You’ve heard all the talk – for months. Boasting a lineup that’s being touted as the deepest ever in the 44-year history of the show, the build-up to Joe Weider’s 2009 Mr. Olympia at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been immense. With judging for this year’s show in the books, it’s safe to say that all expectations have been fulfilled. And the runaway story seems to be Jay Cutler, trying to do what nobody has done before: recapture the Sandow after losing it. And based on the size and condition he displayed this night – even better than 2006, when he toppled eight-time Mr. O Ronnie Coleman to win Sandow number one – he might very well make history.
A supremely conditioned Dexter Jackson, determined to keep the Sandow in his hands, stands in Cutler’s way. We’ll see if Jackson’s detail, symmetry and proportion will be enough to make him a two-time winner.
The big surprise of the night was Kai Greene, who seems poised to overtake Phil “The Gift” Heath for third. Greene, while not as crisp as he was in winning the Arnold Classic earlier this year, got tighter as the night wore on. Heath faded the longer he stayed onstage, possibly giving Greene just enough daylight to slip through with hard charging Branch Warren looking to round out the top five, his best Olympia placing to date.
Check back with flexonline.com Saturday, September 26 for the finale of Joe Weider’s 2009 Mr. Olympia. Until then, check out our galleries and the live 2009 Mr. Olympia play-by-play with Chris Cormier and Allan Donnelly.
