Olympia Coverage Dave Palumbo Gives Details On What RxMuscle Will Be Doing At The 2013 Mr.Olympia Weekend!
Ok let me
start out by saying that DanaLinn Bailey has been an AMAZING ambassador for the division and the IFBB. You couldn't ask for a classier, more beautiful, and more driven athlete than her. However, I didn't think she had the best physique last year. I thought she was a shoe-in for Top 5, but not Top 3, and certainly not 1st place. That being said, she is the reigning champion, and as with any incumbent Olympian, you don't beat one to win - it has to be a TKO. Defending the title (usually) means the champion gets a certain degree of leniency, but not always. Some notable exceptions include Frank Zane in 1980 and Dexter Jackson in 2009.
This year, we have some serious contenders in Sabrina Taylor, Juliana Malacarne, Samantha Hill, Karin Hobbs, Karina Nascimento, and Rachel Baker.
What's really cool though, is that DLB seems to have really 
done her homework. I'm sure George Farah & Co. must have told her that the 2013 look just wasn't going to cut in this time around. I mean in all honesty it didn't cut it last year, but this year it would be a total travesty if that same package won her another Sandow.
But, before you blame "evil politics", take pause. I have always said that a Mr. or Ms. Olympia should actually DO SOMETHING FOR THE SPORT - and DLB has done that - both before and after. And I believe that should definitely hold some bearing on the scorecards. But here's the problem - there's not a Philanthropic box to check. I mean, the other ladies' contributions and stewardship goes unnoticed because they don't have the massive social media onslaught that is #FlagNorFail. That's not to say that they're not out there making a difference though.
Wow... what was supposed to be just a blurb has turned into an article. What can I say? This is the biggest title in one of the fastest growing competitive sport in the world. Women’s Physique has made muscle marketable, feminine, and popular again. The stakes are high.
At this past year’s Arnold Classic I counted dozens of girls that were copying DLB's hairstyle, wearing her shirts, and posing with her quirky-but-cool hand gestures. This is n
ot solely the product of the Bailey's creativity. That would be the understatement of the century, but the title of Ms. Physique Olympia carries a significant level of prestige and promise.
In my honest opinion, when we solely consider muscle, symmetry, balance, and conditioning, I have to give the win to Juliana Malacarne. There's simply no question about it. Juliana has better legs, a better back, a great mid-section, and she even gives DLB a fight on her trademark cannon ball delts. The bottom line will come down to ambassadorship in my humble opinion. I think for a very long time, we've echoed the term "ambassador to the world." And to most of us that's a pretty empty title, considering the fact most of us believe the physique-based sports are condemned to exist merely as a niche, or a cult sport if you will. But with champions like DLB, muscle is cool again. You could have a crossfitter, a powerlifter, a bodybuilder, and a soccer mom who are all DLB fans. You couldn't ask for better PR.
Just realize this, DLB is so popular she actually left MHP. I mean who does that? Sure, some athletes choose no
t to renew their contract when the money is subpar, or other athletes get dropped, but how many times have you heard of an athlete in their prime leaving a supplement company, not inking with another one, and not even launching their own line? It's unheard of. DLB has reinvented the way Pro's make money, and anywhere she goes, there's a line of people around the corner.
The big question as far as I'm concerned is - does having the best physique, the best posing routine, and best color, the best hair and makeup all enough? And if it is, how much should ambassadorship and stewardship count Or how much leniency should a reigning champion be afforded? As I said from the jump, you don't "beat an Mr./Ms. Olympia," it has to be a TKO.
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