• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • HYROX
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini Massage Guns
      • Individual Recovery Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainers
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
        • Best Fat Burners for Men
        • Best Fat Burners for Women
        • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • More Supplements
        • Best Supplements for Muscle Growth
        • Best Supplements for CrossFit
        • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
        • Best Supplements for Bodybuilding
        • Best Supplements for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
      • Individual Supplements Reviews
    • Equipment
      • Cardio
        • Best Treadmills
        • Best Rowing Machines
        • Best Exercise Bikes
        • Best Ellipticals
        • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Strength
        • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
        • Best Dumbbells
        • Best Kettlebells
        • Best Barbells
        • Best Squat Racks
        • Best Free Weights
        • Best Weight Benches
        • Best Resistance Bands
        • Best Slam Balls
        • Best Weighted Vests
        • Best Leg Extension Machines
        • Best Cable Machines
        • Best Power Racks
        • Best Pull Up Bars
      • Best Home Gyms
        • Best Smart Home Gyms
        • Best Gym Equipment Under $100
        • Best Home Gym Essentials
        • Best Home Gym Flooring
      • Individual Equipment Reviews
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Apparel
        • Best Weightlifting Shoes
        • Best Cross Training Shoes
        • Best Gym Bags
        • Best Gym Shorts
      • Training
        • Best Weightlifting Belts
        • Best Knee Sleeves
        • Best Lifting Straps
        • Best Grip Strengtheners
        • Best Wrist Wraps
        • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Individual Fitness Product Reviews
    • Certifications
      • Best Sports Nutrition Certifications
      • Best Personal Trainer Certifications
      • Best Nutrition Certifications
      • Individual Certifications Reviews
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
      • Individual Program Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Nutrition Tips
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
  • Community Forum
Home » Bodybuilding News » 2022 Men's Physique Olympia Preview

2022 Men’s Physique Olympia Preview

Brandon Hendrickson seeks to win his fourth (and record-tying) title.

Written by Roger Lockridge
Last updated on June 20th, 2024

One of the most popular divisions in the IFBB Pro League is the Men’s Physique division. That isn’t only true for the fans but the athletes as well. Evidence of that statement can be provided by looking at the 2022 Olympia Weekend rosters for all 11 pro divisions. The Men’s Physique Olympia will feature the most competitors out of all pro rosters.

Seventy-two men will show up to prejudging on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at the Venetian in Las Vegas, NV, with only 10 moving on to the finals that night at the Zappos Theater in the same city. The full roster of qualified athletes is listed below in alphabetical order. 

2022 Men’s Physique Olympia Roster

  • Mahmood Al-Maghrabi
  • Yousef Al-Shaban
  • Daniel Ammons
  • Adelyemi Awoyemi
  • Erin Banks
  • Montae Bailey
  • Ali Bilal
  • George Brown
  • Steven Cao
  • Alessandro Cavagnola
  • Peng Chao
  • Bhuwan Chauhan
  • Vitor Chaves
  • Rodrigue Chesnier
  • Bongsuk Choi
  • Emmanuel Costa
  • Riccardo Croci
  • Jeffrey Darko
  • Carlos DeOliveira
  • Youcef Djoudi
  • Raymont Edmonds
  • Je Endrina
  • Furkan Er
  • Andre Ferguson
  • Felipe Franco
  • Sotirios Gkatsis
  • Reuben Glass
  • Charjo Grant
  • Myron Griffin
  • Tunahan Guyler
  • Sadik Hadzovic
  • JuXian He
  • Brandon Hendrickson
  • Kyron Holden
  • Terrence Teo Kok Hua
  • Emanual Hunter
  • Jason Huynh
  • Jonas Jamena
  • Mehdi Kabbadj
  • Shun Kaneko
  • Hossein Karimi
  • Imran Khan
  • Burak King
  • Nicolas Koeu
  • Junho Lee
  • Jingbo Li
  • Vincius Mateus Viera Lima
  • Benquil Marigny
  • David Mazzolari
  • Clarence McSpadden
  • Diogo Montenegro
  • Corey Morris
  • Elton Mota
  • Jahvair Mullings
  • Balint Nemeth
  • Edvan Palmeira
  • Chevy Phillips
  • Abisai Pietersz
  • Sidy Pouye
  • Ponpaisan Ruangsangpen
  • Arya Saffaie
  • Joven Sagabain
  • Ahmed Shokry
  • Fabrizio Dos Santos Silva
  • Winston Sullivan
  • Ryan Terry
  • Alexander Toplyn
  • Emile Walker
  • Antoine Weatherspoon
  • Long Wu
  • Yukihiro Yuasa
  • Zheyu Zhang

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmAgS3iJSmY/

[Related: The Risks and Rewards of Extreme Leanness on the Road to the Bikini Olympia]

Not Competing

So far, the only competitor that we know will not be competing at the Olympia will be Sadik Hadzovic, who announced his withdrawal on Dec. 6, 2022. No reason was given for his absence. BarBend will provide updates should other competitors confirm they will not enter the contest.

Past Champions

Three-time and defending Olympia champion Brandon Hendrickson is in this lineup, and many experts consider him to be the favorite to win a fourth title in 2022. That would tie him with Jeremy Buendia for the most ever. It would also set up an interesting showdown in 2023. Buendia has suggested he may return to the stage next year, and he would look forward to a showdown with Hendrickson for the honor of being the division’s first five-time champion.

Hendrickson isn’t the only Olympia winner in this lineup. Raymont Edmonds defeated Hendrickson at the 2019 Olympia to win the title for himself. Edmonds was fifth in the 2021 Olympia, but he maintains automatic Olympia qualification as a former champion. He will be looking to spoil Hendrickson’s and Buendia’s plans by taking his second title.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmGON_eOq_R/

[Related: Michal “Krizo” Križánek Smashes a Chest Workout Just 10 Days Out From 2022 Mr. Olympia]

Top Contenders

The 2021 Olympia runner-up is also the 2022 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique champion. Erin Banks is considered the man that could knock Hendrickson off his perch and win his first Olympia championship. He doesn’t lack confidence, and he’s been working on his upper body to be his all-time best at the Olympia. As long as he doesn’t compromise his symmetry, the matchup between Banks and Hendrickson will be good for the fans.

Last year’s third-place finisher was Diogo Montenegro. He’s been absent from the stage in 2022 but has won seven shows in his pro career. Fans are wondering what kind of improvements he’s made since his last appearance in Orlando, FL. He will have to be significantly better if he wants to make his way into the top two.

[Read More: The Best Upper Body Exercises and Workouts]

Kyron Holden made a big statement in the 2022 New York Pro where he took the win. He will look to enter the top three at this year’s contest after finishing fourth one year ago in Orlando. This will be his sixth time competing at the Olympia.

Dark Horses

It’s hard to call a three-time Arnold Classic winner a dark horse, but Andre Ferguson found himself in ninth place at the 2021 Olympia. His victory at the 2022 Atlantic Coast Pro was the 16th win of his eight-year pro career. He may be the greatest competitor to have not won the Olympia, but he can certainly do it this year.

Brazilian sensation Carlos DeOliveira took a top-six finish in his third Olympia contest last year. He won the Monterrey Pro less than one month later to qualify for the 2022 Olympia. That gave him over a year to prepare for this show. DeOliveira hopes that the Olympia being in Las Vegas, where he made his first Olympia appearance, will serve him well.

Arya Saffaie quietly found himself in eighth place last year, and a top-10 placing could also be in the cards for him in Las Vegas. Like DeOliveira, he won a contest late in 2021, that year’s Atlantic Coast Pro, to secure an Olympia qualification and give himself over 12 months to prepare.

2022 Vancouver Pro winner Charjo Grant won the 2022 Vancouver Pro, and the United States Army service member has his sights set on the top 10. Grant finished 12th at the Olympia in both 2021 and 2020. He told BarBend that he would like to make the first callout with the favorites. 

Arya Saffaie quietly found himself in eighth place last year, and a top-10 placing is in the cards for him in Las Vegas.

An international star that was absent from the lineup in 2021 was former Arnold Classic winner Ryan Terry. Terry is back in 2022, and he brings a symmetrical physique with him to the stage. He’s been vocal on social media that he’s going to Las Vegas to win the title. He’s been as high as second at the Olympia, but he would likely need the favorites to be off the mark if he hoped to move past them in the final placings.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6osKTDx40/

[Related: Paper-Thin Skin: The Legacy of Bodybuilder Andreas Münzer]

New Contenders

With over 70 men in this show, there are many of them that will be competing on bodybuilding’s biggest stage for the first time. Making the top 10 would be a lofty goal considering the quality of competitors already in positions to do so. A few athletes could make some noise at the Olympia, including 2022 DC Pro winner Vitor Chaves, Winston Sullivan, who placed first at the Daytona Pro, and South Korea’s Junho Lee, who won the Korea Pro to make his Olympia debut.

To find out who will win this title and all the Olympia championships in Las Vegas, you can buy the 2022 Olympia pay-per-view premium package for $59.99 at the Olympia Productions website. All rounds of all 11 pro contests will be streamed live from Las Vegas. You can also check back with BarBend because we’ll be providing live coverage of both days of competitions.

Featured Image: @brandon.d.hendrickson on Instagram

About Roger Lockridge

Roger "Rock" Lockridge has been writing professionally for 10 years and has been training for 20. His work in the fitness industry has been seen in numerous outlets and has been a part of coverage for several events including the Mr. Olympia, Arnold Classic, the CrossFit Games, and the Olympics. He's also shared his own personal success story in several interviews and articles. Lockridge lives in West Virginia with his wife and son.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

EveryPlate Review

EveryPlate Review (2025): A Tasty, Budget-Friendly Meal Kit, Tested By Our Experts

ARMRA Colostrum Review

ARMRA Colostrum Review (2025): A Certified Nutrition Coach’s Critique of this Trending Supplement

Sun Home Luminar Review

Sun Home Luminar Review (2025): Our Experts Sweat It Out With This High-Quality Outdoor Sauna

Cover image for CookUnity review of a filled reusable box of 6 CookUnity meals

CookUnity Review (2025): An Expert-Tested and Flexible Prepared Meal Service

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens Review

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens Review (2025): Our Experts Examine This Nutrient-Filled Profile

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap