Derek Lunsford bagging his second Olympia title final weekend was the ultimate jewel of a dominant 2025 contest season—which additionally included Arnold Basic and Pittsburgh Professional wins—the truth that 2023’s Olympia win made Derek the one bodybuilder in historical past to win each the 212 and the Open, and there’s no argument that we have now a exceptional champion on our palms.
With all that behind him—or weighing on him—all of us watched intently this previous weekend as Derek marched into battle amongst not solely the perfect on the earth, but additionally three former Mr. O’s, all of whom had their sights set squarely on the goal on Derek’s head. This 12 months will go down in historical past not solely as the primary Olympia to function 4 former winners within the lineup, but additionally for the sheer depth of the remainder of the sphere. To say this present was stacked is a grave understatement.
However as spectacular an accomplishment as that seemed to be on the floor, nobody knew how nice a testomony to the indomitable spirit of man profitable that title really was in the mean time it occurred. What I noticed, nobody else noticed—as a result of, on the time, perhaps 5 folks knew what I knew. And due to what I knew, I used to be capable of acknowledge the precise second Derek’s spirit took management of his physique. What I witnessed was principally two steps away from a miracle.
So, whereas the remainder of the online is rife with recap articles and podcasts dissecting Derek’s flaws, Hadi’s strengths, or what the heck Andrew has to do to win round right here, I’m going to inform you a narrative nobody else can—as a result of nobody else noticed it. And if you happen to had, you’d agree with me that that is the most important story of the weekend. This isn’t about flaws in his physique, however moderately the dearth of cracks in his character.
Full disclosure: I do know Derek. I like Derek. I’m a fan of his physique—it has its flaws in addition to its strengths. We will argue all day about whether or not or not Derek deserved to win, however historical past will nonetheless replicate that there’s a “W” after his title in each 2023 and 2025. Historical past will even replicate the magnitude of this 12 months’s occasion.
However I’m going to one-up it.
Due to my obligations to Muscle & Health, I’m given full-access manufacturing credentials. My lanyard will get me in every single place—backstage, aspect stage, the pump-up space, the auditorium. I can take any open seat. There’s nowhere I can’t go.
Whereas standing backstage, I overheard a really high-level particular person say that one thing was fallacious with Derek. They then conferred with the manufacturing crew behind me to transform the order so Derek would exit final, ostensibly to offer him time to cope with no matter the issue was.
Just a few moments later, I noticed Derek strolling in my path. There was a tense, side-to-side hobble to his gait. He walked proper previous me like a zombie. Then, two steps later, he rotated and mentioned, “Sorry, John, I don’t really feel good.”
I requested him what he felt, and when he informed me, I instantly understood what he was battling. I’d been down that street myself. I knew precisely what he was feeling bodily. Let’s simply say any extra debilitating, and he would have been horizontal.
And on high of that, what nobody may think about was the stress he was beneath—not simply because profitable would earn him $600,000 and the triple crown, however due to the sacrifices he made…his spouse made…his youngsters made…his family and friends made. Then there have been the obligations to his sponsors, his coach, his followers. All of that provides an unimaginable weight. If that didn’t make profitable onerous sufficient, Derek now needed to conjure up a smile, push down what ailed him, and go on the market to battle and win.
On the reverse finish of the spectrum was Andrew Jacked—a particularly succesful contender for the title. For all his menacing look, Andrew is a pleasant man, a cheerful man. The 6’2” Nigerian confirmed up within the form of his life and was loving each minute of it.
I stayed backstage in case the worst occurred and I wanted to cowl it. When it was time for the ultimate comparability and pose down, I went out into the viewers and grabbed a seat up entrance. To say they labored these guys is an understatement. Spherical after spherical they in contrast the highest 5. Lastly, Weinberger mentioned, “Guys, that is so shut. You might have one other spherical in you?”
That’s when it occurred. That’s after I noticed a heroic feat of energy nobody else may probably see. All Derek wished to do was get it completed. On the announcement of one other spherical, Andrew pumped his fist and yelled, “Yeah!” Derek, then again, would possibly as effectively have been deadlifting 800 kilos. However you couldn’t see it. His smile by no means pale. His battle didn’t subside. He didn’t flinch—he took it in stride, as elated as anybody else regardless of how badly he felt.
That took guts. That took energy. That took will. I noticed it plain as day, and it’s one thing I’ll always remember. Nobody knew what a victory that truly was.