Seven-Time 212 Champ Flex Lewis Gives His Mr. Olympia Picks
Seven-time 212 Olympia champion Flex Lewis has made his picks for the 2026 Mr. Olympia, and he believes Derek Lunsford will successfully defend his title.
With the 2026 Olympia approaching, Lewis joined Antoine Vaillant and a panel of bodybuilding personalities to break down a loaded Men’s Open lineup. After weighing the cases for Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked, Nick Walker, and Martin Fitzwater, Lewis ultimately settled on Lunsford as his pick to stand atop the podium.
Flex Lewis Picks Derek Lunsford To Win 2026 Mr. Olympia
Lewis admitted that separating Lunsford and Dauda was difficult. However, one thing that stood out to him was the confidence Lunsford has displayed throughout his Olympia preparation.
Lewis said he noticed that confidence firsthand when Lunsford appeared on his podcast.
“I’ve never seen Derek this confident talking going into the show,” Lewis said. “When I spoke to him on my podcast, it was like, ‘I’ve won this already,’ and I’ve never heard him talk like that before.”
Lewis compared it to his own mentality during his championship run. While he was not typically an outspoken competitor, there were certain years when he knew his physique was ready to deliver.
“I knew when I was on,” Lewis explained. “I knew, like, on certain years I had a look that I couldn’t wait to stand on stage.”
After considering the matchup, Lewis officially placed Lunsford ahead of Dauda.
“I’m going to keep my verdict as Derek first, second Samson,” Lewis said.
Flex Lewis’ Top Five Olympia Predictions
Lewis eventually settled on the following top five:
- Derek Lunsford
- Samson Dauda
- Andrew Jacked
- Nick Walker
- Martin Fitzwater
Dauda presented Lewis with the biggest dilemma. Lewis believes the former Olympia champion possesses the tools to win if everything comes together on stage.
“If Samson nailed it, he is the guy that should win it on paper.”
However, conditioning remains the major question after Dauda’s recent appearance in Europe. Lewis noted that Dauda was not necessarily attempting to reach his absolute peak for that contest, but he also pushed back against the idea of treating professional bodybuilding competitions as “warm-up shows.”
“You either compete to win or you don’t.”
For Lewis, Lunsford’s recent glimpses of conditioning combined with his confidence ultimately gave him the edge.
Andrew Jacked Moves Ahead Of Nick Walker
One of the more interesting parts of Lewis’ prediction was placing Andrew Jacked third and Nick Walker fourth.
Lewis acknowledged that he had seen very little from Jacked during the final stages of prep, making him one of the biggest mysteries entering the Olympia. Still, Jacked’s trajectory over the last several seasons was enough for Lewis to envision him finishing inside the top three.
“We all know what Andrew could look like potentially,” Lewis said.
Walker, meanwhile, has repeatedly demonstrated the type of conditioning and muscularity required to contend with the best bodybuilders in the world. Lewis said the matchup ultimately comes down to imagining the best possible versions of each competitor.
Martin Fitzwater Is Lewis’ Olympia Dark Horse
Lewis rounded out his top five with Fitzwater, who he believes could become particularly dangerous if he brings everything together.
The former 212 Olympia king pointed to Fitzwater’s recent adversity and the environment around his preparation as potential sources of motivation.
“He’s a dangerous competitor,” Lewis said. “He’s got a lot of fire in his belly.”
With Hadi Choopan out of the 2026 Olympia lineup, another spot near the top of the standings is available, adding even more uncertainty to an already competitive field.
For Lewis, however, the final prediction begins with Lunsford. If the reigning champion delivers the physique Lewis expects, the seven-time 212 Olympia champion believes Lunsford will leave the 2026 Olympia with another Sandow trophy.
Be sure to check out Generation Iron’s preview and expert picks for Mr. Olympia here. Along with a complete guide on how to watch bodybuilding’s biggest weekend for FREE here!
Image embed via Instagram @flex_lewis
