential 2025 Mr. Olympia champion.
He announced his intentions to compete at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro in a recent YouTube video. In doing this, he wants to build his legacy as the man to beat.
Derek’s Plans To Build His Legacy At The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro
Derek Lunsford is currently the hottest prospect in the bodybuilding world. His recent 2025 Arnold Classic victory is the most high-profile win in the new bodybuilding calendar.
Beating 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda means he is the firm favorite for the 2025 Mr. Olympia title. After his sensational win, he’s already set his sights on his next competition by announcing his future competitive plans.
Lunsford’s recently cryptic Instagram message sent his loyal fans into a frenzy. Many of them thought that might be it for him until the Olympia after his incredible Arnold Victory. However, on Monday 24, 2025, he announced that he would compete in the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro event.
“That’s the announcement. I will be doing the Pittsburgh Pro.”
Derek Lushford
Lunsford’s journey to the top of the bodybuilding stage is remarkable. After capturing the 212 Olympia title, he transitioned to the Open Division. This led many of his fans and pundits to wonder whether or not this was the right decision.
However, taking the Open Division on his second attempt made him the first man to hold two Olympia division titles. It marked a historic moment for Lunsford and bodybuilding as he did what many thought would never be possible. Lunsford set a new standard on what could be expected at the elite level of bodybuilding.
Following his announcement, he went on to explain the reasons behind his Pittsburgh Pro debut.
“I feel the Pittsburgh Pro is going to be, what I would call, a legacy show. Meaning, if you have that Pittsburgh Pro title, that is a real notch in your belt. That is a real title that you can carry with pride.”
Derek Lushford
Lunsford plans to cement his place as the man to beat in 2025 by completing a three-peat. This means that he is aiming to win the Arnold Classic, Pittsburgh Pro, and Mr. Olympia all in the same year.
“With that being said, the position that I’m in right now, having just come off the Arnold Classic win. To do the Arnold Classic, to do the Pittsburgh Pro, and to do the Olympia all the same year and be victorious in all three would be another monumental, historical moment in bodybuilding history.”
Derek Lushford
The Pittsburgh Pro has long been one of the flagship events on the IFBB calendar. However, it’s mainly featured as a guest posing event for many of the world’s best Open Division competitors. Lunsford guest posed there in 2022 before earning a special invitation to compete at the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
With the competition recently announcing the inclusion of the Men’s Open Division, this will be the first-ever Open line-up. Because of this, Lunsford will look to win the first-ever Pittsburgh Pro Open title.
Following his Arnold Classic victory, Lunsford surely has to be the firm favorite going into the Pittsburgh Pro. However, he’ll need to fight off stiff competition to continue his momentum before the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
If we had to make a prediction, we would be quietly confident that he can take the title. Whatever happens, the high-quality line-up combined with the competition’s rich history is likely to give us a true bodybuilding spectacle.
The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro Full Line-Up Revealed
Lunsford’s recent announcement means he’s now part of an already stacked Pittsburgh Pro line-up. We have a previous Mr. Olympia, a top three Olympia placer, and a previous Arnold champion in the same line-up.
This is the breaking 2025 Pittsburgh Pro lineup. Not bad for a first-ever Open Class event.
- William Bonac.
- Martin Fitzwater.
- James Hollingshead.
- Michal Krizo.
- Derek Lunsford.
- Leandro Peres.
- Vitaliy Ugolnikov.
- Nick Walker.
- Eric Wood.
Out of these nine men, William Bonac, Martin Fitzwater, Derek Lunsford, and Nick Walker are the stand-out competitors. Michal Krizo is arguably the competition’s wildcard as someone who has a genuine world-class physique but has yet to deliver.
Nick Walker is someone else who has genuine Olympia-winning potential but has failed to put the right package together. His third-place finish at the 2023 Mr. Olympia was the last time he stepped on stage.
Martin Fitzwater remains in the conversation after taking fourth at the 2024 Mr. Olympia behind Derek. This will be his second major Open Class competition after beating Chris Bumstead to win the 2024 Prague Pro.
William Bonac’s fifth-place finish at the 2025 Arnold Classic means that he’s still a top-level competitor. He’s one of the most consistent bodybuilders, always finishing around the top five places. He’ll be in the conversation at the Pittsburgh Pro.
As we’ve discussed above, Derek is currently the man to beat. His win over Samson Dauda means that he is the firm favorite to take the Pittsburgh Pro title. Whether he can bring the same package as the Arnold is yet to be seen.
A Stroke Of Genius Or Genuine Mistake?
Derek’s decision to compete at the Pittsburgh Pro is, in my eyes, a stroke of genius. Historical iconic bodybuilders are defined by their actions. Derek’s decision to compete in the Pittsburgh Pro might just go down as a historical moment to be remembered.
Unfortunately, the current bodybuilding landscape is full of competitors who only show up in the big events. This leads to inactivity, which is part of the reason why the IFBB recently introduced new rules.
Whatever happens, we’ll soon get to see if Derek is a genuine Olympia competitor. If he can win the Pittsburgh Pro, he’s definitely a champion worthy of the title. Time will tell whether or not he can achieve his three-peat and catapult himself further into the history books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Derek has always made headlines after being the first bodybuilder to win two Olympia division titles. His recent third-place Olympia finish and change of coach worried many. However, beating the current Mr. Olympia champion is what got many people talking.
His recent announcement confirms his intentions to show everyone that he still belongs at the top of the division. His addition also adds more excitement to an already packed Pittsburgh Pro line-up.
His chances of winning after high after recently beating the 2024 Mr. Olympia champion. However, he’s going up against several top-level Olympia competitors. If he doesn’t bring the same package or better, he could get beaten.
Beating Samson Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic put him as one of the firm favorites. However, there are still a lot of high-level competitors with great chances. The Pittsburgh Pro results will tell us a lot going forward.
About the Author
Chris Marshall, MSc, PT Personal Trainer
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