Salt Lake City’s brightest IFBB Pro Heather Dees has been one of the most consistent Figure competitors over the past three years. That was the case until the 2014 tNew York Pro where she finished a career low, 14th.
Heather turned pro at the 2010 NPC Nationals and since then has competed in 17 pro shows. She’s been the runner-up in seven of those shows and been in the winner’s circle twice. She’s finished second at the 2013 and 2014 Figure International in Columbus, Ohio and was the runner-up at this year’s Australian Pro. The past two year’s Heather has finished in fourth place at the Olympia. You get the point, she’s a viable threat to the top five in every competition she enters. Until the 2014 New York Pro.
At last month’s New York Pro she wasn’t just off her best by a little. She was way off. Clearly something didn’t go right with her prep and she knew it. You could tell from the moment she stepped on stage this wasn’t the look the judges and fans have come to expect from her. It was obvious it wasn’t a look she was comfortable presenting.
Last weekend, Heather announced in an interview that she will be sitting out the 2014 Figure Olympia. Heather cited her health as a main concern and went on to share this will be her first offseason in four years. When it came to sitting out the Olympia she says, “It was definitely a hard decision.” Heather appears relieved by the upcoming break and understandably so. In the interview, she addressed being off the mark in New York and took ownership of not being at her best. Something many competitors fail to do and typically blame everyone but themselves.
Heather sitting out the Olympia definitely changes the landscape of this year’s Figure competition. While not confirmed, she’s likely the third woman from last year’s top six who will not be back this year. Two-time Olympia champ Erin Stern appears to be unofficially retired and fifth place finisher Mallory Haldeman will not be competing.
Keep up with Heather Dees on Facebook and Twitter to see what she’s up to in her offseason.
