Derek Lunsford capturing his second Olympia title last weekend was the final jewel in the 2025 bodybuilding triple crown. Add to this triple crown – which also included the Arnold Classic and Pittsburgh Pro wins – the fact that Derek’s 2023 Olympia win made him the only bodybuilder in history to win both the 212 and the Open won, and there’s no arguing that we have a remarkable champion on our hands.
With all that behind him – or weighing heavily on him – we all watched intently this past weekend as Derek marched into battle, not only among the world’s best, but also among three former Mr. O’s, all of whom had their sights squarely on the target on Derek’s head. This year will go down in history not only as the first Olympia to feature four former winners in the line-up, but also for the sheer depth of the rest of the field. To say this show was stacked is a serious understatement.
But no matter how impressive a feat it seemed at first glance, no one knew how much of a testament to the indomitable spirit of the man who won that title was at the time it happened. What I saw, no one else saw, because at the time maybe five people knew what I knew. And thanks to what I knew, I was able to recognize the exact moment when Derek’s mind took control of his body. What I saw was actually two steps away from a miracle.
So while the rest of the internet is full of recap articles and podcasts dissecting Derek’s flaws, Hadi’s strengths, or what the heck Andrew has to do to win here, I’m going to tell you a story that no one else can, because no one else has seen it. And if it were, you’d agree with me that this is the biggest story of the weekend. This isn’t about flaws in his physique, but rather the lack of cracks in his character.
Full disclosure: I know Derek. I like Derek. I’m a fan of his physique; it has its flaws as well as its strengths. We can argue all day about whether or not Derek deserved to win, but history will still reflect that there will be a “W” after his name in both 2023 and 2025. History will also reflect the magnitude of this year’s event.
But I’m going to do it again.
Because of my responsibilities to Muscle & FitnessI get full access to production references. My lanyard takes me everywhere: backstage, side stage, the inflation room, the auditorium. I can take any available seat. There’s no place I can’t go.
While I was standing backstage, I heard a very high level person say that something was wrong with Derek. They then consulted with the production crew behind me to rework the order so that Derek would go out last, ostensibly to give him time to resolve the problem.
A moment later I saw Derek walking towards me. There was a tense, sideways bump in his gait. He walked past me like a zombie. Then, two steps later, he turned around and said, “Sorry, John, I’m not feeling well.”
I asked him what he was feeling, and when he told me, I immediately understood what he was struggling with. I had traveled that road myself. I knew exactly what he felt physically. Let’s just say it was even more disabling, and he would have been horizontal.
And furthermore, no one could imagine the pressure he was under – not just because winning would earn him $600,000 and the Triple Crown, but because of the sacrifices he made…his wife made…his children made…his friends and family. Then there were the responsibilities to his sponsors, his coach and his fans. All that adds an unimaginable weight. As if that didn’t make winning hard enough, Derek now had to put on a smile, push what was wrong with him, and go out there to fight and win.
At the other end of the spectrum was Andrew Jacked, an extremely capable contender for the title. For all his menacing appearance, Andrew is a nice guy, a happy guy. The 1.80 meter tall Nigerian appeared in the shape of his life and enjoyed every minute of it.
I stayed backstage in case the worst happened and I had to cover it. When it was time for the final comparison and pose, I went into the audience and sat near the front. To say they worked for these guys is an understatement. Round by round they compared the top five. Finally, Weinberger said, “Guys, this is so close. Do you have one more round in you?”
Then it happened. Then I saw a heroic feat of strength that no one else could ever see. All Derek wanted was to get it done. At the announcement of a new round, Andrew clenched his fist and shouted, “Yes!” Derek, on the other hand, might as well have deadlifted 800 pounds. But you couldn’t see it. His smile never disappeared. His fight did not subside. He didn’t shy away from it; he took it one step at a time, as elated as anyone else, despite how bad he felt.
That took courage. That took strength. That took will. I saw it as clear as day, and it’s something I’ll never forget. No one knew what a victory that actually was.
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