Dennis Wolf | Can He Challenge Phil Heath?
Dennis Wolf - Can He Challenge Phil Heath?
POLL: WHERE WILL DENNIS WOLF PLACE AT THE 2015 MR. OLYMPIA?
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All Mr. Olympias have that “Wow!” factor. Phil Heath has it and so do rivals Kai Greene and Dennis Wolf. For Wolf in particular his presence is tangible. When he walks onstage his immense shoulder width immediately catches the eye. That width is enhanced by the dramatic tapering sweep to his narrow waist and then the flaring contours of his thighs. He has great lines and just fills so much space he outsizes everyone else, particularly in the first two poses, front biceps and front lat spread. From the rhomboids up his back double biceps is the most spectacular in the business, and when he’s on and full he’s an awesome bodybuilder.
The key to any shootout between Wolf and Heath will center on the first two poses of the comparisons. When being compared in the front biceps and front lat spreads with Phil, Wolf’s size and development just dwarfs everyone.
Whether Wolf will mount a potent challenge against Phil Heath will be revealed next Friday, September 18, when the 2015 Mr. Olympia prejudging commences at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. What Dennis does promise is that he will be at his all time best after a year away from competition.
THE WOLF IN WINTER
After winning the 2014 Arnold Classic Dennis entered last year’s Olympia with high hopes of improving his third place finish of 2013, so actually finishing fourth was going in the opposite direction. Of that placing he reflects, “Yes I was disappointed but more with myself than anybody else. I could have been better. The problem again was one of achieving maximum fullness and holding it. I was flatter at Friday’s prejudging than I was at the Saturday finals. I dropped behind at the prejudging and couldn’t make up the leeway. Fullness is a matter of how much you eat and on the Friday I thought my intake would make me retain the fullness but it didn’t. I still think I should have finished one place higher and pipped Shawn Rhoden for third and quite honestly I think I could have beaten Kai, who was second.”
By October of 2014 he knew we would not be competing in the early-season shows in 2015. His body was sending him a message as he explains: “After competing five times in 2014 I was so burnt out I decided my body -- my whole physiological system --needed a rest. For three months I worked out only lightly two or three times a week, just to pump blood through my muscles. I ate a lot less calories – three meals a day – and cleaned my system up. My bodyweight went down to 265 pounds, when I’m normally 300 pounds a few weeks after a contest. In early January I got back to full blown workouts and eating and got up to 300 pounds by spring. The bottom line is that last October I listened to my body and it told me I need a break.”
So he was never tempted to defend his Arnold title last March 7th, for which he would have been favorite to pick up the $130,000 check, which is a lot of money? He laughs in response, “Yeah it’s a lot of money but if I did everything solely for money I probably wouldn’t be alive right now.”
WOLF ATTACK: 2015
Asked what his main goals were in the gym this year he replies, “The short answer is I was totally focused on working my ass off. I trained as heavy as possible to make my shoulders and chest more rounded, and back thicker. For most of the year I trained four days a week but for my 12 week Olympia contest prep period, which started in late June, I increased it to six days a week. Each bodypart was trained once a week. I’ve experimented with trying to work some bodyparts twice a week, but the thing is with every bodypart I am so sore for two to three days that it’s not possible. If I trained chest on Monday and then tried to do it again on Thursday it would kill me.”
Next week Dennis is planning on coming in at around 270 ripped and shapely pounds. Of his mindset he says, “I focus on nobody but myself. I know I am dangerous for everyone on stage and this helps me to set my mind on a win. You will see I have made improvements.”
In conclusion he says, “Winning the Arnold Classic had always been my bodybuilding dream. When I won it in 2014 my main ambition had been accomplished. Before that win I never dreamed of winning the Olympia, now ….. it’s a little different. If I’m good enough to win the Arnold maybe I can go a bit higher? I won’t disappoint you guys at the Olympia next week. I will do everything in my power to be at my absolute best. I will be better than ever, I promise you that.”
POSTSCRIPT
Always a true gentleman Dennis adds, “I appreciate the unbelievable support from fans around the world. I'm honored and won't disappoint my fans. Thank you all so much!”
He also thanks, “All my sponsors: Muscular Development, Amix Advanced Nutrition, Gorilla Wear, Cycloncup, Schiek and Top Tan. Also big thanks to my training partner Yan and a big shout out to Dennis James for his support in the past 10 years. And most important, my wife Katja. Thank you for being the person you are! Also many thanks to my daughter Sabrina for cheering for me at every show.”
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