While the early portion of the 2020 IFBB Pro League season has been placed on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the news and developments of the 2020 Olympia is still happening and another announcement has been made regarding the Fitness Olympia contest.
Earlier this year, four-time Fitness Olympia winner Oksana Grishina announced her return to the competitive stage this September. Shawn Ray of Digital Muscle has reported that Grishina will now be joined by 8-time Fitness Olympia champion Adela Garcia. Garcia confirmed the news as well.
Garcia has arguably the most impressive resumè in the history of the fitness division. She made her debut in 2000 and has won 19 pro shows in her career. 13 of those wins were either at the Olympia or Fitness International which is a part of the Arnold Classic.
The 48 year old legend hasn’t been onstage as a competitor since 2013 when she won her 8th and final Olympia. She retired immediately after her win in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was succeeded by Grishina who then won four straight titles herself before retiring in 2017.
Now that both Garcia and Grishina will be returning, they will join current Olympia champion Whitney Jones as well as 2020 Fitness International Champion Missy Truscott in one of the most anticipated contests in the division’s history. Garcia, Grishina, and Jones hold a combined 14 Olympia championships between them. Since all three of those athletes are Olympia champions, they won’t have to win another show or earn points in order to qualify for the big show in Las Vegas. All Olympia champions have automatic qualifications or invites to enter any show within their divisions.
The 2020 Olympia weekend is shaping up to be among the most memorable weekends in bodybuilding history. Aside from the matchups in the Fitness Division, the Mr. Olympia contest will also gain a lot of attention with it being the final contest for 2008 champion Dexter Jackson as well as the return to the competitive stage for 7-time 212 Olympia champion James “Flex” Lewis, who will be competing in the Open division on the big stage for the first time. The world championships of bodybuilding and fitness is currently scheduled for September 9-13 with NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal serving as the Honorary Ambassador.
Featured Image: Instagram/msfitnesso
