muscle king
Who is Derek Lunsford? Meet the Mr Olympia reigning champion who was once Mr USA
The pro athlete scooped a massive $400,000 prize thanks to his win
DEREK Lunsford is a professional bodybuilder who has been winning competitions since 2015.
The Pro League World champion is a renowned athlete having won two Mr Olympia titles.
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Derek burst onto the bodybuilding in 2015.
He made his amateur bodybuilding debut at the NPC Indianapolis Championships, where he competed in the Men's Open Welterweight division and won.
Two years later he bagged the title of Rookie of the Year and earned his pro card.
Who is Derek Lunsford?
Born on May 14, 1993, the 240lb bodybuilder competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League.
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With 1.3 million followers on Instagram, as of September 2024, the sports personality regularly posts pictures of his on-stage wins.
Growing up in Petersbury, Indiana, Derek participated in various sports.
He excelled at soccer during high school and was a promising amateur wrestler.
But he was forced to quit wrestling as there was no program at his chosen college, and instead Derek headed to the gym.
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He challenged himself with bigger weights, eventually making his bodybuilding debut at the age of 22.
Personal trainer James Brown took him under his wing and guided him to achieve better results.
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In September 2024, Derek revealed on social media that he had united with Mr Olympia winner, Hadi Choopan, to train under Hany Rambod.
In 2017, Derek bagged the title of Mr USA.
He wrote on Instagram: "It's been an incredible weekend to say the least.
"I'm honored to be Mr. USA 2017!!!
"Words cannot describe the feeling I'm having by earning this title.
"It's truly and honor to represent the IFBB and I promise to represent to the best of my ability as a professional on and off the stage."
The American has been open about his faith online, stating he is a “proud Christian”, and regularly posts about his religious beliefs on social media.
What does Derek Lunsford do for a living?
Derek established himself as a competitive amateur bodybuilder, winning the 2015 and 2016 NPC Junior Nationals.
He earned his Pro Card in the 2017 NPC USA Championships.
This marked his transition to professional bodybuilding.
As well as competing, the athlete has his own website where he sells a variety of merchandise, including a T-shirt printed with a topless image of himself.
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Is Derek Lunsford married?
Derek is married to Jhelsin Mabaga.
The pair tied the knot in Indiana in March 2022.
She is a fitness trainer who specializes in weight loss and muscle building.
According to her Instagram bio, she is the "coach for women who are ready to become their most confident self without feeling restricted".
In November 2023, Derek posted on the social media that Jhelsin was expecting a baby girl.
On January 12, 2024, Derek shared a snap of their newborn saying: "Welcome to the world sweet baby girl. You are already so so loved."
Their daughter is named Evie.
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Who won Mr Olympia in 2023?
Derek was named 2023 Mr Olympia on November 4, 2023, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
In the 59th edition of bodybuilding's most prestigious event, Lunsford came out on top, pushing previous champ Hadi into second spot.
Thanks to his win, he also won a mega cash prize of $400,000.
Generation Iron took to Instagram to share a post commemorating the win and wrote: "The NEW Mr Olympia champion Derek Lunsford! He becomes the 18th champion ever and first to win an Olympia title in two divisions";.
He has spoken out about his incredible bodybuilding transformation in the long lead-up to him becoming an Olympia champ.
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How many times has Derek Lunsford won Mr Olympia?
Lunsford has won Mr Olympia twice throughout his career.
Lunsford was the first winner of two divisions in the Mr Olympia competition and was awarded $400,000 in prize money for both the 2023 and 2021 titles.
His first win was in October 2021, where he won the 212 Mr Olympia, overtaking the then-holder, Shaun Clarida.
In 2022, Derek was invited as a special guest to compete in the open division of Mr Olympia.
He took second place behind Hadi Choopan, pocketing $150,000.
However, he came back strong in 2023..
Derek knocked Hadi off the top spot, claiming the title for both Mr Olympia and the People's Champion Award.
How tall is Derek Lunsford?
Derek is 168cm (5ft 6in).
But his incredible physique often makes him appear much taller.
The bodybuilder was inspired by the likes of Jay Cutler and Phil Heath, and this sparked his motivation for building a world-class physique.
How did Derek Lunsford win Mr Olympia?
According to , the pro athlete weighs between 102-108kgs (225-240lbs).
This is thanks to his unbelievable build and muscle storage.
He has revealed how he keeps a regular training schedule, working out six days a week.
More specifically, he puts focus on his abs and legs, in particular, working them twice weekly.
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Additionally, he does cardio at least once, sometimes twice per day.
This keeps his weight low, and his conditioning up to competition standards.
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