Derek Lunsford is the reigning 212 Olympia champion from 2021, nevertheless it appears he won’t defend his title this coming December. On Sept. 15, 2022, Olympia LLC posted an Instagram announcement revealing Lunsford has received a “special invite” to compete for the 2022 Mr. Olympia title. The news follows a recent request from the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League athlete to modify divisions.
“Lunsford submitted a proper request to receive a special invitation to compete within the open division this December,” the announcement wrote. “… After careful consideration, the Olympia promoters and the IFBB Skilled League have granted Lunsford a Special Invitation. The addition of Lunsford further bolsters what many are calling ‘probably the greatest lineups’ within the history of the event.”
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Lunsford’s official shift to the Men’s Open division, or vying for the Mr. Olympia title itself, comes on the heels of some recent now-clear hints of the bodybuilder’s future.
The athlete reportedly guest-posed at 257 kilos on the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro in May. Later, in a mid-July 2022 edition of Olympia TV on YouTube, Chief Olympia Officer Dan Solomon suggested Lunsford was “nowhere near 212 [pounds] at this point.” On the time of Solomon’s comments, Lunsford didn’t address the emotions in public, however the writing appeared to already be on the wall.
“Earlier this yr, Derek Lunsford revealed a jaw-dropping new edition of his championship physique when he made a surprise appearance in Pittsburgh,” the Olympic LLC continued. “The reigning ‘212 champ’ went toe to toe with among the biggest and best on the planet. The photos and videos had the worldwide bodybuilding scene buzzing with excitement.”
Not long after his Pittsburgh Pro cameo, Lunsford apparently filed his Open division request as his bulking nutrition filed suit.
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Lunsford’s latest competitive task in 2022 is overcoming most of the same elite athletes he featured alongside in Western Pennsylvania.
Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Ellsbiay is the two-time reigning champion (2020-2021). Nonetheless, established challengers just like the ascending Nick Walker, former winner Brandon Curry (2019), and Hunter Labrada could all find themselves in prime positions for the 2022 Olympia title. Former 212 winner and 2021 runner-up Shaun Clarida may be a consider the Open category. On the time of this writing, Clarida has not confirmed whether he’ll compete within the 212 or Open division in December.
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It’s a stacked field for Lunsford in his forthcoming Open debut. Within the event he captures the Mr. Olympia title, Lunsford could be the seventeenth unique winner of the championship. As well as, he’d be the primary IFBB Pro League competitor to ever win the Olympia in two divisions. The star bodybuilder could have to beat a cadre of elite peers, but his potential history definitely isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram