Olympia Flash Report

Contest coverage sponsored by Pharmafreak

Heath Running Hot in Bid for 8thTitle; Ansley, Jones, and Gillon Win Olympia Titles

Seven-time defending Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath picked up right where he left off when he last competed in the Olympia: on center stage in the first callout during the judging round Sept. 14 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas. Heath is looking to fend off last year’s runner-up and 310-pound monster, Egypt’s Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy. Rounding out the first callout were Roelly Winklaar, Shawn Rhoden, William Bonac, and Brandon Curry, each of whom finished last year in the top 6 with the exception of Curry, who was 8th.

Appearing to fall out of the top 5 was 2008 Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson, the winningest pro bodybuilder of all time. After finishing 4tha year earlier, Jackson was placed in the second callout with UK’s Nathan DeAsha and Cedric McMillan.

The finals are Saturday night from Las Vegas. This is the 54thyear of the contest.

Ansley Repeats as Classic Physique Olympia Champ by Single Point Over CBum

Looking as if he could compete in the open bodybuilding division, California’s Breon Ansley looked incredibly sharp in holding off Ontario’s Chris Bumstead for a second straight year in taking the Classic Physique Olympia title. This time the difference was but a single point, but it meant a $20,000 payday instead of just $8,000. Ansley also added the Arnold Classic title to his hardware collection earlier this year. New Yorker George Peterson also repeated his 3rdplace finish from a year ago, edging out Quebec’s Henri-Pierre Ano, also by a single point.

Gillon Also Becomes Two-Time Champion in Figure Olympia

In collecting a $35,000 prize, Georgia’s Cydney Gillon repeated as champ, narrowly beating Candace Lewis Carter of Texas by a single point, who moved up from third from a year ago. Nadia Wyatt of St. Louis placed 3rd.

Jones Holds Off Trio of Canadians to Take Fitness Olympia Title

Arizona’s Whitney Jones, still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, took her first Fitness Olympia title and $35,000 in prize money. Alberta’s Ryall Graber placed second, followed by Quebec’s Myriam Capes, and Missy Farrell, a Canadian now living in Redmond, WA. Four-time defending champ Oksana Grishina of Russia retired after last year’s Fitness Olympia win.

Stay tuned to muscleinsider.com for all the action!