Archive for February 27th, 2009

Comeback Trail to Ohio Bumped by Toney?

by Joe Pietaro | MuscleSportMag

We are only a few short weeks out of the 2009 Arnold Classic and all the talk has been of the Big Three who missed the last Mr. Olympia due to injuries. Victor Martinez, who won the show in Ohio two years ago, is reported to be not only fully recovered from his knee injury, but his leg development appears as if he never had to miss any time.

The huge Branch Warren is coming back from an injured triceps and has his sights set on winning the show that he has taken the Most Muscular award in. In his two previous Arnold Classic appearances, Warren has finished in second and fourth the last two years.
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Gustavo Badell as an Arnold Classic Wild Card?

by Joe Pietaro | MuscleSportMag

One name that hasn’t been mentioned as a serious contender for the upcoming Arnold Classic has been Gustavo Badell. A good question is why not? The ‘Freakin’ Rican’ had a fairly successful 2008 in three top contests. He was the runner-up at the Ironman Pro Invitational, sixth in the last Arnold Classic and 10th at the Mr. Olympia.

That was Badell’s best year since 2005 when he won the Ironman and placed third at both the Arnold and Olympia. He also finished in the Top 3 at the 2004 O.
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Victor Richards Missed His Calling

by Joe Pietaro | MuscleSportMag

There are times when an athlete hits his prime in an era that doesn’t fit. Victor Richards is a prime example of that. When he burst onto the bodybuilding scene back in 1982, such massive size was not commonplace on the contest stage. His 5?10? frame packed on an incredible 370 pounds of muscle during the offseason, which for a man that entered only five competitions in ten years, was his common bodyweight.

Richards won four of those shows and was the first runner-up in the other, and included three in the U.S. (1982 America Cup, 1983 Teen Los Angeles, 1984 California Gold Cup Classic) and two abroad (1989 Mr. Barbados, 1992 Nigerian Championships).
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