Mid-Spring IFBB Contest Updates

Finally, the bitter winter of 2004-2005 has given way to May's sun, and the verdant landscape signals to bodybuilders everywhere that it's time to bring out the T-shirts and let those lats flare and those guns ripple in Spring's flattering spotlight. For the men of the IFBB, early May means that the Olympia-qualifying season is about half over and that the second half of the vernal flexing season is about to fire up. Among the Spring's developments so far:

Big Ol' Badell! Coming off an impressive, if controversial, third-place finish at last October's Mr. Olympia contest, Gustavo Badell showed up at the Ironman Pro Invitational about 15 pounds heavier and nearly as conditioned. Of course, his severely distended belly did little to enhance his symmetry, and lots of people noticed. Still, his freakiness was enough to push him into first place over a very good Lee Priest. Third place and Olympia qualification went to Troy Alves and his very pleasing physique.

Redemption and Agony As the contest season moved to Columbus, OH, and the Arnold Classic, the focus of the bodybuilding world was clearly on the rematch of Dexter Jackson and Badell, who came from behind to beat "The Blade" during the Challenge Round at the Olympia last Fall. That turn of events was derided by many, and Jackson was determined to get the best of Badell this time around. Confounding this brewing matchup, though, was the undercurrent of emotion swirling around Chris Cormier, who had finished second in this contest for five consecutive years. There was a strong ground swell of support for "The Real Deal" after so many near misses.

In the end, Jackson was too conditioned for anyone to touch and scored straight firsts throughout the contest. Cormier was a unanimous second place finisher, garnering those bittersweet spoils for the sixth time. Badell's distended stomach was simply nasty, and he was never really a factor here. In fact, most people thought that a best-ever Lee Priest could have upset Gustavo's apple cart at the Arnold, but Priest ended up in fourth. The final Olympia qualification went to Melvin Anthony, whose sweet moves on the stage earned him the posing award, as they did at the Ironman.

The Rest Probably the best storyline of the remaining early-Spring shows was the triumphant return of Lee Priest to his native Australia. In winning the Australian Grand Prix over Chris Cormier, Priest capped a very successful Spring season which saw him achieve his best condition yet. At the Arnold, in particular, Lee displayed quadriceps separation and glute-hamstring conditioning which has eluded him in all his previous years as a professional. Lee Priest may be ready to do some major damage this year at the Olympia. (Ronny Rockel grabbed the final Olympia qualifying spot by finishing third in Australia.)

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