Canadas Best Chances To Win The 2022 Olympia - Mr. Olympia
The 58th Mr. Olympia contest will take place on the weekend of December 16th and 17th at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. Throughout the weeks leading up to the Olympia, we’ve explored Canada’s best chances of winning the 11 titles that are up for grabs. There are no competitors in Men’s Physique or Women’s Physique. Outside of those two, we’ve saved the best for last with the Mr. Olympia contest.
Three Canadians are qualified for this show, but Regan Grimes has already withdrawn his name from the lineup. That leaves Iain Valliere and Antoine Vaillant as Canada’s two representatives in this show. Below is the full lineup of qualified athletes. Then, we’ll break down the chances that both men have of knocking off Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay to become the 17th Mr. Olympia in history.
- Nick Walker (USA)
- Nathan De Asha (UK)
- Mamdouh Elssbiay (Egypt)
- Brandon Curry (USA)
- Hadi Choopan (Iran)
- Hunter Labrada (USA)
- Shaun Clarida (USA)
- Regan Grimes (Canada)
- Samson Dauda (UK)
- Rafael Brandao (Brazil)
- Angel Calderon Frias (Spain)
- Joel Thomas (USA)
- William Bonac (Netherlands)
- Blessing Awodibu (Ireland)
- Charles Griffen (USA)
- Mohamed Shabaan (Egypt)
- Hassan Mostafa (Egypt)
- Mohammad Alnsoor (Jordan)
- Vitor Boff (Brazil)
- Andrea Presti (Italy)
- Iain Valliere (Canada)
- Antoine Vaillant (Canada)
- Akim Williams (USA)
- Chinedu Andrew Obiekea (USA)
- Vladyslav Sukhoruchko (Ukraine)
- Derek Lunsford (USA)
- Patrick Johnson (Denmark)
- Tonio Burton (USA)
- James Hollingshead (UK)
- Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
- Leandro Peres (Brazil)
- Theo Leguerrier (France)
- Behrooz Tabani Abarghani (Iran)
- Justin Rodriguez (USA)
- Andrea Muzi (Italy)
- Steve Kuclo (USA)
Canada's Chances
Iain Valliere
Valliere has finished in seventh place at both the 2021 and 2020 Olympia contests. He’s looking to break into that top six, which was occupied last year by Elssbiay, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan, Hunter Labrada, Nick Walker, and William Bonac.
There is some new blood in this show as well, in the form of Andrew Jacked and Michal Krizanek, among others. However, Valliere’s experience on the big stage and muscle maturity in the past year can finally push him into the top six. It’s doubtful he’ll have the size to match Elssbiay, but his conditioning could help him score an even higher finish than sixth.
Antoine Valliant
Valliant won the 2022 Chicago Pro to qualify for the Olympia, and he finished second to Valliere in Vancouver over the summer. He was 14th in the 2020 Mr. Olympia, but he was absent from the 2021 contest. Valliant could show up in the shape of his life and contend for a top ten spot, but if he makes any mistakes, he could plummet out of the top 15. Aside from the previously mentioned names, he would have to match up against the likes of Akim Williams, James Hollingshead, Charles Griffin, and even 2021 Olympia 212 winner Derek Lunsford. The only thing sure about Vaillant’s chances is that nothing is for sure.
Keep checking back to Muscle Insider as we continue to preview each of the pro divisions leading up to the big weekend in Las Vegas. You can also order the pay-per-view at www.olympiaproductions.com so you can watch all the action as it unfolds at the 2022 Olympia weekend.