Can Henry defend his title against English, Lewis and the rest?

September 18, 2009

FLEXONLINE.COM

While the men competing in this coming weekend’s Mr. Olympia competition will clearly receive the lion’s share of the spotlight, let’s not forget that they aren’t the only bodybuilders of the Y-chromosome persuasion to be taking the stage in Las Vegas. In fact, with names like David Henry, Kevin English, Flex Lewis and Stan McQuay on the roster, the Olympia 202 Showdown promises to be a contest worthy of a weekend to itself.

WHAT: 2009 Olympia 202 Showdown
WHERE: Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: Saturday, September 26
PREJUDGING: 10:30 AM, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall
FINALS: 7:00 PM, Orleans Arena
FOR MORE INFO: CLICK HERE

The second annual 202 Showdown is sure to see a new high-water mark in terms of competitive excitement and overall quality. The show is stacked with primo competitors, from the aforementioned Henry, English, Lewis and McQuay, to Tricky Jackson, Daryl Gee, Jose Raymond and a host of other 202 notables battling at the Expo in the morning, then at the Orleans Arena at night.

NAME David Henry
AGE 34
HEIGHT 5’5″
CONTEST WEIGHT 202
COUNTRY OF BIRTH United States
CURRENT RESIDENCE Tucson, Arizona
OLYMPIA HISTORY 2008, 1st

Last year’s winner, David Henry, has to be considered the favorite, based not only on his standing as the reigning 202 champ, but also for his vast competitive experience. Armed with the best back in the class and outstanding shape, conditioning will e the key for another Henry victory. When he’s “on” he’s unbeatable; when he’s watery, as he was in New York, he leaves the door ajar.

NAME Kevin English
AGE 36
HEIGHT 5’4″
CONTEST WEIGHT 202
COUNTRY OF BIRTH United States
CURRENT RESIDENCE Great Neck, New York
OLYMPIA HISTORY 2008, 2nd

If Henry has an Achilles heel though its name is Kevin English, a man who has beaten him the last two years at Steve Weinberger’s New York Pro 202 contest. English placed runner-up to Henry at last year’s 202 and with a physique that looks much bigger than the stated weight class limit – thanks to tiny joints and full muscle bellies – it will be interesting to see if Henry can even the head to head score at this year’s rendition.

NAME James “Flex” Lewis
AGE 25
HEIGHT 5’5″
CONTEST WEIGHT 198
COUNTRY OF BIRTH United Kingdom
CURRENT RESIDENCE Brentwood, Tennessee
OLYMPIA HISTORY 2008, 3rd

Another man who will be pushing hard on that door is Welshman James “Flex” Lewis, who just recently won the Atlantic City Pro 202. Interestingly, Henry’s strong points are Lewis’ weak and vice versa. Whereas Henry has an incredible back and chest, Lewis is a mini-Platz. Henry beats Lewis on width, but Lewis holds the edge in arm mass. Truly apples vs. oranges.

NAME Stan McQuay
AGE 36
HEIGHT 5’7″
CONTEST WEIGHT 198
COUNTRY OF BIRTH Japan
CURRENT RESIDENCE Porter Ranch, California
OLYMPIA HISTORY Rookie

Jacksonville Pro winner Stan McQuay would have been a favorite going into next weekend if not for a last minute miscalculation that sent him plummeting to eighth place at the Europa Supershow 202 in Dallas, Texas. Instead, he’s now an X-factor. If he can regain his Florida form, look for him to make the first callout.

NAME Richard “Tricky” Jackson
AGE 42
HEIGHT 5’5″
CONTEST WEIGHT 193
COUNTRY OF BIRTH United States
CURRENT RESIDENCE Louisville, Kentucky
OLYMPIA HISTORY 2008 202 Showdown, 11th

The man who did win in Dallas, Richard “Tricky” Jackson, seems to be peaking nicely for the Olympia as he’s moved from 5th to 3rd to 1st in the Tampa, Jacksonville and Europa shows. Could Dexter Jackson‘s cousin walk home with an Olympia title of his own?

And what about massively thick Pittsburgh Pro 202 winner Eduardo Correa? Or of the runner-ups in various shows, like rookies Daryl Gee and Jose Raymond, and Mark Dugdale, Charles Dixon and John Hodgson? Without question, this is as stacked a 202 show as the division has ever seen. What is very much in question though, is who of this impressive bunch will stand tall in the end as the Olympia 202 Showdown winner. Check back regularly here on flexonline.com as we bring you the answer.

Olympia 202 Showdown Qualified COUNTRY
Arntz, Jason USA
Correa Da Silva, Eduardo Brazil
Devis, Clarence Belgium
Dim, Kris USA
Dixon, Charles USA
Dugdale, Mark USA
English, Kevin USA
Gee, Daryl USA
Henry, David USA
Hodgson, John United Kingdom
Jackson, Tricky USA
Lewis, James United Kingdom
McQuay, Stan USA
Powell, Lee United Kingdom
Raymond, Jose USA

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