Phil Heath Names High 2023 Olympia Contenders, Teases Potential Return

Heath is aware of who he expects to win the subsequent Olympia. He additionally is aware of how he may return to competitors.

Written by Robert Zeglinski Final up to date on April 12, 2023

Few bodybuilders will ever have the ability to match Phil Heath’s competitive rap sheet. With seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 2011-2017, solely Arnold Schwarzenegger (seven Olympia wins) and Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney (eight Olympia wins every) are on par with the trendy titan. Such a actuality probably makes Heath’s prognostication for the 2023 Mr. Olympia all of the extra intriguing.

On Apr. 11, 2023, Heath appeared in a YouTube interview with The Voice of Bodybuilding, Bob Cicherillo, to debate the upcoming Olympia. Within the course of, Heath named a few of his high contenders for the title, together with defending champion Hadi Choopan. The residing legend even touched upon what it could take for him to return to the stage in posing trunks.

Earlier than breaking down who he thinks may topple Choopan, Heath gave the athlete a wholehearted endorsement for a repeat title. It’s Choopan’s background, along with his elite health, that Heath thinks offers the champion with bodybuilder an edge over his friends.

“I believe Hadi’s [Choopan] a repeat champion,” Heath stated. “… You bought to take a look at somebody’s origin. Champions have a selected origin of how they received right here within the first place. You consider somebody that has grown up in that setting in Iran. Every part issues. This factor means all the pieces to him and his nation. There’s a whole lot of expectations, however he’s met these expectations in a really fast time frame. He’s by no means actually been off.”

As for who may unseat Choopan, Heath likes the potential of Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker. Maybe not by coincidence, Lunsford was the 2022 Olympia runner-up after transitioning from the 212 class, whereas Walker completed in third place.

For various causes, this trio seems to be bodybuilding’s high Cerberus monster of types.

“It’s a three-headed monster at this level,” Heath defined. “It’s both Derek [Lunsford] and I could make a case for Nick [Walker]. Nick is an anomaly, he’s very completely different … It’s going to cancel out a whole lot of guys due to the density and muscle maturity, as a result of these two [Choopan and Walker] gained’t be out-conditioned. The cool factor about Derek [Lunsford] is, now he’s comfy in that [Men’s] Open physique. He’s a tough employee, received help system, coach.”