{"id":13546,"date":"2023-07-18T18:39:32","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T18:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=13546"},"modified":"2023-07-18T19:13:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T19:13:38","slug":"flex-lewis-believes-derek-lunsford-will-be-first-olympia-champion-in-2-divisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/flex-lewis-believes-derek-lunsford-will-be-first-olympia-champion-in-2-divisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Flex Lewis Believes Derek Lunsford Will Be First Olympia Champion in 2 Divisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a data-lasso-id=\"291209\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-2023-arnold-classic-2023-olympia-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Derek Lunsford<\/a> could be the next heir apparent to true bodybuilding greatness. Already a former 212 Olympia champion (2021), Lunsford shined in his Men&#8217;s Open debut at the <a data-lasso-id=\"291210\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/hadi-choopan-wins-2022-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2022 Olympia<\/a>, finishing as the runner-up to the titanic <a data-lasso-id=\"291211\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/hadi-choopan-ripped-physique-update-2023-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hadi Choopan<\/a>. With more seasoning under his belt, some members of the bodybuilding community think he&#8217;s on the precipice of a genuinely unique achievement. <\/p>\n<p>On July 17, 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/flex-lewis-retirement-comeback-seven-figures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"291212\">James &#8220;Flex&#8221; Lewis<\/a> posted a video to his YouTube channel where he had a conversation with Lunsford about his current place in bodybuilding. With Lunsford now a full-time Men&#8217;s Open class member,<strong> Lewis endorsed his peer&#8217;s chances at becoming the first bodybuilder ever to win in two separate Olympia divisions (212, Men&#8217;s Open)<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube\"><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/flex-lewis-derek-lunsford-2023-mr-olympia\/\"><img src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/lyteCache-19.php\" alt=\"YouTube Video\" \/><\/a><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/bodybuilding-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"291544\">The Best Bodybuilding Workout for Each Body Part<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-build-muscle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"291213\">How to Build Muscle: The Guide for Beginners and Advanced Lifters<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>A seven-time 212 Olympia champion (2012-2018), Lewis enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Lunsford toward the tail end of his reign, most notably overcoming the young runner-up during the 2018 edition of the contest. That might make Lewis more equipped than most to understand what Lunsford is capable of at bodybuilding&#8217;s highest levels. <\/p>\n<p>Lewis maintained he&#8217;d kept a close eye on Lunsford since his sole 212 title in 2021 and that he unquestionably sees him as the athlete to beat in <a data-lasso-id=\"291215\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/2023-mr-olympia-date-confirmed-orlando-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">November in Orlando, FL<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cGoing into this year\u2019s Olympia [2023], I said to so many people, &#8216;Derek Lunsford is the one,&#8217;&#8221; Lewis explained. &#8220;<a data-lasso-id=\"291216\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/2023-pittsburgh-pro-guest-pose-derek-lunsford-nick-walker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">That [2023] Pittsburgh Pro<\/a>, that blew my mind and everyone else\u2019s. I thought to myself, &#8216;Thank god that guy&#8217;s not in the 212 [division] anymore.&#8217; I also said to myself, &#8216;Thank god I am not competing in the Open class against this guy.&#8217; I also said, &#8216;whoever is going to be standing next to that guy is in for a handful.&#8217;&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Beyond talking about Lunsford&#8217;s physique, Lewis all but painted him as the inevitable first-ever &#8220;champ-champ&#8221; \u2014 the first bodybuilder in history who could win a title in two major Olympia divisions. <\/p>\n<p>With a victory at the 2023 Olympia, Lunsford very well might live up to this billing. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cWhat you\u2019ve done since the 212 is honestly so inspiring,&#8221; Lewis told Lunsford. &#8220;You say that you were never able to dethrone me, but you know what I can say about you, is, I might have beaten you in the 212 class but now you\u2019re going to be, in my eyes, the first ever champ-champ.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Lewis expressed that one of the goals of his competitive career was to win an Olympia title in two divisions. The icon never competed in a division outside of the 212 at the tentpole bodybuilding contests. Now that those days are behind him, he will live vicariously through Lunsford&#8217;s exploits. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>&#8220;It was my motivation to be the first-ever two-division champ-champ,&#8221; Lewis said. &#8220;You now, whether you thought about it or not, it was consuming for me &#8230; I\u2019ll never be able to achieve that now that I\u2019m retired. I want to see you go to the moon and back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CucB6wJujZk\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CucB6wJujZk\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CucB6wJujZk\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Derek Lunsford (@dereklunsford_)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/beginner-bodybuilding-routine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"291217\">Try This Beginner Bodybuilding Routine If You\u2019re Looking to Build Mass<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-eat-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"291545\">How to Eat More for Muscle and Strength Gains<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lewis isn&#8217;t the first bodybuilding legend to put his faith in Lunsford at the 2023 Olympia. Eight-time Mr. Olympia <a data-lasso-id=\"291219\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/ronnie-coleman-flex-wheeler-first-mr-olympia-win\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ronnie Coleman<\/a> (1998-2005) and long-time trainer <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/milos-sarcev-2023-mr-olympia-derek-lunsford-hadi-choopan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"291546\">Milo\u0161 \u0160ar\u010dev<\/a> have both previously <a data-lasso-id=\"291220\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/ronnie-coleman-favorite-bodybuilder-derek-lunsford\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expressed their belief<\/a> in the young superstar&#8217;s chances at historic success. <\/p>\n<p>Now Lunsford will just have to live up to the hype.<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/dereklunsford_\/#\" data-lasso-id=\"291222\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/flex-lewis-derek-lunsford-2023-mr-olympia\/\">Flex Lewis Believes Derek Lunsford Will Be First Olympia Champion in 2 Divisions<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\">Breaking Muscle<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Derek Lunsford could be the next heir apparent to true bodybuilding greatness. Already a former 212 Olympia champion (2021), Lunsford shined in his Men\u2019s Open debut at the 2022 Olympia, finishing as the runner-up to the titanic Hadi Choopan. With more seasoning under his belt, some members of the bodybuilding community think he\u2019s on the precipice of a&#8230;<br \/>\nThe post Flex Lewis Believes Derek Lunsford Will Be First Olympia Champion in 2 Divisions appeared first on Breaking Muscle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":""},"categories":[20,1,21,22,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13546"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13546"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13549,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13546\/revisions\/13549"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}