May 11, 2016 – Chinese female bodybuilders turned heads at an annual competition in their hometown, as they stole the show from their male counterparts.
The buffed up ladies were taking part in the 10th annual Bodybuilding Championship organised by Hangzhou Sports Association, based in Zhejiang, east China, according to People’s Daily Online.
In China they are given the arguably unflattering nickname ‘King Kong Barbies’ yet the extent to which they impressed spectators and judges alike with their dedication spoke volumes. Their fans can’t get enough and the sport is taking off in a big way, becominga national sport craze. We may have to start a Chinese edition of FemaleMuscle, which translates in Chinese as: 女性的肌肉
An array of photographs from the event show off the women’s remarkable physiques: tanned, taut and with every visible muscle and sinew toned to the nth degree.
The contest itself invites non- or semi-professional bodybuilders who spend a lot of time in the gym, but who also lead normal lives as students, white-collar workers, or at home with their family.
On this occasion, despite the efforts of the men, they were outshone by the females who got the most enthusiastic reaction from the attendant crowd.
For the first time in its 10 year history, the competition had a special category just for women to reflect the growing numbers of women getting into bodybuilding as a hobby. The fans in China are becoming obsessed.
This year over 300 contestants from local fitness clubs got involved, with various weight categories.
The winner of the inaugural women’s category was Liu Chaojun, a young woman from south Hangzhou, who impressed judges with her incredible physique and expert posture.
The contest was initially established a decade ago by the local government in a concerted effort to persuade people young and old to take a greater interest in their physical fitness.
Christopher Meatto