Mr. Olympia 2021 - pre-contest special

This year's 57th edition of the Mr. Olympia competition is fast approaching!

The history of this competition, which is rightly considered the most prestigious one a bodybuilder can present himself at, began in 1965, when the first ever competition, which was supposed to be the pinnacle of professional bodybuilders, was held on Saturday, September 18 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Over time, the whole event has grown, and today we know it as Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. In its current form, it features male and female competitions across several events.
Men battle it out on stage not only in the aforementioned Mr. Olympia, but also the Olympia 212 Showdown, Classic Physique and Physique. Women compete in the Bikini Fitness, Fitness, Figure and Physique competitions.

Below we take a closer look at those who will be competing in the most watched bodybuilding competition in the world, Mr. Olympia.

Previous winners

In its 56-year history, only 16 bodybuilders can boast the title of Mr. Olympia. They are:

• Larry Scott - 1965 and 1966
• Sergio Oliva - 1967, 1968 and 1969
• Arnold Schwarzenegger - 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1980
• Franco Columbu - 1976 and 1981
• Frank Zane - 1977, 1978 and 1979
• Chris Dickerson - 1982
• Samir Bannout - 1983
• Lee Haney - 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991
• Dorian Yates - 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997
• Ronnie Coleman - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
• Jay Cutler - 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010
• Dexter Jackson - 2008
• Phil Heath - 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017
• Shawn Rhoden - 2018
• Brandon Curry - 2019
• Mamdouh Elssbiay - 2020

There were supposed to be 19 fighters on the podium this year, but we already know that not all of them will be competing here, unfortunately.

As you already know from us, seven-time winner Phil Heath will not take part in the competition, who last year placed "as high as" third place, which was really not the result expected from such a fighter! The question then is whether Phil will ever appear on the competition stage again.

Vladislav Sukhoruchko is another fighter who will not be on the stage this holiday. Unfortunately, he has been caught by the anti-human trafficking measures that are in force in the USA, which make it quite difficult or even impossible for many European competitors to enter their territory! In fact, travel to the USA is still forbidden to those who have stayed in the Schengen area, Great Britain, Ireland, Brazil or South Africa during the past fortnight.

It is quite possible that for the same reason other competitors will not participate in the competition. One of them may be, as last year, Nathan De Asha, who is competing in the first edition of the Arnold Classic UK this weekend and thus does not meet the condition to travel to the USA! However, it is possible that he will be recognised in the USA as a professional athlete who can travel to the USA and work there.

Qualifications are:

* - will not take part in the competition

Mamdouh Elssbiay

Age: 37 years old

Height: 183 cm

Weight: 135 kg

Professional since: 2012
(overall winner of Olympia Amateur Kuwait)

Number of professional starts: 17

Number of professional triumphs: 6

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 7

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
1st place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Mr. Olympia 2020 (lifetime participation)

Brandon Curry

Age: 38 years old

Height: 172 cm

Weight: 118 kg

Professional since: 2008
(triumph at NPC USA)

Number of professional starts: 37

Number of professional triumphs: 7

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 8

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
1st place(2019)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph atMr. Olympia 2019 ( lifetime opportunity to participate)

Hadi Choopan

Age: 44 years old

Height: 167 cm

Weight: 100 kg

Professional since: 2016
(Triumph at the Olympia Amateur Showdown)

Number of professional starts: 6

Number of professional triumphs: 4

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 2

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
3rd place(2019)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
4th place Mr. Olympia 2020

William Bonac

Age: 39 years old

Height: 170 cm

Weight: 108 kg

Professional since: 2010
(triumph at the Juliette Bergmann Classic)

Number of professional starts: 32

Number of professional triumphs: 9

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 7

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
2nd place(2019)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
5th place Mr. Olympia 2020

Phil Heath

Age: 41 years old

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2005
(triumph at NPC USA)

Number of professional starts: 21

Number of professional triumphs: 13

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 12

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
1st place (2011 to 2017)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Mr. Olympia 2011 (lifetime participation)

James Hollingshead

Age: 32 years old

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 116 kg

Professional since: 2017
(Absolute winner of the British Championships)

Number of professional starts: 10

Number of professional triumphs: 2

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 0

Best result at Mr. Olympia: -

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at the British Grand Prix 2020.

Regan Grimes

Age: 28 years old

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2016
(overall winner of the Arnold Classic Brasil Mateur)

Number of professional starts: 10

Number of professional triumphs: 2

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 1

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
15th place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Wings of Strength Romania Muscle Fest Pro 2020

Luis Rodriguez

Age: 36 years old

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2016
(overall winner of the North American Championships)

Number of professional starts: 15

Number of professional triumphs: 1

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 2

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
10th place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2020:
Triumph at Indy Pro 2021

Nick Walker

Age: 27 years old

Height: 170 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2020
(overall winner of the North American Championships)

Number of professional starts: 3

Number of professional triumphs: 2

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 0

Best result at Mr. Olympia: -

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at the New York Pro 2021.

Patrick Moore

Age: 39 years old

Height: 179 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2014
(Triumph at the NPC Phil Heath Classic)

Number of professional starts: 8

Number of professional triumphs: 2

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 1

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
10th place (2019)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at California Pro 2021

Akim Williams

Age: 38 years old

Height: 182 cm

Weight: 125 kg

Professional since: 2013
(triumph at the IFBB North American Championships)

Number of professional starts: 24

Number of professional triumphs: 3

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 3

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
6th place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Wings of Strength Puerto Rico Pro 2021

Andrea Presti

Age: 31 years old

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 130 kg

Professional since: 2017
(Absolute winner of Olympia Amateur Spain)

Number of professional starts: 7

Number of professional triumphs: 1

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 0

Best result at Mr. Olympia: -

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Mr. Big Evolution Pro 2021

Hunter Labrada

Age: 29 years old

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 110 kg

Professional since: 2018
(NPC Nationals overall winner)

Number of professional starts: 3

Number of professional triumphs: 2

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 1

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
8th place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2020:
Triumph at Wings of Strength Chicago 2021

Iain Valliere

Age: 31 years old

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2014
(Triumph at Amateur Olympia Latin America)

Number of professional starts: 16

Number of professional triumphs: 3

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 2

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
7th place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Wings of Strength Tampa Pro 2021

Nathan De Asha

Age: 33 years old

Height: 178 cm

Weight: 118 kg

Professional since: 2014
(Absolute winner of the British Championships)

Number of professional starts: 9

Number of professional triumphs: 7

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 2

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
7th place(2020)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
Triumph at Europa Pro 2021

Roelly Winklaar

Age: 43 years old

Height: 172 cm

Weight: 120 kg

Professional since: 2009
(Triumph at the Arnold Classic Amateur)

Number of professional starts: 32

Number of professional triumphs: 10

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 6

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
3rd place(2018)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
2nd place at Europa Pro 2021

Mohamed Shaaban

Age: 41 years old

Height: 171 cm

Weight: 108 kg

Professional since: 2018
(Triumph at Diamond Cup Dubai)

Number of professional starts: 13

Number of professional triumphs: 1

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 1

Best result at Mr. Olympia:
16th place(2019)

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
1st place in the qualifying rankings

Hassan Mostafa

Age: 29 years old

Height: 169 cm

Weight: 115 kg

Professional since: 2016
(Absolute winner of Olympia Amateur Kuwait)

Number of professional starts: 8

Number of professional triumphs: 0

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 0

Best result at Mr. Olympia: -

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
2nd place in the qualification ranking.

Vladislav Sukhoruchko

Age: 24 years old

Height: 179 cm

Weight: 120 kg

Professional since: 2019
(Absolute winner of the Dennis James Pro Qualifier)

Number of professional starts: 5

Number of professional triumphs: 0

Number of starts at Mr. Olympia: 0

Best result at Mr. Olympia: -

Qualified for Mr. Olympia 2021:
3rd place in the qualification ranking.