The Champions of 2009 - A Year in Review of Men's Bodybuilding
Written by Mikail Fathi
14 December 2009
2009 began like any other year, exciting and new with hopes and dreams in abundance! The passing of standouts like; Ben Weider, Kenny Kassel & Steve Stone reminded us how fragile life is and can be but yet showed us how big of an impact the few can have on the many! And so it was, as the days turned to weeks and months turned into a year, we remembered how things were and planned how things were going be, so goes the life and times of a Bodybuilder.
JANUARY: Brought us “The Spaniard”, Silvio Samuel. Silvio captured the Pro Ironman title with very little resistance and joined the ranks of some the sports finest past winners including; 3 Time Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, former Mr. Olympia, Dexter Jackson, 5 Time Champion, Flex Wheeler, 4 Time winner, Chris Cormier, JJ Marsh, Toney Freeman, Lee Priest, Gustavo Badell, Phil Heath and the OG (Old Guy) yours truly.
MARCH: Brought us the arrival of Kai Green. By way of Victory at the Arnold Classic, Kai did not disappoint as he won the 21st Arnold Classic Contest firmly placing himself in the Mr. Olympia conversations to come. A week later Kai would go on to the Australian Pro and duplicate in similar fashion “Victory” over a diminutive field of competitors by comparison to the ASC unquestionably making him a Front runner to the Olympia Throne!
APRIL: Grandpa Troy Alves at 43 yrs old would find Victory. Victory was actually sweeter than he imagined in Orlando, Florida at the Europa Pro, as Troy beat a lineup of much younger guys yet looked the best he ever has as a Pro! In the troughs of a Divorce, opening a Supplement Store and fighting back Father Time, Troy mustered up enough of the good stuff to pull this one off as he came up off the ropes to score a Knock out and snag his 1st Pro Title!
MAY: 2007 NPC National Champion, Evan Centopani’s Pro Debut in New York. Evan would have to earn whatever the Judges had in store for him in a lineup that included Olympians, Dennis James and Silvio Samuel not to mention the return of the German Giant, Marcus Ruhl! Earn it he did, Evan showed up in prime condition with enough mass to send the completion running back to the gym for more training. A Rookie Pro Debut and a Rookie Pro Victory put Evan in the company of former winners like; Melvin Anthony, Branch Warren, Darrem Charles, Phil Heath and Kai Green! Evan would decide to take the rest of the year off to build up his 27 year old body for 2010.NY 202 Pro: We would like to congratulate 202lb Champions, Eduardo Correa & Kevin English who won the Pittsburgh & NY Pro respectfully.
AUGUST: Would bring new Champions and familiar faces in the form of Jacksonville Pro 202lb winner, Stan McQuay and later 202lb Winner of the Tampa Pro, David Henry. Not to be out done, veteran Bodybuilder Ricky “Tricky” Jackson got his 1st Pro win at the Tamp Pro in the 202lb class. Dennis “The Menace” James at over 40 years old would finally taste sweet Victory at last with back to back Wins at the PBW Tampa Pro & Europa Pro in Dallas, Texas the following week.Female IFBB Athlete Representative, Betty Pariso at the ripe old age of 52 would serve up a little Whip Ass for the ladies competing in Tampa as well, walking off with the title to share with her grandchildren!
SEPTEMBER: The last act of the Atlantic City Pro & The Freakin Rican, Gustavo!Atlantic City Pro has run its course leaving us with Pro Winner, Gustavo Badell on the Open Men’s side of things while we witnessed the Welshman, James “Flex” Lewis snatch victory away from a tough line up in the 202lbs Division. 50 year old and 3 Time Women’s Pro Champion, Lisa Auckland made short and quick work of the women to close out her run in Atlantic City as well with the Three Peat Victory in as many years! Olympia Weekend: Of course it goes without saying that one of the most “Hotly” contested Mr. Olympia Contests would wind up the month of September with a historic comeback victory for 3- Time Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler! Jay took the field to task on “Conditioning” while retaining plenty of Mass for all parties involved to be concerned. 202lb NY Champion, Kevin English pulled to Upset Victory over defending champion, David Henry to walk away as the Best Built Bodybuilder in the World under 202lbs! 6-Time Ms. Olympia Winner, Iris Kyle did everything she said she would which was come in Bigger, Harder and Better than the year before safely securing her title for another year!
NOVEMBER: The “X Man” Toney Freeman at 42 years old flew into Sacramento, Ca to find redemption on the heels of a disappointing 8th place finish at the Mr. Olympia and what he found was Victory! Toney held off an all time best, Craig Richardson on his way to qualifying early for the 2010 mar. Olympia!
Thanks for the memories!
S RAY
JANUARY: Brought us “The Spaniard”, Silvio Samuel. Silvio captured the Pro Ironman title with very little resistance and joined the ranks of some the sports finest past winners including; 3 Time Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, former Mr. Olympia, Dexter Jackson, 5 Time Champion, Flex Wheeler, 4 Time winner, Chris Cormier, JJ Marsh, Toney Freeman, Lee Priest, Gustavo Badell, Phil Heath and the OG (Old Guy) yours truly.
MARCH: Brought us the arrival of Kai Green. By way of Victory at the Arnold Classic, Kai did not disappoint as he won the 21st Arnold Classic Contest firmly placing himself in the Mr. Olympia conversations to come. A week later Kai would go on to the Australian Pro and duplicate in similar fashion “Victory” over a diminutive field of competitors by comparison to the ASC unquestionably making him a Front runner to the Olympia Throne!
APRIL: Grandpa Troy Alves at 43 yrs old would find Victory. Victory was actually sweeter than he imagined in Orlando, Florida at the Europa Pro, as Troy beat a lineup of much younger guys yet looked the best he ever has as a Pro! In the troughs of a Divorce, opening a Supplement Store and fighting back Father Time, Troy mustered up enough of the good stuff to pull this one off as he came up off the ropes to score a Knock out and snag his 1st Pro Title!
MAY: 2007 NPC National Champion, Evan Centopani’s Pro Debut in New York. Evan would have to earn whatever the Judges had in store for him in a lineup that included Olympians, Dennis James and Silvio Samuel not to mention the return of the German Giant, Marcus Ruhl! Earn it he did, Evan showed up in prime condition with enough mass to send the completion running back to the gym for more training. A Rookie Pro Debut and a Rookie Pro Victory put Evan in the company of former winners like; Melvin Anthony, Branch Warren, Darrem Charles, Phil Heath and Kai Green! Evan would decide to take the rest of the year off to build up his 27 year old body for 2010.NY 202 Pro: We would like to congratulate 202lb Champions, Eduardo Correa & Kevin English who won the Pittsburgh & NY Pro respectfully.
AUGUST: Would bring new Champions and familiar faces in the form of Jacksonville Pro 202lb winner, Stan McQuay and later 202lb Winner of the Tampa Pro, David Henry. Not to be out done, veteran Bodybuilder Ricky “Tricky” Jackson got his 1st Pro win at the Tamp Pro in the 202lb class. Dennis “The Menace” James at over 40 years old would finally taste sweet Victory at last with back to back Wins at the PBW Tampa Pro & Europa Pro in Dallas, Texas the following week.Female IFBB Athlete Representative, Betty Pariso at the ripe old age of 52 would serve up a little Whip Ass for the ladies competing in Tampa as well, walking off with the title to share with her grandchildren!
SEPTEMBER: The last act of the Atlantic City Pro & The Freakin Rican, Gustavo!Atlantic City Pro has run its course leaving us with Pro Winner, Gustavo Badell on the Open Men’s side of things while we witnessed the Welshman, James “Flex” Lewis snatch victory away from a tough line up in the 202lbs Division. 50 year old and 3 Time Women’s Pro Champion, Lisa Auckland made short and quick work of the women to close out her run in Atlantic City as well with the Three Peat Victory in as many years! Olympia Weekend: Of course it goes without saying that one of the most “Hotly” contested Mr. Olympia Contests would wind up the month of September with a historic comeback victory for 3- Time Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler! Jay took the field to task on “Conditioning” while retaining plenty of Mass for all parties involved to be concerned. 202lb NY Champion, Kevin English pulled to Upset Victory over defending champion, David Henry to walk away as the Best Built Bodybuilder in the World under 202lbs! 6-Time Ms. Olympia Winner, Iris Kyle did everything she said she would which was come in Bigger, Harder and Better than the year before safely securing her title for another year!
NOVEMBER: The “X Man” Toney Freeman at 42 years old flew into Sacramento, Ca to find redemption on the heels of a disappointing 8th place finish at the Mr. Olympia and what he found was Victory! Toney held off an all time best, Craig Richardson on his way to qualifying early for the 2010 mar. Olympia!
Kudus’ to All the Champions in the IFBB including Fitness & Figure:
Adela Garcia, Heather Mae French, Tracey Greenwood, Shannon Metaraud, Jenny Lynn, Cheryl Brown, Jessica Putnam & Nicole Wilkins Lee. 2010 is upon us as we look forward to more Champions coming out of the pack for their moment to shine but for now All of the above mentioned athletes deserve a much warranted “SALUTE!”
Thanks for the memories!
S RAY