Written by Peter McGough
25 January 2017

17timeschanging

The Times They Are A Changing

The Bodybuilding Landscape is Shifting

 

 

As well as determining the destination of the eight titles up for grabs, the 2016 Olympia Weekend seemed to send a clear signal: That change is taking place with established veterans losing ground in the wake of an influx of newcomers.

Noticeably absent were three seasoned Mr. Olympia campaigners. For the second year in succession Kai Greene, whose Olympia résumé is six appearances with three runner-up spots and two other top four finishes, skipped the event. It now seems that Kai will never again compete at the biggest contest on the bodybuilding calendar and instead concentrate on the Arnold Classic circuit that now spans the globe. Others may differ but the bottom line is staying out of the Olympia means The Predator will never be acclaimed the best bodybuilder in the world. I for one, hope he changes his mind.

Also missing was Branch Warren who has had eight Olympia outings with five top six finishes. Battle worn and with a healthy non-bodybuilding company consuming his time we perhaps may not see him in serious flexing action again.

Absent due to sustaining a serious neck injury was Dennis Wolf who was been on the Olympia stage ten times with seven top six finishes.

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ON THE RISE

On the other hand the future looks bright with a host of newer guys making advances. First we have the 20 something brigade. This group encompasses 25 year old Dallas McCarver who is growing like a weed (if a 285 pound entity can be called a weed), 28 year old Justin Compton who despite finishing tenth in his first Olympia has potential written all over his physique. Plus not competing at the Olympia but still one to watch for the future is Cody Montgomery who at 22 years of age was judged harshly with 10th place at the 2016 Arnold Classic.

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Rookie of the year must be Britain’s Nathan DeAsha whose spectacular physique surely deserved better than 14th. In the new breed category we have to include William Bonac who despite this being his third Olympia made a giant leap forward with a stunning fifth place (many had him as high as second) that promised much better things to come. In a similar overview Roelly Winklaar cannot be overlooked and he has gone through a renaissance of sorts this year. The aforementioned are for the most part on an improvement curve and look set in years to come to be main Olympia players.

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SHAKING UP THE 212s

The 212 division also had a dramatic infusion of new blood in the shape of the super muscular Ahmad Ashkanani who stormed to second in his rookie year. He has the muscle (his back is so wide and thick that his right lat is in a different time zone than his left) and great proportions. If the 32 year old who trains at the Oxygen Gym in Kuwait, can carve in more overall detail and bring his legs up a tad he looks capable of giving five time 212 champ Flex Lewis a battle royal.

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MORE PROS THAN A SHAKESPEARE SOLILOQUY

One growing aspect of the Olympia Weekend is the number of contests and competitors appearing over the two days of contest action. In all there were an astonishing total of 211 competitors spread across eight classes. In the first Olympia I attended in 1982 in London there was only one class: men’s bodybuilding with 16 entrants.

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This growth spurt has good and bad implications. Good in that more competitors can enter a class that matches their ambitions and physique. But bad, as processing that amount of entrants leads to fan fatigue and so certain timesaving procedures have been introduced that in my opinion are unfair. For instance only the top ten, out of 32, in the women’s physique class were allowed to do their posing routines and only five, out of 19, 212 guys posed. With all due respect to non-bodybuilding classes, bodybuilders have to work harder and longer to earn a pro card and go through a much more arduous contest prep period. As such they should be allowed to fully display their physiques.

The Bikini class had 42 competitors and the Men’s Physique had 40. These classes are so large that it might be beneficial to have an elimination process at the prejudging and reduce the numbers to 15 for actual judging. Some may cry “foul” but in other sports such eliminations take place. At the 2016 Olympics 84 athletes qualified for the heats of the 100 meters sprint but only nine ran in the final. Whatever, it would seem we have reached saturation level with the number of classes --- unless they bring out a division for over 65 year olds with white hair who can do a killer Joe Weider impression? Come on Jim Manion and Robin Chang, make it happen.

 

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