Will Derek Lunsford Be The Next Olympia 212 Champ?
Muscular Development|January 2019

Will Derek Lunsford Be The Next Olympia 212 Champ?

Ron Harris
Will Derek Lunsford Be The Next Olympia 212 Champ?

WHO WILL BE NEXT AFTER FLEX?

Midway through the 2018 contest season, six-time 212 Olympia champion James “Flex” Lewis formally announced that win, lose or draw (just kidding, there are no ties in bodybuilding), this would be his final appearance as a 212 pro. While this left it open-ended as to his likely future as an open pro, it was clear that even if Flex won his seventh title on the way out, which he did, his reign was ending, and the title would be up for grabs. Who would be the Olympia champion next? Going into this year’s fray in Las Vegas, the logical choice for the 2019 champ would have been the runner-up in both 2016 and 2017, Ahmad Ashkanani. History shows that having multiple second-place finishes to the champ is a strong predictor for succession (see related story, “Being Next in Line – a Hit-or-Miss Proposition”). Most of us fully expected the Kuwaiti with the king cobra back to earn one final runner-up slot before taking his rightful place on the throne. But it was not meant to be. That honor went to 25-year-old Derek Lunsford. Derek had burst on the pro scene like a meteor in 2017, winning the 212 division at the Tampa Pro just seven days after turning pro via an overall win at the NPC USA Championships, then scoring a spot in the elite top five at the 212 Olympia just six weeks later. Few saw it coming outside of Derek and his camp, but now the collective focus has shifted his way as we ponder who will be the man to succeed the Welsh Dragon.

FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE O

This story is from the January 2019 edition of Muscular Development.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2019 edition of Muscular Development.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENTView All
Best Cardio for Fat Loss - High Intensity vs. Low Intensity
Muscular Development

Best Cardio for Fat Loss - High Intensity vs. Low Intensity

Low-intensity cardiovascular exercise is the most common way to reduce body fat, despite mounting scientific evidence showing this form of cardiovascular training may not burn body fat as effectively as high-intensity cardio. In addition, low-intensity cardio has also been shown to inhibit muscle growth¹2, making the use of this approach to enhance your physique even more questionable.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2023
Are Unilateral Exercises More Effective Than Bilateral Exercises?
Muscular Development

Are Unilateral Exercises More Effective Than Bilateral Exercises?

Bilateral exercises simultaneously use both limbs to lift the weight, so that the resistance is being shared between each limb.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2023
THE AMAZING POWER OF JULIA DI POMPEO
Muscular Development

THE AMAZING POWER OF JULIA DI POMPEO

Pro Figure Champ and Pro Powerlifter!

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2023
BRYAN JONES: THE LORD OF CLASSIC RETURNS!
Muscular Development

BRYAN JONES: THE LORD OF CLASSIC RETURNS!

It seems like a decade has passed since the pandemic began in 2020. That was a chaotic year for all of us. MD sent me to Atlanta to cover the Chicago Pro, because restrictions in Illinois made it impossible to hold Tim Gardner's annual extravaganza there. The athletes still showed up in force to compete, and the Classic Physique division alone featured 30 men. When they came out to be adjudicated, one man stood out in a flash as the one to beat. I had never heard of Bryan Jones until that point aside from a vague recollection that he'd won the USA a couple of years before. With his braided and colored hair piled on top of his head in a gathered bun with the ends appearing to be some type of bizarre plant, I dubbed him \"The Kai Greene of Classic.\" That didn't stick, thankfully, because Bryan \"Lord\" Jones is a unique athlete in his own right. I knew I was looking at a man who was going to make waves in that division. A few months later he did just that, placing fifth in his first Olympia appearance. But we only saw him twice more after that, at the Arnold Classic and once again at the Olympia at the end of 2021. Since then, Jones has been working hard to build the additional size needed to successfully transition to the Open category. I spoke with him about his brief but notable time in Classic, and how he plans to make a big splash in Open.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August 2023
Andrew vs. Hunter: THE BATTLE FOR TEXAS!
Muscular Development

Andrew vs. Hunter: THE BATTLE FOR TEXAS!

A BATTLE IS BREWING

time-read
7 mins  |
August 2023
GET A CLASSIC SUMMER PHYSIQUE WITH LOGAN FRANKLIN
Muscular Development

GET A CLASSIC SUMMER PHYSIQUE WITH LOGAN FRANKLIN

Summer is in full swing, and for the vast majority of bodybuilders that don't compete, this is our showtime! All the many months of toiling away covered up while the sky was dark and gray and icy temperatures had you shivering have led to this. Last month we provided you with eight excellent tips to get ripped and ready, but let's take it a step further. This month, we enlisted the help of Classic Physique superstar and GAT Sport athlete Logan Franklin to come up with his best advice on how to make sure you have the most Classic-looking physique possible to show off on the beaches or at the pool. Here's what he has to say about the Classic look, areas of the physique to emphasize and how, and his best nutrition tips to make sure you turn plenty of heads this summer!

time-read
9 mins  |
August 2023
SUCCESS STORY: YANIV ZUR
Muscular Development

SUCCESS STORY: YANIV ZUR

BALANCING BUSINESS, FAMILY, AND ELITE FITNESS

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2023
HOW MUCH REST IS BEST?
Muscular Development

HOW MUCH REST IS BEST?

Getting enough rest after weight training is essential for optimal muscle growth and performance. Unfortunately, many get insufficient rest because they simply disregard the fact that weightlifting breaks down muscle tissue, creating the requirement for adequate rest to fully recuperate.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Get Peeled With Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Muscular Development

Get Peeled With Extra Virgin Olive Oil

As you know, pathologic fat accretion results in obesity. The medical community and pharmaceutical industry have been struggling to address this burgeoning condition in the Western culture - particularly in the United States. Obviously, individuals have also been struggling in their attempts to avoid or correct unsightly or unhealthy fat gain. Imagine the shame these professionals and people must feel when they realize they may have been ignoring a risk-free, health-promoting, inexpensive dietary ingredient that can enhance fat loss. Bodybuilders seek potent drugs or supplements to force the metabolism to strip body fat to low single-digit percentages, but failing to acknowledge the foundation of diet can sabotage even their extreme measures.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
CREATINE: THE BEST FORMS
Muscular Development

CREATINE: THE BEST FORMS

New products and formulations are introduced to the supplement market every day. However, it is very rare for a product or especially an ingredient to create noteworthy evolution in supplement performance. Arguably, the greatest leap up this axiomatic evolutionary ladder occurred with the advent of creatine supplements in the 1990s. Creatine has proven over and over to be \"the real deal\" in clinical research and broscience. It's a muscle-building, performance-enhancing supplement that nearly all athletes should use.

time-read
7 mins  |
August 2023