HOW EXCLUSIVE IS THE SANDOW SOCIETY? THERE HAVE BEEN 25 ARNOLD CLASSICS (INCLUDING 2013) AND 48 O’S (THROUGH 2012). DESPITE NEARLY TWICE AS MANY CONTESTS, THERE HAVE BEEN FEWER O WINNERS (13) THAN ARNOLD CHAMPS (14).
This is where legends are born and history is written. Every autumn since the inaugural event in 1965, the Mr. Olympia has been bodybuilding’s pinnacle. This year there are eight Olympia categories (record) and $1 million (record) up for grabs on Olympia Weekend. We look at the potential changes to the record book in each category with a particular emphasis on the Mr. Olympia, where the lineup is so stacked there are six men who have previously placed in the O top two (another record) vying for the throne. Will Phil Heath (or Jay Cutler or Dexter Jackson) win again or will a 14th Mr. O be crowned? Ultimate Nutrition presents Joe Weider’s 2013 IFBB Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, brought to you by Bodybuilding.com. On Sept. 27–28 some legends will be born, others will grow, history will be made in pose after pose, and the record book will be rewritten.
His O winning percentage will rise to 50% (three out of six).
5TH youngest person to win three O titles.
THREE WINS WILL TIE HIM WITH OLIVA AND ZANE FOR THE SIXTH MOST OLYMPIA TITLES.
It'll be his 3rd straight O win. This would make him the eighth person to win three or more Olympia titles. Six of the other seven (all but Cutler) won their first three consecutively.
Mr. O Defending Title
82% Chance Current Champ Will Defend His Title
Once a rarity, a Mr. O champ losing has become more likely than not recently, happening four of the past seven years. The seven times a defending champ was defeated are: 1970 (Oliva), 1980 (Zane), 1984 (Bannout), 2006 (Coleman), 2008 (Cutler), 2009 (Jackson), 2011 (Cutler).
OLYMPIA 212 SHOWDOWN
1st Last year, Flex Lewis became the first Olympia 212 Showdown champion. If he repeats this year, he’ll double his record win total. If he loses, someone else will tie his record tally.
If we include the recent 202 division (2008–11) and the old lightweight division (1974-79), the record for Olympia “lightweight” titles is three, held by Franco Columbu (1974–76), Frank Zane (1977–79), and Kevin English (2009–11). English goes for number four this year.
Of the five champs to win the old lightweight division, the 202 Showdown or the 212 Showdown, Lewis is the only one to do so while younger than 30. He was 28 last year, and will be 29 at this year’s contest. None of the other competitors who were qualifi ed for this year’s 212 Showdown when we went to press are under 30.
He’ll be the oldest O champ ever. At 43 years and 10 months, the Blade will be nine months older than Dickerson was when he won the 1982 Olympia at 43 and one month.
His five year span (2008–13) will tie Schwarzenegger (1975–80) and Columbu (1976–81) for the longest periods between wins.
Wherever he places, his 14 entries will put him second all-time behind Coleman’s 15.
Raised in Jamaica, he will be the first foreign-born champ since Yates and the sixth overall.
Like Greene, the 38-year-old from Maryland, WILL BE THE 14TH MR. OLYMPIA & THE FOURTH OLDEST he would also be the first (non-southern) East Coaster though he currently trains in Southern California.
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IF MAMDOUH "BIG RAMY" ELSSBIAY PLACES IN THE TOP 6
He’ll be the first rookie pro to do so since Chris Cormier was sixth in 1994. Before that, Kevin Levrone (1992) and Flex Wheeler (1993) were both second at the Olympia in their rookie seasons.
He’ll be only the second person to make the top six in his first Olympia since Cormier 19 years ago. The other is Heath, who was third in 2008. Heath’s first Olympia came in his third year in the IFBB Pro League.
Aside from the inaugural Mr. Olympia, no one has ever won it in their rookie year nor on their initial attempt. If the 28-year-old Ellsbiay becomes the first to do both, he’ll be the sixth-youngest Mr. O, and the first under-30 champ since Haney.
It will be his first time in bodybuilding’s triumvirate. Frustratingly, in seven previous Olympias, Wolf, 34, has placed in the top six five times and yet never made it higher than fourth.
IT’LL BE THE SECOND TIME HE REGAINED THE OLYMPIA TITLE AFTER LOSING IT. HE’S THE ONLY PERSON DO THIS ONCE.
It’ll be his fifth O win, which won’t change his ranking (fifth) for most Sandows. However, it will put him just behind fourth place’s Yates, who has six Sandows.
Fourteen years will be the longest period between a competitor’s fi rst Olympia and winning it. (His initial O was in 1999.) Coleman’s 13-year mark is the current record.
If he’s first or second, he’ll break his own record for most top-two fi nishes, currently at 10. Coleman has nine. If he’s second, he’ll also increase his runner-up record to seven. Kevin Levrone is far behind with four.
Wherever he places, it’ll be Cutler’s 13th Olympia, tying him for third most with Albert Beckles and Shawn Ray.
If he places lower than second, it’ll be his fi rst time doing so in a pro contest since 2000, ending his string at 25. Coleman went a record 29 contests without placing out of the top two (1998–06).
HE’LL BE THE THIRD 40-SOMETHING MR. O. CHRIS DICKERSON WAS 43 IN 1982. COLEMAN WAS 40 IN 2004, AND 41 IN 2005. CUTLER TURNED 40 ON AUG. 3.
It will be a rare reversal of trends for two competitors who have suf ered major leg injuries in recent years. Warren, 38, was last in the top three in 2010. Martinez, 40, was last there six years ago, though he was fourth in 2011 his previous O.
MS. OLYMPIA
With eight wins, Iris Kyle is currently tied with Lenda Murray for most Ms. O titles. In the Mr. Olympia, the record is also eight, held by Haney and Coleman. Her ninth win would break the tie and give her the all-time mark for most Olympia victories, male or female.
If either Debbie Laszweski (second last year) or Yaxeni Oriquen (third last year) wins, she will be the all-time oldest Ms. O. Juliette Bergmann was 42 when she won in 2001. Laszewski will be two days short of her 44th birthday at this year’s contest. Oriquen, who won the title in 2005, will be 47.
It will be Oriquen’s record 16th Ms. O (all consecutive since 1998), the most for a man or woman in any Olympia category. It will be Kyle’s 15th (all consecutive since 1999).
FIGURE OLYMPIA
This is the 11th Figure Olympia. The first champ, Davana Medina, holds the record for most titles with three. This year’s contest may come down to the two women who have won the past four Figure O’s in alternating years: Erin Stern (2010, 2012) and Nicole Wilkins (2009, 2011). If either wins, she will tie Medina’s record.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE SHOWDOWN
Because it’s the inaugural Olympia year for both the men’s and women’s physique divisions, every record is up for grabs. Who will be the first-ever champs?
FITNESS OLYMPIA
This is the 19th Fitness Olympia, and Adela Garcia will be going for her eighth title. Susie Curry has the second most, far behind with four. Garcia will also be going for her fi fth in a row, breaking a tie with Curry. In her 13th Fit O, she’ll be increasing her mark for most entries. And at 41, she can break her own record for oldest champ.
BIKINI OLYMPIA
This is the fourth Bikini Olympia, and there has so far been a different champ each time. Last year’s No. 1, Nathalia Melo, returns. If she wins, she’ll become the first multiyear Ms. Bikini Olympia.
OLYMPIA PRIZE MONEY
This year’s record total is for all eight Olympia categories. The Mr. Olympia prize money has increased from $600,000 in 2011 to $650,000 in 2012 to $675,000 this year. The 212 Showdown prize money has ballooned from $25,000 in 2011 (when it was the 202 Showdown) to $40,000 last year to $65,000 this year.
