The Caribbean’s leading professional bodybuilder Shawn Rhoden of Jamaica had to settle for second best at the 2014 Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid, Spain.
German terrier Dennis Wolf won the great rivalry between the two men, to walk away with the first place cheque of $100 000 over the weekend.
It was an especially sweet victory for “The Big Bad Wolf”, too, considering he beat Rhoden into a runner-up spot, just as he did in Ohio six months ago, redeeming himself after the result at the Olympia in Las Vegas. At the Mr O, Rhoden was third and Wolf fourth.
Reports indicate that Wolf looked the drier and leaner of the two, with Rhoden appearing to have eased off slightly in the wake of last weekend’s contest
The durable Dexter Jackson, at 44, showed his class by placing third in a top-class field.
Victor Martinez captured fourth spot while Roelly Winklaar rebounded from the disappointment of the Olympia, where he failed to make the top ten, by landing fifth place.
Black Dutchman William Bonac, who also failed to crack the top ten in Las Vegas, cracked the top six.
Defending champion Phil Heath and Kai “The Predator” Greene, the two best bodybuilders in the world, opted not to compete at the Arnold Classic, which over the past few years has expanded into Europe, Brazil and, from next year, Australia.
It has also grown well beyond its original muscle-building focus and changed its name to the Arnold Sports Festival.
According to the festival’s website, it now welcomes more than 18 000 athletes annually who compete in more than 50 sports and events, including 14 Olympic sports, and is attended by around 175 000 fitness enthusiasts.
The next Arnold Sports Festival will take place in Ohio from March 5 to March 8. (MK)
