After a year of anticipation, months of training and promoting, and two rounds of intense judging, we have a NEW world champion of professional bodybuilding—and his name is Derek Lunsford.
Following a dramatic prejudging round on Friday, Nov. 3, the finals of the 2023 Mr. Olympia was held Saturday night in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, and the best bodybuilders in the world showcased their physiques for the judges, thousands of fans in attendance, and more watching around the world on pay-per-view. The top ten competitors put on a show for the fans, and the judges made them work for each position they were striving to claim.
After numerous poses, comparisons, cheers, a posedown, and a traditional dramatic pause from the announcer, Lunsford stood tall, after a back and forth battle with not only Choopan, the defending champion, but also with third place finisher Samson Dauda.
This was Lunsford’s Olympia win in his career, and it had historical significance because he becomes the first bodybuilder to win both the 212 and open titles. Earlier in the evening Lunsford was voted the People’s Champion as well
Bot the second and third place finishers are now automatically qualified for the 2024 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV, on October 10 -13, 2024.
2023 Mr. Olympia Top Five
- Derek Lunsford $400,000
- Hadi Choopan $250,000
- Samson Dauda $100,000
- Brandon Curry $40,000
- Andrew Jacked $35,000
The Men’s Open show was the close of the Saturday night festivities, which also included the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini Olympia competitions.
For more information on the 2023 Olympia, go to www.mrolympia.com. Replays of the 2023 Olympia competitions will be available to watch on pay-per-view over at www.olympiaproductions.com.