Tonight I lost $100 on the black jack table in under 3minutes and found out that my first venture in pre-contest predications was an epic failure. Despite all my placings being off, I was dead accurate about one thing: The 2009 Figure Olympia marked an ushering in of new faces and definitive statements of figure's new look (check out the complete CONTEST PHOTO GALLERY). 2008 Fitness O Champ Jen Gates was not back to defend her crown (she's on maternity leave). Likewise, two others competitors from the '08 Top-5 were gone as well. This made 2009 the most wide open Figure "O" since the inaugural competition in 2003. Head Judge Sandy Williamson has been leading the charge for the softer, less muscular, look and tonight's champion, Nicole Wilkins-Lee is the new archetype of the modern day Figure Champ. Let's take a look at the Top 6 and see who got what tonight in Vegas.
We've learned over the years that the Olympia titles are guarded closely and bestowed on only the most deserving. When the reigning champ doesn't return to defend the title, the judges have the pressure of selecting a new face to join the pantheon of champions. Fortunately for the judging panel at the 2009 Fitness Olympia, a 3-time champ showed up to make their job that much easier.
Dexter Jackson, Jay Cutler, Kai Green, Victor Martinez, Phil Heath, Dennis Wolf, Branch Warren, and Toney Freeman comprise the most anticipated Olympia top Olympians, since the infamous showdown in 1998 that began King Ronnie's reign. Vegas is battening down the hatches for the rest of the storm our industry is bringing, and that includes RXMUSCLE's wall to wall coverage of the O. Be on the lookout for Jimmy "the Angry Bull" Pellechia and Jeff "the Producer" who will be roving all over Vegas getting into trouble and filming it for posterity. Add a little beer to the mix and I shudder to think of what's going to come out of that camera. Whatever it is, I'm sure you guys will love it. A huge thanks to Brutal Alchemy for supporting that cause, and sponsoring RXMUSCLE's coverage of the big show.
