Qualifying for the Olympia just became a much bigger challenge.
While previous Mr. Olympia winners, including current titleholder Hadi Choopan and 2019 champion Brandon Curry don’t should worry, other Olympia hopefuls suddenly face a steeper climb to secure a spot in essentially the most prestigious bodybuilding show on this planet.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest scheduled for Nov. 3-5, there’s now much more pressure on the competitors’ sculpted shoulders to impress the judges with their physiques and posing routines. In a move that might have career-altering implications, the Olympia Qualifying System (OQS) will only grant the highest three finishers within the Mr. Olympia an automatic berth in the next yr’s contest.
On Oct. 23, 2023, Olympia owner Jake Wood shared an Instagram post detailing the rationale behind the groundbreaking decision:
“In recent times, the highest 5 finishers within the Mr. Olympia division have received an automatic qualification to the next yr’s Olympia, but after consulting with the IFBB Pro League we have now decided to make a change.
Starting with this yr’s event, only the highest 3 within the Mr. Olympia will routinely qualify for the next yr’s Olympia. We’re making this modification in an effort so as to add some additional star power to the assorted regional events held worldwide. This alteration is being made with the complete support of the IFBB Pro League as all of us share an interest in maintaining a system that strengthens events in any respect levels.”
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The brand new rule applies not only to the Men’s Open division, but additionally to the opposite 10 divisions — 212, Men’s Physique, Classic Physique, Wheelchair, Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, Figure, Fitness, Wellness, and Bikini.
Most significantly, the change shall be effective immediately, which should make the upcoming show in Orlando, FL that far more competitive. Ending among the many top five at the game’s most recognizable contest has at all times been seen a serious achievement. Nevertheless, athletes on this yr’s lineup could also be that far more hungry for a better placing and more likely to think about a result outside of the highest three a big disappointment.
In fact, that is just the newest shift within the Olympia qualification setup. In December 2022, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) decided to put off the purpose system that gave competitors a likelihood to qualify for the Olympia. Previously, the athletes who finished with the three highest point totals over the course of the season routinely punched their ticket to the most important show of the yr.
But with the purpose system not in play, that has placed much more emphasis on performing well when it matters most. With the qualification period running from Nov. 21, 2022 until Oct. 9, 2023, here’s the trail athletes from all divisions (except Wheelchair Bodybuilding) faced to earn a spot on this yr’s Mr. Olympia show:
- Top five from the Men’s Open 2022 Mr. Olympia
- Top three from other 2022 Olympia divisions
- Winner of every Open contest held through the qualification period
That benefitted someone like Samson Dauda, who fell just wanting a top-five finish on the 2022 Olympia with a sixth place finish in his Olympia debut. Nevertheless, by taking home the title on the 2023 Arnold Classic, “The Nigerian Lion” earned a $300,000 prize and a spot within the 2023 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open lineup.
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Moving forward, it should be interesting to see how the rule change impacts the competitive landscape. Reducing the variety of automatic bids from five to a few undoubtedly ramps up the importance of the opposite qualifying shows on the schedule.
With two fewer spots up for grabs on the Olympia, some athletes may have to shift their priorities and attack their training more aggressively to return out on top in other key contests.
Dauda did exactly that by getting in prime shape for the Arnold Classic and capturing top honors for his efforts. Ditto for Justin Shier, who made essentially the most of his IFBB Pro show debut in July by winning the 2023 Chicago Pro and securing his own spot within the Men’s Open lineup for the 2023 Olympia.
Most recently, Charles Griffen completed his goal of getting a likelihood to compete against the very best of the very best on the Orange County Convention Center. Despite suffering a torn pec back in April, the determined bodybuilder accomplished his comeback in championship fashion by winning the title on the 2023 Legion Sports Fest Pro on Oct. 8, 2023. Griffen may face an uphill battle to complete high amongst a crowded group of completed competitors, but he definitely deserves credit for grabbing the ultimate qualifying spot.
Ultimately, allowing only the highest three finishers on the Olympia to qualify for the next yr’s contest may very well be viewed as each a positive and a negative. On one hand, it raises the stakes significantly when everyone steps on stage for essentially the most anticipated show of the yr. Then again, it could leave a number of competitors on the surface looking in in the event that they don’t emerge victorious at one in every of the qualifying contests on the calendar for 2024.
Featured Image: @mrolympiallc / Instagram