{"id":7042,"date":"2022-10-14T21:53:10","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T21:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=7042"},"modified":"2022-10-14T22:05:28","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T22:05:28","slug":"derek-lunsford-shares-the-emotions-behind-competing-at-the-mr-olympia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/derek-lunsford-shares-the-emotions-behind-competing-at-the-mr-olympia\/","title":{"rendered":"Derek Lunsford Shares the Emotions Behind Competing at the Mr. Olympia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Anyone who watches how bodybuilder <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-chest-workout-2022-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148816\">Derek Lunsford<\/a> carries himself in public likely sees a picture of energy and confidence. However, it doesn&#8217;t seem like that&#8217;s always an accurate descriptor. That&#8217;s because even this elite competitor and former 212 Olympia champion (2021) deals with nerves before the big moments.<\/p>\n<p>On Oct. 13, 2022, Lunsford uploaded a video to his YouTube where he candidly discusses what it feels like before he steps onto a major bodybuilding stage. For an athlete judged by the minute details of his <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-build-muscle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148809\">mass and physique<\/a>, it&#8217;s a valuable perspective and, on a human level \u2014 it&#8217;s a relatable one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"videos\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How It Feels To Be On Stage | Overcoming Anxiety\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0c_HyZJIMkU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>[Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/workouts-with-single-dumbbell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148739\">4 Workouts with a Single Dumbbell for Muscle, Fat Loss, and More<\/a>]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lunsford&#8217;s discussion about his feelings on competition happened amidst a Q&amp;A during one of his usual <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/two-a-day-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148810\">training<\/a> sessions. When a question about his potential nervousness came up, the bodybuilder said it was not so black and white. Rather than be wholly frozen with anxiety, the athlete maintained that any stress he feels comes mixed with healthy excitement.<\/p>\n<p>Any nerves Lunsford does feel also aren&#8217;t necessarily prevalent once he steps on stage. The pomp and frill around the general moment seem to be what conjure any butterflies in his stomach.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s more the build-up, the anticipation backstage,&#8221; Lunsford clarifies. &#8220;They call your name, division. [You] start getting pumped up, touch up tans, and then wait for 30-45 minutes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In that waiting time, before the lights come on and before he&#8217;s judged closely, Lunsford said it might be easy to overthink matters and get in his own head. Though he knows some things are just out of his control. With that knowledge in hand, he tries to stay even-keeled and in a calm mindset about his prospects.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s going to be what it\u2019s going to be,&#8221; Lunsford explained. &#8220;I don\u2019t get nervous about people watching. I just want to know &#8230; when I\u2019m on stage, I\u2019m giving my best.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" 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: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CjDZQ2rOK3R\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; 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>&nbsp;<\/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 style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CjDZQ2rOK3R\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148814\">A post shared by Derek Lunsford (@dereklunsford_)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><strong><em>[Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/push-up-variations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148740\">10 Push-Up Variations for More Muscle and Strength<\/a>]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What Lunsford appears to actually struggle with is public speaking. The bodybuilder said he&#8217;s better at it now than he used to be, but it&#8217;s still not necessarily a duty he relishes as a public-facing figure and one of the biggest names in his sport.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was so nervous talking in front of people,&#8221; Lunsford said of his early competitive days. &#8220;My palms would get sweaty, I was just really nervous &#8230; You\u2019re pretty much obligated because you\u2019re a public figure. You need to be able to talk in front of people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I just kept doing it and kept doing it and kept doing it. I kept making myself [speak on stage] even when I didn&#8217;t have to do it and I didn&#8217;t want to do it. [&#8230;] I still am not super comfortable with it, but I&#8217;ve gotten better. I&#8217;m not saying I&#8217;m getting better at giving speeches, I&#8217;m saying I&#8217;m better at not being so nervous about it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Lunsford might have another significant public-speaking task ahead of him. The athlete is <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-hany-rambod-mens-open-2022-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148817\">transitioning to the Men&#8217;s Open division<\/a> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/ronnie-coleman-mamdouh-big-ramy-elssbiay-2022-mr-olympia-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148811\">2022 Mr. Olympia<\/a>, where he&#8217;ll try to topple respective titans like two-time reigning champion <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/mamdouh-big-ramy-elssbiay-weighs-337-pounds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148812\">Mamdouh &#8220;Big Ramy&#8221; Elssbiay<\/a>, Brandon Curry, and <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/nick-walker-big-ramy-2022-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"148813\">Nick Walker<\/a>. Should he succeed, the bodybuilding world will see Lunsford&#8217;s growth in front of a microphone and an audience firsthand.<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-2022-mr-olympia-emotions-anxiety\/\">Derek Lunsford Shares the Emotions Behind Competing at the Mr. Olympia<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\">Breaking Muscle<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anyone who watches how bodybuilder Derek Lunsford carries himself in public likely sees a picture of energy and confidence. However, it doesn\u2019t seem like that\u2019s always an accurate descriptor. That\u2019s because even this elite competitor and former 212 Olympia champion (2021) deals with nerves before the big moments. On Oct. 13, 2022, Lunsford uploaded a &#8230; Read more<br \/>\nThe post Derek Lunsford Shares the Emotions Behind Competing at the Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":868,"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\/7042"}],"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=7042"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7043,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7042\/revisions\/7043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}