Derek Lunsford heads to Pittsburgh Pro 2025. He'd consider winning a "historic moment"

The line-up for the Men's Open category at the Pittsburgh Pro 2025 has been given a serious boost. On March 24, Derek Lunsford announced that he plans to not only compete, but also win - and then reclaim the Mr. Olympia title in October.

The Pittsburgh Pro plays an important role in Lunsford's career. Even before he moved up to the Open category as the reigning 212 Olympia champion, he was a guest competitor at this very event. It was then that he began his journey into the bodybuilding elite. That same year he finished second behind Hadi Choopan at Mr. Olympia 2022.

A year later, he triumphed - becoming the 18th competitor to lift the prestigious Sandow trophy above his head. Although he fell to third place at Mr. Olympia 2024, he managed to rise again - and in style. He beat Samson Dauda in Columbus to win his first Arnold Classic. To seal his place among the legends, he now wants to add a win in Pittsburgh and then dominate Olympia again.

Derek Lunsford reveals plan: after winning the Arnold Classic, he wants to dominate the Pittsburgh Pro and Mr. Olympia 2025

In a recent YouTube video, Lunsford looked back on his accomplishments and emphasized how important the Pittsburgh Pro was to his career.

"I knew that this year was the first time the Pittsburgh Pro would host an Open Bodybuilding competition and expo. So this year they're going to embrace it in a big way," he confided. "It's been in the back of my mind for a while that my participation in guest posing in Pittsburgh over the past few years has really kicked my career into high gear - not so much competitively, but mainly because I was able to show my bigger and fuller form there in volume. And that's what I wanted to show the world."

Lunsford explained that the Pittsburgh Pro was a "legendary competition" for him that would further cement his career.

"I've only competed at Mr. Olympia the last few years, so I wanted to compete more," he said. "The Pittsburgh Pro is such a legendary competition in my opinion. I mean, when you win this title, it's a real notch in your belt. It's a title you can wear with pride."

After winning the 2025 Arnold Classic, Lunsford also plans to win the Pittsburgh Pro and Mr. Olympia titles - completing a clean hat trick.

"Considering where I'm at right now - right after winning the Arnold Classic - to do the Arnold Classic, Pittsburgh Pro and Olympia in one year and win all three... that would be another monumental and historic moment in bodybuilding history. And it's honestly incredibly motivating for me."

"So I hereby announce it - I will be competing at the Pittsburgh Pro. And I'm really looking forward to standing next to these guys on the podium."

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

Příspěvek sdílený Champs Elysium Gym (@champselysium)

Lunsford won't have it easy in Pittsburgh. If he wants to succeed, he will have to beat the fourth man from Olympia Martin Fitzwater, as well as Nick Walker, Michal Kriz and Vitaly "Good Vito" Ugolnikov. If he succeeds, he will take home a cool $100,000 in addition to the prestige - on top of the half a million he won in Columbus.

Lunsford has a busy schedule before the Olympics. If he wins in Pittsburgh as well, he'll get another wave of momentum before the biggest show of the year, where he'll face Samson Dauda again.