Julie Lohre, IFBB Fitness Pro, posted a blog on Monday that has some of the fitness world up in arms. She starts:
“Hi Friends!
I wanted to share with you that I will not be competing at the Arnold this spring. I did not request for an invite. The Arnold is a show that holds a very special place in my heart and competing there was absolutely the pinnacle of my competitive fitness career. It had been a dream for so long and I am thrilled to have been able to fulfill that dream. In the past few months, I have been doing some soul searching. At the 08 Olympia, I had another severe knee injury and tore my ACL for the 3rd time (all separate injuries) and underwent the knee surgery to repair that tear yet again. I am now fully recovered and back to where I could confidently compete if I chose…..
As a side note, one of the things that factored into my decision was the look that Pro Fitness has moved toward. In the last few years, I have seen the top Fitness competitors get leaner and leaner to the point that there is essentially no difference between lightweight women’s bodybuilding and top level Pro Fitness. I mean no disrespect to the athletes that work so hard, many of which are dear friends, but as I look at this past year’s Arnold & Olympia, the top Fitness competitors are extremely hard and striated. For women that have to perform high level routines and skills, it concerns me greatly that they are taking their bodies to this severe point. I love having a tight, toned, healthy physique and that is something I strive for personally year round. While I am too young to say I will never compete again, I do not have any plans to step on stage again at this point.”
We will miss Julie for as long as she stays in retirement, but I am not sure the Fitness world is going “harder” in fact, girls are being docked for over conditioned physiques. NPC/IFBB Pro League official, Sandy Williamson, has been quite outspoken about the topic and the competitions are reflecting the guidelines. Hopefully Julie will appreciate the direction that fitness goes in the next year or two and jump back in the game. She is such a great competitor.
