Wayne’s Hard News - Report on the 2009 Olympia Experience.

It has been 5 years since the GMV team has had the privilege of working on the Olympia camera team including backstage. That was last in 2004, back at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Since 2005 the Olympia has been staged at the Orleans Hotel with its very modern Arena and excellent facilities. The very popular Expo is held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, a short free bus ride from the hotel. In this report I am including some interesting notes from our personal team diary along with a few comments on key competitors.

This is not meant to be an in-depth report on the placings or all competitors, as this has been well covered by others who were able to concentrate on making notes during the contest. This report is entirely my own personal one, made from my memory and with help from my hard working team of Tina Gallasch and Richard Rossan. Plus interviewer John Hansen. My very special thanks to them and also to Andy Olson who provided his pool, garden and wonderful hospitality for our Olympia Sunday poolside shoots.

MONDAY SEPT. 21 – The week’s activities began with a video and photo shoot of Dan Hill at Gold’s Gym on Buffalo. Dan is 23 year old new Pro German bodybuilder with great potential to develop into a bodybuilding star. He will make his Pro debut at the Iron Man Pro in January, 2010. We are presently producing a new DVD with Dan, to be completed after the Iron Man as we follow his progress to his debut. 

TUESDAY SEPT. 22 - We moved into the host hotel, The Orleans, so as to be ready for our first commitment on Wednesday. It gave us time to check our 2 video camera set-up and get fully prepared for the busy period ahead. 

WEDNESDAY SEPT. 23 –  Our first task was  a 1:00PM technical meeting at the Arena to discuss video aspects of the contest with Lou Zwick, and Buzz, the editor of the Olympia DVDs.  We then chatted with John Balik on the stage of the Arena where John and his assistant were arranging the lighting for the event. At the restaurant that night, we talked with Eduardo Correa, the star Pro Brazilian bodybuilder with whom we had scheduled a video and photo workout shoot. Eduardo subsequently placed 3rd in the 202 Class. He is South America’s top Pro bodybuilder.

In the evening, we recorded the Male Athlete’s meeting where they receive their numbers, badges, etc and handed in their music. At the end of the meeting the 202 lb class competitors had their first weigh in. There was also a second weigh in the next day so that any 202 guys who did not make weight, or did not attend this meeting could weigh the next day. This was cutting it fine as they only then had once chance to make it by doing it at the last chance!  

I immediately noticed 2 things at the meeting in regard to Jay Cutler. He looked gaunt in the face, especially around the jaw line – a good indicator that he was really lean and in shape. Boy was this later proved to be the case. Secondly he had a new blond “hairstyle” that made him look younger! Both Mark Dugdale and Eduardo Correa were over the 202 lb limit and made it the next day when they were weighed after the Press Conference. Also Stan McQuay weighed in successfully. I noted that Daryl Gee was by far the lightest man at the first weigh in. His rise to the pro ranks from obscurity over the last few months has been meteoric. 

THURSDAY SEPT. 24  The afternoon commenced with the Press Conference. All of the male competitors were seated on stage in the packed Orleans theatre and the 2 emcees were Dan Solomon and Bob Cicherillo. They did a superb job, chatting with and stirring up various competitors by asking them leading questions. Several guys hit poses for the audience and I would not mind seeing a lot more of the guys do the same in mini posedowns for the audience. In conclusion, some questions were posed from the audience to various athletes.

The evening was devoted to MEET THE ATHLETES. In a large concourse area at the Arena the male and female athletes were all seated at tables, selling their photos and DVDs and posing for photos  with their fans. This is one of the most popular features of the Olympia Weekend and is always packed.
I moved my camera from athlete to athlete for short interviews conducted by our excellent interviewer, John Hansen. I was hoping to interview every single athlete – which proved to be an impossible task given the time frame. After 2 hours of solid interviews and fighting crowds of fans, we called it a day. These interviews are being considered for part of the extra scenes that will be exclusive to the 2 Olympia DVDs.

The Concourse area was very crowded which also slowed down the interviews, with the biggest names such as Cutler, Greene, Heath and Jackson having the longest lines of fans waiting to buy stuff from them. 

FRIDAY SEPT. 25  A very busy day. Arrived at the Expo at 8:30AM to set up 2 video cameras in different locations. Tina had a riser (TV platform) at the Strongman Stage and my riser was at the Main Stage, ready for the Women’s Prejudging – all 3 classes and then the Prejudging of the Bikini Model Contest.
The morning and afternoon sessions passed very quickly. It was obvious to me that the Ms Olympia crown was going to belong to Iris Kyle for another year and that the battle for second place was between Heather Armbrust and Debi Laszewski. Iris looked sensational, as usual, and I predict she will win this title for at least a few more years till she says enough is enough. 

We packed up all our camera gear and rushed back to the Arena, grabbing a sandwich on the way so that we could be  backstage in the pump room area starting at 6 PM.  When Jay appeared for the Mr Olympia Prejudging, his hair still looked “different” and he looked slightly gaunt (in an in-shape sort of way), and in much better condition than last year when he lost the title. I remained backstage during the prejudging, shooting the oiling, tanning and pumping of all competitors, male and female. The best of this footage will be EXCLUSIVE to the 2 Olympia DVDs, along with other footage I shot throughout the weekend from the women’s and 202 Class prejudging and more.
 
It was soon obvious to me that Jay was going to beat Dexter Jackson, the current Mr. Olympia, and that his main opposition was coming from Branch Warren (amazing size and condition), Kai Greene, Phil Heath and of course Dexter. Victor looked about the same as he looked at the 2009 Arnold and was a fraction off the pace.

At the Arnold, Kai finished ahead of Branch but now it was hard to tell Kai’s exact condition compared to then, in that he had tougher opposition. At this stage I felt Kai was in 3rd place with Dexter or Branch around about the 2nd or 3rd placings. Phil looked great but in my opinion, he was coming in a fraction too heavy and not as hard as Jay and Branch. This was borne out by the final placings for every class, see below. 

SATURDAY SEPT. 26  Another very long day at the EXPO. Tina was again taping the Strong Man Challenge, and I kept busy shooting the 202 lb Class Showdown Prejudging, and all the other events on the main Expo stage, Bikini Model Final, Johnnie Jackson Powerlifting Challenge and the Bench Press contest.

I expected that David Henry would win the 202 Class again and that Kevin English or the South American sensation Eduardo Correa from Brazil would take 2nd place. That is how I saw it through my camera lens but the judges saw it a little differently with the subsequent results showing an “upset” in my opinion, with English taking first place and Correa 3rd behind Henry.

As the powerlifting did not end till after 5PM, we did not pack up and leave the EXPO till 5:30 PM and had little time to eat (a sandwich for dinner) before returning to the Arena and the back stage pump room for the finals.  Athletes start pumping and tanning etc just before 6PM. The videotaped footage looked incredible as the guys pumped and posed in the excellent lighting backstage.

We saw Mike O’Hearn there as he would be presenting the prizes. He also looked huge.

Towards the end of the contest when all of the guys were on stage, I went out to my press pit seat to grab a few photos.  The Arena appeared to be almost a sell out – I guess about 5000 seats. This must have been extremely pleasing to Robin Chang and his hard working team.
The crowd erupted in huge cheers when home town hero Jay Cutler was announced as the winner. Tons of confetti was released from the ceiling area in his honor and a rather frail Joe Weider came back out on stage to honor Jay. It was a very special moment. Jay is the first Mr. Olympia to have been beaten, return to the Olympia and win the title back again. I take my hat off to him for this incredible achievement and a victory that was clear cut and thoroughly deserved. He was huge, symmetrical, ripped and displayed wonderful condition. It was left to the remaining competitors to fight for the other placings. 

I was a little surprised to see Branch take 2nd but he looked the best he has ever looked and having made the first callout, this was not a total surprise. Again, truly deserved.

I felt a little sorry for Dexter as he did look in excellent shape and was certainly not disgraced. However I did feel that Branch pulled ahead of Dexter when it came to legs. At the end of the night Jay was naturally in great spirits and was in demand for many backstage photos. This ended a fabulous Olympia for me and my hard working team. Again my special thanks to Richard Rossan. 

SUNDAY  SEPT. 27  After a quick pack of the equipment and checking out of the hotel we went to Andy Olson’s house for the now traditional Sunday video and photo shoots at his pool, followed by a wonderful buffet. My thanks to Andy for his help and support.

We had outstanding pumping and posing shoots with the following athletes:

Eduardo Correa
Dan Hill
Lee Apperson
Brian Yersky
Michael Kohndrow 

MONDAY SEPT. 28  Some weeks prior to the Olympia contest, we set up a DVD gym and photo shoot with Eduardo Correa. He was one of the favorites scheduled to compete in the 202 class. I knew Eduardo from having shot video of him winning the Junior Universe in 2002. I was also aware of his massive improvement since that time and how he is now a top rated pro in this his first year on the pro scene.

Our 2 hour gym shoot was the piece de resistance of the whole Olympia week. Eduardo has an incredible physique, still in his shredded Olympia condition 2 days after the contest. This was the mark of a true professional. His physique was vascular, and his condition was unbelievable as he flexed and tensed for the cameras after every set. Every striation was evident in what was one of the most satisfying workout shoots I have ever recorded. We will certainly get this DVD edited as soon as we can after all contest commitments. All in all this was our best ever Olympia trip! The complete RESULTS are listed below.

Please click here to Pre-Order the 2009 Mr. Olympia DVD.
Please click here to Pre-Order the 2009 Olympia Women’s DVD.

1. Jay Cutler
2. Branch Warren
3. Dexter Jackson
4. Kai Greene
5. Phil Heath
6. Victor Martinez
7. Ronny Rockel
8. Toney Freeman
9. Hidetada Yamagishi
10. Moe El Moussawi
11. Melvin Anthony (tie)
11. Silvio Samuel (tie)
13. Gustavo Badell
14. Dennis James
15. Markus Ruhl
16. Troy Alves
16. Darrem Charles
16. Martin Kjellstrom
16. Bill Wilmore
16. Dennis Wolf
16. Joel Stubbs
16. Michael Kefalianos
16. Ahmad Haidar

2009 Olympia 202 Showdown Final Placings

1. Kevin English
2. David Henry
3. Eduardo Correa
4. Mark Dugdale
5. James "FLEX" Lewis
6. Jose Raymond
7. Richard "Tricky" Jackson
8. Jason Arntz
9. Lee Powell
10. John Hodgson
11. Charles Dixon
12. Kris Dim
13. Clarence Devis
14. Stan McQuay
15. Daryl Gee

2009 Figure Olympia Final Placings

1. Nicole Wilkins-Lee
2. Gina Aliotti
3. Heather Mae French
4. Krystal Richardson
5. Amy Fry
6. Erin Stern
7. Jenny Lynn
8. Jessica Paxson-Putnam
9. Felicia Romero
10. Monica Brant
11. Sonia Gonzales
12. Larissa Reis
13. Alicia Marie Harris
14. Kristi Tauti
15. Meriza DeGuzman
16. Teresa Anthony
16. Houng Arcinas
16. Krissy Chin
16. Patricia Mello
16. April Rountree
16. Sherlyn Roy
16. Brenda Marie-Smith

2009 Ms Olympia Final Placings

1. Iris Kyle
2. Heather Armbrust
3. Debi Laszewski
4. Lisa Aukland
5. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
6. Betty Pariso
7. Kristy Hawkins
8. Dayana Cadeau
9. Betty Viana-Adkins
10. Tina Chandler
11. Rosemary Jennings
12. Nicole Ball
13. Gale Frankie

2009 Fitness Olympia Final Placings

1. Adela Garcia
2. Tanji Johnson
3. Tracey Greenwood
4. Julie Palmer
5. Tina Durkin
6. Myriam Capes
7. Shannon Meteraud
8. Nicole Duncan
9. Regiane Da Silva
10. Trish Warren
11. Mindi O'Brien

2009 Bikini Model Final Placings

1. Amanda Latona
2. Mary Jarmolawich
3. Tianna Ta
4. Michell Goulet
5. Shannon Rockweiler
6. Tatum Miranda
7. Lauren Rush
8. Natalia Muntean
9. Krissy Richards
10. Fernanda Rocha
11. Katie Barnes
12. Ashley Zito
13. Tiffany Radzwill
14. Lindsay Huber
15. Deborah Cochrell
16. Kelly Willis