2021 Mr. Olympia

The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida was the host building for the crowning of multiple world champions in bodybuilding and fitness. Due to the challenges of the pandemic, the organizers served the 2021 Olympia, as a celebration of overcoming numerous forms of adversity to reach the pinnacle in fitness. As in recent years, the show was streamed live to a global audience.[1]

The last two Mr. Olympia champions were the last two men standing in the pre-judging on the evening of Oct. 8. The Mr. Olympia is a two-night show, so Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay and Brandon Curry had 24 hours to think about how the judges would decide the winner. Holding such a tight level of condition overnight is no easy challenge, especially considering that two-time People's Champ Hadi Choopan – renowned for his shreds – was hot on their tails.

The confirmation round began with Curry, Elssbiay, and Choopan at center stage in that order. Rivaling chants of "Ramy," “Curry," and "Hadi" echoed throughout the building. The second callout centered around Walker and Hunter Labrada, with Iain Valliere and William Bonac on either side.

The climax of the Mr. Olympia would be either Elssbiay repeating or Curry making bodybuilding history. After a very dramatic wait, the presenters, joined by Cutler, gave the first-place awards to Elssbiay. He becomes the first man since Phil Heath to repeat as champion. Curry finishes as the runner-up for the second straight year.