The 2026 Olympia Weekend will be remembered for many reasons: Nick Walker becoming the 20th Mr. Olympia, the premiere of the new Fit Model Olympia, and 10 other world championship events being held in the famous Orleans Arena. There were also numerous strength sports championship events being held in the Las Vegas Convention Center on September 25th and 26th like powerlifting, strongman, Armlifting, and others.
Another major highlight of the big weekend for many who were in Las Vegas was the support that was exchanged between the Olympia and the United States Armed Forces. 2026 may have seen the largest presence of the military in many years, and the admiration between athletes and service members was obvious from start to finish.
Military Ticket Program Celebrated 25 Years
On Saturday night, September 26th, M&F Senior Military Editor and 26-year Air Force veteran Rob Wilkins, Chef Andre Rush, and retired Army Staff Sergeant and Purple Heart recipient Charles Eggleston took to the Olympia stage to pay tribute to the Olympia’s military-ticket program, which celebrated 25 years in 2026. Wilkins spoke about the history of the program and revealed that over 17,000 tickets have been offered to service members over the last quarter-century, including nearly 1,000 this year. Wilkins spoke on the Olympia stage about the significance of that statistic.
“It is more than a gesture. It represents 25 years of saying thank you to those who served.”
Wilkins then asked for service members, veterans, and first responders to stand to be recognized by the audience. Rush followed Wilkins and offered his own token of appreciation for military spouses and family members supporting their loved ones while they wear the uniform. Their efforts may not be acknowledged as often, but they are very vital in the eyes of those who are in the Joint Force.
Rush emphasized, “They are our foundation. So, you’ve got to give it up for them. Thank you for your own service.”
Eggleston concluded the segment by asking the audience to acknowledge veterans if they see them, especially in this 250th year of American independence.
“The military brought it to us the right way. We’re here because our military made it happen.”
Recruiters at the World Fitness Expo
The Olympia World Fitness Expo may have been the most successful edition to date. There were busy booths in every aisle, including those of the Navy, Army, and Marines. Wilkins reported also speaking to members of the Coast Guard during the Olympia Weekend. Each booth featured various physical challenges and included recruiters who were looking for new members to join their ranks. Wilkins explained why opportunities like these are so important for recruiters.
“The Olympia Expo is a great place for these conversations. Thousands of people come here with a passion for fitness, performance, discipline, competition, and self-improvement—qualities that also contribute to success in military service. These conversations are especially important when fewer than 1% of Americans serve in uniform at any given time.”
Whether it was pullups, reflex challenges, weight events, or simply chatting with spectators, each booth stayed busy throughout both days. The service members even walked the aisles themselves to watch the various strength sport events, Olympia prejudging, or listen to experts in a variety of fields share their knowledge. They would also be stopped multiple times to be thanked for their service by attendees young and old. Seeing those who wore the uniform enjoying the Olympia Weekend as fans themselves was a welcome sight for athletes and organizers alike.
A Marine is Bikini Olympia Champion
A special moment took place on Saturday night when Jasmine Gonzalez emerged victorious in the Bikini Olympia over two-time champion Maureen Blanquisco. Announcer Bob Cicherillo then enlightened the audience on a special fact: Gonzalez is a retired United States Marine. That news led to massive cheers from the audience.
The new Ms. Bikini Olympia shared her story and offered words of wisdom to any service members looking for their next chapter.
“Please find something that you are passionate about outside of what you’re doing in the military,” she said.”I found bodybuilding in my last year of active duty, and three weeks after I left active duty is when I received my IFBB Pro status.”
The connections between the military and bodybuilding go back far beyond the last 25 years, but it’s clear that the bond between the two endeavors are as strong as ever and will continue to strengthen beyond 2026.
For more on the Olympia, go to mrolympia.com . You can also read over 140 stories from various members of the military as well as first responders on our Fit to Serve page.
