Mike Sommerfeld Gets Final ‘Homework’ From Tyler Manion Ahead of 2026 Olympia
Mike Sommerfeld is leaving nothing to chance during the final days of his 2026 Olympia prep.
With another showdown against reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion Ramon Dino quickly approaching, Sommerfeld traveled to Pittsburgh for an important physique check with IFBB Pro League Vice President Tyler Manion. The 2025 Olympia runner-up posed for Manion and received direct feedback on his conditioning, bodyweight, and improvements before heading into the final week of prep.
“We’re done. Did a push session real quick, and then we posed in front of Tyler, so he let me know what we need to work on until the show,” Sommerfeld said.
The timing makes the meeting particularly significant. Olympia Weekend is scheduled for Sept. 24-27 in Las Vegas, meaning Sommerfeld has very little time remaining to make adjustments before stepping onstage against Dino and the rest of a loaded Classic Physique lineup.
You can find Generation Iron’s official preview and expert picks for the Classic Physique Olympia here.
Mike Sommerfeld Gets Final Feedback From Tyler Manion
Sommerfeld did not reveal every detail of Manion’s assessment, but explained that the two discussed several important areas of his physique.
“We talked about the body weight, we talked about my conditioning, we talked about different parts of my body that improved from last year. So I got homework.”
Getting feedback directly from Manion could be particularly valuable for Sommerfeld considering how close he came to winning the Olympia one year ago.
Ramon Dino captured his first Classic Physique Olympia championship in 2025, while Sommerfeld finished runner-up for the second consecutive year.
After the contest, Manion provided a detailed comparison of the two physiques. He believed Sommerfeld held advantages in poses including the front double biceps and abdominals and thighs, while Dino’s overall combination of size, fullness, conditioning, and balance helped separate him in other poses.
That narrow margin has made their rematch one of the biggest storylines heading into the 2026 Olympia.
Sommerfeld Says Judges’ Feedback Guided His Entire Olympia Prep
The Pittsburgh visit was not an unusual move for Sommerfeld. He explained that his team consistently seeks feedback from judges and uses it to determine what needs to change.
“As you guys know, we’re always looking forward to get feedback from the judges straight after the show, and that’s what we did.”
That process also played a major role following his victory at the 2026 Arnold Classic UK. Sommerfeld said his team immediately began building his Olympia package around the information they received.
“After the Arnolds UK, we went straight back to the drawing board and put all information down to paper, and we worked incredibly hard for this Olympia.”
The work appears to have received an encouraging response in Pittsburgh.
“So he was happy how I looked. I was happy how I looked.”
Sommerfeld now turns his full attention toward the one championship that has continued to elude him. He has finished second at the Olympia in each of the last two years, first behind Chris Bumstead in 2024 and then Dino in 2025.
Dino, meanwhile, has made improvements of his own ahead of his first Olympia title defense. The Brazilian champion has specifically discussed improving his chest and back as part of his strategy for another battle with Sommerfeld.
With the final physique check complete and his “homework” from Manion in hand, Sommerfeld now has less than a week to put the finishing touches on his package.
Image embed via Instagram @mikethebadass
