Archives for February 2012

Arnold’s Architect – Meet the Man Who Helped Build The Arnold Classic


People often wonder why the Arnold Classic is held in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a lovely city but not exactly a destination place many people seek out. Well thanks to the crew at bodybuilding.com you don’t have to wonder any more. Check out this video with Jim Lormier, who started the event and turned it into a mega-event with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr. Lormier has successfully built the one of the biggest fitness events in the universe with the help of hundreds of volunteers and Arnold himself.

This is a great piece that gives you insight on how it all got started and why it is held in Columbus, Ohio. It’s safe to say the people of Ohio love Arnie.

Check out more at Bodybuilding.com.



Can Anyone Stop Adela From Another Fitness International Win?


The leading ladies of Fitness will take the stage this Friday in Columbus, Ohio for the Fitness International and it’s going to be a great show. Adela Garcia hasn’t been beaten in years and already has one win under her salsa suit this year, will she collect another win? There are a number of women looking to end Adela’s winning streak this weekend but who will step up? Michelle Blank, one of the rising stars of the division is sidelined with an injury. Myriam Capes has the routine to do so but will she dial it in? Oksana Grishina has become a bit of a fan favorite but will she prevail in the judges’ eyes? Don’t forget about the return of Julie Palmer who is looking to capture a title in her own backyard.

 

 

Tanji Johnson will look to rebound from her fourth place finish and there are rising stars like Jodi Boam on the rise. Check out the entire line up and who has the best chance at beating the champ in the bodybuilding.com preview. Cast your vote below for who you want to see win the Fitness International crown.

 

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Iris Kyle is Out. Who Will Step Up?


The defending Ms. International Champ is out with an injury so who will step up? Many feel Iris is a lock for the win every time she enters but with her out that leaves the field wide open. It’s a battle worth watching.

 

 

Check out the preview of all the Ms. International competitors and see who has the best chance to win this year’s title.  Where can you find the preview? Bodybuilding.com of course, check it out!



Gaspari Nutrition Host LIVE Broadcat from The Arnold


Tune in to Gaspari TV LIVE at the Arnold Expo, this Friday Saturday and Sunday. Gaspari Nutrition is giving away over $10,000 on Facebook and Twitter this weekend! GTV LIVE at the Arnold Expo with special HardBody.com correspondent Isaac Hinds reporting on the competitions.

 

 

Tune in during the following times for LIVE updates:
• Friday 2:15pm EST after fitness, figure and women’s bodybuilding prejudging
• Saturday 5pm EST  after bikini and men’s open prejudging
• Sunday 10:30am EST wrap up show on the bikini and men’s finals.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Gaspari Nutrition will be hosting its third annual LIVE broadcast at the 2012 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH. If you can’t make it out to the Arnold be sure to check out the LIVE broadcast from the Gaspari Nutrition booth on Facebook. IFBB Pro Felicia Romero will be interviewing UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie “the Answer” Edgar,” IFBB Pro Flex Lewis, Strikeforce contender Ronda Rousey, IFBB Pro Ava Cowan, UFC middleweight Brian Stann, other Team Gaspari Nutrition athletes and our affiliates from around the world.

Will Ronda win the Strikeforce Women’s MMA Championship? Can Ava sweep the figure class? What’s up with the Real Mass? You’ll have the rare opportunity to interact with live Q&A’s and maybe you’ll even get a glimpse into some of the new but secret innovations the Gaspari R&D team has been working on because they’ll be getting in on the LIVE action as well.

Also, in true Gaspari spirit, Team Gaspari will be giving out thousands of free products via Twitter and Facebook during our live broadcast. Be sure to “LIKE” the Gaspari Nutrition page on Facebook or “FOLLOW US” on Twitter to be one of the first people in the world to get your hands on the best testosterone booster this industry has ever seen, ANATROPIN! There will also be many opportunities to win FREE Vasotropin, FREE MyoFusion Probiotic Series, FREE Real Mass Probiotic Series and just about every other product in the Gaspari Nutrition lineup. Check out the schedule and tune in to win BIG!

See  the complete schedule here!

 



Can Anyone Disrupt the Figure Duel between Stern & Wilkins?


The Figure International will take place this Friday in Columbus, Ohio and it will feature some of the hottest, hardbody women in the world. Over the last three years a duel between Erin Stern and Nicole Wilkins has developed. Wilkins has won the battle all but one time. Stern has her sights set on shaking Arnold’s hand Friday night as the winner but not if Wilkins has her way. The question remains, can anyone of the other Figure competitors disrupt this duel? We’ll find out on Friday when the women take the stage.

 

Check out the complete preview of all the competitors on bodybuilding.com. Who do YOU want to see win the Figure International title. Not who you think will win but who you the fans want to see take home the crown.

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National Physique Committee (NPC) Relaunches Web site


The National Physique Committee (NPC) has redesigned their website and will now be a premiere online source for bodybuilding, fitness, figure, bikini and physique coverage. You can see the new site at NPCnewsonline.com.

npc news

NATIONAL PHYSIQUE COMMITTEE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE BY RELAUNCHING THE NPC NEWS ONLINE
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, February 28, 2012 – The National Physique Committee was created in 1982 with one goal in mind: giving amateur bodybuilders the opportunity to compete in an organization that put bodybuilding and its athletes first. Now, we are proud to announce that the 2012 competitive season will mark our 30th Anniversary. In conjunction with our 30 Years of Excellence campaign, the NPC News Online (npcnewsonline.com) is undergoing a facelift in order to keep up with the growing demand for bodybuilding-related news, results and information, from both the National Physique Committee and the IFBB Professional League.

“The NPC News has been covering all aspects of the bodybuilding industry for 25 years,” NPC Chairman Jim Manion said. “We felt it was time to redesign and relaunch our web site in order to keep up with the growing number of NPC competitors and their family members, friends and fans looking for news, coverage, results, announcements and information on all of our seven divisions.”

Three decades after opening our offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the NPC continues to grow, setting participation records at all of our pro qualifying events in 2011 – led by the National Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini and Physique Championships in November (943 competitors) and the USA Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini and Physique Championships in July (689 competitors). This year, the NPC will award a record-setting 284 IFBB Pro cards.

Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, Phil Heath, Cory Everson, Lenda Murray, Kim Chizevsky, Iris Kyle, Susie Curry, Adela Garcia, Davana Medina, Jenny Lynn, Nicole Wilkins, Sonia Gonzales and Nicole Nagrani are just some of the past and present stars of the IFBB Professional League who got their start with the NPC. In all, NPC athletes have gone on to win a combined 24 Olympia and 38 Arnold Classic titles.

NPC athletes are regularly featured in and on the covers of international publications such as FLEX, Muscular Development, Muscle & Fitness and Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fitness Rx for Women, Ironman, Oxygen and Musclemag International.

For more on the NPC and for coverage of the IFBB Professional League, go to www.npcnewsonline.com.



Can Nicole Nagrani Repeat as Bikini International Champ?


This weekend some of the best bikini bodies in the world will take the stage in Columbus, Ohio for the second Bikini International. Last year Nicole Nagrani was crowned the winner and she’ll be back to defend her title. Can she remain the champ and shake Arnold’s hand once again?

arnold champion nicole nagrani

Nicole will have her hands full with Nathalia Melo, Jaime Baird and others as she attempts to repeat. Check out the Bikini International preview on Bodybuilding.com with a complete breakdown of all the competitors. Who do YOU want to see win the Bikini International? Cast your vote below.

We’ll be in Columbus all week and covering the action. Follow along on twitter @hardbodynews.

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2012 IFBB Desert Muscle Classic – Results and Review


Six IFBB Bikini Pros and 11 Women’s Physique Pros took the stage in Mesa, Arizona yesterday. Stacey Alexander took home top honors and an Olympia qualification in her IFBB Pro debut. The women’s physique division saw Karina Nascimento crowned the winner in it’s inaugural event. Why such the low turn out? It makes you wonder why more than six bikini pros wouldn’t enter this show given the sheer number of pro cards that have been awarded over the last two years. Pointing fingers never solves anything and at the end of the day only the winner is qualified for the Olympia.

 

 

BIKINI:
Looking at the scorecards, the judges had Stacey Alexander winning in unanimous fashion. She had a final score of three while just one point separated second and third place. Narmin Assria edged out Jennifer Chapman for the brides maid spot. Christina Vargas who is already qualified for the Olympia was relegated to fourth. We’ll see if she can improve for next week at the Bikini International. Ashley Harbour finished in fifth and Bernadett Matassa took home sixth. The rules changed this year and only the winner qualifies for the Bikini Olympia.

PLACE – NAME – SCORE
1. Stacey Alexander – 3
2. Narmin Assria – 7
3. Jennifer Chapman – 8
4. Christina Vargas – 12
5. Ashley Harbour – 15
6. Bernadett Matssa – 18

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE:
The first IFBB Women’s Physique competition is in the books and Karina Nascimento was crowned the winner. Karina has been away from the stage for a number of years and has competed as a female bodybuilder. She’s the proud mother of three children and fit the criteria set forth in the new division.  Karina returned to the stage at the encouragement of her daughter and she has to be proud. She’s a great example of bringing women back into the fold of competing. The media in attendance agreed with the judges decision and felt she fit the standard for what is being set in this new division. It wasn’t without controversy, but what show doesn’t? The judges are pointing towards a more muscular Figure type of physique and are not rewarding an overly muscular and shredded physique. She was the unanimous winner on the judges score cards. I wasn’t at the show but from the video I’ve seen online, I think the judges made the right call.

Marlina Echohawk edged out Jillian Reville for second place. These two women also had great structure (as did the winner) and were in line with the division’s criteria. Fan favorite Dana Linn Baily placed fourth and was just one point away from third. Some of her “fans” are taking their comments to an obnoxious level of Dana Linn-Sanity. The feedback on Dana Linn was that she was too hard and showed too much conditioning for the look they are after. I think her structure will be an issue for her going forward in the division as we saw in this competition. Rounding out the top five was Beni Lopez who used to compete as a female bodybuilder and was able to shed some muscle and bring a new look. This show had a variety of physiques and we’ll see what it becomes into over time. Congrats to all the ladies who competed and achieved their goals.

PLACE – NAME – SCORE
1. Karina Nascimento – 3
2. Marilena Echohawk – 7
3. Jillian Reville – 9
4. Dana Linn Bailey – 10
5. Beni Lopez – 16
6. Susan Salazar – 18
7. Marina Lopez – 21
8. Rita Rae – 26
9. Tracy Bodner – 27
10. Pamela Franklin – 31
11. LaDarissa Bonivel – 32

The next Women’s Physique competition will be at the St. Louis Pro where we’ll be covering the action. Next up for the bikini competitors is the Bikini International next week in Columbus, Ohio.

 

 

 

 



Opinion: IFBB Women’s Physique Division – Under Construction


The first IFBB Women’s Physique competition is in the books and it left many scratching their heads. Shocking that a show would have some controversy (note sarcasm). Every show has some unhappy fans and someone upset at the outcome, it’s been that way for decades so why would it change now? It hasn’t and it won’t. Eleven IFBB Women’s Physique Pros took the stage in Mesa, Arizona and only a couple of people saw the inaugural winner coming, one of which is women’s bodybuilding historian Steve Wennerstrom. If anyone knows how to size up a women’s physique competition it’s Steve as he’s been covering competitions for decades. Did he know something others didn’t by predicting Karina Nascimento as the winner before the show? It’s a little thing called experience.


In today’s online world many people mistaken a bit of a fan base as being the odds-on favorite to win a show. Sorry folks but having more “likes” on facebook and more views on Youtube than another competitor doesn’t make you the winner of a physique competition. Competitors should without question build their own brand and create a fan base however the fans need to remember the judging takes place on stage and not facebook or a forum. Let me preface this by saying I was NOT at the Phoenix Pro show and having covered hundreds of shows and photographed thousands of physiques over the years, I know photos are not an accurate depiction of a show. If you’re judging a competition by photos then you’ve never sat at a judged table or directly behind it. It looks very different than photos and even different then a few rows back. As I wrote in my Desert Muscle preview, I didn’t think we’d see “the ideal” in this show and more than likely most women would be too ripped and too muscular for this new division. What happened? The women were told by IFBB Pro athlete rep Bob Cicherillo that they need to tone it down as they were looking too big and too ripped for the division. What does that mean? He shared they (the judges) don’t want to see excessive muscularity and don’t want to see striations. Bob shared in his wrap up video that people need understand that this is not women’s bodybuilding and it’s not Figure.

So what is it?

It’s something in between.

Am I a fan of the division? Well, I’m all for giving women an opportunity to compete so from that standpoint, yes. While the division is new and will certainly evolve, I don’t see what it will do except confuse fans and participants along the way. It appears that Figure competitors with more muscle will likely fair well in this division. Bodybuilders bringing it down a notch apparently are still too big. So what does that leave? Confusion. Despite what the criteria may be on paper we haven’t seen an ideal in the NPC or Pro ranks to point to. What should the women’s physique competitor look like? At the inaugural IFBB show the judges felt Karina Nascimento fit the criteria the best. Does that make her the standard? On that day, at that show it did. Does that mean she is “the look” for the division. It points to what type of look the judges will reward however it doesn’t make her the Women’s Physique ideal.

Everyone has a different view on what they think the WPD should look like. Some think the first NPC Pro card winner of the division,  Dana Linn Bailey is the look. Others have thrown out names like Larissa Reiss and Juliana Malacarne. I personally think the ideal could be past Figure Olympia champion Jenn Gates as she looked at last year’s Figure International. She was obviously too hard and too muscular for the current Figure division. She has the looks, the muscle and the shape/structure. Will we see Jenn compete in the division? I asked her and she said, “I love my life and there is no diet in it! It would be hard to give up my social life!” She went on to share that she has no desire to compete again and is enjoying her home life away from the stage. So  don’t count on seeing Gates on stage again.

So where does that leave this new division? It’s best described as Under Construction. Will it eventually be worked out and a clear distinction of what is going to be rewarded? Ya, it likely will.  Will we see people up in arms over what is rewarded along the way? That you can bet all your chips on. There are several more shows with women’s physique in it and the winners will likely vary along the way given who competes on that day. I’m personally conflicted over the division as it’s trying to appease a very small section of an already niche industry. Women who are told they are too muscular for Figure enter and then are knocked down because they are “too hard” and then women from bodybuilding enter and are told they are “too muscular”. It’s understandable that fans and participants are confused over the new division. The best advice I can offer is to give it time and see how it works out. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but then again what is?

What are your thoughts on the new division? Share them in the comments below and all opinions are welcome.

 

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photo by dan ray.

 



Free Arnold Sports Webcast on Bodybuilding.com


If you’re not able to make it to the epic event in Columbus, Ohio next weekend not to worry. Bodybuilding.com will once broadcast live, on-stage and backstage events at the 2012 Arnold Classic. The best part of the live online webcast? It’s FREE.

Press Release

When the curtains rise at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Bodybuilding.com will once again be on hand to bring you the exclusive live coverage of all the action as Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to Columbus for the 24th installment of the Arnold Sports Festival.

Don’t miss a single moment as the World’s top bodybuilders, fitness, figure and bikini Superstars battle for supremacy during the fitness industry’s biggest weekend of the year! Defending champions Branch Warren, Adela Garcia, Nicole Wilkins and Nicole Nagrani will all return in hopes of defending their Arnold Classic, Fitness International, Figure International and Bikini International crowns.

Presented by MuscleTech, Bodybuilding.com‘s worldwide coverage begins on Friday March 2nd with the Women’s events and will continue on Saturday afternoon with complete coverage of the Arnold Classic prejudging, and continuing Saturday night for the main events. Calling the action will be the veteran hosting team of Dan Solomon and Bob Cicherillo.

Bodybuilding.com also welcomes IFBB Bikini Pro Tabitha Klausen-Leandri and IFBB Figure Pro Brooke Erickson to provide analysis for the Women’s events.

In addition to the webcast, be sure to visit Bodybuilding.com‘s Arnold Sports Festival Main Page for event previews, schedules, lineups, photos, exclusive reports and our annual interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Webcast Schedule

Friday, March 2, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. (U.S. Eastern time)
Ms. International, Fitness International and Figure International Finals

Saturday, March 3, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern time)
Arnold Classic Men’s Prejudging and Bikini International Prejudging

Saturday, March 3, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. (U.S. Eastern time)
Arnold Classic, Bikini International and Arnold Strongman Classic Finals

Exclusively at Bodybuilding.com, the world’s #1 most visited bodybuilding website!

Bodybuilding.com offers more than 13,000 health and fitness supplements and accessories to help more than 11 million people every month achieve their health, fitness and appearance goals. The website contains more than 35,000 pages of FREE information, including more than 20,000 articles and videos, expert online trainers and new content added daily.

For more information: http://www.bodybuilding.com/arnold

Use #ASF2012 for all your tweets throughout the weekend.



2012 IFBB Desert Muscle Classic Preview


This weekend, the first IFBB Pro Bikini contest takes place in Mesa, Arizona. Despite only six competitors entering the Desert Muscle Classic, it’s anyone’s show to win. The weekend also marks the start of a new division in the pro ranks, Women’s Physique. Eleven women have entered the inaugural show in hopes of making history of being crowned the first winner of the Physique division.

 

The Men’s 212 show only has four competitors, which may be the lowest turn out of any pro division in history. One of the four men will qualify for the 212 Olympia. One talking point in the pro ranks is that only the winner will qualify for the Olympia. In year’s past most shows would qualify at least three competitors. Is it a good move? Time will tell if it effects the number of competitors entering shows over the course of the year. There are a number of reasons why one could point to a low turn out for this show. My guess is that we’ll see far more competitors in upcoming shows.

BIKINI:
Stacy Alexander – Stacy will make her IFBB Pro debut after winning her class at the 2011 NPC Nationals. She has a number of things working in her favor at this show and could be the dark horse to take top honors. If she doesn’t let first time jitters get the best of her she’ll be in the mix.

Narmin Assria – Narmin has held her own in each of her pro shows and continues to improve. She’s a pint sized competitor who will check in under 100lbs but don’t let that fool ya. She’s a natural on stage and poses with ease. She’ll be a contender for the top spot.

Jennifer Chapman – Jennifer wasted no time jumping into the pro ranks after turning pro at the 2011 NPC Nationals. She entered the Florida Pro last December and finished 4th. I would have placed her in the top three and look for her to be a contender for the title here. Can she win her first pro show in just her second outing?

Ashley Harbour – Ashley is one of the newest IFBB Bikini Pros from Canada. She was awarded IFBB pro status at the 2011 CBBF Championships and will try her hand in the states for the first time. She wrote on her blog that she came down with a cold and hasn’t been able to train as she liked. An unfortunate turn of events for anyone’s pro debut. We’ll see how she fairs this weekend.

Bernadett Matassa – Bernadett last competed at the Florida Pro Bikini where she finished 13th out of 15 competitors. She’ll have a tough time winning this show but she has show improvements since being awarded pro status. Most notably in her posing, which was a bit over the top early on but has toned it down.

Christina Vargas – Christina is the only competitor in the line up who will be headed to Columbus next week. She’s coming off her first pro win, when she took top honors at the Houston Pro. She’s the “veteran” of the group and the odds on favorite to win, at least on paper. If she comes in less than 100% she’ll be out of the winner’s circle. If she comes in on the money, she’ll take home her second pro win and head to Columbus with some momentum against a much tougher line up.

PHYSIQUE:
I have mixed feelings about this division. My biggest issue with the division is that it doesn’t bring anyone new into competing like Bikini did. The bikini division brought in hundreds of new people to the NPC ranks and then into the IFBB. Those women are also more marketable and when you look at who is getting sponsorship and published in magazines most of them are bikini. The Physique division, in my opinion, only appeals to those who are already competing and “don’t fit” into a current division. Those not familiar with the new division it’s a smaller version of bodybuilding or a bulked up Figure competitor. The direction that the division is intended to head is a more “classic” look and the more muscular Figure competitors will likely fair better than the toned down bodybuilders. While a couple of the women in this line up do have supplement sponsors, it’s not a look that is appealing to people outside of the core bodybuilding audience who already follow the industry. No disrespect intended to the division or the competitors but unless you’re a fan of female bodybuilding you’ll likely not be a big fan of this division. Will it replace female bodybuilding? Some say no while others say it’s only a matter of time. The women in this show undoubtedly train hard and bust their asses, that’s never been questioned. The question is what is it doing or will it do to expand the industry and attract more fans?

The judges will have their work cut out for them at this show. The thing to keep in mind is this division will evolve and like bikini it will morph as it goes. The judges can only judge what is on stage and pick the ideal of that line up, on that day. It doesn’t mean that the winner of this show is “the look” of the division moving forward. It only means that the winner was the closest thing to the ideal on that day. The line up for this show is a like a bag of mixed nuts. You’ll see former bodybuilders competing against past Figure competitors. Some of the women competed as pros in bodybuilding, others in Figure and the rest will be making their pro debut. Your guess is as good as mine on who will win this one. My gut tells me we won’t see what the “ideal” look tomorrow. We’ll likely see women way too ripped and way too muscular for what the “ideal” of this new division is but we’ll see what the judges decide tomorrow.

Prejudging starts at 10am, Saturday Feb. 25, 2012 and the finals will be held at 6pm. Both prejudging and the finals will be held at the Mesa Arts Center. For more information on the show visit http://www.desertmuscleclassic.com.



Defending Ms. International Champion Iris Kyle OUT of Arnold


We received official word from the Arnold Sports Festival office that six-time winner Iris Kyle has withdrawn from the 2012 Ms. International. She was forced to sit out her title defense due to a leg injury. This leaves the field wide open as many felt Iris would cruise to her fourth win in a row.

 

iris kyle arnold champion out

The overall winner of the Ms. International will receive a $25,000 check, a Tony Nowak jacket and a trophy. This leaves 14 women battling for a share of $56,000 in prize money.  Prejudging is Friday, March 2, noon on the EXPO stage and finals are Friday, March 2, 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. For more information on the Arnold Sports Festival weekend visit  www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

Who do you think will win the 2012 Ms. International with the unfortunate news of the champ sidelined?



2012 IFBB FLEX Pro Fitness Results & Review


The first IFBB Pro show is in the books and there were some expected results mixed in with a few surprises. Adela Garcia kept her unbeaten streak alive and heads into the Fitness International as the leading lady. Rising in the ranks and finishing in second was Oksana Grishina. Canada’s Myriam Capes rounded out the top three with another consistent showing.

 

 

2012 IFBB FLEX Pro Fitness Results
Santa Monica, California
Placing / Name / 2piece / Routine / Final Score
1. Adela Garcia 5 10 15
2. Oksana Grishina 22 22 44
3. Myriam Capes 27 36 63
4. Tanji Johnson 21 56 77
5. Bethany Cisternino 10 72 82
6. Jodi Boam 40 48 88
7. Vanda Hadarean 35 54 89
8. Camala Rodriguez 19 78 97
9. Allison Ethier 51 68 119
10. Sheri Vucick 53 104 157
11. Michele Mayberry 46 112 158
12. Paula Gulman-Williams 60 108 168



LIVE Coverage from the FLEX Pro


The 2012 FLEX Pro kicks off the IFBB Pro Leauge season today at noon. Twelve IFBB Pro fitness competitor are in Santa Monica, California for a chance at the first ever FLEX PRO Fitness title. This is also the first show where only the winner will qualify for the 2012 Fitness Olympia. If you missed the preview of the show, check it out here.

If you’re on twitter, you can see the live updates via twitter.com/hardbodynews, twitter.com/MusclePhone, twitter.com/BBcomcontests and twitter.com/RonAvidan. Joining in the coverage? Use the hashtag #flexpro for the event in all your tweets. You can see what everyone is tweet’n about with that tag by checking out hashtags.org/flexpro.

flex pro fitness



There’s also 20 women competing in the FLEXonline Bikini Model Search contest. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the weekend. Good luck to everyone in the show!



2012 Arnold Amateur Competitor Lists


The 2012 Arnold Amateur Competitor lists have been posted on arnoldamateur.com and the women will dominate the show once again. You can see all the divisions (including the men) at http://arnoldamateur.com. Are you competing in the show? Let us know in the comments below. This is a unique opportunity for competitors across the globe to compete on the same stage. Good luck to all the competitors.

 


FOR OFFICIAL DVDs OF THE 2011 ARNOLD AMATEUR, VISIT WWW.IFBBTV.COM.

WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING:
Lightweight (12)

Star Affolter (Ooltewah, TN)
Carla Gomes Bachiega (Brazil)
Gastaldi Federica (Italy)
Sandra Ferreira (Brazil)
Pamela Hannam (San Ysidro, CA)
Liz Johnson (Ringgold, GA)
Wanda Keeler (Wichita, KS)
Kristina Maj Dybdahl (Denmark)
Lisa McKeough (Wyncote, PA)
Lo Kit Ming (Hong Kong)
Olga Puzanova (Russia)
Christine Zadel (Australia)

Heavyweight (12)

Jamila Barreto Boaventura (Brazil)
Caroline Byrd (Charlotte, NC)
Lucy Cerantola (Canada)
Maureen Donlevy Clary (Fort Mill, SC)
Luele Driescher (Erie, PA)
Amanda Hinton (Westerville, Ohio)
Mona Johansson (Sweden)
Melanie Landry (Londonderry, NH)
Jill Lundy (Mesa, AZ)
Kashma Siana Maharaj (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Maria Rita Penteado (Port Washington, NY)
Rita Sargo (Netherlands)

FITNESS:
Fitness Short Class (12)
Maria Laura Cervelli (Argentina)
Becki Cohen (Chicago, IL)
Charmaine Davis (New Castle, DE)
Shannon Goering (Effingham, IL)
Olga Guryeva (Russia)
Samantha Kinnish (Australia)
Janaina Barbosa De Matos (Brazil)
Amy Nichols (Houston, TX)
Melinda Szabo (Hungary)
Mary Stockbridge (Houston, TX)
Timea Taraba-Sifter (Hungary)
Toni Renee Wheeler (Morehead, KY)

Fitness Tall Class (6)
Marta Aguiar (Uruguay)
Rebecca Clem (Grand Rapids, MI)
Shannon Gill (Bellevue, WA)
Fiona Harris (Canada)
Gloria Mohninger (Canada)
Venus Ramos (Redondo Beach, CA)

Fitness Class Uknown (4)
Lorena Inarra (Spain)
Emi Perez (Spain)
Patricia Perez (Spain)
Karina Maria Grau Servin (Paraguay)

FIGURE:
Figure A Class (10)
Mary Carriedo (Canada)
Maria Karina Constantino Durzo (Mexico)
Brittney Koman (Pueblo, CO)
Amber Miles (Newark, Ohio)
Alicia Leija (Miali, HI)
Nelu Millican (Ooltewah, TN)
Jill Mock (Ellicot, MD)
Anne-Marie Swisher (Roanoke, VA)
Chie Terui (Homewood, IL)
Jacqueline Thomas (Chicago, IL)

Figure B Class (27)
Chazz Anderson (Tulsa, OK)
Kelly Booth-Hater (Cincinnati, OH)
Helna Chansky (Grayslake, IL)
Yadira Del Socorro Morales Dominguez (Nicaragua)
Mazzola Federica (Italy)
Simari Giada (Italy)
Viviane Goncalves (Brazil)
Sehila Esther Preciado Jimenez (Mexico)
Alicja Klarkowska (Poland)
Romina Lameiro (Argentina)
Evangenlina Figueroa Loreto (Mexico)
Nancy Anahi Rodriguez Martinez (Mexico)
Heidi McFrederick (Ashland, Ohio)
Sarah McNaughton (Canada)
Mara Miranda (Dana Point, CA)
Claudine Noelle (Washington, DC)
Katie Noval (Los Angeles, CA)
Ana Sanchez (Puerto Rico)
Simone Silveira (Brazil)
Kris Lynn Smith (Fishers, IN)
Lara Sulianno (Granite City, IL)
Sonia Tavares (Brazil)
Sarah Vanderstow (Chicago, IL)
Iara Vieira (Brazil)
Marjan Washington (Huntington, WV)
Christina Watson (Xenia, Ohio)
Sandra Tacza Zapata (Peru)

Figure C Class (23)
Jessica Bertha Baldeon Caballero (Peru)
Kimberly Cochran (Locust Grove, VA)
Eva Maria Davidsdottir (Iceland)
Olga Maria Morales Gallardo (Mexico)
Zory Garasimchuk (Sales, OR)
Sussety Tabash Gonzalez (Costa Rica)
Sarah Griffith (Curacao)
Priscilla Katzmaier (Austria)
Laura Keddie (Australia)
Terry Means (Boynton Beach, FL)
Fre Michela (Italy)
Zuleika Miranda (Puerto Rico)
Janet Moore (Fort Worth, TX)
Katie Morris (Australia)
Paula Adriana Frega Peredo (Argentina)
Kambi Pope (Omaha, NE)
Sharmila Regala (Canada)
Christina Rivera (Cheektowaga, NY)
Elaine Nogueira Rodrigues (Brazil)
Vanessa Catarina De Oliveira E Silva (Brazil)
Jyl Marie Stoltenberg (Bellevue, WA)
Claire Rose Torr (New Zealand)
Wagna Vargas (Brazil)

Figure D Class (19)
Danelia Gonzalez Campuzano (Mexico)
Marsela Cik (Serbia)
Jacqueline De La Torre Duenas (Mexico)
Nicole Caroline Eccel (Brazil)
Danielle Ferreira (San Diego, CA)
Jennie Gray (Elizabethtown, KY)
Renata Guaraciaba (Brazil)
Susan Idalia Garcia De Hernadez (Salvador)
Jessie Hilgenberg (Minden, NV)
Hallveig Karlsdottir (Iceland)
Stephanie Matthews (Beaverton, OR)
Jodene McGregor (Australia)
Bruna Da Costa Miyagui (Brazil)
Shannon Moore (Omaha, NE)
Tiffany Nance (Angier, NC)
Idianette Ortiz (Puerto Rico)
Teagan Posey-Benson (Middletown, Ohio)
Karina Rhode (Noblesville, IN)
Sif Sveindottir (Iceland)

Figure D Class (19)
Danelia Gonzalez Campuzano (Mexico)
Marsela Cik (Serbia)
Jacqueline De La Torre Duenas (Mexico)
Nicole Caroline Eccel (Brazil)
Danielle Ferreira (San Diego, CA)
Jennie Gray (Elizabethtown, KY)
Renata Guaraciaba (Brazil)
Susan Idalia Garcia De Hernadez (Salvador)
Jessie Hilgenberg (Minden, NV)
Hallveig Karlsdottir (Iceland)
Stephanie Matthews (Beaverton, OR)
Jodene McGregor (Australia)
Bruna Da Costa Miyagui (Brazil)
Shannon Moore (Omaha, NE)
Tiffany Nance (Angier, NC)
Idianette Ortiz (Puerto Rico)
Teagan Posey-Benson (Middletown, Ohio)
Karina Rhode (Noblesville, IN)
Sif Sveindottir (Iceland)

Figure E Class (15)
Dawn Bailey (Columbus, Ohio)
Erna Gudrun Bjornsdottir (Iceland)
Swann Cardot (Astoria, NY)
Marie Carroll (Mary Esther, FL)
Viaura Centeno (Sarasota, FL)
Jennifer Delgado (Henderson, NV)
Samantha Dunbar (Australia)
Dawn Fernandez (Peoria, AZ)
Bianka Horvath (Hungary)
Meni Moskowski (Canada)
Allison Moyer (Lancaster, PA)
Alessandra De Oliveira (Brazil)
Alessandra Barata Pinheiro (Brazil)
Carol Whitenack (Spotsylvania, PA)
Caroline Zawadski (Brazil)

Figure F Class (17)
Tina Anderson (Woodstock, CA)
Tricia Bailey (Howell, MI)
Emese Bakular (Hungary)
Kelly Belevender (East Point, MI)
Kelsey Boe (Elkhorn, NE)
Cari Crachiola (Santa Rosa, CA)
Tina Freeze (Rio Rancho, NM)
Jessica Hansbauer (West Chester, Ohio)
Beata Karaskova (Slovakia)
Jennica Kidd (Westerville, Ohio)
Alexandra Sif Nikulasdottir (Iceland)
Monica Richard (Apex, NC)
Maeme Lacerda Da Rocha (Brazil)
Christine Schranz (Austria)
Mariana Simoneta (Argentina)
Ljuba Pantovic Subotic (Serbia)
Tia Trent (New Albany, Ohio)

FIGURE MASTERS:
Short Class (18)

Jennifer Berkowitz (Columbus, Ohio)
Shyrlena Bogard (Ottawa, IL)
Tracy Grogg (West Jefferson, OH)
Maria Laura Lomonaco (Argentina)
Jodie Luther-Kofod (Savannah, GA)
Kerlanda Martial (Boca Raton, FL)
Angie Morales (Corbin, KY)
Lynn Nichols (Newark, Ohio)
Bozzao Roberta (Italy)
Marie Silmari (Finland)
Marli Rodrigues Da Silva (Brazil)
Beth Siracuse (Columbus, Ohio)
Viviana Smerilli (Coral Springs, FL)
Sabrina Sonner (Island, KY)
Susan Thorn (Lincoln, CA)
Luciane Vieira (Brazil)
Nicole Wilkenfeld (Houston, TX)
Barbie Zweifel (Chicago, IL)

Medium Class (12)
LeNora Angles (Gahanna, Ohio)
Tiffany Karnig (Aurora, CO)
Julie Keirse (Naperville, IL)
Kristin Krist Jansdottir (Iceland)
Lee Lance (Arden, NC)
Brenda Lauver (Bernville, PA)
Yvonne Melendrez (Reynoldsburg, Ohio)
Vicki Mullins (Chattanooga, TN)
Tammi Perry (Santon, TX)
Michelle Price (South Africa)
June Robins (Sarasota, FL)
Paula Salvatore (Buffalo, NY)

Tall Class (10)
Sondra Briese (Fulton, IL)
Stacey Eiken (Oconomowoc, WI)
Terri Schroeder Goins (Boise, ID)
Traci Lee Helgerson (Burke, VA)
Keneese McNamer (Bolingbrook, IL)
Jenny Parr (Blackshear, GA)
Valerie Richman (Canada)
Nina-Marie Richter (South Africa)
Sheila Salinas (Richland, WA)
Yolanda Slaughter (Dallas, TX)
Sherri Stokes (Olympia, WA)

Classes Unknown (5)
Gianni Bento De Souza Almeida (Brazil)
Laura Saccomani (Paraguay)
Daniela Santarelli (Paraguay)

BIKINI:
Bikini A Class (18)
Harmony Cannon (Covington, KY)
Evette Cano (Hilliard, Ohio)
Gemmalyn Crosby (Seminole, FL)
Elspeth Dana (Dayton, Ohio)
Ilene Feldman (Mahwah, NJ)
Jessica Fletcher (Coral Springs, FL)
Laiza Fret (Puerto Rico)
Milva Galati (Narbeth, PA)
Sydney Hollingsworth (Northglenn, CO)
Lisa Humble (Clayton, NC)
Akia Jenkins (Rutledge, PA)
Monica Long (Bayonne, NJ)
Samantha Maycock (Dallas, GA)
Nicole Morrow (Dayton, Ohio)
Mymuna Nasrin (Canada)
Lucinda Richards (Yorktown, VA)
Francine Slobodnik (Naperville, IL)
Violeta Torregrosa-Ayala (Orlando, FL)

Bikini B Class (20)
Elena Andrade (Compton, CA)
Samantha Billig (Streetsboro, Ohio)
Rebecca Black (Columbus, Ohio)
Valerie Castillo (Dallas, TX)
Jessica De Francesca (Canada)
Maria DiNello (Naperville, IL)
Daron Fitzgerald (Fort Wayne, IN)
Rachel Greba (Verona, KY)
Pam Leather (Canada)
Caroline Mahar (Wilmington, NC)
Tara Maher (RSM, CA)
Charlotte Manley (Orlando, FL)
Kerin Martini (St. Charles, IL)
Nicole Ortiz (Lexington, KY)
Dana Paru (Tampa, FL)
Jill Reynolds (Columbus, Ohio)
Danesa Robles (Buckeye, AZ)
Lynn Sambuco (Venetia, PA)
Kristin Thom (Clarendon Hill, IL)
Melanie Velasquez (Albuquerque, NM)

Bikini C Class (48)
Anjali Antani (Naperville, IL)
Jessica Bradhurst (Reynoldsburg, Ohio)
Angeles Burke (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Kristen Burns (Aiken, SC)
Nina Cash (Beavercreek, Ohio)
Meggan Clay (Pataskala, Ohio)
Ragna Greta Eidsdottir (Iceland)
Julianne Estrada (Dover, NJ)
Brandi Faircloth (Thomasville, GA)
Aghata Fernandes (Brazil)
Tracy Gramer (Atlanta, GA)
Kristina Grogan (Pickerington, Ohio)
Kamilla Dogg Gudmundsdottir (Iceland)
Beth Hagendort (La Jolla, CA)
Hayleigh Hanna (Sunbury, Ohio)
Christine Hawke (Kenmore, NY)
Sarah Ingmanson (Henderson, NV)
Sandra Jonsdottir (Iceland)
Claudia Klobusitzky (Hungary)
Andrea Lackner (Austria)
Adriana Lampasi (St. Louis, MO)
Kapiolani Laronal (Lacey, WA)
Lindsey LeCroy (St. Petersburg, FL)
Grissel Martinez (Las Vegas, NV)
Lauren McIntire (Arlington, TX)
Jessica Moss (Bonita Springs, FL)
Tara Nailor (Harrsiburg, PA)
Maria Parraga (Bristow, VA)
Emily Pascual (Puerto Rico)
Oksana Pavlova (Ukraine)
Jessica Kay Pendergrast (New Zealand)
Candice Perfect (Anchorage, AK)
Livia Peter (Hungary)
Ashley Putney (Herkimer, NY)
Signori Roberta (Italy)
Andrea Romero (Las Cruces, NM)
Lauren Russell (Mt. Washington, KY)
Midori Rutledge (Canada)
Alina Sewell (Hurricane, WV)
Yulia Shumakova-Catron (Singapore)
Cheryl Smith (Pickerington, Ohio)
Paige Sutphin (Cleveland, Ohio)
Cassandra Taylor (Columbus, Ohio)
Bernadett Toth (Hungary)
Michelle Ulibarri (Las Vegas, NV)
Joelle Vaucher (Switzerland)
Corrine (Wakeman (Syracuse, NY)
Fernanda Zanzoni (Brazil)

Bikini D Class (40)
Holly Barker (Canada)
Johanna Bayne (Aurora, IL)
Katrina Edda Borsteindottir (Iceland)
Lisa Clementi (Rochester, NY)
Cynthia Cordoba (Crystal Lake, IL)
Zoe Daly (Australia)
Liudmyla Diachuk (Ukraine)
Devyn Dues (Westerville, Ohio)
Cara Dukes (Milford, MI)
Chrissy Game (Australia)
Magret edda Gnarr (Iceland)
Magnea Gunnarsdottir (Iceland)
Samantha Heron (Australia)
Noelle Joye (Las Vegas, NV)
Ashley Kaltwasser (Akron, Ohio)
Magret Hulda Karlsdottir (Iceland)
Victoria Kirsanova (Santa Clarita, CA)
Crystal Lanham (Mill Creek, WV)
Carissa Launderville (Kenosha, WI)
Ashley Leahy (Lewis Center, Ohio)
Sheena Lee (Lewisville, Texas)
Jana Majernikova (Slovakia)
Syreeta McDuffey (Burlington, NC)
Cassandra McMichael (Blackshear, NC)
Danielle Morellino (Forest Hills, NY)
Jeana Mullins (Loma Linda, CA)
Marcela Muzzi (Brazil)
Sigridur Omarsdottir (Iceland)
McKenzie Peacock (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Lee Randell (Canada)
Jessica Slivka (Hilliard, Ohio)
Jenn Smith (Rockford, IL)
Natasja Van Limburg Stirum (Netherlands)
Kristrun Sveinbjornsdottir (Iceland)
Dora Sveinsdottir (Iceland)
Stacey Szatkiewicz (Tamarac, FL)
Zsuzsana Toldi (Hungary)
Brittany Walker (Dublin, Ohio)
Nikola Weiterova (Slovakia)
Nancy Young (Superior Township, MI)

Bikini E Class (32)
Pezza Anna (Italy)
Christina Barrett (Canada)
Jennifer Cardona (Puerto Rico)
Rita Catolino (Canada)
Julia Christiansen (Lake in Hills, IL)
Kylie Conroy (Stone Ridge, VA)
Jennifer Cullen (Fort Madison, IA)
Summer Denny (Indianapolis, IN)
Nicole Genarella (W. Dundee, Utah)
Dagbjort Gudbrandsdottir (Iceland)
Carrie Hensman (Canada)
Vladimira Krasova (Czech Republic)
Natalie Lynn Lichtenbert (Hoffman Estates, IL)
Jen Main (Loveland, Ohio)
Larissa Maraccini (Brazil)
Laura Markle (Madera, CA)
Alice Matos (Brazil)
Anita Metzler (Brazil)
Nakita Nedd (Jackosnville, AK)
Mayling Ng (Singapore)
Adalheidur Yr Olafsdottir (Iceland)
Sandy Paasch (Elkhorn, NE)
Holly Powell (Gorveport, Ohio)
Keri Ricker (Harrisburg, PA)
Melissa Russell (Uniontown, Ohio)
Ann Rutledge (Frankfort, KY)
Nicole Shirey (Lewis Center, Ohio)
Szilvia Sonyak (Hungary)
Olga Svyrdova (Wayne, PA)
Anna Virmajoki (Finland)
Danielle Zito (Utica, NY)

Bikini F Class (18)
Caitlyn Bellamy (Canada)
Elisabeth English (Sunbury, Ohio)
Brandi Fraser (Canada)
Stacey Grubbs (Elsmere, KY)
Jennifer Hugunin (Clinton, IA)
Catia James (Austin, TX)
Amanda Kotel (Canada)
Stephanie Krohn (Franklin, KY)
Nicole Miglis (Lynchburg, VA)
Katie Miller (Williamsburg, VA)
Amy Bella Orzechowski (Erie, PA)
Kelly Pettaway (Petersburg, VA)
Brooke Prudden (Lewis Center, OH)
Susan Sims (Lees Summit, MO)
Syda Sirin (Canada)
Ali Staneart (Johnstown, Ohio)
Robyn Stone (Canada)
Olivia Vaughn (South Africa)

Bikini Classes Unknown (4)
Genevieve Corneta Gil (Phillipines)
Mariana Gonzalez (Spain)
Noemi Rocca (Spain)



Official Arnold After Party


The official Arnold After Party will take place on Saturday, March 2, 2012. This is your chance to party with the pros while in Columbus. The party will also serve as host to bodybuilding icon Lenda Murray’s 50th birthday party. Check out the details below. We’ll be there, will you?

Saturday, March 3, 2012
9 p.m. – 2 a.m.

The 2012 Arnold Party With The Pros will once again be the place to be as the world’s top professionals in bodybuilding, fitness, figure, bikini, strongman and other sports celebrate deep into the night at the Official After-Party For The Arnold Classic. The can’t-miss event includes a night of fun, drinks, dancing, music, star-gazing and world-class entertainment. Olympia champion Lenda Murray will host her 50th Birthday Celebration at this year’s Party With The Pros.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will also make a special appearance at the can’t-miss event of the weekend.

The Arnold Party With The Pros features a long night of fun, drinks, dancing, music, star-gazing and world-class entertainment.

Tickets to the Arnold Party With the Pros are $25 and available at www.ticketmaster.com/arnold.

The LC Pavilion

405 Neil Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215

Free shuttle buses will take those attending the Arnold Classic directly to the LC Pavilion.

Contact:
Bob Lorimer
bob@arnoldexpo.com
614-431-2600



1st Phorm St Louis Pro & NPC Midwest Championship


We’re just one month away from one of the biggest competitions in the Midwest. On March 17, 2012 hundreds of hardbodies will heat to St Louis, Missouri for the 1st Phorm St. Louis Pro & NPC Midwest Championship. This NPC even is a national qualifier and the pro portion will feature some of the top talent in the world.

 

Fans will get a chance to see six-time Olympia winner Adela Garcia perform as a special guest and also bodybuilders Mike Liberatore and Kai Greene. Promoter Jack Titone tells us he is stoke for all that is happening this year with the show. There will be a model search and several other great events on top of the NPC/IFBB portion of the show.

2012 1st Phorm IFBB St. Louis Pro Women’s Fitness, Bikini & Physique Championship

SHOW SCHEDULE:
Friday:
Mandatory Pro Fitness, Bikini & Physique check-in / meeting – 5pm
Check-in / Weigh-in – 6pm
Location: Host hotel – Chase Park Plaza

Saturday:
Prejudging – 9am
Finals – 6pm

Host Hotel:
Chase Park Plaza
Ask for the Pro & NPC Bodybuilding rate! $139.00/night

212-232 N. Kingshighway Blvd
St. Louis, Missouri 63108 USA
Phone: 1 314 633 3000
Toll-free: 1 877 587 242

Shuttle service from hotel to Busch Center provided.

Parking:
Laclede Garage, across the street from the Busch Center

Visit: npcmidwest.com for more info. We’ll be there, will you?

 

 



Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey Promo


It’s not often that women headline a MMA event but that’s exactly what’s going down during the Arnold Sports Festival weekend. On Saturday, March 3rd at 10pm ET Miesha Tate will put her bantamweight belt on the line against rising star Ronda Rousey.

This event has been getting all kinds of media attention which is great for women’s MMA. The event will be aired live on SHOWTIME and if you’re in Columbus that weekend, check it out. It’s sure to be one to watch!



HARDBODY Photo: Juliana Daniell Bikini International Competitor


Juliana Daniell positioned herself as one of the top Bikini Pros last year and is already qualified for the 2012 Bikini Olympia. She has an athletic background and was a swimmer in college. She currently cheers for the Atlanta Hawks and is prepping for her first trip to the Arnold Sports Festival where she will be a contender in the Bikini Internationals

This photo has become one of the more popular photos on pinterest.com as I receive emails on a weekly basis asking who it is. Mainly because people have taken the photo and put their own words over it, which is fine and dandy but they crop off the watermark/copyright. Not so dandy. Any whoo, now you can PIN this image and let everyone know who she is. You can see Juliana compete in Columbus and stay updated with her via facebook.

We’ll see ya there!

 


Photo by LIFTstudios.com – may not be reprinted or used without permission.

 



Which IFBB Bikini Pro Would Make a Better Sports Illustrated Cover Model?


There are few magazine covers that are as highly anticipated as the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. The SI cover has turned into a media event and has helped launch model’s careers. This year’s cover, in our opinion, is one of the worst we’ve seen. The swimsuit isn’t flattering, there’s too much touch up on the body and it’s overall just bleh.

The NPC/IFBB Bikini division has hundreds of women who would make better cover models than (no offense) Kate Upton, at least as she appears on this cover. Kate is actually a beautiful woman but you’d never know it from this image. Check out the photos of her on ESQUIRE and she looks pretty hardbody . This cover, well not so much.

Photo via Sports Illustrated facebook. Kate Upton cover model.

Keeping things real, there is no chance in hell that a fitness or figure competitor would appear on an SI Swimsuit cover but the chances of a bikini competitor doing so are a bit more realistic. A bikini body is the closest thing to “mainstream” in the women’s division. That said who would you vote to put on the cover? We’re going to keep the poll open for awhile and who ever YOU think would make the best cover, we’re going to mock it up and show a comparison.

Will Sports Illustrated take note? Let’s find out.

{democracy:228}

** BIKINI PROS NOT FIGURE OR FITNESS PROS **

 

 



Hardbody Exclusive: Michelle Blank OUT of the Arnold with an injury


The Arnold Sports Festival is just over two weeks away and one of the highlights of the weekend is the Ms. Fitness International. IFBB Pro Michelle Blank was set to compete at this year’s event however she’s had an unfortunate turn of events. Today, Michelle was forced to withdraw from the event due to a calf injury. It’s definitely a bummer for any competitor to sustain an injury but even more so for Michelle as she’s been on a roll in the pro ranks. I caught up with Michelle to get the scoop on what happened and what’s next.

 

Hey Michelle, Sorry to hear about your injury what a bummer. Are you forced to withdraw from the Arnold competition and St. Louis Pro?
Yes, it is a very big bummer!!! It is with great disappointment that I am withdrawing from the Arnold and will not be competing in St. Louis.

What did you injure?
I tore my left calf muscle in the beginning of January.

You had been kinda nursing another injury as well, right?
Yes. I have been dealing with back and hamstring issues for some time.  It comes along with the sport as well as residual issues from years of gymnastics.

How did you injure your calf?
There is no exciting story as to how my calf tore.  I was working out as usual when it decided to pop.   I’ve been trying to rest it while continuing to prepare for the Arnold.

What do the doctors have you doing for rehab?
I am going to physical therapy a couple of times a week, getting ultra sound to the calf several times a week, doing low resistance cardio, and avoiding any dynamic or plyometric movements.  Of course that means no tumbling.

This puts you out of the Arnold and St. Louis, but will we see you in Pittsburgh?
I’ve been trying to rest the calf while continuing to prepare for the competitions, but it has not healed enough to compete.  Unfortunately and with great disappointment I will miss both the Arnold and St. Louis.  My focus now is to return healthy and in full strength in Pittsburgh.

Have you had injuries in the past?
Being involved in gymnastics as well as being very active for my job, I deal with injuries often.

Still a special agent in the FBI?
I am a Special Agent with IRS Criminal Investigation, currently assigned to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center as an instructor in Defensive Tactics and Arrest Techniques.

How do you deal with the injury mentally?
I receive a great deal of support from my family, friends, co-workers and coach.  I also read sport psychology books such as  “In Pursuit of Excellence” by Terry Orlick to help maintain a positive outlook and stay focused on my goals.

Do you have any tips/advice for other women who may be battling an injury?
Life is a journey with many twists and turns.  Sometimes detours arise and a new route must be taken.  With the right attitude those detours can often lead you down a better path than you initially planned.

At times the injury can send you on an emotional roller coaster so lean on those close to you for support.  Stay positive, focus on healing, things you can improve on and limit the amount of time you talk about the injury.

Will you still be attending the Arnold?
Yes, I will be attending both the Arnold and St. Louis.  I believe it is important to support my fellow athletes and I look forward to the opportunity to promote Fitness at the events.

Where can people find more info on you and send you their well wishes?
www.apprimefit.com

Thanks for your time Michelle and we wish you a speedy and full recovery.

 



2012 IFBB FLEX Pro Fitness Preview & Hardbody Poll


The first IFBB Pro Fitness event is days away and the line up is one of the most competitive we’ll see all year. It will be interesting to see how the women approach this competition as a number of them will be competing in two weeks at the Fitness International. The most decorated fitness competitor of all-time, Adela Garcia will look to continue her winning ways while others look to begin a reign of their own. Let’s break down the 11 competitors who will take the stage this Saturday in Santa Monica, California.

 

I sincerely hope we see the judges reward the routines and follow the rule change that was implemented at the end of 2010. It’s my opinion that we didn’t always see the best routine rewarded last year.  All too often the woman with the best physique score ends up placing higher than they should in the routine round. It’s not always the case but if we see the best routines awarded those who win the physique rounds may not win the whole show. It makes it more exciting from a media and fan perspective not knowing who will win until the routines are finished. The fitness routines are the closest thing to showing athleticism the IFBB Pro League has and we’ll see some of the elite perform this Saturday.

2012 IFBB FLEX PRO FITNESS COMPETITORS:
1. Jodi Boam This Canadian youngster put herself on the map, at least in the pro ranks, last year. She has one of the strongest routines in the competition and continues to refine her physique. She’s without question one of the rising stars in the division. Jodi was 8th at the 2011 Fitness Olympia and will be a contender at the FLEX PRO.. I’d like to see her bring the confidence and strength she did when she competed at the New York Pro. See Jodi’s competition photos here.

2. Myriam Capes Mimi has changed her physique over the last few years from a little tank to one of balance. It’s common to see Canadian competitors enter the IFBB Pro ranks with more muscle than the judges prefer. This is because they have to pack the muscle on in order to achieve pro status in the Canadian ranks. When I first saw Myriam compete I thought she’d struggle in the pro ranks because of her physique. She proved me wrong and has positioned herself as one of the leading ladies in Fitness. She was third at the Fitness Olympia and will be a contender here. She has one of the best routines and I like when she shows off her strength and gymnastics in her routine. See Myriam’s competition photos here.

3. Bethany Cisternino Bethany has one of the best physiques in this line up and if she’s in shape she will be in the first call out. She has impressive gymnastic skills and her routines continue to improve. If she brings her best to the stage she’ll be a contender here. I could see her winning the physique round and then it’s all down to how she performs her routine. She was 7th at the 2011 Fitness Olympia. See Bethany’s competition photos here.

4. Allison Either Allison has been up in down in her placings as a pro. She’s finished in the top five but yet to move up higher than fifth. She continues to streamline her physique and her routines are improving. She’ll have her work cut out for here in this line up and if she finishes in the top five, I’d consider that a successful debut to the 2011 season. She has the moves in her routines to do well, it’s just a matter of them all being choreographed in a successful manner. See Allison’s competition photos here.

5. Adela Garcia – Adela is coming off another Fitness Olympia win and it’s been years since she’s finished out of the top spot. She was sidelined in 2008 with what many thought would be a career ending injury. Adela battled back and has won 8 shows in a row. Can she make it 9? If you ask her she will say of course chico. Adela will be in the top callout for the physique round and then we’ll see what she brings to the routine. It will likely include some Latin flare and her flying around the stage. She’s definitely the one with a target on her back and the one every competitor is looking to take out of the winner’s circle. See Adela’s competition photos here.

6. Oksana Grishina Oksana has become one of the industry’s favorites amongst fans. She always performs a creative routine and last year we saw her showcase the “Avatar” themed routine. She’s struggled in the physique rounds over the years. She used to come in way too muscular and hard. Oksansa has managed to balance her physique and give the illusion of a tinier waist. She’ll be in shape and we’ll await what routine she has in store for the 2012 season. She performs moves with such ease that people often overlook the difficulty. Some of the naysayers said her routine was too slow for the pro ranks but that’s not the case any more. She’s got a chance to move up from her 5th place Olympia finish. See Oksana’s competition photos here.

7. Paula Gulman-Williams Paula turned pro at the 2011 NPC JR USA. She’s wanted a chance to compete against the best in the world of fitness and now she has her chance. She definitely brings energy to the stage when she performs. This will be her IFBB Pro debut and nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool to kick off your pro career. I don’t see Paula cracking the top five here but we’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage. See Paula’s competition photos.

8. Tanji Johnson Tanji has been the bridesmaid more times than she likely cares to count. It used to be a question of if Tanji would be in shape for the show but she’s been consistent over the last few years there. She brings an entertaining routine to the stage most of the time. Many people weren’t big fans of her “save fitness” routine with the telephone booth but they did enjoy the STOMP routine. If she brings a solid routine and a conditioned physique to the stage she could take over the number one spot headed into the Arnold. It would certainly make for an interesting Fitness International if she does. Look for Tanji to have the eye of the tiger and she looks move out of Adela’s shadow. See Tanji’s competition photos here.

9. Michelle Mayberry Michelle has been up and down and all over the map in her placings. She has had trouble with her tanning in the past but looked to have figure that out in her recent outings. She’s also showed that how you wear your hair can make a difference in how you stand out from the competition. She has a balance physique and if she can crack the top five here it will be a successful show for her. It won’t be easy given the competition but it will be good to see her back on the fitness stage. See Michelle’s competition photos here.

10. Camala Rodriquez Camala is a bit of an “X-Factor” in this show. She’s been in the winner’s circle before and then other times she’s out of the top spots. Which Camala will show up in California? She’s been working under the eye of Mike Davies and we’ll have to see if that makes a difference in her physique. When she comes in conditioned she has the physique to hang in the top spots. If she has too much muscle or not in shape she’ll be on the sidelines of the top call-out. I’d like to see her incorporate more of her dance background into her routines. She’s been a dancer for David Guetta but you’d never know it from her routines. We’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage as she could be in the top spots or the bottom of the pack. See Camala’s competition photos.

11. Sheri Vucick This will be Sheri’s pro debut and she has the potential to make an immediate impact on the pro ranks. She was a champion in another organization dating all the way back to 2003. This mom of two will make the trip to Cali in hopes of continuing the success she found at the 2011 Team Universe, where she achieved IFBB pro status. She was the overall champ at the ’11 NPC Emerald Cup and the Team Universe. I liked the routine she brought to the stage last year and she’s a welcome addition to the pro ranks. See Sheri’s competition photos here.

We’ll be there covering the action and you can follow the call-outs live and commentary on twitter. The hashtag will be #FLEXPRO for the show, so use that when referring to the show and following the coverage. Prejudging and Finals are on February 18, 2012. For more information on the show visit flexprochampionships.com.

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Hardbody: “I’m Stronger Than” – Fear


As we continue to feature the women who are “stronger than” we want to know what you’re stronger than. Share yours in the comments or email us with your story. IFBB Figure Pro Monica Specking is STRONGER THAN fear. How about you?

stronger than

Share what you are STRONGER THAN on twitter with #strongerthan.



Hardbody “I’m Stronger Than” – Excuses


We all face obstacles. It takes digging deep from within ourselves to rise above these challenges. We’ve started a new campaign to help empower female athletes across the globe, “I’m Stronger Than”. We want to know what YOU are STRONGER THAN.

Our first “Stronger Than” hardbody is IFBB Figure Pro Alea Suarez. As you can see, Alea has been able to face and conquer her obstacles en route to a championship physique. She’s STRONGER THAN excuses. Are you?

Share what you are STRONGER THAN on twitter with #strongerthan.



Heartbreak Hotel: Whitney Houston Dead at Age 48


Whitney Houston had a hardbody voice and considered one of the greatest singers of all-time. On the eve of the Grammy Awards, at 3:55pm, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Whitney was one of the most successful singers in music history, having won six Grammy Awards, 22 American Music awards and two Emmys.

Whitney sang the National Anthem like few have as we’re reminded of watching the video below. Rest in Peace Whitney.


By The Associated Press
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, movies whose career was ravaged by drugs, dead at 48

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music’s queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.

News of Houston’s death came on the eve of music’s biggest night — the Grammy Awards. It’s a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to case a heavy pall on Sunday’s ceremony. Houston’s longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner Saturday; it was unclear if it was going to go forward.

At her peak, Houston the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world’s best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like “The Bodyguard” and “Waiting to Exhale.”

——–

Whitney Houston Biography: from sharemyplaylists.com
Whitney Houston (born on August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey) is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning American R&B/pop singer, actress, former fashion model, record and movie producer. She is known for her soulful coloratura soprano voice, vocal power, range and melismatic skill. Houston is one of pop music’s highest selling artists. She was labeled the “Queen of Songs” by Arsenio Hall, who described her as “the first lady of song”. She is also known to millions as “The Voice”, a nickname given to her by Oprah Winfrey.

Whitney’s debut album was released in 1985 to critical and commercial international success, and she went on to release seven consecutive number-one hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. She was one of a handful of African-American artists who received heavy-rotation on MTV during the network’s early years in the 1980s.

Houston continued her success into the 1990s with the release of several films and their corresponding soundtrack albums, the most popular of which was The Bodyguard (1992), which produced the worldwide number-one hit single I Will Always Love You. According to the I Will Always Love You Songfacts, it stayed at US #1 for 14 weeks, which was a record at the time and for a while was second to “We Are The World” as the biggest-selling single ever. Houston’s albums in the 2000s have been less successful.

Her personal life became the subject of controversy because of allegations of drug abuse, especially after repeated cancellations of public appearances and erratic behaviour. Houston has since undergone an intense rehabilitation process and is currently recording an album that will be released early this year.

In mid 2009, Houston released her seventh studio album, “I Look To You.” The album debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. It became another Platinum seller. It was state in the UK Newspaper “The Mirror” that Houston is thinking about recording her eighth studio album.

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL. …show less



Ready to Fly – A Dream Worth Fighting For


The documentary film, READY TO FLY, looks like it will be one worth checking out. It’s the true story of ski-jumper Lindsey Van who is considered an outsider in a man’s world. Since a young age, she had a dream of competing at the Olympics but she’s not allowed. Why? It’s not because she’s not good enough. It’s because she’s a woman.

The movie follows Lindsey and her ski jumping family though their 12-year fight to achieve gender equality in the Winter Olympic Games.

THE STORYfrom www.readytoflyfilm.com
Since childhood, as a wide-eyed seven-year-old ski jumper with a dream of Olympic flight, Lindsey Van has been an outsider in a man’s world. For the last 18 years she’s been fighting the naysayers, the doubters, and those who would have her believe that it’s her place to accept second-class status.

At 8, her male coaches tell her she isn’t built right, that ski jumpers are skinny and slight, not strong and womanly. Although Lindsey is far from fat, her coaches repeatedly tell her “fat don’t fly.” Damage to her body image notwithstanding, Lindsey Van can fly. And damn well. She’s stronger, has better technique, and can sail farther over snow-covered hills than any woman and most men on the planet. At 24 years old, she proves it by becoming the first Women’s World Ski Jumping Champion.

But the sweetness of victory is fleeting. Even though she out-jumps the world’s best men at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic venue, she’s still denied the chance to perform on the highest stage, in the Olympics. Why? Because she’s a woman.

Though the Olympics were created to allow athletes to compete without the burden of politics, religion, or racism, the International Olympic Committee has decided to forbid women from competing in ski jumping. It is the only Winter Olympic discipline that doesn’t allow women. Thrust into a fight that’s far bigger than her Olympic dreams, larger than ski jumping or even sport, she becomes the reluctant spokesperson for gender equality and women’s rights.

Swarmed by the international press, Lindsey Van breaks down. The tears come. And the press eats it up. No longer is ski jumping enough; now she has to be a crusader, a media darling, the fighter for a cause. But she didn’t sign on for that. She quits ski jumping and returns to the mountains where she can pull her goggles down and ski fast in complete obscurity.

And then, somewhere in the Utah backcountry, somewhere in the quiet of a mountainside, something in her changes. Maybe it’s a realization that she can change things for the young women who will come behind her, maybe it’s the joy of flight that she’s missing, or maybe it’s her fighting nature that won’t allow her to quit. After taking a year off of competition she comes back.

The International Olympic Committee reconsiders whether women might be allowed to jump in 2014, and again the world press turns to Van for reaction. This time, there are no tears. Only resolve.

But then she gets a call that could dash her Olympic dreams. Lindsey is the bone marrow match for a 49-year-old white male who is dying of cancer. She agrees to drop everything — even the World Championships — if she’s needed back home to provide a crucial bone marrow transplant to save the life of a man she’s never met.

Van has to refocus and lead her sport and defend her title in the World Championships in Oslo, Norway in February 2011. Thick fog rolls in and the IOC observer has a heart attack. With everything going wrong, Lindsey Van and her peers perform in a most unexpected way.

We haven’t seen the film yet but as soon as it’s available we will certainly check it out and share a review. Follow the film on Facebook and Twitter.



2012 Reebok CrossFit Games


The 2012 Reebok Crossfit games are quickly approaching. A number of hardbody women will be entering the open events in hopes of making it to the games held in July. If you’re not familiar with the Crossfit Games, check out the video below.

There are two steps to competing in the Open. First, you will need to create an account. Once you have an account, you can begin filling out your profile and will be able to receive notifications about the season if you choose to.

Will you be participating in the games? Leave a comment or drop us an email if you or someone you know will be competing.



Angry Dad Takes to Youtube to Teach Daugher a Lesson


We ran across this video that is getting some attention in the media. A father reads daughter’s facebook posting and takes to youtube to teach her a lesson. Some people feel this video is great and it sends a message to ungrateful children. There’s another camp that views it as bullying and bad parenting.

The father sits in a wooden thrown wearing a cowboy hat and holding a cigarette. Clearly he’s unhappy with his ungrateful daughter and when you hear what she wrote on her facebook wall, most parents would be upset. The video takes a bizarre twist towards the end of the video when it looks like a real, live version of DOOM. The dad grabs the camera, his handgun and busts a few caps in the laptop’s ass. Will that teach the kid a lesson or only drive her to rebel more? Definitely a sign of the times when it comes to parenting. This probably isn’t the first time a parent has taken extreme measures to prove a point but it might be the first time we’ve seen it posted to youtube. The video has been seen by millions already.

What do you think HARDBODY Nation? Is this a good way to prove a point or not so much? Our facebook fans are sounding off, what say you?

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Newest Oxygen Magazine Cover Girl


The newest Oxygen magazine is hitting stores on Febuary 9th and if features on of the brightest stars of the IFBB Pro Figure Division. Could you spot who it was by her hardbody? She has a sic set of abs as you can see from the cover image. She’s competing in the upcoming Figure International…


It looks like there are a few more IFBB pros on the inside of the newest issue as well. Check out a preview of the new issue.

If you guessed Alicia Harris you know your hardbody women. Congrats to “Smiley” for making the cover.

 



Madonna Performs & M.I.A. flips the bird during Super Bowl halftime show


There’s no question that Madonna rocks a hard body, especially at the age of 53 but is she someone you want to see perform during the Super Bowl halftime show? Many people on facebook and twitter loved it while others hated it. When we asked our facebook fans what they thought, similar responses poured in.

While there was no wardrobe malfunction (Janet Jackson’s 2004 nip slip) the NFL and NBC found themselves apologizing for M.I.A.’s flying of the bird. M.I.A. was on of several acts that joined the material girl on stage. Millions of people witness the singer (M.I.A not Madonna) flip the camera off and appeared to sing “I don’t give a (bbeeeep)” at one point. .

“The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing and we apologize to our fans,” said Brian McCarthy, spokesman for the NFL, which produced Madonna’s halftime show.

Madonna mixed her performance with new and familiar songs. During the opening of the show she was carried in by a gaggle of muscled up dudes. It was pretty obvious that her performance was lip synced but sadly that’s become the norm.

The one comment that continues to surface is, she looked great… for her age. People aren’t saying she looked great but rather great for her age which prompts the question, do people want to see Madonna perform during the Super Bowl?

While the verdict is still out on whether Madonna won people over with her performance, the Giants defeated the Patriots 21-17.

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Photo By David J. Phillip. Parts of this story from the associated press.



Disclaimer: Reader discretion advised, please consult your physician before beginning any exercise or diet program.