There are five IFBB Pro League contests taking place on Saturday, June 10, 2023, but only one features the Figure division. The 2023 Northern California Pro in Sacramento, CA, will feature 21 athletes taking the stage, and their mission is simple.
The winner of this contest qualifies for the 2023 Figure Olympia on the weekend of Nov. 2-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL. This competitive lineup features a blend of newcomers and seasoned veterans. The full roster is below:
2023 Northern California Pro Roster — Figure Division
- Desiree Alferes (USA)
- Jessica Baltazar (USA)
- Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra (Mexico)
- Laura Bedson (USA)
- Tonya Brookter (USA)
- Christine Cave (USA)
- Jennifer Delgado-Martin (USA)
- Wendy Fortino (USA)
- Ashley Radiance Fuller (USA)
- Ashley Garcia (USA)
- Chelsea Hutton (USA)
- Georgina Lona (Mexico)
- Dr. Adrienne Matthews (USA)
- Ericka Morales Morgan (Guatemala)
- Gina Palma (USA)
- Kiira Poux (USA)
- Nora Prado (Mexico)
- Missy Sandeman (USA)
- Susana Serrano (El Salvador)
- Natalia Soltero (Mexico)
- Aksana Yukhno (Belarus)
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Athletes to Watch
The roster in Sacramento is very deep. However, if there were early favorites to bet on seeing in the first callout, the three below are likely safe picks:
Jossie Becerra
Becerra was one of the surprises of the 2022 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV. As a newcomer in the Figure division; she ranked fourth overall in the contest. For reference, Cydney Gillon won her sixth consecutive title that weekend.
Becerra hasn’t competed since that Olympia, but the judges will likely expect her to be in similar or better condition. If that is the case, Becerra could return to the Olympia in 2023.
Natalia Soltero
Soltero is a former two-time Olympia runner-up (2020-21) and won the Figure International contest in 2020. However, Soltero finished fifth at the 2022 Olympia, and she has yet to win a show in 2023 to guarantee her return to the Olympia stage.
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Soltero finished second at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and the 2023 New York Pro. Winning this contest in Sacramento would give her close to five months to prepare for the 2023 Olympia. She’ll certainly be prepared to stand against anyone in callouts.
Wendy Fortino
Fortino has been active on the media side of the sport in recent months as a host of Femme Flex Friday. She has won three pro shows since turning pro in 2011, with her most recent win at the 2022 Zhanna Rotar Classic Pro.
Fortino was in the 2022 Olympia but placed outside the top 15. If she wins this show, she’ll make her seventh career Olympia appearance.
Featured Image: @nataliasolteroh on Instagram
