[ad_1]
According to Šarčev, the defending champion only has to worry about last year’s runner-up.
THE 2023 Mr. Olympia slowly takes the form of a competition of gigantic proportions on paper. As the Men’s Open division seemingly enters a new golden erathe flagship competition of bodybuilding looks like a glove of competitors where alone a truly worthy champion will triumph. However, according to the longtime coach Miloš Sarcevthe contest begins and ends with two top contenders.
On July 6, 2023, during a conversation with Jay Cutler on Cutler’s YouTube channel, Šarčev claimed that he was thinking of defending the Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan and the 2022 finalist, Derek Lunsford, are the two favorites for the 2023 edition of the competition. The discussion resumes towards the end of the video below at around 1:26:30.
After waiting years but never quite breaking through, the seasoned Choopan could be on the verge of an Olympia dynasty. Unless, according to Šarčev, Lunsford or even the winner of the Arnold Classic (AC) 2023 Samson Dauda (as the dark horse) have something to say about it.
“Derek (Lunsford) and Hadi (Choopan) are the favourites,” said Šarčev. “Samson (Dauda) is going to the show (Mr. Olympia 2023) to win and will do everything possible for him to win.”
If Choopan does indeed repeat as Mr. Olympia champion in November in Orlando, Florida, he will put himself within striking distance of a legendary “three rounds”. According to Šarčev, Choopan could very well become the first male Open athlete since Phil Heath (2011-2017) to win the Mr. Olympia on at least three consecutive occasions.
“I have all respect for Hadi (Choopan),” said Šarčev. “Hadi (Choopan) could be three times Mr. Olympia.”
What was interesting in Šarčev’s analysis concerned Lunsford. According to the coach, Lunsford is already in championship condition with a world class back. It’s the other poses — especially those that feature the sides — that can determine whether the star athlete can knock Choopan off his fitness throne.
“Derek (Lunsford) would already be the Mr. Olympia if judged from behind,” explained Šarčev. “He (Lunsford) lost a bit down the side. And when you think about the front, the front double biceps, the front lat spread, he’s super dangerous because then you can really see the definition and the hardness on the chest on those two poses and he had a crazy v-taper so you have to give it to him. He has a front double bicep, the front lat spread, he looks crazy in all these poses. He is super dangerous. From behind, he is phenomenal. The other pose, it can be beaten. Can he be beaten in other poses convincingly enough? That remains to be seen. I still think Hadi Choopan will (win). »
As of this writing, the 2023 Mr. Olympia is just under four months away. A lot can change in that time. Still, if a keen and experienced eye like Šarčev already sees the forest for the trees, the final Olympia could really come down to another epic battle between Choopan and Lunsford.
Featured Image: @hadi_choopan on Instagram
[ad_2]
Source link
