The view from Mt. Olympus: Here's my take on the 2001 Olympia Weekend - Articula Shawn - 2001 Mr Olympia contest - Brief Article

This year, my 13th competing in the Mr. Olympia, was more special than ever. Because of my long experience, I appreciate this event that much more, and I expect to be there again in 2002 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

It was a different atmosphere this year. Everybody was thinking about September 11. You could tell the tragedy affected everyone. Despite the global problems and the difficulties of traveling, the competitors showed up in shape, for the most part, and that was impressive.

Here are some of the other things that stuck with me after the Olympia Weekend.

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* The press conference, on Thursday, made a difference for a change. I brought up some long-ignored issues and they were discussed openly, which led to the IFBB making the judges more accountable by putting their names on the score sheets.

* Overall prize money was increased by $25,000, although it's still distributed only among the top 10. That meant, this year, 11 guys went home empty-handed. That's got to change, and hopefully next year it will.

* Obviously, the big surprise in the show was Jay Cutler. Jay was definitely the most improved, and there's a strong argument that he should have won because Ronnie was a bit off. History, however, shows us that it just won't happen that way. As a competitor, I would like to have seen Jay win just to change the pattern -- it would have made for an even more exciting contest in 2002.

* After a lot of trash talk from King Kamali, Craig Titus and Melvin Anthony, the sport seemed in danger of becoming the WWF. Not a good thing. It was up to the veterans to defend the integrity of the sport. Fans wanted to see the loudmouthed rookies get punked, and they got their wish.

* The challenge from King Kamali to me personally never came to fruition. He never even got a callout with me. That was disappointing for him, not me.

* I was impressed with Vince Taylor. At 45 years old, he made great improvements from the Masters Olympia in August. I was disappointed he finished 13th. He deserved to make the top 10.

* I shared a dressing room with Orville Burke, who finished sixth. He was thrilled to finish in the top six, and it was refreshing to see a guy so happy just to be there, and then to do so well. He recognized the prestige and magnitude of the Olympia.

* Before I was announced in fourth place, Kevin Levrone, who finished third, conceded onstage to me that I had beaten him. That made fourth place a little easier for me to swallow. I respect Kevin for his honesty.

* I think the posedown, where guys went into the audience, is an accident waiting to happen. Although the fans like it, I think it's a bad idea. Somebody could get hurt.

Most of all, the 2001 Olympia proved that bodybuilding is not dead. After all these years, all the ups and downs of the sport, it's still the premier event in the world for the sport. I'll be there next time.