‘09 Show in Ohio Would Go a Long Way After Being Reinstated by IFBB

After battling for nearly three years to be reinstated by the IFBB, Lee Priest has decided to make his return to the stage at the Australian and New Zealand Pros instead of the Arnold Classic. That may come as a surprise to some people, since all three shows are within a week of one another and the Arnold is viewed as the next big thing after the Mr. Olympia contest.

Last year, Dexter Jackson scored a hat trick of all three shows in March and then topped it by also taking the Mr. O title. While this is not a scenario that Priest would be able to duplicate, the Arnold show is held in a much higher regard than either overseas shows. Being from Australia, perhaps Priest feels that his best chance at taking one of the championships - or at least placing in the top three for Olympia qualification purposes - is with minimal travel.

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IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Will Be Our Special Guest This Week

We are proud to announce that on this week’s episode of ‘MuscleSport Radio,’ our special guest will be none other than IFBB professional bodybuilder Gunter Schlierkamp. The 4th place finisher at the 2005 Mr. Olympia contest has been one of the most recognizable faces inside the industry and outside, adding the title of ‘actor’ to his long list of accomplishments.

Be sure to listen live this Tuesday October 28 from 3 to 4 pm Eastern time on Blog Talk Radio (www.blogtalkradio.com). All episodes are available to listen to any time on the MuscleSport Mag website, Blog Talk Radio and iTunes.

Aesthetic Dexter Jackson Unseats Jay Cutler for 2009 Mr. Olympia

The following article will appear in the November 2008 issue of New York Sportscene magazine.

Heading into the 2009 Mr. Olympia contest, the two names being thrown around were Jay Cutler, the two-time defending champion, and an up and coming Dennis Wolf. Three other names heard often were of the men who were to miss the show due to injury: Victor Martinez (the 2007 runner-up), Branch Warren and Kai Green.

Dexter Jackson kind of stayed under the radar, which was quite all right by him. While Cutler and Wolf trained all year for the show, Jackson was piling up first place trophies at the Arnold Classic, Australian Pro and New Zealand Grand Prix. When asked two days prior to the Olympia if dieting down and all of that preparation and travel would be a detriment to him, Jackson replied, “You just have to know how to pace yourself. It’s not going to affect me in any way. I’ll still be 110 percent on that stage.” Continue Reading »

Two Huge Names to Grace the Columbus, Ohio Stage

One had to sit out because of an injury, the other finished a disappointing fourth. Two names that were being thrown around liberally before the most recent Mr. Olympia contest was Branch Warren and Dennis Wolf, and it won’t be long before they’re being spoken of in the same light again.

The difference this time will be that Wolf and Warren are going to be hitting the stage at the next Arnold Classic. For Wolf, this will be his first foray in Ohio, and Warren finished in second place at the 2006 Arnold. Continue Reading »

Long Island Native Finishes Second in 202 Showdown

Most athletes have the luxury of something called an ‘offseason.’ You know, the winter in baseball and the spring for football. A time of the year to recover from all the work that you put in. That is the case in most sports.

Not in bodybuilding, which is a 12 month, seven days a week commitment. To prepare for a competition, especially one with the magnitude of Mr. Olympia, there isn’t a day to waste. Kevin English has to get down approximately 70 pounds to his contest weight of a little over 200.

“Usually when people see me on stage they think that I’m about 20 pounds heavier,” the 5’4” Great Neck, New York native said. No wonder with the mass that he possesses.

In September, he was on bodybuilding’s largest stage at the 44th Mr. Olympia contest, which took place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It was English’s rookie ‘O,’ and he finished 16th out of 19 competitors. Earlier in the day, he was the first runner-up in the 202 Showdown, which pitted the smaller bodybuilders against one another. Continue Reading »

“Big Bad” Lucky to Finish in Fourth

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. Continue Reading »

Finishing Third in Maiden Olympia a Huge Accomplishment

Heading into the 2008 Mr. Olympia contest, the one name being tossed around as a wild card was Phil Heath. The man known as the Gift was making his first appearance on the Olympia stage, but has had a very productive year. Winning the IFBB Iron Man and finishing second to Dexter Jackson at the Arnold Classic had the 28 year-old in line for a good finish in Las Vegas.

Two days before the Olympia, Heath remained humble about his chances. “Any time that you have the opportunity to be mentioned like that, it is a privilege,” he said. “Especially being a rookie, with the build up, to be in my position (being picked as) in the top six going in, for me, it’s an honor and a privilege.” Continue Reading »

As MuscleSport Mag Predicted, the Blade Unseats Jay Cutler

Las Vegas, NV - On Thursday night, Dexter Jackson took the high road when asked where he would finish in the Mr. Olympia competition. “No predictions,” the humble one said. But surely he had to have an opinion inside, one that was very high. Who could blame him after winning three contests in the calendar year.

Winning the Arnold Classic, Australian Pro and New Zealand Grand Prix were incredible accomplishments, but paled in comparison to latest triumph by the Blade. On Saturday night in at the Orleans Arena, Dexter Jackson was named the new Mr. Olympia.

It came down to two men, both who stood on the stage awaiting the announcement from host Bob Cicherillo. As his name was read, Jackson was visibly emotional and went down to one knee and bowed his head. By the time he was able to arise, tears of joy were flowing down his face while the crowd erupted even louder. Continue Reading »

Bodybuilding’s Newest Player Vegas-Bound

This time next week, the staff of MuscleSport Mag will be settled into The Orleans Hotel and Casino in sunny Las Vegas. Lucky enough to be lodging at the same location as the actual Mr. Olympia contest, we will be hands-on the entire weekend. Nothing will get by our prying eyes and ears without us reporting it and getting the information out to the bodybuilding fans.

From the ‘Meet the Olympians’ on Thursday night; to the Olympia Expo on Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Women’s Fitness, Figure and Ms. Olympia pre-judging and finals; and of course the Men’s Mr. O pre-judging and finals, MSM will be bringing you all the action.

Be sure to check our site regularly the entire weekend for up-to-the-minute photographs of everything happening out west. Will Jay Cutler make it three in a row? Will Dennis Wolf climb the mountain? Is Dexter jackson going to cap off an incredible year with the Sandow? We’ll be there and you will feel like you are with our around-the-clock coverage of the entire Olympia experience.

Injuries to Many Top Contenders an Unexpected “Gift”

The bodybuilder known as “The Gift” may receive an unexpected one come September 27. Phil Heath was not being spoken about as a top three contender for the Mr. Olympia title, but after a few good men had to drop out due to injuries, his stock has risen.

Victor Martinez finished a controversial second to Jay Cutler at last year’s Olympia, but suffered a knee injury earlier in the year. Branch Warren tore a tricep and Kai Green is recovering from a hernia.

Heath did not compete in the ‘07 Olympia, but has had a productive year. He won the Iron Man contest and finished second to Dexter Jackson two weeks later at the Arnold Classic. The former University of Denver basketball star may make a statement at this show, even if it to finish ahead of Jackson.

Considering that this is his first time going for the Sandow, if Heath can finish in the top three, that would be a big step for the 28 year-old. A top-five is more likely.