After weeks of updates, developments, and preparation, the 2021 Olympia has finally arrived. The competitions in Orlando, FL, kicked off with the Friday Morning Pre-judging session on Oct. 8, 2021. Six of the 11 divisions made their way to the stage to face the judges. They are:
The pre-judging round is significant for the competitors because those that place higher can carry that momentum in the Finals. Here is how each division played out this morning at the Orange County Convention Center.
Fitness Olympia
The first round of Fitness is the physique round. Competitors are compared as the other divisions are in a two-piece suit. After comparisons, the athletes will finish preparations for their routines.
The pre-judging round for Fitness counts for one-third of their overall score. After initial introductions and numerical callouts, the judges put the competitors to the test.
The callouts order left to right, but athletes want to be in the center; that is where the leaders of each group stand. The athletes in the final callout will be the leaders going into the finals. It appears those leaders are defending champion Missy Truscott, former champion Whitney Jones, Ariel Khadr, and Jaclyn Baker. However, nothing is certain — the routines can change everything.
Callout 1
- Oksana Grishina, #4
- Ariel Khadr, #6
- Missy Truscott, #13
- Whitney Jones, #5
- Jaclyn Baker, #1
- Tamara Vahn, #11
Callout 2
- Alix Small, #9
- Minna Pajulahti, #8
- Sara Kovach, #7
- Darrian Borello, #2
Callout 3
- Derina Wilson, #12
- Debbie Fowler, #3
- Aurika Tyrgale, #10
Callout 4
- Alix Small, #9
- Tamara Vahn, #11
- Oksana Grishina, #4
- Debbie Fowler, #3
Callout 5
- Missy Truscott, #13
- Ariel Khadr, #6
- Jaclyn Baker, #1
- Whitney Jones, #5
212 Olympia
There are a lot of fans waiting to see this one. These 19 men aren’t as big as the Open competitors, but the intensity and competition levels are second to none. The 212 Division is noticeably different this year due to the sudden passing of George Peterson, who placed third at the 2020 Olympia.
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The favorites heading into pre-judging were defending champ Shaun Clarida and 2019 Olympia winner Kamal Elgargni. However, Derek Lunsford came to this contest in the best shape of his life. Every callout was intense, and the judges worked all the men hard to give them their opportunities to shine. Clarida, Elgargni, and Lunsford appear to be the top three at the conclusion of this showdown. Each man had a chance to stand in the center for comparisons. This one is a three-way toss-up.
Callout 1
- Ahmad Ashkanani, #2
- Derek Lunsford, #15
- Shaun Clarida, #19
- Kamal Elgargni, #9
Callout 2
- John Jewett, #13
- Naser Mohammed, #16
- Ahmad Ashkanani, #2
- Kerrith Bajjo, #3
- Angel Calderon Frias, #12
- Nathan Epler, #11
Callout 3
- Pasquale D’Angelo, #8
- Lucas Coelho, #7
- Tonio Burton, #6
- Noel Adame, #1
Callout 4
- Vladimir Iacovlev, #18
- Junho Kim, #14
- Keone Pearson, #17
- Ahmed ElWardany, #10
- Steve Benthin, #4
- Piotr Borecki, #5
Callout 5
- Naser Mohammed, #16
- Angel Calderon Frias, #12
- Ahmad Ashkanani, #2
- Nathan Epler, #11
Callout 6
- Derek Lunsford, #15
- Kamal Elgargni, #9
- Shaun Clarida, #19
Figure Olympia
The Figure division is a hybrid between Bikini and Women’s Physique. Their physiques look powerful, but they have a very athletic look as well. These competitors hit different poses than the men, but their presentation and posing are just as important.
The strong favorite is four-time champion Cydney Gillon, but she has 20 other competitors aiming to stop her from making it five times. Among them was Natalia Soltero, who was being compared at the end. They were flanked by Jessica Reyes-Padilla and Stephanie Gibson.
Callout 1
- Stephanie Gibson, #6
- Bahar Ayra, #1
- Cydney Gillon, #21
- Natalie Soltero, #16
- Larhannah Robinson, #14
- Jessica Reyes Padilla, #12
Callout 2
- Carly Starling-Horrell, #17
- Lola Montez, #11
- Heather Dees, #2
- Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz, #3
- Julie Waring, #19
- An Da Jeong, #10
Callout #3
- Shelace Shoemaker, #15
- Michele Silva Pinto, #13
- Nadia Wyatt, #20
- Bojana Vasiljevic, #18
- Sandra Grajales, #8
- Rhea Gayle, #5
- Bahar Ayra, #1
Callout #4
- Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz, #3
- Larhannah Robinson, #14
- Nicole Zenobia Graham, #7
- An Da Jeong, #10
Callout #5
- Jessica Reyes Padilla, #12
- Natalia Soltero, #16
- Cydney Gillon, #21
- Stephanie Gibson, #6
Women’s Physique Olympia
Each competitor in this lineup had their game face on at the Meet the Olympians event on the evening of Oct. 7. This could be one of the closest contests of the entire weekend. The women in this division aren’t as big as the Women’s Open competitors, but they will have to showcase similar symmetry, conditioning, and well-developed muscle.
Champion Sarah Villegas wanted to prove that her 2020 win was no fluke. After the retirement of former winner Shanique Grant, every athlete hoped to be standing next to Villegas at the end of pre-judging. The fans of Natalia Abraham Coelho were out in full force for pre-judging. She and Villegas were in the center of the first callout.
Callout 1
- Melissa Teich, #14
- Brooke Walker, #16
- Sarah Villegas, #18
- Natalia Abraham Coelho, #4
- Barbara Menage, #9
- Ana Harias, #7
Callout 2
- Laura Pintado Chinchilla, #3
- Anne-Lorranie Mohn, #10
- Ivie Rhein, #12
- Patricia Gosselin, #6
- Christelle Zarovska, #17
- Elizabeth Bradshaw, #1
Callout 3
- Carli Terepka, #15
- Alyssa Kiessling, #8
- Lenka Ferencukova, #5
- Tanya Chartrand, #2
- Bork Im Park, #11
- Emily Renee Schubert, #13
Callout 4
- Christella Zarovska, #17
- Ivie Rhein, #12
- Ana Harias, #7
- Melissa Teich, #14
Callout 5
- Sarah Villegas, #18
- Brooke Walker, #16
- Natalia Abraham Coelho, #4
- Barbara Menage, #9
Ms. Olympia
The anticipation for the return of the Ms. Olympia last year was very high. The appetite for more by the fans is even higher, and these women are prepared to deliver.
The defending Ms. Olympia is Andrea Shaw, who won the title in 2020. Her confidence to repeat was amplified by winning the 2021 Rising Phoenix contest in September. That was shown when she hit every pose in comparison. In the first Callout, she had Rising Phoenix runner-up Helle Trevino right by her side.
Callout 1
- Mona Poursaleh, #12
- Andrea Shaw, #16
- Helle Trevino, #14
- Margie Martin, #8
Callout 2
- Margita Zamolova, #15
- Virginia Sanchez, #13
- Janeen Lankoswki, #7
- Irene Anderson, #1
- Michaela Aycock, #3
- Nadia Capostosto, #5
Callout 3
- Reshanna Boswell, #4
- LaDawn, McDay, #10
- Sheena Ohlig, #11
- MayLa Ash, #2
- Silvia Matta, #9
- Leah Dennie, #6
Callout 4
- Mona Poursaleh, #12
- Andrea Shaw, #16
- Helle Trevino, #14
- Margie Martin, #8
Wellness Olympia
No one knows what to expect from the inaugural Wellness Olympia. Like the Ms. Olympia in 2020, the fans are excited at what they could see in this new division. There is no favorite going into this one, so any of the athletes competing can generate a lot of momentum after pre-judging.
Athletes from other divisions started showing up to watch this unfold. Twenty ladies were onstage looking to make history. These athletes wear two-piece outfits, and their posing is similar to the Bikini division.
Callout 1
- Sunny Andrews, #1
- Isabelle Nunes, #13
- Francielle Mattos, #11
- Angela Borges, #3
- Yarishna Ayala, #2
- Julia Chitarra, #6
Callout 2
- Barbara Emanuele Cesar, #5
- Lorena Ragusa, #15
- Isamara dos Santos, #18
- Bruna Seredich, #19
- Kassandra Gillis, #8
Callout 3
- Tatiany Valliant, #20
- Renee Jewett, #9
- Amanda Rezende, #16
- Devyn Cambre, #4
Callout 4
- Maria Paulette, #14
- Mallory Myers, #12
- Rene Jewett, #10
- Casey Delong, #7
- Susana Rodiguez, #17
Callout 5
- Bruna Seredich, #19
- Julia Chitarra, #6
- Sunny Andrews, #1
- Isamara dos Santos, #18
Callout 6
- Isabelle Nunes, #13
- Angela Borges, #3
- Francielle Mattos, #11
- Yarishna Ayala, #2
2021 Olympia Schedule
Olympia Weekend runs from Oct. 7-10, with the pro competitions taking place on the eighth and ninth. Here’s the complete competition schedule:
- Friday, Sept. 8, 9:00 a.m. EST: Morning Pre-judging (Fitness, 212, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. O, Wellness)
- Friday, Sept. 8, 7:00 p.m. EST: Evening Finals (212, Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. O, Mr. O Prejuding)
- Saturday, Sept 9, 9:00 a.m. EST: Morning Pre-judging (Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Wellness Finals, Wheelchair Finals)
- Saturday, Sept 9, 7:00 p.m. EST: Evening Finals (Mr. Olympia, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Classic Physique)
Featured Image: Will Wittmann (@w_wittmann on Instagram)
