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Because of my unfortunate accident this year (see "Latest News" for more details), I was not able to travel to Las Vegas this year to see the Mr. Olympia contest. However, thanks to the IronMan Magazine website (www.IronManMagazine.com), I was able to view dozens of photos from the contest immediately after the event was over. Since I have always been a HUGE bodybuilding fan since 1977, I thought I would offer my opinion on the competitors from this year's premier bodybuilding event.

1st Place - Ronnie Coleman. Ronnie is one of my favorite bodybuilders competing today. He believes in training heavy and hard using barbells and dumbbells with the basic exercises and his physique shows it! When Ronnie won his first Mr. Olympia contest in 1998, it was one of the most exciting victories in the sport's history. His biceps, back and chest are absolutely incredible and nearly everyone agrees that he owns the Rear Double Biceps pose in this sport. Many people in the sport have also talked about the fact that Ronnie Coleman may be the best Mr. Olympia ever!

Last year, Ronnie was about ten pounds heavier and he was just as ripped as when he won the contest the first time in 1998. This year, however, Ronnie competed at 264 pounds and he did not achieve the shredded condition that he had accomplished the first two years of his victory. He looked like he was a little bit heavy, especially in the waist and in his enormous quads which lacked the separation and detail that he displayed the first two years he won the title.

From the rear, however, Ronnie still looked very much like a champion. His glutes were shredded and his hamstrings stood out like steel cables on the back of his legs. Even his much maligned calves were much bigger. Ronnie's back is still the best in the sport. Possessing long lats similar to Lee Haney, Ronnie showed complete development from his neck to his waist and thickness that is unparalleled in the sport.

The bottom line is that no one on the professional scene can match Ronnie in size and thickness. This is an incredible accomplishment when you consider the unbelievable mass monsters that are competing today. However, Ronnie makes them all look small in comparison. My advice for Mr. Coleman would be to lean out a little more for next year's competition. If he can show more detail and separation in his quads as well as bring down his waist a little more, Ronnie will hold onto the Mr. Olympia title as long as he wants to.

2nd Place - Kevin Levrone. Kevin surprised everyone, including myself, by placing second to Ronnie Coleman. After placing 4th for the last four years (1996-1999), I didn't even expect Kevin to be in the top five. His motivation and desire seemed to be lagging these last few years and, in fact, Kevin didn't even commit to competing in the Olympia until August of this year.

Kevin has been searching for the right bodyweight to compete at these last few years. Sometimes, he shows up huge and thick but lacking in definition (as he did at the '96 Arnold Classic and the '98 Olympia) and other times he shows up with more definition and refinement but is smaller than usual (as he did at the '99 and '00 Arnold Classic and the '99 Olympia). The problem with the lighter look that he displays is that Kevin loses size in his torso (his chest and back) which makes it harder for him to defeat bodybuilders such as Coleman and Flex Wheeler.

This year, Kevin achieved his best condition ever by showing up dry and hard but still retaining the fullness and size of his pecs and lats. The result was a well-earned second place in the biggest contest in the world.

Kevin's arms and legs are still extremely freaky and he showed great size throughout his physique. He was rock hard and displayed striated glutes along with ripped hamstrings. His upper body was also hard as stone highlighted by his out of this world delts. This was the best that Kevin Levrone has ever looked!!

3rd Place - Flex Wheeler. Flex has always been regarded throughout the bodybuilding world as possessing the greatest genetics in the sport. He has outstanding shape and symmetry with tiny joints and billowing muscle bellies. In fact, in 1998, Flex was heavily favored by nearly everyone to be the next Mr. Olympia. In the last two years, Flex has been second to Ronnie Coleman at the Olympia and he is often regarded to be Ronnie's biggest threat.

However, in a contest such as the Olympia, you have to be at your all time best in order to be the champion. Flex tried to compete at a heavier bodyweight this year to be competitive with Coleman but it was a look that didn't work. Because of his relatively light bone structure, Flex will never be able to compete at 250 pounds and be in ripped condition. This year, Flex was not in the winning shape he needed to be in to challenge Ronnie for the title.

Flex has always had a problem getting shredded in the glutes and hamstring area. Of course, if Flex shows up at a heavier bodyweight than normal, then his glutes and hamstrings are going to look even worse. This handicap was readily apparent in the back comparisons with Ronnie and Kevin this year. Even Flex's awesome abdominal development was not up to it's normal standard due to the increased bodyweight.

Don't get me wrong, Flex still looked incredible. His Front Double Biceps pose is fantastic due to his awesome shape and symmetry. His quads were huge and superbly separated and his arms were great, as usual. He was shocked at placing third because he probably felt that this was a contest between him and Ronnie. I still think Flex needs to get back to the awesome shape he achieved at the Arnold Classic in 1998. Then he would be more of a challenge for the title.

I think Flex needs to train hard all year exclusively for the Olympia to put on some quality muscle mass. With his incredible genetics, Flex does not have to be super huge to LOOK super huge. Then, when he competes, Flex needs to make sure he is super ripped and hard, with an emphasis on hardening up those glutes and hams. Don't try to beat Ronnie on mass and thickness, no one is going to do that.

4th Place - Shawn Ray. Shawn, just like Kevin, was in fantastic condition this year. I have also felt that Shawn was not very motivated to win the last 2-3 years and I wasn't expecting much from his condition this year either. I was wrong! Shawn looked fantastic!!

Competing at a bodyweight of 212 pounds, Shawn was about 6 pounds lighter than last year but he ended up looking bigger. He was still very thick and full but his skin was extremely tight and he was really peaked for this event. His waist looked really small from the front when he did the Front Double Biceps pose and also when just standing relaxed.

You really have to take your hat off to Shawn Ray, "Mr. Consistency". This was Shawn's 12th Mr. Olympia competition and his 11th consecutive Mr. O (1990-2000). He has never placed lower than fifth and has been in second place twice. This is a phenomenal achievement when you consider the caliber of competition that Shawn has faced over the years. He competed against Lee Haney 3 times, Dorian Yates 7 times and now faces Ronnie Coleman each year at the Mr. O.

Shawn obviously has an incredible shape with no apparent weak points. He has remarkable thickness but combines it with great symmetry and shape. He always shows up in sharp condition but, when he peaks, he is one of the best physiques in the history of the sport. The only thing that holds Shawn back is his lack of width due to his bone structure. This is apparent against big, wide guys like Haney, Dorian and Ronnie when standing relaxed or in the Front Lat Spread pose. Regardless, Shawn has all my respect for his consistent dedication to the sport and also for his great physique. I thought he should have placed a close third behind Kevin Levrone.

5th Place - Nasser El Sonbaty. Nasser was hoping to redeem himself after his low placing of 6th last year. I thought Nasser was going to show up big and hard like he usually does for this event based on his incredible work ethic and because I thought he would be pissed off from missing his peak last year.

Instead, I was surprised to see Nassar off again from his usual Mr. Olympia condition. Nassar tried to show up harder this year so he competed lighter than normal and it didn't work for him. Incredibly, Nasser needs to be close to 280 pounds onstage to appear full and hard. If he comes in lighter, he doesn't look as impressive as he has been in the past and that is the measuring stick that the judges are going to hold him to from now on.

Nasser's achilles heel has always been his back. Although he has lots of muscle from the rear and is also very wide, his back never looks as hard and dry as he does from the front. This year, his back was again a stumbling block for his physique. The top four bodybuilders in this year's event all had great backs and Nasser suffered in comparison.

Nasser's quads also looked a little flat compared to previous years. Again, it's hard to believe a bodybuilder like Nasser would have legs that would appear to need more size, but that was the case this year. Hopefully, Nasser can find his way back to the incredible big and hard look he displayed in '96 and '97 so he can be a threat for the top position again.

6th Place - Lee Priest. Lee was in great shape and finished in the top six, redeeming himself from the lower placing he was given earlier in the year at the Night of the Champions competition. Of course, Lee didn't have to redeem himself. It wasn't his fault he placed so low at the NOC, it was the judges oversight. Regardless, Lee placed higher at the Big O than Jay Cutler (winner of the NOC, 8th place here), Markus Ruhl (2nd at the NOC, 7th place here) and Orville Burke (4th at the NOC, 10th place here). That had to make him feel good.

Lee was in rock hard shape again, as usual. No matter how heavy Lee may get in the off-season, he always shows up in peak condition when he competes. This year, Lee looked a little flat in the torso. This may have to do with the fact that he stayed pretty lean between the Night of the Champions contest and the Olympia. When Lee bulks up in the off season, he tends to compete a little fuller than he did here.

Still, his strong points were in full force at the Olympia. His arms are among the most incredible in the sport, his thighs are extremely thick and huge and his abs and small waistline were in top condition as usual. His big weakness is that his bone structure doesn't match the phenomenal thickness of his musculature and it never will. Lee will always have his legion of fans based on the massive size he has built on his frame and deservedly so!

7th Place - Markus Ruhl. I thought Markus looked incredible at the Mr. Olympia this year. Last year, Markus was placing lower than many of his fans thought he should have. This year, however, Markus added alot more size and thickness to his frame and has done much better. He won the Toronto Pro Show and placed a close second at the Night of the Champions. Although he was dissed last year at the Olympia by not placing in the top 10, this year Markus just missed the top 6 by placing 7th.

Markus displays such remarkable size in all his body parts that he almost resembles a cartoon character onstage. The judges marked him down last year for lack of symmetry but Markus responded by getting even bigger so he could not be ignored any longer. His legs, chest, back and delts and biceps show incredible size! If Marcus keeps making improvements to his physique equal to what he accomplished this year, look for him to move up the ladder even more next year.

8th Place - Jay Cutler. Jay had a great year this year by winning the Night of the Champions in May. For the Olympia, however, he did not reach the rock hard condition he achieved for that show. Jay has a great structure, awesome proportions and lots of mass but he has a hard time coming in really ripped. Because of his attributes, though, when he does show up dialed in, watch out!

Jay's legs are huge with great shape and always appear very hard but his upper body has a more difficult time attaining the same level of definition. His back and abs were too soft at this show and I was surprised he beat the always hard as a rock Dexter Jackson. Still, Jay is young compared to the rest of the field and he has a great future based on that awesome structure combined with his size and shape. Once he learns how to peak consistently and really show up totally dialed in, I see him winning this title one day.

9th Place - Dexter Jackson. Dexter had a great debut year as a pro last year placing 7th at the Arnold Classic, 3rd at the NOC and 9th at the Olympia. He had a tougher time this year placing 5th at the Arnold, losing to Markus at the Toronto Pro Show and placing a distant 7th at the NOC. He was in typical great condition here but could only equal his placing from last year.

Dexter has great genetics, similar to Flex Wheeler with his full muscle bellies and tiny joints. He has little trouble showing up in shredded condition and his success in future events may depend on him adding more muscle mass to his frame. Maybe he is competing too often and needs to have a longer off-season in order to pack on some more thickness to his already great physique. I look forward to seeing Dexter next year as I think he is one of the best new pros to come along in quite awhile.

10th Place - Orville Burke. This was Orville's first Mr. Olympia competition and he did very well by placing in the top ten and automatically re-qualifying for next year's contest. Orville has a great frame and an incredible V-shape that is really apparent in the Front Double Biceps pose. His lats seem a little high when viewed from the front and they really jut out for a freaky effect.

Orville has a lot of beef in the chest, back and legs and he looked to me like he only needs some more refinement to place higher. Even though his waist is relatively small compared to his awesome chest and lats, his abs and intercostals could use more work. Also, his quads look like they could be more separated and defined. They definitely have enough size. This may be nitpicking, but his arms also look like they could be bigger when viewed in the Side Chest and Side Tricep poses.

Orville definitely has a bright future as he, just like Jay Cutler, has a very good structure with plenty of beef and the room to add even more size. The bone structure of the physique is very important at this level as it often separates the men from the boys. Orville has a big advantage in this department. Now, he just needs to work on adding more mass and further refinement to his already impressive physique.

11th Place - Dennis James. Dennis was the disappointment of this year's Mr. Olympia contest. He had a lot of hype and word of mouth surrounding his physique and was rumored by the Flex Magazine website (www.flexonline.com) and the American Bodybuilding website (www.getbig.com) to possibly be in line for a top three spot with Chris Cormier sitting this year out. Unfortunately, Dennis could not even place in the top ten.

Dennis definitely has lots of size and thickness but he was clearly off his peak at the Olympia today. He was either too smooth or holding too much water but he was off peak condition. Dennis showed his potential this year at the Arnold Classic where he placed fourth and many felt he could have placed even higher. Come in ripped and tight for your next show, Dennis, and show the world what you are capable of. I, for one, was really looking forward to seeing you place high at this year's Olympia. You've got the potential to be a winner!

12th Place - Gunter Schlierkamp. Gunter is one of the biggest and most well-liked bodybuilders competing on the pro circuit today. Unfortunately, he always seems to have a hard time placing high at the Mr. Olympia. He was able to place 5th at the Arnold Classic this year but could only place next to last at the Big O.

Gunter is a huge bodybuilder but he has to come in at peak condition to place near the top. He has a relatively wide waist and this throws off his symmetry so he really needs to be ripped to do well. Regardless, with his good looks and great smile, he portrays a very marketable bodybuilder which no doubt explains his success as a fitness model. Maybe Gunter needs to get a little more aggressive onstage and show the judges that he will accept no less than a higher placing. You know what they say about nice guys. Come in ripped to the bone with a tougher attitude next time Gunter!

13th Place - Oleg Zhur. This was Oleg's first and possibly last Mr. Olympia competition. He was clearly outclassed in this contest and doesn't have the mass or shape to compete with the bigger boys at the O. I think Oleg was much harder when he qualified for this contest and achieving that condition again would help him to place higher but he would still have a tough time due to his lack of mass and symmetry. Persistence may prove me wrong, however, and Oleg could come back next year bigger and hard as a rock and place higher at the Olympia. First, he will have to re-qualify though.

Overall, this year's edition of the Mr. Olympia contest looked like a good one. Ronnie Coleman is going to be nearly impossible to beat due to his incredible mass and proportions. However, he has to be careful not to show up too heavy next year. Ronnie is in the hot seat now because, with three wins under his belt, it won't be long before the fans start to get restless and start looking for some underdog to unseat the champion. It happened during Haney's reign and it happened during Dorian's winning streak. Ronnie can easily win this title 6 times in row but he has to come in ripped to make it unanimous.

Kevin Levrone and Shawn Ray really hit their peak this year and should be congratulated on achieving their best condition after competing for so many years. These guys are both top-notch champions and are still hungry for the Big O.

Next year, look for Flex to come back in top condition but he will be faced with the challenge of holding off Chris Cormier again who will no doubt be back to upset the apple cart. Will Nasser come back huge and ripped again to place near the top? Will Jay Cutler come in hard and peaked to make the top six? Will Markus continue to get bigger? Will Dexter add some quality pounds to his physique? What about Dennis James and any other new pros such as this year's NPC Nationals winner?

Stay tuned for next year's big Olympia event. Barring any other accidents or tragedies, I hope to be in Las Vegas to see the 2001 Mr. O. Hope to see you there!!