Thread: Australian Pro Grand Prix 2010

Top 6

1. Kai Greene
2. Dexter Jackson
3. Roelly Winklaar
4. Mike Kefalianos
5. Melvin Anthony
6. Grigori Atoyan

Top 3 qualify for the Mr. Olympia.

SHOW REPORT:

The tenth Australian Pro Grand Prix came to Melbourne , with fifteen IFBB in Melbourne to make claim to the $25000 on offer in total prizemoney there was on offer. This was a year where the line up would boast a total 5 Arnold titles and for the first time ever a Mr Olympia, it was always going to be a show of interest for the local folk to get behind and support.

The venue was the best seen for a bodybuilding event since the 1980 Mr Olympia was held at the Sydney Opera House. The Melbourne Convention Centre’s Plenary Hall displayed a state of the art modern facility that would befit a major world stage on any level.

Numbers would suggest that there were in excess of 3000 people who were there for the night show with a comparable amount there for the early Pre Judging of the event.

The line up carried names like Kai Green, Dexter Jackson, recent Phoenix pro winner Melvin Anthony, last years NPC Nationals SWH champ Greg Atoyan, AD Cherry, NPC Masters Nationals Champion and crowd pleaser Rusty Jeffers, with respective past National Champions like AD Cherry, Malaysia’s champion Wong (Woo Hoo) Hong, enigmatic Eddie Abbew, huge Aussie Ivan Sedak, transplanted Aussie sensation Michael Kefilianos with rookies like Daniel Hill, Michael Kingsnorth, and Grant Pieterse.

But also on offer was a coveted qualification to the 2010 Mr Olympia that went to the rookie sensation in only his second pro contest the massive Roelly Winklaar. Roelly was the surprise packet of the event only in his mid twenties he’s displaying muscle which will inevitably lead him to no doubt future big titles – he’s that good.

The person everyone wanted to see in this event was the 2009 and recently 2010 Arnold Classic champion Kai Greene. Kai last year got to the heart of all who came in contact with him in his previous visit to Australia and many were looking to see if it was just a fluke.. Guess what it wasn’t with a trip that took him in excess of 35+ hours to endure via the middle east Kai Greene not only reestablished past friendships but gained a legion more. I for one like listening to his outlook and regret that I didn't have the benefit of more time with the great man.

The serious part of the prejudging started fairly predictably with the obvious comparisons made with Greg Atoyan, Kai Green, Dexter Jackson, Melvin Anthony, and new pro Roelly Winklaar.

Both Kai and Dexter were on, some say in at least as good for Kai and def better for Dexter condition in Melbourne amazing really considering the distance they’ve traveled leading up to and after the Arnold Classic competition. Greg Atoyan really surprised me as I have never seen him before Greg had pleasing shape and development across his whole physique a pro physique out of the blocks as he also is in his rookie year – he wasn’t going to be in the money as results showed but he held his own.. I real battle ensued during the prejudging with where to place Winklaar, Anthony and Kefelianos. Winklaar new wunderkind, A super hard and well developed Kefelianos and a wily veteran who was no stranger to winning shows with his aesthetically pleasing lines.

When the dust settled and everyone was exhausted the card fell..
Kai was the alien beast incarnate...cross striated muscle that had cross striations of their own massive massive back and legs that blew away any potential challenge on that night.. I have never seen Ronnie Coleman compete but I witnessed something of a similar caliber that day.
Dexter was considerably improved from Columbus and with his record of three wins in Australia I bet he was really gunning for a victory to reestablish the pecking order of the IFBB Pro League. Despite what seemed a renewed enthusiasm from Dexter it just was not going to be going his way.. No matter how hard he was going to push Kai, Kai was going to be using his 260+ lbs of cross striated alien mass to make sure the days of Dexter placing ahead of him were a thing of the past.

The real surprise in a good way was Roelly Winklaar bulldozing his own development in the world of pro bodybuilding.. many people were saying he will be the next big thing and I too see it.. amazing mass, potential and hardness to a muscle that you don’t see.. I really hope to see him back after another year of pro level training and supplementation. Big smiles were had when he snagged the qualifying spot for the Mr Olympia he is quoted as saying that he is the “happiest man in the world” and we will be seeing him again this year in Los Vegas. Despite and uncanny facial resemblance to the late great IFBB Masters Mr Olympia Sonny Schmidt they also have a similarity in their physiques (RIP Sonny).

Greek Aussie “Mick” Kefelianos who had his supporters in Melbourne (one of the largest Greek populations outside of Greece is Melbourne Victoria) brought a hard muscular and improved on last years physique (which got him into the Olympia) represented himself and countries proudly with quality physique with a combination of roundess and condition to displace both Atoyan and an impressive Melvin Anthony.

Other mentionable performances were of Sydney based Aussie Ivan Sedak who made the bottom half of the line up look small – he needed to hold his condition to his bottom half to give placings a shake - I want to see him compete here every year!! c’mon IVAN!

Wong Hong make some great gains since we last saw him on our shores in 07 he will improve – nice friendly bloke too! Rusty Jeffers despite not being in top shape entertained the crowd with his self described old school posing style. Michael Kingsnorth made some good gains but will need more and get his previous condition will move him up. Young rookie pros Dan Hill, Grant Pieterse and Faadi Zaazaa showed good potential for their age and their physiques will improve with maturity.

In closing the hospitality and professionalism demonstrated by Tony Doherty was by all in the know was second to none, with plans next year to turn the show into a two day expo with strongman, fitness, IFBB guestposing the future for pro bodybuilding is in the hands of the MessiahofMuscle!

Do yall think KAI can keep going and WIN the Olympia?