Joe Pietaro
Joe Pietaro Contributer
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Passing the baton with grace was not the case this past Saturday night in Orlando when defending champion Hadi Choopan removed his second place silver medal and stormed off the stage before the usual photos of the top five competitors were taken at the Mr. Olympia. No sense in being redundant describing it all; if you're into bodybuilding, you know exactly what happened. The point of this editorial piece is to convey an opinion and one that does not waver nor cut any corners.
The Iranian disrespected not only himself, but also the IFBB, Mr. Olympia, the fans, judges, his fellow competitors, emcee Bob Cicherillo and most off all Derek Lunsford, who rightfully edged out Choopan to take his title. It was the exact reversal of 2022 and Lunsford graciously congratulated Choopan and stood smiling for all the photographs following the announcement of the winner.
The dismissive waving of his hand in response to Cicherillo's 'reminding' him that they weren't finished and he needed to stay on stage to what worked have amounted to approximately another 45 seconds was disrespectful at its worst and consummate professional Brandon Curry - the former Mr. OIympia who placed fourth - took control of the confusing situation and the remaining four bodybuilders (including Samson Duada and Andrew Jacked, third and fifth respectively) did their due diligence posing for the usual photos.
To make matters worse, Choopan's fans have tried too make this a racial and social issue, accusing the judges and IFBB of racism/discrimination against Chioopan because he is from Iran, a terrorist nation that has been an enemy of the United States since the late 1970s and backer of Hammas, the radical elected leaders of Palestine and purveyors of genocidal actions in the current war against Israel. Today's social climate is one that even sports cannot avoid and now bodybuilding is no exception. Choopan cannot be faulted for his fans' actions and deplorable ways (sending private parts photos to Lunsford's pregnant wife topping the list), but he failed to even say to them to cease from this.
But to look at this from afar makes these accusations ludicrous, as Lunsford is the first white American Mr. OIlympia since Jay Cutler won his fourth Sandow in 2011. And Egyptian Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Esslbiay won two consecutive titles before Choopan in 2022. Case closed.
Choopan's half-hearted feeble attempts at explaining his actions did not help and perhaps even made it worse because he wasted an opportunity to use the 'heat of the moment' nonsense. His true colors came out this weekend and the sport of bodybuilding doesn't need people like him. Stay home from now on, Chumpan.
The Iranian disrespected not only himself, but also the IFBB, Mr. Olympia, the fans, judges, his fellow competitors, emcee Bob Cicherillo and most off all Derek Lunsford, who rightfully edged out Choopan to take his title. It was the exact reversal of 2022 and Lunsford graciously congratulated Choopan and stood smiling for all the photographs following the announcement of the winner.
The dismissive waving of his hand in response to Cicherillo's 'reminding' him that they weren't finished and he needed to stay on stage to what worked have amounted to approximately another 45 seconds was disrespectful at its worst and consummate professional Brandon Curry - the former Mr. OIympia who placed fourth - took control of the confusing situation and the remaining four bodybuilders (including Samson Duada and Andrew Jacked, third and fifth respectively) did their due diligence posing for the usual photos.
To make matters worse, Choopan's fans have tried too make this a racial and social issue, accusing the judges and IFBB of racism/discrimination against Chioopan because he is from Iran, a terrorist nation that has been an enemy of the United States since the late 1970s and backer of Hammas, the radical elected leaders of Palestine and purveyors of genocidal actions in the current war against Israel. Today's social climate is one that even sports cannot avoid and now bodybuilding is no exception. Choopan cannot be faulted for his fans' actions and deplorable ways (sending private parts photos to Lunsford's pregnant wife topping the list), but he failed to even say to them to cease from this.
But to look at this from afar makes these accusations ludicrous, as Lunsford is the first white American Mr. OIlympia since Jay Cutler won his fourth Sandow in 2011. And Egyptian Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Esslbiay won two consecutive titles before Choopan in 2022. Case closed.
Choopan's half-hearted feeble attempts at explaining his actions did not help and perhaps even made it worse because he wasted an opportunity to use the 'heat of the moment' nonsense. His true colors came out this weekend and the sport of bodybuilding doesn't need people like him. Stay home from now on, Chumpan.
