Ramon Dino Explains What Went Wrong at the 2026 Classic Physique Olympia

[MuscleMaverick]

Ramon Dino took part in the 2026 Classic Physique Olympia with the aim of defending his title, but the Brazilian bodybuilder ended up in third place after Niall Darwen, the champion, and Mike Sommerfeld, the runner-up. In October, he gave further details about his loss, admitting that several factors had led to the outcome. His coach, Fabrício Pacholok, then pointed out that an unexpected decrease in body weight had been a major problem during his preparation, thus providing additional insight into the matter.

What did Ramon Dino say regarding his finishing in third place?​

When speaking to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo in October, Dino stated that it was difficult to pinpoint a single cause for his defeat and stressed that bodybuilding is a sport that depends on small details, as well as taking responsibility for the decisions he had made during his preparation.

Dino also admitted the pressure of returning as the reigning champion. Yet, he dismissed the idea that having won the 2025 Olympia had lowered his motivation. In its place, he referred to the outcome as a lesson and emphasized the importance of greater consistency.

He said that the team should assess its decisions, spot their weaknesses, and make improvements instead of blaming a single circumstance.

Did making adjustments to his pose have an effect on Ramon Dino's performance?​

Posing became one of the most pressing issues in Dino's competition. As the Brazilian publication ge pointed out, Dino had later stated that he had regretted the changes he had made to his posing strategy just before the Olympia after getting feedback from the judges.

Image credit: raj_marky @ https://wallpapercave.com/w/wp11858811

At the prejudging stage, Dino was among the top contenders at first but had difficulty in keeping his position after the later comparisons. It was said that Dino committed errors when carrying out the confirmation round, whereas Darwen and Sommerfeld became more prominent in the leading group. In the finals, Dino stayed outside the central positions in the main comparisons.

In Classic Physique, posing is essential since the athletes have to show off their proportions, muscular development, and symmetry by means of required poses. Making last-minute adjustments might disturb familiarity and consistency and could thus make it more difficult to display their physique effectively.

Even though posing wasn't certainly the only cause of his finishing in third place, the comments Dino made afterward indicate that it will be a key point of emphasis in his next preparation.

Did the sudden loss of weight have an effect on his muscular fullness?​

Folha's report of 29 October included another significant point: the coach, Fabrício Pacholok, stated that Dino had reached the Classic Physique weight limit of 103 kilograms about four or five weeks before the competition, which was earlier than the team had intended.

The sudden drop in weight meant that Dino's team had to start looking after his weight earlier than they had expected. Pacholok stated that this change influenced their final preparation strategy, which included the process of getting Dino's physique back to the stage-ready condition.

The coach stated that the last adjustments to Dino's water and diuretic intake had been fairly moderate since he had already reached the weight limit a long time before. Yet his body did not give the muscle fullness which the team had come to expect.

Pacholok also pointed out that Dino's preparation for 2025 provided a useful point of comparison. In that championship season, he reached about 122 kilograms during the year before losing weight for the competition. His coach stated that by keeping a higher muscle density, especially in the chest and back, Dino had managed to achieve a more solid physique.

It is the coach's view rather than a final explanation of the judges' decision, but it does provide a plausible factor relating to preparation in respect of Dino's result.

Did the change to the Olympia schedule make preparation more difficult?​

The timing of the Classic Physique competition was also altered in the 2026 Olympia schedule, taking place on a Friday instead of as it had previously done, which had an impact on when the competitors weighed in and on the amount of time they had before going on stage.

The fact is that this period is important since competitors usually use the time after weighing themselves to adjust their intake of carbohydrates, fluid, and sodium. Carbohydrate loading serves to restore muscle glycogen, which is what contributes to the more rounded look that bodybuilders want to achieve during performances.

Dino admitted that the schedule and the preparations posed some difficulties, but he would not use that as an excuse for losing. He insisted that it was still up to him and his team to make the best possible decisions.

The alteration to the schedule might have played a role in the difficulty, but the reports currently available do not show that it was the only factor that determined the final positions.

How did Niall Darwen and Mike Sommerfeld do better than Dino?​

Darwen won his first title at the Classic Physique Olympia, Sommerfeld came in second, and Dino took third place. According to the official IFBB Pro League results, Darwen scored seven points, Sommerfeld 10, and Dino 14.

The outcome showed just how competitive the division has become, since Darwen and Sommerfeld presented packages which the judges placed above those of the defending champion, thus highlighting the significance of conditioning, proportions, muscular fullness, and consistent posing.

What Dino has to do is not only restore his physical condition but also make sure that his training and performance on stage are competitive given the growing strength of the field.

What plans does Ramon Dino have for 2027?​

Dino has already made it clear that he plans to come back even stronger. When speaking to his fans at the Mr. Olympia Brasil event in October, he admitted that they had been disappointed and pledged to work towards regaining the title. Moreover, he stated that his priorities would be posing practice with André Pajé and continuing his training with Pacholok.

He has also made it clear that he plans to stay in the Classic Physique class rather than moving straight into the Open division, his emphasis still being on improving his physique within the weight limit of that category.