Opportunity Knocks at The 2014 Figure Olympia


Figure Olympia

The 2014 Figure Olympia presents a huge opportunity for the women qualified and entering the event. This will be the 11th year the IFBB Pro Figure competition has been held during the Olympia Weekend. The final competitor list has yet to be finalized but with three shows to go it’s getting close. Three of the women who finished in last year’s top six will not be returning. Last month, Heather Dees announced she was sitting out this year’s event. Heather placed fourth at the 2012 and 2013 Figure Olympia.

Two-time Figure Olympia champion, Erin Stern made her official announcement regarding this year’s competition. She made the following post in conjunction with Oxygen magazine’s “exclusive announcement”.

“It’s official – I won’t be competing in the 2014 Figure Olympia. For the last 5 years, I’ve done upwards of 6 shows a year. I have always trained/prepped myself for shows, which can make it difficult to know when to take time off. But, I want to focus more on helping others achieve their goals, do more seminars, and finish my book. I’m also looking forward to just training! As we all know, quality improvements to the physique can’t be made overnight! The stage will be there next year Thank you….and train hard, y’all!!!”

In the Oxygen story Erin shared, “It’s not that I feel that my body won’t respond, it’s just that my bones ache!” Despite the aching bones Stern shared, “I’m toying with the idea of doing some powerlifting competitions.”

Erin had finished in the top six in each of her five Olympia appearances. Her first Olympia, in 2009 she finished in sixth and after that it was a battle between her and Nicole Wilkins for the top spot. The two went head to head with Erin winning two times and Nicole winning three.

Fitness Management Group (FMG), Mallory’s management has exclusively confirmed that Mallory Haldeman will be sitting out the Olympia. She’s finished in fifth place in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 she was awarded “rookie of the year” by Flex Magazine. Mallory skipped the Figure International the and struggled at the California’s Governor’s Cup earlier his year. She finished in sixth at the 2014 Governor’s Cup, the lowest finish of her pro figure career. FMG shared that she will look at competing later this Fall and hopes to be invited back to the 2015 Figure International.

It looks like this year’s competition could spark a new rivalry between three-time champ Nicole Wilkins and Candice Keene. Keene has yet to finish higher than third at the Olympia but you have to figure (like that unintentional pun?) this is her opportunity to move up and make a run for the top spot. Candice did beat Nicole at the 2013 New York Pro but that wasn’t the best version of Wilkins we’ve seen. Nicole was off at that show and bounced back to win her third Olympia title. If you’re gambling in Vegas this September the smart money is on the 2014 Figure Olympia title going to one of these two women.

No one is unbeatable and with half of last year’s top six sitting out, opportunity knocks for those who are qualified. If there were an Olympia Figure pecking order we could look to Ann Titone, Camala Rodriquez, Genn Strobo and Candice Lewis to be the most likely candidates to finish in the top spots. You can rule out Alicia Coates who will be competing in her first Olympia and the other women who have earned their spot in this year’s competition.

LIST OF QUALIFIED FIGURE OLYMPIA COMPETITORS:
Nicole Wilkins
Candice Keene
Erin Stern
Heather Dees
Mallory Haldeman

Camala Rodriguez
Alicia Coates
Candice Lewis
Jessica Graham
Dana Ambrose
Natalia Revajova Lenartova
Ann Titone
Zsuzsanna Toldi
Gennifer Strobo
Cydney Gillon

Read more on who is in the hunt for a qualifying spot via the Olympia Point Series.

STORY UPDATED on July 9th to reflect FMG’s exclusive statement.






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