Whereas Joe Weider created an American bodybuilding establishment with the appearance of the Mr. Olympia competitors again in 1965, the pop-culture phenomenon has continued to develop underneath the management of present proprietor Jake Wooden, who helps to attach the Olympia occasion with its bigger than life athletes, passionate companion manufacturers, and an increasing variety of health fanatics who journey internationally to be part of this sweat inducing spectacle.
The Olympia occasion has all the time prided itself on being inclusive, focusing solely on the flexing whereas ignoring limitations like borders and politics. Since New Yorker, Larry Scott first received the Mr. Olympia trophy throughout the inaugural present in 1965, seven different international locations have produced Mr. Olympia title holders, famously together with Austria’s Arnold Schwarzenegger and celebrated champions hailing from Cuba to Iran.
The Olympia Weekend has Developed Alongside Know-how
However in these early days of the Olympia, with no tv protection to succeed in the plenty with, attendees of the competitors primarily comprised of the bodybuilders, their coaches and households, and people followers who had been native to the occasion. Then, when the present did ultimately make it on to home TV screens, overseas bodybuilding followers nonetheless needed to discover artistic methods of seeing these stars that they’d solely examine in shiny magazines like Muscle & Health, compete. Whereas the ’80s did see Olympia occasions happen in international locations similar to Germany, England, and Australia, the competitors has been primarily based in america from the ’90s onward, that means that followers had to determine the right way to watch the very best physiques within the enterprise vie for the title of Mr Olympia.
“The DVDs had been such a giant factor,” explains Robert Scafidi, a 41-year-old bodybuilding fanatic from Melbourne, Australia, who’s now a daily Olympia vacationist and follows the occasion to every chosen U.S. host metropolis. “Folks used to commerce DVDs at your native fitness center,” he remembers. “Earlier than YouTube and Instagram, DVDs had been what folks traded, and also you couldn’t get sufficient of it.”
Again within the ’90s, with a rising fan base, Olympia organizers wished to attach the bodybuilding stars with their supporters, and humble meet and greet model occasions quickly adopted in ballrooms near the principle competitors stage. Quick-forward to 2025, and these engagement occasions have exploded into expos, to the purpose that 1000’s of followers from everywhere in the world collect for the annual Olympia Health & Efficiency Weekend. Certainly, Olympia is now not merely about crowning a brand new bodybuilding champion. The lengthy weekend is a not-to-be-missed likelihood for followers, aspiring bodybuilding stars, present influencers, and main manufacturers to get collectively within the title of health.
Bodybuilding fanatic and competitor, Louis Howell, 23, from Northamptonshire, England, made his first pilgrimage to Olympia in 2024 for the sixtieth version, and it was an additional particular expertise for him, as a result of England’s Samson Dauda received the title that very same yr. Howell had such an amazing journey to the ‘O’ that he returned in 2025, this time together with his buddy and fellow bodybuilder; 28-year-old Brandon Fairbrother from Lincolnshire, England. And so, this yr, the 2 friends had been in a position to make an unforgettable trip out of the occasion held as soon as once more in Las Vegas. DVD’s could also be out, however now it’s social media that gives the driving drive for future followers.
“In lockdown, I really noticed Chris Bumstead come up on TikTok and I used to be like, ‘That’s what I wish to do with my life,’” shares Louis Howell, who has grow to be a disciplined athlete in his personal proper. “After which from there on, that’s all I’ve ever achieved and that’s all I’m ever going to do.”
Whereas bodybuilding is commonly considered a shallow enterprise, the reality is much, far deeper. “Well being clever, mentally, it’s been implausible,” says Brandon Fairbrother. “Bodybuilding has saved me from happening a path.” The optimistic journey that Fairbrother speaks of, selecting to stay his greatest life and shun unfavorable life-style habits because of a love of figuring out, is a narrative you’ll hear numerous instances throughout any Olympia weekend, regardless of the host location.
The Olympia Expo is Nice For Followers, and a Goldmine for Associate Manufacturers
With the Olympia expo turning into a mecca for muscle builders and health fanatics to move to, from each nook of the world, the smarter manufacturers have been fast to capitalize on the engaging demographics that flock to purchase entry tickets. In 2025, Gymshark, a British firm that started on a small scale, promoting fitness center attire, however now has a world presence, and is headed towards a $1 billion annual turnover , turned an official sponsor of the Olympia, and this yr has given followers an opportunity to rub boulder-shoulders with stars just like the aforementioned six-time Traditional Physique champion, Chris Bumstead and social-media-star-turned-IFBB-pro, Sam Sulek. Different exhibitors on the expo in 2025 included Linear Bar, a protein deal with that comprises zero sucralose and consists of all natural substances. Then there’s Purple Bull, and UFC Gymnasium, the place the crew put its guests by their paces with enjoyable health challenges; like how lengthy you’ll be able to curl a set of 35-pound dumbbells with out reaching failure? These manufacturers, and a whole lot of others, reached over 60,000 folks from greater than 70 counties on the Olympia expo, however they didn’t simply promote a faceless product, they helped deliver collectively the health neighborhood too.
Olympia Weekend Has Turn out to be an Unequalled Trip Vacation spot
Blessing Awodibu is a two-time Arnold Traditional winner who lives in Eire and was born in Nigeria. To his followers, he’s referred to as “The Boogie Man,” however he’s actually a mild large who likes to work together with the tradition. “There’s completely 1000’s of individuals right here,” he tells M&F throughout an look on the Las Vegas Conference Heart, representing MuscleTech. “For this reason I like health, man. For this reason I like bodybuilding. You get a whole lot of help from on-line, social media, Instagram, YouTube, (however) it’s really actual good to truly meet these guys, shake palms, speak, join with them. So, it’s particular. It doesn’t get higher than this.”
The problem for making the Olympia higher, with every passing yr, lies with its mantle bearer, Jake Wooden, who was a aggressive bodybuilder himself, and is intent on upholding Joe Weider’s enduring legacy, whereas bringing Olympia to new heights. To that finish, in 2025, Wooden gave the inexperienced gentle for a record-breaking prize purse for opponents that totaled $2 million. This yr’s Mr Olympia, Derek Lunsford, received a whopping $600,000 for his on-stage efficiency on the Resorts World Theater. However regardless of the enormity of the athletes, the health tradition can usually look like a small world at instances, and that’s one other engaging prospect for followers who wish to meet their heroes.
“Oksana Grishina, who’s a multiple-time Health Olympia champion, was simply sitting subsequent to me and acknowledged me from exhibits in Australia and in addition from right here,” beams our Aussie fan, Robert Scafidi. “It’s a neighborhood and camaraderie amongst like-minded people,” he explains. In fact, it is a sentiment strongly shared by the British lads as effectively. “It’s in all probability the very best vacation we’ve ever had,” says Brandon Fairbrother. “Oh, that’s positively not going to be my final Olympia,” concurs Louis Howell.