Tiers in bodybuilding??

[1705total]

Everyone talks of top tier athletes in bodybuilding, and I've always come across as somewhat confused about this. So I decided to sit down and make some rules regarding what a top tier and 2nd tier ect athlete is and who and how the qualified. So here it is just for some fun.


Champion: Ronnie Coleman, his record speaks for itself and he has won every major contest (Olympia, Arnold and NOC). Only lost once in the last 7 years.



Tier 1: The athlete should have won the Arnold or the NOC and has 5 or more pro wins and is actively competing. Also has to have made the top 6 at the Olympia on more then one occassion.
These guys would be: (in no particuliar order)
Jay Cutler
Chris Cormier
Dexter Jackson

Tier 2: 5 wins or less, and is compatetive in most shows, but has trouble beating the above mentioned athletes.
Darrem Charles (closest to tier 1 status, with his New york win this year, his olympia record needs to improve)
Lee Priest
Gunter SChierklamp
Gustavo Badell
Dennis James
Melvin Anthony
Markus Ruhl
Victo Martinez
Pavol Jackbloniski

Tier 3: this athlete has won one show or has yet to win a pro show yet is consistant in most shows, with many top 5 finishes. They have made the top 3 in most grand prix, top 5 at the Arnold or NOC.
Troy Alves
Ahmed Haider
Art Atwood

Tier 4: these athletes have shown potential, but have not won a show. Although they may place top 3 or 5 in a grand prix they have also missed the top ten at the Arnold or Olympia, and have had an inconsistant record.
Craig Titus
King kamali
Branch Warren
Johnny Jackson
Jarsolav Horavath
Craig Richardson
George Farah

Tier 5
every other pro

Just for fun, let me know what you guys think

[sockrocker]

i disagree with your rankings, i think...your stipulations for 1st tier seem way too harsh...the way that i think about it is very simple: is this pro a top five threat at any given show that they enter? if so, that's a top tier pro...apply the same question with the condition of "top ten" and you have 2nd tier...3rd tier in my opinion is bottom of the barrel, and includes people who consistently place out of the top 10...if you never place, then you can't get ranked

[youngblood]

I agree with the way you have it, that's how I understood it anyhow. But I'll have to disagree with Dennis James being a 2nd tier guy by those standards. He's never won a contest, that I can recall-has he?

[1705total]

Dennis won a show in 2001 I think in Hungary, he beat Chris Cormier.
I respect your opinion sockrocket. The reason I ranked the guys the way I did, is because many pros can make the top 5 of any given show. Titus and kamali have placed top 5 at the Ironman, but both failed to make the top five at the Arnold, and neither have won a show.

[Intensity]

Interesting way of seeing it! I agree on almost everything except on the importance you gave to the N.Y. show (former N.O.C. show). Is that me or the quality of that show is not what it was 5 years ago? But at least... i must admit that it still the 3rd more important show...

PS: tier 6... Jocelyn Pelletier

Mo