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2014 Olympia Webcast FREE on Bodybuilding.com

August 29, 2014 by

2014 Olympia Webcast

The 2014 Olympia is quickly approaching and the folks at bodybuilding.com will once again be broadcasting the event LIVE and FREE on their website. There was some confusion amongst a fans, mainly do to irresponsible reporting by a few websites, that there would be no live webcast due to NBC SPORTS filming this year’s 50th Anniversary. If there were any lingering doubts on a webcast, you can put them to bed with today’s announcement.

Bodybuilding.com Announces Exclusive 2014 Olympia Webcast
Boise, ID – August 28, 2014 – Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most-visited fitness website and largest online retailer of nutritional supplements, will offer a free worldwide webcast of the 2014 Olympia Weekend, presented by BSN, MuscleTech, and Dymatize Nutrition.

This year marks the historic 50th anniversary of Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend, and is a must-see event for all fans of physique competition. Thanks to Bodybuilding.com, everyone can tune in—for free! Our live HD webcast, as well as post-event VOD (video-on-demand) replays, will stream in the Bodybuilding.com Webcast Player (available soon), the Bodybuilding.com Livestream Channel, the Livestream Roku channel for those watching on big-screen TVs, and the Livestream mobile app*.

Bodybuilding.com’s live webcast will stream the IFBB pro events on Friday night and Saturday night (September 19th and 20th) from The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning at 6:30 p.m. PDT (9:30 p.m. EDT) both nights. The Friday night webcast segment will feature the Mr. Olympia judging round, and the finals for the beautifully fit women of the Bikini, Fitness, and Ms. Olympia competitions.

The Saturday night webcast segment concludes the pro competitions with the finals for the women’s Figure division, the men’s 212 Showdown, and the main event—the Mr. Olympia finals. Reigning 3-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath will battle to defend his title against fierce challengers (and champions in their own right) Kai Greene, Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren, Dennis Wolf, Shawn Rhoden, and Victor Martinez—just to name a few!

The webcast also features plenty of expert pre-show discussion and post-show analysis and athlete interviews, and also includes the annual Webcast Fan’s Choice Award, where fans get to vote for their favorite athlete. The presentation of the 2014 Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards winners will also be viewable via webcast. The annual Supplement Awards continue to set the standard for recognition of the best products and brands in the fitness and supplement industry.

Read more on the webcast and a Q&A with some of last year’s champions.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympia

2014 Figure Olympia – Find Out Who Qualified

August 23, 2014 by

2014 Figure Olympia
The 2014 Figure Olympia is quickly approaching and we now know who is qualified to compete in the upcoming event. The Tahoe Pro sent Julie Mayer to the Olympia via her win and finalized who would get in via the Olympia Point Series. It came down to the final show before we knew who made it in via points but now, we’re set.

Nicole Wilkins will be looking for her fourth Olympia title, something no other woman has done. Candice Keene has won two Arnold Figure International titles but has yet to add Olympia champ to her resume. We know Erin Stern is not competing this year. Heather Dees and Mallory Haldeman will also be opting out of the show despite qualifying. That leaves a huge opportunity for the women qualified to end up in the top five spots.

2014 FIGURE OLYMPIA QUALIFIED
Nicole Wilkins
Erin Stern
Candice Keene
Heather Dees
Mallory Haldeman
Camala Rodriguez
Alicia Coates
Candice Lewis
Jessica Graham
Dana Ambros
Natalia Revajova Lenartova
Ann Titone
Zsuzsanna Toldi
Gennifer Strobo
Cydney Gillon
Karina Grau
Latorya Watts
Julie Mayer

Qualified Via the Olympia Point Series
Allison Frahn
Andrea Calhoun
Sasha Brown
Wendy Fortino
Krista Dunn

Visit mrolympia.com for more information on the #50thOlympia and purchase your tickets to watch the Figure Olympia live and in person.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympia

2014 IFBB Tahoe Pro Figure Results

August 23, 2014 by

Tahoe Pro Figure Results
The 2014 Tahoe Pro Figure competition was the final stop for the IFBB Pros looking to qualify for the Olympia. Thirteen women took the stage looking for the win but there could only be one. Win and you’re in the Figure Olympia. Finish in the top five and collect points towards an invite via the Olympia Point Series. Allison Frahn was the only competitor who had a lock on an Olympia spot but the remaining spots were up for grabs.

After prejudging it was apparent that Andrea Calhoun, Julie Mayer, Allison Frahn and Wendy Fortino were a lock for the top four but where would they finish? We never saw the fifth and sixth place finishers stand next to the top four and it was clear it would come down to these four women for the top spots. Fifth was significant as it helped determine the point total in the Olympia series.

Julie Mayer, Krista Dunn and Andrea Calhoun were all in a tie for 3-5 in the Point Series with Wendy Fortino in sixth. Julie Mayer was awarded first place and that took her out of the point series hunt. Coming in second was Wendy Fortino which earned her enough points to head to the Olympia. Third place went to Andrea Calhoun and locked in her spot for the Figure Olympia. Allison Frahn was already qualified and the fourth place finish earned her two more points but was it a risky move entering the show? It was definitely a roll of the dice. Win the show and you have momentum going into the Olympia but a fourth place finish definitely wasn’t what she had hoped for. She’ll have her work cut out for her to get in the top ten conversation come Olympia time. Rounding out the top five and earning a spot in the Olympia line up was Krista Dunn. She’s competed a number of times and has been up and down in her placings throughout the year. She can breathe a sigh of relief now that she’s qualified for the Olympia in Las Vegas.

2014 IFBB Tahoe Pro Figure Results (score is after the name)
1. Julie Mayer – 3
2. Wendy Fortino – 6
3. Andrea Calhoun – 10
4. Allison Frahn – 11
5. Krista Dunn – 16
6. Shalako Bradberry – 19
7. Bojana Vasiljevic – 22
8. Jami DeBernard – 23
9. Beckie Boddie – 25
10. Sarah Dominguez – 31
11. Michell Shepherd – 32
12. Katrina Tarbox – 35

Next stop… the Figure Olympia. The IFBB Border States in October will be the next open event for the Figure pros.

Filed Under: Contest Results, News & Features

2014 Bikini Olympia – Find Out Who Qualified

August 23, 2014 by

2014 Bikini Olympia

The final Olympia qualifying pro show took place today and has set the field for the Bikini Olympia. The top five at the Olympia are automatically qualified for the following year’s competition. The winners of each pro show qualify with the victory. The competitors who place second through fifth earn points throughout the year and the top five highest point totals are qualified to compete in the Olympia. If there is a tie, there is currently no tie-breaker, all go to the big show. In the Bikini division six women will go to the Olympia via the Point Series due to a tie.

Keep in mind this is the list of women who have qualified, it isn’t a final list of who will compete. There will be a competitor or two who will not compete despite being qualified. Check back for the final list.

2014 BIKINI OLYMPIA QUALIFIED COMPETITORS
Ashley Kaltwasser
Yeshaira Robles
Stacey Alexander
Nathalia Melo
India Paulino
Lacey DeLuca
Vladmiria Krasova
Jennifer Andrews
Narmin Assria
Amanda Latona
Taylor Methany Bentson
Crystal Matthews
Christie Marquez
Sarah LeBlanc
Noy Alexander
Janet Layug
Sandi Forsythe
Christina Strom Fjaere
Jenee Leger
Angela Marquez
Stephanie Mahoe
Tawna Eubanks
Brittany Taylor

TOP OLYMPIA POINT SERIES TOTALS and QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPIA:
Jessica Arevalo – 17
Dayna Maleton – 14
Candice Conroy – 13
Kelsie Clark -12
Nicola Weiterova – 11
Noemi Olah -11

Visit mrolympia.com for more information and purchase your tickets to watch the Bikini Olympia live!

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics

2014 IFBB St. Louis Pro Bikini Results

August 23, 2014 by

st louis pro
The last opportunity to qualify for the Bikini Olympia went through St. Louis, Missouri on August 23rd. The final IFBB Pro Bikini in the competition calendar year (Olympia to Olympia) proved to be one of the more interesting ones simply based on the Point Series. Win and you’re in the Olympia Finish in the top 5 and collect points. The top five highest points at the end of the season are granted an invite to the Olympia.

Brittany Taylor and Justine Munro were compared side by side a number of times and the winner was in the Olympia and second place stay home. This was Justine’s best look to date but wasn’t quite sharp enough to hold off rookie Brittany Taylor. Brittany took top honors and in doing so punched her ticket to the Olympia. She was the 2014 Overall NPC Jr. Nationals Bikini Winner in June and this is her first pro win. Munro came up short in the point series and fans of the Canadian will have to wait another year as she will not be competing in this year’s Olympia. Coming in third was California’s Candice Conroy. The third place finish launched her into fourth place in the point series and she is officially in the big show. Fourth place went to Bianca Berry who come on strong in the final three shows after some time away from competition. She came up just short in the point series but will be one to watch in the shows after the Olympia. Definitely one who you could see on the Olympia stage in 2015. The fifth and final spot went to Noemi Olah. The placing earned her one point which ties her for the fifth and final point series spot with Nicola Weiterova.

Despite placing sixth in the show, Jessica Arevalo will head to the Olympia on points. A questionable move as to why she competed was she was already in the Olympia on points and the finish here does little for her momentum heading into the Olympia.

2014 IFBB St. Louis Pro Bikini Results (score behind the name)
1. Brittany Taylor – 3
2. Justine Munro – 6
3. Candice Conroy – 9
4. Bianca Berry – 12
5. Noemi Olah – 15
6. Jessica Arevalo – 18
7. Caryn Paolini – 21
8. Kamilah Powell – 24
9. Solmay Hernandez – 27
10. Janet Harding – 20
11. Svetlana Eregina – 33
12. Shawn Hecktor-Lewis – 36
13. Yanya Rachan – 39

Next up for the IFBB Bikini Pros is the 50th Olympia on September 18-21, 2014. After that is the Korean Pro and the Prague Pro. The next stateside Pro Bikini show will be the Ft. Lauderdale Cup on October 18th.

Filed Under: Contest Results, News & Features

Sam “Sweet Feet” Gordon is Back

August 20, 2014 by

sam gordon
Sam “Sweet Feet” Gordon made national news when the video of her football highlights went viral. “Going Viral” is often an overused term but in Sam’s instance it’s a case study in what it truly means to “go viral” with a video. She went from unknown 9 year-old (at the time) girl on a football team to a Wheaties Box, multiple tv show appearances and hanging with the NFL commissioner during the Super Bowl.

Sam Gordon and FriendsIt’s never too early to be a hardbody.

Sam has set up her own Youtube Channel and been diligently updating it with a variety of videos. In the videos you’ll see she has charisma, talent and isn’t afraid of hard work. After watching her speed and agility workouts you’ll see why she’s able to smoke the boys on the field.

Sam shows why she’s a champion in her latest video. As the video shows her yards ahead of the pack she shares, “We started out with conditioning and I wanted to set the pace for my teammates.”

Check out her room tour. It’s pretty awesome.

Follow Sam:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
TWITTER

Filed Under: News & Features, SPORTS

Female Fitness Stars Take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

August 19, 2014 by

ice bucket challenge

You’ve probably seen it at least once. A video of someone getting a bucket of ice or water dumped over them. What is this ice bucket challenge and why are people doing it?

It’s called the ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE. ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The official website describes ALS as, “a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body.”

Currently, there is only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ALS, which only modestly extends survival by two to three months. Consequently, ALS is 100 percent fatal. In addition to acclimating to the challenges that come with losing control of voluntary muscle movement, people with the disease progressively lose their ability to eat, speak, walk, and eventually breathe.

How the challenge typically works is a participant dumps a bucket of ice or ice cold water over their head and donates money to ALS. If you accept the challenge the suggested donation is $10. If you opt out of dumped ice water over your head the suggested donation is $100. Obviously it’s up to each individual whether they take the challenge and donate or not. Those who accept the challenge are then asked to nominate three friends to do the same. ALS.org reports, “As of Monday, August 18, The ALS Association has received $15.6 million in donations compared to $1.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 18).”

Of course, there are going to be people complaining about the videos. If you’re on Facebook or twitter you’ve likely seen people say things like “we’re in a drought” and “stop wasting water” as a response to the videos. I’m fairly certain people are being far more wasteful than dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads and creating awareness for a good cause. Instead of bitching about the videos and people “making it all about themselves” educate others on what it’s about and why it’s worthwhile. Even if you don’t participate it’s part of a great good and there’s nothing wrong with sharing positivity.

Before you complain about raising awareness for ALS watch this video of Steve Saling who suffers from ALS.

Post by Steve Saling.

Here’s an on-going collection of some Fitness Stars who have taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. See more on youtube and use #icebucketChallenge throughout your social media to help raise awareness for this devastating disease. You can donate here.

Jennie Finch, Olympic Gold Medalist

Post by Jennie Finch Daigle.

Ronda Rousey, UFC Champion

Gabrielle Reece, Pro Volleyball Player

Post by Gabrielle Reece.

Celeste Bonin, Former WWE Champ aka Kaitlyn

Dana Linn Bailey, Women’s Physique Olympia Showdown Winner

Nicole Wilkins, 3x Figure Olympia Champion

Post by Nicole Wilkins.

Candice Keene, 2x Arnold Figure Champion

Post by Candice Keene IFBB Figure Pro.

Jen Hendershott, Arnold & Olympia Fitness Champ

Post by Jennifer Hendershott.

Jamie Eason Middleton, Cover Model / Fitness Spokesmodel

Post by Fitness Model/Writer Jamie Eason.

Whitney Jones, Fitness Olympia Competitor

Post by Whitney Jones Ifbb Pro.

Candice Lewis-Carter, Figure Champ and her husband

Post by Wahhab Carter.

Valerie Haines, Figure Pro

About The ALS Association
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at www.alsa.org.

Filed Under: News & Features

2014 IFBB St. Louis Pro Bikini – Last Chance to Qualify

August 18, 2014 by

stl bikini

The 2014 IFBB St. Louis Pro Bikini is the last opportunity for the women in the pro bikini division to qualify for the Olympia. The Olympia is a week earlier this year and the St. Louis Pro moved up in the schedule as a result. The winner will automatically get in the Bikini Olympia and those finishing in the second through fifth places will earn points in the Olympia Point Series. The women with the five highest point totals get in the Olympia.

The magic number is 10 to get into the Olympia via points. A woman will need at least ten points to have a chance at qualifying. This show will be very interesting to watch as three women are currently tied with 10 points for the fifth and final spot. Candice Conroy is the only one of them currently on the list. If she places anywhere in the top five she’ll break the tie and bump Michelle Lewin and Nomei Olah out of the mix. Mathematically she’s the only one on the list with a chance to qualify via points. Everyone else will need a win to get in. Brittany Taylor is the one who could shake things up in this line-up and don’t be shocked if Candice and Brittany are being compared for the own here.

*Update – Jessica Arevalo, Justine Munro and Noemi Olah have been added to the lists which changes the game.*

2014 IFBB St. Louis Pro Bikini Competitors (as of August 18, 2014) *UPDATED*
Jessica Arevalo
Candice Conroy
Svetlana Eregina
Janet Ann Harding
Shawn Hecktor-Lewis
Solmay Hernandez
Justine Munro
Noemi Olah
Caryn Paolini
Kamilah Powell
Tanya Rachan
Brittany Taylor

For more information on the show and how to purchase tickets visit npcmidwest.com.

WHEN:
August 23, 2014

TIME:
PREJUDGING: 10am CST
FINALS: 6PM CST

WHERE:
Rickman Auditorium
747 Jeffco Boulevard
Arnold, MO 63010

Filed Under: Show Previews

2014 IFBB TAHOE PRO Figure – Last Chance to Qualify

August 18, 2014 by

tahoe-pro figure

The Tahoe Pro is the last chance for the women of the IFBB Pro Figure division to qualify for the 2014 Olympia. Currently, ten women are slated to in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The winner will automatically punch their ticket to the big show and those finishing in 2-5th will collect points towards the Olympia Point Series.

It’s a tight race in the point series. Allison Frahn is leading the point series with fifteen. If she were to win this show everyone moves up in the point series. If she doesn’t win, she’ll still be in as 15 points are enough to qualify her for the Olympia. Second place Sasha Brown is in with 12 points as well. That leaves Krista Dunn, Andrea Calhoun, Julie Mayer are all tied for the remaining three spots with 10 points. Wendy Fortino is on the outside looking in but if she places fourth or higher she’ll be in with enough points.

Beckie Boddie and Bojana Vasiljevic are mathematically out of the top five points. They’ll need to win to get in. Same holds true for Jami DeBernard, Sarah Dominguez and Kartina Tarbox.

2014 IFBB TAHOE PRO FIGURE COMPETITORS (as of Monday August 18, 2014)**
Beckie Boddie
Shalako Bradberry
Andrea Calhoun
Jami DeBernard
Sarah Dominguez
Krista Dunn
Wendy Fortino
Allison Frahn
Julie Mayer
Michelle Shepherd
Katrina Tarbox
Bojana Vasiljevic

**Alicia Coates was on the original list but confirmed she is NOT doing the show. Added are Shalako Bradberry, Andrea Calhoun and Michelle Shepherd

Filed Under: Show Previews

13-Year-Old Mo’Ne Davis Throws Like A Girl

August 16, 2014 by

13-Year-Old Mo'Ne Davis Throws Like A Girl

Mo’Ne Davis throws like a girl. She is a girl. She’s the first girl to throw a shut out in Little League World Series (LLWS) history. At just 13-years-old she’s already become a bit of a sports celebrity.

In an Associated Press story she shared, “It’s very unreal. I never thought at the age of 13 I would be a role model.” Davis went on to say, “Hopefully, more girls play Little League.”

She isn’t the first girl to play in the LLWS, but it doesn’t make her accomplishment any less remarkable. The first female to play in the Little League World Series was Kathryn “Tubby” Johnston Massar. In the summer of 1950, Kathryn cut her hair short and used the nickname “Tubby” to give the impression she was a boy so she could play baseball. Masser, now 78, told the Associated Press, “It’s truly amazing. I’m very happy to see girls playing.”

Mo’Ne’s instagram account already has over 8,500 fans with just three posts.


Davis became the fourth American girl to play in the LLWS and a total of 18 girls have played over the tournament’s 68-year history.

In an interview earlier this week, FOX NEWS’ Eric Bolling asked Mo’Ne about playing in a more “female friendly sport like soccer”. She let’s him know she plays soccer but it’s not her favorite sport. When Bolling’s co-host asks if she could strike him out Mo’Ne doesn’t hesitate with saying “yes”. Eric chuckles and says, “now there’s a challenge.” Seriously dude?

Let’s hope he sticks to his promise of being “up for that challenge” after the Little League World Series and Mo’Ne can show him how a 13-year old girl throws.

Filed Under: News & Features, SPORTS

Forbes’ Top 10 Highest-paid Female Athletes of 2014

August 14, 2014 by

top 10 highest paid female athletes

Forbes has released it’s highest paid female athletes of 2014 and not surprising the list is mostly made up of tennis players. Seven of the top ten are tennis players with the other three coming from figure skating, golf and racing. Forbes breaks down the list in detail on their web site and notes that rising stars Ronda Rousey (UFC), Sloane Stephen (tennis) and Michelle Wie (golf) just missed the cut of $5.5 million to be considered.

Forbes based their top 10 list on prize money, salary, licensing, appearances and endorsements from June 2013 to June 2014. Only Polish tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska made more from prize money than endorsements. Every other athlete earns the bulk of their total earnings from endorsements.

#1 Maria Sharapova – Tennis
Total earnings: $24.4 million
Prize money: $2.4 million
Endorsements: $22 million

#2 Li Na – Tennis
Total earnings: $23.6 million
Prize money: $5.6 million
Endorsements: $18 million

#3 Serena Williams – Tennis
Total earnings: $22 million
Prize money: $11 million
Endorsements: $11 million

#4 Kim Yuna – Figure Skating (up from #7 in 2013)
Total earnings: $16.3 million
Prize money: $300,000
Endorsements: $16 million

#5 Danica Patrick – Racing
Total earnings: $15 million
Salary/winnings: $7 million
Endorsements/licensing: $8 million

#6 Victoria Azarenka – Tennis
Total earnings: $11.1 million
Prize money: $3.6 million
Endorsements: $7.5 million

#7 Caroline Wozniacki – Tennis
Total earnings: $10.8 million
Prize money: $1.3 million
Endorsements: $9.5 million

#8 Agnieszka Radwanska – Tennis
Total earnings: $6.8 million
Prize money: $3.8 million
Endorsements: $3.0 million

#9 Ana Ivanovic – Tennis
Total earnings: $6.4 million
Prize money: $1.4 million
Endorsements: $5.0 million

#10 Paula Creamer– Golf
Total earnings: $5.5 million
Prize money: $1.0 million
Endorsements: $4.5 million

The women still have a ways to go before they reach the payouts the men see. Floyd Mayweather topped the men’s list with $105 million.

Info via forbes.com.

Filed Under: NEWS, SPORTS

Sports Illustrated Misses Opportunity with Their Fittest 50

August 5, 2014 by

sports illustrated fittest 50

 

People love reading lists and naturally I was intrigued when I saw Sports Illustrated (SI) post a link to their “Fittest 50” list. Their “first ever Fittest 50” was assembled by their editors and writers using a “40-point rating system”. Sounds cool right?

The opening page of the web site’s list reads…

Fitness. For the professional athlete it is the very foundation of success. But even among the pros, some athletes stand head and sculpted shoulders above the rest. The natural question, then: Who is the fittest athlete in sports? For our first-ever Fittest 50, SI’s editors and writers set out to find the answer. We assessed the best of the best across all sports, using a 40-point rating system based on four criteria.

According to the site, their system calculated Strength, Speed, Endurance and Agility. The last sentence on the page reads, “As the rankings that follow make clear, the fittest of the fit come in all shapes and sizes, and from all corners of the athletic world. Count down to see who’s the fittest of them all.”

Apparently the writers and editors at SI don’t view gender as part of the equation. Call it what it is… “Our Top Fifty Fittest Men in Sports.”

As with any list/rankings, there will be controversy but not ONE female athlete? C’mon man. They missed a golden opportunity to gain more fans and show readers they view women as more than just swimsuit models. I find it hard to believe that there’s not one female who could make the list. Yes, the number of professional female athletes pales in comparison to the men but I’m pretty sure there’s at least one female who would meet the criteria.

What’s your take on it? Share you thoughts on Facebook or twitter.

Lead image compiled via SI video.

Filed Under: HINDSight, News & Features

“I Will What I Want” by Under Armour

July 31, 2014 by

i will what I want

“I Will What I Want,” a new campaign by Under Armour, debuted this week and it’s a winner. In a growing trend with advertisers, the campaign highlights female athletes and sends an empowering message. The first spot shows ballerina Misty Copeland and her hardbody in a classy manner. I dig it.

This ad is just a small part of the campaign. Under Armour Women has launches a new app on iTunes. The Under Armour Women – I Will What I Want app encourages women to join the “ultimate social fitness community”. It’s a free download that will enable women 24/7 fitness tracking, interaction with some of Under Armour’s female athletes and the opportunity to be part of a community.

I WILL WHAT I WANT is for the woman who doesn’t give up, she gets up. Who unapologetically breaks rules designed to hold her back. Who believes her will is stronger than fate. Who knows that in order to get what she wants, she has to will it that way.

iwillwhatiwant.com:

Under Armour is starting a new conversation with women. One that celebrates the WILL to find inner strength and to follow no one. In partnership with MapMyFitness, Under Armour has launched a digital community where you can connect with other individuals, including our Women of WILL. You will also be able to participate in the first global fitness platform where women all over the world can support and spotlight each other for living their lives on their own terms.

Check out iwillwjatiwant.com for athlete profiles on:

Lindsey Vonn, World Champion Downhill Skier
Misty Copeland, Ballerina
Sloane Stephens, Pro Tennis Player
Kelley O’Hara, Pro Soccer Player
Brianna Cope, Pro Surfer

“It’s a reminder that you don’t need permission, advice, or affirmation when you have WILL. It’s a celebration of who you are. As an athlete. As a woman. As everything in between and beyond. It’s a reminder that the best things in life aren’t given. They’re earned. And there’s one reason you are where you are today. That reason is you.” – Under Armour

I will
images via UA

PRESS RELEASE:

NEW YORK, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Under Armour (UA) launched I WILL WHAT I WANTâ„¢, its most expansive global women’s marketing campaign to-date, at a press event in New York City. Drawn from the brand’s iconic I WILLâ„¢ mantra, I WILL WHAT I WANTâ„¢ celebrates the inner and outer strength of women and highlights the brand’s commitment to designing elevated products for athletic females. At the event, moderated by popular television personality Sage Steele, Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank and Senior Vice President and Creative Director Leanne Fremar introduced the new campaign with the help of world champion downhill skier Lindsey Vonn, American Ballet Theatre® soloist Misty Copeland, and US Women’s National Soccer Team standout Kelley O’Hara.

The campaign features an all-star roster of trailblazing female talent, including Vonn, Copeland, O’Hara and professional tennis player Sloane Stephens. Creative elements depict real moments of will that each woman has faced in her life, capturing the grace and determination that defined each of them in their personal triumphs. Copeland, the first non-traditional athlete to join the Under Armour family, stars in the campaign’s principal creative spot.

“Today’s athletic female expects the same level of performance and authenticity from her apparel and footwear as the world-class female athlete,” said Fremar. “In addition, she has expectations that the brands she trusts will also deliver the same style quotient that exists in the rest of her closet. Our new I WILL WHAT I WANT campaign connects Under Armour to the breadth of women’s athletic experiences and recognizes that their individual stories are central to the conversation.”

“I’ve been a part of the Under Armour family for nearly a decade, and like me, the brand has grown and changed over that period of time,” said Vonn. “The I WILL WHAT I WANT campaign demonstrates Under Armour’s ongoing celebration of strong and determined women as well as the fearless attitude it takes to explore new heights. That’s a part of the brand’s culture that has always resonated strongly with me, and the latest chapter in the Under Armour Women’s story takes it one step further.”

“I am excited to be part of the new Under Armour Women’s campaign and to be able to inspire women as they find the will to pave their own way, just as I have in my own career,” said Copeland. “I am honored to be a part of a brand that recognizes the power of hard work and dedication over fate and luck. That kind of inner strength is what keeps me going.”

Under Armour worked with NYC-based creative agency Droga5 to develop extensive campaign content, including a 60-second spot featuring Copeland that launched globally online today and debuts on television in the US on Monday, August 4th. The spot will air on multiple networks including ESPN, E!, MTV and ABC. To view the full video, please visit IWILLWHATIWANT.com. Digitally, the brand will advertise with media partners Glamour, Mode, People, Refinery29, Us Weekly, Well + Good and more. Other campaign elements include out-of-home, grassroots and international extensions.

The digital campaign centers on the launch of a new mobile experience via IWILLWHATIWANT.com, available on iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store, and coming later to other platforms. The digital experience will serve as a community for women to track, analyze, and share their fitness and athletic lifestyle. Vonn, Copeland, O’Hara, Stephens and other Under Armour athletes will actively participate, providing consumers with unique insights into their day-to-day activity and motivations.

At the launch event, Under Armour also showcased products from the Under Armour Women Fall/Winter 2014 collection, including the UA SpeedForm® StudioLuxâ„¢ shoe and apparel from the new UA Street Sleek line. The latest collection features a heightened design aesthetic while adhering to the Universal Guarantee of Performance, Under Armour’s commitment to creating the best and most innovative gear on the market. To shop the entire Fall/Winter Women’s collection, visit UA.com.

To follow the I WILL WHAT I WANT story and to learn more about Under Armour Women’s, visit IWILLWHATIWANT.com, facebook.com/UnderArmourWomen and join the conversation on Twitter @UAWomen and on Instagram @UnderArmourWomen with #IWILLWHATIWANT.

About Under Armour, Inc.

Under Armour (UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand’s innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. Under Armour’s wholly owned subsidiary, MapMyFitness, powers one of the world’s largest Connected Fitness communities. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.uabiz.com.

Filed Under: Ad Watch

Krissy’s Corner – Competing After Pregnancy

July 20, 2014 by

Krissy Chin talks about competing after pregnancy, what it felt like to be back on stage and what’s ahead for her.

krissy chin

KRISSY’S CORNER – HARDBODY JOURNAL
By Krissy Chin

Hello Hardbody Peeps!!!!

WOWWWIIEEE!! I am so EXCITED to share with you some amazing news – I notched my 1st IFBB PRO WIN! I won the 2014 IFBB NorCal Pro Bikini Masters Championships. When I won, I was just overwhelmed with so much emotion on stage-happiness, joy, shock, excitement and just a ton of thankfulness! It reminded me so much of how I exactly felt when I won my class back in 2007 at the NPC Figure Nationals/Team Universe when I earned my IFBB PRO card☺! What a blessing!

I was also so thankful to have made 1st callouts & to have placed top 6 in my 1st 2 IFBB PRO bikini shows since returning to the stage post-baby and since switching divisions from figure to bikini. There was a change of plans since I last wrote here on Hardbody, I moved up my debut and I actually competed in back to back shows. I made my IFBB Pro Bikini debut at the 2014 IFBB Dennis James Pro Bikini Classic and then competed the following week at Spectrum Fitness Productions 2014 IFBB Norcal Pro Bikini & Pro Masters Bikini Championships. How did it feel to be back on stage after 2 years?? IT FELT AMAZINGGGGG to be back on stage and having the opportunity to compete with so many beautiful & incredible ladies! It truly feels GREAT to be back competing. After these two shows, it made me realize how much I really did miss competing and being on stage. It also made me realize how much I miss seeing and competing with my fellow IFBB pro ladies, many of whom I have become friends with. The friendships I have made over the past 11 years in the fitness industry are worth their weight in gold☺

I have to admit that in my bikini debut at the Dennis James Classic, I actually was a bit nervous! I was a rookie out there on the Pro bikini stage and these Pro bikini ladies are incredible! I was also nervous because I honestly did not know how the judges would receive my, ”new look”. I worked so extremely hard with Coach Kim on my prep and with my transformation switching from figure to bikini. I was hoping that my new look was received well by the judges and that I was bringing a competitive physique to that Pro bikini stage. So when I made 1st callouts, I was absolutely elated to say the least!

I ended up placing 6th and I was extremely happy! My debut got me even more excited and motivated for my next show, which was the following week-Spectrum Fitness Productions 2014 IFBB NorCal Pro Bikini & Pro Bikini Masters Championships.

After getting feedback and speaking with Coach Kim, we made needed adjustments to come in better this next show. Being totally objective, I feel that I did look better and fuller my 2nd show and I felt a lot more confident on stage. Ladies your confidence on stage is so important. I always tell my clients that and after 2 years of not competing, I was reminded of that myself.

I competed in both the open and the masters divisions in Sacramento since I am now over 35 years young. Once again, I was super elated to make 1st callouts in both divisions in prejudging. I felt a lot more confident and comfortable on stage this 2nd show and I was extremely happy with the physique I was presenting. I had such an amazing time all weekend with hubbie Troy, baby London, Coach Kim, my fellow Oddo’s angels sistas and all the other wonderful people who took part in the seminar and show. I also had an amazing time on stage and competing with all the beautiful ladies! At finals, I was just overwhelmed with joy, happiness, shock and thankfulness when I won the Pro bikini Masters division and placed top 6 in the open! Just WOW! I notched my 1st IFBB PRO WIN! I couldn’t believe it! Yes, my smile was from ear to ear. As I mentioned in my speech on stage and during the interviews I did after I had after I won, I am just very thankful to the judges and very thankful to the NPC/IFBB for being such an incredible and GREAT organization that gives women & men the opportunity to compete and inspire with the many different divisions that are now available. I also want to thank my huge support team-my husband Troy (you are still my biggest support even after all these years), my beautiful angel London (you bring me so much love, joy and happiness), my incredible Coach Kim Oddo (you just da bomb!), all my family, friends & fans (it feels so weird to say that I have fans-I am just flattered!), my sponsors-Gaspari Nutrition, Sakura Bikinis (love my incredibly beautiful & custom made bikini!) & Pro Tan, my dear friend and amazing make-up artist and all the beautiful ladies who I had the blessing to compete with these past 2 shows!

Now….time to hit the gym, make improvements and come back better for my next show! Oh yeah……I really have to work on my bikini swagggg!!

Until next time…love, laugh and train hard!

With Love,
Krissyxo

Follow Krissy on…
Twitter – KRISSYCHIN
Instagram – krissychin
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PROKRISSYCHIN

Filed Under: Krissy's Corner

2014 IFBB Prestige Crystal Cup Pro Results

July 19, 2014 by

prestige cup

Another Olympia qualifying show is in the books and another competitor will head to Vegas for the big show. Stephanie Mahoe unanimously won the Bikini Pro portion of the Prestige Crystal Cup. The win was her first in the pro ranks. Stephanie was leading the Olympia Point Series heading into this show but the win secures her spot in the Olympia line up this September. Lacey DeLuca came in second and was already qualified for the Olympia. Noemi Olah finished in third, just two points behind Lacey. She collects points towards the Olympia but still sits on the outside of the top five points. Michelle Lewin finished in fourth and rounding out the top five was Dayna Maleton. One point separated Maleton and Lewin for fourth and fifth.

top five bikini boca

2014 IFBB Prestige Crystal Cup Pro Bikini Results
1. Stephanie Mahoe
2. Lacey DeLuca
3. Noemi Olah
4. Michelle Lewin
5. Dayna Maleton
6. Raphaela Milagres
7. Jessica Renee
8. Asia Mendoza
9. Aly Garcia
10. Ashlee Adams
11. Callie Bundy
12. Lauren Hoskins
13. Amanda Otero
14. Stefanie Bambrough

There are still four more pro Bikini competitions before the Olympia so anything could happen in the point series and no one is a lock for the top five spots just yet.

top five men prestige

In the men’s pro physique division, Anton Antipov took home the win and an Olympia qualification.

2014 IFBB Prestige Crystal Cup Pro Men’s Physique Results
1. Anton Antipov
2. Felipe Franco
3. Reuben Gordon
4. Jeff Seid
5. Sheridan Hause
6. Vincent Fiore
7. Chris Mosher
8. Travales Blount
9. Brant LaRose
10. Jacques Dalce Jr.
11. Chad Abner
12. Steve Mousharbash
13. Butch Rolle
14. Anthony Brigman
15. Stephen Mass
16. Nick Dennard
16. Shane Eslahi
16. Geobanny Paula
16. Tyler Stines
16. Tony Torres
16. Jean Walkins Louis

There are two more Olympia qualifying events for the men’s physique division before September. The Tampa Pro and Dallas Pro will both be held in August.

Photos via Robin Tesvich Facebook

Filed Under: Contest Results

Kacy Catanzaro Crushes America Ninja Warrior Course

July 16, 2014 by

mighty kacy

Bigger isn’t always better. Former Division 1 gymnast, Kacy Catanzaro is just 5 foot tall and tips the scale at 100 pounds but don’t let her size fool ya. She unleashed the beast from within and tackled what no other woman (and many men twice her size) has done… Finish the American Ninja Warrior course and advance to the next level. America Ninja Warrior (ANW) is an obstacle course with more than a few challenges. The grueling course makes other obstacle courses look like a McDonald’s playground. Check out the video of Kacy’s course run and you’ll be amazed more than once. It’s worth watching all the way through and by the end you’ll have know doubt why #MightyKacy was trending on twitter when it aired.

Kacy Catanzaro Crushes America Ninja Warrior Course

Follow Kacy on Facebook, twitter and instagram. She’s a HARDBODY!

Foreshadowing? A young Kacy as Wonder Woman.

Filed Under: News & Features, Videos

‘TRY’ VIDEO: Colbie Caillat – Don’t you like you?

July 14, 2014 by

colbie try

Singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat’s new EP ‘Gypsy Heart’ is out now and her newest music video is resonating with women in a big way. Caillat tweeted earlier this month, “‘Try’ is the 1st video I’ve never prepared for. Didn’t go tanning or diet or heavily workout… & it felt wonderful!”.

It’s not Colbie’s self-admitted lack of effort in preparing for the video that’s hitting home for women but rather the message shown in the video. The video shows women stripping away layers of makeup and fake hair as the song asks, “Why should you care, what they think of you”?

The great thing about the song and the video is the conversation it’s sparked. Like any form of Art it’s inevitably interpreted a number of ways, as evident with the youtube comments. The video has over 7 million youtube views and thousands of comments in less than a week online. The song is powerful but when combined with the visuals it’s a home run.

Last month Colbie released the same song with a lyric video. She invited some of her friends to send photos of themselves without makeup on. The lyric video has under 200,000 views and flew virtually under the radar until now. One of lyric video participants was Olympic Figure Skater, Michelle Kwan who tweeted…


Caillat told ELLE,

When I did the lyric video for “Try,” and I asked some of my celebrity friends if they would send a picture of themselves, you have no idea how difficult it was. Some of them said no, some of them said they’ll send me a picture in a couple of days because they have a pimple on their chin, and they didn’t want it showing in the picture. And I was like, no, no, no! That’s good!

If you’re not convinced of Colbie’s authenticity then take a peek at her twitter timeline where she shares vines of herself without makeup on and relatable tweets like…


VARIOUS COMMENTS ONLINE ABOUT ‘TRY’:

“This song/video is refreshing and empowering.”

“She’s not saying that wearing makeup is bad in anyway she’s saying stop trying so hard to get others to like you, just be yourself.”

“Being the father of 4 wonderful girls, and a husband to one very wonderful wife, this video and the song touch me.”

“What an empowering video! It serves as a great reminder that we don’t have to change ourselves or act a certain way for someone else’s approval. Nothing is more beautiful than being true to yourself.”

“Try” Lyrics
Oooh
Oooh

Put your make up on
Get your nails done
Curl your hair
Run the extra mile
Keep it slim so they like you, do they like you?

Get your sexy on
Don’t be shy, girl
Take it off
This is what you want, to belong, so they like you
Do you like you?

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
Yooou don’t have to try

Oooh
Oooh

Get your shopping on, at the mall, max your credit cards
You don’t have to choose, buy it all, so they like you
Do they like you?

Wait a second,
Why should you care, what they think of you
When you’re all alone, by yourself, do you like you?
Do you like you?

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to bend until you break
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
Yooou don’t have to try

Noooo
Oooh

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try

Take your make up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don’t you like you?
Cause I like you

Filed Under: News & Features

ESPN Films & espnW to Launch Nine for IX Shorts

July 14, 2014 by

nine for nine

On July 28th ESPN Films and espnW will launch a new documentary series, Nine for IX Shorts. The short films are an extension of the Nine for IX series that aired on ESPN last summer. The films bring attention to variety of topics in women’s sports and are beautifully produced by female filmmakers.

A new film will premiere on espnW.com every day and a clip will be featured on SportsCenter.

 

The five films in the series include:

Rowdy Ronda Rousey:  
Directed by the Mundo Sisters

On February 23, 2013, Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey made history by becoming UFC’s first female Bantam Weight Champion. After beating her opponent Liz Carmouche with her signature armbar, Rousey also became the #1 female MMA fighter in the world. The film will take an inside look at this record breaking fight and how Rousey is paving the way for women in the sport. We’ll learn about Rousey’s rough childhood and how it shaped her fighting career. The film will also explore the extreme physical challenges and emotional strength behind becoming the world’s greatest female fighter.
Premiers July 28th.

Think Normal:
Directed by Nikki Reed

Jason McElwain’s 20 points in four minutes inspired sports fans around the world and fine-tuned the conversation surrounding people diagnosed with autism. But it was the perseverance and undeterred support of Jason’s mother, Debbie, who coached her son and provided him with the strength and confidence to step onto his high school basketball court and hit six 3-pointers, and one 2-pointer in four minutes of play. Featuring heartfelt interviews from Jason, his mother Debbie and his brother Josh, “Think Normal” is a look at what a mother sacrificed for her sons.
Premiers July 29th.

 

Brittney Griner: Lifesize:
Directed by Melissa Johnson

This is a rite of passage story following Brittney’s inaugural season with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. Director Melissa Johnson will collaborate with espnW’s Kate Fagan to chronicle not only Brittney’s transformation from amateur to professional but also from a celebrated kid with unlimited potential to a self-reliant adult with a deep inner capacity to make her championship dreams a reality. Blazing with authenticity, humor and irreverence, this story about the courage it takes to become everything that’s you — in the biggest, boldest way imaginable — is certain to delight and inspire.

Premiers July 30th.

 

Uncharted Waters:
Directed by Tina Carbone

In 1995, Bill Koch put together the first ever all-women America’s Cup team. Made up of top female athletes from across the country, the team made history onboard America3 and inspired fans across the country. But the team morale faltered after a series of changes were made including a new boat they weren’t use to, the replacement of a female team member with a male, and a last-minute rule change that allowed three teams to make it to the finals instead of two. In the last race of the Defender Series, the Mighty Mary lost their lead and rival Stars & Stripes beat them to the finish line.

Premiers July 31st.

 

Play a Round With Me:
Directed by Jessica Wolfson

In the 1980’s, Jan Stephenson became professional golf¹s first tabloid star, shaking up the game with her sex appeal and charismatic self-promotion. Amid intense media attention, Stephenson’s colorful and controversial life off the course often overshadowed her fierce determination to win championships. This film follows a tense year where, against all odds, Jan Stephenson tried to prove she was more just a pretty face.

Premiers August 1st.

 

All Nine for IX Shorts will air back-to-back in a two-hour block on Saturday, August 2, at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

 

About ESPN Films
Created in March 2008, ESPN Films produces high-quality films showcasing some of the most compelling stories in sports. In October 2009, ESPN Films launched the Peabody Award-winning, Producer’s Guild Award-winning and Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 film series. Inspired by ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, the films that made up the series were a thoughtful and innovative reflection on the past three decades told through the lens of diverse and interesting sports fans and social commentators. The strong reaction from both critics and fans led to the launch of 30 for 30 Volume II, which is currently underway. Additional projects from ESPN Films include the critically-acclaimed Nine for IX series, SEC Storied and the webby award-winning 30 for 30 Shorts.

About espnW
espnW’s mission is to serve women as fans and athletes. espnW.com provides an engaging environment that offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and shares a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women.

Founded in July, 2010, espnW lives across television, films, events, digital and social platforms. The annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit is the leading event of its kind in the sports industry. The Women’s Sports Foundation is a charity of choice for espnW.

Info via ESPN press release

Filed Under: News & Features

2014 IFBB Tournament of Champions Pro Figure Competitor Lists

July 8, 2014 by

2014 tournament of champions

The 2014 IFBB Tournament of Champions, held in San Diego, CA is one of the last chances for women in Pro Figure to qualify for the Olympia. The event will be held on July 12th with 25 women slated to compete. There’s also a pro master’s figure competition and a NPC National Qualifying event held in conjunction with the Pro Figure competition.

THE HARDBODY 411
Ones to watch in this line-up as they are in the hunt for a top five finish in the Olympia Point Series. The winner of this show will automatically qualify for the Figure Olympia held in September. The 2-5 finishers will collect points. Sasha Brown is currently in 4th place with 8 points. If she finishes in the top five it will definitely help earn her a spot in the Olympia. Right behind her and in this show is Julie Mayer. Julie is currently tied for 5th in the point series so anything in the top five would give her a bump in the Point standings. Canty, Bodie, Watts and Vasiljevic are currently sitting with three points each. If one of them can snag the second place spot they’ll be in the hunt. Anything below second and they’ll still be on the outside of the top five Point Series.

There could be more women added before Saturday’s event but as of now here’s the line-up.

2014 IFBB Tournament of Champions Pro Figure Competitors:
• Marie Allegro
• Beckie Boddie
• Sasha Brown
• Jessica Canty
• Dawn Fernandez
• Karina Grau
• Elizabeth Jenkins
• Meg Kruse
• Crystal Lowery
• Elizabeth Maurice
• Julie Mayer
• Lisandra McGrath
• Bruna Miyagui
• Asher Prio
• Susana Ramirez
• Lisa Rapoza
• Tamara Ribeiro Bailey
• Sheryln Roy
• Lacy Smith
• Tamen Stuvve
• Katrina Tarbox
• Jennifer Taylor
• Mavis Tozzi
• Bojana Vasiljevic
• Latorya Watts

2014 IFBB Tournament of Champions Pro Masters Figure Competitors:
• Marie Allegro
• Dawn Fernandez
• Meg Kruse
• Elizabeth Maurice
• Lisandra McGrath
• Lisa Rapoza
• Sherlyn Roy
• Katrina Tarbox
• Jennifer Taylor
• Mavis Tozzi

Venue:
Scottish Rite Event Center
1895 Camino Del Rio S.
San Diego, California 92108

Schedule of Events:
Saturday, July 12t
10:00am pst – Prejudging
6:00pm pst – Finals

More info visit: lindsayproductions.com

Filed Under: Show Previews

Opportunity Knocks at The 2014 Figure Olympia

July 8, 2014 by

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.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympia

2014 Olympia Qualification Series By The Numbers

July 6, 2014 by

olympia
The IFBB Pro League introduced the Olympia Qualification Series, a points-based system in 2012. The system was designed to help determine who would qualify for the Olympia in each of the IFBB Pro League divisions. The way it works is pretty simple. The winner of each contest is qualified for the Olympia and no points are rewarded. The competitors who finish in second through fifth place receive points for their placings. The points are accumulated throughout the year and after the final qualifying event, the five competitors with the most points are qualified to compete in the Olympia.

 

THE HARDBODY 411

Some divisions are a little more interesting to follow than others and in many cases will come down to the final show to determine who gets in or not. There are only a few shows remaining on the schedule before this year’s Olympia and there are a few divisions and competitors who are a lock for a qualification based on point totals and remaining shows. Let’s break each of the women’s division down by the numbers.

2014 FITNESS OLYMPIA
The following women are already qualified to compete. This doesn’t mean that each woman WILL compete, but rather they are QUALIFIED to compete.

QUALIFIED
Adela Garcia
Oksana Grishinaa
Tanji Johnson
Myriam Capes
Bethany Cisternino
Marta Aquiar
Fiona Harris

The Pro Fitness is pretty close to being determined. There’s just one pro show remaining on the schedule (Tampa Pro) for the women to qualify. The winner gets in which means we’ll likely see one more woman added by way of a victory. That is unless one of the above women already qualified competes and wins. I can’t see any of the women listed about entering the show simply because they’ll be focused on the Olympia. Mathematically four women are a lock for the Olympia based on their point totals.

Regiane Da Silva from Germany will take top honors in the point series with 18. No one can come close to knocking her out of a spot. She’s in. Next up is Danielle Ruban from Canada. She too is in after a second place finish at the Chicago Pro. While technically she could drop out of the second place spot she wouldn’t fall out of the top five. She’s a lock with 12 points. Currently sitting in third place with 9 points, Arizona’s Whitney Jones is in. She too could drop from the third place spot but not enough to be bumped out of the top five. Veteran Trish Warren is also mathematically in with 8 points. Only one person could drop her down in points but that would still give her a high enough total to be in the top five.

Amanda Hatfield is currently in the fifth, and final, spot but her five points aren’t a lock for a qualification. There’s a few scenarios that could play out where she gets bumped out of the top five or ties for fifth. Somkina Liudmila could snag a qualification if she places in the top three at the Tampa Pro, fourth would tie her with Amanda. Ryall Graber who was in last year’s Olympia is on the bubble with two points. She’ll need to win or get second to qualify. Third place would tie her with Hatfield, assuming Hatfield didn’t pick up any points in Tampa. The same scenario plays out for Kizzy Vaines as she sits with two points as well. Long shots but not impossible are Ashley Sebera, Vanda Hadarean and Tiffany Chandler, each with one point.

OLYMPIA POINT SERIES LEADERS:
Regiane Da Silva – 18
Danielle Ruban – 12
Whitney Jones – 9
Trish Warren – 8
Amanda Hatfield – 5
Somkina Liudmila – 3
Ryall Graber – 2
Kizzy Vaines – 2
Ashley Sebera – 1
Vanda Hadarean – 1
Tiffany Chandler – 1

2014 MS OLYMPIA
The following women are already qualified to compete. This doesn’t mean that each woman WILL compete, but rather they are QUALIFIED to compete.

QUALIFIED
Iris Kyle
Alina Popa
Debi Laszewski
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Brigita Brezovac
Simone Oliveira
Anne Freitas
Rita Bello

There’s one remaining opportunity for the female bodybuilders to qualify. The last show on the schedule before the Olympia is the Tampa Pro held on August 8-9, 2014. The point totals are too close to call a Point Series winner but mathematically Margie Martin and Christine Envall will both be in with six points. Even if they don’t collect any more points in Tampa, the six points will be enough to keep them in the top five. After that it’s a dog fight to make it in. Alana Shipp and Lisa Giesbrecht both have five points and while it should be enough to keep them in the top five, it’s not a guarantee. Virgina Sanchez is right on the bubble in the fifth spot with three points. Tonia Moore, Juanita Blaino are currently on the outside looking in with two points and Emery Miller has one point. Tampa will be one to watch to see who ends up in the top spots.

OLYMPIA POINT SERIES LEADERS:
Margie Martin – 6
Christine Envall – 6
Alana Shipp – 5
Lisa Giesbrecht – 5
Virginia Sanchez – 3
Tonia Moore – 2
Juanita Blaino – 2
Emery Miller – 1

2014 FIGURE OLYMPIA
The following women are already qualified to compete. This doesn’t mean that each woman WILL compete, but rather they are QUALIFIED to compete.

QUALIFIED
Nicole Wilkins
Erin Stern
Candice Keene
Heather Dees
Mallory Haldeman
Camala Rodrigues
Alicia Coates
Candice Lewis
Jessica Graham
Dana Ambrose
Natalia Revajova Lenartova
Ann Titone
Zsuzsanna Toldi
Gennifer Strobo
Cydney Gillon

There are three shows left for the IFBB Figure pros and there are too many scenarios that could play out. The Tournament of Champions, Tampa Pro and the Tahoe Pro are the three remaining qualifying shows. Allison Frahn has a comfortable lead but not a lock. She’ll likely be in the Olympia via points but look for her to compete in one of the remaining shows, likely the Tahoe Pro. Krista Dunn and Andrea Calhoun are in the top three with ten points each. They are in a good spot but again not a sure thing they will get in given the point totals.

OLYMPIA POINT SERIES LEADERS:
Allison Frahn – 15
Krista Dunn – 10
Andrea Calhoun – 10
Sasha Brown – 8
Julie Mayer – 7
Laurie Green – 7
Monica Labriola – 6
Amanda Doherty – 6
Brooke Erickson – 4
Andrea Cantone – 4
Kati Alander – 4
Wendy Fortino – 4
Francine Sablan – 3
Ava Cowan – 3
Natalie Waples – 3
Jessica Canty – 3
Louise Rogers – 3
Beckie Boddie – 3
Latorya Watts – 3
Bojana Vasiljevic – 3

2014 BIKINI OLYMPIA
The following women are already qualified to compete. This doesn’t mean that each woman WILL compete, but rather they are QUALIFIED to compete.

QUALIFIED
Ashley Kaltwasser
Yeshaira Robles
Stacey Alexander
Nathalia Melo
India Paulino
Lacey DeLuca
Vladmiria Krasova
Jennifer Andrews
Narmin Assria
Amanda Latona
Taylor Methany Bentson
Crystal Matthews
Christie Marquez
Sarah LeBlanc
Noy Alexander
Janet Layug
Sandi Forsythe
Christina Strom Fjaere
Jenee Leger
Angela Marquez

There are five more qualifying events for the Pro Bikini division. That makes things far too complicated to call at this point. As we’ve seen the placings with bikini shows are anything but predictable. If the Olympia were next week we’d see Stephanie Mahoe, Jessica Arevalo, Dayna Maleton, Kelsie Clark & Nicola Weiterova in the show. If I was a gambler, I’d bet the top five changes from this. It will be tough for anyone to finish ahead of Stephanie Mahoe and Jessica Arevalo but mathematically possible.

OLYMPIA POINT SERIES LEADERS:
Stephanie Mahoe – 19
Jessica Arevalo – 17
Dayna Maleton – 13
Kelsie Clark – 12
Nicola Weiterova – 11
Tawna Eubanks – 8
Anna Virmajoki – 7
Callie Bundy – 5

2014 OLYMPIA WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE SHOWDOWN
The following women are already qualified to compete. This doesn’t mean that each woman WILL compete, but rather they are QUALIFIED to compete.

QUALIFIED
Dana Linn Bailey
Tycie Coppett
Sara Hurrle
Toni West
Patricia Mello
Sabrina Taylor
Jennifer Robinson
Frances Mendez
Nathalie Falk
Juliana Malacarne
Samantha Hill
Mindi O’Brien
Tamee Marie
Leila Thompson

There are three qualifying events remaining for the IFBB Pro Women’s Physique competitors. The San Jose Pro, Golden State Pro and the Tampa Pro will determine who finishes in the top spots. Currently sitting in the top five spots are Rachel Baker, Olga Beliakova, Roxie Beckles, Jackyln Sutton-Abrams and Sandra Lombardo. Several more women could move up into the top five after the next events. This division’s top spots will likely come down to the final show in Tampa.

OLYMPIA POINT SERIES LEADERS:
Rachel Baker – 11
Olga Beliakova – 8
Roxie Beckles – 7
Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams – 7
Sandra Lombardo – 7
Danielle Reardon – 6
Shawna Pringle – 6
Karin Nascimento – 6
Venus Nguyen – 5
Ericka Blockman – 5
Fabiola Boulanger – 5
Leonie Rose – 5
Mascha Tieken – 5

 

Division point totals provided by IFBBpro.com.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympia

2014 IFBB Patriots Pro Bikini Competitors & Preview – UPDATED

June 30, 2014 by

patriots pro

The first annual IFBB Patriots Pro Bikini show will take place this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. When the lineup was first announced there were only eight women on the list but that has since changed. Currently, 20 women are slated to compete. Despite the twelve additions only one competitor appears to be a threat to the big two. Anything can happen on game day but if history repeats itself it’ll come down to Stacey Alexander, Angela Marquez and Justine Munro for the top spots.

THE HARDBODY 411:
Angela Marquez has won three shows in a row and will look for her fourth this weekend. She’ll face her toughest test of the year when she meets up with hometown girl Stacey Alexander. Stacey was third at last year’s Olympia and won’t have to worry about hotels or travel since she calls Vegas home. Stacey and Angela will likely finish in the top spots unless they’ve camped out at an In-N-Out Burger. We saw Justine on stage earlier this year where she finished 10th at the Bikini International. Look for her to be compared to Stacey and Angela for the win.

There’s no clear cut favorites to round out the top five. Yarishna has a good look but her legs have yet to come down and tend to be a bit too muscular compared to her upper body. Marcela has a good look and if she can come in with a fuller look to her physique has a good chance at that third place spot. Mary Dent will blow people’s minds when they see her and find out she’s over 50. Can she finish in the top spots? Don’t bet against her. Jennifer Dietrick hasn’t competed much this year and has been all over the board with her placings in previous shows. Liana Hamilton has yet to dial it in this year but has the tools to nail a top spot. If she comes in tighter than her last two shows she’ll be in the hunt.

2014 IFBB Patriots Pro Bikini – UPDATED JULY 2, 2014
1. Stacey Alexander
2. Lisa Asuncion
3. Yarishna Ayala
4. Lorena Bucio
5. Marcela Cabral
6. Iveth Carreon
7. Kelsie Clark
8. Rachelle Dejean
9. Mary Dent
10. Jennifer Dietrick
11. Liana Hamilton
12. Lisa Kelly
13. Sandie Kight
14. Angela Marquez
15. Michelle Mein
16. Justine Munro
17. Maysa Quy
18. Lisa Roy
19. Lynn Sambuco
20. Nissan Weaver
21. Lindsey Wells
22. Jacklyn Wilson

2014 IFBB Patriots Pro Master Bikini  – UPDATED JULY 1, 2014
1. Iveth Carreon
2. Mary Dent
3. Liana Hamilton
4. Diana Harbot
5. Sandie Kight
6. Lisa Roy
7. Lynn Sambuco

The IFBB Pro show is held in conjunction with a National Qualifying NPC show. For more information visit: lindsayproductions.com.

 UPDATE 07.01.14: 12 women have been added to the official line up. Preview article changed based on new additions.

 UPDATE 06.30.14: Not on the list but told will be competing are Justine Munro, Jaclyn Wilson and Lisa Asuncion. This could definitely shake things up, especially if Justine Munro is on point.

Filed Under: Show Previews

HBO Real Sports Revisits Female Bodybuilding

June 28, 2014 by

Female bodybuilding is the foundation for all of the competitive female physique divisions. It was the first division in the IFBB Pro ranks and despite being the starting point for Fitness, Figure, Bikini and now Women’s Physique, female bodybuilding struggles within its own industry. Let’s forget “mainstream media” for a minute. It’s a given that mainstream media won’t focus on female bodybuilder’s dedication, work ethic or pursuit of being stronger inside and out. Instead it’s easier to focus on the darker side of a niche within a niche sport.

hbo real sports
In the latest episode of HBO REAL SPORTS, Bryant Gumbel revisits the topic of female bodybuilding. Four years ago, Gumbel first shine the spotlight on female bodybuilding. There’s not much new to the feature and unfortunately it paints the division as nothing more than a freak show that has to resort to alternative ways in order to make a living.

gumbel iris kyleBryant Gumbel shows a picture of 9x Mr. Olympia Iris Kyle.

The show producers didn’t interview any of the top female bodybuilders and perhaps they asked but the women declined. We hear from Colette Nelson, Lauren Powers and Brande Mae Akers in the segment. Anyone who has met Lauren knows she thrives on the attention she gets and encourages it. She’s not a professional bodybuilder but has built a career out looking larger than life. She discusses the world of “muscle worship” with Gumbel and the topic is sensationalized as you might expect.

What is it? Women charging men, and sometimes women, for a “session” either in person or via a webcam to admire their muscle. Weird? Surely it is to some but then again some might say the same for eating fish out of a Ziploc bag or carrying a chicken breast in your purse. Is it something all female bodybuilders do? No. The producers fail to look into the same line of “work” on the male side of things. Why is that? Who knows but it’s easier to focus on a women who “looks like a dude”.

lauren powersLauren Powers flexes during a “muscle worship session” for HBO Real Sports. 

The topic of female bodybuilders earning less money than men has been going on for decades and it won’t end any time soon. Yes, the women work just as hard as the men in bodybuilding,. Yes, they go through all the things men go through in pursuit of winning. It’s not about who works harder or who trains the most. The same discussion takes place in other sports. Female basketball players don’t earn the same as their male counterparts. Salaries for female golfers pale in comparison to the men. Aside from Tennis and Crossfit you’ll be hard pressed to find a sport where the women earn as much as the men. HBO chose to use “less pay” as the reason why women turn to performing muscle worship sessions. That’s not the reason “muscle worship” exists but it makes for a more sensationalized story line.

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel – Show Synopsis
Host Bryant Gumbel revisits the interesting and often bizarre world of women’s bodybuilding. Although it’s virtually ignored by mainstream media, and offers significantly smaller financial incentives than those available to male counterparts, thousands of participants make a living from the sport, with many pushing boundaries to achieve the perfect physique. In an environment of obsessive workouts, round-the-clock fitness routines and even plastic surgery, performance enhancers often play a crucial and dangerous role in the physical development these women seek. For some in search of extra income, there’s also “muscle worship,” in which female bodybuilders allow male fans to massage and fetishize their bodies.

 

At the end of the day no one can be shocked that women’s bodybuilding is “virtually ignored by mainstream media” when it’s largely ignored by the bodybuilding industry. Women’s bodybuilding has changed since the first Olympia and we can point fingers a number of directions why it changed but that doesn’t do much good. Where will female bodybuilding go from here? Only time will tell but until the division is embraced within the bodybuilding industry we shouldn’t be surprised by features like the one HBO chose to air.

 

colette nelson hboGumbel tells Nelson she looks like “a cross between Brittany Spears and Thor.” 

Filed Under: News & Features

Olympian Alysia Montaño Runs Race 8 Months Pregnant

June 28, 2014 by

Alysia Montaño is known as the “Olympic runner with the flower in her hair.” She’s an accomplished middle distance runner with five national championships and represented the U.S. in the 2012 Olympic Games. Montaño is still the runner with a flower in hair, but  this week she was the “running pregnant lady”. On Thursday, Alysia ran the 800 meters in the U.S. track and field championships, nearly eight months pregnant. Despite being 35 seconds slower than her personal best, it wasn’t about setting records or even winning the race.

In a phone interview with espnW Montano said, “This is what it looks like for a professional woman, first of all, continuing her career and pursuing her dream and starting a family simultaneously.” Alysia was cool, calm and collected in her interview just like she was while running the race.

As you  might expect, the public has been chiming in with their opinions and not all of them are positive. Anyone who speaks negatively about Alysia’s race should take time to educate themselves. Pregnancy isn’t a disease. It isn’t a disability. Exercising while pregnant isn’t a bad thing, in fact it’s enocouraged. Montano’s doctors were “100% on board” with her running the race. There will always be misguided comments from the uneducated and ill-informed. Kudos to Alysia for being bold and embracing her pregnancy in a positive light.


Alysia received a standing ovation from those in attendance and when asked about it she says with a laugh, “even though I came in last, I was the first pregnant lady.”

Follow her journey not only as an athlete but also as a role model. Visit alysiamontano.com and follow her on twitter @AlysiaMontano. Read more on espnW.com.

Filed Under: News & Features, SPORTS

Arnold Sports Festival Adds Pro Physique to 2015 Lineup

June 23, 2014 by

The Arnold Sports Festival will feature the IFBB Pro Women’s and Men’s Physique divisions for the first time in 2015. The announcement was made on Facebook and noted the first Women’s Physique Olympia winner, Dana Linn Bailey would be competing. As you might expect from a few online keyboard warriors, not every comment about the addition was positive. The Arnold Facebook page boasts over 2 million fans and with that you have to expect varied opinions on pretty much everything.

2015 arnold

When the Olympia added Physique to the 2014 event the division was validated. The announcement from the Arnold Sports Fesitval reinforces it. Competitors now have two major titles to strive for and it will ultimately help increase the numbers in the amateur ranks. If you look at the big picture, the IFBB Pro women’s physique division is still in its infancy. This year’s pro competitions have been attracting more entrants but are we seeing more ticket buying fans? As of yet, I’d guess no but like anything new time will ultimately be the deciding factor.

The challenge will be HOW to make the division appealing to fans. It’s a challenge that should be, at least in my opinion, a shared responsibility by everyone in the industry. The Pro League is helping do their part by providing competitors a stage to compete on and at the biggest events. The division has to gain more traction within the bodybuilding industry before it can gain popularity outside of it. The bodybuilding and fitness media has yet to do much on the division and you rarely see women physique competitors in any of the magazines. Men’s Physique competitors are getting more exposure in the magazines because it’s a more “mainstream look”. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing “mainstream” about the Women’s Physique division and that’s okay. The same could be said for other divisions as well, with maybe the exception of Bikini when it comes to mass appeal. It’s not a look most people can related to and that too is not a bad thing. Instead of trying to gain “mainstream” acceptance better time may be spent sharing the benefits of eating healthy, training and goal setting. Many of the pro physique competitors are doing a bang up job of promoting themselves but are missing the big picture. They share a responsibility in promoting the division as well. As Dana Linn Bailey’s husband pointed out in his Facebook comment after the announcement.

dlb comment

The 2015 Arnold Sports Fesitval will be held on March 5-8, in Columbus, Ohio. Visit arnoldsportsfestival.com for tickets and more information on next year’s events.

Post by Arnold Sports Festival.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features

Celebrate Olympic Day with a Quiz

June 23, 2014 by

Happy Olympic Day! Every year on June 23, Olympic Day commemorates the birth of the modern Olympic Games. The event was first introduced in 1948 and was established to help promote the Olympic Values and participation in sport across the world. More than 160 countries around the globe take part in the celebration.

2014 Olympic Day Logo

In the U.S., Olympic Day events range the gamut from small to large events. Find out what Olympic Day Events happening in your area and how you can participate.

Test your Olympic knowledge in this true or false quiz. The quiz is targeted for children 12-13 years old however I’d guess most adults wouldn’t score 100%.

TRUE OR FALSE OLYMPIC QUIZ

Q1 – Each colour of the Olympic rings represents a particular continent.
False – This is a misconception. In reality, the rings represent the union of the five continents and the coming-together of the whole world’s athletes at the Olympic Games. As for the colours of the flag, they were chosen because at least one of them (blue, black, red, yellow, green and white) can be found in each national flag.

Q2 – One of the missions of the Olympic Movement is to promote peace in the world.
True – “The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” This is the second of the six Fundamental Principles of Olympism set out in the “Olympic Charter”, the document which governs the organisation, actions and functioning of the Olympic Movement.

Q3 – The Games host city is chosen in a draw from among the candidate cities.
False – The IOC members elect the Olympic Games host cities with an absolute majority (i.e. half the votes plus one). This happens seven years before the Games are held, at a meeting called the Session. Custom dictates that the IOC President does not take part in the vote.

Q4 – The Olympic Anthem was written by Rod Stewart, a 1980s singer.
False – The music was composed by Spiros Samaras and the words were written by Costis Palamas. The Olympic Anthem was played for the first time in 1896, at the Opening Ceremony of the first modern Olympic Games. It was later replaced by several other musical compositions (but none by Rod Stewart). It was only in 1955 that it finally became the official anthem.

Q5 The Olympic motto – CITIUS ALTIUS FORTIUS – means “Proud, tall, strong”.
False – The three Latin words mean “faster, higher, stronger”. These three words encourage the athlete to give the best of himself during competition. To better understand the motto, we can compare it to the Olympic saying: “The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Q6 – Ice hockey and figure skating were on the Summer Games programme.
Neither true nor false – Skating was on the programme of the 1908 Games and ice hockey from 1920. At this time, there was no distinction between the winter and summer Games and the events could be staged over several months. It was only from 1925 that the IOC officially decided to separate the two events.

Q7 – Pierre de Coubertin, reviver of the Games, took part in the Games under a false name.
True – His “Ode to Sport” entered under a pseudonym for the Stockholm (1912) Olympic Games, won him first prize in the Art and Literature Contest, an event on the programme at the time.

Q8 – 50kg stone-lifting was on the Olympic programme.
True – It was part of the gymnastics all-round event in 1900, as was rope climbing and the pole vault! Sports, disciplines and events… the Games programme is continuously updated. Today, the Summer Games comprises 26 sports and the Winter Games seven. In the selection criteria it is specified that only sports that apply the World Anti-Doping Code can be included or remain on the program me.

Q9 – London is the only city to have hosted three Olympic Games.
True – London hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012. Six other cities have hosted the Games twice: Athens (1896 and 2004), Paris (1900 and 1924), St Moritz (1928 and 1948), Lake Placid (1932 and 1980), Los Angeles (1932 and 1984) and Innsbruck (1964 and 1976).

Q10 – The marathon was on the programme of the Olympic Games of Antiquity.
False – The marathon was not staged at the Games in Antiquity. This race was created for the Athens Games in 1896 to commemorate the legend of the Greek soldier who, in 490 BC, ran from Marathon to announce to the people of Athens the military victory over Persia (distance: about 34.5km). At the London 1908 Games, the distance of the race was extended, from 25 to 26.2 miles (42.195km), so that it could end in front of the Royal Box. This distance then became the standard for the marathon event and has remained so until today.

Quiz and information via olympicday.fusesport.com (PDF)

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics

Heather Dees Sits Out 2014 Figure Olympia

June 21, 2014 by

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 dees olympia

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.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympia

2014 IFBB Greater Gulf Prejudging Report

June 20, 2014 by

The prejudging portion of the 2014 IFBB Greater Gulf States has concluded and it looks like the competition is close in both the Women’s Physique and Bikini divisions.

prejudging new orleans

Karina Nascimento looks poised for her first win of the year in the women’s physique division. She’s currently not qualified for the Olympia and has 3 points in the Olympia Point Series. If she should finish in second she would receive four points and would be tied for third in the series. Based on how things looked at the prejudging though she is your likely champion. Tamee Marie is fresh off a win at the Omaha Pro and is giving Karina a run for her money. It looks like the judges may put her in the runner-up position. There’s no pressure but certainly bragging rights on the line. Tamee’s win in Omaha qualified her for the Olympia in September. Rounding out the top three will most likely be Leila Thompson. She was the 2013 overall NPC JR USA winner and has yet to crack the top 10 as a pro. Her last appearance was the Optimum Classic earlier this year where she finished 16th. A third place finish would be a huge improvement for her.

women's physique

The Bikini division shaped up to be the defending champ, Amanda Latona versus Sarah LeBlanc. Sarah looks to be Amanda’s biggest threat for the top spot as the two were compared next to each other and smack dab in the middle of the stage. That doesn’t always mean they are your winners but in this case it’s highly likely they are your top two. They presented similar looks today. They both have dark brown hair and were wearing a red suit. So who will win it? We’ll find out later tonight.

Two newcomers shook things up in the top spots. Jenee Leger in just her second pro show should finish in the top spots and rightfully so. Fresh off her win at the 2014 NPC JR NATIONALS, Brittany Taylor made an immediate impact. She wasn’t on the original competitors’ list and someone many may have overlooked the rookie. She appears poised to finish in the top four in her pro debut, just one week after turning pro.

bikini greater gulf

The finals take place tonight at 6:30pm. Thanks to Mark Mason for the photos.

Filed Under: IFBB

2014 Olympia Will Be Televised on NBC Sports

June 20, 2014 by

Great news for Bodybuilding and Fitness fans! The 2014 Olympia contest will be shown on television. Something that hasn’t happened in THIRTY YEARS! American Media, Inc. and NBC Sports Group announced plans for two 90-minute televised features of the 50th Olympia. The specials will air on October 18 at 1:30pm EST and the second will be shown on October 25 at 5:30pm EST. The Olympia will be webcast live online at bodybuilding.com and will not air live on NBC Sports. The telecast will highlight a variety of aspects from the Olympia weekend and the main focus will likely be on the Mr. Olympia competition.

Olympia on TV

PRESS RELEASE:
American Media, Inc. (AMI) and NBC Sports Group today announced a partnership to televise the 2014 Mr. Olympia contest on NBCSN. The partnership will feature two 90-minute telecasts of the 50th annual Mr. Olympia where three-time champion Phil Heath will defend his title at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

“We are pleased to partner with NBC Sports Group to bring the excitement of the 2014 Mr. Olympia, and all of the events of Olympia Weekend, to a national television audience,” said AMI Chairman, President, and CEO David J. Pecker. “The Olympia Weekend is an extraordinary event that underscores the passion and commitment that every competitor brings to the stage, and the exhilaration of the more than forty thousand spectators that will attend this year’s event.”

The partnership brings the Mr. Olympia back to TV for the first time since 1984, when Lee Haney won his first of eight titles. NBCSN will televise two 90-minute specials around the event, the first on October 18 at 1:30 p.m. ET and the second on October 25 at 5:30 pm ET.

“We look forward to bringing the bodybuilding world’s most prestigious event back to television for its 50th annual contest,” said Lou Ferrer, Director, Programming Acquisitions, NBC Sports Group.

Each telecast will highlight various aspects of the Mr. Olympia competition, featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars including Kai Greene, Dennis Wolf, Branch Warren, and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay as they attempt to wrest the coveted title from defending champion Phil Heath. One of the most notable winners of the contest was a young Austrian bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger who was named Mr. Olympia in 1970 at 23 years-old. Schwarzenegger was the youngest competitor to claim the title, and went on to win seven titles in total (1970-1975, 1980).

“It is a great opportunity to have this year’s Olympia Weekend broadcast on NBCSN, exposing the sport to an even broader audience who will see what bodybuilding and fitness are all about and getting an up-close view of the larger-than-life personalities,” said Jim Manion IFBB Professional League President. “Not only will this help raise the sport to new heights by showcasing the hard work and passion of today’s superstars like reigning and three-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, number one challenger Kai Greene, Dennis Wolf, and Shawn Rhoden, it may even inspire a future Mr. Olympia.”

In addition to crowning Mr. Olympia, the telecasts will also showcase how the Mr. Olympia competition has grown from its humble beginnings in 1965 into a four-day exposition featuring the Fitness, Figure, and Bikini Olympia contests, men’s and women’s physique contests, and several other activities and events. Last year, more than 40,000 people passed through the doors for The Mr. Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend.

The 2014 Mr. Olympia Fitness and Performance weekend takes place September 18-21 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Tickets are available now at mrolympia.com or by calling 888-234-2334.

For Listings and the NBCSN Channel Finder, visit http://www.nbcsports.com/tv-listings.

About NBCSN:
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Premier League, Formula One, Major League Soccer (MLS), IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, Sports Dash with Yahoo! Sports and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympia

RESULTS & REPORT: IFBB Amateur Olympia Latin America

June 20, 2014 by

The first annual IFBB Amateur Olympia Latin America was held in Acapulco, Mexico on June 14-15, 2014. The overall winners in all divisions earn IFBB Pro status and bragging rights as the first ever Latin America Amateur Olympia Champion.

Amateur Olympia Latin America Results

Elia Fernandez from Mexico Yucatan won the short bikini class and took the top spot in the overall comparisons. It came down to a tie-breaker for the win. Romina Basualdo from Argentina tied with Elia in the overall comparisons. Jovanna Ibanez Parra from Mexico won the short Bodyfitness (Figure) division and the overall title. Raquel Ramos from Spain left with the top spot in the Women’s Physique division.

Competitors don’t have to win the competition to get noticed in events like this. Media members from all over the world were in attendance and took notice of some of the up-and-coming faces. The IFBB amateur events are run a bit different than those at NPC competitions. There is no individual posing in prejudging, only comparisons. At the Finals, the field is cut to the top six in each class and only those competitors hit individual poses. The women’s physique division is still in its infancy outside of the USA, as evident with only four competitors. The bikini division had a variety of shapes and sizes on stage and a number of head turning physiques.

Bodyfitness / FIGURE
Class A – Up to 158cm
1. Jovanna Ibanez Parra*
2. Sandra Grajales Romero
3. Diana Garcia
4. Francis del Valle
5. Brisa Michel Aguilar Ramirez
6. Ana Judith Dabdoub
7. Carolina Solano Peralta
8. Beatriz Vazquez Hereida
9. Priscilla Palmer
10. Monica de la Torre Ramos
11. Dulce Eunice Parrilla Lopez
12. Blanca Cuellar
13. Debanhi Hernandez

Class B – Up to 164cm
1. Veronica Gallego
2. Berenice Gonzalez
3. Gabriela Badillo Ruiz
4. Julia H. Luz
5. Wilma Gil Rodriguez
6. Etzel Delcarmen Delgado
7. Jenny Garza
8. Yazmin Rangel Kame

Class C – Over 164cm
1. Rosario Gomez Ortiz
2. Charlotte Clark
3. Esmeralda Higareda Gonzalez
4. Martha Lepe
5. Monica de Jesus Bolaños Roa
6. Marisol Almela
7. Mayra Vianey Baez Miguel

overall latin america amateur olympia figure winner

BIKINI
Class A – Up to 156cm
1. Elia Fernandez*
2. Karina Constantino Durzo
3. Nayely Benitez Chaves
4. Paola Gonzalez Maqueda
5. Luisana Gandica
6. Sayury Rubi Huriostegui Moctezuma

Class B – Up to 160cm
1. Romina Basualdo
2. Danitza Alejandra Espino de Dios
3. Nancy Anahi Rodriguez
4. Elida Jiminez
5. Magdalena Vazquez Arguello
6. Cassandra de la Rosa
7. Stacey Da Silva
8. Natalia Munguia Llanes
9. Karina Alvarez Mendez
10. Linda Guereña Ferrer
11. Vania Ramirez Rivero

Class C – Up to 164cm
1. Juliane Carina Bueno de Andrade
2. Cindy Villalobos Duran
3. Naiara Schubert
4. Laura Magnolia Santos Gonzalez
5. Valeria Hernandez
6. Carolina Contreras Perez
7. Natalie Neurouth
8. Jenny Cardoso Pascual
9. Celia Guadarrama Soto
10. Ana Maria Olivares

Class D – Over 164cm
1. Márcia Cristiane Goncalves de Souza
2. Brenda Sosa Popoca
3. Karla Yurity Cortes Berdeja
4. Carolina Castrejon Calderon
5. Maria de Lourdes Martinez Lopez
6. Melissa Porras Brenes
7. Carolina Ruiz Marrero
8. Claudia Ramirez Hernandez
9. Rommy Rosalinda Hernandez Fuentes
10. Judith Abigail Zuniga

Overall Bikini Winner Amateur Olympia Latin America

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE
1. Raquel Ramos*
2. Maria Susana Ramirez
3. Matilde Pacheco
4. Monica Casas

Women's Physique winner Amateur Olympia Latin America

Click here for scoresheets and complete IFBB Amateur Olympia Latin America results, including the men’s competition. (PDF)

Filed Under: Contest Results, News & Features

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