Steve Weinberger also weighed in on the Chris Bumstead vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger debate
Derek Lunsford lost his Mr. Olympia title in 2026, but head judge Steve Weinberger believes there is a clear path back to the top. The longtime bodybuilding judge recently identified one area Lunsford needs to improve if he hopes to reclaim the Sandow Trophy: his legs.
Lunsford entered the 2026 Mr. Olympia looking to defend his championship. Instead, he finished third as Nick Walker captured his first Mr. Olympia title.
The result left Lunsford facing questions about his next move. While Walker has confirmed plans to compete at the 2027 Arnold Classic, Lunsford has not announced when he will return to the stage.
During a November 5 Instagram reel, Weinberger offered his assessment of Lunsford’s physique and what could help him challenge for another Olympia victory.
Steve Weinberger Says Derek Lunsford Needs Bigger Legs
Weinberger did not point to conditioning as the reason Lunsford fell short in 2026. In fact, he was complimentary of the former champion’s overall appearance.
“I thought he looked great. I think his legs could have been a little bigger,” Weinberger said. “His conditioning was good.”
The comments suggest Lunsford’s biggest opportunity for improvement lies in adding more lower-body muscle rather than simply arriving leaner.
In the Men’s Open division, judges evaluate competitors on a combination of muscularity, conditioning, symmetry, and overall presentation. Leg development plays a major role, particularly when competitors are compared side by side.
For Lunsford, additional quad and hamstring size could help create a more balanced physique against the division’s biggest competitors.
The former champion has already demonstrated his ability to succeed at the highest level. He captured the 212 Olympia title in 2021 before moving into Men’s Open and winning the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He reclaimed the title in 2025 and also won that year’s Arnold Classic.
However, the competition continues to evolve. Walker’s victory in 2026 has added another obstacle to Lunsford’s pursuit of a third Men’s Open Olympia championship.
Weinberger Weighs In on Chris Bumstead and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lunsford was not the only bodybuilding star discussed during Weinberger’s recent appearance.
The head judge was also asked to compare the physiques of six-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead and seven-time Mr. Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Weinberger believes the answer depends on whether someone is approaching bodybuilding as a competitor or simply wants an impressive physique.
“Two different physiques. Two different classes. If I was a regular person, I’d want to look like Cbum. If I was a bodybuilder, I’d want to look like Arnold.”
He also addressed whether another competitor could eventually surpass Bumstead’s six consecutive Classic Physique Olympia victories.
Weinberger pointed to Men’s Physique as an example of how seemingly untouchable championship records can eventually come under threat.
“When Jeremy Buendia won four Men’s Physique, no one thought it was touched. Now you’ve got Ryan right there.”
His comments referenced Ryan Terry, who has emerged as one of the division’s dominant competitors.
What’s Next for Derek Lunsford?
Weinberger’s assessment comes as bodybuilding continues to debate the judging standards displayed at the 2026 Mr. Olympia.
Eight-time Mr. Olympia champion Lee Haney recently criticized the direction of the sport, arguing that extreme conditioning has received too much emphasis at the expense of presentation and overall physique quality.
Haney even described the Olympia results as being in “total disarray” while warning about the potential health consequences of pushing athletes toward increasingly extreme levels of conditioning.
Read More: Lee Haney Calls Olympia Results ‘Total Disarray’
For Lunsford, however, Weinberger’s message was relatively straightforward. His conditioning already meets the standard expected of an elite competitor. Adding more size to his legs could make him an even greater threat.
The 2027 Arnold Classic is scheduled for March 4-7 in Columbus, Ohio. Lunsford has not confirmed whether he will enter the competition.
Image embed via Instagram @mrolympiallc
