Dexter Jackson

Dexter "The Blade" Jackson (born November 25, 1969) is an IFBB professional bodybuilder and the 2008 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champion. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida. Dexter's first NPC (National Physique Committee) competition was the NPC Southern States Championship of 1992, where he took 3rd.

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He first competed professionally in the 1999 Arnold Classic, Night of Champions, and Mr. Olympia contests, placing 7th, 3rd, and 9th, respectively. At the 2007 Mr. Olympia, Jackson placed 3rd and many critics said he would not likely place any higher. On September 27, 2008, he defeated the reigning two-time Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler to become the 12th man to win the title.

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And only the second to have won it and the Arnold Classic title in the same year. Jackson has won the Mr. Olympia title once, sharing this distinction with Chris Dickerson (1982) and Samir Bannout (1983). 2008 was a great year for Jackson, as he won the Arnold Classic, Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII, New Zealand Grand Prix, Russian Grand Prix and the Mr. Olympia. Jackson placed 3rd in the 2009 Mr. Olympia contest. 

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In 2012, Jackson placed 4th in the Mr. Olympia, then surprised everyone by winning that year's Masters Olympia at the age of 43 and then won his fourth Arnold Classic title in 2013. Jackson and Chris Dickerson are the only bodybuilders to win titles in both the Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia bodybuilding competition.

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Jackson has been featured in many fitness and bodybuilding articles, including being pictured on the cover of Muscular Development and Flex magazine. He shot his new documentary DVD titled Dexter Jackson: Unbreakable with filmmaker Alex Ardenti of Ardenti Films in Florida and California which was released in 2009.

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Shawn Rhoden

Shawn "Flexatron" Rhoden (born April 2, 1975) is a Jamaican American professional bodybuilder. An aspiring soccer player in his early teens, Rhoden started bodybuilding in 1992 with inspiration from former Mr. Universe Yohnnie Shambourger and, after an amateur career ruptured with several injuries and alcohol dependence, won his IFBB Pro card by 2010.

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He was the 11th at the 2011 Mr. Olympia (Mr. Olympia debut), 3rd at the 2012 Mr. Olympia, and 4th at the 2013 Mr. Olympia competition. Born in Jamaica, Rhoden immigrated to the United States in 1990 and settled in Maryland. He went through a period of alcohol addiction following his father Lloyd's demise in 2002 but overcame it with help from his friend Lenore Carroll.

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Rhoden is romantically linked with eight-time World Arm Wrestling Champion Sarah Bäckman. Shawn Rhoden had a near-perfect 2012, taking home four victories and capturing 3rd place at the Olympia. Seeking to capitalize on this success and his undoubted genetic potential, "Flexatron" will enter this year's Olympia as one of the top-tier favorites.

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Competition history: Professional: 2013 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe - 4th, 2013 Mr. Olympia - 4th, 2012 IFBB EVL's Prague Pro - 2nd, 2012 IFBB British Grand Prix - 1st, 2012 IFBB Arnold Classic Europe - 1st, 2012 Mr. Olympia - 3rd, 2012 IFBB Dallas Europa Supershow - 1st, 2012 IFBB PBW Tampa Pro - 1st, 2012 NPC Dexter Jackson Classic - NP, 2012 IFBB Arnold Classic - 8th, 2012 IFBB FLEX Pro - 4th, 2011 Mr. Olympia - 11th, 2011 IFBB Dallas Europa Super Show - 3rd, 2010 IFBB Dallas Europa Super Show - 16th.

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Competition history: Amateur: 2009 IFBB North American Championships - 1st, 2009 NPC Delaware Open Bodybuilding - 1st, 2001 NPC Team Universe Championships - 2nd, 2000 NPC Team Universe Championships - 4th, 1999 NPC Team Universe Championships - 3rd.

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Phil Heath

Phillip "The Gift" Heath (born December 18, 1979 in Seattle, Washington) is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and current Mr. Olympia. Phil Heath grew up in Seattle, Washington, and attended Rainier Beach High School, where he played shooting guard on the varsity basketball team. Heath attended the University of Denver in Colorado on a full athletic scholarship.

While at Denver, Heath double-majored in IT and Business Administration and played shooting guard for Denver's Division I basketball team. Phil Heath entered bodybuilding in 2002. In 2005 he won the overall title at the NPC (National Physique Committee) USA Championships, earning the right to compete as an IFBB Pro. He won his first two IFBB professional events the following year: The Colorado Pro Championships and The New York Pro Championship.

In 2007, Heath placed fifth at the Lourens Classic. Although he still qualified to compete in the 2007 Mr. Olympia contest, Heath, nevertheless, decided not to enter the contest, stating that he needed additional time to improve his form. Heath then won the 2008 Iron Man show and placed second to Dexter Jackson at the 2008 Arnold Classic. In his 2008 Mr. Olympia debut, Heath finished third, becoming the first novice to place in the top three since Flex Wheeler in 1993.

He was a favorite for the 2009 Mr. Olympia title[citation needed], but a stomach virus caused him to arrive 6 lbs lighter than planned on the first day, and this resulted in his taking fifth place in the competition. In 2010, he took second place at the Mr. Olympia contest when Jay Cutler won his final title, but after improving the following year Heath defeated Cutler and became Mr. Olympia for 2011. In both 2012 and this year's Mr Olympia, Heath successfully defended his Mr. Olympia title against Kai Greene.

Heath has been featured in many fitness and magazine articles, and has also appeared on the cover of FLEX magazine. Heath resides in Arvada, Colorado and trains at Armbrust Pro Gym in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Heath has released four bodybuilding DVDs: "The Gift", "The Gift Unwrapped", "Journey to the Olympia" and Becoming the Number 13. The latter three films were directed by Jonathan McFarlane and released by Bodybranded Films.

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Kai Greene

Kai Greene (born July 12, 1975) is a professional bodybuilder. His most recent victory was the Prague Pro in 2013. Greene was the first runner up (2nd Place) at the 2012 and 2013 Mr. Olympia competition. Greene was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. From the age of six, Greene grew up in foster care and in residential treatment center placements.

According to his web autobiography, his rapid physical growth and development drew the attention of his 7th grade English teacher, and since his school conduct was deemed high expectations, Greene was introduced to the idea of teen competition. He soon became an enthusiastic bodybuilder. He competed in the National Physique Committee (NPC), aiming to move into the International Federation of BodyBuilders.

He perceives his success in the NPC as mixed. Although he won the 1999 NPC Team Universe, he was disappointed and took a five-year break from competitions, before re-emerging in the 2004 NPC Team Universe contest, which he won again. This victory qualified him for a career as an IFBB professional bodybuilder. Greene is sponsored by Flex and MuscleMeds. Greene endorses MuscleMeds' Carnivor, a bioengineered beef protein isolate.

In 2011, Greene began working with preparation coach George Farah and placed first in the 2011 New York Pro Championship. Greene's third place win at Mr. Olympia in 2011 qualified him for the 2012 contest in Las Vegas, hence he did not compete at the 2012 New York Pro in order to focus on Mr. Olympia. On September 29, 2012, Greene placed 2nd in the 2012 Mr. Olympia competition. On September 28, 2013, Kai placed 2nd again in the 2013 Mr. Olympia competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 2009, he worked with director Mike Pulcinella to release Overkill which documented his preparation for his first appearance at the 2009 Olympia. In 2010, he teamed with Mike Pulcinella again to film the sequel Redemption which recorded his reaction to his fourth place win, and the new routine and training he adopted for the 2010 competition. Kai Greene also features in the 2013 film Generation Iron, detailing the lead up and events of the 2012 Mr Olympia competition.

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Karim Benzema

Karim Mostafa Benzema (born 19 December 1987) is a French international footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid in La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability. He is described as an "immensely-talented striker" who is "strong and powerful" and "a potent finisher from inside the box".

Benzema was born in the city of Lyon and began his football career with local club Bron Terraillon. In 1996, he joined the biggest club in the city Olympique Lyonnais and, subsequently, came through the club's youth academy. Benzema made his professional debut in the 2004-05 season and appeared sporadically in his first three seasons as Lyon won three titles in that span. In the 2007-08 season, Benzema became a starter and had a breakthrough year scoring over 30 goals as Lyon won its seventh straight league title.

For his performances, he was named the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 1 Player of the Year and named to the organization's Team of the Year. Benzema was also the league's top scorer and given the Bravo Award by Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo. After another season at Lyon, in July 2009, Benzema signed a six-year contract with Spanish outfit Real Madrid.

After struggling to establish himself in his debut season with the club, in the ensuing two seasons, Benzema reached prominence scoring 32 goals en route to helping Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey in 2011 and the 2011–12 edition of La Liga. He has been awarded French Player of the Year for his performances during the calendar year of 2011[5] respectively 2012.

Benzema is a former French youth international and has represented his nation from under-17 level onwards. Prior to playing for the senior team, he played on the under-17 team that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. Benzema made his senior international debut in March 2007 in a friendly match against Austria. On his debut, he scored his first international goal in a 1-0 win. Benzema has represented France at two major international tournaments; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship.

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Luka Modrić

Luka Modrić (born 9 September 1985) is a Croatian footballer who plays for Real Madrid and the Croatia national football team. Modrić plays mainly as a central midfielder, but can also play as an attacking midfielder and winger. After showing promise in hometown club Zadar's youth team, he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager in 2002.

His professional career began with loan spells at Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić. While he was playing for GNK Dinamo Zagreb, they won three consecutive league titles and several domestic cups, with Modrić named Prva HNL "Player of the Year" in 2007. In 2008, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in England's Premier League, before moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2012.

Modrić is a Croatian international and made his debut against Argentina in March 2006. He has since participated in three major tournaments; 2006 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2008 and 2012. He scored his first international goal in the friendly match against Italy, and at the Euro 2008 was included in the UEFA "Team of the Tournament", becoming only the second Croatian to ever achieve this honour.

On 27 August 2012, Real Madrid announced that they had agreed a deal with Tottenham for a fee in the region of £33 million. Modrić signed a five-year contract with the Spanish club. Two days later, he made his Real Madrid debut against FC Barcelona in the second leg final of the 2012 Supercopa de España at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, replacing Mesut Özil in the 83rd minute. Madrid eventually won the game, giving Modrić his first trophy with the club just 36 hours after his signing was announced.

Despite his positive debut, Modrić initially struggled to settle into the team under manager José Mourinho due to his lack of pre-season training which he missed as a result of his ongoing transfer negotiations. The presence of veteran midfielder, Xabi Alonso, usually kept him out of the starting lineup, limiting him to substitute appearances and mostly playing out of position for the first few months at the club.

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