2025 Mr. Olympia: Samson Dauda faces stiff competition from former champions.
Samson Dauda has been Mr. Olympia for over two months, after winning the 2024 Mr. Olympia title last October.
Not shying away from competition, Samson will be competing at the 2025 Arnold Classic, next March.
Moving towards the 2025 season, two of Samson Dauda’s main challengers for his Mr. Olympia title in 2025 changed their coach.
Mr. Olympia winners Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford have had to search for new coaches after their longtime coach, Hany Rambod, officially retired from coaching high-level competitors.
This is major news, especially for these two top competitors, and contenders to win back the Mr. Olympia title.
Just before this article was published, Derek Lunsford announced that he will now be working with bodybuilding legend Chris Cormier.
Hadi Choopan still has to announce who he will be working with, if he does intend to get a new coach. This will be a very hard task for Hadi, who was very close to Hany Rambod, who communicated well with Hadi.
Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford are no longer on the same team
For the last few years, Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford have been training with Hany Rambod. Both are sponsored by Rambod’s supplement company, meaning they were basically on the same team.
For Hany Rambod, this was the perfect situation, having two former Mr. Olympia champions on his team, and as well working for his company, promoting his brands.
But for Hadi and Derek, was this the ideal way to prep for the Mr. Olympia, training with one of your main rivals, with the same coach? Ideally not.
Many wonder how difficult it must have been for Hany Rambod to motivate both Choopan and Lunsford. How can you tell one client to do everything possible to destroy the other client, this is almost impossible, especially two of the best bodybuilders in the world.
More motivation to challenge Samson Dauda for the 2025 Mr. Olympia title
Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford are now working separately, meaning, they will have a different type of motivation heading into the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
This will mean Samson Dauda will be facing two different competitors, with a more aggressive focus, not only to beat the defending champion but to eliminate their former teammate.
Hadi Choopan
We will see a more aggressive Hadi Choopan, who fell short of winning his second Mr. Olympia title in 2024, placing second to Samson Dauda.
Hadi defeated Samson twice in 2024, at both the Arnold USA, and UK, but falling short at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, to a more improved and motivated Samson Dauda was not expected.
Skipping the 2025 Arnold Classic might help Hadi to just focus on the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
Hadi went as far as to publish messages that many believe are directed to the Olympia judges.
“I am cut harder than a diamond, just as I cut my path like a diamond, the facts that the judge omitted.” – Hadi Choopan.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net expects Hadi to be very aggressive going into the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Hadi knows how to bring the condition, and with a little bit more size, that could be the difference to challenge Samson.
Derek Lunsford
Derek Lunsford’s 2024 Mr. Olympia did not go as planned. He was planning to defend his title against Choopan and Samson Dauda, but ended up not only losing but falling to third place.
The third-place finish at the 2024 Mr. Olympia was not an easy pill to swallow. Even if Hany Rambod did not retire as a coach, it was looking as if Derek would be seeking new motivation with another coach.
Derek has taken a different path leading up to the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Already lifetime qualified, Derek has decided to put everything on the line and compete at the 2025 Arnold Classic, against the favorite to win, Samson Dauda.
With bodybuilding legend, Chris Cormier, in Derek Lunsford’s corner, we can expect a much improved Derek Lunsford, who can even challenge Samson for the 2025 Arnold Classic title.
Looking forward to an exciting 2025 Mr. Olympia
Whoever qualified for the 2025 Mr. Olympia, unless a new freak comes out of nowhere, we can expect a fierce battle for the top three spots, between Samson Dauda, Hadi Choopan, and Derek Lunsford.
The brotherly love between two teammates, Hadi and Derek, will be gone, and the level of competition will become fierce.
If all three competitors arrive in top shape, bodybuilding fans can expect one of the closest battles in recent years.
The 2025 Arnold Classic USA will have Samson and Derek going head to head, but adding Hadi. Choopan in the mix at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, will be a completely different ball game.
