Derek Lunsford and Hany Rambod Discuss 2023 Olympia Prep, Anxiety Battles

Lunsford has had his personal battles but is on a mission for Olympia glory.

Written by Robert Zeglinski Last updated on June 15, 2023

This coming November in Orlando, FL, Derek Lunsford will chase ultimate greatness in the sport of bodybuilding. After finishing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up, the superstar athlete will plan to unseat defending champion Hadi Choopan from his throne at the 2023 edition of the bodybuilding mega-contest. With several months still to go before the next Olympia, Lunsford offered a thoughtful update on his training progress and some of his own personal adversity.

On June 13, 2023, Lunsford appeared on the Hany Rambod podcast to discuss where how his 2023 Olympia preparation is going. The athlete also offered some clarity on his battles with anxiety, especially in stepping on stage as an elite competitor. Notably, Rambod is Lunsford’s coach.

Being Lunsford’s coach, Rambod is intimately familiar with Lunsford’s approach to training and nutrition. He explained that Lunsford usually tries to slow down the meat of his preparation around three months before the Olympia. However, Lunsford’s jam-packed schedule can sometimes make such a goal difficult.

If it holds, that planned timeline will coincide with around early August 2023.

“Usually about 10 or 12 weeks out we [Lunsford and Rambod] try to shut it down,” Rambod said. “So, we’re far enough out, we have plenty of time. But I think what he’s [Lunsford] alluding to is the fact that he’s been so busy, when you’re out constantly, even in the off-season, it’s hard to even get all the meals in because you’re traveling … to get all of the really good, high-level workouts in because you’re using gyms that you’re probably not accustomed to.”

While he apparently feels good at the moment, Lunsford would jump into the conversation to clarify that he’ll really appreciate training in environments he’s familiar with again.

“Things are good right now, training is good,” Lunsford started. “I’ve made solid improvements since the [2022] Olympia. But I really want to get into my own routine at home, my own gym, and be able to just crank up the training over these next couple of months, for sure.”