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The Question: This year's Sacramento Pro Bodybuilding Grand Prix will be very interesting because of how far most of the competitors have to travel - We all know what traveling can do to a competition ready athlete. The list of the competitors: Men:
2. Gianluca Catapano (Italy) 3. Kris Dim (USA) 4. Aiman Faour (Germany) 5. Toney Freeman (USA) 6. Ahmad Haidar (USA) 7. Marcus Haley (USA) 8. Rusty Jeffers (USA) 9. Daniele Seccarecci (Italy) 10. Sergey Shelestov (Russia) 11. Roc Shabazz (USA) 12. Joel Stubbs (Bahamas) 13. Clifton Torres (USA) 14. Luke Wood (Australia) 15. Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan) Women:
2. Angela Debatin (USA) 3. Heather Foster (USA) 4. Aurelia Grozajova (Slovakia) 5. Rosemary Jennings (USA) 6. Kathy LeFrancois (Canada) 7. Maria Leena Lehtonen (Finland) 8. Jana Linke-Sippl (Austria) 9. Mah-Ann Mendoza (USA) 10. Emery Miller (USA) 11. Gayle Moher (USA) 12. Antoinette Norman (USA) 13. Vicki Nixon (USA) 14. Jeannie Paparone (USA) 15. Kim Perez (USA) 16. Heather Policky (USA) 17. Brenda Raganot (USA) 18. Carla Salotti (USA) Who will fill the top 5 positions for both men & women? *Give full details for why you believe it will go down that way. Bonus Question: Have you ever attended the Sacramento Pro Pro Show? If so, what did you think of it and how was your experience? Was it what you thought it would be? How could it be made better? Show off your knowledge to the world! The Winners:
2nd place - 50 in store credit. 3rd place - 25 in store credit. To use your credit, e-mail Will @ will@bodybuilding.com for more info.
This year's Sacramento Pro Bodybuilding Grand Prix will be very interesting because of how far most of the competitors have to travel - We all know what traveling can do to a competition ready athlete.
Many of those present at this competition will have competed one week earlier in the Iron Man. This will allow them to dial in their physiques and improve upon any flaws, which they may find. However, they also may hit their peak at the Iron Man and miss it here, though I doubt that is likely as many plan to use these two competitions as stepping-stones for the upcoming Arnold Classic. I gather we will just have to wait and see how everything pans out. 1. Toney Freeman: In 2006, Toney won his first professional show by dominating the Europa in Dallas. Then, amidst strong competition, he placed 10th at the Olympia. Toney will surely look to improve on his performances in those competitions by doing well in the Iron Man and this competition.
  Click Image To Enlarge. Toney Freeman At His First Olympia. View More Pics From The 2006 Olympia Here. He has shown the ability to bring an incredible amount of mass to the stage though many doubt his conditioning. As a result, he has teamed up with Dave Palumbo who will be improving his diet.
Look for Toney to perform well at the Iron Man and Sacramento Pro shows with hopes of carrying the momentum into the Arnold Classic.
2. Sergey Shelestov: At the Romania Grand Prix, in a very impressive showing, he finished 3rd behind only Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. If he handles the travel well, he should perform very nicely. I look for him to perform well at the Iron Man and to improve upon his physique for this competition.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Sergey Shelestov. 3. Ahmad Haidar: Ahmad undoubtedly has the best abs in bodybuilding. However, in recent competitions, he hasn't performed very well and we haven't heard much from him recently. If he performs as well as we all know he can, he will certainly make a splash at this competition.
4. Luke Wood: Since the New York Pro in 2005, Luke hasn't been performing all to well. In every appearance he made in 2006, he finished outside of the top 10. However, he has made great improvements as of late, as shown by recent photographs before the 2007 Iron Man.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Luke Wood. He will come in very massive and if he can bring the full package to the stage, which he is surely capable of, he should perform very well.
5. Kris Dim: Kris has a massive upper body - His arms tend to overpower his legs - which he certainly needs to improve upon. He will certainly perform well at this competition, though no one currently knows what he is truly capable of. I look for him to round out the top five.
Top Challenger, Rusty Jeffers: His physique is very aesthetically pleasing. If he nails his conditioning, he has the ability to upset some people and place in the Top 3, earning himself a trip to the Olympia. If he performs at his best, it would make the competition much, much more interesting.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Rusty Jeffers.
This show is one week before the Arnold Classic. It should determine the look the judges would like to see and should have a huge impact on how the competitors perform at the Arnold. Also, many of the women who are in this show will be present at the Arnold and will look to improve upon what they bring to the stage. 1. Kathy LeFrancois: Kathy attempted figure for a while but has since decided to come back to her home, where she truly belongs, the bodybuilding stage. Her physique is truly amazing and is the epitome of what a female bodybuilder's physique should be. I look for her to perform very well here and follow that up with a great performance at the Arnold. With a bit more tweaking, there is no doubt that can be achieved. 2. Heather Policky: This is Heathers pro debut and is certainly highly anticipated. She performed very well at the NPC ranks, where some thought she easily could have moved from years ago.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Heather Policky. She has some of the best legs in the sport and they will certainly help her to place well here. If she can dial it in, she will finish within the top five with a strong chance of finishing in the Top 3. I will place her at 2nd.
3. Kim Perez: Kim finished 6th at the Europa Supershow in 2006. It was her best showing of the year and many fans felt she should have placed higher. She will do very well at this competition, as she has great lines and always shows up in contest-ready shape. If any of the competitors currently above her miss their mark, look for her to move up.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Kim Perez. 4. Antoinette Norman: In the same show (the Europa), Antoinette finished 10th and she, too, should have placed higher. She is very similar to Kim, in that, they both have amazing lines and always show up in great shape. Again, if anyone misers their mark, she will take advantage.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Antoinette Norman. 5. Carla Salotti: I am a huge fan of Carla Salotti and her physique. However, this competition is very tight and anyone could place anywhere. She certainly isn't a lock for this position, as is no one. She must bring her 'A' game if she hopes to place well at this competition.
 Carla Salotti.
Top Challenger, The Field: This entire line-up is loaded from top-to-bottom. Everyone has the chance to win. That is all for my predictions. I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Good luck with your predictions and enjoy the show.
God bless!
I have not had the opportunity to attend the Sacramento Pro Show due to its location. It is on the opposite side of the country from myself. I hope to one day attend it though, as it appears to be a great event.
February 24 sets the stage for the 2007 Sacramento Pro Grand Prix. IFBB athletes from all around the world will come to Sacramento for the one night when champions will be made and dreams will be fulfilled. This is an IFBB pro event, but as you might notice in the competitors list, there won't be any big time pros competing. This is a chance for all the new, up-and-coming names in the IFBB to make their mark. Most of the competitors have to travel to Sacramento and only the athlete that is well prepared and plans everything out will have the best advantage over everybody else.
1st Toney Freeman: Tony is improving in a very fast paced way. After a top 10 finish in the Mr. Olympia many critics and fans have noticed Tony and his physique. Tony has received a lot of attention this past year and I believe that he deserves it.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Toney Freeman: The Executioner. View More Pics From The 2006 Europa Super Show Here. With big size and awesome conditioning Tony is a force to be reckoned with. I believe that if everything comes according to plan, Tony will be the top dog for this show.
2nd Ahmad Haidar: Every time I think of the world's best six pack I think of Ahmad. His abs - due to the perfect conditioning highlight his physique. Ahmad always comes in a show with the very best conditioning. He amazes the audiences with deep cuts and good symmetry.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Ahmad Haidar. The only thing that would set him in second is that Tony can do that too, but Tony packs on way more mass. That's why I think Ahmad is locked for second place. 3rd Luke Wood: Native of Australia this IFBB pro bodybuilder has come a long way. I personally remember talking to him on the Bodybuilding.com's forum. He brings forth good conditioning and mass. I believe that he holds a very firm 3rd place. His conditioning and his symmetry make him top 5 for sure.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Luke Wood, Five Weeks Out.
4th Sergey Shelestov: After impressive standings at the Romania Grand Prix, Sergey has continued to improve. He packs on awesome size that will put him on 4th place. He packs on a big amount of mass, his conditioning and how he prepares for this show will ultimately decide his placing. 5th Kris Dim: Awesome size and good symmetry. I think of him as Lee Priest's brother from another mother. He packs in a lot of mass for his size, but his conditioning and symmetry is also good. I think that Kris will make the top 5 for sure and that depending on his conditioning he might go to 4th. It's all up to Kris and how he prepares for his show.
1st Kathy Lefrancois: After good placing at the Arnold Kathy is coming strong in the women's bodybuilding scene. After being with Lee Priest, Kathy has a lot of bodybuilding experience behind her and I believe that she is the top dog for this show.
   Click Image To Enlarge. Kathy LeFrancois. 2nd Kim Perez: After doing a good job at the Europa, Kim is back! She packs on a good amount of muscle on a very sexy physique. She has a lot of potential in the women's bodybuilding division, but I believe that Kathy with the ton of experience that she has will beat her on this show. 3rd Heather Policky: This will be Heather's first IFBB pro show. After doing good in the NPC, she finally arrives at the IFBB. Her conditioning is amazing. She has good symmetry, and decent mass. I believe that 3rd place is reserved for Heather. That would be a very nice way to start her pro debut.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Heather Policky. 4th Antoinette Norman: After a top 10 finish at the Europa, Antoinette is climbing up in the ranks. I believe that she can have top 5 in this contest. Her conditioning is awesome and she packs good size. It might be me, but I'm personally attracted to the sexiness that she brings on stage. That's something that women's bodybuilding could use more of. 5th Brenda Raganot: Brenda brings mass and conditioning on stage. Her look reminds me of the classic women's bodybuilding body. I think that if she brings everything to the table she will be able to place in the top 5.
 Click Image To Enlarge. Brenda Raganot.
I did attend the show last year. I liked it. I enjoyed seeing the new talent and all the people there. There were a lot of people there last year. I had a good experience taking pictures, talking to some of the pros that were there and even to one of the female competitors of that evening. She was extremely nice, even though I could see in her eyes the desire to jump me for the carbs that I had with me. Even though it was more personal in a way that it was smaller and talking to bodybuilders was more accessible I would suggest that there should be a big expo where nutritional companies would give out samples and such. Not as big as the Olympia of course, but more than it was last year. Also the marketing should increase so more and more people know that the show is happening. Aside from that, I think that it's a great show and it's filled with a lot of talent. Good Luck to all the competitors!
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