DAY 3, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26th. OLYMPIA EXPO - MS OLYMPIA PREJUDGING

 We put the last minute touches to our GMV Productions video booth in the Islander Room so that we would be ready for business when the Expo opened at 9 AM . Then it was straight down to the stage in the Islander Room, ready to get the central position for taping the Ms Olympia prejudging, rounds 1 & 2 starting at 10 AM. After crawling under the low stage to plug in my audio feed from the mixer rear of stage, we were ready to roll for a feast of feminine muscle from the 17 magnificent competitors. They were split into 2 classes with 10 lightweights and 7 heavyweights, the winners of which would vie for the overall title this year.

 It was soon evident that the battle was between an incredibly symmetrical and well conditioned Juliette Bergmann and last year's winner, Andrulla Blanchette. It made me wonder why Juliette had been missing these last 13 years as she has the most wonderful shape and feminine look for a female bodybuilder. She is only tiny but has the illusion of considerable size due to her superb shape and muscle separation. Andrulla on the other hand was not as sharp and tight as last year although she still looked fantastic.

 Not far behind Andrulla in eventual 3rd place was Dayana Cadeau, the sensational black physique star from Canada. She was the recent lightweight class winner at the Ms International. Dayana has so much sex appeal but today she was perhaps a touch heavy and it was clear to me that she would only place 3rd this time. Brenda Raganot also impressed me and she came in 4th.

 In the heavyweight class it seemed to me that Iris Kyle and Vickie Gates were a toss up right from the start, although I felt Iris had an edge in condition and in leg development and muscularity. After 3 rounds it subsequently turned out that Vickie was still in the lead.  After the 4th round they were tied on 43 points with Iris eventually taking a well deserved victory on a count back tiebreaker.

It turned out that a much improved and extremely impressive Yaxeni Oriquen took 3rd place edging out Valentina Chepiga to 4th and Lesa Lewis into 5th, such was the standard. Valentina and Lesa both looked sensational but without the degree of muscularity needed to place higher this year. Betty Pariso in 6th displayed some of the most awesome arms and delts I have ever seen.

 FITNESS OLYMPIA PREJUDGING

 The Fitness Olympia judging was on in the other hall (a big mistake in my opinion), and James Cook was taping it. He had 12 top class fitness athletes going head to head for 2 rounds.  The final 2 rounds were being carried out for both Ms. Olympias that night as part of the Evening Show at the Events Centre.

It was soon evident that Susie Curry was in a class of her own with the main contenders being Jennifer Worth (recent Fitness International winner), Kelly Ryan, Adelina Friedmansky and Timea Majorova. They eventually finished in that order. Susie is just brilliant with her routines and has the tightest body. If less emphasis was on the routine and more emphasis on the physique, then Timea is a certain future winner as she has the best physique in fitness, closely followed by Jenny Worth. Kelly Ryan also has a superb all round package. Thus ended a long and exciting morning of female Olympia prejudging competition held in front of a huge crowd.

Next year we are assured that both prejudgings won't take place at the same time.

 Then it was back into the Expo for taping a few booths and interviews with the stars before rushing back to the Events Centre to set up our back stage pump-up area, complete with carpet, weights and lights etc. This was ready for the evening finals for the women, with the show starting at 7 PM. Luckily some of the women started pumping up very early so our cameras didn't miss a single rep or drop of oil!

 It was no surprise to see the sensational JULIETTE BERGMANN of Holland win the overall title of Ms Olympia, from the very outstanding heavyweight winner, IRIS KYLE of USA. We got lots of wonderful photos and video of Juliette posing back stage with her trophies. She seemed very calm and just took it all in her stride. I hope she defends next year.  The only time Juliette lost her composure during the entire event was when she was proclaimed Overall Winner!

 I could not believe my luck as it was about 11 months ago that I booked Juliette for a video session for the day after the Mr Olympia. To have her compete and then win was almost too much good luck! If you want to know who will win the Ms Olympia next year just wait and see who we book in advance for our next Olympia Sunday session!

Last year we had booked Valentina in advance so that is 2 out of 2.

DAY 4, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th - MR OLYMPIA DAY

 Again we started out taping in the Expo with Tina, Richard and Rico, our wonderful team, flat out selling videos and meeting many of our customers. It was great to say hello to so many of you. One customer even taped an interview with me as he wanted my comments on some of the famous contests I had filmed in the past!

 Then we went to find Frank Zane at his booth for an interview. But it was so noisy from the show stage in that hall that we said we would come back later! Bad move as we never got a chance to come back. Ah well, there is always next year.

Then it was back to the pump-up area at 11AM at the Events Centre, ready for the first guys to hit the weights and start oiling up ready for the prejudging which was due to start at 12 midday. Best performers in the pump room were Craig Titus, Shawn Ray, Kevin Levrone, Chris Cormier when he was not on his cell phone, Dennis James, Jay Cutler, Gunter, Tom Prince, Mike Matarazzo and Orville Burke. Also King Kamali at times. This does not mean to infer that we didn't also shoot the other guys pumping up, it just means we got a bit less of them, or they just don't pump up much compared to my "stars of the pump room" listed above.

 You may ask what about Ronnie? Sad to say for his many fans, Ronnie hardly appears in the pump room, but we do have him in focus for the short time he is there. It is probably that he doesn't need to pump up much as after all he is the 4 times Olympia champion. But we did get some fantastic closeup footage of him posing for photos in the photo booths right after he had won his title. I hope that for the sake of his many fans Ronnie will make himself more conspicuous for us and all the other official photographers in the pump room area next time!

 After the prejudging, it was not too long to wait till the guys were back in the pump-up area at 6 PM getting ready for the show start at 7 PM. Things were really hotting up by now and the air was heavy with tension. I thought Vince Taylor was looking fantastic and he was keeping very much to himself on the fringes and not checking himself out in the mirror I had strategically placed in the centre of the carpet where I had the best light. Kevin did a thorough checkout in the mirror and seemed oblivious to all of us. Shawn hit poses for me as did Dennis James and Gunter. Jay Cutler did a brief interview for Clive as he was being oiled and so on.

 1982 Mr Olympia Chris Dickerson opened the show with his magnificent voice as he sang the National Anthem. It was very moving and got the show off to a good start. Meanwhile back in the pump area last minute touches of tan or oil were being applied by the experts in Cynthia James, Toni Dee and helpers. Tina was on the repaired 3rd camera by this time so we had every possible angle covered.

 Finally it came to the posedown with the top 6 being Ronnie, Jay Cutler, Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, Chris Cormier and Orville Burke. This was the order in which they finished. The other guys who didn't make the top 6 were mostly going to the 2 photo booths where we captured some more wonderful posing, while one star wouldn't make time for the photo booth at all.  I presume he was so disappointed that he decided he could do without the extra publicity these pix give in the Weider magazines over the next 12 months.

 At last it was Ronnie's turn for the backstage victory photos. He had quite an entourage and knowing this I had placed my tripod in position early behind the seated photographer's head. But Ronnie didn't disappoint even though he must have been exhausted.  He did shot after shot, first on his own and then with other people. Even a shot with Juliette.

Immediately available were the master judging sheets complete with judges names. This is fantastic and brings bodybuilding up with all other sports where judges names and placings are never hidden. The placings below are provisional as given out on the night before the results of the drug tests are known.

Thus ended a fantastic Olympia competition and we were left to pick up our IVANKO pump room weights, pack up our lights and equipment and ponder the event over a long overdue meal later that night.

 Rather than give you my thoughts on the individual competitors mixed in with my description of events above, here they are at the end of my event report.

Ronnie Coleman - still outstanding but Jay Cutler pushed him hard and won the compulsories. It was only the superb showmanship and charisma of Ronnie in the last 2 rounds that pulled him through. But to be honest, Ronnie's fabulous stage routine is light years ahead of Jay's routine. Ronnie looks and acts the champion.

Ronnie was showing a bit of belly bloat this year which is not a good sign as he gets older, where as Jay was tighter and well controlled in the abs.

 Jay Cutler - what an improvement this year and he was also the youngest competitor. He may be able to bring his routine up towards that of Ronnie's with a full year of focus on it, but we shall see. But showmanship comes from within. His physique has few flaws and his overall package is very good from every angle. But standing relaxed back stage Jay did appear a tiny bit soft.       With Ronnie pushing towards 40, and most of the other top guys in their mid 30s, it is only time before Jay claims the title. Possibly next time.

 Kevin Levrone - an enigma as it seemed he took the entry into this year's Olympia very casually. I like Kevin as he is so relaxed on the surface and takes everything in his stride. In fact he nearly didn't get into the Olympia but the payment of his fine scraped him in. He looked very good and almost as good as last year when he placed second. Kevin's legs were down a touch this year as I suspect his new recording career is cutting into his focus and training time. (However he won the English GP 1 week later).

But he started out looking a bit drawn on the Wednesday night but got better each day to be a genuine contender. His superb arm and deltoid tie-in just can't be beaten. His posing to his own music from his band's brand new CD was a huge thrill for Kevin. I am sure this was a first for an Olympia competitor. Don't write him off yet!

 Shawn Ray - Mr consistent, but Shawn is a lot more than that. He is one of the truly great physiques of all time with a consistency of top placings rarely seen at this level. Every year he comes to the Olympia in his best possible condition. This year it was to be 4th for Shawn who is the ultimate professional. He has a symmetry that is near flawless and it is only his condition that changes slightly from year to year. Take a look at his fantastic arms in particular as he flexes for us in the pump room. I won't make predictions but Shawn could conceivably win the Olympia if the judges decide to swing away from the massive Coleman look.

Shawn is also a great advocate for a better deal for the pro bodybuilders which is ultimately a better deal for all competitors in general. All bodybuilders owe him a great debt as he tries to leave the sport in a better condition than when he started about 18 years ago.

 Chris Cormier - the Real Deal was not quite the same deal I saw win the IM and Australian GP earlier this year. A bit of the hard condition was missing, but Chris still looked very impressive in 5th place.  He had a fantastic posing routine which really got the audience screaming. But he just seemed a bit tired to me and lacked that spark and hunger you need to show at the Olympia if you want to be in the top 2 or so. An all-round solid, world class physique that could take the Olympia crown in the next 2 years if Chris remains hungry, disciplined and focused. Time will tell.

 Orville Burke - the current NOC winner was a bit lighter and tighter than in New York and it suited him well. Orville has a sway back that tends to make his midsection protrude like a belly bloat. But if Orville controls his midsection with total concentration, I feel he can place even higher than the very good 6th he got this year. He is massive and his V taper is incredible. I feel Orville can go on improving, even though he is close to 40 and could rumble with Vince Taylor in the Masters next year if he wished. But he told me he has no plans for the Masters at this time while he is still going up the Mr Olympia ladder.

 Dennis James - a real future contender in my opinion and a pretty good placing this year. He was very close to Orville so Dennis just missed out on top 6 which greatly disappointed him. When I saw Dennis at the registration on the Wednesday with his lean face and huge traps, I thought this man is really going to do some damage in the top 6 and I mentally placed him as the dark horse for 2001. A fantastic upper body second to none.

 I am not sure quite what happened, as on the day Dennis did not stand out as much as I had expected. He was ripped and huge with a fantastic back. Dennis is a wonderful poser and always thrills the crowd with his innovative routine. Perhaps the judges were looking for a bit more size in his legs plus a little more fullness over all. I feel Dennis was perhaps over depleted but it is hard to be picky with such a great physique. His day will come for the top 3 - very soon.

 8th was Dexter Jackson and he is always in top shape, hard and muscular. Another consistent guy who always competes in great condition.

 9th was Nasser El Sonbaty, a guy with a fanatical fan base and one of the most popular pros. It was not his year although he was huge and muscular. But the judges obviously didn't get turned on by Nasser's package. It is hard to see him challenging the top 3 now.

 10th was the enigmatic King Kamali who is a man of the future. He started out with the crowd booing him as he came out, but ended with them eating out of his hand. He has a pleasing physique with no body part particularly dominant.

 Of those outside the top 10 Gunter Schlierkamp impressed me again and he seems to be the forgotten man of call-outs these days. My suggestion would be to drop some size and come in super ripped next time. He deserved better than 15th.

Vince Taylor looked superb and I would have had him in at 10th. Posed superbly as usual. Ripped and in top condition being the first Masters Olympia winner to also then compete in the Mr Olympia. This was history.

Melvin Anthony at 11th is another star of the future in this his 1st Olympia. 

Tom Prince made a most promising debut in this his first Olympia and will benefit greatly from the experience. He has a great all round build with no dominant body part.

Last but not least, Craig Titus had good condition and a much better mid-section, wonderful posing routine and made a very good debut for his Olympia career with his 12th place. He could quite easily have come in at 10th! I would like to see just Craig and King go head to head in a pose down! Ah well, perhaps it will happen next year.

 DAY 5, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28th - OLYMPIA SEMINAR DAY

 This was the special post Olympia seminar arranged by Wayne DeMilia. It was very well attended and starred Juliette Bergmann who included her posing, Susie Currie - Fitness Olympia winner and Ronnie Coleman. Plus some very interesting comments from Wayne DeMilia, the Olympia supremo. We have it all on tape and it is a most interesting and quite controversial seminar. Not to be missed.

Then I spirited away Juliette Bergmann for some fabulous pumping and posing video and photos, shot pool side at the special photography area set aside for us. Also got some footage of Pavol Jablonicky flexing in the sun.

 Thus ended a fantastic Olympia week - our best ever!  Thanks to my team of  Tina, James Cook, Clive Jaques, Richard and Rico. A special thanks to Tom Lincir of IVANKO for giving me the pump room weights and Wayne and Charlie for the carpet. And .... thanks Andy, for the store room - it saved our lives!!

 Now to do all the editing.