Ronnie Coleman may be retired from competitive bodybuilding, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t keep a detailed eye on the present state of the game. With the 2022 Mr. Olympia on the horizon, the eight-time winner of the celebrated contest (1998-2005) maximized a possibility to dispense his expertise.
On Oct. 10, 2022, Coleman uploaded a video to his YouTube channel where he breaks down who he feels are the highest contenders for this yr’s Olympia title. In a stacked field, Coleman centers on two-time reigning champ Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay as his overall winner. Still, he offers thoughtful insights on everyone attempting to topple the large Egyptian athlete.
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Using accompanying photos while he spoke, Coleman shared his thoughts on among the more distinguished contenders for the 2022 Mr. Olympia title.
Nick Walker
To Coleman, Walker has the essential physique to win the Olympia but has to barely refine features of his physical conditioning first.
“He’s [Walker] got great shoulders and great arms,” Coleman said. “So far as his chest, he’s got a decent-sized chest, it just must be somewhat bit wider. For essentially the most part, he must work on his conditioning, and he’s going to do pretty good against these current competitors.”
Hunter Labrada
Coleman appreciates Labrada’s overall construct but thinks his current v-taper and back muscles need work for the athlete to be a serious contender.
“I believe once he [Labrada] gets his separation going, once he works on his hamstrings, he’ll have some nice hamstrings,” Coleman said. “But for essentially the most part, he got a fairly good wide back, but he probably must be just somewhat bit wider because his v-taper isn’t all that good immediately.”
Blessing Awodibu
For Coleman, Awodibu has the essential aesthetic to face out, but he needs more polish on his legs and arms.
“He’s [Awodibu] got great ab shots and an excellent side serratus shot,” Coleman clarified. “He probably needs more separation in his legs from the front there. Numerous trap work. His traps aren’t too good right here, but I believe if he can get his traps up, get some roundness on his arms, and somewhat bit more separation on his legs, then he’d be pretty good.”
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Michal Križánek
Križánek may need recently earned his International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro Card, but Coleman still thinks the ascending athlete has loads of ground to make up.
“Križánek’s got some freaky arms,” Coleman said. “A pleasant and large chest, but he needs some width on it, I’d say. I don’t see loads of width on his back. That’s not a great backshot. He doesn’t have a v-taper going. Now, I see, he has great arms, though. But they’re sort of throwing off his physique.”
Hadi Choopan
After years of ending near the highest, Coleman thinks Choopan is potentially getting ready to Olympia greatness.
“Hadi [Choopan], I see great things ahead for him,” Coleman maintained. “This guy can probably win the Olympia once he puts all of it together. He’s not that far off in any respect. Hadi .. stick with it, my man.”
Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
Coleman didn’t mince his words in praise of Elssbiay. He already considered the superstar an Olympia fixture within the years to come back and continued down that very same path here.
“With all this size, and the good v-taper he’s [Elssbiay] got, and the most important shoulders you’ve ever desired to see, I don’t see no one taking him out, no one in any respect,” Coleman noted. “So, Big Ramy, congrats in your third Olympia, my friend. I believe you’re going to take it again.”
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William Bonac
To Coleman, Bonac is one in all the true dark horses on the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He believes that with somewhat polish here and there, Bonac could make noise on stage.
“This guy [Bonac] might be unstoppable,” Coleman said. “He’s got nice peaks from the backs on his arms, he’s got a great Christmas tree, and he’s got a pleasant wide back. Yeah, I believe he can do some real damage.”
Chinedu Andrew Obieaka, aka “Andrew Jacked”
While Coleman thinks Jacked is usually a force in bodybuilding, the legend made it seem as if the young phenom needs somewhat more time before he’s at the highest of the Olympia mountain.
“Andrew [Jacked] has a pleasant physique going,” Coleman said. “He’s got nice arms on him. The one thing I can tell he must work on is his back. That is available in time. As you’ll be able to see, he’s got a pleasant backshot. You get that bad boy separated and somewhat bit thicker in his upper back, and he will probably be hard to beat. He’d probably kill these guys in these Open shows they got.”
To shut the video, Coleman made his official prediction for the highest 10 on the Mr. Olympia, with Elssbiay sitting on top:
Ronnie Coleman | 2022 Mr. Olympia Top 10 Prediction
- Mamdouh Elssbiay
- Brandon Curry
- Hadi Choopan
- William Bonac
- Nick Walker
- Michal Križánek
- Chinedu Andrew Obieaka
- Hunter Labrada
- Blessing Awodibu
- *Shaun Clarida
*Note: Clarida, winner of the 212 Olympia in 2020 and consistent top-placing competitor within the 212 division, has not confirmed if he would compete within the Open division on the time of this writing.
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Whether anyone can beat Elssbiay and forestall his potential three-peat stays to be seen. Even when Coleman doesn’t see it happening, the Mr. Olympia must be an enchanting competition this late fall.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia will happen on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.
Featured image: @big_ramy on Instagram