Lee Haney says Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked deserve a Top 2 finish at Mr. Olympia 2024

With the peak of the bodybuilding season approaching at Mr. Olympia 2024, the legendary Lee Haney, an eight-time winner of the competition, believes that competitors Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked have all the ingredients to take the top two spots. Why them? Haney shares his thoughts on what makes these two athletes the ideal champions.

The perfect combination of size and symmetry

According to Haney, the road to the top is not just about massive muscles. Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked meet all of the key criteria that Haney calls "Excalibur" physique - it's all about the balance between muscle mass, symmetry and aesthetic lines. Both athletes have narrow waists, wide latissimos, balanced quadriceps and calves. Above all, however, they excel in the balance of each body part.

Dauda has had significant success this year - twice finishing second to Hadi Choopan at the Arnold Classic competitions in both the US and UK, and then winning the Tsunami Pro 2024 just weeks before the Olympics. Jacked impressed fans and pundits alike with his huge physique weighing over 136 kilograms at the Texas Pro 2024, where he scored his third win. Haney admires their ability to combine size with aesthetics, which he believes helps popularise bodybuilding with the wider public.

A new category for smaller competitors?

Haney also notes the differences between bodybuilders with different physiques. Competitors of smaller stature, such as Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan, he says, have dense muscle mass but a different body type. Haney therefore suggests that a new category be created for these smaller racers. This would avoid comparing the incomparable - i.e. physiques like those of Dauda and Jacked with those of smaller racers. Such a move could cultivate diversity in bodybuilding and attract even more fans.

Evaluation must include more than muscles

Haney stresses that the evaluation at Mr. Olympia shouldn't just focus on muscle size. Presentation, symmetry and muscle maturity should play a key role in determining the results. With Dauda and Jacked, Haney credits their ability to balance all of these elements. He believes both have the potential to not only win at this year's Olympia, but also move bodybuilding closer to mainstream popularity.

The future of bodybuilding

With the 60th Mr. Olympia coming up on October 11-12 in Las Vegas, Haney and fans are looking forward to a possible triumph for Dauda or Jacked. These competitors represent the future of the sport and may be the key to making bodybuilding an even more popular and diverse sport.

Source:Fitness Volt, Tikkay Khan, EssentiallySports