2014 Arnold Classic Brazil Fitness Competitors Announced

Today, the list of those competing in the 2014 Arnold Sports Brazil was announced. Ryall Graber will be defending her title against some strong competition. Michelle Blank, Whitney Jones, and Amanda Hatfield will look to build off of successful runs from last season. Myriam Capes is also on the list, but we're unsure if she will be compete as she's nursing an injury that's keeping her out of the 2014 Fitness International in a couple of weeks. Our congrats to everyone that made the 2014 Arnold Classic Brazil field!

The 2014 Arnold Sports Brazil will take place April 25-27 in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

List of competitors:

Marta Aguiar

Michelle Blank

Myriam Capes

Bethany Cisternino

Regiane DaSilva

Ryall Graber

Fiona Harris

Amanda Hatfield

Whitney Jones

Babette Mulford

Danielle Ruban

Diana Monteiro

Tanji Johnson Wins the 2013 Fitness International!!!

It took a decade to do it, but Tanji Johnson can finally say that she won one of the "big ones" in the fitness division.  At the 2013 Fitness International, Tanji beat out nine other competitors in a small but deep line-up to claim her first Fitness International title and put herself as one of the elites in the sport.

Tanji is finally champion after 10 tries
Photo credit: Bodybuilding.com

It wasn't easy for Tanji to win this contest, though. Oksana Grishina, showcased an impressive physique and once again stole the show with a insane routine inspired by The Joker. Her time at the top is coming very soon. Bethany Cisternino brought together an amazing physique (as usual from this rising star) and a solid routine that nabbed her third place. Maybe the most impressive showing overall has to go to Trish Warren for one simple reason: this was her first contest since the 2011 Fitness International and the first since having her first baby. She returned to competition pretty much like she never left, and was just a bit shy from getting an Olympia qualification spot (top 3 at the Arnold are qualified for the Olympia). But for her to return on stage is a victory in itself, and placing in the top 4 is icing on the cake. Regaine DaSilva placed 5th with her trademark hardness (yet not too hard) and her performance. Regiane remains one of the top international competitors in fitness, and it's only a matter of time before she takes it to the next level. Rounding out the top six was Ryall Graber-Vasani, who was first callout in the physique round, and combining with her routine round, put her in the six-place spot. 

What are your thoughts about the fitness placings? Agree? Disagree? Did a new era of fitness begin at the Arnold? Sound off in the comments below and on our Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/fitgemsnation). 

FULL RESULTS:

1. Tanji Johnson

2. Oksana Grishina

3. Bethany Cisternino

4. Trish Warren

5. Regiane DaSilva

6. Ryall Graber-Vasani

7. Kizzy Vaines

8. Nicole Duncan

9. Fiona Harris

10. Amanda Hatfield

Top 6 Awards Presentation (including Tanji's speech): (from NPCNewsOnline)


Tanji's photoshoot and interview after her win (from NPCNewsOnline)

Myriam Capes OUT of 2013 Fitness International

Considered a big favorite entering this year's Fitness International, Myriam Capes is out of the show due to injury.

No Mimi at this year's Fitness International
Photo credit: FLEX Online

Here's her official statement below from her Facebook page in her native French and translated to English via Bing:


Je vous annonce officiellement que je ne compétionnerai malheureusement pas au Arnold Classic cette année suite à une blessure au dos. Rien de majeur ne vous inquiètez pas mais mon état ne me permet pas de me lancer à nouveau au travers d’une autre préparation. C’est après 12 années sans répris, plus de 30 concours Pro à mon actif dont 4 OLYMPIA et 3 ARNOLD que mon corps me demande un peu de repos!! Alors je me dois de l’écouter afin de revenir en force en septembre pour OLYMPIA afin de monter à nouveau sur le podium!!! Ou qui sait peut-etre avant étant présentement en traitement intensif avec les meilleurs thérapeutes!!! À suivre… Je vous tienderai informer!! Mimi xo

I announce officially that I do competionnerai unfortunately not at the Arnold Classic this year due to a back injury. Nothing major do not worry but my State does not allow me start again through another formulation. It is after 12 years without resumed, more than 30 competition Pro to my assets including 4 OLYMPIA and 3 ARNOLD my body a little rest wonder! Then I have to listen to him to return in force in September for OLYMPIA in order to reach the podium again! Or who knows maybe before being currently under intensive treatment with the best therapists! To follow… I inform you tienderai! Mimi xo
(Translated by Bing)

With a new Fitness International champion a guarantee this year with Adela Garcia sitting out, many saw Myriam as the main person that could give Oksana a run for her money at the Arnold. The way it sounds, she could be ready in time to compete at the Olympia in September and possibly the Arnold Classic Brazil later on this year. The fitness line-up is now at 10 competitors, making it one of the smallest fitness line-ups in the history of the Arnold.

We at Fitness Athletes Network wish Myriam a speedy and safe recovery and hope to see her back on stage at the Olympia!

IFBB Flex Pro Next Weekend

Next weekend (February 18th), two weeks before the Arnold, the IFBB Flex Pro will take place in Saint Monica, California, which will showcase the fitness divison. Minus a couple of names, nearly ALL the competitors will step on the Arnold stage, which makes this contest a big one. Depending on what happend at the Flex Pro, this could very well be an indicator for how the Arnold could end up. This will also be the first contest under the new rules and regulations that the IFBB laid out last year, which includes only the winner getting an Olympia invite as opposed to the top three in past years.

Here's the loaded line-up for next weekend's event:

Adela Garcia
Allison Ethier
Bethany Cisternino
Camala Rodriquez
Jodi Boam
Michele Mayberry
Myriam Capes
Oksana Grishina
Paula Gulman-Williams
Sheri Vucick
Tanji Johnson

For more info, visit their website at http://www.flexprochampionships.com/.

2012 Fitness International Invite List

It's OUT!!!! The 2012 Arnold list has just been released, with 17 names for the Fitness International! Did you favorites make it on there?

2012 Fitness International (17)
Michelle Blank
Jodi Boam
Myriam Capes
Regiane Da Silva
Tina Durkin
Allison Ethier
Adela Garcia
Oksana Grishina
Tanji Johnson
Diana Monteiro
Julie Palmer
Kayde Puckett
Camala Rodriguez
Daniella Ruban
Kizzy Vaines
Sheri Vucick
Bethany Wagner

There will be more Arnold-related posts as we get closer to the big event. Until then, congrats to everyone that made the list! 2012 Arnold...here we come!! 

Tanji Johnson Wins Arnold Classic Europe Fitness

Photo credit: Rx Muscle

History was made this weekend at the first-ever Arnold Classic Europe took place. Tanji Johnson, one of the top competitors in fitness and according to many a future Fitness Olympia and/or Fitness International champion, will forever be in the history books as the first-ever Arnold Classic Europe Fitness champion. Bethany Cisternino took 2nd, Regiane DeSilva took 3rd place. Here are the full results as well as scorecard for this historic event:

1. Tanji Johnson
2. Bethany Cisternino
3. Regiane DeSilva
4. Myriam Capes
5. Tina Durkin
6. Mindi O'Brien
7. Diana Monteiro
8. Kayde Puckett

Photo cradit: IFBBPro.com

Congrats to Tanji on the win, and to everyone that competed at the Arnold Classic Europe! You all made history this weekend!

2011 Olympia Webcast Details

The good folks at Bodybuilding.com will once again be providing a free webcast of the Olympia, taking place this weekend. Here's the direct link to the Olympia webcast:

http://streaming.bodybuilding.com/2011-olympia-webcast/

Mr Olympia prejudging, Ms Olympia Finals, Fitness Olympia Finals & Bikini Olympia Finals will take place on Friday evening. with the finals of Mr Olympia & Figure Olympia taking place on Saturday evening.Women's prejudging will not be live via Webcast, however the prejudging is usually taped by Bodybuilding.com, so they will probably post the video a few days after the Olympia has concluded.

Cheerleading competitions for potential fitness competitors?

This has been brought up a few times, so I'd thought I'd bring it up here. How many of you have looked into high school/college cheerleading competitions to recruit potential fitness competitors? The numbers have increased in cheerleading big time, and weight-training has become more of a staple for cheerleading than ever before. From what I've seen personally, some cheerleaders wouldn't look out of place whatsoever in a fitness show. What are YOUR thoughts on looking at cheerleading competitions for potential fitness competitors?

Regaine Nails a Victory in Germany (2011 FIBO Power Pro Fitness Results)

The clear favorite going into this competition was Tanji Johnson, but due to passport problems, she could not make it to Germany, leaving Camala Rodriquez as frontrunner for the FIBO Power Pro Fitness, just coming off of a win the past weekend in New York. But two other fitness competitors had different ideas in mind. Regaine Da Silva emerged from the pact to pull off a big victory, her first pro win (I think) of her career, giving her big momentum heading into this year's Olympia and showing that she's no fluke in fitness. Diana Monteiro, in her pro debut, took runner-up honors and will join Regaine and Camala (who placed 3rd) in the 2011 Fitness Olympia. A great showing of talent overseas, and everyone that competed needs to be commented for their efforts. Congrats to you all!

RESULTS:
1. Regiane DaSilva
2. Diana Monteiro
3. Camala Rodriguez
4. Liudmila Somkina
5. Minna Pajulahti
6. Stacy McDowell
7. Ryall Graber-Vasani

SCORECARD:

Camala Shines in the Big Apple (2011 IFBB New York Fitness Results)

Congrats to Camala Rodriquez on winning the IFBB New York Pro Fitness this past weekend. She was among the favorites to win the event, and she didn't disappoint, nailing a perfect score in the physique round and was first in the routine round. Bethany Wagner continued her accent in the fitness rankings with a 2nd place finish and Michelle Blank make the most of her debut with a great 3rd place finish, thus putting her in the 2011 Fitness Olympia, along with Camala and Bethany. Save Fitness Now blog contributor and fan page administrator Stacy Wright made a huge splash as well in her pro debut with first callout in the physique round and an entertaining routine in the routine round. Victoria Larvie, fellow fan page administrator, placed 11th in a tough field of competitors. We at Save Women's Fitness Now are extremely proud of every single fitness competitor, especially the turnout for the pros this year. It's clear that women's pro fitness is alive and well in the Big Apple! :)

IFBB New York Pro Fitness Results:
1. Camala Rodriguez
2. Bethany Wagner
3. Michelle Blank
4. Kristina Rojas
5. Jodi Boam
6. Stacy Wright
7. Carrie Simmons
8. Nicole Duncan
9. Hollie Stewart
10. Sylvia Tremblay
11. Victoria Larvie
12. Allison Ethier
13. Ryall Garber-Vasani
14. Tamee Marie
15. Stacy McDowell
16. Venus Nguyen
17. Melissa Frederick

2011 Arnold Amateur Fitness Results

Congrats to all the fitness competitors at the Arnold Amateur this past weekend! Diana Alemida was your overall Arnold Amateur fitness champion (winner of short class), while Aguiar Fernandez won the tall class. Here are the full results for them:

2011 Arnold Amateur Fitness Results

Short Class

1. Diana Alemida - Overall
2. Guryeva Olga
3. Paula Williams-Gulman
4. Shalimar Wilder
5. Samantha Kinnish
6. Maria Laura Cervelli
7. Stephanie Yu
8. Gloria Mohninger
9. Toni Wheeler

Tall Class

1. Aguiar Fernandez
2. Czine Szilvia
3. Dvortsova Tatiana
4. Jayla McDermott
5. Meredith Miller
6. Tiina Kasvi
7. Valeria Cristiane Aprobato
8. Angela Beavers

2011 Fitness International (Full Results)

Here are the full results of the 2011 Fitness International. Adela Garcia won her 4th Fitness International title, amid a bit of controversy, according to some. More will be spoken about this later on this week. Congrats to all the competitors!


2011 FITNESS INTERNATIONAL

1. Adela Garcia
2. Tanji Johnson
3. Trish Warren
4. Camala Rodriguez
5. Myriam Capes
6. Bethany Wagner
7. Regiane Da Silva
8. Oksana Grishina
9. Tina Durkin
10. Nicole Duncan
11. Erin Riley
12. Daniela O'Mara
13. Allison Ethier
13. Sylvia Tremblay

2011 Arnold Amateur Competitors List (Fitness Division)

The 2011 Arnold Amateur list has been released. Here's the list of fitness competitors that will compete at the Arnold Amateur. There are 10 competitors in the short class and eight competitors in the tall class. Congrats to everyone that's on the list (in ALL divisions)! :)

Fitness Short Class (10)
Diana Paula Monteiro Noronha de Alemida (Brazil)
Maria Laura Cervelli (Argentina)
Samantha Kinnish (Australia)
Gloria Mohninger (Calgary, Canada)
Guryeva Olga (Russia)
Dawn Scholey (United Kingdom)
Stephanie Yu (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Toni Wheeler (Morehead, Ky.)
Shalimar Wilder (Charleston, W.V.)
Paula Williams-Gulman (Hayden Lake, Idaho)

Fitness Tall Class (8)
Valeria Cristiane Aprobato (Brazil)
Angela Beavers (Smyrna, Ga.)
Tiina Kasvi (Finland)
Jayla McDermott (Trophy Club, Texas)
Meredith Miller (Westerville, Ohio)
Deborah Sizemore (Charleston, W.V.)
Czine Szilvia (Hungary)
Dvortsova Tatiana (Russia)

IFBB FIBO Pro Germany

For those that don't know, there is going to be an IFBB show in Germany this year (on April 16, to be exact)! This is a special contest, as this is the ONLY contest to be held in Germany and one of the few outside the U.S. This is also one of the few contests for competitors of women's fitness this year as well.

As of press time, there are only TWO competitors for women's fitness, and they are Minna Pajulahti and Regiane Da Silva. However, not on the list but hoping to compete in women's fitness are Camala Rodriguez and Stacy Wright.

IFBB Fitness competitors: if you want a chance to see a different country and compete to get a chance at competing in the Fitness Olympia at the same time, I highly encourage you to enter this contest. If you need money, send out emails to your fans, family, and friends. Post it on your websites and Facebook fan pages and profiles. A little can go a LONG way.

For more on the FIBO Pro, go to http://www.pro-championships.com/index.php.

Hope to see many of you make the journey to Germany in a few months!

2011 Fitness International Invite List

Congrats to those that got invited to the 2011 Fitness International at the 2011 Arnold Sports Festival! The 2011 will take place on March 3-6, 2011.

Myriam Capes

Regiane Da Silva

Nicole Duncan

Tina Durkin

Allison Ethier

Adela Garcia

Oksana Grishina

Tanji Johnson

Daniela O’Mara

Erin Riley

Camala Rodriguez

Sylvia Tremblay

Bethany Wagner

Trish Warren

2010 Ft. Lauderdale Pro Fitness Results and Routines (Updated with Full Results and Scorecard)

Here's the top 5 results from the 2010 Ft. Lauderdale Pro Fitness:

1. Kizzy Vaines
2. Nicole Duncan
3. Tina Durkin
4. Ryall Graber
5. Allison Ethier

And the rest of the pack:

6. Deana Martinez
7. Tamee Marie
8. Michelle Craven
9. Michele Mayberry
10. Sylvia Tremblay
11. Venus Nguyen
12. Kary Odiatu
13. Debbie Fowler
14. Minna Pajulahti
15. Donna Jones
16. Peggy Sue Barber



Scorecard (from IFBBPro.com):

Click on scorecard to view larger size

And a big thank you to RxMuscle for posting some routines from the show.

Tina Durkin: http://www.rxmuscle.com/videos/c-interviews/2278-tina-durkins-fitness-routine-at-the-2010-ifbb-ft-lauderdale-cup.html

Nicole Duncan: http://www.rxmuscle.com/videos/c-interviews/2277-nicole-duncans-fitness-routine-at-the-2010-ifbb-ft-lauderdale-cup.html

If there are more routines posted, I'll post them here.

2011 IFBB Pro Schedule (Fitness Only)

Here's the fitness shows schedules for 2011. This was just released not too long ago.

Women's Fitness Pro Show Lineup
Photo credit: IFBBPro.com

For the ENTIRE list of shows for each division, go to http://www.ifbbpro.com/news/2011-calendar-of-events/.

SAY HUH?!?! Less Pro Fitness Shows than Bodybuilding in 2011?!

he official schedule has not been released yet for 2011, but as far as things go for 2011, fitness might have a smaller presence in 2011 than in 2010 and in previous years. There's been a pretty lengthy discussion on Siouxcountry about this.

The shows that will take place next year are:
Fitness International (invite only)
New York Pro Fitness (open to anyone)
Canada show
Germany show
Olympia (invite only)
Chicago (open to anyone but qualifies for 2012)
Ft Lauderdale (open to anyone but qualifies for 2012)

So for Americans, your options are far less than they've ever been,unless you want to travel to Canada or Germany. IFBB Fitness competitors, if you don't want your sport to die out, I'd suggest you come out in big numbers at these shows. For most of you, the only main option is the New York Pro Fitness. As I've said over and over and over, I LOVE the fitness division to death. This division is what led me to the complete world of female muscle in the first place.

I can preach about this all day, but it doesn't mean a thing unless you stand up for your own division and compete! Promoters put out a lot of money to run shows, and when few enter to compete, the promoters feel like they wasted their money. That's a big reason why the Phoenix Pro (among others) will NOT be bringing back fitness next year; it's not worth the time. PLEASE prove them wrong and come out in strong numbers at the next few shows.

The fans and supporters of this division can only do so much. They are stepping up and standing up for the fitness division; it's time for the competitors to do the same...while they have a division to compete in.

Bethany Wagner Wins Europa Super Show Fitness

With one of the best physiques in fitness today as well as a great routine, Bethany Wagner won the 2010 Europa Super Show Fitness contest! Myriam Capes for the thrid straight year ended up placing 2nd, while everyone's favorite fitness "grandma" Shannon Meteraud placed 3rd, making all three fitness stars qualified for the 2010 Fitness Olympia, which is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded events in history.

Here's the full results of the fitness part of the Europa

1. Bethany Wagner*
2. Myriam Capes*
3. Shannon Meteraud*
4. Regiane DaSilva
5. Allison Ethier
6. Alti Bautista
7. Ryall Graber
8. Sonja Bruce
9. Traci Redding
10. Daniela OMara
11. Kristina Rojas
12. Hollie Stewart
13. Cinzia Clapp
14. Stacy McDowell
15. Autumn Edwards

*Olympia qualified

Congrats to the Olympia qualifiers and everyone that competed in this big contest this past weekend! :)

2010 Jr. National Fitness Results

This weekend was the 2010 Jr. Nationals, where 11 pros were crowned for fitness, figure, and bikini. There were three classes for fitness, and all the class winners became IFBB pros! Debbie Fowler (Fitness Short), Michelle Blank (Fitness Medium), and Autumn Edwards (Fitness Tall) won their respective fitness classes, with Autumn as your overall fitness champion. Here's the results of the event:

Overall
1. Autumn Edwards

Class A
1. Debbie Fowler  (New IFBB Pro)
2. Sandra Augustin
3. Babette Mulford
4. Amy Peterson
5. Tracy Winters
6. Paula Williams-Gulman
7. Sara Bankemper
8. Tracie Soder

Class B
1. Michelle Blank (New IFBB Pro)
2. Rachel Johnson
3. Cinzia Clapp
4. Lisha Dean
5. Michelle Yeager
6. Kristine Koontz
7. Leigh Ann Yeager
8. Danielle Delikat
9. Jennifer Bishop

Class C
1. Autumn Edwards (New IFBB Pro)
2. Stacy Wright
3. Meredith Miller
4. Tamee Marie
5. Sandra Fields
6. Heather Skaar

In addition, a HUGE congrats to Save Fitness Now contributor Stacy Wright on placing 2nd in the Fitness Tall class. Stacy has shown us her journey via the Save Fitness Now blog, and we hope she continues to share more fitness tip and discussion with us for the foreseeable future.

Personally, I'd thought the numbers were great this year for the Jr. Nationals. Next time the fitness competitors get to shine will be July 9-10 at the Team Universe, where the top 2 women in each fitness class will become IFBB Fitness Pros!

Congrats to all the fitness competitors that competed this past weekend, as well as all the competitors in the other divisions! :)