Olympia hopefuls spout off on eve of contest Written by: Team FLEX   FLEX caught up with the top competitors to get their final battle cries before the big showdown. In the process, FLEX learned that Lee Priest is definitely doing the contest, contrary to some fears that he may not end up onstage.   Also, Dennis James almost had to pull the plug on his precontest training in Venice, California, due to an illness in his family that turned out to have a happy ending. Here's the scoop from the big boys of the 2003 Mr. Olympia.   Ronnie Coleman: "I'm 10 times better than I was last year. I began getting ready for this contest in January. I've made a lot of gains. I credit muscle maturity. I don't like to make predictions because I put my fate in God's hands. That's why I'm always surprised when I've been named Mr. Olympia onstage. It's because God has ruled my life and I don't know what He has in store for me. God gave me a gift, and this is my calling. That's why I don't get nervous. But I am determined this year, very determined. Right now [October 16] I weigh 293 pounds. I'll be bigger than I've ever been."   Jay Cutler: "I'll be a little heavier, but probably just my upper body, where I've enhanced certain areas. I have to be my biggest and best if I'm going to win this thing. My focus is on Ronnie Coleman, because he's the champ and I've never beaten him before. I've beaten all these other guys. But though they hype has been on Gunter, Ronnie and me, every competitor in the Mr. Olympia is a great competitor and is a threat. I'm looking forward to getting onstage. I'm anxious to get the hype over."   Günter Schlierkamp: "I'm very confident. I can't wait for my first callout. I'll be over 300 pounds again. My upper package has improved, especially my shoulders and side-chest pose. I think my calves are better, too. I'm very motivated because of the negative attacks on me. I don't want to respond to them now. I'd rather do the talking with my physique."   Chris Cormier: "I'm not going to say I'm going to be at my all-time best. And I'm not going to predict my placing. I'm fighting an uphill battle against the hype of Ronnie-Gunter-Jay. But I will say this: I'm the guy with the total package from head-to-toe, without the big belly and wide midsection that these other guys have. I 'm the bodybuilder who can put it all together, on any given contest on any given day."   Dennis James: "These last few days have been tough on me. I found out my mother in Germany was in the hospital with chest pains, and I thought I may have to fly back there. I was extremely worried about her, but now she's been released and she's doing fine. But last weekend [October 10-12], it was hard to keep my mind focused on the contest. I'm relieved my mother is healthy and at home and I can go back to getting ready. I'm at 261 pounds now [October 17], and I don't have that much water to drop. I'm still training heavy. This is the best I've ever looked, the most confident I've ever been. My immediate goal is to make the top six. After that, then I can think about bigger things, but that's what I'm shooting for."   Dexter Jackson: "My goal is third or fourth place. I'll be the hardest man onstage. No one will even be close to my condition. I'm at 225 pounds and promise a whole mess of surprises with my physique. I'm working with Joe McNeil, who trained Flex Wheeler when he looked his absolute best back in the day. I'm ready to shock some people. It's going to be wicked."   Melvin Anthony: "FLEX magazine had me at 12-to-one in their preview. That fired me up. I'm going to finish a lot higher than people think. I'm the true dark horse."   Troy Alves: "I've done my homework, and I'm bringing in a much improved package from earlier this year. I've made tremendous improvements in my weak areas, and I'm bringing an aesthetic, complete package to the show. My condition will be second to none."   Rodney St. Cloud: "This is my first Mr. Olympia show. As a hard-working man, I want to place in the top 10 and win some prize money. That's a lot of money to win in one night. The first time I ever won prize money was when I finished second at the Hungary show early this year, and I like that feeling."   Art Atwood: "I will look much better than last year. I'm holding 12 more pounds of muscle and will do the show at about 272 pounds. My back and shoulders are vastly improved and I plan on cracking the top 10, if not the top six."   Ernie Taylor: "I expect to make the top 10 this time around - symmetry alone should get me through. I'm three or four pounds heavier this year [244], and I should be fuller. I was flat last year from too much aerobics and low carbs. I'll be in top shape. My goal is to look much better and just enjoy being on the Olympia stage."   Darrem Charles: "My goal is to finally place in the top 10. I've put together my best-ever posing routine - and I hope the judges are close enough to the stage to see it - and I'll be tight, hard and ready to tackle the other top guys. I'm somewhat fuller, and at 230 pounds I'll be sporting plenty of muscle."