There was nothing on stage except a lone banner, reading 'Olympia' in bright orange as we waited for the competitors to come out. Around 8pm Friday evening, the lights dimmed and the announcer (Wayne Demilia) called out the athletes. Thirteen of the 'best of the best' athletes came out, determined to be the winner. It was an awesome sight to see them lined up together, side by side. Only one will prevail. The competitors came out in this order. Order of the Competitors 1) Charles Clairmonte, 2) Kevin Levrone, 3) Milos Sarcev, 4) Chris Cormier, 5) Shawn Ray, 6) Mike Matarazzo 7) Ronnie Coleman, 8) Nasser El Sonbaty, 9) Paul Dillett 10) Jean-Pierre Fux, 11) Mike Francois, 12) Dorian Yates, 13) Lee Priest One item of note. Flex Wheeler withdrew from the Mr. Olympia Thursday afternoon at the annual press conference. Flex was involved in a car-jacking altercation in which he fought off two thieves, but his arm was wounded, and was in a bandage. He also had some bruises, and needed to go to the hospital. This was the biggest surprise of the evening as Flex was excepted to come in the top three. Comparative Judging (Round One) Once all thirteen athletes were on stage, the call out began, This is the call out order in which the judges brought the athletes in groups of three to the front of the stage for comparative purposes. They then proceeded to do quarter turns so that the audience and judges could see them in each direction. The judges were looking for symmetry, muscularity, and the level of conditioning. 1 Dorian Yates Nasser El Sonbaty Kevin Levrone 2 Nasser El Sonbaty Paul Dillett Kevin Levrone 3 Lee Priest Shawn Ray Kevin Levrone 4 Jean-Pierre Fux Nasser El Sonbaty Paul Dillett 5 Chris Cormier Ron Coleman Shawn Ray 6 Chris Cormier Ron Coleman Milos Sarcev 7 Charles Clairemonte Chris Cormier Mike Matarazzo 8 Charles Clairemonte Mike Francois Mike Matarazzo 9 Nasser El Sonbaty Dorian Yates Shawn Ray 10 Jean-Pierre Fux Paul Dillett Lee Priest 11 Milos Sarcev Shawn Ray Lee Priest 12 Kevin Levrone Dorian Yates Jean-Pierre Fux 13 Chris Cormier Jean-Pierre Fux Ron Coleman 14 Kevin Levrone Shawn Ray 15 Paul Dillett Nasser El Sonbaty 16 Jean-Pierre Fux Lee Priest Chris Cormier 17 Jean-Pierre Fux Ron Coleman Chris Cormier 18 Mike Francois Charles Clairmonte Mike Matarazzo 19 Nasser El Sonbaty Dorian Yates Paul Dillett 20 Nasser El Sonbaty Shawn Ray Paul Dillett 20 Dorian Yates Shawn Ray Kevin Levrone Individual Posing Routines (Round 2) In this round, each bodybuilder is brought out by himself, and is asked to display each of the compulsory poses which are 'front double biceps, rear double biceps, lay spread from the front, lat spread from the rear, side triceps, side chest, and ab & thigh.' Comparative Judging (Round Two) The final call outs of the evening, so that the judges can complete their judging. 1 Nasser El Sonbaty Dorian Yates Paul Dillett 2 Lee Priest Shawn Ray Paul Dillett 3 Lee Priest Chris Cormier Kevin Levrone 4 Chris Cormier Kevin Levrone Jean-Pierre Fux 5 Chris Cormier Ron Coleman Jean-Pierre Fux 6 Shawn Ray Ron Coleman Lee Priest 7 Shawn Ray Kevin Levrone Lee Priest 8 Shawn Ray Paul Dillett Lee Priest 9 Milos Sarcev Jean-Pierre Fux Chris Cormier 10 Mike Matarazzo Charles Clairmonte Mike Francois 11 Kevin Levrone Lee Priest Paul Dillett 12 Jean-Pierre Fux Kevin Levrone Chris Cormier 13 Jean-Pierre Fux Milos Sarcev Chris Cormier 14 Nasser El Sonbaty Dorian Yates 15 Nasser El Sonbaty Shawn Ray Dorian Yates 16 Paul Dillett Shawn Ray Lee Priest 17 Kevin Levrone Shawn Ray Lee Priest End of Prejudging Prejudging was completed after the final call outs, with rounds three and four to be decided the next evening.