The 2023 Masters Olympia was held on the weekend of Aug. 26-27 in Cluj, Romania, and it featured 10 of the 11 IFBB Pro League divisions. Men’s Wheelchair was absent from this show.
Nine of the divisions held inaugural contests to determine their first Masters Olympia champions. The main event was the Men’s Open, which was held for the first time since 2012. The winner of that show was Kamal Elgargni, who scored his first career win in the Men’s Open division.
2023 Masters Olympia Results
The full results from all 10 contests are below.
Men’s Open
- Kamal Elgargni (USA)
- Maxx Charles (USA)
- Phil Clahar (USA)
- Fred Smalls (USA)
- Kenneth B. Jackson (USA)
- Slavoj Bednar (Czech Republic)
- Michael Lynn (USA)
- Sergio Lima (United Kingdom)
- Logan Robson (Australia)
- Rusty Jeffers (USA)
- Robert Burneika (USA)
- Michael Ely (USA)
- Vladimir Agrinskiy (Russia)
- Vinny Galanti (USA)
- Joshua Lenartowicz (Australia) — Did Not Finish
212 Bodybuilding
- Hidetada Yamagishi (USA)
- David Henry (USA)
- Anwar Darwish Ali Al Balushi (Oman)
- Ahmed Fawzi (Iraq)
- Jonni Shreve (Canada)
- Fernando Noronha de Albeida Maradona (Brazil)
- Derik Farnsworth (USA)
- Masoom Butt (United Kingdom)
- Jicheng Qian (China)
- Milton Martinez (Puerto Rico)
- Steve D. Thayer (USA)
- Ryan Walters (USA)
- Wayne Williams (USA)
- Jeff Williamson (USA)
- Luis Ricardo Plata Duran (Columbia)
- Tony LaGrene (USA)
Classic Physique
- Alejandro Cambronero (USA)
- Kelvin Hinde (United Kingdom)
- Ross Caesar (Bermuda)
- Luis Garcia Martinez (Spain)
- Tom Connelly (USA)
- Eric Perkins (USA)
- Greg Rando (USA)
- Peter Sciallo (USA)
- Michel Perez (Spain)
- Richy Chan (Canada)
- Dawid Geler (USA)
- Olushomo Oni (USA)
- Shanti Mitchell (South Africa)
- Vladimir Markov (USA)
- Darrem Charles (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Ali Emre (Turkey)
- Javier Martinez (Canada)
Men’s Physique
- Arya Saffaie (USA)
- Sharif Reid (USA)
- Dajuan Rico Freeman (USA)
- Myron Griffin (USA)
- Andrea Mosti (Italy)
- Michael Ferguson (USA)
- Everton W. B. Ribeiro (Brazil)
- Everett Davis (USA)
- David Odom (USA)
- Kenyon Leno (USA)
- Youcef Djoudi (France)
- Byron Ross (USA)
- Adon Marcus (USA)
- Joshua Petrecky (USA)
- Kevin Reeder (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Terrence Teo Kok Hua (Malaysia)
- Marcell Shippen (USA)
- Harlan Taylor Jr. (USA)
Women’s Bodybuilding
- Reshanna Boswell (USA)
- Barbara Moojen (Brazil)
- Virginia B. Sanchez Macias (Spain)
- Donna Salib (USA)
- Silvia Matta (Italy)
- Cheryl Mears (USA)
- Jacqueline Fuchs (Switzerland)
- Vera Mikulcova (Czech Republic)
- Leah Dennie (USA)
- Dana Shemesh (USA)
- Tananarive Huie (Canada)
- Lori A. Conley (USA)
- Evangelina Guzman (Mexico)
- Maria del Carmen Gomez Segura (Mexico)
- Marcela Venegas (Chile)
- Michelle Brent (USA)
Women’s Physique
- Ivie Rhein (USA)
- Caroline Alves Dos Santos (Brazil)
- Heather Grace (USA)
- Joanna Romano (Spain)
- Susan Graham (USA)
- Stephanie Fredrickson (USA)
- Alida Opre (Hungary)
- Maria Queenie Liberman (Canada)
- Suzanne Davis (USA)
- Candice Carr (Trinidad & Tobago)
- Robyn Mays (USA)
- Birgit Andersch (Austria)
- Tanya Chartrand (Canada)
- Nathalee Thompson (Canada)
- Uta Koehler-Spitzbart (Germany)
- Lenore Gregson (USA)
Fitness
- Minna Pajulahti (Finland)
- Stephanie Jones (USA)
- Tamara Vahn (USA)
- Jenny Worth (USA)
- Debbie Fowler (USA)
- Maria Laura Cerbelli (Canada)
- Sally Kendall-Williams (USA)
- Babette Mulford (USA)
- Marta Aguiar (Uruguay)
Figure
- Jessica Reyes Padilla (Puerto Rico)
- Donya (Dee) Jackson (USA)
- Gina Palma (USA)
- Corrie Morales (USA)
- Zulfiya Bitiyeva (Kazakhstan)
- Jennifer Reece (Canada)
- Her Eun (Korea)
- Kim Clark (USA)
- Jessica Baltazar (USA)
- Martyna Yabekova (Canada)
- Yelena Larina (USA)
- Veronica Gallego (Spain)
- Larissa Penaloza (USA)
- Roberta Visintainer (Italy)
- Shelace Shoemaker (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Alissa Carpio (USA)
- Stella Miliani (United Kingdom)
- Dorota Ogonowska (Poland)
Bikini
- Jessica Wilson (USA)
- Janine Herrera (USA)
- Nucia Freitas Samo (Switzerland)
- Kerryne Henich (USA)
- Elisangela Angell (Brazil)
- Ayleen Santander (Canada)
- Niccole Guggia (USA)
- Aneta Szoltysek (Poland)
- Nicole Johnson (USA)
- Gigi Amurao (USA)
- Angela Ruscilli (USA)
- Abbi Gaetano (USA)
- Chelan Ashley Nour (USA)
- Michelle Hurst (USA)
- Ruth E. Montes (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Merica Abbado (USA)
- Geri Lara-Berger (USA)
- Christy Brown (USA)
- Larissa Godoi (Brazil)
- Patricia Lloyd (United Kingdom)
- Susan Price (USA)
Wellness
- Nerilde Garcia Strey (Brazil)
- Simara Walter (Brazil)
- Oana Marinescu (Romania)
- Tania Isabel Cunha Viegas (Portugal)
- Casey DeLong (USA)
- Alessandra Pinheiro (Brazil)
- Clarissa Sanchez (Puerto Rico)
- Cinzia Massaro Clapp (USA)
- Synara Santana (Brazil)
- Houda Hmini (France)
- Dani Treiger (USA)
- Liliana Velez Marin (Spain)
- Carly Thornton (United Kingdom)
- Elizabeth Williams (USA)
- Nicollette Burns (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Flora Conte (Italy)
- Joann Norwood (USA)
[Related: How Brandon Hendrickson Trains His Back to Reclaim the Men’s Physique Olympia Title]
[Related: 7-Time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath Discusses PED Use During His Pro Bodybuilding Career]
Men’s Open Winner — Kamal Elgargni
Elgargni is the first athlete to hold the Masters Olympia Men’s Open bodybuilding title since Dexter Jackson in 2012. Elgargni was the Olympia 212 champion in 2019 and is now positioned to compete in either the 212 or Men’s Open Mr. Olympia in Orlando on the weekend of Nov. 2-5, 2023.
While there is no word on which he will compete in at the time of this article’s publication, it would be quite the late season plot twist to see the former 212 Olympia champ move to the Open to challenge reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan and 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford.
[Related: These Are the Best Home Gym Back Workouts for Bodybuilding]
212 Winner — Hidetada Yamagishi
Hidetada Yamagishi was quite happy with retirement, but the 49-year-old couldn’t pass up the opportunity to compete in the first Masters Olympia 212 contest. He will be remembered as the first-ever champion 212 Masters Olympia champion. With the gold came a qualification for the 2023 Olympia 212 contest. If he chooses to take one last shot at winning that title, he would have to defeat defending champion Shaun Clarida.
Classic Physique Winner — Alejandro Cambronero
Former Arnold Classic Physique champion Alejandro “Alex” Cambronero has a second prestigious title on his mantle. The inaugural Masters Olympia Classic Physique winner can now set his sights on the 2023 Olympia in Florida this November. It seems unlikely anyone can contest reigning champion Chris Bumstead for the throne given the run he’s been on the last four years, but perhaps a former Classic Physique champ can give Bumstead a run for his money.
Men’s Physique Winner — Arya Saffaie
In the Men’s Physique competition, the judges had Arya Saffaie as the clear winner over second-place finisher Sharif Reid. Taking third was Dajuan Rico Freeman, making it an all-American podium. Saffaie had already qualified for the Olympia thanks to his win at the 2023 Tampa Pro. Thus, no qualification was awarded in this division.
Women’s Bodybuilding Winner — Reshanna Boswell
Reshanna Boswell made her first appearance of the 2023 season in this show and became the first Ms. Masters Olympia. Boswell won with a perfect score over runner-up Barbara Moojen of Brazil. Boswell is now eligible to return to the Ms. Olympia stage in 2023. If she does, she will aim to improve upon her tie for 16th in 2022. She has finished as high as ninth in 2020.
[Related: The 5 Best Lower Lat Exercises for a Denser Back]
Women’s Physique Winner — Ivie Rhein
The inaugural Women’s Physique Masters Olympia champion is Ivie Rhein, who came off a win at the 2023 Texas Pro. Rhein is a contender for Natalia Abraham Coelho’s Women’s Physique Olympia title in Orlando, and this win gives Rhein plenty of momentum for that show.
Fitness Winner — Minna Pajulahti
The Fitness lineup was the smallest out of all 10 divisions in Romania. Minna Pajulahti placed second in the Physique round to Tamara Vahn, but Pajulahti’s routine performance clinched her the overall victory. Vahn and Stephanie Jones tied in final points, but Joness placing higher in the Routine round gave her the nod for second place. Pajulahti is now qualified for the 2023 Fitness Olympia.
Figure Winner — Jessica Reyes Padilla
Jessica Reyes Padilla dreamed of being an Olympia champion and wasted no time once the Masters version became available. Padilla was previously victorious at the 2023 Texas Pro, but this gives her even more confidence heading into her rematch with Cydney Gillon at the Figure Olympia in 2023.
Bikini Winner — Jessica Wilson
Jessica Wilson won the 2023 DC Pro earlier in the season. This is her second pro win of 2023 and carries the honor of the first Masters Olympia Bikini winner. It’s her fourth career victory. Since she was already qualified for Orlando, no qualification was awarded.
Wellness Winner — Nerilde Garcia Strey
Brazil has been credited as the birthplace of the Wellness division, and the top two finishers in the inaugural Wellness Masters Olympia represented that country. Nerilde Garcia Strey got the nod from the judges over Simara Walter. Third-place finisher Oana Marinescu was the highest-finishing Romanian athlete out in all 10 divisions.
Featured image: @ifbb_pro_kamal_elgargni on Instagram
