Las Vegas delivered a dramatic finale as Derek Lunsford held onto the Sandow trophy after a razor-close showdown with Iran’s Hadi Choopan. The atmosphere inside the arena was electric, with fans chanting and cameras catching every flex as the two leading physiques traded commanding poses. Choopan appeared sharper in conditioning to many viewers, but the judges ultimately awarded the title to Lunsford, a decision that has reignited debate from Karachi training halls to California podcasts.
Andrew Jacked of Nigeria surprised some commentators by taking third place, while Samson Dauda and Martin Fitzwater completed the top five. Pakistani fans who followed the event through late-night streams filled social media with passionate reaction, calling this edition one of the most competitive in recent memory and dissecting every comparison between Lunsford and Choopan.
In supporting divisions Keone Pearson extended his strong run in the 212 class by beating former champion Shaun Clarida. The Classic Physique crown went to Brazil’s Ramon Rocha Queiroz, ending Chris Bumstead’s long dominance and prompting lively discussion about the shifting guard in that category. Andrea Shaw once again proved dominant on the women’s stage, taking the Ms Olympia title with form judges called near perfect. Britain’s Ryan Terry won Men’s Physique while Brazil’s Eduarda Bezerra claimed the Wellness title.
For Pakistani gyms the event was both inspiration and a reminder of gaps in the local system. A trainer at a Gujrat gym summed up the mood by saying ‘These guys are machines. They live for the sport. We have talent here, but no system, no sponsors. That’s why we can’t reach there.’ Fans in Railway Road replayed final pose-down clips on their phones and cheered, with one adding ‘Ab agli dafa dekho, Choopan wapas aayega’ as he scrolled through highlight reels.
The outcome has sharpened the rivalry narrative: Choopan’s camp has questioned the scoring and argued he showed superior conditioning, while Derek Lunsford, speaking backstage, said he felt he had ‘more to prove and even more to defend.’ The tighter judging and a few controversial placements ensured social media remained heated long after the lights dimmed.
Observers say the sport is evolving rapidly, with younger competitors and a growing global presence changing expectations at Olympia events. For Pakistani bodybuilding enthusiasts the 2025 edition was a showcase of dedication and a prompt to push for better local support so more athletes might one day compete at this level. For now, Derek Lunsford remains at the summit, but the rivalry with Hadi Choopan ensures the next Olympia will be watched with even greater intensity.
