In Russia last year with ronnie and cutler he placed third how in hell is this possible?
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2005olympiares.htm
2005 Mr. Olympia Results
Place Name Country 1 2 3 4 Points
1 Ronnie Coleman USA 7 5 5 5 22
2 Jay Cutler USA 8 10 10 10 38
3 Gustavo Badell Puerto Rico 21 19 16 15 71
4 Gunter Schlierkamp Germany 20 16 19 20 75
5 Victor Martinez Dominican Republic 22 25 26 25 98
6 Dannis James Germany 31 32 37 100
7 Melvin Anthony USA 31 40 31 102
8 Branch Warren USA 46 35 40 121
9 Darrem Charles Trinidad 40 50 46 136
10 Mustafa Mohammad Jordan 57 50 48 155
11 Johnnie Jackson USA 59 51 52 162
12 George Farah USA 60 61 61 182
13 Chris Cormier USA 51 73 67 191
14 David Henry USA 71 64 66 201
15 Markus Ruhl Germany 69 75 68 212
16 Kris Dim Cambodia 77 78 155
17 Craig Richardson USA 79 80 159
17 Ronnie Rockel Germany 80 79 159
19 Quincy Taylor USA 80 80 160
19 Alexander Federov Russia 80 80 160
19 Mike Sheridan USA 80 80 160
The show where Alex Federov placed 3rd behind Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman was in 2003, when Federov was still an amateur.
Back in the day (especially with women's bodybuilding), they would let amateurs compete with the professionals, provided they didn't get any prize money. If they placed high enough, they were given IFBB pro cards. Keep in mind, Federov beat 5 guys who just competed in the 2003 Mr. Olympia at that Russian Grand Prix show.
Federov obtain pro status, got a Weider contract, and was given a special invite to the 2005 Mr. Olympia.
However, according to FLEX (June '05), Federov declined the special invite and wanted to earn his way to the Olympia, which is why he entered the 2004 Russian Gran Prix. He placed 2nd and got the qualification.
Had Federov taken the special invite, he'd be getting blasted EVEN MORE than he is now.
Now, it goes without saying that there would be a number of bodybuilders between Federov and Coleman at the Olympia. King Kamali makes a funny statement that, if he took his uncle back to Iran, trained him for a year, and entered him in the Iran Grand Prix, he'd place second to Coleman.
This jab, of course, was to make a statement of the perceived lack of "quality" bodybuilders at that Russian Grand Prix, which allowed Federov to place second.
As for the claim of Federov being overhyped, I beg to differ. Hyped? Yes! (a number of Olympia-bound bodybuilders are; Federov was no different). Overhyped? No.
Look at the pics of Federov at those Grand Prix shows and compare them to his Olympia appearance.......that explains why he placed "19th". Had he looked the way he did in Russia, he would have been a major player at the O. Heck, Chris Cormier won a pro show, yet he fell to 13th place at the big dance.
But, Federov needn't worry. After all, a certain guy who was a Texas cop placed "16th" at his first Olympia in 1992. I believe his placings have improved since then.
