Like every year, Mr. Olympia 2022 created a huge fan base built on Hadi Choopan’s win. Choopan won the title against Derek Lunsford, who was a strong competitor as he had experience both in wrestling and bodybuilding. However, Flex Wheeler, the four-time Arnold Classic champion thinks Lunsford is more deserving. In an interview with Shawn Ray, Wheeler expressed his discontentment with the decision. For the veteran, Lunsford’s meticulous physique demanded more attention.

Las Vegas, Nevada witnessed a potential contest to win the title of Mr. Olympia last December. Speculations are growing regarding the rightful winner of the title among netizens. Let’s find out what they said about the results.

Flex Wheeler is not satisfied with Mr. Olympia 2022

As a first-timer, it feels great for Lunsford to be this close to the trophy. In addition, he shared his thought process in the competition and said, ” …when I first started bodybuilding, I always heard shows are won from the back.” Although the “Sultan of Symmetry” corrected him saying, “That old saying, ‘Olympias are won from the back,’ I was like, ‘obviously that’s not true anymore.’ I really thought he [Derek] would win. I really did, I thought he was going to win. I don’t think anyone would argue if he had won, that’s how close it was.”

Obviously, the Sultan noticed that Lunsford had a “better flow”, “more detailed from the rear”, a compact waist, and a conditioned back compared to Choopan. He thinks that the runner-up would be a worthy winner had it not been for his less-defined front. Muscle maturity also played an important role as pointed out by Shawn Ray, “I think the [muscle] maturity comes over time. Derek doesn’t have to do again, a whole lot of changing to his physique structurally, weight-wise – he doesn’t have to get bigger.” 

Wheeler’s advice for the budding bodybuilder

Reiterating his own mistakes, Wheeler advised Lunsford not to run for the size, as he did to compete with Ronnie Coleman. So, he said, “I always tell my athletes, steal a pose if you can”. Furthermore, Wheeler analyzed that, “your legs were a little too wide, and I think that’s because your hamstrings are so thick and you want to show all of it but sometimes that’s negative because it can take away from your look of being symmetrical.”

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Though Lunsford ended up in the 2nd place and Choopan edged him out for the title, the former seems very happy. He is resolute enough to come up next year with a muscular back and meticulous front, remembering that bigger isn’t better; symmetrical is better.

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Now the question arises, will Lunsford emerge triumphant next time?