Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan is on a mission to defend his throne at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia. He’ll face challenges from rising contenders in the Men’s Open division. In a recent Instagram post, Choopan looked massive in an off-season physique update.
Hadi Choopan entered the IFBB Pro League as a Men’s 212 competitor with a lot of hype. Hailing from Iran, he encountered obstacles related to traveling overseas and getting a visa for different competitions. He decided to switch to the Men’s Open class and gained attention for his impressive muscle mass, definition, and conditioning after taking bronze in his first Mr. Olympia appearance in 2019. He continued to work his way up the ranks and proved to be one of the most consistent athletes in the sport, having never placed below fourth in his pro career.
Choopan created history by becoming the first Iranian to win the coveted Sandow trophy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December. He managed to defeat former 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford in a close-fought battle and rising sensation Nick Walker. Following the outcome, Choopan received a hero’s welcome back in his native land and got honored with a ten-foot-tall statue. He didn’t slow down in his training and left fans stunned with a different ripped physique update earlier in the 2023 off-season.
After Samson Dauda’s victory at the 2023 Arnold Classic, renowned coach Milos Sarcev backed him as a major threat for Choopan and Lunsford at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. IFBB athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo expressed a similar sentiment in his analysis of the show.
While some may be counting Hadi Choopan out, bodybuilding Hall of Famer Chris Cormier believes he would give it his all since he possibly has more on the line than other competitors. Two months ago, eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman picked Lunsford to dethrone Choopan at the next Mr. Olympia.
Walker also doubts ‘The Persian Wolf’ can retain the title and expects himself to compete with Lunsford for gold. On the other hand, Cicherillo favored Choopan to beat Walker in a one-on-one showdown on stage months ago. However, bodybuilding veteran William Bonac extended his support for the champion to win another Sandow trophy.
Hadi Choopan looks massive in the off-season physique update
In a recent Instagram post, Hadi Choopan looked huge in an off-season physique update.
“The world revolved under my feet and I said to the worlds, I am the soldier of the Persians, the owner of the kingdom,” wrote Choopan via Google Translate. “I stood up and hit the nail of the tricolor flag of the Iranians, which once again danced in the breeze, a leaf of the historical string (Sando) that is sleeping in my house.”
RELATED: Samson Dauda Says Hadi Choopan & Derek Lunsford Will Lose 2023 Mr. Olympia If He Improves His Back
Recently, Choopan sent warning shots with an insanely jacked off-season physique update where he delivered a fiery message to his competitors. Based on his latest progress video, Choopan has no intentions of leaving the door open for a new champion to emerge later this year.