19 males have held the title of Mr. Olympia for the reason that competitors’s creation in 1965. It’s thought of essentially the most elite membership in bodybuilding and maybe in any power or physique sport. From 2005 till 2019, the Olympia referred to as the Orleans Area in Las Vegas, Nevada its residence. That’s 15 editions of bodybuilding’s greatest weekend. No different venue has hosted the Olympia as many occasions in its illustrious historical past.
The Orleans Area was the place the legacies of a number of champions have been cemented, together with Ronnie Coleman (who gained his eighth and ultimate title there), Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, Phil Heath, the late Shawn Rhoden, and the newest man to carry up the Sandow within the Orleans, Brandon Curry.
Curry Seems Again At a Historic Night time
When the Olympia returns to the Orleans Area on Sept. 25-26, Curry will make his 14th profession Olympia look, essentially the most of any Males’s Open competitor within the lineup. Curry is in a really distinctive place as a result of he’s the one former champion topped on the Orleans that’s nonetheless competing within the contest.
A few of the males certified for the 2026 Mr. Olympia know what it’s like to face on bodybuilding’s greatest stage, however Curry confirms that in his profession, there was nothing like going through the large viewers watching within the Orleans and holding up the distinguished Sandow Trophy whereas the legendary Mr. Olympia tune echoes inside its partitions.
“For me, it was surreal as a result of that was the place I went to my first Olympia in 2006, when Jay beat Ronnie, and I noticed it from the Weider skybox,” Curry recalled. “I keep in mind being onstage that night time (he gained) and attempting to sluggish time down so I might soak up each second.”
When Curry gained the title that night time over runner-up William Bonac, the specialists within the sport spoke extra about who was not within the contest. The 2018 champion, Rhoden, couldn’t compete on account of authorized points, seven-time winner Heath additionally bowed out on account of recovering from hernia surgical procedure, and the favored Mamdouh “Huge Ramy” Elssbiay additionally missed the competitors.
Regardless of the shadow that was forged over the Tennessee native’s second, the trophy weighed the identical, the $400,000 prize nonetheless had the identical worth, and the title was as respectable as every other from the earlier years. Curry’s job was to beat everybody on the stage, not those who weren’t, and he anticipated that the second was his.
“I kinda felt it was going to go my manner that night time.”
A Totally different Reign Than the Others
Curry can also have essentially the most distinctive single reign of any champion ever. Inside months of him successful the title, the world modified considerably because of the pandemic. Many gyms have been closed or had restrictions positioned on them all through 2020, athletes needed to discover alternative ways to coach and put together for exhibits, and contests have been rescheduled and moved to totally different cities, together with the 2020 Olympia. The laws in Las Vegas on the time have been what led new proprietor Jake Wooden and President Dan Solomon to relocate the annual occasion to Orlando, Florida and transfer it from September to December of that yr.
The problems surrounding the pandemic additionally meant Curry’s touring was restricted, and he couldn’t be the champion and ambassador for the game that he felt he might be.
“The door shut on all that simply as I used to be getting going with touring and selling the game. That made the whole lot bittersweet as a result of I used to be handicapped within the means of carrying the title as a champion ought to and be celebrated all through the world.”
Nonetheless, bodybuilding wanted a purpose for optimism, and the way in which Curry carried himself all through that 15-month reign helped with that. Heath saying his return to the stage with hopes of taking again the highest spot introduced additional buzz as nicely.
Curry’s reign as champion ended on the 2020 Olympia. Some specialists thought Heath would return and take the victory, however Elssbiay really left the stage along with his first of two Sandows. Curry and Heath took silver and bronze, respectively. Curry has but to win a second Olympia, however his one title nonetheless makes him a big a part of bodybuilding historical past and has been an amazing profit for him and his household.
“With the ability to see the highest of the mountain is all the time going to be particular for me. I by no means take it with no consideration and nonetheless recognize it as we speak.”
Returning to the Orleans in 2026
The Olympia is again in Las Vegas however has been held in different venues, that’s till now. In 2026, the Olympia will return to the Orleans Area for the primary time in seven years, and it is going to be a lot larger than it was in 2019. Wellness and Match Mannequin carry the overall variety of divisions to 12, however the principle occasion remains to be the Males’s Open prejudging on Friday night time and finals on Saturday night.
Many new followers have joined the bodybuilding neighborhood and know the joy that the Olympia brings yearly, however those who have a number of years below their belts will verify that the Olympia within the Orleans is simply totally different and should be skilled in particular person. Curry advises the identical for the athletes which have joined the professional ranks in recent times however have by no means graced the stage in that venue.
“There isn’t any different venue that may accommodate the fanfare,” Curry mentioned. “The entry and the world is ideal for the present, and there might be loads of backstage house for the opponents too. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the athletes which have by no means been there’ll reply to it as a result of they’ll really feel a distinction once they take the stage.”
Curry seems ahead to creating his return to the constructing that he can have a everlasting connection to however is aware of that he’s not seen as a favourite going into this yr’s contest, whilst a previous champion. Nevertheless, he additionally is aware of firsthand that something can occur as soon as the boys take the stage, particularly within the Orleans. That’s why Curry is getting ready because the champion he was and can all the time be acknowledged as. Many historic moments have been created within the Orleans Area. Who’s to say that he couldn’t presumably create one other, or on the very least be a spoiler and knock off among the favorites and be within the combine?
“Each time I come to the stage, I carry a shock. I can nonetheless be aggressive and harmful at a excessive stage. I’m wanting ahead to seeing what I can do.”
To see what occurs and be part of bodybuilding historical past, get your tickets to the 2026 Olympia Weekend in addition to World Health Expo passes at www.mrolympia.com.
