2009 Olympia Blog

Melvin Anthony is a new breed of bodybuilder and he is out to prove that he can hang with the big boys. Will he improve upon his 5th place finish at last year’s Olympia?

Melvin Anthony won the overall and the Super-Heavyweight Division in the 1999 USA Championships. His first professional competition was in 2000 at the Night of Champions where he finished 7th. In the next year, Melvin Anthony truly hit the scene - he finished 7th at the Arnold Classic and the Grand Prix Australia, 8th at the Grand Prix Hungary, 2nd in the Iron Man, and 3rd in the San Francisco Pro. Later that year, in his first Olympia, Melvin finished 11th.

In 2003, after failing to qualify for the Olympia in the previous year, Melvin finished 9th at the Olympia and continued to make improvements. In 2004, Melvin Anthony won his first show, the Night of Champions, against the likes of Darrem Charles, Ahmad Haidar, George Farah, Craig Richardson, Branch Warren, Toney Freeman, Quincy Taylor, Ronnie Rockel, Eddie Abbew, and Johnnie Jackson. In 2005, Melvin again competed in the Olympia where he finished 7th. Last year’s Olympia was Melvin’s best showing - he finished 5th and was one of the biggest shocks of the Olympia weekend.

Melvin doesn’t have many flaws. He always shows up to contests with great conditioning, flowing lines, a small waist, and a surprising amount of muscle mass. Combine those factors with some of, if not, the best posing in bodybuilding, you have a recipe for destruction. If any of the top competitors come in off of their mark, Melvin Anthony could take advantage of that.

Eddie Abbew brough a whole different package to the Iron Man Pro stage this year, where he placed third. Will he continue to make improvements and place well at the Olympia? Only time will tell…

Eddie Abbew has failed to crack the top ten at most of his competitions - 14th at the 1999 Toronto Pro; 16th at the 2001 Night of Champions; 15th at the 2001 Grand Prix England; 11th at the 2002 Iron Man Pro; 14th at the 2002 Night of Champions; 11th at the 2002 Toronto Pro; 12th at the 2003 Iron Man Pro; 13th at the 2003 Arnold Classic; 13th at the 2006 San Francisco Pro; and 11th at the 2006 New York Pro. Until recently, Eddie only had a few decent finishes - 7th at the 2000 Grand Prix Hungary; 9th at the 2000 Night of Champions, 9th at the 2003 Grand Prix Hungary and 2004 Grand Prix Hungary;  6th at the 2005 Toronto Pro; and 9th at the 2006 Grand Prix Australia.

At the 2006 Iron Man Pro, no one had Eddie placed anywhere near the top five - most didn’t have him in their top ten. However, when he stepped on stage, it was painfully obvious their predictions were wrong. At a height of 6′1′’ and a competition weight of 270-pounds, Eddie Abbew was a force to be reckoned with - the physique he brought to the Iron Man stage was his best ever. He brought incredible thickness to the stage. His biceps were perhaps the most impressive aspect of his entire package - they were rumored to be measured at around 24′’.

He lacks separation in his back and hamstrings and those are two of the most important aspects of an Olympia phsyique. While he made great improvements at the Iron Man, I think he will need some more time to improve some of his weakness.

WOW - If you have not given the long videos a look, I would strongly (no pun intended) suggest giving the long training segments a try.  I am grateful to have the chance to get to know the competitors at a much deeper level!  Thanks to Bob, BB.com, and the Olympian competitors for putting it all out there.  Not only does Bob engage everyone and showcase their training, but their points of view on the sport, strategies, diet, time management, etc all make me even more anxious to see the final product on stage as well as give me something to bring into my own routines!

It is great to see father and son working out, see the challenge and camaraderie between competitors, watch how pros approach diet and training from different angles, hear how they feed on challenge, and even the humble attitude these champions possess.  After watching the first 10 segments - I am hungry for MORE!!!

Their intelligence, focus, dedication, and commitment definitely comes through here - but they are also much more real to me now than ever before.  If you have not watched the long segments - I would highly recommend taking the time to do so.  I can almost guarantee it will change some aspect of your routine!

Now….I have to go back and watch the interviews!!!  "Olympia: The Series" is available here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/olympiaseries.htm

Hey! It’s Tracey!  I asked some friendly faces of bodybuilding and fitness to make some Olympia predictions.  Check out their opinion and then leave a comment with your picks for Olympia 2007!  

Let’s start off with IFBB Pro and CEO of AHN, FAKHRI MUBARAK:
www.advancehealthnutrition.com
www.myspace.com/fakhrimubarak  

“This year Mr. O is going to be very interesting. I’m going to name my top five and then hopefully make a pick, lol. Ronnie lost last year for the first time since 1998. We all know that Ronnie has been training his ass off all year long to regain that title. That man is not human. He’s from another planet.  He took the sport to a completely new level and has forced everyone else who wants to follow him to do the same. I’m scared to see what he will look like this year when his space ship lands in Vegas and he walks on stage.

On the other hand Jay is not going to want to lose the title after so many years in second place. Jay has always been the ultimate professional in this sport. Every year he has improved to eventually becoming Mr O last year. That’s the dream of every bodybuilder, to be Mr. O. Now that he has achieved that he isn’t about to relinquish the title of the world’s greatest bodybuilder.

Next up is my boy from N.Y, this years Arnold Classic winner Victor Martinez. I’ve seen Big Vic compete since he was an amateur. I was there in N.Y to see him get he’s pro card in 2000 and now he’s one of the top 3 or 4 best bodybuilders in the world. Victor is a great guy and deserves all the success. Even Mr. Ronnie Coleman said that one-day Vic would be Mr. O.  Man that’s some pressure but Victor can handle it!

You can’t name a top 5 in the Olympia without including my homeboy Dexter Action Jackson. Dexter just brings it each and every time. The man has also worked very hard to achieve what he has. Dexter just enjoys being a bodybuilder. He brings that small jointed round muscle belly look that just pops out at you and makes you say WOW!

Rounding out my top five is the X MAN. BIG Tony Freeman. A few years ago my friend and I were talking about who we thought would be the next bodybuilder to make the type of leap Ronnie Coleman did around 1996/1997. We both said it would be Mr. Freeman. He always had the X look but just not the freaky size. He’s a tall big man and needed to fill in. Let me tell you something over the last 2 years he has put on that crazy freak look it takes to be considered the best of the best.

Okay so my predication for the 2007 Mr. Olympia is. Drum roll please…………….I’m going with Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman in a tie. Yeah Yeah Yeah I know I punked out but honestly it’s a toss up. Who ever brings that nasty grainy sliced dry hard look we all desire, as bodybuilders will win the 2007 Mr. Olympia.  Good Luck guys!!!!!!!!!!”

The beautiful AVA COWAN gives her picks:

“My top 5 pick for Mr. Olympia if everyone is at their best:
1.  Ronnie Coleman
2.  Jay Cutler
3.  Victor Martinez
4.  Melvin Anthony
5.  Darrem Charles”

Here is ROB CARBO, a contributing writer here at bodybuilding.com:
rob carbo- Carbonics Training Co.  
The King is dead long live the King!!!    
www.realgainz.com/RobCarbo

“Olympia 2007 prediction. Hmmmm!! Jay Cutler upset the applecart last year by becoming the 13th winner in the 42 yr history of the Mr Olympia. I think that can be a good thing. It opens things up again for the likes of Jay, Ronnie, Victor Martinez, Dexter Jackson, Melvin Anthony etc.
We can possibly see a re-occurance of the yrs between 1979 and  1984 when for the only time in O history there was a different winner each year for 5 years running. I think this is going to be very exciting and I am looking forward to it. I will be there, Tracey, to see the new King crowned. With that being  said, I think the winnerrrr and newwww 2007 Mr Olympia will be……………………RONNIE COLEMAN !!!  Heck I’m a powerlifter and the man is strong as hell, I’ve alway’s been a Muhhamed Ali fan  You know-  The Greatest of alllll time !!”

Next up is MONICA STARR, fitness model:
www.monicastarr.net

“Once again, the amazing Olympia is here! This is one heck of a show that draws in some awesome competitors! I have my favorites, just like everyone else. All the competitors work hard to meet their goals so that they are the best ones up on that stage. They diet. They workout. They focus. They strive for the best! There are so many wonderful people competing this year and trying to predict will be difficult. But with that said…Here are my picks:
Mr. O — Ronnie Coleman
Ms. O — Iris Kyle
Fitness O — Jenny Hendershott
Figure O — Jenny Lynn”

RON STONE, fitness model, makes his prediction:
www.ronstone.net

“I would have to go with Jay Cutler. He always looks awesome and deserves it. Super nice guy too. I’m a big fan.”

ARMOND SCIPIONE, fitness model, says:
www.ArmondScipione.com
www.Bodyspace.com/ArmondScipione

“Assuming everyone shows up in shape, here are my top 5:
1. Ronnie Coleman
2. Jay Cutler
3. Victor Martinez
4. Dexter Jackson
5. Melvin Anthony”

Rob Kreider, trainer and model, predicts:
www.robkreider.com

“RONNIE COLEMAN will WIN….fo sure….If Ronnie dials it in smaller..he will win. Jay is blocky and will probably think he needs to be even bigger this year and get even blockier….nuff said… if ronnie dials it in smaller/tighter as he did when he won the arnold classic…its a done deal…if he plays the size game like last year….he will be hanging up his posing trunks.”

So, bodybuiding fans, what say you!? Who will win in the Olympia 2007!?  Leave a comment and make your predictions for Fitness, Figure and/or Bodybuilding!!  

Here’s an updated (but pre-Europa) list of athletes qualified to compete at the 2007 Olympia.  (Qualified doesn’t mean that they will compete, only that they can if they choose to.)

2007 Olympia Qualified Athletes:

      MR. OLYMPIA

            1. Eddie Abbew United Kingdom
            2. Melvin Anthony USA
            3. Gustavo Badell Puerto Rico
            4. Darrem Charles Trinidad
            5. Ronnie Coleman USA
            6. Jay Cutler USA
            7. Mark Dugdale USA
            8. Toney Freeman USA
            9. Kai Greene USA
            10. Marcus Haley USA
            11. Phil Heath USA
            12. Dexter Jackson USA
            13. Dennis James Germany
            14. Victor Martinez Dominican Republic
            15. Desmond Miller USA
            16. Ronny Rockel Germany
            17. Markus Ruhl Germany
            18. Silvio Samuel Saviour Spain
            19. Sergey Shelestov Russia
            20. Vince Taylor USA
            21. Branch Warren USA
            22. Dennis Wolf Germany
            23. Hidetada Yamagishi Japan

      MS. OLYMPIA

            1. Lisa Aukland USA
            2. Dayana Cadeau Canada
            3. Valentina Chepiga Ukraine
            4. Sarah Dunlap USA
            5. Stephanie Kessler USA
            6. Iris Kyle USA
            7. Antoinette Norman USA
            8. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Venezuela
            9. Betty Pariso USA
            10. Heather Armbrust USA
            11. Bonny Priest USA
            12. Annie Riviecco USA

      FITNESS OLYMPIA

            1. Regiane Silva Germany
            2. Heidi Fletcher USA
            3. Adela Garcia-Friedmansky USA
            4. Tracey Greenwood USA
            5. Jenny Hendershott USA
            6. Amy Huber USA
            7. Tanji Johnson USA
            8. Kim Klein USA
            9. Julie Lohre USA
            10. Angela Monteleone-Semsch USA
            11. Julie Palmer USA
            12. Julie Shipley-Childs USA
            13. Stacy Simons USA

      FIGURE OLYMPIA

            1. Sonia Adcock USA
            2. Gina Aliotti USA
            3. Suzanne Bock Germany
            4. Monica Brant USA
            5. Gina Camacho USA
            6. Chandra Coffey USA
            7. Mary Jo Cooke-Elliott USA
            8. Jeanette Freed USA
            9. Amy Fry USA
            10. Bernadette Galvan USA
            11. Adela Garcia-Friedmansky USA
            12. Jennifer Gates USA
            13. Celeste Gonzalez Spain
            14. Danielle Hollanshade USA
            15. Mary Elizabeth Lado USA
            16. Amber Littlejohn USA
            17. Jenny Lynn USA
            18. Shannon Meteraud USA
            19. Inga Neverauskaite Lithuania
            20. Nicole Pitcher-Scott United Kingdom
            21. Christine Pomponio-Pate USA
            22. Zivile Raudoniene Lithuania
            23. Felicia Romero USA
            24. Amanda Savell USA
            25. Tara Scotti USA
            26. Valerie Waugaman USA
            27. Latisha Wilder USA

Note: Lists last updated 8/8/2007.

In case you weren’t aware, Bob Cicherillo’s "Olympia: The Series" video show has had two (2) new episodes in the past few days.

Check out IFBB Pro Bodybuilders Darrem Charles and Dayana Cadeau in these great training interviews!

See all the episodes here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/olympiaseries.htm

And all of Bodybuilding.com’s video series here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/videoseries.htm

Enjoy! 

If you’d like to participate this year as one of our official panel of Olympia bloggers, please drop me a line!  Olympia bloggers get some nice benefits, so if you like writing, don’t miss out! 

I caught up with Jen last week and she shared a number of things, a few of which she’s never shared with the public before. Will she be in the O Fitness line up this year? This is one interview you don’t want to miss.

Check out the interview at:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/isaac127.htm