The favorites are apparent. The potential underdogs are extra understated.
Because the 2022 Mr. Olympia launches this weekend, the final expectation is that two-time defending champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay will take residence his third straight title in Las Vegas, NV. In actual fact, bodybuilding legends with a wealth of information concerning the sport, like fellow eight-time Mr. Olympia winners Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005) and Lee Haney (1984-1991), believe Elssbiay is a virtual lock.
Nonetheless, each Olympia can current a shock, comparable to a brand new contender profiting from their first contest berth. Even when they don’t win the entire thing, a end result close to the highest whereas toppling some ordinary mainstays nonetheless greater than qualifies as a sterling efficiency. Listed here are 5 darkish horses who would possibly thrive on the 2022 Mr. Olympia and shock the bodybuilding world on Dec. 16-18, 2022.
This 2022 Olympia darkish horse listing just isn’t quick on variety, particularly in aggressive backgrounds. It has a former champion, albeit in a unique division. It has respective younger, ascending stars seeking to make their mark. It even has an athlete who made a late push to qualify however appears greater than prepared to maximise his golden alternative. It’s in no explicit order as a spotlight of these probably ignored on the contest however who in all probability shouldn’t be.
Blessing Awodibu
Per NPC News Online, Awodibu is comparatively new to the Worldwide Federation of Bodybuilding and Health (IFBB) Professional League aggressive circuit. In his debut 12 months in 2021, he took residence third place on the Indy Professional and completed sixth on the New York Professional. He improved upon these outcomes by successful the 2022 iteration of the Indy Professional outright to qualify for his first-ever Olympia.
Awodibu himself definitely hasn’t shied away from taking cues from those that have been there and completed that. Essentially the most notable instance may be when he educated with seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath (2011-2017), putting his arms through the wringer. In the meantime, Coleman has cited Awodibu as somebody with the required aesthetic to shine in a debut efficiency.
It’ll be a probably tall order to truly seize the Olympia title, however a stellar top-five putting isn’t out of the query for the Irish athlete.
Michal “Krizo” Križánek
One other newcomer, Krizo made headlines through the 2022 calendar 12 months for his summer season transition from the IFBB Elite Professional League to the IFBB Pro League division. He had set his ambitions on a fast turnaround to qualifying for the 2022 Olympia and didn’t fall quick. The Slovakian competitor succeeded together with his targets when he earned his Professional Card on the 2022 Novice Olympia Italy after which acquired a spot within the Olympia by successful the 2022 EVLS Prague Professional.
In contrast to Awodibu, Coleman beforehand asserted that Krizo nonetheless has a variety of floor to make up together with his physique regardless of some “nice arms.” Although, from a look, his ripped body nonetheless resembles somebody who may make some noise in a primary look.
Samson Dauda
As somebody with somewhat extra IFBB Professional League seasoning, Dauda has been knocking on the Olympia doorstep for a while. The 2022 version of the competition will mark his debut after roughly 5 years on this aggressive bodybuilding circuit. Dauda can boast a current host of podium finishes like a second-place end result within the 2021 Romania Muscle Fest Professional and the 2021 Yamamoto Cup Professional.
Dauda might have actually burst onto the scene when he took residence fourth place on the 2022 Arnold Basic. Provided that established powerhouses like 2019 Olympia champion Brandon Curry and perennial Olympia contender William Bonac had been some names who completed above Dauda, the end result undoubtedly furled some eyebrows.
The British athlete will look to show much more heads on the Olympia.
Andrew Jacked
Some view Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, a.okay.a. “Andrew Jacked,” as the newest phenom in bodybuilding, and they won’t be improper. The Nigerian athlete exploded onto the scene in 2022, successful each the 2022 Texas Pro and the 2022 Arnold Classic UK. Such performances drew rave critiques from four-time Arnold Basic champion (1993, 1997, 1998, 2000) Ken “Flex” Wheeler, who beforehand famous that Jacked’s common lack of “mileage” places him in an advantageous place compared to his peers.
Getting into the 2022 Olympia, Jacked will seemingly be using a wave of hype. He might even dwell as much as that simmering repute beneath.
Derek Lunsford
Amidst all of the newcomers and Olympia rookies, Lunsford appears to be sitting fairly as his first-ever Males’s Open look unfolds. After gaining extra weight and muscle than he anticipated, the previous 212 Olympia champion (2021) formally transitioned to the division in September 2022 and seemingly hasn’t appeared again.
Coming from the 212 division, Lunsford must deal with a number of rivals who weigh 260 kilos and above. Because the Olympia M.C. Bob Chicarello acknowledged on the Dec. 15, 2022, Olympia press convention, Elssbiay will seemingly weigh 300 kilos on stage. That’s a variety of mass to deal with. Nonetheless, if anybody has the pedigree and expertise to not solely get a top-five end result however probably win all of it, it’s Lunsford.
The athlete has beforehand mentioned the raw emotions behind competing on stage on the Olympia. Apart from the anticipated butterflies of any skilled athlete, it doesn’t sound like this dynamo shall be intimidated by the brand new impediment on his plate within the least.
Something is Potential
Whereas heavy favorites like Elssbiay will seemingly shine, the 2022 Olympia is certain to shock with just a few up-and-comers. Any variety of these darkish horses in a stacked area may quickly change into family names in a stacked area. Followers can sustain with all of the motion by buying a pay-per-view premium package deal for $69.99 on the Olympia web site — www.olympiaproductions.com.
Featured picture: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram
