{"id":9720,"date":"2023-01-05T18:07:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T19:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=9720"},"modified":"2023-01-05T20:06:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T20:06:17","slug":"derek-lunsford-sets-sights-on-2023-olympia-wont-compete-at-arnold-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/derek-lunsford-sets-sights-on-2023-olympia-wont-compete-at-arnold-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Derek Lunsford Sets Sights on 2023 Olympia, Won\u2019t Compete at Arnold Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Derek Lunsford, <a data-lasso-id=\"184303\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-hany-rambod-mens-open-2022-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a former 212 Olympia champion (2021)<\/a>, competed for the first time in the Men&#8217;s Open at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. After a sterling second-place finish to <a data-lasso-id=\"184304\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/hadi-choopan-wins-2022-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eventual champion Hadi Choopan<\/a>, Lunsford certainly maximized his debut on stage in the sport&#8217;s flagship division. As the 2023 calendar year starts to unfold, Lunsford is already setting up his high personal expectations for the months ahead.<\/p>\n<p>In a podcast appearance with <em>Fouad Abiad Media<\/em> on Jan. 1, 2023, Lunsford discussed his upcoming plans after his second-place result at the 2022 Olympia. Among the more notable tidbits was <strong>the athlete revealing he would not compete at the 2023 Arnold Classic this March<\/strong> as he will center a majority of his energy on capturing his first career Olympia title in November 2023. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;I&#039;M ONE STEP AWAY IN MY FIRST OLYMPIA&quot; | Derek Lunsford | Fouad Abiad&#039;s Real Bodybuilding Pod Ep155\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7G2CdLHM8dU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group\">\n<div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/kettlebell-deadlift\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"184305\">How to Do the Kettlebell Deadlift for Lower Body Size and Strength<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/overhead-press-variations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"184306\">8 Overhead Press Variations for Stronger Shoulders<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>With a bigger picture in mind, Lunsford is specifically forgoing a potential appearance at the 2023 Arnold Classic to improve aspects of his overall physique, like his <a data-lasso-id=\"184307\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/best-chest-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chest<\/a> and <a data-lasso-id=\"184308\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/best-leg-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leg<\/a> muscles. This plan generally falls in line with Lunsford&#8217;s singular Olympia approach from 2022. As a new year starts to roll along, he&#8217;s wasting no time getting after it in his <a data-lasso-id=\"184309\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/emom-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">training<\/a> for the next Olympia. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m right back at the gym training, getting ready for next year,\u201d Lunsford said. \u201cI just knew this was a new beginning for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Lunsford had congratulatory words of appreciation for Choopan, who he knows had been chasing bodybuilding&#8217;s highest peak and coming up just short for years. At the same time, Lunsford noted how close the final result was and how grateful he was to have a chance to push the eventual victor. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m happy for Hadi [Choopan], man,&#8221; Lunsford explained. &#8220;He\u2019s been at this for so many years. People have argued that he should have had an Olympia title already. So, I\u2019m happy for him, man. And me, coming in with my Men&#8217;s Open Olympia debut getting second, and it was really close. I think it was a one-point difference in prejudging. It was just awesome, man. I was just there to put on a show and have a good time.&#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\/Cm4bM1nuK1q\/?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\/Cm4bM1nuK1q\/?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\/Cm4bM1nuK1q\/?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=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/dumbbell-pullover\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"184310\">How to Do the Dumbbell Pullover for Upper Body Muscle and Mobility<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/renegade-row\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"184311\">How to Do the Renegade Row for Conditioning and Core Strength<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>While Lunsford seemed satisfied with his Men&#8217;s Open debut, he alluded to understanding that there&#8217;s still a lot of work to do. Like many elite athletes before him, Lunsford put his crosshairs on improvement and finishing the job the next time around. <\/p>\n<p>When one comes as close to victory as Lunsford did, it&#8217;s only natural to focus on where to fill in the gaps. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cDude, you can\u2019t complain coming into your Mr. Olympia debut getting second place and, like, arguably pushing for that title,&#8221; Lunsford said. &#8220;I was really on cloud nine, and I still am, to be honest. Then, I just talked to myself, \u2018Okay, well, you\u2019re this close. What do you need to get better?&#8217;. For me, how awesome is it to be this close to walking away with the title, and I know how many more improvements I can make? <strong>As I said, that\u2019s where my mindset is.\u00a0I\u2019m one step away [from victory] in my first Olympia<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Featured image: @dereklunsford_ on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-2023-arnold-classic-2023-olympia-plans\/\">Derek Lunsford Sets Sights on 2023 Olympia, Won&#8217;t Compete at Arnold Classic<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\">Breaking Muscle<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia champion (2021), competed for the first time in the Men\u2019s Open at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. After a sterling second-place finish to eventual champion Hadi Choopan, Lunsford certainly maximized his debut on stage in the sport\u2019s flagship division. As the 2023 calendar year starts to unfold, Lunsford is already setting up his&#8230;<br \/>\nThe post Derek Lunsford Sets Sights on 2023 Olympia, Won\u2019t Compete at Arnold Classic 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\/9720"}],"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=9720"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9721,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9720\/revisions\/9721"}],"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=9720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}