Here’s a breakdown and predictions for the Men’s Physique division at the 2023 Olympia.
Are you prepared for the upcoming 2023 Olympia event? It takes place this weekend, from November 2nd to 5th, in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center. We share your excitement, particularly for the Men’s Physique Olympia category, which boasts the largest number of competitors among the men’s divisions. As of the conclusion of the qualifying season on October 9th, we currently have 47 talented athletes vying for the title.
The Men’s Physique category, known as the “beach body” division, is more about aesthetics than mass. Aspects that judges pay attention to include the shoulder-to-waist ratio, plus a balanced and extraordinary development of the chest, shoulders, back, arms, and calves. Large and humongous legs aren’t a priority in this category. Men’s Physique athletes must also have a body fat percentage of less than 5% to be competetive.
As a category, the Men’s Physique division has had only five winners since its inception in 2012. Three of those winners are in this year’s lineup, with unique buzz around the comeback of four-time champion Jeremy Buendia. For qualifications, all past-time champions are forever eligible to compete; the top three winners from last year also get a spot, and then winners of pro shows during the qualifying season also join the list.
While Buendia has won the title four times, he hasn’t competed since 2018, so fans don’t know what to expect. Plus, he’ll have to deal with last year’s winner, Erin Banks, and Brandon Hendrickson, a three-time champion in the same category. Also, watch out for athletes like Kyron Holden, who recently caused an unexpected upset in the Legion Sports Fest Pro this year by beating Banks.
From the above lineup, you can already tell that this year’s Men’s Physique competition will be exciting. Fans are looking forward to an outstanding performance, and so are we. Below is the 47 man list of the 2023 Olympia Men’s Physique competitors alphabetically (by first name), with breakdowns of some competitors and what to expect.
2023 Men’s Physique Olympia Competitors
- Adeyemi Awoyemi (UK)
- Ali Bilal (Belgium)
- Anderson Arruda (Brazil)
- Andre Ferguson (USA)
- Arya Saffaie (USA)
- Ayoub Sulayman (Libya)
- Benquil Marigny (USA)
- Bhuwan Chauhan (India)
- Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
- Carlos DeOliveira (Brazil)
- Charjo Grant (USA)
- Corey Morris (USA)
- Daniel Ammons (USA)
- Derrick Stevenson (USA)
- Diogo Montenegro (Brazil)
- Drew Cullen (USA)
- Edvan Palmeira (Brazil)
- Emanuel Hunter (USA)
- Emile Walker (USA)
- Emmanuel Costa (Brazil)
- Erin Banks (USA)
- Febo Gambacorta (Italy)
- Ismael Martinez Dominquez (Mexico)
- Jason Huynh (USA)
- Jeremiah Maxey (USA)
- Jeremy Buendia (USA)
- Jeremy Potvin (USA)
- Jonas Jamena (Phillipines)
- Joseph Lee (USA)
- Joven Sagabain (Phillipines)
- JunHo Lee (South Korea)
- Kahlia Ramzi (Algeria)
- Kyron Holden (USA)
- Mahmood Al-Maghrabi (Bahrain)
- Mauro Fialho Garcia, Jr (Spain)
- Mehdi Kabbadj (Morocco)
- Ming Chieh Tsai (Taiwain)
- Rafael Oliveira (Brazil)
- Reubeb Glass (USA)
- Riccardo Croci (Italy)
- Rodrigue Chesnier (France)
- Ryan Terry (UK)
- Sidy Pouye (Spain)
- Vinicius Mateus Veiro Lima (Brazil)
- Vitor Chaves (Brazil)
- Victor Manuel Ramirez Chavez (Costa Rica)
- Yoon Sung Lee (South Korea)
Competitors to Lookout For
Qualifying for the Men’s Physique of the Olympia is no easy feat. It involves extensive training and changes to your diet before and during the competition. Everyone works hard to meet specifications and so have a chance to win the crown.
However, using social media, the news, physique updates, and performances last year alongside rankings in the months leading to the show, favorites tend to emerge. Here are some competitors to look out for in this year’s Olympia Men’s Physique category.
Erin Banks Exclusive Interview ahead of 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia
Our list is, of course, not complete without the current Olympia Men’s Physique title holder Erin Banks. He also won the Arnold Classic last year and went ahead to win it again this year despite not needing it to qualify for the Olympia. Plus, after the recent defeat to Kyron Holden in the Legion Sports Fest Pro, you can bet that Banks will not leave anything to chance in preparations. In this interview on the Generation Iron goes into detail on the top three factors for bodybuilding success.
Brandon Hendrickson Exclusive Feature on “Generation Iron 3″
After his Olympia debut in 2015, Brandon Hendrickson has won the Men’s Physique title three times. First in 2018 and then back in 2020 and 2021, plus, he’s never gone below fifth in his Olympia appearances. Hendrickson was also a runner-up to Erin Banks at the Olympia last year. Brandon Hendrickson was featured in the documentary ‘Generation Iron 3’ alongside Chris Bumstead. The film documents his journey in the city of Chicago as he makes his way to compete the Arnold Classic and showcase the inside pressure and passion as he preps for this essential competition.
Jeremy Buendia
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Jeremy Buendia is another athlete who knows what it is to be a champion in this category. After a second-place debut in 2013, he went on to win first place in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. However, the 4x Men’s physique champion Buendia hasn’t competed since a 4th place finish in 2018, so fingers are crossed on this one.
Kyron Holden
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Kyron Holden has competed in the Olympia Men’s Physique category every year since 2018. He’s shown steady improvement in his physique over time, ranking as high as a 3rd place finish in 2019 and 2020. Despite a 6th place finish last year, we have our eyes set on Holden because of this year’s Legion Sports Fest Pro shock, where he matched and beat current title holder Erin Banks.
Ryan Terry Exclusive Interview on Men’s Physique category
Ryan Terry earned his qualification for this year’s Olympia by winning the 2023 New York Pro and has never placed below 7th. The British bodybuilder has hit as high as 2nd place in 2016 and also has wins in competitions like the Asia Grand Prix and the Arnold Classic under his belt. Fans will look forward to at least a top-10 finish from Terry this year.
Charjo Grant
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Charjo Grant is respected as not only a Men’s Physique bodybuilder but also a veteran in the United States. After two 12th-place finishes starting his debut in 2020, Grant put in the work and finished 4th on stage last year. He won the San Antonio Pro to qualify this year, and after this grueling back workout with Jeremy Buendia, fans are excited to see how well he fares this year.
Dark Horse Olympia Men’s Physique Competitors
All of the athletes above have prior Olympia Men’s Physique experiences. However, it’s no guarantee for a top performance or the title. Below are some others they’ll have to watch out for this year.
Sidy Pouye
While Sidy Pouye did qualify for Olympia last year, he didn’t compete. But he brought his top game to the season, winning the Sheru Classic Italy Pro, Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal, and Europa Pro. Pouye also placed in the top five in competitions like the Pittsburg Pro and New York Pro.
Jeremiah Maxey
Jeremiah Maxey is another new athlete to watch out for this year. He brings an impressive physique and a first-place finish in the Texas Pro. The American bodybuilder also came second in the Tampa Pro competition this year.
Rafael Oliveira
While Rafael Oliviera was the seventh Brazilian to qualify for Olympia Men’s Physique this year, he is one to watch. A surprising first-place win at the 2023 Musclecontest International Goiania Pro netted him his qualification. Oliviera won with a perfect score through pre-judging, and we’re excited to see how far he goes this year.
Wrapping Up
The Men’s Physique category of the Olympia this year is star-studded and will certainly be historic. With a four-time, three-time, and the incumbent title holder competing, this is undoubtedly one division to watch. Do you have a favorite to win the 2023 Olympia Men’s Physique title?
Let us know on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and follow us as we update the live results of the show this weekend!
