Dynamic Running Warmup

The Bodybuilding community's biggest event of the year, the 2022 Olympia, is scheduled to take place on December 15-18, 2022, at a new venue, the Zappos Theater within Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, NV. This event will showcase both the established and new talent within the community. It remains to be seen whether the established champions will maintain their dominance or if the emerging stars will cause some upsets.

Let's take a look at each men's division:

Mr.Olympia (Open):

The open division of this year's Mr. Olympia competition boasts a large number of participants, and there are several new competitors who could cause some excitement, such as Derek Lunsford (who won the 212 division last year but got a special invite to compete in the open division this year), Andrew Jacked, Michal “Krizo” Krizanek, and Samson Dauda. While these new competitors may not be the front-runners to win, they could certainly bring some unexpected competition to the stage. However, let's focus on the favorites and top contenders for the title.

Favorite: Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy)

Mamdouh Elssbiay, also known as Big Ramy, is the favorite in the open division and is aiming for his third consecutive Mr. Olympia title. He is known for his massive size, which is highly valued by the judges. However, he will need to be in excellent condition to showcase his size, but many believe that he is likely to retain his title, and few competitors could beat him this year.

Top Contenders: Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan, William Bonac, and Nick Walker

It seems that Curry, Choopan, Bonac, and Walker are the top contenders for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition. Curry won the 2022 Arnold, but his conditioning was criticized. If he can improve it, he may have a chance to compete for the top spot with Big Ramy. Choopan has impressive conditioning, but lacks the size of Ramy and Curry. He has been working with Hany Rambod, so it remains to be seen if that will help. Bonac has won the Arnold twice and been an Olympia runner-up, and his conditioning was praised at this year's Arnold. If he has addressed his weaknesses, he could be a strong contender. Walker won last year's Arnold and took fifth in his Olympia debut, and has spent this year preparing for Olympia with coach Matt Jansen. He has the size and confidence to potentially make a big impact in the competition.

Classic Physique Olympia:

It's true that the Classic Physique division has been gaining popularity in recent years and is becoming a fan favorite. Many people appreciate the aesthetic and classic look of the competitors in this division, which harkens back to the golden era of bodybuilding. While it's difficult to predict whether this division will eventually surpass the Men's Open in popularity, it's clear that it has carved out its own unique niche in the bodybuilding world.

Favorite: Chris Bumstead

It's possible that Bumstead could retire soon, especially if he feels he's accomplished all he wants to in the sport. However, he's only 27 years old and many bodybuilders compete well into their 30s and even 40s, so it's hard to say for sure. It's also possible that he could take some time off and come back to compete again in the future. Only time will tell what his plans are.

Top Contenders: Breon Ansley, Terrence Ruffin, and Urs Kalecinski

Since 2020, Ansley has consistently ranked near the top in this division and had previously won the Olympia twice before Chris Bumstead. He recently announced that this will be his final year competing in Classic Physique before transitioning to the 212 division, so he is highly motivated to finish on a high note. In order to surpass Bumstead, Ansley will need to be in top form.

Ruffin has been closely trailing Bumstead over the past few years, and he also claimed victory at the Arnold competition this year with his exceptional symmetry and posing skills. While he poses a real threat, even achieving a second-place finish would be impressive, although that may not be his ultimate goal.

Kalecinski, who won the Tampa Pro in 2021 and placed 3rd in the Arnold this year and 4th in Olympia last year, is just 24 years old. Although it is unlikely that he will surpass Bumstead this year, he has a promising future ahead of him in this division. The real question is whether he will increase his size and become more shredded to secure a spot in the top 3 this year. As long as he remains healthy, he will undoubtedly be a top contender for the first-place spot in the future.

212 Olympia:

As the current champion, Derek Lunsford, has moved on to the Open Division, the 212 Division is now open for a new titleholder. The main question is, who will seize the opportunity to claim the championship?

Favorite: Shaun Clarida 

Shaun Clarida, a top bodybuilder, recently made the decision to compete in the 212 division instead of the Open Division, and this seems to be a wise move if he intends to win. Since he won the 212 Olympia in 2020, he now has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first athlete to regain the title after losing it. From the images circulating on social media, it appears that he has prepared an excellent package for the competition, which increases his chances of winning.

Top Contenders: Angel Calderon Frias and Kamal Elgargni

What makes Frias interesting is that he hasn't disclosed whether he'll compete in the Open or 212 division yet. Nonetheless, he has had impressive results in the last three competitions he participated in the 212 division, winning twice and taking 4th place in last year's Olympia. If he chooses to compete in the 212, his size and definition make him a strong contender for the top spot.

Although Kamal Elgargni is getting older, he remains one of the top 212 athletes to watch out for. As a previous Olympia champion in 2019, he knows what it takes to win. However, it remains to be seen whether age will affect his performance and hinder his chances of winning.

Men’s Physique Olympia:

Although the Men's Physique Division may not receive as much attention as the other divisions, it is still an enjoyable competition to watch, with over 50 athletes qualified to participate in the Olympia. It is unfortunate that Sadik Hadzovic withdrew from the competition, as his return was highly anticipated. Nevertheless, here are my predictions for this division.

Favorite: Brandon Hendrickson

Considering that Hendrickson has won the Men's Physique Division title three times, with two consecutive wins, he has demonstrated that he is a highly skilled athlete in this category. His level of preparation is remarkable, and he appears to be on the same track to success once again, making him a tough competitor to beat.

Top Contenders: Erin Banks and Diogo Montenegro 

Although I consider Hendrickson to be the favorite to win, Banks is also a strong contender in the Men's Physique Division. Banks finished second to Hendrickson in his debut year at Olympia, and he won the Arnold in his first appearance this year. His shoulder-to-waist ratio is impressive, making him a close competitor.

Montenegro has made significant progress over the past few years, placing third at both last year's Olympia and this year's Arnold. While it may be challenging for him to beat Hendrickson or Banks, he is still expected to perform well and remain at the top of the division.

Wheelchair Olympia:

Personally, I have a strong affinity for this division. While I hold the utmost respect for athletes in other divisions, the unwavering determination and dedication displayed by these competitors is truly remarkable.

However, this division has been under the shadow of a single athlete's dominance for a considerable amount of time. The question now is whether this reign will continue or come to an end.

Favorite: Gabriele Andriulli

Andriulli is expected to dethrone the 4-time Olympia champion this year. After taking 2nd place in the last two Olympias behind Harold Kelley, he finally beat him at the Arnold and is expected to do the same at Olympia.

Top Contenders: Harold Kelley & Antoni Khadraoui

Kelley, a 4-time Olympia and 5-time Arnold champion, was dethroned at the Arnold this year. It remains to be seen if he can overcome this loss and win his 5th Olympia in a row. Khadraoui has been competing alongside Andriulli and Kelley for years and took 2nd at the 202 Olympia behind Kelley, but he will need to bring his best to have a chance at surpassing them for the top spot.