Written by Peter McGough
10 August 2014

 

2014 Tampa PBW Championships

25 Questions that need to be answered

 

 

Here’s 25 points of discussion from the PBW Championships, staged last weekend (August 8-9). Please let is know your views on these questions and any other issues aring from the competition.

1: After his win in Tampa, is Victor Martinez destined for a top ten finish at the Olympia?
A: Yes.

 

2: What about a top six placing?
A: With six more weeks of fine-tuning, yes.

 

3: Was Victor’s posing routine (including the cheeky "Don't call it a comeback" jibe) the most entertaining of his career?
A: Undoubtedly.

 

4: What sort of placing can runner up William Bonac expect at the Olympia?
A: Top ten.

 

5: What's the verdict on third placed Mo Bannout?
A: Has made commendable progress since last year.

 

6: Having said that should fourth-placed Maxx Charles have been third?
A: Yes.

 

7: Is Paraguay’s Pablo Zayas this year's Big Ramy?
A: Even though he’s competed before, sort of. His humongous accumulation of balanced muscle caused a similar seismic reaction to the one Big Ramy generated at the 2013 NY Pro.

 

8: So why did he finish ninth?
A: Because he wasn't in contest shape. He has every body part so when he nails it look out!

 

10: Was Pablo posing majestically to Andre Bocelli’s Time to say Goodnight, the best routine of the weekend?
A: Yes, his shots were perfectly executed in time with the peaks of the soundtrack and he held each pose for a few seconds. Fabulous.

 

10: How come Constantinos Demetrius, he of the rock hard muscularity, did not make the top 15?
A: Beats the bejesus out of me.

 

11: Did the fitness routines of Russians Sominka Liudmilla and Aurike Tyrgale rock the house?
A: absolutely. Those ladies delivered.

 

12: Is Tim Gardener one hell of a contest promoter?
A: You can say that again. His persona brings a friendly, family type atmosphere to the whole Championships, while ensuring that athletes are really looked after and the timetable is run like clockwork. Bravo, Tim!

 

13: Is Bethany Cisternino a threat to Adele Garcia’s Fitness Olympia crown.
A: Yes. Her physique is pretty flawless and her routine is outstanding.

 

14: Has it come to something when a prominent talking point of India Paulino's Bikini victory was her wearing a black costume instead of her traditional yellow?
A: Well we have to come up with some material and anyway as they say, “black is the new yellow” or something like that.

 

15: How high can 212 winner Hidetada Yamagishi go at the Olympia finals?
A: Probably around 5th, 6th place – even higher if he can make the weight and still remain full. Currently he seems to be losing a little bit of muscle while making the 212 pounds bodyweight limit.

 

16: Does 212 runner-up, Marvin Ward, pack more muscle than anyone in history while standing 5’2”?
A: Yes, only a prime Ronnie Coleman while doing a kneeling pose comes close.

 

17: Does Derik Farnsworth, who finished sixth in the 212, come into contention in the aforementioned category?
A: In the battle of the big little men, yes!

 

18: Even though he finished third in the 212 division, is this the best Tricky Jackson we’ve ever seen?
A: The answer is in the affirmative.

 

19: Could Baito Abbaspour, who finished fifth in his division, ever be a contender at the 212 Olympia showdown?
A: Yes, if he gets his ass and all his other knockout bodyparts into shape.

 

20: Is figure winner Latorya Watts bad news at the Olympia for the likes of previous champs, Nicole Wilkins and Erin Stern?
A: With her amazing shape – including tiny waist – she’s a major threat.

 

21: Was Sheila Bleck a deserving winner of the women’s bodybuilding division?
A: Absolutely.

 

22: How come Dona Oliveira (1985 World Games champ and 1988 World pro champ making a comeback after 24 years) at age 54 didn't make the top 15 in the Women's Physique Division?
A: Apparently she was too muscular and vascular, with a feeling being that her delts were too big?

 

23: Whose delts are more pronounced: Dona Oliveira or WPD champ Heather Grace?
A: You tell us.

 

24: Who was the outstanding debutant of the whole weekend?
A: Australia’s Kahla Bullemor, who finished 4th in the women’s bodybuilding division.

 

25: What was the feel-good story of the weekend.
A: The one concerning Jilly Reville (third place finisher in Women’s Physique) who became seriously ill this time last year and is now restored to full health.

 

 

 

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