I know its been a couple weeks and I am late with my post so I sincerely apologize. I have been bogged down with the final week of the O prep and after traveling and all that good stuff I am finally home and able to take the time needed to explain whats going on in my life.
So, lets get to it. The last week of my prep was good, training was actually more intense than the weeks previous as the show got closer I got more and more excited which showed itself in workout intensity. My weight dropped all the way to about 239lbs so I think I hit the stage at around 242lbs or so which was a couple pounds lighter than the Europa. I think after dieting for so long I lost a couple pounds of muscle which was evident by the scale and by the way I looked on stage at the O.
Its four days after the Olympia now and I am finally able to take it all in and realize what I have accomplished but it wasn't the case right away. Here is an account of my weekend in detail for all of you.
First, I have to thank the Olympia committee for the way the take care of the athletes. For the first time in my bodybuilding career I felt like a professional athlete. My best friend Al came with me from Detroit airport and when we got into Vegas we were immediately amazed at the amount of people in the airport. After searching for a while we found our ride and it wasn't a taxi. The O committee had a limo waiting for me and it was a good feeling knowing they cared that much. The limo dropped us off at our hotel and I the weekend began.
After doing the grocery shopping and cooking out of the way it was time to relax. I had a feeling of constant tension and anxiety the first day there especially because I just didn't know what to expect from everything. It was time to get to the athletes meeting and I was still feeling anxious about things and not very happy just nervous. Then I walked into the meeting. All I thought was 'WOW, I am sitting in a meeting with the best in the world and I am not a spectator. They gave us all the speech about where to be at what time and what not and they kept saying 'You guys are the best in the world, we are here for you'. All I kept thinking was, they're talking about me too!
Thursday it was time for the Press Conference and my nerves were shot. I'm not sure why because I knew the Press Conference was really for the top six but I knew I would have to say something and that was nerve racking, public speaking isn't my thing. Yes I can dance around in a pair of XXS posing trunks but I get nervous saying a few words...lol.
It was exciting though, they lined us up backstage and we had time and all the guys we jawing at each other in good fun. Its amazing the magazines don't portray the guys in the sport the way they really are, there is so much camaraderie amongst them and honesty between them, they are all such good friends. The Press Conference started and I was so nervous I sweat my way through the whole thing...lol..I think I dropped most of my water just sitting there.
That night there was a Meet the Olympians event and it was fantastic. The fans are amazing and so loyal to there favorites. I have a new appreciation for bodybuilding fans and I want to personally thank all of you who came to me for advice or just to give your support. Looking over at Jay's table I saw a glimpse of what I wanted from the sport. Jay Cutler had a line leading to his table as long as the room and we were in a hall so you can imagine the amount of people. One day, one day...
Friday. The day of reckoning. This was the day I was so anxiety riddin about, prejudging was at eight o'clock and I wasn't ready mentally for it but I had no choice, I had to get it together and get out there and preform. I guess in a show of that magnitude you can never really be ready your first time. I pumped up and went out and I thought the individual round went well. Then it was time for comparisons and I had no day dreams of being in the top call outs but as time passed I realized I might not get called out. It was a very humbling experience and I have to tell you its hard riding high from getting the first call out in the previous two shows. Finally I was called out in the last call out and by that time the air had been let out of my balloon and I was hitting poses and feeling worse and worse with each pose. No one wants to be last even if it is the Olympia.
After Pre Judging my girlfriend was the first one to tell me I looked great and she was so proud of me, those words helped keep me from crying even though I wanted to be better for her. My brother had a limo waiting for me so we could celebrate and even though it wasn't a celebration he took me and my entourage out for dinner. I sat and tried to be happy but like I said it was a humbling experience and I wasn't able to fake it too well. My brother pulled me aside at one point in the night and told me to hold my head high and gave some good words of encouragement and love. Good family is important and without them I don't know where I would be. My sister and brother in-law also were there and the love they gave me got me through to the next night.
Saturday was the finals and I was in a little better spirits by that time, Al who wrestled for TNA and had a shot with the WWE gave me a good pep talk before the show and told me to go out and have some fun. I have to say after the hard ship of Friday it was all taken care of in the middle of my routine on Saturday night. I walked out on that stage and took a look into the crowd, there must of been 8000 people in the arena and flash bulbs going off and cheering louder than I have ever heard. At first it made me more nervous and then in the middle of my routine I turned around and took inventory of where I was in my mind and this sort of calm came over me and then I was extremely happy. I began to hit poses with authority and excitement, wanting more from the crowd and giving them all I could. I walked off that stage and I was teared up and feeling like I just accomplished more than I could have ever dreamed. I posed on the O stage and I rocked the crowd!
I sat down backstage by myself and looked around, all the ill feelings were gone and a feeling of elation, calm and joy came over me that I will never be able to explain properly in words. I began snapping pics of the backstage area and taking note of the life I had created for myself. What a feeling.
One of the highlights of the weekend was feeling like part of the boyz when sitting in the backstage area waiting to go on. Both nights Friday and Saturday I had a chance to chill in the waiting area with Dennis James, Melvin Anthony, Dexter Jackson, Craig Richardson and more as they made fun of each other, told stories of guest posings and stories of being onstage at certain shows. They made me feel like part of the group and for a guy who still has some of there pics on my wall at home, it made the entire trip worth it. They are all cool as hell and thank every one of them for treating me with rookie respect.
The finest moment for me came in the athletes meeting when I was talking to Toney Freeman (who was like an older brother to me this year) and I was telling him how awestruck and surreal all of this was. I was telling him I couldn't believe I was there and it was all too overwhelming to put into words. He looked at me and said "You wouldn't be here if you didn't belong here". Those words will carry me through my next year of training and I will make it my mission to be back at the O and hopefully next year I will be standing next to Toney when they make that first callout....
Sacrifice Without Regret.
Fouad Abiad
