The 2023 Legion Sports Fest is one of the larger pro bodybuilding shows of the 2023 season, and it will be held in Reno, NV, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. This show represents the final opportunity for many competitors to qualify for the 2023 Olympia in Orlando, FL, on Nov. 2-5. The cutoff for qualifying is Oct. 9, 2023. If the winner of any contest in Reno is already qualified for the Olympia, no qualification will be issued.
The 2023 Legion Sports Fest features several superstars of the sport, including reigning Men’s Physique Olympia champion Erin Banks, two-time Arnold Classic Physique winner Terrence Ruffin, Masters Olympia Figure winner Jessica Reyes Padilla, and 2023 New York Pro Bikini division winner Aimee Delgado.
2023 Legion Sports Fest Pro Rosters
The rosters for all eight competitions are below.
Men’s Open
- Mokhamed El Emam (Russia)
- Stephen Frazier (USA)
- Kenneth Jackson(USA)
- Chad Merchant(USA)
- Johan Rico Rivas (USA)
- Logan Robson (Australia)
- Steve D. Thayer (USA)
- Vitor Boff (Brazil)
- Lewis Breed (United Kingdom)
- Maxx Charles (USA)
- Charles Griffen (USA)
- Dorian Haywood (USA)
- Martin Hernandez (Mexico)
- John Jewett (USA)
- William Martins (Brazil)
- Darius Milton (USA)
- Manolakas Nikitas-Sotrius (Greece)
- Jossue Plascencia (USA)
- Denis Reinhold (Germany)
- Justin Rodriguez (USA)
- Joel Thomas (USA)
- Jan Turek (Czech Republic)
- Eric Wood (USA)
Classic Physique
- Greg O. Larson (USA)
- Scott Sheeran (USA)
- Logan Franklin (USA)
- Kekoa Godfrey (USA)
- Jacob Graham (USA)
- Jorge Herrera (Mexico)
- Michael Lopez (USA)
- Jerark Toribio Perez (USA)
- Terrence Ruffin (USA)
- Lucas Di Santi (USA)
- Daryn Shirbayev (Kazakhstan)
- Bryant Smith (USA)
- Wilfredo Victoria (USA)
- Kellen Wilson (Canada)
Men’s Physique
- Louis Caruso (USA)
- Kenyon Leno (USA)
- David Merrill (USA)
- Sharif Reid (USA)
- Critelli Ortiz Scatolini (USA)
- Robert Williams (USA)
- Aslan Abdullayer (Kazakhstan)
- Tan Dhaliwal (USA)
- Jamal Everette (USA)
- Andre Ferguson (USA)
- Reuben Glass (USA)
- Kyron Holden (USA)
- Hossein Karimi (USA)
- Roberto Lima (USA)
- Jeffrey Robbins (USA)
- Tyler Smith (United Kingdom)
- Jimmie Stewart (USA)
- Serge Victor (USA)
- Rocco De Villiers (USA)
- Erin Banks (USA)
Women’s Physique
- Tia Douglass (USA)
- Farrah Faulkner (USA)
- Cynthia Marks (USA)
- Suzan Oktay (Australia)
- Natalia Spierings (United Kingdom)
- Marcela Corona (USA)
- Fay Simone Ellis (England)
- Jennifer Erhardt (USA)
- Lenka Ferencukova (Czech Republic)
- Susan Graham (USA)
- Tina Mauer Guadarrama (USA)
- Ji Hye Lee (South Korea)
- Jodi Marchuck Costa (USA)
- Julia Monroe (USA)
- Katie Nyland (USA)
- Brooke Pighin (USA)
- Michelle Polanik (USA)
- Anna-Lena Prinz (Germany)
- Laura Pyszora (Poland)
- Rachel Reid (USA)
- Laura Richards (USA)
- Diana Schnaidt (USA)
- Christina Siegrist (USA)
- Paola Viveros (Canada)
- Ayana Ward (USA)
- Heidi Worrell-Osborne (USA)
Fitness
- Danielle Chikeles (USA)
- Heather Coscia (USA)
- Danielle Delikat (USA)
- Andrea Glass (USA)
- Corina Harkelroad (USA)
- Taylor Learmont (Canada)
- Kristin Pope (USA)
- Trishanti Rocke (Trinidad & Tobago)
- Kayla Rossi (USA)
- Jenny Worth (USA)
Figure
- Stephanie Caldwell (USA)
- Jennifer Delgado-Martin (USA)
- Brooke Foley (USA)
- Stephanie Koerber (USA)
- Morgan Martin-Jarred (USA)
- Spomenka Miller-Stanic (USA)
- Kathryn M. Morrissey (USA)
- Jessica Reyes Padilla (Puerto Rico)
- Rori Ross (USA)
- Missy Sandeman (USA)
- Lacy Schlimmer (USA)
- Stacey Steiner (Australia)
- Desiree Alferes (USA)
- Tatiana Altergod-Alerborn (Russia)
- Kaylee Essers (USA)
- Claudia Garcia (USA)
- Sophie Jenkins (United Kingdom)
- Jennifer Johnson (USA)
- Daniella Means (USA)
- Nathalie Nichols (USA)
- Erika Phillips (USA)
- Tamika Robinson (USA)
- Shelace Shoemaker (USA)
- Christine Stearns (USA)
- Aksana Yukhno (Belarus)
Bikini
- Christine Barnum (USA)
- Nikia Hovey (USA)
- Jill Humphrey (USA)
- Huong Mai (USA)
- Katie Zaslove (USA)
- Aimee Delgado (USA)
- Erika Devera (USA)
- Hikaru Sarah Dundore (USA)
- Shiho Fukuda (Japan)
- Abbi Gaetano (USA)
- Marioly Galarza (Bolivia)
- Aisha Kaipova (Kazakhstan)
- Lena Okanovic (USA)
- Lacy Rutland (USA)
- Courtney Walton (USA)
- Tianna Weymouth (USA)
Wellness
- Teresa Myers (USA)
- Tammy Sievers (USA)
- Simara Walter (Brazil)
- Maria Borisch (USA)
- Rian Choi (Korea)
- Tracy Eden (England)
- Christine Ford (USA)
- HyeYoon Kim (Korea)
- Madison Luna (USA)
- Rosa Benadero Munoz (Spain)
- Jasmine Payne (USA)
- Natasha Peay (USA)
- Elena Sandaevskaia (Russia)
- Sina Maria Teresa (Angola)
- Victoria Reyes Villa (Mexico)
- Jennifer Zollars (USA)
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Men’s Athletes to Watch
Below are the athletes likely to contend in first callouts for the Men’s Open division:
Charles Griffen
Griffen is making his 2023 debut in this contest. He was scheduled to be a part of the 2023 Arnold Classic in March but withdrew immediately after the rosters were announced. Griffen ranked 14th overall at the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest and has won two pro shows in his eight-year career. To win in Reno, Griffen will have to be ripped and conditioned to pose for multiple rounds of comparisons.
John Jewett
John Jewett is a 212 competitor who qualified for the 2023 212 Olympia contest by winning the 2023 Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro in July. This will be his Men’s Open debut, where he hopes his conditioning and shape are what the judges want to see. Don’t be surprised if he pulls an upset win — he wouldn’t even be the first to do it in this contest. Shaun Clarida achieved the feat in 2021, and he went on to win the 2022 Olympia 212 title afterward.
Justin Rodriguez
Justin Rodriguez ranked 15th overall at the 2022 Mr. Olympia after qualifying on points. That is not an option this season as only show winners advance to the Olympia stage. Rodriguez’s career-best Olympia result was eighth in 2021. This is his second pro show of 2023; the first was an eighth-place finish at the 2023 Arnold Classic contest.
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Wellness Athletes to Watch
Below are three Wellness athletes who seem to be the early favorites for podium positions:
Jasmine Payne
Jasmine Payne has competed twice thus far in the 2023 season: sixth overall at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and second in the 2023 Charlotte Pro. She ranked outside the top 15 at the 2022 Olympia. This is her final opportunity to punch her ticket to Orlando, and the third-year pro is capable of doing so under pressure.
Simara Walter
2023 Masters Olympia runner-up Simara Walter could be the dark horse in this contest. She is in her second pro season, seeking her first pro win. She ranked 15th overall at the 2023 Arizona Pro and can hold her own in Open contests, such as the 2023 Miami Muscle Beach Pro, where she finished sixth overall.
Jennifer Zollars
This is Jennifer Zollars’ fifth and final opportunity to qualify for the 2023 Olympia. She placed as high as second on two occasions this season and is coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Arizona Pro. If she doesn’t win here, she will have to set her sights on 2024.
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Featured image: @charlesgriffen_ifbbpro on Instagram
