Legendary bodybuilder Flex Wheeler is known for providing blunt and honest commentary. He brought this same energy as an analyst during coverage of the controversial 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
Regarding the headline Open division, Flex was underwhelmed by both winner Derek Lunsford and defending champion Hadi Choopan. He argued their physiques were not particularly impressive, saying the outcome between them could have gone either way.
Ever the critic, Flex noted that several open class competitors who have the potential to be Mr. Olympia fell short of fulfilling that promise in Vegas. He found it disappointing and embarrassing that open class bodybuilders were losing to smaller 212 division competitors. In Flex’s view, the open guys have more muscle and better structure, so there’s no excuse for losing.
One competitor Flex felt could have conquered the open class was Samson Dauda. Had Samson brought his best shape, Flex believes he could have easily beaten both Derek and Hadi for the title. Unfortunately Samson seemed to run out of steam after peaking early for a show in May.
Flex brought this same energy when analyzing the 212 and Classic Physique divisions. He accurately predicted that Keone Pearson could defeat incumbent 212 champion Sean Clarita if Keone dialed in his conditioning. Likewise, in Classic, Flex observed that while Chris Bumstead won, the gap is narrowing between him and hungry challengers like Terrence Ruffin.
Love him or hate him, Flex Wheeler always speaks his unfiltered mind. His controversial takes and criticism stem from a passion to see today’s competitors reach their full potential. He holds them to the same lofty standards that took him to the top of the bodybuilding world in the 1990s.
