That was Badell’s best year since 2005 when he won the Ironman and placed third at both the Arnold and Olympia. He also finished in the Top 3 at the 2004 O.

He may have missed his best chance during those two years. Even if he did, Badell came in to Las Vegas last September looking huge, but would have helped himself if his mid-section was a bit narrower and better defined.

“All I know is I did my job,” he said before the Olympia. “I tried to come in my best condition ever.”

Badell had good upper body definition and a wide back, but lost points with his obliques. He did not have that ‘V’ look to his body and with the right diet and timing can hone that to his advantage. At 5’8″ and a contest weight of 245 pounds, Badell would be better off slimming down and not being so concerned about coming in bigger than the next guy.

With Badell skipping this year’s Ironman, it appears that he has concentrated on placing high at the Arnold. Silvio Samuel took the title a month ago in Los Angeles and finished three spots higher than Badell at the Olympia. From the outside it would appear that Badell had a better shot against the Ironman field. He must have had a reason for skipping a show that he has had past success at. With that in mind, figure on Badell coming in to Ohio ripped and ready to do some damage.

Maybe even enough for an upset win.

Heading into the Mr. Olympia contest, the fan favorite to take the title away from Jay Cutler was none other than Dennis Wolf. The 5’11″ German had been spoken of as the most likely of the competitors to make the biggest jump from his fifth place finish in 2007.

While he did come in looking as if he trained intensely for the show, he did have enough flaws that his fourth place finish was questioned. Tony Freeman finished in fifth and appeared to be in much better condition than Wolf.

Wolf lacked in a few areas, including his hamstrings and calves. His obliques were not where they should have been, either. From some angles, he appeared to have ‘love handles.’ Definitely not a trait that you want on stage striving for the Sandow.

In comparison, eventual winner Dexter Jackson looked shredded in that area, with striations giving him good definition. Wolf may have even appeared to have taken a step back from last year in some aspects.

The question now arises if Wolf is overrated. Since turning pro in 2006, he finished in seventh at the Europa Supershow, fifth at the Montreal Pro Championships, third in the Grand Prix Spain, didn’t place at his first Olympia in 2006 (16th), finished third at the 2007 New York Pro, first at the 2007 Keystone Pro Classic and the aforementioned fifth in Vegas that same year. Not exactly criteria that would make you a favorite to win the highest level award in the world.

Wolf felt confident heading into his latest show. “I improved myself, all my body parts,” he said two days prior to the Olympia. “I did my homework and we’ll see what happens.” He also felt that concentrating on one contest for the year was beneficial. “I got some rest for my body,” he added. “I had a good offseason, good dieting and preparation. Everything went good.”

While moving up one place is still an accomplishment, Wolf had to be slightly disappointed that he could not crack the top three, especially since Cutler was unseated and his title was ripe for the taking.

Wolf had stated that he intends on adding 10 pounds for the 2009 Olympia. Especially since he already has so much size, he should concentrate on improving what he has before adding more.

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