2023 Olympia Predictions
High 10 Picks From Giles Thomas
By Giles “Tiger” Thomas
As a muscle journo, even TYPING that subheading provides me an enormous ol’ shiver down my backbone. I’ll be sincere, we pundits, reporters, no matter you need to discuss with us as, actually wait all yr to leap on this topic. All these dozens of professional reveals all around the planet, all these professional qualifiers that result in these professional reveals, they ALL lead a method – to the highest of Mount Olympia. The perfect of the most effective, solely winners of those professional reveals get to stroll on THAT specific and prestigious stage, just like the tune goes “we’re the champions, no time for losers,” it’s the crème de la crème guys, it’s crushed many, many, MANY a dream of aspiring Olympia champions throughout all divisions, however happily/sadly (relying in your standpoint), there can solely be one. Just one winner to name himself the most effective of the most effective every year. So, right here’s my take of how I really feel it would come down, I’m fairly certain it would upset a couple of athletes, however hey, I really like being confirmed incorrect. OK, it doesn’t occur fairly often, however guys, don’t stress, I’ve zero management of the end result, that my keen warriors, it comes all the way down to you and also you alone. You may management the end result (to a level) by coming in at your very best, the remainder is all the way down to the judges and fairly presumably, destiny itself. (Rattling that was deep, I feel I have to lie down now.)
Mr. O High 3
It’s mighty uncommon that I don’t change my thoughts a dozen instances as the professional present calendar wears on, however this yr I’ve been fairly sure of what I felt the highest three guys could be for this coming Olympia. When you may recall within the June version of MD (Blessing Awodibu on the duvet), on this very right here column, I said that I – The Mystic Tiger – had foreseen that the ultimate three males could be present – and defending – Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan, 2021 Olympia 212 champ and final yr’s runner-up Derek Lunsford, and the present Arnold Traditional USA champ, Samson Dauda. Do I really want to checklist all their physique attributes right here, once more? No, for should you do comply with the game, then you definately’ll know that these at present are essentially the most talked about three as of not good now, however for just about the final seven to eight months. Relying on who has improved essentially the most and who nails the situation the most effective will rely upon what order that high three will go. However I’ll say it right here once more, it’s going to come back all the way down to one in all them – that, I really feel, you’ll be able to assure.
Rounding Out the High 6
OK, right here’s the place Mystic Tiger actually has to focus exhausting and visualize (hnnnn). I’m going with Nick Walker, Andrew Jacked and Brandon Curry. Nick’s placings have been fifth in 2021 and third in 2022, personally I really feel Samson, after beating Nick on the Arnold in March, together with the actual fact in my eyes he has made extra important enhancements since that occasion in March, that he’ll keep in entrance of Nick. Then there’s Brandon Curry, the 2019 Mr. Olympia, whose placings since have been 2020 and 2021; runner-up and final yr (2022) got here in fourth. Brandon, I feel it’s truthful to say, is within the tail finish of his profession, he’s over 40 now, has been competing within the Olympia for nicely over a decade, however! I do suppose he nonetheless has at the very least one other two years of holding on to that top-six spot on the “O.” He was large final yr, however not fairly as exhausting as we’ve seen him, but nonetheless managed to seize a extremely respectable fourth spot. Not dangerous. I’m predicting he’ll are available sharper this yr – and for that motive alone I can’t see him falling out of the highest six. Additionally within the high six, I see final yr’s eighth placer Andrew Jacked transferring up right here, he’s been competing very usually and enhancing considerably with every present, he’s huge, balanced, his conditioning has continued to rise with every occasion – and for that I do see him in that first callout.
The Remainder of the High 10
Once more, it’s getting a little bit more durable, however Mystic Tiger has searched deep into the long run and 4 worthy names have come again from the ether and are as follows. Michal “Krizo” Krizanek from Slovakia, final yr’s rookie, positioned twelfth. However the physique he displayed in Spain earlier this yr – identical to “different” 2022 rookie, Andrew Jacked – has in 2023 taken issues to a wholly new degree, once more. Big strides in conditioning and total polish as he makes additional enhancements to his total steadiness, has rendered him a big “code pink” menace to all the remainder of his fellow rivals. I see “Kaiju Krizo” (my new nickname for him) pushing for seventh place on this Olympia.
Personally, as I mentioned on MD’s weekly present “The Energy Hour” with MD On-line Editor Ron Harris, I do consider the highest is “on lock” with the chaps talked about above. I may see Hunter Labrada in eighth; he was a shocking fourth in 2021 and seventh in 2022, he displayed severe enhancements on the Tampa (first) and Texas Professional (positioned second to Andrew Jacked) and suppose he’ll proceed his extremely respectable top-10 placement. In ninth, nicely I feel Italy’s Andrea Presti has proven us with all his professional wins and continuous and constant enhancements, that he can lastly transfer up into the coveted high 10. He’s huge, he’s all the time extremely conditioned and I feel it’s lastly his time to rise into the ultimate 10.
Rounding out the highest 10, I see this one as a straight-out combat between three males. Egypt’s Hassan Mostafa – he has the scale, however will he nail his situation once more? If he does, then he’s an element. Or it’s final yr’s Olympia “finest conditioned” – and lots of thought-about to be, wildly missed, Charles Griffen. Or it may very well be France’s “Mr. Constant” himself, Theo Leguerrier.
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