RHODEN: NUMERO UNO IN ESPANA! Arnold Europe Finals Report
ARNOLD EUROPE: FINALS REPORT
RHODEN: NUMERO UNO IN ESPANA!
By Peter McGough
Contest coverage presented by Betancourt Nutrition & MUSCULARDEVELOPMENT.COM
Today in Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum the paintings of legendary French Post-Impressionist Paul Gaugiun were on view. Meanwhile at the Madrid Arena some other works of human creativity were unveiled via the sculptured physiques of those contesting the 2012 Arnold Classic Europe.
Prominent was the symmetrical and peeled 240-pound physique of Shawn Rhoden who took home the first place trophy presented by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the man who once made the “Numero Uno” tee shirt famous. The Maryland native has in the two weeks since his breakthrough 3rd place finish at the Mr. Olympia, become bodybuilding’s hottest entity since Kenny Jones’ sunbed malfunction.
It was all so different eight months ago when he finished 4th at the FLEX Pro and eighth at the Arnold Classic. Celebrating his 37thn birthday last April, and having taken ten years to earn his pro card (by winning the 2009 North American light heavy and overall titles), it seemed the man they call Flexatron had maxed out and was destined to be a journeyman on the IFBB circuit.
But then he hooked up with renowned contest prep advisor Chris Aceto and was outstanding in winning this summer’s Europa Supershow and Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships. This was followed by that spectacular top three finish at the O and suddenly he was a different bodybuilder from the one who started the year.
That said, this humble scribe is still of the view that talk of comparing him to Flex Wheeler is premature – he has knockout abs and thighs (more grooved than Wheeler) but he needs thicker arms and chest and more detail in his back. Still he proves that you don’t have to be a spring chicken to make gains and we await what 2013 have in store for him.
Runner-up Dennis Wolf was much improved from his sixth place at the Olympia where he was flat and just not as monstrously huge as we have seen him. On that occasion he should have placed ahead of fifth placed Branch Warren. That would have meant the giant German would already have his Olympia qualifying ticket in his training bag instead of now having to figure out a path to next year’s big dance. Rhoden won this clearly but the Wolf was not blown away. In comparison with the winner, Dennis won or was close on back shots (even given his much discussed lack of lower back thickness) front lat spread, triceps and most muscular. Once Dennis really cracks it and comes in full and shredded and stays that way throughout a contest he will begin to truly realize his potential.
October 31st (Horror Night) came early with Roelly Winklaar being placed third? Are you shitting me? The 2010 Roelly, yes. But tonight he looked like a pair of arms in search of a torso. His impact probably best summed up by Flex Wheeler’s sparse play-by-play comment, “I like his music.”
Short Shots:
Robert Piotrkowicz: In fourth was hardest in show, proving that condition can make up for unbalanced structure.
Toney Freeman: With fifth certainly didn’t get the elevator, he got the ……. but nevertheless continues to defy time. Not only is he consistent in form and condition he competes a lot more than most. And at age 46 you would be forgiven for thinking such a strategy would be detrimental to him. But he shows no sign of battle fatigue or of a body being ravaged by contest prep and injuries. A’la Dorian Gray he must have a fountain of youth mirror in his attic.
Ronny Rockel: In sixth was pretty hard from front, not so from the back.
Ed Nunn: Out of the top six – seemingly overlooked?
Johnnie Jackson: Legs are slowly improving in the Herculean task of matching a world-class upper body. Why not top six? I’ll get back to ya!
Lionel Beyeke: We always say he looks like he’s a couple of weeks out. We probably have to start asking is it just that he has thick skin in the style of Matt Mendenhall (youngsters can google him)?
Hidetada Yamagishi: In shape as usual. Burns with a competitive fire as exemplified by a rousing posing routine.
Comment on the 2012 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe
ARNOLD CLASSIC EUROPE: OCTOBER 13, 2012
Final Results
1.) Shawn Rhoden
2.) Dennis Wolf
3.) Roelly Winklaar
4.) Robert Piotrkowicz
5.) Toney Freeman
6.) Ronny Rockel
PRO FITNESS
1.) Oksana Grishina
2.) Adele Garcia.
3.) Diana Monteiro
4.) Tanji Johnson
5.) Regina DeSilva
6.) Tina Durkin
A sensation here with Oksana Grishina beating the seemingly invincible Adele Garcia.
PRO FIGURE
1.) Erin Stern
2.) Kati Alander
3.) Ava Cowan
4.) Natalia Revajova
5.) Candice Keene
6.) Larissa Reis
Click Here for Prejudging Wrap Up with Shawn Ray and Flex Wheeler