New York City welcomed the arrival of dozens of professional bodybuilders from around the world to the Tribeca Performing Arts center for the 2008 IFBB New York Pro Bodybuilding contest on May 10, 2008. New York has a long history of memorable pro bodybuilding shows. The trend continues with this year’s New York pro show.

The great bodybuilders in the history of our sport have often made their first big impressions in New York. Anyone who’s anyone has won in New York. A New York victory is practically a prerequisite to making it big in the sport.

New York’s fascination with bodybuilding began in 1965 with the first Mr. Olympia at the Brooklyn Academy of Music where Larry Scott became the first Olympia champion. Then Sergio Oliva made his mark in the Big Apple at the Olympia followed by Arnold Schwarzenegger who won it twice in NYC.

New York subsequently became a breeding ground for bodybuilding champions, amateur and professional. Lee Haney won the NPC Nationals in NY in 1992; Victor Martinez earned his pro card at the 2000 NPC Nationals.

Dorian Yates won the 1991 Night of Champions at the Beacon Theatre foreshadowing a great string of Olympia victories. Ronnie Coleman wowed the crowd with a completely transformed physique at the 1998 Night of Champions returning to Madison Square Garden in the fall to claim the first of eight Sandow trophies!

So, did the 2008 IFBB New York Pro live up the storied history of New York contests? Yes and no.