Fitness made for you
PT-designed routines and recipes.
Get real results without the high price tag.
On October 9-12, the world’s best bodybuilders face off as they attempt to win the iconic Sandow. All eyes from around the world will be fixed on the stage in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 20 men will attempt to etch their names in Olympia history and become a Mr. Olympia winner.
The Olympia celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. It continues to captivate and inspire a global audience. With a record-breaking $600,000 up for grabs and the Sandow at stake, the tension has never been higher.
This year, we have, arguably, five competitors who can take home the title.
Samson Dauda, the current Mr. Olympia, will face off against 2025 Arnold Classic champion Derek Lunsford. The Persian Wolf, Hadi Choopan, will look to claim a second title by beating Martin Fitzwater, last year’s surprise package. Add in the resurgence of Nick Walker, and we have ourselves a showdown like no other.
With not long to go until the 2025 Mr. Olympia, I’ve looked at the top five competitors and analyzed their chances. I’ve given my current predictions after some breaking updates. So, who is going to win this year’s title and etch their names in history?
The Top 5 Athletes To Watch For – Mr. Olympia 2025
- The 2025 Mr. Olympia showdown will take place on October 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Competitors from 11 divisions will fight it out for their respective titles, with the Open being the main draw.
- With five different winners in six years, the Sandow trophy remains firmly up for grabs. In this year’s showdown, we have five main competitors fighting for the title and $600,000.
- Samson Dauda looks to be right on track to challenge for his second title. Derek Lunsford will try to continue his momentum following his 2025 Arnold Classic Win. After two years away, Nick Walker has posted some incredible updates as we approach the big day.
Mr. Olympia 2025 – Top 5 Athletes To Watch
In previous years, we’ve had two or three athletes definitively fighting it out. However, this year is closer than ever, with five potential champions in my eyes.
This year’s line-up brings together four previous champions alongside some intriguing wildcards. Before I get into each athlete, here’s the preliminary Men’s Open qualified list:
- Brett Wilkin (USA)
- Samson Dauda (UK)
- Hadi Choopan (Iran)
- Derek Lunsford (USA)
- Rafael Brandao (Brazil)
- Martin Fitzwater (USA)
- Akim Williams (USA)
- Brandon Curry (USA)
- William Bonac (Netherlands)
- Vitalii Ugolnikov (Brazil)
- Chinedu Obiekea (UAE)
- Nick Walker (USA)
- Regan Grimes (Canada)
- Tonio Burton (USA)
- Sasan Heirati (United Kingdom)
- Behrooz Tabani (Iran)
- Chenglong Shen (China)
- Rubiel Mosquera (Colombia)
- Jordan Hutchinson (USA)
- Dorian Haywood (USA)
- Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
Samson Dauda
After winning his first Sandow at last year’s Olympia, reigning champion Samson Dauda is on a mission to make history. He’s the biggest competitor on stage by some margin, even against mass monsters like Nick Walker. His combination of incredible muscle density and tall frame immediately draws your eyes to him on stage.
It’s no secret that he dominated at last year’s Olympia. However, his recent setback at the 2025 Arnold Classic made many doubt if he can get back-to-back titles. He was recently beaten by the previous Olympia champion, Derek Lunsford, in a closely fought battle.
In his recent update, he displayed his best-ever conditioning when guest posing at an event in Romania. If this is anything to go on, he’ll surely win this year’s title if he can continue drying out before the big day.
If Samson comes in at around 80%, he wins. His shape and stage presence are simply undeniable, even in a world-class Olympia line-up. While the title is still undecided, he’s my top pick for this year’s title, even after recently losing to Derek.
Derek Lunsford
Derek Lunsford will always be the first-ever bodybuilder to win the 212 and Open titles. After switching from 212 to the Open, he won his first Open title at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. However, he dropped down to third place the following year, leading many to believe his best years are behind him.
At 32 years old, he is one of the older athletes on stage. However, he’s certainly not done yet and remains firmly in the picture for a second title. After sensationally beating reigning Olympia champion Samson Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic, he didn’t stop there. He followed his victory by beating Nick Walker at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro in a closely fought battle.
Lunsford has the most momentum leading up to the Olympia out of any of the top five competitors. He’s kept his training consistent throughout this season, teaming up with Ramon Dino to improve his conditioning.
We haven’t really seen many concrete physique updates following his wins this year. He’s tended to tease us with partial updates of his back or legs, training in a baggy top or vest. However, he looks on track to bring an amazing package to the stage, and will certainly be in the conversation for the title.
Hadi Choopan
With his visa issues firmly behind him, The Persian Wolf is ready to battle. After struggling to secure a U.S. visa for the past few years, he managed to get into America with a couple of weeks to spare.
Since winning his first Olympia title in 2022, Hadi has fallen just short of a second title each year. He’s been the most consistent placer out of the top five competitors, but often fallen short at the last hurdle. In 2023, he was just beaten by Derek, while in 2024, he was again narrowly beaten by Samson Daude.
Hadi has set the conditioning standards since moving up to the Open Division. His freaky, grainy conditioning is something that no one has been able to match. Even as a smaller athlete, you can’t help but look at his incredibly impressive dry and grainy physique.
Despite this, it seems as though the judges are looking for a bigger athlete. Both Derek and Samson have seemingly managed to out-muscle him at previous competitions. If the judges focus on conditioning this year, Hadi will be the favorite for the title.
In his recent updates, he’s looked pretty good training with Hani Rambod. He still has some work to do before matching his own standards, but if anyone can do it, it’s him. I’ve got him in my top four.
Nick Walker
There’s no denying that Nick Walker has always been one of the most freakish athletes on stage. He’s gained the nickname “The mutant” for good reason. However, he was forced out of competing in the past two years due to an injury and issues surrounding preparations.
While many, including myself, thought he might have pushed his body past safe limits, he seems to be back on track. After taking time off to rest and reset, he plans to showcase his freakiest ever physique at this year’s event.
At the Pittsburgh Pro, Walker proved that he still belongs on the Olympia stage. He gave Derek Lunsford a very close run for his money, with many saying he deserved to beat him. After impressing in his competitive return, he claimed his third New York title, beating William Bonac in second.
Out of the top five athletes, Nick has given the most impressive updates in recent weeks. His combination of freaky conditioning and round muscle bellies is hard to believe. While he certainly has the goon lighting behind him, he’s really impressed me during his comeback.
If Nick comes 100% on, he really could win his first-ever Sandow. This will also depend on whether the Olympia judges favor a slimmer waste over a bigger mass monster. He’s one of the biggest threats to the title and should easily make the top five.
Martin Fitzwater
When it comes to Olympia debuts, Martin’s is perhaps the most impressive. After flying largely under the radar for the last few years, he placed fourth at his first-ever Olympia. This left many to take notice, with some even backing him as a future Olympia champion.
Despite his fourth-place finish, Martin is one of those guys who prefers to remain out of the public spotlight. After beating Chris Bumstead at the 2025 Prague Pro, he booked his Olympia qualification and went to work.
Finishing third in Pittsburgh represented a step back as he fell short of the mark. He was convincingly beaten by both Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker, two of the men on my top five list.
His fourth-place Olympia finish should not be taken lightly. If he can bring the same mass and conditioning that he brought last year, he’ll definitely make the first callout. If he can improve, the sky is the limit for Martin when you look at his physique.
He’s been pretty quiet as far as full updates go, posting pictures of his arms or legs in recent updates. However, he looks to be pretty much on track as we approach the big day. He definitely deserves to be placed in the top five, and could break the top four again if he’s really on.
Mr. Olympia Wildcards That Could Finish Anywhere
The five athletes mentioned above could arguably all win the title on their best days. It all depends on the package they’re bringing alongside this year’s judging standards. However, it’s the addition of this year’s wildcards that makes things extra special.
It’s really hard to say where the three athletes are going to finish. They could make a sensational run for the title or be brought back down to earth. Let’s take a closer look at each athlete and analyse their chances.
Andrew Jacked
After securing fifth place at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, Andrew Jacked is never too far away from bodybuilding’s biggest prize. Out of any competitor in this year’s lineup, he definitely has the most potential. He also has one of my favorite physiques on stage, if not my favorite of the current lineup.
Even so, he seems to keep falling short when it comes to conditioning. He has the shape and size to rival absolutely anyone, but just can’t seem to bring everything together. If he can bring his best-ever conditioning, he’ll break into the top five, but this seems to be easier said than done if we look at his previous showings.
In terms of recent updates, he hasn’t given too much away over the past month. He continues to train in baggy t-shirts while putting in the hard work. If he brings his best package, he’s in the conversation for sure.
Urs Kalecinski
Urs Kalecinski is, without a doubt, this year’s surprise package. After establishing himself as one of the top Classic Division competitors, he made a shocking switch to the Open Division recently. While many fans, including myself, were unsure whether it was the right move, he’s definitely proved us wrong.
After winning the 2025 Italy Pro and earning Olympia qualification, he backed this up by winning the 2025 Europa Pro. In doing so, he’s won his first two Open shows and shown everyone why he belongs in the Open Class.
With his two shows being so recent, we can take these as his current updates. It’s clear that he’s made massive improvements in his size and fullness. With some more time to grow into the division, he could be someone who challenges for future Sandows.
However, his recent wins are no small feat, meaning anything could happen at the Olympia if he improves even further. I reckon he’ll crack the top ten, and maybe even make the first call out.
Rubiel Mosquera
If there’s anyone who could literally be placed anywhere, it’s Rubiel Mosquera. He’s the most unpredictable wildcard heading into this year’s Mr. Olympia by some margin. While some have likened his physique to historical icon Ronnie Coleman, others say that he has no chance.
Rubiel has some of the biggest legs out of anyone in the Olympia field. Some of his poses, such as the front double biceps and side chest, are world-class in terms of shape. However, he’s never managed to bring the elite-level conditioning needed for the Olympia.
Winning the Mr. Big Evolution Portugal Pro and Flex Weekend Italy Pro events, he’s definitely improved his conditioning. All he needs to do is bring his best-ever conditioning to crack the top ten. If his recent updates are anything to go by, he might just do that.
Who’s The Favorite To Take The Sandow?
I gave my prediction for the Men’s Open class in my preview article. However, after more thinking alongside some competitor updates, I’ve actually changed my mind.
Before I explain why they’ve changed, here are my updated predictions:
- Samson Dauda (UK).
- Derek Lunsford (USA).
- Nick Walker (USA).
- Hadi Choopan (Iran).
- Martin Fitzwater (USA).
So, I still have Samson winning, even after some crazy updates from other athletes. I think it’s clear that the judges are moving towards a bigger, flowing shape over straight-out conditioning. Out of the top five athletes, this is something that Samson has in abundance.
If he brings excellent or even great conditioning, it’s a clear win for Samson. While Derek also has an amazing shape, no one comes close to matching Samson’s size and stage presence. Even when he’s not 100% on, your eyes are immediately drawn to him on stage.
I found it really hard to choose between Derek and Nick. While Nick hasn’t competed at the Olympia for two years, his updates are truly mesmerizing. After taking Derek very close at the Pittsburgh Pro recently, he could even fight for the title. With so many unknowns regarding how he’ll turn up, I have to put him in the middle of the pack.
It’s going to take a miracle for Hadi Choopan not to be the most conditioned on stage. He’s a cut above the rest year on year, but always seems to fall short of a second title. In his recent update, I’m not seeing as much freaky conditioning, which is why I’ve put him in fourth.
At the bottom of the list, I’ve gone for Martin Fitzwater. Even though he placed fourth last year, I think that the other four athletes will have a little too much. However, if any of them are off, he can definitely leapfrog them.
| Year | Winner | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Samson Dauda | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2023 | Derek Lunsford | Orlando, Florida |
| 2022 | Hadi Choopan | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2021 | Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy) | Orlando, Florida |
| 2020 | Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy) | Orlando, Florida |
| 2019 | Brandon Curry | Las Vegas, Nevada |
It remains to be seen whether we’ll have a sixth different winner in seven years. If previous years are anything to go by, it could well happen. On October 9-12, we’ll find out once and for all who the true champion is.
Don’t go anywhere if you want to witness a truly mesmerizing bodybuilding spectacle. I’ll be glued to the screen when the big day arrives, bringing you breaking updates. Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an Olympia rollercoaster like no other before!
Frequently Asked Questions
With five different winners in six years, the title of Mr. Olympia has become quite unpredictable. However, this year, we have four previous champions and no clear favorite. Alongside the wildcards, it’s hard to pick a winner.
Out of the three wildcards I’ve picked, Andrew Jacked has the biggest chance. He has the shape and size, but never seems to bring good enough conditioning. Urs Kalecinski could break the top 10 after his recent Open Division masterclasses.
Previous years changed between pure size and shape or pure conditioning. Last year’s champion, Samson Dauda, brought the best shape but wasn’t the most conditioned on stage. This year, I’m edging towards a mix of the two.
About the Author
Chris Marshall, MSc, PT Personal Trainer
0 Comments