2013 Mr. Olympia Preview. By Vic Veeraj Goyaram

2013 Mr. Olympia preview

Who will be the last man standing?

By Vic V. Goyaram

Sadly this will be the first Mr. Olympia without both Joe and Ben Weider, the fathers of this contest. Joe Weider passed away this year at the age of 93 after decades promoting the sport of bodybuilding worldwide. 

The 2013 Mr. Olympia year's lineup is more impressive than ever as both the quality and number of top-level competitors. Most of us also didn't realise that there will be three Mr. Olympias battling it out in the lineup, namely Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson and defending champion Phil Heath. It is difficult to make predictions about the winner and that's the reason why I am picking my top 10. Whether you agree or disagree with my selection, feel free to join other members in discussing your favourite picks on our facebook page Bodybuilding Mauritius.

My top 6 (In no particular order)

Jay Cutler

Cutler has space on his mantel for a 5th Sandow trophy

Eyes will be on Jay Cutler for his comeback. He last competed at the 2011 Mr. Olympia with a torn left biceps. Jay is able to do the unimaginable: claim back his title after having lost it twice. He has the experience and the physique to do so and he knows how to peak at the Mr. Olympia. He looked "sick" in his recent pictures. Go Cutler!

Stakes to win: Rs. 100 pou Rs. 400

Dexter "The Blade" Jackson

Dexter, this year's Arnold victor still has a lot left in him. Top 6 all the way!

At the age of 42 Dexter Jackson still has a lot left in him. Dexter has an impressive track record at the Mr. Olympia and he equaled Flex Wheeler's record of 4 wins at the Arnold Classic this year. He also placed an impressive 4th at the 2012 Mr. Olympia when most of us thought that he was done.The Blade has also been working with trainer extraordinaire Charles Glass, by the way. Go Dexter!

Stakes to win: Rs. 100 pou Rs. 600

Kai "The Predator" Greene

The hero of "Generation" may well be the hero on the Mr. Olympia stage

Last year Kai Greene had a very lean offseason and he surprised us by his awesome conditioning and his new streamlined physique. However, he was not as full as Phil Heath and he suffered in the most muscular shots because he didn't have the overwhelming delts that Heath brought to the stage. Greene also somewhat battled with energy onstage (my observation) although he ruled the same stage. This year, under the guidance of George Farah, Greene had a lean offseason but he is a lot bigger than last year. It will be interesting to see how he does. Go Kai Greene!

Stakes to win: Rs. 100 pou Rs. 300

Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Ellsbiay

Will BIG Ramy bring the title to Kuwait?

Big Ramy makes this whole thing interesting because for a long time the sport needed a new face to challenge the top runners.  Ramy is not all talk, he has the physique to challenge everyone. He has competed in only one pro contest so far, with an easy win over Victor Martinez who was far from his best. For sure, Big Ramy remains untested in the big shows but untested or not this guy has the potential to be an Olympia winner, with a thin waist for such a big guy. Never before has a guy who has done only one pro show going into the Mr. Olympia has got so many competitors so worried. In my opinion, it is also time for Big Ramy to get rid of that gyno through surgery. I wonder why Dennis James hasn't done anything about this so far. Go Big Ramy.

Stakes to win: Rs. 100 pou Rs. 400

Phil "The Gift" Heath

The defending champ thinks that "hard work does not beat talent"

No matter how strong his challengers are, I think Phil Heath has this one. He will win it for one reason: Never in the history of bodybuilding has a pro bodybuilder earned the moniker "The Gift". I do not mean that the judges will steal the title from other and gift it to him; I mean that Phil Heath is simply too good. And please pardon my English, from recent sightings in a facebook video, Heath looked sick as fuck. Go Heath!

Stakes to win: Rs. 100 pou Rs. 150

Shawn "Flexatron" Rhoden

Did Uncle Ronnie Coleman work magic on the Flexatron?

We haven't seen much of Shawn Rhoden so it will be difficult to predict whether he has added the needed size to challenge the top runners. Nevertheless, Rhoden comes from an excellent 3rd place at the 2012 Olympia and a string of pro wins. Rhoden has very good aesthetics and some really solid bodyparts but his back needed some more improvement as well as his overall size. By himself and in any pro lineup Rhoden is a major threat but to win the Olympia won't be an easy task but then he has Uncle Ronnie Coleman in his corner. Rhoden is one of my favourite athletes. Go Rhoden!

Stakes to win: Rs. 100 pou Rs. 500

The battle for the top 10

Branch "The Texas Shredder" Warren

Branch Warren IS BACK

Branch, or more appropriately, "Tree Trunk" warren had an impressive 5th place showing at last year's Olympia after his knee injury. His legs were clearly down in size but he did manage to bring his trademark solid conditioning. It is important to note that Warren has had an impressive last 4 years in the pro ranks with a 2nd place at the 2009 Mr. Olympia, a 3rd place at the 2010 Olympia and wins at the 2011 and 2012 Arnold Classic. Branch Warren is a blue collar bodybuilder who isn't gifted in terms of aesthetics but he does his best with what he has against the Gods of aesthetics and that's what bodybuilding is all about.

Dennis "The Big Bad" Wolf

Will The Big Bad Wolf finally huff and puff and bring the whole house down?

The Big Bad Wolf amazed everyone at the 2007 Olympia and should have been as high as 3rd or second. In subsequent Olympias he placed 4th, 5th, 5th and 6th with a no-placing in 2009. He also had a decent year in 2012 with a win over Rhoden at the Prague Pro, cutting short the latter's winning streak. It is high time Wolf does something in order to not sink in the placings. I would like to see Wolf do well and get his dues. Go Wolf!

Evan "The Ox" Centopani

Evan the Ox is all set to do better than his 8th place finish last year

It is hard to believe that Evan has competed in only 5 shows since turning pro at the 2007 NPC Nationals. He won 2 of these 5 shows. Evan is as big as a house and is a wise bodybuilder. He has a great future. And yes, he placed 8th last year in his Olympia debut. That's very decent! Go the OX.

Toney "The X-Man" Freeman

As the oldest competitor in this show The X-Man can still make the top 10

Mad props to the X-Man Toney Freeman for still bringing an awesome physique in the pro ranks at the age of 47. He can crack the top 10. He placed in the top 10 in his last 10 showings anyway and was 7th last year. Go X-Man!

Who can also make the top 10?

Victor "The Dominican Dominator" Martinez

Will Victor be able to regain quickly enough to be better than his former self at the Olympia?

I can't help it, whenever I think of the Mr. Olympia and Victor Martinez I have to think of 2007 when he was the deserving winner but still lost to Cutler. After his incarceration, he placed second to Big Ramy at the 2013 NY Pro, clearly down a lot in size. People were quick in writing Victor off but had Victor been in his 2007 Olympia shape and size then Ramy would have had a very tough time. I am not sure whether Victor can regain his size in such short time to be competitive at the Olympia. But he still has a lot left in him. Go Victor!

Lionel Beyeke

Beyeke will make France and Cameroun proud on Olympia night
Allez la France et Cameroun!

Lionel Beyeke has round and generous muscle bellies reminiscent of his look-alike, Kai Greene. However his problem has been conditioning and his recent switch from Hany Rambod to Dennis James has paid off in terms of his placings in 2013. I am sure Dennis James is working hard on Beyeke as his recent facebook picture updates can attest. Beyeke has great potential to be a frontrunner in bodybuilding. If only the passionate French sports commentators could comment on the Mr. Olympia, we'd have interesting commentaries. Vas-y Lionel, Vas y la France!

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