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Article Summary:
The Europa Super Show is one of the last chances to qualify for the Olympia.
Some competitors already have invites to the Olympia others are hungry to get theirs.
Congrats to Monique Minton on her recent wedding. Watch for Monique Ricardo now.
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2010 Europa Super Show Dallas Preview
This weekend, over 100 IFBB professional men and women will head to Dallas, Texas for the Europa Super show. This show is always a huge event and one of the last events to qualify for the 2010 Olympia. Who will leave Dallas with an Olympia qualification? Let's breakdown some of the top contenders in each division.
Men's Open Bodybuilding
Mark Alvisi
Mark Alvisi makes his pro debut after taking top honors at the 2009 NPC USA. Mark's made improvements in his offseason and should be one of the first names you hear called out during Friday's prejudging. He won't be the biggest guy on stage but if he nails his conditioning look for him to be in the hunt.
Brandon Curry
Brandon Curry made his pro debut at the Tampa Pro but failed to make the top five. He took two years off and many people felt his physique lacked improvements. He has an incredible upper body but his legs still lag behind to make him a top threat. Brandon's poses also make him appear smaller than he is and some of them aren't flattering to his physique. If he can bring improved posing and a bit tighter conditioning than he had in Tampa he could be in the mix for a top five spot but it will be tough in this line up.
Leo Ingram
Leo Ingram is a freak. When it comes to bodybuilding and Texas - fans love seeing freaky huge bodybuilders. Leo will be just that. He could be a few pounds lighter and still be a menace on stage. He was fifth at the Europa Battle of Champions in Hartford. Look for him to be in the mix here if he can come in a bit sharper and lighter than Hartford.
Michael Kefalianos
Michael Kefalianos was fourth in Hartford and will be a contender in Dallas. He packs a ton of muscle on his small frame. It isn't the prettiest physique but he's proven he's a top five guy. He's competed in four pro shows this year and been in the top five each time.
Cedric McMillan
Cedric McMillan will be making his pro debut. He was the 2009 NPC Nationals Champ and will go head to head with the USA champ, Mark Alvisi. Cedric will be the larger bodybuilder but will he be able to bring the level of conditioning needed to take the show? He has the potential to win this contest and be a top 10 threat at the Olympia. First things first - he has to step on a pro stage and show that he's ready for the big leagues. Don't against him.
Markus Ruhl
Another freaky huge bodybuilder. Markus will be one of the biggest guys on stage and could be one of the top five guys. He'll have to bring in a conditioned physique if he has hopes of leaving in the top spots. He's a mass monster and will be a crowd favorite. Don't mistaken the crowd noise for boos, no the crowd will be chanting RUHHHHHHLLLL.
Joel Stubbs
Joel Stubbs has one of the best backs in all of bodybuilding. His legs have improved over the years and he's shown that he can be a top five guy. He qualified for the Olympia at this show before and could do it again. No question his upper body will be one of the best but it will come down to how his wheels look.
Bill Wilmore
Bill Wilmore is another bodybuilder who will pack a ton of muscle. Big Bill has found success on this stage in the past and should be in the mix again this weekend. The story-line again will be conditioning. We know he has the muscle to hang with the top guys but how conditioned will it be?
Men's 202
Guy Cisternino
Guy improved his physique with some added muscle but came in way too smooth and holding a ton of water for his debut. Look for an improved Guy here and better conditioning. He should be a top five guy if he nails it this time.
Clarence DeVis
Clarence brings a ton of muscle for 202lbs and could be a top contender if he can come in conditioned. Some call him a mini-Kai Greene. I wouldn't call him that yet but if he could come in shredded like Kai, he'd undoubtedly be in the top three spots.
Seth Feroce
Seth will be making his pro debut after winning his class at the 2009 NPC Nationals. He should be in the top call-out for prejudging and I look for him to be top three for this contest. Many feel he has the tools to win this show and be a top threat to the 202 Olympia. Let's see what the rookie brings to the stage but I'll bet we see him Olympia qualified at the end of the weekend.
Dave Goodin
Dave Goodin aka The Texas Shredder will live up to his name and come in peeled. He won't be the biggest guy on stage but don't be surprised if he is the most conditioned guy in the entire show. It will be tough for him to make the top three here but props to Dave for bringing in a physique that's the envy of men 1/2 his age.
Jaroslav Horvath
Jaroslav Horvath was second last weekend in Jacksonville and will challenge for a top three spot here. He tends to get harder as the show goes on. If he can come in sharp and not hold water in the prejudging he'll be a contender for the title.
Tricky Jackson
Tricky always puts on an entertaining routine and fans can count on that. He'll be a top three guy if he's sharp at prejudging. He'll have his work cut out for him against Seth and Jaroslav but look for him to be compared to the two of them.
Women's Fitness
Alti Bautista
Alti Bautista returns to the stage. Alti has been in the game for a number of years. It will be great to see her return to the fitness stage. Who knows what her physique will look like but she brings the sass to the stage.
Myriam Capes
Myriam Capes is one of the leading ladies at this show. She looked like a little bulldozer when she competed on this stage a few years ago. Since then she's refined her physique and improved her routines. If she can bring a tight, conditioned physique, look for her to be in the top call-out.
Allison Ethier
Allison has improved this year and will look to move up into a top spot here. She could do it if she brings in a conditioned physique. Her routine is in the mix for top five here so it will come down to how her body looks.
Cinzia Massaro-Clapp
Cinzia Massaro-Clapp will make her pro debut and I hope we see a new routine. I don't get the FEDEX / Chipmunk routine she performed this year. She gets the award for traveling the furthest, calling Alaska home.
Shannon Meteraud
Shannon Meteraud will compete for the first time this year. I look for a rested and improved Shannon at this show. We last saw her at the 2009 Olympia where I felt she looked tired and ready to hang it up. I don't foresee that being the case at this show and don't be surprised if she leaves with an Olympia qualification. If I was a gambling man I'd say she will be top three and could be the winner when the dust settles.
Bethany Wagner
Bethany Wagner has a great physique and should be one of the top women called out in the physique round. If her routine is on point she'll be top three in this show.
Figure
Teresa Anthony
Teresa Anthony is already qualified for the Olympia and will come into this show with no pressure. She looked great in Jacksonville and look for her to be in the top ten again here.
Ava Cowan
Ava narrowly missed an Olympia qualifying spot in Jacksonville and will look to snag one here. It won't be easy as this is a tough line-up. She should be in the top callout but where she finishes is a crap shoot. She'll face some new competition and new judges so it's anyone's guess where she'll finish.
Monica Escalante
Monica brought in a ton of muscle to the Hartford show and missed out on a top spot. She'll bring a smaller, tinier physique here and it should suit her well.
Alicia Harris
Alicia Harris was the runner-up last weekend in Jacksonville and is gunning for the number one spot. She showed why she belongs on the Olympia stage with a tighter physique than she brought to the Figure International. Look for her to be in the top spots again here.
Candice John
Candice John has steadily improved her physique and continues to climb the ranks. I like the physique she brings to the stage and could see her cracking the top five here.
Julie Ann Kulla
Julie Ann Kulla is Olympia bound already but hopes to gain some momentum heading into the big dance. She missed a top spot in Hartford and is hungry for redemption. If she comes in tight enough she could land there.
Mindi Smith
Mindi Smith has one win under her belt this year and will look to make it number two here. She's positioned herself as a top contender in any show she enters and many feel this is her show to loose. Don't be surprised if Ms. Smith leaves the winner but she'll need to be top form to do so against a very competitive line-up.
Terri Turner
Terri Turner is already Olympia qualified and has no pressure coming into this contest. Look for her to be in the top five once again if she brings what she presented in her previous contests.
Bikini
Bianca Binno
Bianca Binno is a Penelope Cruz look-alike and has a very sexy, bikini body. She doesn't bring the most muscle to the stage but the judges aren't looking for muscle. She's on the taller side but I like the look she brings to the pro scene.
Amanda Latona
Amanda Latona qualified for the Olympia earlier this year. She has one of the best butts in the IFBB and is a stunning woman. If she can bring a bit more sass to her presentation look for her to be in the top callout. She certainly has all the tools to be a top contender here.
Nathalia Melo
Nathalia Melo remains undefeated and I look for her record to stay that way. Nathalia brings something most women don't to the stage - a kick ass physique but more importantly knows how to present it and does so with positive energy. You can't help but be drawn to her when she takes the stage.
Monique Ricardo
Monique Ricardo. Name doesn't sound familiar? How about Monique Minton? Monique apparently got married and kept it under the radar. We'll see her return to the stage in her hometown. She'll need to be a bit tighter than her debut in California to hang in this lineup but look for her to be in the mix.
Ali Rosen
Ali Rosen is on a winning streak looking to make it three in a row. She notched a top spot at the NPC USAs and followed it up with a top spot in Jacksonville. I don't see her taking the top spot here but I've been wrong before. She presents herself in a very sexy, cute way but will it be enough to hang with some heavier hitters like Nathalia and Amanda? We'll find out Friday.
Brandy Leaver
Brandy will be making her IFBB Bikini Pro debut and it is extra special for a couple reasons. One, she had a baby just 8 months ago. Talk about an impressive! There's a little added icing on the cake as she will be competing in the same show as her husband, Brandon Curry. Who will place higher... Brandy in Bikini or Brandon in Bodybuilding?
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