💪 5 Dark Horses to Watch During Olympia Weekend

It's like Christmas, the Olympics, and July 4th all wrapped into one: When you read this email, Olympia Weekend will officially be underway in Las Vegas.

Stick with us, because we've got everything you need to know about bodybuilding's biggest event.

• Want to follow along? We've got a handy dandy guide on how to watch all the action!

• A BIG name just withdrew from one of the most popular divisions. What does that mean for the field?

• It turns out Classic Physique may be edging out Mr. Olympia as the marquee event...

• Everyone loves a dark horse, so we have five to keep your eye on come Saturday.

We'll be bringing you all the action from BarBend.com and BreakingMuscle.com all weekend. So set your eyeballs to "Watch" and get the info you need ahead of time.

OLYMPIA WEEKEND

How to Watch All the Action

The grandest show in bodybuilding takes place Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV, and features contests across all 11 IFBB pro divisions. The headliner is a potential title defense by two-time reigning Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. However, many in the strength and fitness world are even more excited about the Classic Physique division helmed by three-time reigning Olympia champion Chris Bumstead.

There’s plenty of action in the other divisions, and it will all be live-streamed. Spectators can see all the 2022 Olympia action via the pay-per-view premium package for $69.99 at the Olympia Productions website. Check out how to follow along with our summary below.

LAST-MINUTE WITHDRAWALS

Whitney Jones Bows Out

This shakes things up a bit.

The 2021 Fitness Olympia champion, Whitney Jones, has withdrawn from this year's contest, meaning we will definitely get a new champ in Vegas this weekend. The reason for Jones’ withdrawal, according to a post on her Instagram page, was undisclosed health issues that required her full attention.

Jones also confirmed her decision to BarBend‘s bodybuilding contributor, Roger Lockridge, onsite at the 2022 Olympia.

FANS SPEAK

Poll: Fans Are More Excited About the Classic Physique Olympia

Every bodybuilder in the Men’s Open division dreams of stepping foot on the Mr. Olympia stage. Since 1965, this contest has turned competitors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, and Phil Heath into icons of the sport. Even a mere appearance at a Mr. O is enough to turn a bodybuilder into a household name.

But the Mr. Olympia might not be the main event of Olympia weekend anymore — at least in some fans’ minds.

In a Dec. 6, 2022 poll, we asked you fine Ripped Report readers which competition you were looking forward to more during the 2022 Olympia: The Classic Physique or Mr. Olympia contest. The results were pretty clear-cut.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Coming at You Like a Dark Horse

• Everyone loves an underdog. And we have five Mr. Olympia dark horse competitors to keep an eye on come Saturday.

• Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler shares his 2022 predictions.

• What's up with all those spray tans in elite bodybuilding? We get to the heart — and deep, dark truth — of the issue.