Written by Shawn Ray
03 October 2012

Olympia Weekend 2012 coverage presented by BPI Sports

A Future Mr. Olympia or Lucky SOB?

MD Commentary by Shawn Ray

SHAWN-RHODEN-NEXT-MR-O_INS1After witnessing the 2012 version of Joe Weider’s Mr. Olympia Weekend, a few things stand out from my point of view. First, Phil Heath was the deserving winner. Second, the contest had several “battles” within the contest itself, which made for a good show. Finally, Shawn “Flexatron” Rhoden has finally arrived, and everyone was talking about him! Let’s take a closer look.

It was barely a year ago that Shawn Rhoden competed in the Mr. Olympia and missed the top 10 final placings— leaving some people to state he “may” have potential one day to be a “good bodybuilder” in a contest like this. However, Shawn had other ideas of what he wanted people to think of his potential— and he displayed them at the 48th Annual Mr. Olympia for the world to see. Barley under a year ago, Shawn went under the knife to repair an aggravating hernia that was distracting from the appearance of his otherwise washboard-perfect midsection. The pundits argued that Shawn had the pedigree of a young Flex Wheeler, if only he could thicken up a bit and dry out some more— but it was probably a tall order that we more than likely would not see for several more years. Well, Shawn not only climbed his way into the top three but it came on the heels of two IFBB pro victories not one month prior to serving notice that he meant business. While some people think placing third in the Mr. Olympia and winning $75,000 is a great accomplishment, as an experienced and retired pro, I am here to tell you the work starts now!
If Shawn is to remain relevant in the years to come, he will have to work hard on the formula that got him where he is today— without trying to reinvent the wheel or play the “size game.” A symmetrical wonder, Shawn stands out in a line of genetically inferior athletes where he can only go upward and onward with regard to adding more detail and size. He will have to fill out in the pec and arm departments, while monitoring the size of his thighs so they don’t run away on him and offset his balance. Once all of the above are set and displayed in perfect harmony, we can confidently make the Flex Wheeler references— because that is a lot of pressure on a guy who barely competed in only his second Mr. Olympia contest.

From where I sit, my advice to Shawn is as follows: now that he has arrived and is a major player in the big show, he should take his time and really get back to basic training until the New Year— at which time he should also be developing his image as a “product” that will yield him dividends when he is not competing. You see, professional bodybuilding is a business. When you run a business, you work around the clock— even when others are sleeping, the travel is tiresome and the workouts are brutal, a pro bodybuilder forges on. When the body rests, the mind must be at work.

Shawn should be scheduling his 2013 appearances now before the holiday season gets here— by sending out his information to promoters, supplement store owners, gyms and contest promoters— letting them know how they can reach him for seminars, appearances and posing exhibitions around the world! He should have at least five high-quality 8x10 photos and a poster of his best pose, along with a promotional T-shirt for his fans to purchase and get on the fan club! He should be active in social networking via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram— and have a website to market and promote himself as a product to his supporters and fans so that revenue stream not only helps his nutrition and supplementation, but also his career and financial future!

Careers in this sport do not last forever, hence the need to capitalize now by putting everything in place before the dream becomes a reality! Shawn has cracked the door open and gotten a “peek” inside to see what’s in store for him. Now is the time to put the ducks in a row and get things in order, so when the times comes he is a ready-to-serve product that the people already know about and have seen coming.
Not only will Shawn have to improve is he wants this dream to come to life, but he will also have to be savvy in marketing himself, handling a skyrocketing career and not losing focus on what he has to do as an athlete to remain relevant in a sport where there is only one king! Pictures say a thousand words and live longer than the moment in which they were taken. My advice to Shawn is to get in front of the camera, take as many pictures as he can, when and where possible. Smile more, and don’t be so laid-back and casual— you are not a guest in the show, you’re a gladiator out for blood— and aggression plus confidence gets the prize! He has earned the right to be there by proving himself, but now he will have to become a shark and either eat or be eaten by other sharks who have already tasted the blood of weaker foe.
It is my opinion that, sans injury and/or a weak heart, Shawn can be what Shawn wants to be on the Mr. Olympia stage and succeed where other Hall of Fame Bodybuilders have failed like Labrada, Gaspari, Wheeler, Levrone, Taylor, Martinez and myself. Shawn is poised to get what he works for and as the record shows, his belly is getting bigger but it is not full! There’s still some bait in the water and there will be more bloodshed. The question is whether the blood will that of his peers or his own.

2013 holds the answers to many questions. However, my gut tells me that Shawn will have a few answers for us all when the time comes— as I can clearly see that he has been sharpening his teeth for some time now and for good reason: there is a gift that he’s been looking to eat and a predator who’s trying to steal it!

Stay tuned …
SRay

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