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THE NEXT 2012 MR. OLYMPIA CONTENDER WILL EMERGE IN MADRID
by Andrew Michalak
While the list of athletes for the 2012 Mr. Europe Amateur Cup is still being completed, the names of most pro bodybuilders coming to the 2012 Mr. Europe Pro are already known. The list includes nearly 20 names, mainly from Europe, so European professional bodybuilders have now the possibility to compete and win money awards without expensive trip to America. And this is not the only pro show in Europe available this year. One week before, pro athletes will be able to compete at FIBO Power in Essen (Germany), and in the second half of the year in Lahti (Finland); London (Great Britain) and once again in Madrid, at Arnold Classic Europe. Probably, it is the first time in history, that five big pro bodybuilding shows will be staged in Europe same year.
Looking into the list of pro athletes entering the Mr. Europe Pro in April, we can see a couple of well-known names with long and successful competitive history. If we analyze this list according to the places won in the past shows, the leader is Gustavo Badell (Puerto Rico), 3rd place winner at Mr. Olympia (2004 and 2005) and at Arnold Classic (2005). But he had a three-year break and his comeback at 2012 Arnold Classic was not so impressive (13 place). Badell started his pro career in Europe, taking part at the 1998 German Grand Prix but will turn 40 in November this year, so it would not be so easy for him to improve and return to the condition from his best days.
Then the next three names: Paco Bautista (Spain), Johnnie Jackson and Ben White (both of USA). Bautista, 41, won the 1999 IFBBB World Championships and then turned pro. Won two pro shows in Europe (2006, 2007) and has enough potential to add the third victory but has not been seen on stage since 2010 Mr. Olympia, so his current condition is unknown.
Johnnie Jackson, 41, is the only 2011 Mr. Olympia top fifteen bodybuilder coming to Madrid. Last year he finished 3rd at the British Gran Prix and 4th at FIBO Power and, for sure, will be among the main pretenders to win in Madrid this year.
Ben White, 34, placed in the top three of a couple of shows in the past but 2011 Mr. Olympia and 2012 Arnold Classic was not so successful for him (didn’t place). It’s the next opportunity for him to show his big potentials. He and Johnnie Jackson are known as one of the strongest pro bodybuilders in the world, having good results in powerlifting lifts also.
In the role of challengers we will see some of the newest pros: 2011 Arnold Europe winner Feras Saied (Italy), 2011 Arnold America winner Matthias Botthof (Germany), 2008 IFBB world champion Baitollah Abbaspour (Iran), European Championships bronze medal winner Mirsad Terzo (Bosnia & Herzegovina), former world championships participant and Bollywood movie star Varinder Singh (India), who showed very good muscle quality at the 2012 Grand Prix Australia few weeks ago and... former world champion Sergey Shelestov (Russia), who is more experienced but still looking for his way to be successful with the pros.
Raul Carrasco (Spain) and Lee Powell (Great Britain) are bodybuilders who previously competed in the lightweight, so the open category will not be easy for them.
With all these famous names the 2012 Mr. Europe Pro will be an exciting event and a great day for European professional bodybuilders and their fans. On Saturday, April 28, in Madrid, the name of the next 2012 Mr. Olympia contender will be announced. This is the privilege of the winner but the next four competitors will earn points in the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series, increasing their chance to get a ticket to Las Vegas next September (top five athletes from this Qualification Series will advance to Mr. Olympia).
The next interesting news is that the European professional bodybuilding family will have two new “babies”, as the winners of two amateur classes in Madrid will be awarded with the IFBB Pro Cards. More info soon.
The current list of pro bodybuilders coming to Madrid:
1. Paco Bautista (Spain)
2. Carlos Asensio (Spain)
3. Antonio José Morales (Spain)
4. Raúl Carrasco (Spain)
5. Johnnie Jackson (USA)
6. Matthias Botthof (Germany)
7. Gustavo Badell (Puerto Rico)
8. Feras Saied (Italy)
9. Ben White (USA)
10. Alvin Small (UK)
11. Lee Powell (UK)
12. Luke Timms (Australia)
13. Varinder Singh (India)
14. Mirsad Terzo (Bosnia)
15. Sergey Shelestov (Rusia)
16. Jari Mentula (Finlandia)
17. Baitollah Abbaspour (Iran)
Zmieniony przez - SneS w dniu 2012-04-24 23:44:40
Krzysztof Piekarz
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