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Former Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan was already an icon in the Middle East. However, he became the center of attraction after the 2023 Mr. Olympia. The bodybuilding champion stormed off the stage after losing his Olympia crown to Derek Lunsford, sparking controversy. Today, he is among the most recognized bodybuilders on the planet.

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A censored image of the bodybuilder posing on the Olympia stage with the caption “Guess who?” surfaced on the internet. However, the bodybuilding community had no trouble recognizing who it was. While the image covered Choopan’s face with an emoji, it wasn’t enough. So, netizens played the fool in the comments.

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How Hadi Choopan became viral

You’d think that everyone would be aware of a former Mr. Olympia. While that might be true for fans, Hadi Choopan’s long spells of inactivity on social media meant he wasn’t part of the bodybuilding pop culture. However, that changed during the 2023 Mr. Olympia controversy. The 38-year-old divided fans when he stormed off the stage before everything wrapped up.

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The former later issued an apology on social media, vowing to come back stronger. However, Choopan’s Middle Eastern fans vehemently supported their icon even after the controversy died down. Comment sections of all prominent bodybuilders were filled with Hadi Choopan fans claiming he had been robbed.

Newly crowned champion Derek Lunsford even faced harassment. After the incident, Choopan claimed things down with a statement to the fans. Now, the former champion has become the talk of the town yet again as he prepares to step on the Arnold Classic stage for the first time in his career. Unsurprisingly, no one had difficulties identifying the bodybuilder in the image as The Persian Wolf.

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Bodybuilding fans pretend to not know

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Plenty of fans of The Persian Wolf didn’t beat around the bush. They guessed correctly and threw in a bit of praise for the former Mr. Olympia. However, many others turned it into a hilarious ‘wrong answers only’ post. “Michael Jackson,” wrote one fan comparing The Persian Wolf with the King of Pop.

“Joe Rogan?” asked another fan. While the UFC commentator has an impressive physique at 56, he is nowhere near Hadi Choopan’s league. “Mike Mentzer,” wrote one fan. The late Mentzer was a Golden Era bodybuilding legend who many consider an uncrowned Mr. Olympia. Another fan wrote the name of three-time Mr. Olympia and a Golden Era legend, “Frank Zane.” Meanwhile, one fan mentioned The King, eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. What’s your best wrong answer? Tell us in the comments.

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Read More | “It’s Still a Big Payday”: Victor Martinez Approves Hadi Choopan’s Decision to Compete at Arnold Classic After Mr. Olympia’s Disappointment

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Sagnik Bagchi

3,368 Articles

Sagnik Bagchi is a Senior Writer at EssentiallySports, covering collegiate and Olympic sports through opinion‑driven storytelling. His volleyball reporting often spotlights program shifts and leadership changes, including Harper Murray’s evolving role and John Cook’s candid retirement reflections at Nebraska. With nearly four years in sports media, Sagnik has contributed across key beats, from the Paris 2024 Newsbreak team to behind‑the‑scenes coverage of the NHL Playoffs. An English Literature postgraduate, Sagnik’s versatility spans bodybuilding, US sports, and Olympic disciplines. As a former Senior Bodybuilding Writer, his work earned recognition from IFBB Pro Greg Doucette. His adaptability and consistency have resulted in a place in EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, where selected writers work with industry mentors to refine their reporting and analytical skills.

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Jayant Chhabra

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