Milos Sarcev and 4-time Olympia Champ Jay Cutler believe there will be a newcomer at the top of scorecards come November.
It is getting to that point on the calendar where predictions will be made for the upcoming 2023 Olympia competition. The biggest show of the year is scheduled for Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida and will feature the best competitors in the world. The Men’s Open division continues to improve and adds more excitement. During a recent episode of Cutler Cast, host Jay Cutler was joined by Milos Sarcev to breakdown how the show could play out.
The Olympia qualification system has changed this year. If an athlete did not finish in the top three in the previous year, or top five in Men’s Open, they will have to win a show to qualify. The points qualification system is no more. One competitor who has done this is Samson Dauda. He impressed during his Arnold Classic victory and many believe that he can compete for the Olympia title.
“We need to be even better conditioned than the Arnold Classic. We have to be better than that. He’s probably going to be slightly bigger than that because he’s constantly improving. He’s so committed. You’ve seen the video right, that was 330. And 330 now compared to 330 last year, better, wider,” Sarcev said.
The conversation continued to breakdown the three competitors they believe can makeup the top.
Milos Sarcev Discusses Potential 2023 Olympia Top Three
The Men’s Open division is ever growing and this includes Dauda emerging as a top threat. Along with the potential newcomers, Milos Sarcev highlighted reigning champ Hadi Choopan and runner-up Derek Lunsford.
“Samson first, Derek second, and Hadi third. It could happen. I think that’s definitely the top three in whichever order.”
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Sarcev mentioned those three names as the potential top three and believes that they can finish in any order. Choopan will come in at his best, as always, while Lunsford now has a full year in Men’s Open to prepare. As for Dauda, he could complete his emergence by reaching the top.
“I love his chances. We respect everybody. I love his chance because one thing that I would say, even Steve Weinberger said his favorite physique is Lee Haney 1991. Let me correct it, having the body of anybody would be Lee Haney’s physique but when I asked him, Lee Haney ’91 or Dorian Yates ’93. He said Dorian Yates in 1993 didn’t look human.”
Jay Cutler added how he is a fan of Dauda’s physique but is not making predictions this time around because of how it could all change.
“With Samson, he’s got crazy legs, crazy shoulders, everything. People ask opinions on who I think is going to win. We talked about Andrew Jacked, ‘oh he could come in and win the first time.’ We talked about it all year and what happened? He ended up eighth, which is amazing. I’m not doing that this year.”
The predictions will continue to pour in as athletes prepare for the biggest show of the year. While we do not know how the show will play out, we know that the Arnold Classic champion will be looking to add another title.
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