Phil Heath: 2010 and 2006

Phil Heath is pumped up (literally) and ready for the Olympia! After a disappointing 5th place finish in 2009 (due in part to some stomach issues), Phil rebounded earlier this year at the Arnold (though he still only placed second to a monstrous Kai Greene).Will 2010 be "The Gift's" year?



Like Seth Feroce and Essa Obaid before him, Phil Heath won his pro debut, the 2006 Shawn Ray Colorado Pro/Am Classic (and just a week later he followed it up with a second win at the New York Pro).



The last time I did a Phil Heath comparison it was between his 2010 Arnold appearance and his 2005 USA (and pro card) win... a 23lb difference.

Todd Jewell: 270lbs at Weigh In

For the 2010 North American Championships this weekend in Cleveland, OH.

Grigori Atoyan: 2010 and 2005

In his 7th pro show in just a little over a year (after turning pro July 25, 2009 at the NPC USA as a 230lb super heavy), Grigori Atoyan placed 6th at the 2010 Europa SuperShow in Dallas on the 13th:







Weighing a mere 215lbs at the 2005 USA, Greg placed 4th for the second year in a row (pictures below - he would finish 4th again in 2006, his last year as a heavyweight) with class champ Phil Heath ultimately winning the whole shebang. In 2007 Greg bulked up to the super heavies and tipped the scales at 232lbs (he came in 2nd). Just two weeks after turning pro in 2009 he competed in Tampa (he was 11th) with his best placing as a pro so far the Phoenix Pro last February where he came in 4th!

And yes, he is one of my favs!

Lee Priest: 2010 and 2004

Aussie Lee Priest guest posed earlier this year at the IFBB Australasia on April 18:





But back 6 years ago, after a disappointing 15th place finish at the 2003 Olympia (and a very bad hair day), The Blond Myth went on to two second place finishes in his 2004 competitions, the Ironman Pro (pix below) and the San Francisco Grand Prix.