Who Is Jeremy Buendia?

Jeremy Buendia is an American professional bodybuilder originally from Roseville, California. As a high school athlete, he sustained injuries to his back and neck while playing linebacker at Whitney High School, which led to his interest in the sport of bodybuilding.

His father, Louie Buendia, was a non-competitive bodybuilder in the 1970s and introduced him to bodybuilding competitions at the age of 17. With his excellent genetics and ferocious work ethic, Jeremy became an IFBB pro by the age of 23.

Since then, Buendia has won the Men’s Physique Olympia title in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. He placed 4th in the Men’s Physique Olympia in 2018 after recovering from a torn pectoral injury and decided to retire from the sport.

In May 2023, Jeremy Buendia announced his return to bodybuilding on his Instagram page and YouTube channel. He is calling it the “Fight for 5” and plans to compete for his 5th Men’s Physique title in the Mr. Olympia contest later this year.

Jeremy Buendia Contest History

Jeremy Buendia competed in several NPC amateur contests before earning his IFBB pro card in 2013. After that, he competed in a few pro shows before exclusively taking the Olympia stage.

Here is a complete list of Buendia’s bodybuilding contest history.

Jeremy Buendia Height and Weight

As with many celebrities and bodybuilders, there is a lot of speculation about Jeremy Buendia’s height and weight. Part of the confusion may be because athletes often exaggerate their measurements to appear bigger.

This is especially true in the Men’s Physique category, where there are no height/weight restrictions. So, in this section, I will aim to nail down Buendia’s actual size.

How Tall Is Jeremy Buendia?

Most publications say that Buendia is 5’8″ (173 cm). At the same time, some argue he is only 5’6″ (168 cm) tall. However, comparisons with other bodybuilders suggest that Jeremy Buendia’s actual height is most likely between 5’6″ and 5’7″ (168-170 cm).

I came to this conclusion based on pictures of Jeremy Buendia next to fellow bodybuilder Breon Ansley. In another article, I determined Ansnley is under 5’6″, and Buendia does not appear more than an inch taller than him.

In addition, Buendia appears to be at least two inches shorter than the legendary 4x Olympian Jay Cutler, who is a well-documented 5’9″ tall.

Jeremy Buendia Weight

As with all professional bodybuilders, Jeremy Buendia’s body weight fluctuates throughout the course of the year, depending on whether he is in a bulking or cutting phase.

During his offseasons, Buendia says that he bulks up to a maximum weight of 200 to 205 lbs while gaining muscle for the following year’s contest. Then, 3-4 months before the contest, he starts cutting body fat to reveal his leanest physique.

At his previous Olympia contests, Jeremy Buendia says he has weighed from 175 to 181 lbs on stage. According to a recent YouTube video, he says he expects to come in at around 185 lbs stage weight for the 2023 Olympia.

Jeremy Buendia Olympia Return

After nearly five years of absence, can Jeremy Buendia beat the top contenders in this new era?

It’s worth noting that Buendia’s biggest obstacle in 2023 was the reigning champion, Erin Banks. Despite their rivalry, the two worked out together during the offseason to promote the Mr. Olympia contest.

During their side-by-side training sessions, it was evident that Buendia has more thickness and overall muscle mass, particularly in his legs and arms. However, Banks has a much larger frame (6’2″) with the shape judges are currently looking for.

Another factor to consider is that Buendia slipped in the rankings in 2018 due to his conditioning, while Banks is in his prime and brought a superbly shredded package to the stage the previous year. So Jeremy needed to nail his contest prep diet and peak week this time.

Unfortunately, Buendia didn’t bring his best package to the stage in 2023, and he finished in a disappointing 8th place.