Mr. Olympia 2024, the biggest bodybuilding competition on the planet, kicks off on October 10 and celebrates its 60th edition. The event will be held in Las Vegas, in the United States, bringing together more than 330 athletes from different nations.
Brazil will be represented by around 50 competitors, some of whom are considered favorites in their categories. The only division that will not have Brazilian participation will be Fitness, which will have 13 competitors competing for the title.
Classic Physique, a category that includes the participation of Ramon Dino and Canadian Chris Bumstead, is the one that brings together the largest number of competitors.
Ramom dino (Classic Physique)
Ramon Dino is one of the greatest references in bodybuilding, both in Brazil and on the world stage. He has already competed in Mr. Olympia three times: in 2021, when he won 5th place, and in the 2022 and 2023 editions, where he achieved runner-up in his category.
In March of this year, Ramon was the main candidate for the title of the Arnold Classic Ohio, an event in which Chris Bumstead (Cbum) did not compete. However, the Brazilian ended up being beaten by the Dutchman Wesley Vissers and finished in 2nd place.
Gabriel Zancanelli (Classic Physique)
Gabriel Zancanelli, born in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, is 27 years old and has already left his mark on Brazilian bodybuilding. In 2021, he became the first Brazilian athlete to win a spot at Mr. Olympia in the Classic Physique category, finishing in 16th place in that edition.
Zancanelli also competed in the Mr. Olympia in 2022 and 2023, placing 13th in both editions. He made his competitive debut at the age of 16.
Diogo Montenegro (Men's Physique)
Diogo, a 33-year-old Brazilian, is the current Arnold Classic Ohio champion. He has already reached 3rd place in Mr. Olympia on two occasions, in 2021 and 2022, which represents the best position of a Brazilian in the Men's Physique category. However, in 2023, he finished the competition in 5th place.
Additionally, Diogo was runner-up at Arnold Ohio in 2023 and took 3rd place in 2022.
Vinicius Mateus Vieira Lima (Men's Physique)
Vinicius, 26 years old and from Macapá (AP), is the current runner-up in the Men's Physique category at the Arnold Classic Ohio. He became a professional athlete in 2018 and, in 2019, won the title of the Muscle Contest Brasil, an international competition.
The bodybuilder competed in Mr. Olympia in the 2022 and 2023 editions, but failed to place among the top finishers.
Emmanuel Costa (Men's Physique)
Emmanuel Costa started his professional career in 2022 and managed to qualify for Mr. Olympia that year. However, due to visa issues, he was unable to compete in the event.
In 2023, Emmanuel won the Men's Physique Sur Pro Cup title in Chile, securing his spot at Mr. Olympia. This time, he managed to participate in the competition, but did not finish among the top finishers in his category.
Rafael Brandao (Mr. Olympia)
Rafal Brandao, aged 31, is currently the leading Brazilian athlete in the Open category of Mr. Olympia. He was the first Brazilian to win a professional competition in the most traditional discipline of world bodybuilding. This year, Brandão finished in 3rd place at the Arnold Classic Ohio.
In 2022, Rafal made history by participating in Mr. Olympia, marking the first appearance of a Brazilian in the Open category after 34 years; the last participation had been in 1988, with Luiz Otávio de Freitas. Brandão finished among the top 10 in the tournament, but decided not to compete in 2023, opting to take a year off the stage to dedicate himself to his improvement.
Final Considerations
Brazilian bodybuilding has increasingly stood out on the international scene, with athletes such as Rafal Brandão, Ramon Dino, Diogo and Gabriel Zancanelli showing that dedication and talent can lead to success in high-level competitions, such as Mr. Olympia.
The trajectory of these athletes, marked by achievements and overcoming, inspires new talents and reinforces the importance of teamwork, discipline and preparation.
The significant presence of Brazilians at the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia demonstrates the country’s potential in this sport. As these athletes continue to strive and evolve, we can expect even more achievements for Brazilian bodybuilding in the coming years, solidifying its position on the global stage.
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