Bodybuilder Hadi Choopan is more motivated than ever to ensure the Mr. Olympia title stays in Iran. In a pair of Instagram posts, Choopan showed off an impressive physique update and hack squat training session months before taking to the stage.
Choopan built his career off the back of consistency, discipline, and hard work. His grainy muscle hardness is proof of that, and his ability to get shredded for shows remains one of his most notable strengths. After three years straight of finishing in the top four at the prestigious show, Choopan’s crowning moment came last year in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, Choopan competed against a historic lineup with plenty of new names breaking into the top 15. During the prejudging rounds, Choopan’s conditioning guided him to the finals. He battled Nick Walker and Derek Lunsford en route to claiming gold. As for the former two-time champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, he fell to fifth in a shocking upset.
Plenty of threats loom for Choopan as the hunted champion. In March, Samson Dauda defeated Walker to secure the 2023 Arnold Classic title. Having finished sixth at Olympia in his debut, Dauda and his trainer Milos Sarcev have emphasized back development to improve their standing in November.
Derek Lunsford also anticipates another battle with Choopan. In an appearance on Dennis James’ The Menace Podcast, Lunsford predicted that Walker and Dauda would be competing for third/fourth place at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. In a show of confidence, Choopan teased his opponents with a physique update dated one month ago.
“Let’s Play a Game, A Month Ago” Hadi Choopan Shares Physique Update + Training Session
With the tail-end of the off-season approaching, Choopan checked in with a massive update. Even though there are months until show day, Choopan is still displaying jaw-dropping muscle striations in his chest.
“Let’s play a game?
A month ago” Choopan posted.
In a separate post, Choopan impressed with some huge hack squats, and de-loaded weight as he progressed through the workout. He started with a maximum weight of 1,102 pounds.
“It’s hard, don’t talk too hard, do it, repeat it more this year, we have to repeat it without rest☝?
You and me together whit GOD?
@hanyrambod” Choopan shared.
Veterans of the sport have labeled their frontrunners. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo and Milos Sarcev consider Dauda a legitimate threat to Choopan. In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Sarcev predicted that the top three finishers of 2023 Mr. Olympia will be Dauda, Choopan, and Derek Lunsford.
Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman expects Derek Lunsford to get his hand raised against Choopan in November. During a YouTube video, Coleman shared that not only does he think Lunsford will win the Mr. Olympia in 2023, but he called him his favorite bodybuilder of the current generation.
Nick Walker, who is amid preparations to bring his best, doesn’t think he’ll have to worry about Choopan winning again. ‘The Mutant’ said more than likely the finals will come down to himself and former 212 champ Lunsford.
This isn’t Choopan’s first update of the 2023 bodybuilding season. Similar to his latest progress video, Choopan showed off a month-old physique update back in June. Fans were blown away by the conditioning Choopan was carrying despite it being his off-season.
RELATED: Hadi Choopan Looks Massive in 2023 Off-Season, Shares Brutal Row & Leg Press Workouts
The 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is approaching and Choopan is determined to bring his best to the stage. Given how close the show was between him and Lunsford in 2022, fans look forward to seeing the rematch settled.