"I'll remember this feeling of defeat for every training session from now on."

This year’s Mr. Olympia brought an unprecedented battle to the stage that rewrote history. Derek Lunsford entered the competition in Las Vegas as the reigning champion and the top favorite, but he couldn’t handle the immense pressure as he’d hoped. In an epic final, he was ultimately overwhelmed by Samson Dauda’s sheer mass and the rock-hard physique of the new king, Nick Walker. Derek thus “only” took third place.

Bodybuilding is a ruthless sport. All it takes is missing the final phase of cutting and carb-loading by a few percent, and when competing against the world’s best, it costs you the title. Lunsford didn’t step onto the stage in bad shape—his back is still among the absolute best this sport has ever seen, and his symmetry is breathtaking. This year, however, it simply wasn’t enough to match the gigantic size and “freak factor” of his opponents.

Pure sportsmanship and respect for his opponents

Many champions, after such a defeat, would look for faults everywhere else but within themselves. But Derek Lunsford once again showed why he is one of the most respected figures on the scene. Immediately after the results were announced—when it became clear that Nick Walker would take home the Sandow Trophy—Lunsford didn’t hide his disappointment, but he maintained the composure of a true professional.

“This isn’t the result we’ve been working our asses off for all year. But that’s the nature of the sport. I’m not going to stand here and make excuses—that’s not how this game is played,” Lunsfordtold his fans shortly after stepping off the stage. “Nick and Samson delivered absolutely phenomenal routines and were simply better today. Congratulations to them—they deserve it. For me, this is a huge lesson and a wake-up call.”

Back to the Drawing Board

Losing the title certainly doesn’t mean the end for Lunsford. On the contrary, in his own words, the bronze medal has ignited a fire that he may have been lacking a bit as the reigning champion. He knows that if he wants to beat Walker and Dauda again in the future, he’ll have to work on his final muscle fullness in the front poses so he can stand up to their extreme width.

“I’ll take a day off tomorrow to clear my head, but then we’re right back at it,” he added resolutely. “I’ll remember this feeling of defeat for every future workout. The king may have been dethroned, but my journey toward the next title begins right now.”

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