The 2026 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend delivered four days of professional bodybuilding action in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 24–27. The 62nd Olympia brought together 322 athletes across 12 professional divisions, with the competition returning to the Orleans Arena for the major finals. The weekend also introduced the new Fit Model Olympia division, adding another championship to an already massive event. (Mr. Olympia)
The biggest story came Saturday night when Nick Walker finally captured the Mr. Olympia title. Walker entered the competition after finishing sixth in 2025, but this time he produced the combination of massive muscularity, conditioning and stage presence that earned him his first Sandow trophy. He defeated former champions Samson Dauda and Derek Lunsford in one of the most anticipated Men’s Open contests of the year. (Fitness Volt)
Nick Walker Finally Wins the Sandow
The Men’s Open competition was the centerpiece of the weekend, and the battle was already intense during Friday’s prejudging. Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked and Nick Walker were placed together in the final callout, immediately establishing the four athletes as the leading contenders.
Lunsford arrived as the defending champion, having won the Olympia in both 2023 and 2025. Dauda was also a former champion, winning the title in 2024. Andrew Jacked entered the contest after an impressive 2026 season, while Walker was determined to turn his return to the Olympia stage into something much bigger than his sixth-place finish the previous year. (Fitness Volt)
When the final comparisons were complete, Walker emerged victorious. Samson Dauda finished second, Derek Lunsford third, Andrew Jacked fourth and Tonio Burton fifth. Walker collected $600,000 for the victory and also received the People’s Champion award. (Fitness Volt)
For Walker, the victory represented the culmination of years of competing among the world’s elite. His first Olympia championship dramatically changed the direction of his career and added his name to the historic list of Mr. Olympia winners.
Classic Physique Produces Another Major Upset
Classic Physique was another highlight of the weekend. Niall Darwen captured his first Olympia title after a closely contested battle with Mike Sommerfeld and defending champion Ramon Dino.
Sommerfeld finished second, while Dino—who made history in 2025 by becoming the first Brazilian to win the Classic Physique Olympia—had to settle for third this time. Wesley Vissers moved into fourth, his highest Olympia placing, while Terrence Ruffin completed the top five. (Fitness Volt)
Darwen’s victory represented another changing of the guard in a division that has undergone major changes since seven-time champion Chris Bumstead retired.
Keone Pearson Continues His 212 Dynasty
The Men’s 212 division once again belonged to Keone Pearson. Pearson successfully defended his title to become a four-time consecutive 212 Olympia champion.
The 212 division remains one of the most competitive categories in professional bodybuilding, with athletes required to combine extreme muscular development with the division’s weight limit. Pearson’s fourth consecutive victory places him among the division’s most successful champions, with only Flex Lewis having won more Olympia titles in the category. (Fitness Volt)
Lucas Garcia finished second and Shaun Clarida took third.
Ryan Terry Ties a Historic Record
Saturday night also saw another championship streak continue. Ryan Terry won his fourth consecutive Men’s Physique Olympia title, tying Jeremy Buendia’s record of four championships.
Terry faced strong competition from Ali Bilal and Kyron Holden. Bilal finished second, while Holden took third. Three-time champion Brandon Hendrickson finished fifth. Terry’s combination of conditioning, proportions and polished presentation allowed him to remain at the top of a division that has become increasingly competitive. (Fitness Volt)
Andrea Shaw Makes History
Friday night belonged to Andrea Shaw in Women’s Bodybuilding. Shaw won her seventh consecutive Ms. Olympia title, extending one of the most dominant championship runs in modern bodybuilding.
Ashley Lynnette Jones finished second, followed by Leyvina Rodrigues Barros in third. Paula Ranta and Meghan Morrison rounded out the top five.
Shaw’s seventh victory also moved her past Cory Everson on the all-time Ms. Olympia championship list, putting another significant milestone into the record books. (Fitness Volt)
Natalia Abraham Coelho Wins Women’s Physique
The Women’s Physique Olympia produced one of Friday night’s closest battles. Natalia Abraham Coelho eventually defeated Zama Benta and Sarah Villegas to claim the championship.
Villegas was attempting to move closer to a fifth Olympia title, while Coelho arrived with particularly sharp conditioning. The final scorecard gave Coelho first, Benta second and Villegas third. Julia Cabarcos finished fourth and Brooke Walker fifth. (Fitness Volt)
Lola Montez Wins Her First Figure Olympia
Figure also produced a new champion. Lola Montez captured her first Olympia title after a competitive final involving Jessica Reyes Padilla, Denise Zwinger-Tynek and defending champion Rhea Gayle.
Montez took first, Padilla second and Zwinger-Tynek third. Gayle dropped to fourth, while Lena Ramsteiner completed the top five. The result demonstrated just how quickly the competitive landscape can change at the Olympia level. (Fitness Volt)
Eduarda Bezerra Defends Wellness Title
Eduarda Bezerra successfully defended her Wellness Olympia championship, defeating Isabelle Nunes and Elisa Alcantara.
Nunes, the 2024 champion, pushed Bezerra throughout the contest, making the division one of the more closely watched competitions on Friday night. Bezerra ultimately retained her title, earning her second consecutive Olympia victory. (Fitness Volt)
Leonida Ciobu finished fourth and Rayane Fogal fifth.
Bikini Gets a New Champion
The Bikini Olympia crown changed hands as Jasmine Gonzalez captured her first Olympia title.
Maureen Blanquisco, the 2025 champion, finished second, while Aimee Delgado took third. The judges spent considerable time comparing the leading competitors before Gonzalez was ultimately announced as the winner. (Fitness Volt)
Fitness Champion Michelle Fredua-Mensah Repeats
Michelle Fredua-Mensah successfully defended her Fitness Olympia title. Her victory came after a competition combining physique presentation with demanding individual routines.
Fredua-Mensah defeated Jaclyn Baker, who finished second, while Anna Fomina took third. Allison Dominguez and Amber Steffen completed the top five. Fredua-Mensah particularly impressed during her routine, demonstrating improved flexibility and maintaining the muscular development required in the Fitness division. (Fitness Volt)
A New Era Begins in Fit Model
One of the most historic moments of the weekend occurred Saturday morning when the Olympia introduced its first-ever Fit Model championship.
Shealynn Burnett became the inaugural Fit Model Olympia champion, defeating Gabriela Queiroz, Jane Jones, Liz Trampas and Misty Yang. Because this was the division’s first Olympia, Burnett immediately became its first champion and the name that will appear first in the division’s history books. (Fitness Volt)
Blake Colleton Wins Wheelchair Olympia
The Wheelchair Olympia was another important part of Saturday’s competition. Blake Colleton captured the championship, defeating defending champion James Berger.
Ephraim Gudgeon finished third, followed by Kevin Secundino in fourth and Rajesh John in fifth. Colleton collected the $10,000 first-place prize. (Fitness Volt)
The 2026 Olympia Champions
The complete list of 2026 Olympia champions was:
- Men’s Open: Nick Walker
- Men’s 212: Keone Pearson
- Classic Physique: Niall Darwen
- Men’s Physique: Ryan Terry
- Ms. Olympia: Andrea Shaw
- Figure: Lola Montez
- Fitness: Michelle Fredua-Mensah
- Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Wellness: Eduarda Bezerra
- Bikini: Jasmine Gonzalez
- Fit Model: Shealynn Burnett
- Wheelchair: Blake Colleton (Fitness Volt)
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Olympia will be remembered for a combination of established champions and major changes at the top of the sport. Nick Walker finally claimed the biggest prize in bodybuilding, while Andrea Shaw extended her remarkable championship streak to seven Ms. Olympia victories. Keone Pearson and Ryan Terry each reached four consecutive titles, while Eduarda Bezerra successfully defended her Wellness crown.
At the same time, Niall Darwen and Lola Montez became first-time Olympia champions, Jasmine Gonzalez claimed her first Bikini title, and Shealynn Burnett made history as the inaugural Fit Model champion.
With 12 divisions, more than 300 competitors and several major championship storylines, the 2026 Olympia once again demonstrated why the event remains the defining championship weekend in professional bodybuilding. (Fitness Volt)
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References
- Official Olympia Weekend
- Official Olympia Schedule
- Complete 2026 Olympia Results — Fitness Volt
- 2026 Mr. Olympia Results — Generation Iron
- 2026 Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Results — Fitness Volt
