Lunsford vs. Jacked: Making History

  

Winner of the highest prize ever paid in the world of bodybuilding, $750,000. Andrew Jacked has become a ticking time bomb ready to explode on the Mr. Olympia stage in October. Jacked finally won the Arnold Classic after several attempts where he had barely reached third place. This time, something different happened. In Ohio, he defeated Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan. It wasn't just any victory. It was a major triumph that now positions him as the main challenger to the reigning champion, Derek Lunsford.

The landscape shifted suddenly. Now both want to make history, but for very different reasons. Lunsford seeks to establish himself as the biggest Olympia winner of the last decade. Jacked, on the other hand, wants to join the group of champions who conquered the title at an advanced age. The closest precedent is Shawn Rhoden, who won at 43 years old. There's also Ronnie Coleman, who secured his last Olympia at 41, the same age Andrew Jacked is today. Time is no minor detail in this story. It's the central axis of everything at stake.

Everything seems to indicate that this could be Jacked's year. At the same time, everything also points to it being Lunsford's year. That's the tension dominating the season. Jacked has a short window, perhaps two years at most, to establish a clear reign in the open category. Lunsford, however, is only 32 years old and wants to build something much bigger, even though it's cost him quite a bit. He wants to become the dominant figure of this decade. Two athletes at opposite moments in their careers. One racing against the clock. The other building with cold calm.

What we saw at the Arnold Classic changes many things. For years, the main challenger at the Olympia seemed to be Hadi Choopan. Today, the scenario is different. The most dangerous rival now is named Andrew Jacked. And there's another name forcefully re entering the conversation: Nick Walker is back.

The question that no one dared to ask before is starting to be heard within the circuit. Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for Hadi Choopan? The Iranian remains one of the most complete competitors in the sport. But the narrative around the title no longer revolves exclusively around him. Some have even spoken of his retirement from professional competitions possibly being very close.

Choopan has won practically everything. He won the Arnold Classic in 2024. He won Mr. Olympia in 2022. He was also runner-up at the Olympia three times in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Two huge titles and a consistency that few athletes in the sport's history can match. However, there's something I've pointed out in recent years: Choopan no longer surprises. He has no visible weaknesses, but he also shows no notable improvements. His physique remains solid, but evolution seems to have stopped. In Choopan's body, there no longer seems to be room for major improvement. Andrew Jacked and Nick Walker are starting to surpass him in certain aspects. Martin Fitzwater is beginning to catch up. And Choopan knows, even if he doesn't say it, that his best days may be starting to slip away.

Lunsford's reign also faces a new threat. Andrew Jacked is a giant who combines structure, aesthetics, and stage presence. Although he already seemed like one of the best competitors last year, and everything indicates he's reaching his best shape this year, I still think he hasn't hit his absolute peak. Something similar happened with Samson Dauda. Both seem like athletes who can still improve, but both have time and nature working against them. Jacked has less margin than Dauda, and that difference matters.

That's why I said it a few weeks ago and I stand by it now: This is the all or nothing year for Andrew Jacked. A true make it or break it moment. If the title doesn't come soon, the window may start closing just like it's happening to Dauda.

Meanwhile, Nick Walker seems to have returned forcefully. Many thought last year was his moment. However, Walker really needed two years to reach his best physical shape. Winning the Olympia still seems like a difficult task for him. Even so, it's very likely he'll stay in the Top 3 and continue improving in the coming years. He has time on his side, and in this sport, that means a lot.

This year's Arnold Classic also removed some of the mystery surrounding the next Olympia. Everything points to Lunsford and Jacked fighting directly for first place. It also seems increasingly clear that Walker and Choopan will be battling for third position. Will Choopan want to fall outside the Top 3?

Although the outlook can still change. There's another name watching everything from very close: Martin Fitzwater has Walker in his sights, and his progress is starting to draw attention. If he continues advancing at his current pace, the battle for the Top 5 could become much more chaotic and even leave Choopan and Dauda, two recent former Mr. Olympias, outside that privileged zone.

The road to this year's Mr. Olympia is no longer a clear line. Now it's an open war between generations, physiques, and personal ambitions. And at the center of that clash are two figures who will dominate the conversation from here to October: Derek Lunsford and Andrew Jacked. Two different paths to history. One single opportunity to prove who really rules on the biggest bodybuilding stage. The preparation will have to be followed almost surgically. There is no margin for error. Not for one. Not for the other.