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The Question: The 2006 Olympia has now ended. It was a great show this year and for once in a very long time did not have a clear cut winner. In addition it is possible with so many great physiques that we have seen the last of Olympians winning year after year. Who do you think should have won the Mr. Olympia? Do you agree with the top five? If not what order would you have put them in? Why? Would the outcome have been different had they kept the pre-judging and finals on the same day? Bonus Question: If you were able to go to the Olympia this year, did you enjoy the weekend overall including the shows and expo? How would you make the Olympia better in the future? Bonus Question #2: Will Ronnie redeem himself at the Holland or Romania Grand Prix? Will he even show up after a devastating loss to Jay Cutler at the 2006 Olympia? 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.
Mr. Olympia... Las Vegas... This leads the story to the best and most prestigious bodybuilding event in the history of our sport. The year 2006 will always be remembered as extra special because everyone was excited and wanted to see if Ronnie would beat the all time record and put 9 Mr. O's under his belt.
Everyone was on the edge of their seat and the contest was particularly exciting this year. The fact that Ronnie didn't win led to many arguments and conspiracy theories, but the fact is that he lost, and that's reality. There are many points of views and stories, but the final results speak for themselves.
Top 15
Welcome to the most controversial bodybuilding topic of 2006. Who should have won? There's two people that are argued to be the best. Ronnie and Jay. So who should have won? I personally believe that Jay deserved the win. Even though Ronnie is one of my favorite bodybuilders and I like him more than Jay we have to be real here. After all, this is bodybuilding and not a popularity contest. Sure Ronnie had 8 titles coming into the contest but he looked worse than before. I even dare to say that this was his worst presentation in the last couple years. Many people will agree. The tear in his back (left lat) and the many so what reported injuries took a toll on the champions body. He showed up the best he could, but it was way worse than what he had shown his fans before.
On the other hand Jay Cutler showed in amazing. I believe this was his best Olympia and that the way he showed up, the conditioning/vascularity/muscle size was the best he's ever presented. First off, he's always had problems with water retention in his back.
This year he took care of that and his back was flawless. Unlucky for Coleman, he had a back injury and his famous back was in bad shape. Jay also showed amazing development and self-improvement in his quads. Especially the outer sweep of his quads. That was amazing and his legs, for the first time ever, rivaled Ronnie.
With that being said, Jay had too many positive factors working for him, while Ronnie was caught off guard. I believe that Jay's win is very fair. Jay's win marks a new era of bodybuilding.
I believe that Jay deserved his win. He showed up in awesome conditioning and size improvement. He managed to take care of water retention in his back and was able to greatly improve from last year. Jay clearly deserved the #1 spot.
I think that the champ showed up in the best condition that he can pull off. After all he was hoping for a 9th victory and I can guarantee that he went balls out for the contest. The problem to his loss is all the injuries and decrease in quality because of them. I believe his 2nd placing was fair.
Victor is coming up in the game. I believe that his man has potential and time will tell what he will do with it. He has great size and good conditioning. He remind me of a young Ronnie back in the day. I believe that he was the best man on stage following Jay and Big Ron. I believe that his placing was very fair. You could argue with Jay and Ron, but I think Victor got his 3rd place fair and square.
Perfect conditioning as always. Although Dexter is not that small in person, he is dwarfed when it comes to the likes of Jay, Ronnie and Victor. Although smaller, no one can overlook his amazing conditioning and the great package that he brings. I believe that his placing in 4th place is fair.
So far I have agreed to every placing. Personally I would have rather seen Gustavo at 5th, but I guess the judged thought otherwise. Melvin brought a great package to the stage and that's why he placed 5th. If someone got overlooked at this Olympia, it has to be Gustavo Badell.
As I mentioned before, this is the most controversial Olympia in history. There's many people that wanted to see Ron break the record. Because of this many conspiracies and criticism of the contest arises. Different days for finals and pre-judging is a big argument factor that comes up.
I believe that Ronnie would have lost regardless of this. One factor is that he looked worse than the year before. He had more injuries and they showed. Underdevelopment or lack of improvement or even decrease showed up in areas such as his back and tri's. Another factor is that Ronnie lost in the contests after the Olympia that took place in Europe. This proves that it wasn't a time factor between one or two days. It proves that Jay simply showed up in better condition than Coleman and took the win. Case closed.
  Click Image To Enlarge. At The 2006 IFBB Austria Pro Grand Prix. European Grand Prix Shows:
I was able to attend the Mr. Olympia weekend. I was one of the few that got passes to the front row seats. They were expensive but worth it. It gave me such motivation that one couldn't imagine. I am hitting the gym harder and it's been weeks since I was there. But the memory would last forever (I'll renew it next year). Along with the show, I enjoyed the expo and the booths from the different companies. I didn't miss our own Bodybuilding.com booth. I was able to chat it up with the various representatives and take pictures with random bodybuilders. Bob Chic was especially very nice and I enjoyed meeting him.
 Click Image To Enlarge. At The Bodybuilding.com Booth. View More Pics From The 2006 Olympia Expo Here. There were many fitness and bodybuilding booths. All my favorite companies were there along with some of the famous representatives such as the guys from Universal. Also there were many girls there and the 'scenery' was quite nice. Fitness models and bodybuilders were everywhere. I was in my zone.
 Click Image To Enlarge. The 'Scenery' Was Quite Nice. I believe that the expo is great. It's like meeting your long lost friends, except you've never met before. I made a lot of new friends and exchanged e-mails. Also the chance to get free stuff such as shirts and samples was also awesome. I love the Olympia expo. For the future, the more companies that join the better. Getting free stuff and exchanging info is half the fun at the Mr. Olympia event.
Good Luck to both Jay and Ronnie!
The 2006 Olympia has now ended. It was a great show this year and for once in a very long time did not have a clear cut winner. In addition it is possible with so many great physiques that we have seen the last of Olympians winning year after year.
This year's Mr. Olympia was one of the most anticipating of all time, since history was going to be made. Jay Cutler won his first Mr. Olympia, and took out Ronnie Coleman, in what seemed to be the biggest upset in bodybuilding history.
I watched the Mr. Olympia this year, and I was shocked by the outcome, even though I wanted Jay Cutler to win. The competition was so close, and many competitors took it to the next level. However, the same can't be said about Ronnie Coleman, since he wasn't at his all time best. Although Coleman came in at 300 pounds, his back was off from previous years, and his waist was too wide. It seems like age has finally caught up with Coleman, and it might be time for him to retire. On the other hand, Jay Cutler came in at his all time best, and his conditioning was on point. Cutler began training for the contest a few weeks following last year's Olympia, and it seemed like it paid off. Cutler deserved the win, and has promised to do a well job representing the sport of bodybuilding.
I agree with the top five, and kept the placings in the exact order, because they were very accurate. Let me go over why I believe the competitors deserved their spots, and why other competitors didn't place as high.
1st Place - Jay Cutler: It's difficult to argue that Jay Cutler didn't deserve to place 1st, because he came in big and conditioned, and his routine was very well executed. Jay Cutler Interviews & Articles:
Cutler's back was bigger and better conditioned than Coleman's, and Cutler had superior calf development. In front poses, it was apparent that Cutler had a smaller waist, and was just as big as Coleman.
2nd Place - Ronnie Coleman: It was evident from the night of pre-judging that Coleman wasn't in his ordinary Olympia shape, and it looked like he knew he wasn't going to win. It looked like Coleman suffered from a lat and triceps injury, and his posing routine wasn't as good as previous years. Either way, Coleman doesn't have much left in him, and should walk away from the sport, and maintain his great Olympia run.
 Click Image To Enlarge. His Posing Routine Wasn't As Good As Previous Years. View More Pics From The 2006 Olympia Finals Here. 3rd Place - Victor Martinez: Victor came in this year's competition in tremendous condition, and with enough size to stand next to the mass monsters. You can be certain that Victor will keep improving each Olympia, and he might as well be the future of this sport. Many have argued that he should've placed higher, and that he came in better than Coleman, but the judges know best, and their decisions can't be changed.
4th Place - Dexter Jackson: Dexter has improved a lot over the years, but has yet to win an Olympia. He came in great condition, and improved fullness. One of the biggest factors that gave him a fourth place finish could have very well been his great symmetry, and full muscle shape. Along with Victor Martinez, Dexter Jackson presents the next generation of Mr. Olympians.
5th Place - Melvin Anthony: Another big shock in this years Olympia is the Melvin Anthony's 5th place finish. Melvin made improvements in size, while maintaining a small waist, and great muscle shape. Without a doubt Melvin had the best posing routine, and is also a major threat in future Olympia competitions.
6th Place - Gustavo Badell: This year's Olympia didn't go the usual way for Badell, as he received a lower placing from the previous years. Although he came in big and conditioned, he lacked definition in the thighs, and seemed too cocky for his own good.
7th Place - Toney Freeman: The X-Man, Toney Freeman, made his mark at year's Olympia, and surprised many. After coming off a first place finish at the Europa Pro, and a shocking 7th place finish at the Olympia, Freeman has become another major threat in future Olympia years.
8th Place - Markus Ruhl: One of the biggest competitors at the Olympia made a great comeback from last year's disappointing 15th place finish. If it wasn't for his lower pec tissue damage, Ruhl could've placed even higher. All in all, this year went well for Ruhl, and there are no doubts he will keep improving.
9th Place - Dennis James: Another competitor who is considered a mass monster is Dennis James, who came in full and conditioned, but lacked aesthetics. I seems like the judging criteria is being enforced each year, as size and condition isn't enough to win, but shape, symmetry, and proportion should also be attained.
10th Place - Gunter Schlierkamp: Of all the competitors, it was Gunter who took the biggest step backwards this year. Coming off a 4th place finish at last year's Olympia, many people had high expectations from Gunter this year, and many believed he could even win the contest. That wasn't the case, as Gunter didn't improve much from last year, and didn't pack on enough size.
11th Place - Vince Taylor: At over 50 years of age, Vince Taylor made an impressive appearance at the Olympia this year. Although he was one placing short of the top ten, Taylor proved that he could sill hang with the best bodybuilders of the new era.
12th Place - Branch Warren: As always, Branch Warren came out in excellent condition, and with plenty of size. After leaving Muscle Tech and signing with Gaspari Nutrition, who knows what's next for Warren. One thing for sure though is Warren will be back next year.
13th Place - Johnnie Jackson: After coming off a first place finish at the 2006 Montreal Pro Classic, it was questionable whether Johnnie Jackson can finally make it into the top ten at the Olympia. This year's competition was too close, and Jackson didn't bring his best at the Olympia, so he finished with a disappointing 13th place.
14th Place - Darrem Charles: Although Darrem Charles recently placed first at the 2006 Atlantic City Pro Championships, he didn't have the size to compete with the likes of Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman. Unless Darrem gains more mass, he stands no chance of winning the Olympia.
15th Place - Troy Alves: When you step onstage with the greatest bodybuilders, you need to be at your best, which is exactly what Troy Alves did. However, like I stated before, the competition was at an all time high this year, and Alves didn't stand out from the rest of the competitors.
The outcome would've most likely been the same, since all the competitors had to adjust to the changes. They all looked in better condition during the finals, so I don't see why the placings would've been any different.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go to the Olympia this year, but I plan to in the coming years. From what I've been hearing, this year's expo was the best to date, and was well worth going to. People received tons of free supplements, coupons, autographs, pictures, etc., and got to meet their favorite bodybuilders.
The 2006 Olympia could very well be the turning point in bodybuilding. With Ronnie Coleman possibly retiring, who will attempt to defeat Jay Cutler? Will Victor Martinez pull out a shocker, or will Phil Heath make his Olympia debut, and possibly make history? Only time will tell. References
The 2006 Olympia has now ended. It was a great show this year and for once in a very long time did not have a clear cut winner. In addition it is possible with so many great physiques that we have seen the last of Olympians winning year after year.
I think the winner should be who the winner is. Jay Cutler came in with the best package, 10 lbs heavier and with amazing details. His back was thicker and bigger than ever before, the one area where Coleman would always oversize him. Now, due to the fact that Ronnie had a lat injury, there was no comparison even in this category.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Middle: Jay Cutler Right: Ronnie Coleman View More Pics From The 2006 Olympia Here. Aside from the back, the 'King' still had a massive package overall, but Jay matched it and exceeded in detail, most importantly with a tighter waist. I do however think that Coleman provided a more entertaining routine with his 'Ten Commandments' entrance. But in the end it's the best physique that matters and that's exactly what Jay had that night.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Physique Is What Counts In The End. View More Pics From The 2006 Olympia Finals Here.
Oh yeah, I totally agree with the Top 5. Everyone on there deserved to be placed in that exact order.
A very tight package, a very narrow wait and dry. However what separated him from the top was his size. Although still considered a street monster, he doesn't size up to what Jay Cutler or Ronnie Coleman has. His chest was looking so ripped that it was hard to take my eyes off of it. If he keeps up what he's doing and adds another 15-20lbs, then he will be in the fight for the crown
Dexter Jackson, one of my favorite bodybuilders of all time, showed another great SYMMETRICAL package. The one amazing detail about this guy is how symmetrical he is, just amazing every time I look at him. He has added a lot of size to his frame which makes him a competitor for the very top, however he lacks the height, which will make it hard for him to add enough mass to compete with the likes of Jay and Ronnie. Nonetheless, a super dry and massive package.
Victor Martinez continues to amaze me, Personally I would think this guy should be the winner, if the MASS factor wasn't one of the biggest factors in today's competition. His size and symmetry is phenomenal. He always comes into a competition dry and cut with lots of detail, and that is exactly what he did at the Olympia. There is not much separating him from the top two, and some say that Victor should have been the winner.
Ronnie Coleman, what's there to say about the 8 time champ, other than he just didn't have it this year. Ronnie had succumbed to some nasty back injuries which resulted simply as a freebie for Jay. His legs, as always were freaky large. The veins, as depicted in the picture below shows exactly how much they stick out and how ripped and huge they are. Overall Ronnie still looks amazing, and if the judges said he was the winner, I wouldn't argue.
Last, and well certainly not least is Jay Cutler, and wow he came in with an unimaginable package. As mentioned before, he was tight, he was dry, he was everything that you could imagine plus more. His Back was amazing, his hamstring was so tight, it looked unreal, his arms huge along with his chest and delts. His waist was very tight, at least compared with all the other competitors, which definitely made his physique much more pleasing to look at. Jay simply came in with the best package and continued in the week ahead with 3 wins.
If anyone has seen pictures of Jay before the pre-judging in the morning, you know that he was looking crazy good (I know that's bad grammar). But, his entire physique was looking fantastic. There was nothing that he could have changed to make it better.
As for the pre-judging and the finals on separate or same days would not make a difference, as all the competitors were given the exact same time frame in between, and Jay already had the best physique in the pre-judging, so there would not be a difference either way.
Ever since I started bodybuilding, the one thing I want to do is to go to the Olympia. I hope that one day I will be able to go, so yeah, I was unable to go this year. Being able to see all the booths, the competitors and sample all the new products (best part!), would be a great experience. It is nice to see that the Olympia is finally on pay-per-view, but I hope that in the future it will be on ESPN or some thing like that for the whole world to enjoy.
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The Outcome:
Jay Cutler
Ronnie Coleman
Victor Martinez
Dexter Jackson
Melvin Anthony
Gustavo Badell
Toney Freeman
Markus Ruhl
Dennis James
Günter Schlierkamp
Vince Taylor
Branch Warren
Johnnie O. Jackson
Darrem Charles
Troy Alves
Paco Bautista
Dennis Wolf
Rodney St. Cloud
Ronny Rockel
Mustafa Muhammad
David Henry
Bill Wilmore
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