Fitness
1. Brittany Fout #1

Figure A
1. Deazie Gibson #7
2. Amanda Ellestad #5
3. Jane Montoya #3
4. Joanne Amato #4
5. Joellen Allves DeOliveria #6

Figure B
1. Sharon Gayle #9
2. Kristin Curry #8
3. Yelena Olshanskaya #10

Overall: Deazie Gibson

Masters Figure
1. Jen Oehler #11
2. Sara Wells #12

The World Championships took place this weekend in Italy. The NPC Pro Qualifier, Team Universe (held each year in NYC) is also the World’s qualidier.  Kayde Puckett represented the USA in the body fitness after her overall win at Team Universe. Her journey through the preparation for the show can be seen  HERE.

Yulia Zabelina was the overall winer for the Body Fitness Division. Her Physique and routine won the judges and awed the audience.

Women’s bodybuilding was stacked with amazing talent as well. At the end of the show, Anne Freitas won the 55kg class and Simone Linay won 55+kg class. The level of competition was amazing!

The Border States Show was incredible…the girls came in fantastic shape!  The top three qualify for the 2010 Olympia…Congratulations Girls! This season is off to an amazing start!

1. Felicia Romero
2. Kristi Tauti
3. Krissy Chin
4. Kristin Nunn
5. Akane Nigro-Ismeal
6. April Rountree
7. Carin Hawkins
8. Meriza DeGuzman
9. Ann Titone
10. Sabrina Gibson
11. Christina Vargas
12. Jennifer Dejoya
13. Crystal Chiles
14. Stephanie Togrul
15. Valerie Gangi
16. Ann Pratt
17. Maria Del Consuelo Rojas

Terry Goodlad from BodySport.com made his predictions early and was right on! He pegged first and second, and while he wavered on third, he leaned in the same direction as the judges. These were his thoughts:

“One strong candidate for 3rd is Krissy Chin. This is quite probably the best she has ever looked as an IFBB pro. She completely turned herself around from being excessively lean the past couple years then started the transformation early this season to a fuller, less muscular, and far more pleasing look. She hit it on the nose here for sure.”
 

The 2009 IFBB/NPC Border States Competition has set off today. The IFBB Figure Pro line-up is a great one!

Chiles, Crystal
Chin, Krissy (competed at Olympia)
DeGuzman, Meriza (competed at Olympia)
DeJoya, Jennifer
Gangi, Valerie
Gibson, Sabrina
Hawkins, Carin
Nigro-Ismeal, Akane
Nunn, Kristin
Pratt, Ann
Rojas, Maria del Consuelo
Romero, Felicia (competed at Olympia)
Roundtree, April
Tauti, Kristi
Titone, Ann
Togrul, Stephanie
Vargas, Christina

“Three women will make their pro debut today, Ann Titone, Akane Nigro-Ismeal & Ann Pratt.” Sioux Country commented, “I believe Crystal Chiles made her pro debut earlier this year at the IFBB California Figure Pro.”

Pre-Judging began at 11 am Pac, and finals will take place tonight. We will be sure to let you know how your favorite IFBB Pro’s place at the second Olympia Qualifier of the season.

Sheri Hofhuis, 36, wondered what it would have been like to have heard her name as first, rather than runner up, at the Ms. Universe natural bodybuilding competition in Barbados. Sheri is a figure competitor and won her pro card in a show in Virginia. Barbados was her pro debut. Sheri said, “I took second! I am so pumped for next year…now back to some hard-core training!”

The WNBF World Championships are next month in NYC, but Sheri has decided to sit this one out. Her body has had enough for one year, and she needs to work on building a top, pro-physique. In order to do that, she needs some down time and real food. She is currently working on putting on some muscle mass and posts to Facebook: “benched 160, dead-lifted 260…New goal: bench 170, dead-lift 285.”

Good luck Sheri!

Candace Carr-Archer won several categories at the at the 37th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding championship held in Grenada from September 30-October 3.

She started off with a win in the womens masters class, a total domination over the eight total competitors. Then she won the over 55-kg open weight class, and the overall. Three trophies and professional status, all in one show, all to one great bodybuilder.

When She Lifts, caught up with Candace, her is what she had to say about how she became a top competitor:

I have been training for the past 18 years. I did martial arts (Shokotan) for several years and my weight training started as a result. I used to look at muscle and fitness /flex magazines in school and say to myself, I wish I can look like that. I stopped martial arts and the rest is history.

While the Ft. Lauderdale Cup, for me, never finished, it wasn’t a complete misfortune.  I am, LeslieRae Newton, an IFBB Fitness competitor. I have been through many injuries, including two surgeries on my left knee in 2006. During this routine, with a Silk Spectre (from the movie Watchman) theme, I landed a perfect back tuck, yet my right knee gave way, tearing multiple ligaments.

In a very short time I have been reminded who I am, and who truly cares about me. I have found out how strong I am and how weak some friendships are. I have been reminded about the true essence of a strangers concern and the devastating result of a friends apathy.

Fitness is not over for me. My hunger is too strong and my faith too big.

I will continue to write, to train, to strive, to improve and ultimately, to conquer.

Female Muscle contributing writer, LeslieRae Newton, hit the stage this weekend at the 2009 Ft. Lauderdale Cup, competing in Figure. Unfortunately, LeslieRae was injured during while performing her routine, and had to be attended to by doctors.

Images courtesy of Sioux Country. LeslieRae is the far right competitor.

2009 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Pro Results.

IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Pro Fitness Final Results

1. Kizzy Vaines
2. Nicole Duncan
3. Yenny Polanco
4. Kristina Rojas
5. Nita Marquez
6. Tonya Burkhardt
7. Desiree Walker
8. Nizole Balarezo
9. Michele Mayberry
10. Victoria Larvie
11. Liza Hughes
12. Sandi Stuart
13. Bridgette Murray-Ward
14. Sandie Ward
DNF. Leslie Rae Newton
DNF. Susana Cacavieli

IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Pro Figure Final Results

1. Kristal Richardson
2. Erin Stern
3. Gennifer Strobo
4. Candice Keene
5. Cheryl Brown
6. Allison Jones-Williams
7. Rosa-Maria Romero
8. Marie Ann Newman
9. Tivisay Briceno
10. Rosalind Vanterpool
11. Kristin Nunn
12. Brandie Gardner
13. Chastity Slone
14. Natalie Waples
15. Heather Green
16. Petra Mertl
17. Aleisha Hart
18. Marcy Porter
19. Anna Level
19. Cynthia Sharp
19. Michelle Theison
19. Karen Williams
19. Tessa Wood-Thornes
19. Aliana Hernandez

It has just been announced that Phoenix, Az will be hosting its first ever IFBB Pro Show. The event will offer Men’s Open/202 Bodybuilding, Womens Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure. This full spectrum competition is huge for Phoenix!!

The show will take place Feb. 20, 2010, a great time to head to the desert where the temps still lurk in the 70’s.

One competitor sure to be hott on the radar is USA’s middleweight winner Akila Pervis. Akila will be making her debut at the Phoenix show. She is really excited to be making her first IFBB appearance in her home town, supported by friends and family. Stay tuned for Female Muscle’s exclusive coverage of Akila’s journey to the IFBB ranks.

The International Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (INBF) had quite the show of their own while the IFBB was taking over Vegas.  Last month, the INBF held the Cardinal Classic, a pro-status qualifier. At the show Bridgett Annett, wife and mother of three, dominated both the Open Women’s Heavyweight Division, and the Open Women’s Bodybuilding Overall. Her placing earned her a Pro Card in the WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation).

Bridgett is still fairly new to the sport. She has only competed in a hand full of shows, but has first place trophy’s from each. When asked about her strength she had this to say:

I lift to sculpt so I never max out, but I can give my ‘rep-max’ lifts:Squats, 300 lbs for 6; barbell curl, 95 lbs for 8; bench press, 175 lbs for 8 reps; dead lifts, 1 rep max, 315 lbs; 45 degree leg press, nine 45 lbs plates for 6 reps .

Her husband is also a WNBF Pro bodybuilder, and they look forward to continued training and now competing together.

The sunny shore of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, will be hosting its first all-women’s show Saturday, October 10, 2009. The show will include IFBB Pro Fitness and Figure as well as a NPC National Qualifier.

Fit Girls Productions is bringing a twist to the show. It will include a red carpet entrance and “Starlet” treatment. This will be the first show qualifying competitors for the 2010 Olympia, and is the first show adopting the new fitness rounds for the IFBB.

Fitness has always been made up of four rounds: 2 routine rounds (45-second routine with mandatory elements and a 2-minute with complete creative license), a 1-piece and a 2-piece physique rounds. Beginning with the Oct. 10 show, IFBB fitness will consist of two rounds, the 2-min routine and 2-piece physique.

Now, IFBB Figure are the only competitors with two seperate physique rounds. Be sure to check back for Ft. Lauderdale Cup updates and results.

It is widely known that the Flex Bikini search was less than stellar. The parade of pot-bellies, jello-legs and presentation that lacks, well presentation, was the talk of the weekend. The judges, somehow, paid enough attention to notice the girls who do represent what a “bikini search” should represent!

The top 16 girls for 2009 are:

1. Amanda Latona
2. Mary Jarmolawich
3. Tianna Ta
4. Michell Goulet
5. Shannon Rockweiler
6. Tatum Miranda
7. Lauren Rush
8. Natalia Muntean
9. Krissy Richards
10. Fernanda Rocha
11. Katie Barnes
12. Ashley Zito
13. Tiffany Radzwill
14. Lindsay Huber
15. Deborah Cochrell
16. Kelly Willis

The Winners

Iris Kyle Winner 2009 Ms Olympia

Jay Cutler Winner 2009 Mr Olympia

Nicole Wilkins-Lee Winner 2009 Ms Figure Olympia

Adela Garcia Winner Winner 2009 Ms Fitness Olympia

The Meet and Greet

Olympia Meet and Greet Video and Gallery

Galleries

Ms Olympia Pre-Judging Gallery 1

Ms Olympia Pre-Judging Gallery 2

Ms Olympia Fitness Pre-Judging Gallery

Interviews

Lenda Murray Interviews Iris Kyle – A friendship Mends

Our Coverage of Past Olympias
Olympia 2006
Olympia 2007
Olympia 2008

We can now call Jay Cutler the comeback kid. This weekend, not only did he win the 2009 Mr. Olympia crown, but Jay Cutler also set an Olympian-sized precident…he became the first Mr. Olympia to lose bodybuilding’s most coveted title, and then regain it once again.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu both took several years off from competition in between victories, but neither of them lost during that time. Jay Cutler is now the only Mr. Olympia to have made a successful comeback from a defeat.

The following video features Jay Cutler going head to head with the 2008 Mr. Olympia, Dexter Jackson.

2009 Mr. Olympia Final Results

1. Jay Cutler
2. Branch Warren
3. Dexter Jackson
4. Kai Greene
5. Phil Heath
6. Victor Martinez
7. Ronny Rockel
8. Toney Freeman
9. Hidetada Yamagishi
10. Moe El Moussawi
11. Melvin Anthony (tie)
11. Silvio Samuel (tie)
13. Gustavo Badell
14. Dennis James
15. Markus Ruhl
16. Troy Alves
16. Darrem Charles
16. Martin Kjellstrom
16. Bill Wilmore
16. Dennis Wolf
16. Joel Stubbs
16. Michael Kefalianos
16. Ahmad Haidar

2009 Olympia 202 Showdown Final Placings

1. Kevin English
2. David Henry
3. Eduardo Correa
4. Mark Dugdale
5. James “Flex” Lewis
6. Jose Raymond
7. Richard “Tricky” Jackson
8. Jason Arntz
9. Lee Powell
10. John Hodgson
11. Charles Dixon
12. Kris Dim
13. Clarence DeVis
14. Stan McQuay
15. Daryl Gee

Fighting off Tracy Greenwood and Tanji Johnson, three-time champion Adela Garcia claimed her fourth Fitness Olympia title.

For the second year in a row, Gina Aliotta is pushed into the second spot by a tall blond. Nicole Wilkins-Lee defeated Gina Aliotta, and took home the 2009 Olympia Figure title. The decision was somewhat surprising, as Gina Aliotti was heavily favored.

The victory for the tall blond was a repeat of last year. In 2008, Zivile Raudoniene defeated the heavily favored Gina Aliotta.

2009 Figure Olympia Final Placings
1. Nicole Wilkins-Lee
2. Gina Aliotti
3. Heather Mae French
4. Kristal Richardson
5. Amy Fry
6. Erin Stern
7. Jenny Lynn
8. Jessica Putnam
9. Felicia Romero
10. Monica Brant
11. Sonia Gonzales
12. Larissa Reis
13. Alicia Renee Harris
14. Krists Tauti
15. Meriza DeGuzman
16. Teresa Anthony
16. Huong Arcinas
16. Krissy Chin
16. Patricia Mello
16. April Rountree
16. Sherlyn Roy
16. Brenda Smith

Lenda Murray interviewed Iris Kyle, and they covered a bit more than the Olympia. The beef between the two has been put to rest. Through an emotional interview, Iris professed her adoration for Lenda, and Lenda said she would quit “trippn.” View the MD interview HERE.

Debi Laszewski, while placing third, won the hearts of many. Her physque was right on and her smile was 100watt. Two weeks prior to the Olympia she was a guest poser at the Lakeland Classic. She showed many her quest for the Olympia title was sincere, and her playful posing routine meshed her impressive physique with a feminine touch. The replay of her routine can be viewed here: