Who will leave Las Vegas with the Sandow Trophy?
Last updated on September 25th, 2024
The 60th edition of the Mr. Olympia contest is the main event of the 2024 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV. The show is scheduled for two nights. Pre-judging will occur on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, and the finals will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12.
19 competitors are qualified for this contest, but Tonio Burton has opted not to compete, leaving 18 athletes in the lineup. The winner will earn the coveted Sandow Trophy and $400,000 in prize money, making it the single-biggest winner’s purse in bodybuilding for the 2024 season.
2024 Mr. Olympia Roster
The list of competitors is below in the order that they qualified:
[Related: Dorian Yates Still Has Shredded Abs at Age 62]
[Related: How LITTLE Protein Can You Eat and Still Build Muscle?]
How to Qualify
Per the IFBB Pro League rules, past Olympia champions are eligible to compete in their division’s show for life. Still, they must obtain permission from President Jim Manion to do so five years or longer after their most recent Olympia appearance.
The top three finishers from the previous Olympia automatically qualify for the following year’s contest. After that, competitors must win a pro show during the Olympia qualifying season to earn their spot on the sport’s biggest stage.
The qualifying season for the 2024 Olympia concluded on Sept. 15, 2024. The only other way to be added to this lineup is by special invitation from the promoters or the IFBB Pro League. None are expected to be extended in 2024.
Past Champions
There are three previous titleholders in this competition: reigning champion Derek Lunsford, 2022 winner Hadi Choopan, and 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry. Curry is in the fifth year of his automatic eligibility to enter the contest. 2020 and 2021 winner Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay will not participate in this contest.
The last time three Mr. Olympia winners were on the same stage was in 2020. Curry was the defending champion; he was joined by seven-time winner Phil Heath and 2008 champion Dexter Jackson, both of whom retired after the contest. Elssbiay won the 2020 title.
Lunsford and Choopan are considered the top two contenders as the 2023 finalists. Choopan and Curry aim to become the second Men’s Open competitor in history to regain the title after losing it onstage. Jay Cutler was the first to do so in 2009 when he beat then-champion Jackson, who dethroned Cutler the year prior.
Many experts and fans doubt Curry’s chances of placing high in Las Vegas. Curry was reportedly out of the 2023 contest due to being hospitalized but was cleared and scored fourth place.
Top Contenders
Outside the top champions, several are considered high-level threats to become the 19th athlete to hold the Sandow Trophy. Dauda was third at the 2023 Olympia and placed second behind Choopan in the 2024 Arnold Classic and Arnold Classic UK contests. Dauda’s size and shape are challenging for many opponents to overcome, but Choopan and Lunsford have beaten him in conditioning and definition.
Another fan favorite who has his eyes set on top is Nick Walker. Walker missed the 2023 Olympia due to a hamstring injury but felt he would’ve been in the mix for the win had that not occurred. He won the 2024 New York Pro and feels he will be the champion in Las Vegas.
Walker’s conditioning could potentially match Choopan and Lunsford. Walker has beaten Dauda and Curry in the past. Walker is so confident that he told BarBend that he has already practiced his victory speech.
Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada have been in the top five in the past and waited until late in the season to qualify for the 2024 Olympia. Jacked’s mass and shape are undeniable, and Labrada has density and shape that he displays as a master poser like his father, Hall of Famer Lee Labrada. Either could reach first callouts during pre-judging if they are at their best.
Dark Horses
The rest of the top 10 is wide open. Several stars could be in the top six if one of the favorites is off the mark. Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler cited Martin Fitzwater, who will make his Olympia debut.
Another contender to watch is Nathan De Asha. He has not been on the Olympia stage since 2018 but has won several titles. He has been unable to compete on the big stage recently due to injuries or travel issues. If De Asha makes it to Las Vegas for the 60th edition, he’ll almost certainly make the top 10 at the very least.
Two-time Arnold Classic champion William Bonac has placed as high as second on the Olympia stage — he was runner-up to Curry in 2019. Bonac’s first Olympia was in 2014; he is still a top-10-or-better contender a decade later.
Other Notes
Fans who can’t be in Las Vegas for the Olympia can tune in to the pay-per-view livestream, which will cover both days of pro competitions and amateur events. Details of the live stream will be available on the Olympia website.
Stay tuned to BarBend for other Olympia previews and coverage of the 2024 Olympia Weekend as it happens in Las Vegas.
More Bodybuilding Content
Featured Image: @mrolympiallc / Instagram
