At 5’6″ and 226 pounds, Rockel came into the Arnold looking to be in excellent condition and stood well against some steep competition. When you have a line-up that included the defending champion Kai Greene, Phil Heath, Branch Warren, Dexter Jackson and Toney Freeman, breaking into that circle of consistent top six men was an accomplishment in itself.

The last time that Rockel stood in the winner’s circle came at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix. For him to do that again, he may have to compete in some of the smaller shows such as the Europa, New York Pro and Atlantic City Pro. But there will come a time when Rockel’s proportioned physique will be recognized in the more prestigious shows and not just in the top 10 or six.

As for the entire year of 2008, Toney Freeman started out slow with an eighth place finish at the Ironman Pro Invitational and seventh at the Arnold Classic. He then finished fourth at the Australian Grand Prix before winning both the Tampa Bay Pro and Europa Super Show on his way to Las Vegas.

The upcoming Arnold will be a very important show for Freeman. The competitor list is loaded, so it will not be an easy task. Victor Martinez, Branch Warren and Kai Green will be making their return from injury, and that trio was not present at the Mr. O, possibly helping Freeman place as high as he did. Also coming to Columbus, Ohio in March will be Gustavo Badell, Moe El Moussawi, Silvio Samuel, and six others.

As the years pass, it may only be a matter of time before they catch up with Freeman. Not everyone can be an Albert Beckles, who competed until he was 62 years of age.

What Freeman has going for him is his 6’2″ and nearly 300 pound frame. He was a presence on the stage at the Olympia and his deltoids were amazing. He will have to deal with a list of men who are all qualified to take home the title, especially the three who had to sit out in September.

If Freeman does not place high, it may spell the beginning of the end for him.

After finishing in third place in the 2007 Mr. Olympia, 38 year-old Dexter Jackson knows that the window of opportunity may be closing on him. In September, he will give it another go, this time coming off three consecutive first place finishes in the calendar year.

Earlier, Jackson won the Arnold Classic, IFBB Australian Grand Prix VIII and the IFBB New Zealand Grand Prix. While that is a nice accomplishment, the Mr. O is a whole different world.

Persevering through his career, Jackson finished third in the 1992 NPC Southern States Lightweight Division. He next took the stage three years later, which was also his first victory in the NPC USA Championships Light-Heavyweight Division.

Jackson turned professional in 1999, which included a ninth place finish in his inaugural Olympia show. He would not taste victory again until the 2002 Grand Prix England, and has finished first on eight different occasions since then.

Competing in eight out of the last nine Mr. Olympia contests (he missed the 2005), Jackson has finished ninth, ninth, eighth, fourth, third, fourth, fourth and third. To break into the top two, he will need to come into Las Vegas looking the way he has all year, possibly even better.

At the Australian Grand Prix, Jackson’s thighs were extremely impressive, as was his abdominal section. His obliques appeared as if they were carved away from his midsection and all of his 5’6″ frame looked to be in peak condition.

Having his eye on the prize, Jackson knows what he has to do in September. “I’ve beaten everybody else and Jay (Cutler) is the only person I haven’t beaten and he’s the Mr. Olympia, so he’s the man to beat,” he said. “I don’t look behind me, I only look what is in front of me.”

And the time in front of him is getting shorter.

Photo credit: wikipedia.com