45th Annual Mr. Olympia Weekend

Las Vegas, Nevada September 24th & 25th, 2010
at the
Orleans Arena

by
Shawn Ray

The Joe Weider, Mr. Olympia Contest began in 1965 with the first champion ever from the state of Utah, Larry Scott who was known for his rugged good looks and massive 20 inch Biceps! A year later, Mr. Scott would replicate the previous years efforts with another victory and go into the annuals of Sandow Trophy lore as one of the first of 12 Mr. Olympia Winners in the sports 44 year run leaving this, the 45th year wide open for 1 of approximately 20 plus competitors vying to join the sports
"Elite 12!"

In 1967 The Myth, Segio Oliva would capture the title and hold steadfast to it for the next three consecutive years to close out the decade that was the 60's. This Cuban Bodybuilder showed the world the meaning of word, "Width!" Segio was one of the widest guys onstage for his time from shoulder to shoulder with one of the smallest waistlines the sport has ever seen.


Nothing lasts forever and while Sergio was a dominating force for his time, sadly he would be there to witness the arrival of the Austrian Oak, Arnold Schwarzenegger onto the Pro Scene by way of Graz, Austria. The young version of Arnold took hold of the Sandow Trophy in 1970 defeating one of the most imposing figures of our time and would not relinquish the title for the next 5 years straight to 1975 before going into the Movies and becoming, "Hollywood" as an Actor.


While Arnold stepped aside to pursue his Acting career and begin his Real estate ventures, his diminutive training partner, Dr. Franco Columbo from a tiny place called, Sardinia, Italy would fill the bill nicely as Mr. Olympia in 1976.



In the year 1977 "The Chemist," Frank Zane out of Palm Springs, California would usher in a new type of Mr. Olympia physique the world had not yet seen, weighing all of 190lbs, Frank was the first to usher in adjectives like; Shape, Symmetry, Balance and Class worthy of an Olympia Champion. he would dominate an increasingly competitve field for the next two years leaving him with 3 Sandow Trophies to his credit.



1980 was a pivital year for Bodybuilding and the great Arnold Schwarzenegger knew it and seize the moment! He would travel to Sydney, Australia and pull off a surprise victory in the midst of training for his Blockbuster Movie, Conan The Barbarian. While he wasn't the Arnold of old, he had just the right amount of everything to whip up a hornets nest of emotions and steal his 7th and final Sandow Trophy from some feisty competitors who were none too happy about his surprise late entry into the fray!



1981 was a comeback of sorts too and of course, if it is good enough for Arnold then it is good enough for his training partner and best friend, Dr. Franco Columbo who had been sidelined since winning the title in 76' with a major knee injury but he was strong enough to get back in the mix and swipe the title and the trophy for his second and final Mr. Olympia!


1982 we saw what was at the time, the sports Oldest Contest winner in the form of Chris Dickerson. Topping the scale at 189lbs, Chris won this contest when many guys would have thrown in the towel. At the ripe old age of 42, the Sandow Trophy never looked so good to the sports first ever Black Mr. America Winner. Chris, born a "Triplet" was an established Operatic Singer who found his calling on the Bodybuilding stage.



In 1983 we heard and saw the Roar of the Lion of Lebonon, Samir Bannout!
Samir came in hard and dry and would be the last of the 5'6 and 200lbs Mr. Olympia Winner's we would see for the next 25 years!


1984 from South Carolina the Totalee Awesome, Lee Haney would take from Samir what he thought was his for the keeping and run with the Sandow Trophy for a record 8 consecutive years before retiring at the ripe old age of 31! Coming in at what was considered at the time a whopping 250lbs on the Olympia stage which had never been done before by a previous winner of the contest while standing at nearly 6ft, Lee was the sports dominating figure onstage bar none!


1992 the landscape of Professional Bodybuilding would be changed for good with the emergence of King Dorian Yates from England. Dorian would pick up where Lee Haney left off standing nearly 6ft and tipping the scales at nearly 245lb! Dorian would push the envelope ultimately competing at 260lbs plus and later winning another five consecutive Mr. Olympia Titles before retiring due to injuries.


1998 would be the 1st year we would not have a Defending Mr. Olympia Champion in more than a decade! The contest was wide open for about six of the world's best bodybuilders to lay claim to the Olympia Throne but incredibly none of the pre contest favorites would ascend to the top instead, a Beast from Texas in the form of Ronnie Coleman would climb the mountain of future Hall of Fame Bodybuilders to deprive them all of a Sandow Trophy for another 8 consecutive years! Ronnie ushered in the biggest Mr. Olympia in the sports history topping the scale at over 270lbs at the height of 5'10 before losing the title in 2006 finishing in second place and the following year down to 4th place before exiting Mr. Olympia competition for good in 2007.


The Biggest Upset victory in Mr. Olympia History had to be the defeat of Ronnie Coleman at the hands of the new champion, Jay Cutler! At 5'9 260lbs, Jay brought in just enough of the right stuff after finishing four consecutive years as the 1st Runner up in Olympia competition! Jay would repeat as the champion in 2007 before getting regulated again to the 1st Runner up in 2008.


2008, Dexter "The Blade" Jackson returned the Mr. Olympia title to the 5'7 220lb Bodybuilder for the first time since 1983 when Samir Bannout won the title. Dexter came in ripped and hard which ultimately proved too much for Jay Cutler who missed his peak and chance at the Three Peat! In 2009, Dexter would tumble down to 4th place once again becoming the "Challenger" before his career comes to an end.


2009 Jay Cutler would leave no wiggle room for Dexter and company vying for the Olympia title as he redefined his physique by streamlining his waist line, placing more emphasis on detail and condition than size which enabled him to recapture the Sandow Trophy for the third time joining the likes of Sergio and Zane as the only 3 Time Champions!



2010 will be a day of Reckoning for the defending champion, Jay Cutler, a Wake up call for Victor Martinez, a coming out Party for Phil Heath, a Celebration for Kai Greene and a day of Vengeance for Branch Warren but who will find favor in the eye's of the Sandow Trophy and join the Joe Weider legacy as the World's best Built Man?

< Prev