The 2023 Mr. Olympia turned out to be one of the most controversial events in bodybuilding history. There was a long-drawn debate on the outcome, and Hadi Choopan storming off the stage after he lost his title to Derek Lunsford, didn’t help the situation. While fans took sides, Ronnie Coleman and Phil Heath gave a better picture of the incident. 

The YouTube video of Coleman and Heath’s quick workout session is out. It spills the beans on their thoughts on Choopan’s behavior on stage in this year’s Mr. Olympia. 

Thoughts of icons with 15 Mr. Olympia on the Mr. Olympia 2023 controversy

Despite winning great on the Mr. Olympia stage, The King and The Gift’s careers are not devoid of failures in their athletic journeys. Coleman lost big time before claiming eight Sandow trophies, so he is well-versed in the emotions that set in after not making it to the Number 1 position despite an intense training routine. 

The duo sided with Choopan for his not-so-unwelcoming gesture on stage. The 8x Mr. Olympia, in the video, noted how the Persian Wolf hugged Derek Lunsford upon his win and congratulated him before storming off the stage. 

Heath rationalized Choopan’s emotions and said, “It’s like, Dude, I did my obligation, I wanna leave, then the emotions set in. I don’t think people even understand it. Ronnie went through it, I went through it.” Big Ron added, “I was saying, I know exactly how he feels.” Earlier, Jay Cutler also shared his thoughts on the incident.

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Jay Cutler’s thoughts on Hadi Choopan’s actions

This year’s Mr. Olympia was a close call for the judges. After the Pre-Judging, many believed Hadi Choopan would lift the trophy given his extreme conditioning, but Lunsford claimed the title, impressing the judges with his monstrous back. Cutler also agreed that it was very close and rationalized Choopan’s disappointment. 

“Hadi wasn’t too happy about the decision. I wouldn’t be either, you know, he was very very close. It was neck and neck,” he confessed in one of his videos. The Quad Stomp also knew the Persian Wolf’s pain firsthand. He lost to Ronnie Coleman four times before claiming his first Mr. Olympia title in 2006.

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After experts from the arena sided with Choopan, bodybuilding fans might understand how emotions are hard to overcome after training intensely for several months. Now, fans have to wait and watch what Lunsford and Choopan will bring to the stage this time.