Olympia Blog

Well…time is winding down as the Olympia is drawing nearer and nearer each second. So I’ve made some predictions on how the female side of the Olympia could go down in a matter of weeks. Instead of outright picking a winner for each category, this year, I did something a little bit different. For Figure and Ms. Olympia, I picked out the five women who I think will give the current champions a run for their money, as well as highlight the current champions, and pick a wildcard competitor who could shake up the event. For Fitness Olympia, I chose the six women who I think could win the Fitness Olympia title due to Adela’s injury, as well as a wildcard that could pull off an upset.

Fitness Olympia
http://fitgems.blogspot.com/2008/08/2008-fitness-olympia-predictions.html

Figure Olympia
http://fitgems.blogspot.com/2008/08/figure-olympia-2008-predictions.html

Ms. Olympia
http://fitgems.blogspot.com/2008/09/2008-miss-olympia-predictions.html

There are my predictions. What are yours?

Post by: cray17

I think this year will prove to be quite the soap operah.  You never know which way things will go. This is what I think will happen if the top athletes come in conditioned and don’t spill over.

Mr. O

1. Jay Cutler (takes a lot to beat the current king)
2. Victor Martinez
3. Ronnie Coleman
4. Dexter Jackson
5. Toney "the X man Freeman

Ms. O

1. Dayana Cadeau
2. Iris Kyle
3. Yaxena Oriquen
4. Tazzi Columb
5. Heather Policky

Ms. Figure O

1. Valerie Waugaman
2. Gina Aliotti
3. Monica Brant
4. Jenny Lynn
5. Amber Littlejohn

Ms. Fitness O

1. Tanji Johnson
2. Oksana Grishina (beautiful)
3. Jen Hendershott
4. Adella Garcia
5. Kim Klein

Post by: jimbritain

Well, here they are folks, my belated Top 7 predictions for each of the Olympia contests this weekend.  I know I might catch some flack on these from the usual suspects, but this is how I see everything unfolding:

Mr. Olympia:

1. Jay Cutler
2. Ronnie Coleman
3. Victor Martinez
4. Darrem Charles
5. Dexter Jackson
6. Toney Freeman
7. Melvin Anthony

Wha?? No Silvio?  No Harris?  No JOJ?  Nope, not in the Top 7, sorry.

Ms. Olympia:

1. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
2. Dayana Cadeau
3. Iris Kyle
4. Heather Armbrust
5. Bonny Priest
6. Antonette Norman
7. Mah-Ann Mendoza

Fitness Olympia:

1. Tracey Greenwood
2. Adela Garcia
3. Jen Hendershott
4. Kim Klein
5. Oksana Grishina
6. Tanji Johnson
7. Angie Semsch

Figure Olympia:

1. Monica Brant-Peckham
2. Amber Littlejohn
3. Jenny Lynn
4. Valerie Waugaman
5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
6. Mary Jo Cooke-Elliot
7. Amanda Savell

Can’t wait until tomorrow!! 

Post by: bbcom_developer

I was waiting to say a word to Troy Alves while Victor Munoz was having a conversation with him at the recent IFBB/NPC Atlantic City Pro Am Championship.

Earlier during the competition, I was thrilled to meet Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia.

I said hello to Munoz while he was standing with Yaxeni, but I didn’t recognize him as more than a fellow fan.

Alves was great and introduced me to him and shared that Victor Munoz trains Victor Martinez as well as Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia! I got Victor Munoz’s autograph on my AC program and he told me his web site address: Pro-Edge.net

I was just thinking what a feat it would be for Victor and Yaxeni to take the Mr. and Ms. Olympia titles. Victor Munoz would justifiably be able to lay claim to the title of Master Blaster. It’d be Munoz’s Mecca of Muscledom until Olympia 2008!

Much of the text offered above was posted previously in a Victor Martinez thread you may have seen here on BodySpace. Interesting reading available there!

And although I love Iris Kyle, I’m pulling for seventh-place 2006 finisher Yaxeni Oriquen in this year’s O. She won the Ms. Olympia title in 2005 while Iris is our reigning Ms. O.

Victor’s 3rd place finish in last year’s Mr. Olympia contest definitely puts him within striking distance of the crown despite obvious resistance to be found in the form of Cutler and Coleman. But with Yaxeni’s “Been There, Done That” status, and Martinez bringing an improved package plus his newly won Arnold Classic champion status to Vegas, it’s a very real possibility that both of Munoz’s athletes could take home the gold!

That’s Victor Munoz and his Olympia double threat! Best wishes to all the athletes. Who do you think will win?

Post by: curt_james

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!!  

Post by: arieseyes

We’ve seen the prize money available to the men, so let’s now contrast that to the money awarded the ladies…

Sorted by contest, ranking, and dollar amounts (USD):

Ms. Olympia

Placing - 2006 Prize Money
1st place $30,000
2nd place $18.000
3rd place $10,000
4th place $7,000
5th place $4,000
6th place $2,000

Fitness Olympia

Placing - 2006 Prize Money
1st place $23,000
2nd place $14,500
3rd place $9,500
4th place $6,500
5th place $4,500
6th place $2,000

Figure Olympia

Placing - 2006 Prize Money
1st place $20,000
2nd place $10,000
3rd place $8,000
4th place $4,500
5th place $3,500
6th place $2,000

While many fans can name every bodybuilder to ever win the Mr. Olympia, lets take a look at 25 years of women’s bodybuilding history:

YEAR - PLACE - WINNER

2005 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Yaxeni Oriquen

2004 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Iris Kyle

2003 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Lenda Murray

2002 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Lenda Murray

2001 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Juliette Bergmann

2000 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Valentina Chepiga (HW) & Andrulla Blanchette (LW)

1999 - Secaucus, New Jersey, USA - Kim Chizevsky

1998 - Prague, Czech Republic - Kim Chizevsky

1997 - New York, New York, USA - Kim Chizevsky

1996 - Chicago, Illinois, USA - Kim Chizevsky

1995 - Atlanta, Georgia, USA - Lenda Murray

1994 - Atlanta, Georgia, USA - Lenda Murray

1993 - New York, New York, USA - Lenda Murray

1992 - Chicago, Illinois, USA - Lenda Murray

1991 - Los Angeles, California, USA - Lenda Murray

1990 - New York, New York, USA - Lenda Murray

1989 - New York, New York, USA - Cory Everson

1988 - New York, New York, USA - Cory Everson

1987 - New York, New York, USA - Cory Everson

1986 - New York, New York, USA - Cory Everson

1985 - New York, New York, USA - Cory Everson

1984 - Montreal, Canada - Cory Everson

1983 - Warmister, Pennsylvania, USA - Carla Dunlap

1982 - Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA - Rachel McLish

1981 - Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - Kike Elomaa

1980 - Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - Rachel McLish

In the 3 years since the birth of figure in the IFBB, we have seen a rapid decline in the number of competitors in fitness.

Just taking a look at this year’s roster for Olympia shows us just how much. 12 fitness vs. 22 figure. Figure has even become the blame end of the alleged decline in women’s bodybuilding. Are we taking the easy way out? No way.

In a recent podcast with Christine Pomponio-Pate, we discover that figure competitors can be known to train 3-4 hours a day leading up to a contest, the same amount as male bodybuilders!

The general audience is so use to seeing only one division of men’s bodybuilding, so when woman have 3 they feel the need sometimes to think one is lacking or outdoing the other.  Athletes and die fans alike agree, however, that each female division puts forward 200% in each show.

So, lets take the time to check out the roster for this years Olympia. Don’t forget, Fitness Olympia Finals/Ms. Olympia Finals - Friday, Sep 29, 7 PM; Figure Olympia Finals - Saturday, Sep 30, 7 PM. This way you don’t miss any of the action!! Also, there will be a “Meet the Olympians” Event on Thursday, Sep 28, 7 PM.

MS. OLYMPIA

# Name Country How Qualified
1.Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia  Venezuela 2005 Ms. Olympia 1st place
2 Iris Kyle  USA 2005 Ms. Olympia 2nd place
3 Dayana Cadeau  Canada 2005 Ms. Olympia 3rd place
4 Jitka Harazimova  Czech  2005 Ms. Olympia 4th place
5 Brenda Raganot   USA   2005 Ms. Olympia 5th place
6 Bonny Priest USA  2005 Ms. Olympia 6th place
7 Betty Pariso  USA  2006 Ms. International 5th
8 Annie Riveiccio   USA 2006 Ms. International 7th
9 Lisa Aukland USA 2006 Ms. International 8th
10 Heather Foster USA 2006 Europa Super Show 1st
11 Dena Westerfield USA 2006 Europa Super Show 2nd
12 Colette Nelson USA 2006 Europa Super Show 3rd

FIGURE OLYMPIA

# Name Country How Qualified
1 Davana Medina USA 2005 Figure Olympia 1st place
2 Jenny Lynn USA 2005 Figure Olympia 2nd place
3 Monica Brant-Peckham USA 2005 Figure Olympia 3rd place
4 Amber Littlejohn USA 2005 Figure Olympia 4th place
5 Mary Elizabeth Lado USA 2005 Figure Olympia 5th place
6 Valerie Waugaman USA 2005 Sacramento Pro 2nd place
7 Amanda Savell USA 2006 Figure International 3rd
8 Chastity Slone USA 2006 Figure International 4th place
9 Jane Awad USA 2006 Figure International 5th
10 Christine Pomponio-Pate USA 2006 Figure International 6th
11 Gina Camacho USA 2006 Sacramento Figure 2nd
12 Andrea Dumon USA 2006 Sacramento Figure 3rd
13 Latisha Wilder USA 2006 Pittsburgh Figure 2nd
14 Jessica Paxson USA 2006 Pittsburgh Figure 3rd
15 Tara Scotti USA 2006 Colorado Pro Figure 4th
16 Gina Aliotta USA 2006 California Pro Figure 4th
17 Jennifer Searles USA 2006 New York Pro Figure 2nd
18 Michelle Flake USA 2006 Motor City Pro Figure 3rd
19 Michelle Adams USA 2006 Europa Super Show 2nd
20 Julie (D.J.) Wallis USA 2006 Europa Super Show 3rd
21 Inga Neverauskaite England 2006 Montreal Pro Figure 2nd
22 Nina Luchka Canada 2006 Montreal Pro Figure 3rdI

FITNESS OLYMPIA

# Name Country How Qualified
1 Jen Hendershott USA 2005 Fitness Olympia 1st
2 Kim Klein USA 2005 Fitness Olympia 2nd
3 Adela Garcia USA 2005 Fitness Olympia 3rd
4 Tracey Greenwood USA 2005 Fitness Olympia 4th
5 Julie Palmer USA 2005 Fitness Olympia 5th
6 Julie Childs USA 2005 Sacramento Pro 2nd place
7 Tanji Johnson USA 2005 Sacramento Pro 3rd place
8 Heidi Fletcher USA 2006 New York Pro 2nd place
9 Amy Haddad USA 2006 New York Pro 3rd place
10 Deana Lee USA 2006 All Star Pro 2nd place
11 Regiane DaSilva Germany 2006 All Star Pro 3rd place
12 Mindi O’Brien Canada 2006 Europa Super Show 2nd place

Who do the fans think is going to win the Ms. O? While we all have our own predictions lets compare the competitors based on the current poll on bodybuilding.com as of tonight the top 5 based on votes are:

1. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia 53%
2. Iris Kyle 22%
3. Bonny Priest 7%
4. Dayana Cadeau 6%
5. Betty Pariso 3%

1. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia as the current title holder she has a lot to loss and without a doubt is going to do everything possible to hold on to it at this years win. While she says she will be coming in harder and dryer than her soft appearance at this years Arnold Classic she admits that she knows her closest competition will be Iris Kyle. On a side note she says she would like to win this contest for her mother whom passed away several months ago from cancer.

2. Iris Kyle had a strong finish in this years competitive season with winning her second Ms. International title. Iris is one the most competitive females coming to Olympia this year, she has had 6 consecutive top 5 placings at the Ms. Olympia. Rumors are that she kicked up her training to regain her Olympia glory.

3. Bonny Priest, the Texas Titan is still a fan favorite despite her 6th place showing at the Arnold this year. Let hope the best for this fan favorite. She is going to be coming in this year as a serious heavyweight.

4. Dayana Cadeau is the most feminine competitor in women’s bodybuilding. She carries the muscle fullness that has many people believe she is larger than she is, she is the perfection of symmetry & definition not to mention she comes to stage with some major wheels. Many people including Lenda Murry felt she won last years Olympia based on the 20% reduction that had been enforced earlier in the season. Will the judges give her justice this year?

5. Betty Pariso, I am trying to put into words about what I think of this woman. The first word that pops in my mouth is WOW. I saw her in person for the first time at the Europa, and she blew me away. The first thing I did when I got home from the show was write her and thank her hosting such a great even. At the age of 50, she is the oldest competitor but has no flaws in her game this season. I see her placing well in this years Olympia.

While these results may not be what you predict, its what the current fans see happening. If you would like to vote,

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2006olympia_polls.htm