The Olympia has been completely reshaped in 2020.
The 2020 Olympia has been completely devastated this year. While there are still some top competitors to be excited about seeing, a vast quantity of the athletes in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division have dropped out of the competition.
While the return of Phil Heath is an exciting prospect, the loss of so many top competitors is a major blow. Below is the list of athletes are have dropped out of the 2020 Olympia.
James ‘Flex’ Lewis
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Former reigning 212 Olympia champion, James ‘Flex’ Lewis was perhaps the competitor fans were most excited to see. Hoping to make his Open Bodybuilding debut against the best of the best, Flex Lewis would reveal that he was injured. He would be the first of many to drop out of the show.
Cedric McMillan
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After suffering some serious injuries, Cedric McMillan found himself out of the 2020 Olympia. A consistent top ten competitor, McMillan was training hard for the show when he injured his collar bone and wrist during prep.
James Hollingshead
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While he qualified for the 2020 Olympia, James Hollingshead has chosen to skip the show. He has already qualified for the 2021 show and has decided instead to focus his attention on next year’s show.
Nathan De Asha
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Like many other competitors Nathan De Asha was unable to obtain a visa for the show. Since the UK is on another lockdown, De Asha has been left out of the show for yet another year.
Rafael Brandao
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After qualifying for the Olympia at the Europa Pro, Rafael Brandao was ready for the show. Unfortunately for him, the Brazilian bodybuilder contracted the virus that shut down the whole world this year.
Shawn Rhoden
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The 2018 Olympia champion, Shawn Rhoden has been on shelf since winning that show. With his legal issues still barring him from competition, Rhoden must once again sit on the sidelines until his personal issues are taken care of.
Roelly Winklaar
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Perhaps one of the biggest shocks ahead of the Olympia, Roelly Winklaar was forced out of the show at the last minute. After revealing a vastly improved physique, Winklaar would unfortunately contract the virus sweeping the globe. Truly a big loss just days before the show.
As of now, it’s not entirely clear if Hadi Choopan will make it to the show. One can only hope that the Iranian bodybuilder will be not only be able to get his visa but make it to Orlando in time for the show.
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
