Here is a breakdown and predictions for the Classic Physique division at the 2022 Olympia.
Mr. Olympia is around the corner! The most built and elite physiques are doing a weekend showdown in Vegas. And although the Men’s Open division is the largest, other categories are stacked with prominent and talented contenders. One of the 2022 Olympia categories is the Classic Physique.
The Classic Physique is another popular category with star bodybuilders, such as Chris Bumstead, the reigning champ. This is one of the newer divisions, only coming to the surface in 2016. The competitors are bigger than the Men’s Physique athletes but not quite as big as the Men’s Open contenders. Due to the rise of bodybuilding and increased steroid usage, bodybuilders are much bigger now than they used to be. So the Classic Physique division’s goal is to bring bodybuilders back to the stage that mimics the golden era of bodybuilder’s physqiue (the 1960s-1980s), where the Men’s Open athletes were smaller but had broad shoulders, narrow waists, stout lower bodies, and overall symmetrical and conditioned physique.
Although the Men’s Open roster is extensive this year, it pales compared to the number of Classic Physique contenders. The 2022 Olympia has 65 men on their list competing. This article will cover the qualifying athletes and breakdown the top contenders and predictions.
2022 Classic Physique Lineup
- Abdullah Wael Alrabiah
- Abdullah Al Sharafi
- Dancovea Anderson
- Georgian Andrei Birica Anghel
- Breon Ansley
- Darwin Andres Uribe Aristizabal
- Walid Baatout
- Vahid Badpei
- Anthony Barbera III
- Brady Barnes
- Adam Bomert
- Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi
- Chris Bumstead
- Alex Cambronero
- Anthony Casado
- Julian Castano
- Tommy Clark
- Blake Course
- Neil Currey
- Michael Daboul
- Camilo Diaz
- Carlos Dommar
- Tony Duong
- Josh Eastham
- Ahmed El Halawani
- Mohamed Amine Fakhfakh
- Logan Franklin
- Jeff Hallenbeck
- Patrik Herczik
- Jorge Herrera
- Kelvin Hinde
- Christopher Hunte
- Junior Javorski
- Tyler Johnson
- Fabio Junior
- Urs Kalecinski
- Chen Kang
- Kyrylo Khudaiev
- Mehdi Larijani
- Fabian Mayr
- Peter Molnar
- Courage Opara
- Jaehun Park
- Jonathan Pelkey
- Marcus Perry
- Valentin Petrov
- Grant Pieterse
- Ali Poladvand
- Ramon Rocha Queiroz
- Ruben Lopez Reyes
- Emanuele Ricotti
- Denis Romanov
- Terrence Ruffin
- Marco Ruz
- Jesus Rodriguez Sendra
- Lamar Shaw
- Mike Sommerfeld
- Jaepil Song
- Mateo Vaihu
- Wesley Vissers
- Alexander Westermeier
- Robert Wichman
- Lenny Wicks
- Giuseppe Zagarella
- Gabriel Zancanelli
2022 Olympia Classic Physique Top 5 Prediction
Let’s break down who fans and experts think has the most potential to win the Classic Physique division and earn a place in the top five at the 2022 Olympia.
1. Chris Bumstead
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Of course, we can’t go without putting the reigning Classic Physique champ at the top of the list. Chris Bumstead is the 3x defending champ. He’s picked as the favorite to win by miles. Although, he’s been training with his new coach, Hany Rambod. Yet, he’s still coming into this show in arguably his best condition. If Bumstead clinches this one, he’ll be the first four-time champ in this division.
2. Breaon Ansley
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The other past Olympia champion in the Classic Physique class is Breon Ansley. 2022 Olympia will be Ansley’s final time competing in the Classic Physique class at Olympia before shifting gears to the Men’s 212 class. He’s a bigger contender, so it’s been tough for him to cut weight down enough to be a competitive Classic Physique athlete. Moving up to the Men’s 212 division will give him an extra 30 pounds to work with.
3. Terrence Ruffin
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Although the prior two athletes are past champions, with Chris Bumstead coming in as the heavy favorite to win, multiple competitors will be lining up next to Bumstead and Ansley through each callout. And Terrence Ruffin is one of those that can short-stop their chances of victory. Ruffin is a 2x Arnold Classic Physique winner, and he was the runner-up next to Bumstead at last year’s Olympia, so many fans say he’s the one that’s going to give Bumstead the most problems.
4. Urs Kalecinski
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“The Miracle Bear” is another Classic Physique athlete with a shot at winning the division at the 2022 Olympia. He placed fourth at the 2021 Olympia, third at the 2022 Arnold Classic, and won both the 2022 Boston Pro and the 2022 Kuwait Classic Pro. A couple of weeks ago, he released footage of a brutal shoulder and arms workout.
5. Ramon Rocha Queiroz
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For the fifth spot on the list, we’ll give it to Ramon Rocha Queiroz for possibly plotting his way into the top five. That’s because, as bodybuilding history has shown, lightning does strike twice. Last year, Queiroz barely snuck into the top five, receiving fifth place.
Other Worthy Contenders
Some other notable Classic Physique contenders to keep an eye out for that placed in the top 15 last year are Alex Cambronero (6th), Mike Sommerfield (7th), Fabian Mayr (8th), Wesley Vissers (11th), Peter Molnar (14th), and Courage Opera (15th). In addition, look out for up-and-coming bodybuilders Neil Currey and Tyler Johnson. Neil Currey is from the UK and won the 2022 New York Pro. And Johnson, from Canada, displayed a spectacular performance in his opening debut at the 2022 Toronto Pro.
Final Word
The Classic Physique division has become one of the most popular categories in the IFBB Pro. Thanks to standout athletes such as Chris Bumstead, it’s been doing a great job of bringing back the golden era aesthetics since its launch in 2016.
This year, the 2022 Olympia will see many faces on stage, with 65 athletes on the roster. Two past champions are competing. And others that are sure to make winning Olympia for a fourth straight year no walk in the park for Chris Bumstead.
The 2022 Olympia takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino from December 15, 2022 – December 18, 2022.
Who will win the Classic Physique division at the 2022 Olympia?
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