Derek Lunsford won the 2025 Mr. Olympia title in 2025, but he still faces doubts about one part of his physique. Speaking on the Menace Podcast, he clarified one clear belief for fans.

“We are thinking that you, shorter guys, are disadvantaged. In general, people are going to accept that. How did you get that confidence?” asked Milos Sarcev to Derek Lunsford.

“So I don't take them lightly at all. But I've never worried about the height of somebody that I'm competing against because I know I'm bringing the most complete physique on stage... And we have our strengths and our weaknesses, but at the end of the day, like top to bottom, front to back, side to side, I believe I have the most complete physique.

Last year, Lunsford ousted the likes of Hadi Choopan, Andrew Jacked, and Samson Dauda to clinch the Mr. Olympia Open title for himself, despite everyone being taller than him. The 5'6" Lunsford made sure he had the last laugh.

Moreover, according IFBB Pro League judge Terrick El Guindy, height is not a factor. "This thing about stature and how tall (someone is) is highly, highly, overrated. Look at Hadi Choopan. He’s one of the shortest guys out there, and he’s Mr. Olympia. Shaun Clarida may be one of the shortest 212 guys we have, and he’s Mr. Olympia (212)."

Legendary bodybuilder Lee Priest (5'4") went against the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman and dominated. Yet, for Derek Lunsford, questions about height aren't a new story.

“This is a bodybuilding show,” said Derek Lunsford on height comparison

Two years ago, in January 2024, Derek Lunsford was asked about his height disadvantage during a conversation on defending his first Mr. Olympia title. Responding to the question, he added, “This is a bodybuilding show, and look, I don't want to say it is a tall versus short competition.

He further added, “It is a bodybuilding competition and the most complete guy, the guy that comes out and wows the crowd, wows those judges, and brings something special to the stage, that's Mr. Olympia to me.”

Historically, Derek Lunsford is the second-shortest bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia Open after Franco Columbu. Height may not have favored them, but elite build and symmetry always did.

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar