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2022 Olympia Preview and Predictions - Mens Divisions

The 2022 Olympia weekend is finally upon us, and the entire fitness industry is excited about it. All eyes of the bodybuilding world will be focused on Las Vegas, NV during the weekend of December 16th and 17th as we crown the world champions of 11 pro divisions.

Throughout the season, Muscle Insider has shared previews and predictions for various contests, and we will do the same for the Olympia. This portion will cover the men’s contests, and we will take a look at the women’s side of the stage as well. You can see the full rosters of athletes competing in each division at www.mrolympia.com , but keep reading so you can see our picks for the top five in all five men’s divisions.

 

Mr. Olympia

In the main event, the 58th Mr. Olympia contest will be held. Big Ramy is looking to three-peat while Brandon Curry hopes to reclaim the title for himself. There are a slew of new stars looking to move their way into that first callout, but it’s not certain the favorites will be ready to step aside. We actually see the top five finishers being the same in 2022, but a different order. Ramy will win number three, but Hunter Labrada can move up into the top three and Nick Walker takes a step up as well.

  1. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
  2. Brandon Curry
  3. Hunter Labrada
  4. Nick Walker
  5. Hadi Choopan

 

212

With Derek Lunsford moving into the Open, two former champions will go head-to-head to reclaim the Olympia 212 title. Shaun Clarida and Kamal Elgargni are the last two champions that preceded Lunsford, and they will be the last two standing when Bob Cicherillo announces the winner. We’re certain he’ll say “and now two-time Olympia champion...” before saying the name Shaun Clarida. He will bring Team Mutant an Olympia title to finish 2022 before he takes his next step into fatherhood.

  1. Shaun Clarida
  2. Kamal Elgargni
  3. Angel Calderon Frias
  4. Oleh Kryvyi
  5. Keone Pearson

 

Classic Physique

The overwhelming male favorite to retain his title is Canada’s own Chris Bumstead. Clearly, we don’t see him losing the Classic Physique Olympia, but the question is who will join him in the top five. Terrence Ruffin will be better than last year, but it will keep him in second place. The rest of the top five will shuffle from one year ago. Urs Kalecinski will move into the top three and make a big run at the title in 2023.

  1. Chris Bumstead
  2. Terrence Ruffin
  3. Urs Kalecinski
  4. Breon Ansley
  5. Ramon Rocha Queiroz

 

Men’s Physique

Three-time champion Brandon Hendrickson will look to join Jeremy Buendia as the second four-time winner in Men’s Physique Olympia history. Erin Banks is the clear number one contender to that title thanks to him finishing second one year ago and then winning the 2022 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique title. We can’t see Hendrickson being knocked off just yet, but Banks will maintain his number-two position followed by Kyron Holden, Diogo Montenegro, and Carlos DeOliveira wrapping up the top five in this contest.

  1. Brandon Hendrickson
  2. Erin Banks
  3. Kyron Holden
  4. Diogo Montenegro
  5. Carlos DeOliveira

 

Wheelchair

If there’s an upset to be had on the men’s side of the field, this one is it. Harold Kelley lost his first contest in eight years when he finished second at the Arnold Classic Wheelchair to Gabriele Andruilli of the United Kingdom. Some may think that Kelley will redeem himself, but we think Andruilli smells blood and will seize the moment. For the first time since 2018, there will be a new Olympia champion in Wheelchair.

  1. Gabriele Andruilli
  2. Harold Kelley
  3. Antoni Khadraoui
  4. Bradley Betts
  5. Tyler Brey

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