Derek Lunsford: The Great Disruptor of Modern Bodybuilding

 

Derek Lunsford has rewritten the rules of bodybuilding. He has accomplished the impossible on multiple occasions.

In October 2021, Lunsford weighed 96 kilograms. Two years later, with an astonishing 20 additional kilos of muscle, he would conquer the world of bodybuilding. The giants of the era underestimated him. They probably thought a short man couldn't be a "heavyweight" contender. Lunsford would become the great disruptor that few saw coming and that many still can't believe has become the best bodybuilder in the world.

October 2021. Fifth appearance at Mr. Olympia, in the 212 category, where the weight limit sets a brutal barrier of just 96 kg. Derek Lunsford didn't just compete: he dethroned the great defending champion Shaun Clarida and claimed the title with a definition and volume that completely redefined the category.

Lunsford had demonstrated monstrous consistency, reaching the Top 5 in each of his previous appearances. Now he was defeating the champion on his own turf, solidifying his dominance in the most demanding weight division on the planet.

A year later came the big moment. Lunsford received a historic invitation to compete in the Open category at Mr. Olympia: the realm of the limitless giants, where title contenders weigh 120 kilos of pure muscle and size rules don't exist.

In his Open category debut, Lunsford took second place, just behind Hadi Choopan and relegating the massive Nick Walker to third in a battle many considered the closest of the decade. That result was no accident. It was the promise of what was to come.

2023 marked the defining moment. Lunsford defeated Choopan and became the first bodybuilder in history to successfully transition between categories and win Mr. Olympia in two different divisions: 212 and Open. Moreover, he had beaten the two reigning champions in their own categories.

This feat elevated him to an elite status impossible to ignore. A win in two different divisions is something that not even Hadi Choopan, Chris Bumstead, Shaun Clarida, or Keone Pearson have achieved in their entire careers.

Lunsford had done what the known laws of bodybuilding considered impossible. But the champion's path is rarely a straight line.

In 2024, the unthinkable happened: Lunsford not only lost the title, he dropped to third place. The giant Samson Dauda had dethroned him. Hadi Choopan, his old nemesis, had surpassed him once again. For a man who had conquered the impossible, this wasn't just a defeat: it was a brutal public humiliation in front of thousands of spectators.

Bodybuilding is a merciless sport. And Lunsford had just learned that at the top, everyone wants to see you fall. But falls define individuals more than victories. Lunsford studied every mistake. He absorbed every lesson. He prepared for the comeback.

Lunsford wasn't just determined to reclaim the title. He was determined to do it historically, once again. 2025 would be his year, and he would prove it with actions, not words.

March 2025. Arnold Classic in Ohio, the second most prestigious competition on the planet. There, Lunsford delivered a resounding victory over the reigning champion Samson Dauda, with symmetry and muscle density that left the audience speechless. Few thought they would see Dauda defeated by Lunsford on his own turf.

Months later, Lunsford triumphed again at the Pittsburgh Pro, where he once more defeated Nick "The Mutant" Walker in his return to competition. His condition wasn't a fleeting spark. It was a constant fire, fueled by the humiliation of the previous year.

When October arrived, Lunsford was on a winning streak reminiscent of the golden legends. He stepped onto the stage to face Samson Dauda once again, his constant nemesis Hadi Choopan, the genetic phenomenon Andrew Jacked, and the ever dangerous Nick Walker. That night, Lunsford outshone his rivals and reclaimed the title.

Only one man before him had achieved it: Jay Cutler, the giant who, alongside Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath, defined the modern era of perseverance. Now there were two. And Derek was just getting started.

With the Sandow back in his hands, Lunsford claimed the triple crown in 2025: Arnold Classic, Pittsburgh Pro, and Mr. Olympia. The best bodybuilder on the planet, without question.

Social media exploded. Choopan's fans cried robbery. Dauda's followers questioned every pose. But the judges had spoken, and in bodybuilding, the judges are the only truth that matters. The numbers, the records, and history don't lie.

For 2026, Lunsford has made what appears to be the riskiest decision of his career: total absence until October.

No preparatory competitions. No Arnold Classic. No warm up shows. Just one goal: defend the Sandow in October or die trying. It's the strategy of the greats, or the madmen.

Lunsford knows it: others may win the Arnold, the Pittsburgh Pro, or the New York Pro. But only the one who wins Mr. Olympia is the best bodybuilder on the entire planet.

The numbers are brutal. In just the last decade, only three men have managed to win Mr. Olympia twice: Phil Heath, Big Ramy, and Derek Lunsford. A third title would place him alone at the top. It would make him the absolute dominant force of an era.

But between him and immortality stand hungry rivals: Choopan, thirsty for revenge. Jacked, the phenomenon who defies genetics. Dauda, the dethroned champion. Walker, the limitless mutation.

The question is no longer whether Derek Lunsford is great. The question is whether he can be greater than all of them, once again, when it matters most.

The entire bodybuilding world will be watching closely in October. Derek Lunsford, the man who conquered two worlds, must be ready to write the next chapter of his legend and make history once more.