Tag: 2023 Pittsburgh Pro
Derek Lunsford & Samson Dauda Stand Out as 2023 Mr. Olympia Favorites After Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro concluded with six new champions. However, one of the biggest talking points of the weekend was the guest posing spectacle, which featured Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida.
Brimming with contenders, the Men’s Open division continues to add excitement to the sport, and the division has seen major changes as of late. At last year’s 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, Big Ramy failed to show up. Instead, Derek Lunsford took his place and dominated headlines for weeks. He posed alongside Quinton Eriya, Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, and Labrada. While Ramy later apologized for his absence, some were concerned that his misstep might cost him on the horizon.
In Sept. 2022, Derek Lunsford accepted a special invitation to compete in the Open class at Mr. Olympia. With zero size limitations, Lunsford would shock the world by taking second place to his teammate and newly crowned champion, Hadi Choopan. Surprisingly, Ramy fell to fifth.
Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing / gilcoproductions
Nick Walker, who earned third at the same contest, made a quick turnaround at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March. He entered the show as the on-paper favorite but was outmatched by Samson Dauda in second place as judges deemed the Nigerian’s physique more complete.
With this year’s Mr. Olympia show taking place in less than six months, many of the division’s top contenders stormed the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro for a special guest posing appearance. Given the shape and fullness of Lunsford in the 2023 off-season, many fans believe he has the greatest chance of dethroning Choopan in November.
Is Derek Lunsford or Samson Dauda the 2023 Mr. Olympia No. 1 Contender? – Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Highlights
Find pictures and videos below from the guest posing event at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last weekend:
Given the physiques on display in Pittsburgh, it’s safe to say this year’s Mr. Olympia contest will be immensely competitive. Some Open contenders such as Nick Walker believe Choopan won’t repeat as champion. With that in mind, ‘The Mutant’ envisions the next Mr. Olympia title being won by himself or Lunsford.
Two-time Arnold Classic winner William Bonac also chimed in on the 2023 Olympia discussion. He appeared on The Menace Podcast with Dennis James and recently predicted Choopan will defend successfully. However, he acknowledged that the Mr. Olympia title is within Walker’s grasp if he can add more quad sweep.
Meanwhile, Samson Dauda, fresh off his 2023 Arnold Classic victory, is confident he has the skills to upset the champ. According to Dauda, if he improves his back, there are no other areas in which Derek or Hadi can beat him.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Will Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Big Ramy’s plans for the rest of the year are unclear, as the former champion suggested he might take a break. Nevertheless, the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is still generating a lot of excitement among the fans, who are eager to see how Choopan copes with the challenge of defending his title.
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 11:06 AM EDT
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, one of the most prestigious contests on the IFBB Pro League calendar, will kick off its festivities on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. Historically, this show has become a major attraction and is backed by NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion. With six bodybuilding categories competing for gold, the winners will guarantee their right to contend on this year’s Mr. Olympia stage.
A number of returning champions have taken to the east coast looking to stake their claim as the best. Natalia Abraham Coelho, the reigning 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia, three-time Olympia Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser, and Wellness Arnold Classic winner Kassandra Gillis will be in attendance eager to nail down another major bodybuilding title.
Fans are also looking forward to a star-studded lineup of Open class guest posers, who are set to light up the stage on Saturday. You can find the complete roster of athletes competing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below:
Official 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Athletes Roster & Preview
Classic Physique
In the Classic Physique category, a few names jumped out on paper in the lead-up to the event. Michael Daboul is a two-time Arnold Classic UK champion and known for bringing consistently shredded packages. Daboul capped off his season last year finishing 10th at 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Camilo Diaz also has ambitious plans to assert himself as a title contender in his Pittsburgh Pro debut performance. Fans expect a strong showing from Danili Famponte as well after he won the 2023 Charlotte Pro and took third at the Fitworld Pro. He’s qualified for the 2023 Olympia, so he’s aiming to take a invite away from his competition.
Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Edgard John Augustin
Brandon Cooper
Luca Corrado
Michael Daboul
Camilo Diaz
Daniil Famponte
Callum Hinze
Eric Wildberger Lisboa
Eddie Lusk III
Dion Merrill
Jason Orellana
Kendahl Richmond
Rob Van Sant
Randy Watson
Alexander Westermeier
Jay Yount
Men’s Physique
The evolution of the Men’s Physique category will be on full display this weekend. Fans have highlighted a few frontrunners, like Ryan Terry. Terry turned in a seventh-place finish at 2022 Olympia, where Erin Banks won his first Men’s Physique title. Meanwhile, Ali Bilal will look to win in Pittsburgh after securing ninth behind Terry in Las Vegas. Benquil Marigny is also riding momentum after picking up gold at the 2023 St. Louis Pro a few weeks ago.
Dustin Alvis
Michael E. Anderson
Christopher Barr
Lucas Basilio
Michael Bell
Ali Bilal
Stevelon Dennis
Furkan Er
Matthew Gelia
Brett Mario Jackson
Melvin Keihn
Jacques Lewis
Benquil Marigny
Joseph Mencel
Gage Moran
Corey Morri
Vincenzo Palescandolo
Sidy Pouye Spain
Nathaniel Presley
Puwanat Putoya
Jamil Rogers
Leon K. Smith
Ryan Terry
Marcus L. Wesley
Women’s Physique
Fans look forward to seeing Natalia Abraham Coelho back in action, who upset Sarah Villegas for the Women’s Physique Olympia title last December. Given her ability to come in shredded to the bone, fans expect a dominant package from the reigning champ.
Sabrina Berish
Candice Carr
Natalia Abraham Coelho
Sarah Crail
Marie-Solange Essoh
Ann Gruber
Carrie Hughes
Amandine Kolly
Diana Schnaidt
Joseli Schoenherr
Emily Schubert
Becky Short
Michele Steeves
Jennifer Taylor
Kasia Topor
Patricia Watson
Figure
In the Figure category, Natalia Soltero hopes to deliver fireworks. She placed fifth at the 2022 Figure Olympia contest, which saw Cydney Gillon secure her sixth consecutive title. Soltero also finished fifth at last year’s Arnold Classic Figure International.
Lynn Centino
Madison Dinges
Manon Dutilly
Ashley Radiance Fuller
Sandy Hill
Ashley Howells
Erika Morales Morgan
Nina Paulus
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Paula Ranta
Cherish Richardson
Paige Sabedra
Natalia Soltero
Jennifer Zienert
Bikini
Ashley Kaltwasser is a winning machine and hopes to add another trophy to her collection this weekend. At the 2022 Olympia competition, she took third place, proving that she’s still a viable contender and very capable of stringing together high-quality performances. Kaltwasser enters this competition having won the Pittsburgh Pro title four times (2013,2014,2016,2019).
Marnie Al-Saraf
Vania Auguste
Romina Basualdo
Aimee Delgado
Malu Duarte
Valerya Fedorenko
Karene Gonzalez
Brittany Hamilton
Nicole Hermanson
Peyton Hunton
Ashley Kaltwasser
Priscila Leimbacher
Lexus Redmond
Kathy Seitz
Nedjie Thompson
Petra Voldanova
Jessica Wilson
Wellness
Arnold Classic Wellness International titleholder Kassandra Gillis plans to continue her success on Saturday. She’s already won a contest this year at the 2023 Vancouver Island Showdown Pro and earned her Olympia invite. With that in mind, she hopes to win her first Pittsburgh Pro title this weekend.
Emily Azzarello
Anna Banks
Claire Cochet
Rayanne Collins
Lili Dong
Kassandra Gillis
Gisele Machado
Tefani-Sam Razhi
Jaqueline Huescas Rios
Alyssa Serna
Jennifer Zollars
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Lineup
On top of six contests, some of the sport’s best Men’s Open competitors will guest pose in Pittsburgh this weekend. The stage will feature 2021 Arnold Classic winner, Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, 2022 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada.
Last year, Walker and Lunsford stole the show guest posing at the Pittsburgh Pro. Lunsford served as a backup replacement for Big Ramy who no-showed the event. At the gathering, fans enjoyed exciting performances from Brandon Curry and Hunter Labrada. It also laid the foundation for Lunsford to receive a special invitation to compete in the Open class for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, which he followed through on with a second-place finish.
RELATED: Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Fans are counting down the hours until Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro show. In addition to contests, the elite athletes in the Open class will also showcase their skills through guest posing. This will allow them to gain momentum and attract attention before they compete in the 2023 Mr. Olympia later in November.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 1:26 PM EDT
Chris Aceto Talks Big Ramy & Derek Lunsford Battle at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: ‘Leave an Impression’
With the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro approaching next weekend, Chris Aceto is taking a closer look at the stars expected to perform on stage. Speaking in a RxMuscle interview, Aceto predicted standout performances from Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and Derek Lunsford, who both share the same goal of winning this year’s Mr. Olympia show. The Men’s Open division has been turned upside down after the conclusion of the 2022 Mr. Olympia event. For starters, Ramy fell to fifth place after most in the community suspected he was off on stage, such as IFBB Pro League head judge Steve Weinberger. Instead, Hadi Choopan reigned supreme and won his first title whereas Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker rounded out the podium in second and third. Judging became a hot topic on the heels of the 2023 Arnold Classic competition which took place in March. Despite his status as the highest-ranking Olympian, Walker ended the show in second behind Nigerian native Samson Dauda. In the meantime, Lunsford made it clear that he was using the off-season to increase his chances of winning the next Mr. Olympia.
Last year, Lunsford guest posed in place of Big Ramy who failed to meet his obligation. Lunsford and Walker stole the show anyhow, which paved Derek’s way to a special invitation from the Olympia brass to compete in the Open. Given the significance of the Pittsburgh Pro guest posing event, fans consider it an appetizer for what is to come in November at 2023 Olympia.
Chris Aceto on Big Ramy at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: “100% Slam Dunk Bigger Than He’s Ever Been”
Aceto believes Big Ramy will remind the bodybuilding community that he’s still a viable Mr. Olympia threat once he’s done guest posing in Pittsburgh.
“Mark my words, slam dunk. He’ll be in good shape and he’ll be way bigger than he’s ever been. We can play this show back but go ahead. 100% to use the 100% three times in one show,” said Chris Aceto.
Similar to last year, Aceto expects Derek Lunsford to make a powerful impression. He anticipates the former 212 Olympia to be even bigger on stage than in 2022. In addition, he believes Lunsford will have made improvements to his upper body, most notably his chest.
“We got Ramy, who else? Lunsford will look better than last year, he’s also gearing up to leave an impression. Unfortunately, if you’re not gearing up to make an impression for this show, you’re making a mistake. Derek is gearing up to leave an impression that he’s going to win the Mr. Olympia. He’s going to be bigger than last year, rounder, his upper body will be better.
He’ll probably be close to last year’s condition, but probably better. But the scuttlebutt will be you know, his front double is better than Ramy’s front double and his back double is better than Ramy’s back double because he’ll be in better condition than Ramy because naturally it’s easier for him to get in better condition than Ramy.” “Some people have an easier time getting into condition than others, added Aceto. “I think it’s [small waist] is probably a combination of all those. He’s just crazy round,” said Aceto.
Aceto Touches on Judging & How Hadi Choopan Won 2022 Mr. Olympia Title: ‘Tremendous Condition Still at a Bigger Weight’
Aceto says judges at major contests like Mr. Olympia look at physiques for something ‘truly special.’ He specified that Choopan won last year because he brought excellent conditioning but paired it with more size.
“The Olympia, you know, when you’re being judged at the Olympia, I think the judges want to see no stone left unturned. That means they want to see something special. At that level, everyone is big, so they need to see something that is truly special. Look at how successful Hadi has been from day one at the Olympia, this year, of course, he was fuller than ever, not fuller, but bigger and he brought tremendous condition still at a bigger weight and that’s what put him over the top. They want to see something special, usually something special means conditioning.”
In regards to the judging process, Aceto believes it’s fair to wait a few days after a show before asking officials what areas of improvement are needed to advance further in the sport.
“I would never go up to a judge and say hey what did you think between second and first or first and second, I would give him a lot of time before I ask him, and I wouldn’t necessarily blab it out on a show, ‘Oh I spoke to Bill, oh I spoke to Steve and they had so and so in ninth place during prejudging, then he ended up in ninth because of XYZ, a show is a show, but you have to keep some level of fairness there if that makes sense.” “People can come off as biased or unfair when they connect it to the Olympia and make criticisms of people’s attention,” said Aceto.
The last time fans heard from Chris Aceto, he discussed the chances of four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler returning to the stage. Despite fan speculation, rumors online, and the return of Masters Olympia in August, Aceto said Cutler isn’t even considering it on a scale of 1-10. RELATED: Chris Aceto Talks 2023 Arnold Classic Judging Backlash, Says Nick Walker Beats Samson Dauda ‘1v1’ Next weekend, bodybuilding fans will have a teaser of the upcoming season at Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. In addition to the contests, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Shaun Clarida, Hunter Labrada, Big Ramy, and Derek Lunsford will be in attendance to stake their claim as the next contender to push Hadi Choopan for gold.
Watch the full RxMuscle interview below:
Published: 9 May, 2023 | 4:28 PM EDT