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The Question: The Olympia is getting closer. Bodybuilding fans having been waiting, and are now going crazy over the event. It's time to make some picks! Who do you think will win the 2006 Mr. Olympia? Why? What do you think the top 10 will look like? Why do you put them in this order? Who do you believe will make the biggest improvement? Who do you think is the most under-rated competitor that could surprise people this year?
*This list is not final and may be updated. Current as of 9/05/06.
2. Jay Cutler 3. Gustavo Badell 4. Gunter Schlierkamp 5. Victor Martinez 6. Dennis James 7. Lee Priest 8. David Henry Jr. 9. Troy Alves 10. Dexter Jackson 11. Branch Warren 12. Melvin Anthony 13. Mustafa Mohammad 14. Ronnie Rockel 15. Vince Taylor 16. Bob Cicherillo 17. Phil Heath 18. Darrem Charles 19. Bill Willmore 20. Toney Freeman 21. Quincy Taylor 22. Johnnie Jackson 23. King Kamali Bonus Question: How do you feel about the Mr. Olympia contest? Do you get excited for this time of year, like football fans when the Super Bowl comes around, or do you not really care? Show off your knowledge to the world! The Winners:
2nd place - 50 in store credit. 3rd place - 25 in store credit. To use your credit, e-mail Will @ will@bodybuilding.com for more info.
Based on all my reasoning's below I will give two people who could possibly win, I think Ronnie will squeak out his record breaking win, but it would be possible for Dexter Jackson to win if the judges decided to judge on the criteria set forth, especially if Ronnie comes in heavy and distended again this year.
Most likely it will be Ronnie though, keep in mind I think the field is getting closer and closer to Ronnie and if he doesn't win this year or even if he does, I believe next year Jay Cutler may be ready to take his place. Ronnie will probably win just for coming in at 300 pounds though.
  Click Image To Enlarge. Jay Cutler.
Ronnie Coleman is the hands on favorite, but Jay Cutler has the size and Branch Warren the muscle as proven in the past.
Gunter Schlierkamp, since Ronnie's reign at the Olympia he has only lost to one man and the German's name is at the front of the sentence. Although he only finished forth in his highest placing at the O, he has the size to compete, and this might just be his year. Dexter Jackson, he is small, but if the judges actually decide to go based on the criteria set forth we could have our first small champ since two decades ago when Samir Bannout won at 188 pounds. Barring Dexter comes prepared this time. Gustavo Badell - Technically Gustavo has never beaten Ronnie, except at last years challenge round at the Olympia. Watch out for the freak'n Rican as he likes to be called.
 Click To Enlarge. Badell, Challege Round Winner. Victor Martinez - Heck even Ronnie said he was the next in line at last years press conference. Will this be the year the genetic freak, finally puts the size up to take over the Olympia crown.
Mr. Olympia Line-up:
I put them in this order, because I believe the three dominate and biggest guys in the sport will remain at the top, Jay with size and Branch with muscle. Ronnie will squeak out another win with his physique once again. Why I placed Darrem and Dexter so high is that based on criteria set forth if the judges actually judged it, in all reality one of these two could win much like Samir two decades ago at 188 pounds in 1983. Really the top 10 is hard to choose, because you know all these guys will be in amazing shape. It just really comes down to how the judges decide to score it. In short, size will impress the judges again, and make them throw out the criteria, so it will probably be some big guys on top with some little guys in the middle.
I think Dexter Jackson will make the biggest improvement. He looks to be in great conditioning and is by far more ready this year. In the past he has been criticized for not being prepared and even said he wouldn't compete in the O again. So if he is competing he must be at his best and must think he can win.
    Click Image To Enlarge. Dexter Jackson. Simply the most underrated superstar is by far Dexter Jackson, and the other little guys of the sport. If you're judging by the criteria set forth then Ronnie and Jay can be beaten. Especially if they come in heavy like they did last year. In short they will be distended and flat, as opposed to Dexter who will not be distended in the least.
  Click Image To Enlarge. Dexter Doesn't Come In Distended.
Yes I am definitely looking forward to this years Olympia, especially since I have heard rumors that it might be the last year. Anyway I will be sitting down in front of the TV and won't miss a thing. I love football, but I love weights and bodybuilding more, I really hope my favorite Dexter Jackson wins. The only bad thing about watching it on TV is, I can't reach out and grab the free supplements.
The winner of this year's Olympia will once again be Ronnie Coleman. Furthermore, I expect him to continue with competitive bodybuilding even after breaking Lee Haney's record of 8 Olympia victories. Even at his age, Ronnie still continues to make vast improvements in his physique year after year. This year should be no different. Jay Cutler is his closest competition, and he is still trying to recapture the package he brought to the Olympia in 2001 when he was closest to Ronnie. Since then, Ronnie has continued to lengthen to distance between himself and the rest of the competitors. I expect this one to be close and not the landslide victories of recent years.
The competition is a lot stiffer this year as compared to last year. Many more competitors have brought excellent packages to the smaller shows and that should resonate at the Olympia. The return of Dexter Jackson to the Olympia should put some pressure on last year's 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
Ultimately, I think Dexter will enter the Olympia in fantastic condition as he did the Arnold and top an improved Badell. Branch Warren brought an incredible physique to the Arnold and I expect him to improve even more at the Olympia. Victor has faced a few distractions this year, but he will also be improved, but stiffer competition equates to a lower placing.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Victor Martinez. Gunter will bring his usual monstrous package, which will be enough to hold off fellow behemoth and up and comer, Toney Freeman. Rounding out the top 10 will be Anthony and James, who will be this year's disappointment. He did not look great at the smaller shows and it should be a struggle to crack the top 10.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Melvin Anthony & Dennis James.
It's tough to pick a most improved, because we can't see the progress a competitor has made since their last show. The basis on the most improved must be made from previous show's performance. The most improved in this year's competition should be Branch Warren. He has the conditioning, symmetry and muscle mass of a top competitor. That should launch him not only into the top 10, but the top 5. He looked much improved at the Arnold. He's had a lot of time to prepare for the Olympia, and I believe that he has vested that time wisely. It will translate into a much improved physique.
    Click Image To Enlarge. Branch Warren.
The most underrated performer and biggest surprise might be Toney Freeman breaking into the top 10 in his first Olympia. It may not be much of a surprise considering his Europa victory, but he only has a short amount of time to focus on the Olympia.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Toney Freeman. His pectoral tear will continue to fill in and he will bring a physique with an abundance of muscle mass. Such size will make him difficult to ignore. The only question will be his conditioning, which is why I have him placed below Gunter.
I am definitely looking forward to this year's competition. Maybe not as much as the Super Bowl, but more than any previous year's Olympia. In year's past, Ronnie has been the clear favorite entering the competition. This year, the outcome is a bit clouded with such great competition. I'm planning on watching the webcast and am excited to see the placings.
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