Why This is the Most Exciting Time in Bodybuilding: Chris Bumstead’s Retirement and a Wide-Open Field for Champions

The Men’s Open division has historically been defined by long stretches of dominance by a single competitor. Let’s recap the dynasties in Bodybuilding history 

• Sergio Oliva (1967-1969) with 3 straight titles. Note: No runner up in 1968. 
• Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970–1975) with a 6-year winning streak. 1 title in 1980.
• Frank Zane (1977-1979) with a 3 peat 
• Lee Haney (1984–1991) with an 8-year streak.
• Dorian Yates (1992–1997) with a 6-year streak.
• Ronnie Coleman (1998–2005) with an 8-year streak.
• Jay Cutler (2006-07 then 2009-10) with 4 titles in 5 years
• Phil Heath (2011–2017) with a 7-year streak.

Other notable mentions are:

• Larry Scott (1965-66) with back to back titles
• Big Ramy (2020-21) with back to back titles 

Sergio Oliva starts off this list with the 3 titles in a row. He always showcased an impressive physique at a time where the Mr. Olympia was getting started. Then Arnold started this big reign off in the 70’s with 6 years in a row then later won his last one in 1980. In the 1980s, Lee Haney had 8 straight wins in a row. It was his world and we were just living in it (if you were alive at that time). 

Dorian Yates ruled the Olympia stage with six consecutive wins. In the early 2000s, Ronnie Coleman’s eight consecutive wins solidified him as a legend. Jay Cutler then took the spotlight, followed by Phil Heath’s seven-year reign from 2011 to 2017. These champions each held the top position for years, creating a sense of continuity in the division and setting a high bar for future competitors.

Over the past decade, the Men’s Open division has seen unprecedented turnover at the top. Since Phil Heath’s last win in 2017, no single competitor has been able to establish a dominant reign. Here’s a look at the Men’s Open winners over the past few years:

• 2018 – Shawn Rhoden: Known for his aesthetics and conditioning, Rhoden captured the title from Phil Heath, ending Heath’s seven-year run.
• 2019 – Brandon Curry: After Rhoden was unable to compete, Curry took the title with a combination of symmetry and impressive muscle fullness.
• 2020 & 2021 – Big Ramy (Mamdouh Elssbiay): The Egyptian powerhouse claimed back-to-back wins with his unmatched size and conditioning, becoming a fan favorite.
• 2022 – Hadi Choopan: Known for his muscular density and balance, Choopan took the title with a physique that appealed to fans and judges alike.
• 2023 – Derek Lunsford: His win represented a modern shift in the criteria for the Mr. Olympia title, focusing not just on sheer size but also on shape, conditioning, and muscle detail. 
• 2024 – Samson Dauda: Known as “The Nigerian Lion,” Dauda brings an ideal mix of aesthetics and size, which has made him a fan favorite. His victory is seen as a testament to the trend towards more balanced, aesthetic physiques in bodybuilding, moving away from purely mass-dominant champions.

In just seven years, we’ve seen six different champions, a stark contrast to the days when a single bodybuilder could dominate for nearly a decade. This revolving door of champions is thrilling because it means there is no clear frontrunner—every Olympia weekend is full of surprises. Current competitors like Nick Walker, Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Samson Dauda, and others are all in contention, but none have yet proven they can hold onto the title for an extended period. Each year brings new possibilities and potential upsets, making the Men’s Open one of the most unpredictable divisions in bodybuilding history.

Frequent Changes in the Top 3

• The top 3 placings have also become more varied in recent years, reflecting a broader pool of high-caliber competitors. In the 2010s and beyond, we see athletes like Phil Heath, Kai Greene, Dexter Jackson, Shawn Rhoden, and others consistently placing in the top spots but with shifting positions year by year.
• This variability shows that no single competitor is consistently outpacing the others by a wide margin, making the competition more dynamic and, arguably, more exciting for fans.

Average Time Between Streaks of Consecutive Wins

• • Historically, once a dominant streak ended, there was often a short period of time before the next began. For example:
    • After Arnold Schwarzenegger (1975), there was a two-year gap until Frank Zane‘s streak (1977–1979).
    • After Lee Haney (1991), Dorian Yates started his streak immediately in 1992.
    • Following Ronnie Coleman‘s run (2005), Jay Cutler had a brief two-year reign before Phil Heath’s dominance began in 2011.

• Phil Heath had his last win in 2017. Big Ramy has been the closest so far to have a dominant reign. 

• The past few years, however, have seen multiple champions without a new dominant streak, a relatively unusual occurrence compared to prior decades.
• Perhaps, we could argue that the dominant runs of Haney, Yates, and then Coleman being on top of one another was a rare feat in itself and that was truly rare how that occurred. 

International Representation Over Time

• The early years of Mr. Olympia were primarily dominated by U.S. athletes, but as the competition became more global, champions from other countries began to emerge:
  • Sergio Oliva from Cuba in the late 1960s.
  • Samir Bannout from Lebanon in 1983.
  • Dorian Yates from the United Kingdom in the 1990s.
  • More recent champions include Big Ramy from Egypt and Hadi Choopan from Iran. Samson Dauda is Nigerian-British who lives in the United Kingdom.
• This diversity highlights bodybuilding’s evolution into an international competition, making recent contests even more intriguing as champions come from different parts of the world.