The 2023 Chicago Pro was held in Tinley, Illinois, on July 21-22, 2023. Ten IFBB Pro League divisions held competitions, and their respective champions were awarded 2023 Olympia qualifications.
Some competitors made their pro debuts, others made their 2023 season debuts, and the rest continued their quests to claim an invite to compete in Orlando, FL, on Nov. 2-5, 2023.
2023 Chicago Pro Results
The finals for the Men’s 212 bodybuilding Classic Physique, Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, Fitness, and Wellness categories were held on Friday, July 21. The remaining four contests — Men’s Open, Men’s Physique, Figure, and Bikini — took place on Saturday, July 22. Below are the results:
Men’s Open
- Justin Shier (USA)
- Jonathan De La Rosa (USA)
- Stanislas de Longeaux (USA)
- Blessing Awodibu (USA)
- Patrick Moore (USA)
- Eiren Gauley (Canada)
- Matt Kouba (USA)
- Erik Ramirez (USA)
- Emmanuel Longoria (Mexico)
- Stephen Daniels (USA)
212 Bodybuilding
- Chris Jones (USA)
- Jason Nguyen (Canada)
- Mohamed Embaby (Egypt)
- Kevin Johnson (USA)
- Yumon Eaton (USA)
- Jordan Janowitz (USA)
- Francisco Mercado Jr. (USA)
- Peter Burmester (USA)
- Ivan Cabrera (USA)
- Devon Causey (USA)
- Martae Ruelas (USA)
- Luis Ricardo Plata Duran (USA)
Classic Physique
- Marcus Perry (USA)
- Matthew Greggo (USA)
- Krimo Ammari (UAE)
- Dylan Bursey (Canada)
- Tony Coke (Canada)
- Gregory Dawson (Canada)
- Robert Waterhouse (England)
- Jerark Toribio Perez (USA)
- Anthony Barbera III (USA)
- Patryk Karpuk (USA)
- Marof Montanary (USA)
- Rodrigo Coelho (Brazil)
- Tyler Sibley (USA)
- Vincent Krause (USA)
- Adam Cayce (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Theodor Atkins Jr. (USA)
- Rob Brown (USA)
- Derrick Simmons (USA)
Men’s Physique
- Drew Cullen (USA)
- Nick Koeu (USA)
- Kirmany Victor (Canada)
- Alonzo Jefferson (USA)
- Jahvair Mullings (USA)
- Benjamin Iverson (USA)
- Montae Bailey (USA)
- Alexander Toplyn (USA)
- Joaquim Camps Angel (Spain)
- Alexander Rogers (USA)
- Adon Marcus (USA)
- Jorge Hernandez (USA)
- Evan Lilas (USA)
- Chevy Phillips (Canada)
- Marcus Wesley (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Muhammed Ali (Austria)
- Ayinde Avery (USA)
- Donald Brumfield (USA)
- Derryl Bryant (USA)
- Jason Hazzard (USA)
- Jarrett Jenkins (USA)
- Anthony Sullivan (USA)
- Jacob Swisher (USA)
Women’s Bodybuilding
- Kristina Mendoza (USA)
- Jessica E. Martin (USA)
- Melissa Teich (USA)
- Kyna Squarey (Canada)
- Wendy Sanchez (USA)
- Maria Monica Vega (USA)
Women’s Physique
- Danielle LaMartina (USA)
- Nadia Vandal (Canada)
- Marie Berouskova (Czech Republic)
- Justyna Rudnicka (Poland)
- Natalie Juron (USA)
- Marika Jones (USA)
- Marissa Jinkoji (USA)
- Vallie Eden (USA)
- Diana Schnaidt (USA)
- Lisa Kudrey (Canada)
- Kristyn Lea (Australia)
- Alexis M. Lowery (USA)
- Renee Reefschlaeger (USA)
Fitness
- Jodi Boam (Canada)
- Noemie Champagne-Cloutier (Canada)
- Sara Kovach (USA)
- Annaleise Varga (Australia)
- Anna Fomina (USA)
- Aurika Tyrgale (Russia)
- Layla Mikayla (USA)
Figure
- Autumn Cleveland (USA)
- Adela Ondrejovicova (Slovakia)
- Shanice Abrams (USA)
- Edith Driver (USA)
- Danielle Rose (USA)
- Nelly Gonzalez (Mexico)
- Ashley Radiance Fuller (USA)
- Lena Johannesen (USA)
- Erica Freneey (USA)
- Ayra Bahar (Germany)
- Arianna Kinchen (USA)
- Rebecca Godwin (USA)
- Chunmi Kang (China)
- Viridiana Sanchez (USA)
- Chie Terui (USA)
Bikini
- Savannah Dolezal (USA)
- Lizzie Martinez (USA)
- Adair Libbrecht (Canada)
- Ashley Hampton (USA)
- Katiuska Gintili (USA)
- Fallon A. Wainwright (USA)
- Liana Giannamore (USA)
- Mary Ann Parks (USA)
- Kateryna Kauffmann (Canada)
- Tatiana Lanovenko (Russia)
- Alessia Facchin (Italy)
- Rhoda Allie (Canada)
- Mercia Abbado (USA)
- Jill E. Humphrey (USA)
- Nina DiTommaso (USA)
- Kaitlyn Ray (USA)
- Claudia Garcia (USA)
- Christine O’Malley (USA)
- Michelle Billett (USA)
- Paola Leon (Mexico)
- Violeta Garcia (USA)
Wellness
- Danai Theodoropoulou (Australia)
- Amy Li (USA)
- Daniela Deiana (Italy)
- Quintaysia Goodley (USA)
- Maria Paulette (Spain)
- Edna Ferreira de Souza (USA)
- Kat Williams (USA)
- Keana Burr (USA)
- Charnice Bain (Bahamas)
[Related: Bodybuilder Erin Stern Explains the Benefits of High-Intensity, Low-Impact (HILIT) Training]
[Related: The Best Way To Build Your Chest According to Nick Walker]
Men’s Open Winner — Justin Shier
This was Justin Shier’s pro debut. He was the clear winner in both pre-judging and finals. He was bigger and harder than he was when he turned pro at the 2021 NPC North American Championships.
Many fans expected Shier to be a top finisher in this show, but few had him early favorite Blessing Awodibu for the win. As a result of this performance, Shier qualified for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
212 Bodybuilding Winner — Chris Jones
This was Chris Jones’ pro debut. His previous onstage appearance was earning his pro card at the 2021 NPC Worldwide Amateur Olympia Orlando show. He took 2022 off to build his physique to contend at the top level and it paid off. He won in his first pro show and subsequently qualified for his first Olympia.
Classic Physique Winner — Marcus Perry
Marcus Perry scored his second pro career victory in impressive fashion. He was bigger and leaner than at the 2022 Classic Physique Olympia, where he placed outside the top 15. This win earned him his return trip to bodybuilding’s grandest stage, offering the opportunity to break into the top 15.
Men’s Physique Winner — Drew Cullen
Drew Cullen represented the host state and did so well as he went home with the gold and 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia qualification. Nick Koeu finished as the runner-up, and third place went to Kirmani Victor in a tie with fourth-place finisher Alonzo Jefferson. The judges awarded Victor the tiebreaker to reach the podium.
[Related: Bodybuilding Lore Addressed: Can You Actually Target Your Inner Chest?]
Women’s Bodybuilding Winner — Kristina Mendoza
Kristina Mendoza and Jessica E. Martin showed up to Chicago confident with the physiques to back it up. In the end, Mendoza was rewarded with the win.
This may have felt like redemption for Mendoza as she was the runner-up in this contest in 2021. Martin finished in second place, but she is certainly in the mix for the top spot in any future shows she entered this season.
Women’s Physique Winner — Danielle LaMartina
Danielle LaMartina made her pro debut in the 2022 Chicago Pro to a ninth-place finish. Fast forward to the 2023 Chicago Pro, and she made the biggest jump possible for the gold in her second pro contest.
LaMartina added her name to the contender list against defending Women’s Physique Olympia champion Natalia Abraham Coelho at the 2023 Olympia. The judges had LaMartina in first place unanimously, as they for Nadia Vandal in the runner-up slot.
Fitness Winner — Jodi Boam
Sara Kovach entered with momentum as the 2023 Vancouver Pro champion. However, Jodi Beam overtook Kovach for the gold. Boam was second in the Physique round to fellow Canadian Noemie Champagne-Cloutier. However, Boam took first-place points in the routine round, which counts toward two-thirds of the overall score.
Figure Winner — Autumn Cleveland
Autumn Cleveland finished in second place in the 2023 Vancouver Pro, but her muscles appeared fuller, rounder, and she appeared more confidence on the stage in Tinley. That combination was enough to beat Adela Ondrejovicova, who was already qualified for the Olympia — her Olympia standing is not affected by this placing.
Bikini Winner — Savannah Dolezal
Traditionally, athletes who rank outside the top 15 are listed as tied for 16th, but this contest ranked every competitor down to 21st place. The reasoning for this hasn’t been shared, but Savannah Dolezal was content hoisting the gold in her second pro show
Dolezal ranked 12th at the 2023 Republic of Texas Pro, so this result may have surprised many. Nonetheless, Dolezal will make her Olympia debut if she chooses to compete in November.
Wellness Winner — Danai Theodoropoulou
Danai Theodoropoulou joined Jones as first-time winners in their pro debuts. This was the Australia native’s first appearance in the IFBB Pro League and will make her Olympia debut thanks to this win.
Featured image: @justin_shier on Instagram
