Bodybuilding’s greatest weekend of the 12 months is upon is. The 2025 Joe Weider’s Olympia Health and Efficiency 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 function 20 athletes representing 10 international locations. 4 of these males have held the Sandow Trophy of their illustrious careers. These 4 males wish to hold it that approach, whereas the remainder of the sphere need Bob Cicherillo to announce “and new” on Saturday evening.
Prejudging will happen at Resorts World Theater on Friday, Oct. tenth and the finals can be held the next evening. The total lineup for the Males’s Open is beneath.
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 Large 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. Anticipate the champion to be greater than final 12 months whereas making an attempt to carry his conditioning in much more. If these targets are met, he can be powerful to beat. If he exhibits up the identical as he did in 2024, he can be in for an extended 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 successful each the Arnold and Olympia in the identical 12 months. The final to do it was Brandon Curry in 2019, who can 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 successful the Olympia in 2022. Choopan and Lunsford are each making an attempt to grow to be 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 apart from an occasional social media submit. Don’t get that twisted, although. He’s been lifting loads. His conditioning can be among the many greatest within the lineup. If he has slightly additional 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 12 months in the past. He isn’t among the many favorites in keeping with many consultants, however his contribution to the game –
particularly being Mr. Olympia through the first 12 months of the pandemic – garners respect. Regardless that he’s north of 40 now, don’t count on him to easily roll over in Las Vegas.
TOP CONTENDERS
If none of these males are the final man standing on Saturday evening, then we could have a twentieth Mr. Olympia champion, and it may very effectively be certainly one 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 say his third New York Professional ring. As followers have seen on his movies and posts, he’s massive, conditioned, and prepared. Specialists 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 excitement of the opposite champions and Walker taking the headlines, “The Martian” has no downside flying beneath the radar once more. The difficulty for him this 12 months is that he’s by no means crushed 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 12 months in the past and may current some issues if he nails his conditioning this 12 months. 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 12 months, 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 perfect on the planet, however there are just a few that can accomplish that 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 may very well be a contender to win based mostly on how he appeared when he arrived to the USA.
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 massive stage. Wilkin can be a darkish horse however may very effectively 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 appears to be like among the many greatest on the planet in his new division.
Sasan Heirati
Sasan Heirati was working onerous and competing usually early within the 12 months however completed his 2025 season on a two-show successful streak. HIs first Olympia look can be memorable one for him, and the expertise he good points may serve him effectively in 2026 and past.
By the tip 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 essentially the most aggressive Olympia in historical past. In the event you’re not going to be within the Resorts World Theater, be sure you’re close to a display screen so you may see the historical past unfold. For extra info 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.