Email to a friendThe ladies of Olympia weekend
This weekend, the most coveted IFBB women's titles will be handed out in Las Vegas. Here's the rundown on what you can expect
September 25, 2008
Sure, there'll be plenty of eyeballs checking out big Jay Cutler and the rest of his competition at this weekend's Mr. Olympia contest but the toughest battles may be on tap for the ladies' competitions.
FITNESS
Over the last four years, Adela Garcia has dominated the Olympia fitness stage, taking the title in 2004, 2006 and 2007. This year, she was hoping to make history - a fourth win would have tied her with Susie Curry for most titles in Fitness O history. But alas, Garcia will be a spectator at this year's show, sidelined with a knee injury. That paves the way for a fierce battle for the top spot amongst Kim Scheideler (formerly Klein), Jen Hendershott, Tanji Johnson and Tracey Greenwood.
Scheideler has had the dubious distinction of finishing second three straight times but is the favorite heading in after winning the Fitness International in March. The always-entertaining Hendershott will attempt to win her first Fitness O after consecutive third place finishes. She took second in the 2004 show. Johnson surged into the top five back in 2006 with a fourth place finish and repeated that performance in 2007. Greenwood has finished in the top five the last five years.
FIGURE
On the figure side, many assumed that it would be an easy night for two-time winner Jenny Lynn (pictured here). But Gina Aliotti, whose shot into the No. 2 slot at last year's race, is one of the hottest competitors in the sport and could easily upend the champion. Other athletes like Mary Lado, Felicia Romero and Jenn Gates to the mix - each with a contest win under her sequined belt this year - and it becomes much more interesting. Dark horses Amy Fry, Zville Radouine and Bernadette Galvan have also won shows this year and figure to shake up the hunt for the top five.
BODYBUILDING
In women's bodybuilding, Iris Kyle will try to capture her second consecutive title - and fourth in five years - when she takes the stage. But a surprising slip to seventh place at this year's Ms. International showed that she is capable of missing the mark. With well-conditioned rivals like Dayana Cadeau, Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia looking sharp this year, such a misstep at the Olympia could cost her a shot at a repeat. Sophomore Olympia competitor Heather Armbrust, however, could come out of nowhere to surprise the vets. The Colorado-native looked fantastic in her fifth-place finish last year. Veterans Lisa Aukland, Betty Pariso and Cathy LeFrancois could also contend for the top five or six but Nicole Ball and Jennifer Sedia and Sherry Smith all won shows this year and could look to play spoiler.
2008 OLYMPIA WEEKEND
The competition begins this Friday night, September 24, at 7pm at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas with the Mr. Olympia pre-judging. Also that night will be the finals for two women's events: Fitness Olympia and Ms. Olympia. Mr. O finals will be held Saturday night (again, 7pm at the Orleans Arena), as will finals of the third women's event, the Figure Olympia.
For those making the trip to Las Vegas, the Olympia Expo will run from 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center (South Hall), featuring the bodybuilding industry's top supplement companies. Also at the expo will be Flex magazine's annual Bikini Model Search, where a collection of the country's most lovely and fit ladies will compete for the top prize of a Weider Publications modeling contract and endorsement contract with Champion Nutrition.
>>For Olympia ticket information and other details regarding the Olympia Expo, visit www.MrOlympia.com/2008.
>>For a live webcast of this weekend's events, visit www.bodybuilding.com.
>>For full post-show wrap-ups, exclusive galleries and interviews, visit www.flexonline.com.
2008 FITNESS OLYMPIA COMPETITOR LIST
Regiane Da Silva
Nicole Duncan
Heidi Fletcher
Tracey Greenwood
Jen Hendershott
Laticia Jackson
Tanji Johnson
Julie Lohre
Mindi O'Brien
Julie Palmer
Erin Riley
Kim Scheideler
Stacy Simons
Trish Warren
2008 FIGURE OLYMPIA COMPETITOR LIST
Jelena Abbou
Sonia Adcock
Gina Aliotti
Paola Almerico
Teresa Anthony
Jane Awad
Darlina Brown
Michelle Flake
Heather Mae French
Amy Fry
Bernadette Galvan
Jennifer Gates
Lenay Hernandez
Julie Ann Kulla
Mary Lado
Hazal Nelson
Jenny Lynn
Jessica Paxson-Putnam
Zville Raudoniene
Kristal Richardson
Felicia Romero
Chastity Sloane Brenda Marie Smith
Kristi Tauti
Latisha Wilder
Nicole Wilkins
2008 MS. OLYMPIA COMPETITOR LIST
Betty Adkins
Heather Armbrust
Lisa Aukland
Nicole Ball
Debbie Bramwell
Dayana Cadeau
Rosemary Jennings
Iris Kyle
Klaudia Larson
Cathy LeFrancois
Mah-Ann Mendoza
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Jeannie Paparone
Betty Pariso
Brenda Raganot
Jennifer Sedia
Sherry Smith
FITNESS
Over the last four years, Adela Garcia has dominated the Olympia fitness stage, taking the title in 2004, 2006 and 2007. This year, she was hoping to make history - a fourth win would have tied her with Susie Curry for most titles in Fitness O history. But alas, Garcia will be a spectator at this year's show, sidelined with a knee injury. That paves the way for a fierce battle for the top spot amongst Kim Scheideler (formerly Klein), Jen Hendershott, Tanji Johnson and Tracey Greenwood.
Scheideler has had the dubious distinction of finishing second three straight times but is the favorite heading in after winning the Fitness International in March. The always-entertaining Hendershott will attempt to win her first Fitness O after consecutive third place finishes. She took second in the 2004 show. Johnson surged into the top five back in 2006 with a fourth place finish and repeated that performance in 2007. Greenwood has finished in the top five the last five years.
FIGURE
On the figure side, many assumed that it would be an easy night for two-time winner Jenny Lynn (pictured here). But Gina Aliotti, whose shot into the No. 2 slot at last year's race, is one of the hottest competitors in the sport and could easily upend the champion. Other athletes like Mary Lado, Felicia Romero and Jenn Gates to the mix - each with a contest win under her sequined belt this year - and it becomes much more interesting. Dark horses Amy Fry, Zville Radouine and Bernadette Galvan have also won shows this year and figure to shake up the hunt for the top five.
BODYBUILDING
In women's bodybuilding, Iris Kyle will try to capture her second consecutive title - and fourth in five years - when she takes the stage. But a surprising slip to seventh place at this year's Ms. International showed that she is capable of missing the mark. With well-conditioned rivals like Dayana Cadeau, Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia looking sharp this year, such a misstep at the Olympia could cost her a shot at a repeat. Sophomore Olympia competitor Heather Armbrust, however, could come out of nowhere to surprise the vets. The Colorado-native looked fantastic in her fifth-place finish last year. Veterans Lisa Aukland, Betty Pariso and Cathy LeFrancois could also contend for the top five or six but Nicole Ball and Jennifer Sedia and Sherry Smith all won shows this year and could look to play spoiler.
2008 OLYMPIA WEEKEND
The competition begins this Friday night, September 24, at 7pm at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas with the Mr. Olympia pre-judging. Also that night will be the finals for two women's events: Fitness Olympia and Ms. Olympia. Mr. O finals will be held Saturday night (again, 7pm at the Orleans Arena), as will finals of the third women's event, the Figure Olympia.
For those making the trip to Las Vegas, the Olympia Expo will run from 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center (South Hall), featuring the bodybuilding industry's top supplement companies. Also at the expo will be Flex magazine's annual Bikini Model Search, where a collection of the country's most lovely and fit ladies will compete for the top prize of a Weider Publications modeling contract and endorsement contract with Champion Nutrition.
>>For Olympia ticket information and other details regarding the Olympia Expo, visit www.MrOlympia.com/2008.
>>For a live webcast of this weekend's events, visit www.bodybuilding.com.
>>For full post-show wrap-ups, exclusive galleries and interviews, visit www.flexonline.com.
2008 FITNESS OLYMPIA COMPETITOR LIST
Regiane Da Silva
Nicole Duncan
Heidi Fletcher
Tracey Greenwood
Jen Hendershott
Laticia Jackson
Tanji Johnson
Julie Lohre
Mindi O'Brien
Julie Palmer
Erin Riley
Kim Scheideler
Stacy Simons
Trish Warren
2008 FIGURE OLYMPIA COMPETITOR LIST
Jelena Abbou
Sonia Adcock
Gina Aliotti
Paola Almerico
Teresa Anthony
Jane Awad
Darlina Brown
Michelle Flake
Heather Mae French
Amy Fry
Bernadette Galvan
Jennifer Gates
Lenay Hernandez
Julie Ann Kulla
Mary Lado
Hazal Nelson
Jenny Lynn
Jessica Paxson-Putnam
Zville Raudoniene
Kristal Richardson
Felicia Romero
Chastity Sloane Brenda Marie Smith
Kristi Tauti
Latisha Wilder
Nicole Wilkins
2008 MS. OLYMPIA COMPETITOR LIST
Betty Adkins
Heather Armbrust
Lisa Aukland
Nicole Ball
Debbie Bramwell
Dayana Cadeau
Rosemary Jennings
Iris Kyle
Klaudia Larson
Cathy LeFrancois
Mah-Ann Mendoza
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Jeannie Paparone
Betty Pariso
Brenda Raganot
Jennifer Sedia
Sherry Smith
