On May 8th, 2010 the contenders for the 2010 IFBB Pro New York stepped on the stage to battle it out for the title. Find out what separated Roelly Winklaar and Kevin English, in the 202 division, from the rest of the pack to bring them to victory!
Roelly Winklaar took 1st place at the New York Pro and had the most balanced physique.
Kevin English is still the only person to win the 202 division title at the New York Pro.
Toney Freeman and Dennis Wolf did not show their best game at the competition.
Third time was the charm for the flexing Dutchman (yes, I stole Berry DeMay's nickname) Roelly Winklaar when he took to the stage in New York City for only the third time in his professional career.
To think a little over a year ago, Winklaar was fresh off a win at the Arnold Amateur, a year later and he took 7th place in the Arnold Classic, 3rd place at the Australia Pro, which qualified him for the 2010 Mr. Olympia and now he has his first IFBB Pro Title under his belt. And where better to do it than in New York, which boasts the third largest title in professional bodybuilding.
He out muscled the hot favorites Toney Freeman and Dennis Wolf, who coincidentally I had predicted would win this contest. Winklaar has marked his territory and shown the world that he means business here in the IFBB.
The 202 division was dominated for the third successive year by local hero, Kevin English. English came down from a scale busting 262lbs to compete in the 202lb division.
He was so big, many a fan and bodybuilding pundit couldn't believe that he actually made the weight, he looked at least 220lb leaving the rest of the field to battle it out for the two remaining invites to the Olympia showdown, and to say it was an impressive battle would be an understatement.
Winning this contest for the 3rd consecutive year, the man is a mountain of muscle. There were no real visible weaknesses in his physique, he was without a doubt the biggest and thickest athlete, and his conditioning was second to none.
When you see this guy it's immediately evident why he is the reigning Olympia 202 Champion. I actually got this prediction bang on the money.
The former multiple Team Universe winner edged out the IFBB veteran Jason Arntz for the first runner up spot. His conditioning was a better than his previous outing, but still has room for improvement.
He displays a very balanced and symmetrical physique with some serious mass. Should he improve his conditioning for the Olympia he should be a top 5 finisher. I predicted that he would be battling with Jason Arntz for 3rd place.
The IFBB veteran has always been there for the pose down since the 202 division was created. He doesn't have that wow factor, in that he is not impressively huge for a 202 athlete, nor is he impressively conditioned. He is however, always in great shape and carries a very well proportioned physique.
My prediction was for him to be battling it out with Jose Raymond for the 3rd and 4th place spots with the UK's Mike Sheridan taking 2nd.
I was right about the battle between Arntz and Raymond, but boy was I wrong about Sheridan, he was a shadow of his former self, hence the 7th place finish. If he can return to his former mass monster self, he will surely do damage in the 202 division.
What a welcome to the pro rank this guy has had this year. His physique was without a doubt the most complete on stage. Although he wasn't the biggest man in the lineup, Winklaar displayed conditioning that was reminiscent of that illustrated by those from the golden era, such as Shawn Ray, Kevin Levrone and Dorian Yates.
His symmetry was almost flawless, and some some minor refinements to his physique he will surely be gunning for a top six spot at the Olympia. I predicted last week that he would be 2nd and never have I been happier to be wrong. Congratulations Mr. Winklaar and welcome to the big leagues.
Japan's only IFBB Pro, has competed in almost every show this year thus far and has qualified for the Olympia in each.
Most competitors would begin to burn out and deflate as the year goes on, but this samurai is showing his true warrior spirit as he improves from one contest to the next. I predicted that he would finish in 3rd place.
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? After his showing here in NYC I'm afraid that the answer to that question is, not many.
I had predicted last week that come time for him to step onstage in NYC that he would be bigger and better than ever. Especially since he bombed out at the Olympia last September, however, with his new coach by his side (Chad Nichols got the bullet) Dennis Wolf was, for me, disappointing.
If he really wants to reestablish himself as real threat to the Olympia title he needs to go back to the drawing board and use his 2007 game plan. He looked a little light in certain poses, his color was not right, and his weaknesses were more prevalent that ever.
This guy almost ruined my predictions just by his mere presence in the contest, had he been in better condition he could have easily been in first place.
That being said, given the condition he stood onstage in, he could have switched places with Wolf and not a sinner would have bated an eyelid.
That's it from the NY Pro for yet another year, a 6th winner in as many years, of the show was crowned in Roelly Winklaar, Dennis Wolf failed to produced the goods that elevated him to the status of serious Olympia contender back in 2007, and Kevin English reigned supreme for the 3rd consecutive year, remaining to be the only man to ever win the NY 202 Pro.
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