THE COMPLETE PREJUDGING OF THE 2001 MR. OLYMPIA!!

A first ever for GMV and all bodybuilding fans.  At our request we obtained permission to edit and produce a first ever COMPLETE PREJUDGING video from the 2001 Mr. Olympia.

 The “real contest” at the Mr. Olympia was the prejudging.  It was a titanic battle between the monstrous marvel RONNIE COLEMAN and the ripped golden boy JAY CUTLER.  Jay led by 6 points at the end of Rounds 1 and 2 – but Ronnie later posed his way to a very narrow 4 point victory.  Did Ronnie deserve to win?  You be the judge.

 Complete prejudging action from the solo poses of Muscularity Round 1 and all the top guys shown in the ¼ turns of Symmetry Round 2.  Includes all the excitement of the complete compulsory comparisons through to the final callout which was Jay versus Ronnie.

 The most exciting Mr. Olympia in years!!

 For the complete results scorecard, highlights of the performance and pose-down rounds, athlete interviews and awards, see the 2001 Mr. Olympia video (click here for details).

 90 sweat filled minutes of awe inspiring muscle war.

A-1054  2001 Mr. Olympia Prejudging 90 mins  US$39.95 or A$49.00

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2 NEW VIDEOS FROM USA

 “LEE PRIEST – ANOTHER BLOND MYTH”, just over 1 hour, US$39.95 or A$65.00 is a sensational new video on the mighty Australian (A-4315).

PLUS

The long awaited video from DENNIS JAMES is now in stock.  “DENNIS THE MENACE JAMES – THIS IS THE WAY I DO IT!”.  Hard core gym workout in the style of Dorian’s Blood & Guts video.  You can have Dennis’s 90 minute video for US$39.95 or A$65.00 (A-4312).

 Apart from completing the editing of the 5 WFF videos, we have also this week updated, added to and revamped our video GMV-306 “The 50 years of the NABBA Universe 1948-1998”.  31 new photos and 9 new video clips have been added together with a complete list of every winner of every section of this prestigious event from 1948 to 2001.  It is the world’s oldest Mr. Universe competition and is held each year in England.

 The new title of the video is “ The History of the NABBA Universe 1948 to the Present.”  The extended running time is 167 ½ mins of classic legendary magic.  From Grimek to Reeves, Park, Pearl Arnold, Zane Kawak, Clairmonte and Ellwood – they are all there.  Just to name a few.  If you like our Classic Collection series of videos, this is a “must have” video.

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Next time I will include a reprint on the article I wrote for English “Health and Strength” magazine in October 1970 with my comments on the first NABBA Mr. Universe I attended (and filmed) in London, September 1970.  This classic contest saw the 4th and final UK Universe victory for Arnold whose IFBB career then took off with him winning the next 6 Olympias in a row.

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2001 WFF 19th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – LOESSNITZ (DRESDEN), GERMANY, 24 NOV 2001

 What is the WFF?  It is Europe’s fastest growing bodybuilding and fitness organisation. Established in Germany by Klaus Hoffmann around 9 years ago, it aims to give a competition opportunity to EVERY bodybuilder and fitness athlete,  regardless of genetics.

 Most male bodybuilders can never hope to look like Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler.  But based on their body type and age both male and female bodybuilders and fitness type bodybuilders now have an avenue for World and Universe competition.  From the local and regional level right up to the WFF Universe each June and World Championships each November.

In the WFF each bodybuilder is graded as to body type, style of presentation and overall size.  The huge physiques go into the section called “Men’s Extreme Body”.  These guys would not look out of place in the Nationals, NABBA Universe or a Pro Grand Prix.

 Other categories cater for under 18 years and junior age bodybuilders both male and female through to classes for over 30, over 40 for men and women.  There’s also men’s over 50 and over 60 classes and a wheelchair class together with the very popular pairs.

 Within these age classes you get the “Superbody” class for men and women for the medium sized bodybuilders below the “Extreme Body” class.  Men’s and women’s Athletic, Performance and Fitness classes are for other athletes and posing styles, but it is all 100% bodybuilding based on the 3 rounds system of symmetry round, posing round and muscularity comparisons round.  At the end of the event all trophies are presented for all classes.

 Please take a look at the WFF Worlds results in the Results Section to get a better handle on the classes, countries represented and huge number of champions rewarded.  It truly means there is a class and category for everyone, regardless of age and body type.  This is bringing a huge number of gym junkies into physique and fitness competition without considerable amounts of chemical assistance, diuretics or synthol.  Just lots of hard work and dedication.

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2001 WFF WORLDS REPORT IN BRIEF

214 athletes gathered in Loessnitz near Zwichau (near Dresden) in the eastern side of Germany.  Computerised registration went like clockwork the day before the big event as athletes arrived from virtually every country in Europe, plus competitors from USA and the UK.  Germany had a very strong team of nearly 70 with an outstanding team from the Baltic States, formerly part of the old USSR.

 After classification into various classes, the championships started at 2.30 pm and finished at around 3am the next morning – without a break.  Naturally, every bodybuilder posed or performed their fitness / physique routine.  Some routines could only be described as fantastic and many of the physiques were simply sensational.  I knew I was in for approximately 12 hours of continuous camerawork without a break, so even I spent weeks on my own fitness and endurance training to prepare for the Championship.  I was ably helped in carrying all the camera gear to Germany by my pump room cameraman, Clive Jaques.  Clive shot 4 hours of tape in the gym which served as the pump area and took lots of photos.  Thanks also to Klaus, Frank and Mandy for their assistance.

Now a few highlights as there were just too many to mention.  Firstly the men.

 Junior Superbody winner was Germany’s STEVE HACHENBERGER and his degree of maturity and development was outstanding.  A star of the future.

 The overall men’s fitness winner was VLADIMIR MARACHOVSKIJ of Latvia.  His tight physique and sensational routine proved to be the winning combination.  FRANCO CARLOTTO of Switzerland was an outstanding overall winner of the Men’s Performance class.  His routine was incredible and Franco is also a well known model.  Close behind him was the superb PATRICK HEISEL, winner of the Over 30 section of Men's Performance

In the Over 30 Men’s Athletic there was a titanic battle between Germany’s victorious ANDREAS WILMS and the blond former gymnast from Denmark HENNING CHRISTENSEN.

 Overall Men’s Athletic winner was POLI MONTEVELIDIS, a German of Greek descent.  This class was red hot as ROMAN SENTI, a former champion,  was a very close runner-up.

 Overall Superbody winner MINDAUGAS KVASYS of Lithuania had the total winning package of size, shape, charisma and a wonderful posing routine.

 VASILIS ZACHILIS of Greece took the Extreme Body Class with a physique that would not have been out of place at the Olympia.

 With the women, that standard was simply fantastic and a fast rising star is Russia’s SVETLANA  PUGACHEVA from Gold’s Gym in Moscow.  From placing about 6th at the Universe in 2000 to good placings in the 2001 WFF Universe and NABBA Universe, she won her class in this event.  In the posedown for overall I would say she was a close runner-up to the German champion who also beat her into second place in the Pairs.  But is it time for a change of music and routine and I have now seen her do “Big Spender” on 3 or 4 occasions!

 The outstanding German referred to above is LUCIE WALTHER who also won the Pairs – Athletic with her husband Udo.  Lucie comfortably beat WFF Champion SYLVIE ESMENJAUD of France in her own class.  Sylvie needs a “makeover” of hair style and a new routine to recapture her #1 position in the World.  I have now seen this same routine for the last 10 years at least from this French star.

 KARIN SCHUBERT was a standout overall winner in the Women’s Fitness category.  CORINNA MAYER was another beautiful and superbly balanced German winner taking the overall title in the Women’s Performance section.  This is similar to the NABBA Figure Class.

MARINA GUSMINI of Italy had a fantastic physique as the clear winner of the Over 30 Superbody section.  I felt she deserved to win the overall title.

 Finally the Superbody overall winner was MONIKA SCHÄFER of Germany who had a development to rival the best women in the world in winning the overall Superbody title.  She epitomized this title of “Superbody”!

 There will be 5 videos from this event (3 men’s and 2 women’s) and the tapes are now ready.  GMV was proud to be official videographer of these World Championships.  It was the largest event in competitor numbers that we have ever taped.  Photos will be posted in our GALLERY next week.  For more photos see the WFF web site at http://www.worldfitnessfederation.de/.

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WEDDING BELLS AND THE 2001 OLYMPIA PUMP ROOM # 1

 Tina & I wish my son and editor Sean all the very best for the future on his marriage to Heather Shaw on Feb 2nd.  Sean said he needed a break after the long and concentrated editing of this WFF Championships!  Then to edit the Mr. Olympia Prejudging Pump Room Tape #1 and 2.  Tape # 1 was completed today, GMV-440  90 mins  $39.00

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 Bodybuilding Legends Join Forces to Create a new "SUPER SITE"!
An Intimate Experience for Fans and the Bodybuilding Community

"Malibu, California, January 20, 2002: Bodybuilders Steve Reeves(1950 Mr Universe) and Mickey Hargitay(1955 Mr Universe); physique photographers Jimmy Caruso and Russ Warner; writer, editor and photographer Gene Mozee; international video producer Wayne Gallasch of GMV Productions; and photographer Joe Valdez are just some of the contributors to GraphicMuscle.com - a web site they hope will become an essential information and entertainment source for the bodybuilding community.

This ambitious endeavour spans more than 50 years of bodybuilding - from the 1940's up through the latest names and competitions in the sport. In addition to photos, videos, reports and articles - users will find personal, behind the scenes stories for many of the images - straight from the people who created and appeared in them.

Additionally, Graphic Muscle staff will keep the site up to date with regular feature stories and news reports plus a steady stream of photos, and videos clips from GMV Productions.

The professionally designed site is supported by an inter-relational database, custom programmed for the project. This allows users to cross-reference materials - and find out all the information available on their favourite bodybuilder at the click of a button. Video content is available for users of both broadband and dial up connections.

Says Graphic Muscle CEO and Steve Reeves International Society President George Helmer, 'I think this site will stand out for several reasons. First, all of the content is sanctioned by and comes from the contributors themselves. Second, the little behind the scenes stories and personal profiles provided with the photos and videos put you right there at the photo session or event. Plus we have people in the field regularly taking photos, shooting video and submitting contest reports and interviews.'

Editor in chief, Gene Mozee adds, 'The material we have to select from is incredible - like shots of Arnold Schwarzenegger's first years in America, photos that changed the way people looked at bodybuilding and contest results that go back to the 1940's. But we're definitely more than a history site. We have already mapped out a tightly packed schedule of national and international contest coverage, both in front of the stage and behind the scenes, that includes the IFBB Pro shows, the NABBA Universe, the NABBA Worlds, the EFBB British Championships and other top European contests such as the WFF. Fans will always have something new to check out every time they log on. '

When it comes to the reason why the site came about, Cine Universe President Mickey Hargitay's reply shows his great love for bodybuilding and the people involved. 'Cine-Universe Corporation developed the Graphic Muscle website for aspiring bodybuilders to see, read and evaluate their personal aspirations, be more informed and to inspire their physical and spiritual existence more than they ever have before.' "

GMV Productions is proud to be associated with this venture. At last fans have a legitimate site to view video clips from some of our most popular male video productions. This site is the Amazon.com of bodybuilding as it contains something for virtually everyone.

When it comes to the legends of the sport from Reeves to Arnold to Scott to Robbie Robinson to Mentzer to Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman, this site has the greatest physique collection of visual images ever assembled on the web.

The site launched on the 19th of January and is located at: http://www.graphicmuscle.com.