Joel Thomas: 4.5 Weeks

Mike Francois: Muscle Icon

5'8" Mike Francois, now 41, won his IFBB pro card at the 1993 NPC Nationals when he won the heavyweight class.





He went on to win his pro debut, the 1994 Chicago Pro Invitational, as well as that year's Night of Champions. In 1995 he took first at the Arnold and San Jose Pro Invitational, and placed 7th at the Olympia (clip below). His last contest was just two years later at the '97 Olympia, where he finished 10th.

Kyle Combs: Pumping Muscle

19 year old bodybuilder Kyle Combs trains arms at MetroFitness in Worthington, Ohio, from the guys at Pumping Muscle, a week before he won the teen class at the 2011 NPC Northern Kentucky bodybuilding contest. In 2010 a buzzed cut Kyle placed 4th at the Teen Nationals.

Brad Rowe: 5 Weeks to North Americans

Grant Pieterse: Kiwi Pro

Weighing in at 244lbs, Grant Pieterse, the 5'8" 26 year old Kiwi pro training with Moe El Moussawi four weeks put from his first pro competition outside of Australasia, the Phoenix Pro show on the 27th. Moe has been away from the competitive scene for a couple of years (he placed 10th at the 2009 Olympia) and was tipping the scales at 234lbs.



Pieterse placed 9th at the 2009 Aussie Gran Prix and 10th at the 2010 contest (below).



More at gofigure.co.nz.

Con Demetriou: Countdown to Dallas

The big Aussie doing some alternative training at Big John McCarthy's Ultimate Training Academy in Valancia CA, two weeks out from the Europa Super Show in Dallas the weekend of August 12 and 13. In the pic below Con was a big 264lbs three weeks out.

Ronny Rockel: Hamburg in July

Seven weeks, or so, before the 2011 Olympia, Rockel posing in Hamburg and photographed by new sponsor Weider Global Nutrition.