The 2023 Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding event marked an exciting and highly anticipated gathering of some of the world’s most elite bodybuilders.
Taking place from November 2nd to November 5th in Orlando, Florida, this year’s Olympia returned to the Orange County Convention Center, for the third time in four years, after a brief stint in Las Vegas.
The event has always been a highlight for bodybuilding enthusiasts and competitors, and this year was no exception.
It promised intense competition, stunning physiques, and the chance for athletes to etch their names into bodybuilding history.
Tikkay Khan was on the scene, providing live coverage updates throughout the event, reporting on division winners, full scorecards, and any breaking news.
Big Ramy’s Absence and Hadi Choopan’s Title Defense
One of the most talked-about storylines leading up to the 2023 Olympia was the absence of Big Ramy, who had won the title in 2020 and 2021 but faced a series of low placings and struggles during the 2023 season.
With Big Ramy out of the competition, all eyes turned to Hadi Choopan, the 2022 Mr. Olympia champion.
Hadi Choopan had been a contender for the title for some time before clinching it in the previous year.
However, he faced tough competition, particularly from Derek Lunsford, who was making his Men’s Open debut on the biggest stage.
Derek Lunsford, after finishing third in the 2022 Mr. Olympia, had a full year to prepare for this year’s event and was considered the biggest threat to Hadi Choopan’s title defense.
Another notable absence from the 2023 Olympia was Nick Walker, the runner-up to Samson Dauda during the 2023 Arnold Classic, who announced his withdrawal from the competition due to a torn hamstring.
These developments set the stage for an exciting battle in the Men’s Open division, with competitors like Hunter Labrada and Brandon Curry in the mix.
Brandon Curry, who won the 2019 Mr. Olympia title, had been generating a buzz on social media with impressive physique updates in the weeks leading up to the event.
The 2023 Olympia Schedule
The 2023 Olympia featured a packed schedule, offering fans and enthusiasts a chance to experience the excitement of bodybuilding.
The event officially kicked off on Thursday, November 2nd, with the Olympia Press Conference held at noon. In the evening, fans had the opportunity to “Meet the Olympians” at 7:00 pm.
The real action began on Friday, November 3rd, starting with the Olympia World Fitness Expo at 9 am. Prejudging for six divisions followed, including Fitness, Men’s 212, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. Olympia, and Wellness, which commenced at 9:30 am.
The Friday Finals for these divisions were held at 6:00 pm, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The Mr. Olympia Prejudging took place after the Friday Night Finals.
On Saturday, November 4th, the Olympia World Fitness Expo continued at 9 am, followed by prejudging for Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini, and Pro Wheelchair (which combined prejudging and finals) starting at 9:30 am.
The climax of the event arrived with the Olympia Saturday Finals, which featured the Mr. Olympia, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini divisions, at 7:00 pm.
2023 Olympia Qualified Competitors List
The 2023 Olympia brought together a remarkable roster of competitors across various divisions.
Here’s a glance at some of the athletes who vied for glory:
Men’s Open Division
- Brett Wilkin (USA)
- Hadi Choopan (Iran)
- Derek Lunsford (USA)
- Nick Walker (USA)
- Brandon Curry (USA)
- Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay (Egypt)
- Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
- Behrooz Tabani (Iran)
- Tonio Burton (USA)
- Ross Flanigan (USA)
- Iain Valliere (Canada)
- Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
- Phil Clahar (USA)
- Andrea Presti (Italy)
- Hassan Mostafa (Egypt)
- Justin Shier (USA)
- Roman Fritz (Germany)
- Hunter Labrada (USA)
- Chinedu Andrew Obiekea (UAE)
- Kamal Elgargni (Libya)
- Nathan De Asha (United Kingdom)
- Regan Grimes (Canada)
Men’s 212 Division
- Felipe Fierro (Chile)
- Shaun Clarida (USA)
- Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
- Kamal Elgargni (Libya)
- Ahmad Ashkanani (Kuwait)
- Felipe Moraes (Brazil)
- Kerrith Bajjo (USA)
- Piotr Borecki (Poland)
- Andrei Melnikov (Russia)
- Roman Iushchenko (Ukraine)
- John Jewett (USA)
- Chris Jones (USA)
- Fabrizio de Souza Moreira (Brazil)
- Naser Mohamed (Kuwait)
- Keone Pearson (USA)
- Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)
- Oleh Kryvyi (Ukraine)
- Hossein Kalateh (Canada)
Classic Physique Division
- Breon Ansley (USA)
- Woilid Baatout (France)
- Chris Bumstead (Canada)
- Ramon Rocha Queiroz (Brazil)
- Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
- Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
- Eric Brown (USA)
- Daniil Famponte (USA)
- Andrei Kozhokar (Russia)
- Michael Daboul (United Kingdom)
- German Pastor (Spain)
- Eric Wildberger Lisboa (Brazil)
- Samuel Paquin (Canada)
- Damien Patrick (USA)
- Damian Kuffel (Poland)
- Vahid Badpei (Iran)
- Laszlo Kiraly (Hungary)
- Antoine Loth (Spain)
- Carlos Dommar (USA)
- Fabio Junio Ramos Vale (Brazil)
- John Le (Canada)
- Marcus Perry (USA)
- Diego Alejandro Galindo (Brazil)
- Matthew Greggo (USA)
- Stephane Matala (France)
- Jared Thompson (USA)
- Jae Hun Park (South Korea)
- Alejandro Cambronero (Costa Rica)
- Eduardo Oliveira (Brazil)
- Shicheng Jin (China)
- Shi Tian Wang (China)
- Wesley Vissers (Netherlands)
- Christopher Ziller (Germany)
- Gabriel Zancanelli (Brazil)
- Courage Opara (USA)
- Terrence Ruffin (ISA)
- Maxime Yedess (France)
Men’s Physique Division
- Jeremy Buendia (USA)
- Mehdi Kabbadj (Morocco)
- Ming Chieh Tsai (Taiwan)
- Kahlia Ramzi (Algeria)
- Corey Morris (USA)
- Erin Banks (USA)
- Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
- Diogo Montenegro (Brazil)
- Mahmood Al-Maghrabi (Bahrain)
- Mauro Fialho Garcia, Jr (Spain)
- Carlos DeOliveira (Brazil)
- Benquil Marigny (USA)
- Riccardo Croci (Italy)
- Derrick Stevenson (USA)
- Ryan Terry (United Kingdom)
- Emmanuel Costa (Brazil)
- Daniel Ammons (USA)
- Andre Ferguson (USA)
- Vinicius Mateus Veiro Lima (Brazil)
- Vitor Chaves (Brazil)
- Joseph Lee (USA)
- Victor Manuel Ramirez Chavez (Costa Rica)
- Bhuwan Chauhan (India)
- Sidy Pouye (Spain)
- Yoon Sung Lee (South Korea)
- Jason Huynh (USA)
- Anderson Arruda (Brazil)
- Jeremy Potvin (USA)
- Drew Cullen (USA)
- Ismael Dominquez (Mexico)
- Arya Saffaie (USA)
- Rodrigue Chesnier (France)
- Febo Gambacorta (Italy)
- Rafael Oliveira (Brazil)
- Jonas Jamena (Phillipines)
- Jeremiah Maxey (USA)
- Joven Sagabain (Philippines)
- Edvan Palmeira (Brazil)
- Ali Bilal (Belgium)
- Ayoub Sulayman (Libya)
- Charjo Grant (USA)
- Reubeb Glass (USA)
- Adeyemi Awoyemi (United Kingdom)
- Kyron Holden (USA)
- Emile Walker (United Kingdom)
Pro Wheelchair Division
- Woody Belfort (Canada)
- Tory Jones (Canada)
- Bradley Betts (USA)
- Tim Caldwell (USA)
- Jason Metcalf (USA)
- James Berger (USA)
- Ephraim Gudgeon (New Zealand)
- Bryan Williams (USA)
- Chad McCrary (USA)
- Oscar Gonzalez (Spain)
- Jack McCann (Canada)
- Leonard Harmon (USA)
2023 Olympia Results for All Divisions
Here are the Complete Results for all divisions of Mr. Olympia 2023.
Men’s Open Bodybuilding Results
Derek Lunsford wins the Mr Olympia 2023. He is the new Champion of the Olympia.
- Winner: Derek Lunsford
- Second Place: Hadi Choopan
- Third Place: Samson Dauda
- Fourth Place: Brandon Curry
- Fifth Place: Andrew Jacked
- Sixth Place: Hunter Labrada
The Men’s Open Division at the 2023 Olympia was eagerly anticipated, with Big Ramy and Nick Walker’s absence creating a wide-open field.
The competition was fierce, with top athletes from around the world vying for the prestigious title.
Hadi Choopan, the 2022 Mr. Olympia champion, was determined to defend his title, and he faced formidable opponents.
Derek Lunsford, who made his Men’s Open debut, was considered a significant threat, having had a full year to prepare for the event.
Hadi Choopan, with his incredible conditioning and muscularity, aimed to prove that he was a deserving champion.
Men’s 212 Division Results
Keone Pearson is the new Champion of the 212 Bodybuilding at the Olympia 2023. He got his first Olympia title after beating the 2 time Champion Shaun Clarida. Congratulations to him.
- Winner: Keone Pearson
- Second Place: Shaun Clarida
- Third Place: Angel Calderon
- Fourth Place: Kerrith Bajjo
- Fifth Place: Ahmed Ashkanani
The Men’s 212 Division showcased athletes who displayed remarkable aesthetics and proportion.
Competitors in this category are limited to a maximum weight of 212 pounds, and it’s a division known for its balance and symmetry.
The battle for supremacy was intense, with athletes from various countries competing for the title.
Shaun Clarida, a former champion, and Kamal Elgargni were among the top contenders in this division.
Classic Physique Division Results
Chris Bumstead wins his 5th Men’s Classic Physique title at the Olympia 2023.
- Winner: Chris Bumstead
- Second Place: Ramon Dino
- Third Place: Urs Kalecinski
- Fourth Place: Breon Ansley
- Fifth Place: Terrence Ruffin
The Classic Physique Division was introduced to capture the essence of the classic bodybuilding look of the 1970s.
Athletes in this division were judged on their muscular development, aesthetics, and overall presentation.
This category aimed to celebrate the art of bodybuilding, and it featured a lineup of athletes who embodied the classic physique ideal.
Breon Ansley and Chris Bumstead, previous champions, were among the front-runners in this category.
Men’s Physique Division Results
Ryan Terry wins the Men’s Physique Bodybuilding Title at the Olympia 2023.
- Winner: Ryan Terry
- Second Place: Brandon Hendrickson
- Third Place: Erin Banks
- Fifth Place: Diogo Montenegro
- Fourth Place: Emanual Hunter
The Men’s Physique Division showcased athletes with a lean and aesthetic physique, focusing on a beach-body look.
This category has gained popularity for its emphasis on a more attainable and aesthetic physique, making it relatable to a broader audience.
The competition was fierce, with past champions like Jeremy Buendia and Brandon Hendrickson participating.
Pro Wheelchair Division Results
- Winner: Karol Milewski
- Second Place: Harold Kelley
- Third Place: Josue Fabiano Barreto Monteiro
- Fourth Place: Mohammadreza Tabrizi Nouri
- Fifth Place: Gabriele Andriulli
The Pro Wheelchair Division featured inspirational athletes who demonstrated their incredible determination and strength despite physical challenges.
Competitors in this division competed in a wheelchair and displayed remarkable physiques.
The battle for the top spot in this division was a testament to the indomitable human spirit. The competition featured athletes such as Woody Belfort, Tory Jones, and Bradley Betts.
The 2023 Olympia Bodybuilding event was an exhilarating showcase of the human physique and the dedication, discipline, and hard work required to excel in the sport.
As fans eagerly awaited the results, the event offered a glimpse into the world of bodybuilding at its highest level.
The absence of Big Ramy set the stage for new champions to emerge, and the defending champions faced fierce competition in their quest to retain their titles.
Each division brought its unique flavor to the Olympia, from the mass and size of the Men’s Open to the classic aesthetics of the Classic Physique division, and the attainable beach-body look of Men’s Physique.
The Pro Wheelchair Division demonstrated the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
The 2023 Olympia weekend was a celebration of bodybuilding and a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence in the sport.
The results and achievements of the competitors will be remembered as they etch their names into bodybuilding history.
As the winners were crowned and the accolades bestowed, the Olympia showcased the beauty of the human body and the indomitable spirit of its athletes, inspiring the next generation of bodybuilders to reach new heights in the world of competitive fitness.
