What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas—especially when it’s the 60th Mr. Olympia, the pinnacle of bodybuilding and fitness.

This year’s event was a collision of hurricanes in Florida, electrifying competitions, and stories that ranged from hilarious to downright hardcore.

We sat down with Ben Tatar, who’s been a staple at every major fitness event for over two decades, to get an insider’s take on the highs, the lows, and the unforgettable moments that made this year’s Mr. Olympia one to remember.

From bench-pressing sumo wrestlers to comparing the energy of Vegas and Orlando, Ben’s insights will have you hooked from the first rep.

Critical Bench: During the Mr. Olympia weekend, huge hurricanes hit Florida. How do you think that impacted the event or the energy surrounding the event?

Ben Tatar: I think most years there’s a big worldly event that affects the world. For example, one year I did an interview about the Arnold Sports Festival right when we were at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, it was all the hurricanes in Florida.

You and Westy had to deal with them. I remember during the first day at the Mr. Olympia event, I almost felt bad because I knew that there I was at the Super Bowl of fitness events in Las Vegas and others were losing their lives, homes, or mental health to a hurricane. I sent Westy a text to make sure he was alright. He responded, “All is good, brother,” as he and his son, Lincoln, were shooting their guns at the hurricane. It gave me a laugh.

Tammy, my friend from the Phil Heath event, died that week! I kept her as an angel with me in spirit and felt deep emotion going into the event! I get this deep, profound meaning because I like to take the adversities of the world and dedicate a strong performance regarding them into these Expo events. This happens whether I’m doing an arcade game, a feat of strength or making a new friend.

Critical Bench: The Mr. Olympia was in Las Vegas and returned to the Greater Las Vegas Convention Center. How was it better than last year’s event in Orlando and how was it worse?

Ben Tatar: The events were almost the same. Most of the same people who were at the Orlando event were also at the Las Vegas event. The Las Vegas event was almost a continuation of the Orlando event. However, in the details, there were differences. I will list the advantages to each:

Orlando Advantage:

  1. The set-up was better! I liked how the competitions and booths were all on the same floor in Orlando! The 60th Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas had most of the competitions upstairs and the booths were downstairs. This made it so far fewer people watched the competitions upstairs. I like the competitions and booths being next to each other. It makes the Expo and event seem bigger! Additionally, I like to socialize at the booths, and having events close to the booths breaks up the socialization more efficiently.
  2. The Orlando event over-delivered. The event had more celebrities and more models than the 60th Mr. Olympia had.
  3. The Orlando event gave away more supplement samples and free shirts. People had to pay for the Mr. Olympia clothes at this event.
  4. More freaks in Orlando – There were just more outlandish characters at the Expo in Orlando. Maybe it’s because Orlando is a more accessible drive for many attendees, compared to Las Vegas.
  5. No need for a taxi or Uber unless you’re going to Disney or Universal. Lots of people in Orlando just stayed really close to the Expo, eliminating the expenses of public transportation because everything was in walking distance. In Vegas, you’re going to need to take more Ubers because the Expo and the strip aren’t in walking distance. Lots of people liked the convenience of just walking from their hotel room to the Expo.

Advantages to Vegas:

  1. Most people in the industry prefer Las Vegas. The attendance regarding fans was higher at the Las Vegas event.
  2. More nostalgia – more experts in the industry attended the 60th Mr. Olympia, for instance, all-time greats like John Hansen and Brian Cannone attended. Just more experts – old-school competitors in general attended. More industry personalities.
  3. More options for fans! For example, previously, people would buy tickets on-site! Now, people have additional options to gain early access. Furthermore, various VIP options with differing levels of exclusivity are available.
  4. Last year had the advantage for pics, but this year had a social advantage, in the sense that people are seeing people return to the event. For those who value reunions over first-time meetings, this event had an advantage.
  5. I think most people in the industry prefer Vegas over Orlando because it’s more adult-oriented. For instance, Resorts World had pool parties and Day Club parties during the day. Then, every night, Vegas had DJs, famous EDM performers (like The Chain Smokers, Dom Dolla, Tiesto, or Illenium) with thousands of girls, or concerts at MGM, The Fountainebleau, or The Sphere, which is a new $2.3 billion dollar futuristic venue! You don’t get that in Orlando during the Expo. And the hotel had a gym outside where people could train. The hotel is also close to other hotels filled with parties and DJs.

Critical Bench: Long-time friend of Critical Bench, Brian Cannone, was there! What were his observations about the event? What statements did he have to say, and how do you feel about Brian still showing up for events whether it was in 2009 or today?

Ben Tatar:  Brian Cannone, innovator and founder of Fitness Atlantic, who always takes the industry and fitness entertainment to the next level was there. I’m glad he could make it. Here are five things Brian said:

  1. Brian told Paul Dillett that if the stuff upstairs were downstairs, it might have seemed larger due to the floorspace. Brian mentioned seeing strange stuff upstairs! He saw very few people, pickleball, sumo wrestling, a sort of CrossFit, and a boxing ring, and knights in shining armor hitting each other with axes.
  2. He noticed significantly fewer fitness girls (almost zero) at the booths. Brian used to know models from Oxygen Magazine and WBFF Fitness America shows. A lot of the booth girls from past events, competed at his shows!
  3. Brian thought Darc Sport Wolves was the coolest booth. Brian bought one of their shirts on Friday, which were sold out on Saturday.
  4. Brian and Paul Dillett attended the Resorts World show, where bikini girls walked out to “Return of the Mac” from the 90’s! Guys entered to “Iron Maiden – The Trooper” and Metallica, which Brian enjoyed, though noting the songs were old.
  5. The podcast Paul Dillett was on was Dennis James’ podcast with the 90’s bodybuilders – Shaun Ray and Dexter Jackson went back and forth over which division was more popular. Shaun said it was the Classic, and Dexter said it was the Open.

Critical Bench: Ben, which event do you think is more popular: the Open division with the biggest freaks on stage, or the Classic division that Chris Bumstead won before announcing his retirement?

Ben Tatar: Well, Samson Dauda, the pro division winner, took home $600,000, while Chris Bumstead won $50,000. So, the Open is definitely where the money is! Now, there are other opinions, like, “Bumstead has more followers, and most people prefer a classic physique look over a bigger, bulkier, freakier look.” It depends who you ask.

Classic physiques are back, but not like the Golden Era of the ‘80s! They’re still freakier and aren’t universally as popular as in the Golden Age.

I asked Brian Cannone why he felt today’s ripped physiques can’t match the popularity of the ‘80s physiques. Here’s what he said: “Magazines did a fantastic job making people stars, while social media doesn’t legitimize them like print magazines. It’s like how television makes WWE or UFC athletes superstars.”

Critical Bench: Ben, we know the industry has changed tons! But what are the biggest changes you’ve seen now compared to, say, the early 2000s, when you saw people like Brian Cannone and Mike Westerdal at events?

Ben Tatar: Too many to list, but I will list five:

  1. Less email communication; social connections used to be more private and one-on-one. Now, it’s more about following people and people seeking likes.
  2. There used to be way more models. Although they still exist, companies can market products year-round on social media, reducing the need for in-person appearances.
  3. More events; the Mr. Olympia has expanded with more events than ever before. I was playing pickleball with some athletic girls and the Marvel characters. I never would have been able to do that in the past.
  4. The crowd is older. Twenty years ago, the crowd had lots of kids like my friend Cassandra who was aspiring to be a model. Now, you’re likelier to see an older demographic who has been part of the industry for a long time. I did see tons of kids in Las Vegas who were in Las Vegas with their families, but they weren’t so much at the events surrounding the Mr. Olympia week.
  5. There used to be more of a mystique factor because you had to attend to really see it. Now, people post videos, and it’s also more played out because so many people have attended one of these events at some point in their lives.

Critical Bench: How do you envision the future of these events? I find it amazing that you’ve attended consistently for over 20 years without ever skipping an event. Do you think you’ll ever miss an event? And how are you treated differently today compared to when you were really young? Would you say you’re as wild today?

Ben Tatar: Well, I did bench press a 465-pound sumo wrestler!! So, I guess I’m still wild. Hahahahhaha.

I’m treated better by men because I’m older, strong, and youthful. This makes them feel pumped and energized around me. Before, they were probably jealous that I was going to give a model at their booth a shoulder ride through the Expo. lol.

I may skip some future events; sometimes it’s good to miss events, so they stay fresh and allow for industry turnover. I have met all the champions of today and from the yesteryears. Having met today’s and yesterday’s champions, I can wait the future ones to come, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to go to all of these events.

Critical Bench: Let’s play a name game! I’ll say a name, and you share your thoughts on these fitness legends and living legends in three sentences or less.

Ben Tatar: Sounds great.

Critical Bench: Rob Carbo.

Ben Tatar: RIP Rob! I used to go wild with him at every expo, picking up every model and he’d pick me up at the same time! He was a riot, and over the last decade, I called him “the world’s strongest old man.” In the end, I learned that friends in the industry don’t just build bodies or power; they build lives! Forever, everyone will always be with me.

Critical Bench: Mike Westerdal.

Ben Tatar: So glad we reconnected again last year, and I can’t believe it’s been a year now. The years go by fast, but Westy is always a great man and makes the world stronger in all areas.

Critical Bench: Ronnie Coleman.

Ben Tatar: I respect Ronnie, and he’s the GOAT of bodybuilding champions. He doesn’t walk, but it’s inspiring that he makes it to each event, and I have loved seeing him throughout the decades.

Critical Bench: Brian Cannone.

Ben Tatar: Wow, amazing to have seen the man who has taken fitness entertainment to the next level, and he’s a true loyal friend to Critical Bench. It’s so cool that he still attends the events.

Critical Bench: John Hansen.

Ben Tatar: He’s been a great top-notch natural bodybuilder during every decade. Glad he made it to the 60th.

Critical Bench: Brian Shaw.

Ben Tatar: I’m glad that he still goes to each event. He had people squeeze a grip to test their strength at the 60th. He’s always filled with great energy.

Critical Bench: Micah Lacerte and Diana LaCerte.

Ben Tatar: They have one of the best Mr. Olympia Vegas stories of all time. They actually met at Mr. Olympia and got married! Their story is super inspiring, and I’m glad you all talked about me on the podcast – very entertaining.

Critical Bench: During the Mr. Olympia week, give us a super crazy story, inspirational story, funny story, and a hardcore story.

Ben Tatar: Okay, here are a few stories for you:

My crazy story is bench pressing a sumo wrestler and playing pickleball with all the mascots.

My inspirational story would be all the talks that the top lifters like Julius Maddox are giving.

My funny story is when I gave a security guard a Critical Bench shirt and she was super excited!

Lifters are always pranking lifters at the event for funny videos. I keep waiting for someone to play a joke on me, but I’m not serious enough or easily offended enough for it. But you always see some jokester going up to someone who is huge and telling them that they are small just to get a reaction. And it often works.

Finally, my hardcore story. Almost everything at the event is hardcore. So many people overcoming near-death experiences and then setting a personal record or an all-time record. There are freaks everywhere.

The events always have an adventurous element and surprises.

Wrapping Up the 60th Mr. Olympia: Strength Beyond the Stage

The 60th Mr. Olympia wasn’t just a celebration of muscle and fitness—it was a testament to the resilience, camaraderie, and larger-than-life personalities that define this industry.

From hurricanes in Florida to unforgettable moments on and off the Expo floor, Ben Tatar gave us a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this event the “Super Bowl of fitness.”

As we close this chapter on the 60th Mr. Olympia, one thing is clear: the legacy of this iconic event, and the people who make it extraordinary, will continue to thrive.

Until next time, stay strong, stay inspired, and keep chasing greatness. See you at the next Mr. Olympia!