Every Winner of the Figure Olympia

The 19-year history of this contest has seen several great champions raise the trophy.

Prior to the start of the 21st century, the only two women’s divisions in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) were the Ms. Olympia and the Fitness Olympia. This meant that pro women’s bodybuilding was only available to women who wanted to achieve the bigger muscles featured in Ms. Olympia and those who were able and willing to perform the kinds of gymnastics, dancing, and tumbling featured in the Fitness Olympia. To expand women’s bodybuilding, the IFBB started the Figure Olympia in 2003.

Figure features athletes that have shape, symmetry, and some muscle size. Athletes competing in the Figure Olympia typically are judged for a more stereotypically “feminine” shape and appearance, with a focus on developed shoulders and upper back with a smaller waist and bigger glutes. But, these athletes aren’t generally as big as classic bodybuilders. The division was met with a positive response, and today the division has become a force all its own. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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There have been seven champions in the division’s 19-year history. Three women have held the title three times or more. Cydney Gillon holds the record for the most Figure Olympia wins, with five and counting as of this writing. The only one-time champion in the division’s history is Jennifer Gates, who won it in 2008. Two women have reclaimed the title after losing it. Here’s a more detailed look back at the history of this prestigious contest.

Every Figure Olympia Winner

Davana Medina (2003-2005)

The very first Figure Olympia took place in 2003, and there was mystery surrounding how the new division would be met by the fans. It turned out to be a highlight of the 2003 season. Davana Medina was crowned the first champion that year, and she maintained a grip on that title for the next two years.

2003

  1. Davana Medina
  2. Monica Brant
  3. Jenny Lynn
  4. Mari Kudla
  5. Dinah Al-Sabah
  6. D.J. Wallis
  7. Jamie Franklin
  8. Aleksandra Kobielak
  9. Sharon Kouvaris
  10. Hannah Park
  11. Elaine Goodlad
  12. Theil Bradford

2004

  1. Davana Medina
  2. Jenny Lynn
  3. Monica Brant
  4. Jamie Franklin
  5. Amber Littlejohn
  6. Christine Pomponio-Pate
  7. Mari Kudla-Donnelly
  8. Elaine Goodlad
  9. Zena Collins
  10. Aleksandra Kobielak
  11. Mellisa Frabbiele
  12. Shannon Meteraud
  13. Dinah Al-Sabah
  14. Jaanaa Kotkansolo
  15. Lisbeth Halikka

2005

  1. Davana Medina
  2. Jenny Lynn
  3. Monica Brant
  4. Amber Littlejohn
  5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
  6. Christine Pomponio-Pate
  7. Valerie Waugaman
  8. Amanda Savell
  9. Jennifer Searles
  10. Monica Guerra
  11. Chastity Slone
  12. Latisha Wilder
  13. Michelle Adams
  14. Tara Scotti
  15. Melissa Frabbiele

Jenny Lynn (2006 and 2007)

After three tries, Jenny Lynn finally cleared the hurdle to become the second Figure Olympia winner. It wasn’t without a fight; both Amber Littlejohn and Monica Brant pushed her to the limit.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Lynn hoped to start her own run as champion, and succeeding in grabbing two consecutive titles for herself. 

2006

  1. Jenny Lynn
  2. Amber Littlejohn
  3. Monica Brant
  4. Christine Pomponio-Pate
  5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
  6. Gina Aliotti
  7. Amanda Savall
  8. Gina Camacho
  9. Jennifer Searles
  10. Latisha Wilder
  11. Jessica Paxson
  12. Valerie Waugerman
  13. Michelle Adams
  14. Inga Neverauskaite
  15. Andrea Dumon

2007

  1. Jenny Lynn
  2. Gina Aliotti
  3. Sonia Adcock
  4. Jennifer Gates
  5. Amanda Savell
  6. Amber Littlejohn
  7. Monica Brant
  8. Amy Fry
  9. Valerie Waugaman
  10. Mary Elizabeth Lago
  11. Latisha Wilder
  12. Zivile Raudoniene
  13. Inga Neverauskaite
  14. Andrea Dumon
  15. Chastity Slone

Jennifer Gates (2008)

Lynn was expected to three-peat at the 2008 contest, but no one saw second-year pro Jennifer Gates coming. She showed up ripped and confident to Las Vegas, and she pulled off an incredible upset to take the title. Lynn finished in fourth place. Gates never returned to the Olympia stage again after taking the victory.

  1. Jennifer Gates
  2. Gina Aliotti
  3. Zivile Raudoniene
  4. Jenny Lynn
  5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
  6. Sonia Adcock
  7. Kristal Richardson
  8. Amy Fry
  9. Nicole Wilkins
  10. Heather Mae French
  11. Lenay Hernandez
  12. Julia Ann Kulia
  13. Huong Arcinas
  14. Jessica Putnam
  15. Jelena Abbou

Nicole Wilkins (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014)

In the early 2010’s, Nicole Wilkins was among the most popular athletes of any gender in fitness. Her rise to superstardom began when she won her first Figure Olympia title in 2009.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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After relinquishing the title in 2010, she regained it the following year. She missed her peak in 2012, but would bring a more muscular physique to the 2013 contest to clinch her third world title. She would repeat in 2014 to make it four wins on the biggest stage in bodybuilding.

2009

  1. Nicole Wilkins
  2. Gina Aliotti
  3. Heather Mae French
  4. Kristal Richardson
  5. Amy Fry
  6. Erin Stern
  7. Jenny Lynn
  8. Jessica Putnam
  9. Felicia Romero
  10. Monica Brant
  11. Sonia Gonzalez
  12. Larissa Reis
  13. Alicia Harris
  14. Kristi Tauti
  15. Meriza DeGuzman

2011

  1. Nicole Wilkins
  2. Erin Stern
  3. Ava Cowan
  4. Candice Keene
  5. Teresa Anthony
  6. Alicia Harris
  7. Cheryl Brown
  8. Latisha Wilder
  9. Jelena Abbou
  10. Larissa Reis
  11. Gennifer Strobo
  12. Chelsey Morgenstern
  13. Heather Dees
  14. Alea Suarez
  15. Felicia Romero

2013

  1. Nicole Wilkins
  2. Erin Stern
  3. Candice Keene
  4. Heather Dees
  5. Mallory Haldeman
  6. Ann Titone
  7. Camala Rodriguez
  8. Gennifer Strobo
  9. Candice Lewis
  10. Dana Ambrose
  11. Allison Frahn
  12. Alea Suarez
  13. Kati Alander
  14. Swann Delarosa
  15. Candice John

2014

  1. Nicole Wilkins
  2. Candice Keene
  3. Candice Lewis
  4. Ann Titone
  5. Latorya Watts
  6. Gennifer Strobo
  7. Julie Mayer
  8. Dana Ambrose
  9. Cydney Gillon
  10. Allison Frahn
  11. Alicia Coates
  12. Jessica Graham
  13. Camala Rodriguez
  14. Wendy Fortino
  15. Andrea Calhoun

Erin Stern (2010 and 2012)

The biggest rivalry in this division would be between Wilkins and Erin Stern. Stern would be the athlete to disrupt Wilkins’ championship reign not once, but twice. She won her first Olympia in 2010 to kick off the decade. After Wilkins reclaimed the title in 2011, Stern took it back in 2012.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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She wouldn’t win the title again afterwards, but her contribution to the division was cemented thanks to the competitions she and Wilkins put on during that stretch of time.

2010

  1. Erin Stern
  2. Nicole Wilkins
  3. Heather Mae French
  4. Kristal Richardson
  5. Felicia Romero
  6. Alicia Harris
  7. Teresa Anthony
  8. Terri Turner
  9. Candice Keene
  10. Larissa Reis
  11. Cheryl Brown
  12. Carin Hawkins
  13. Gennifer Strobo
  14. Gina Trochiano
  15. Kristi Tauti

2012

  1. Erin Stern
  2. Nicole Wilkins
  3. Candice Keene
  4. Heather Dees
  5. Mallory Haldeman
  6. Teresa Anthony
  7. Candice Lewis
  8. Allison Frahn
  9. Ava Cowan
  10. Larissa Reis
  11. Alicia Harris
  12. Ann Titone
  13. Alea Suarez
  14. Candice John
  15. Monica Specking

Latorya Watts (2015 and 2016)

Bridging the gap between the division’s two winningest athletes is a competitor who should be very proud of her own career. Watts upset Wilkins to take the title in 2015, and she then held off contenders Candice Keene and Cydney Gillon to win her second straight Olympia.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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That makes Watts the only athlete to have beaten both Wilkins and Gillon on the Olympia stage.

2015

  1. Latorya Watts
  2. Nicole Wlkins
  3. Candice Lewis
  4. Camala Rodriguez
  5. Candice Keene
  6. Gennifer Strobo
  7. Ann Titone
  8. Cydney Gillon
  9. Andrea Calhoun
  10. Joan Smith
  11. Allison Frahn
  12. Julie Mayer
  13. Ivana Ivusic
  14. Adela Ondrejovicova
  15. Shalako Bradberry

2016

  1. Latorya Watts
  2. Candice Lewis
  3. Cydney Gillon
  4. Nicole Wilkins
  5. Swann Delarosa
  6. Camala Rodriguez
  7. Gennifer Strobo
  8. Carly Starling-Horrell
  9. Vera Mallett
  10. Jennifer Taylor
  11. Stephanie Hammermiester
  12. Adela Ondrejovicova
  13. Brittany Campbell
  14. Sandra Grajales Romero
  15. Natalia Abraham Coelho

Cydney Gillon (2017-2021)

In 2017, Gillon rose up the ranks and defeated Watts to win her first Figure Olympia title. Little did the fans in Las Vegas realize that this was the dawn of the most dominant run in the history of her division.

Gillon is the only five-time champion, and she hasn’t lost any contest since she placed second at the 2018 Arnold Classic Australia contest.

2017

  1. Cydney Gillon
  2. Latorya Watts
  3. Candice Lewis-Carter
  4. Heather Dees
  5. Nicole Wilkins
  6. Maria Luisa Baeza-Diaz
  7. Ivana Ivusic
  8. Jessica Reyes-Padilla
  9. Sandra Grajales
  10. Bojana Vasiljevic
  11. Laurelle Martineau
  12. Camala Rodriguez
  13. Adela Ondre Jovicova
  14. Tonya Wheatfall
  15. Marlissa Jordan

2018

  1. Cydney Gillon
  2. Candice Lewis-Carter
  3. Nadia Wyatt
  4. Jessica Reyes-Padilla
  5. Carly Starling-Horrell
  6. Heather Dees
  7. Sandra Grajales
  8. Natalia Soltero
  9. Bojana Vasiljevic
  10. Brittany Campbell
  11. Ivana Ivusic
  12. Melissa Bumstead
  13. Julia Waring
  14. Julie Mayer
  15. Karina Grau

2019

  1. Cydney Gillon
  2. Latorya Watts
  3. Nadia Wyatt
  4. Jessica Reyes-Padilla
  5. Carly Starling-Horrell
  6. Ivana Ivusic
  7. Tarryn Garlington
  8. Ashley Soto
  9. Martina Yabekova
  10. Sandra Grajales
  11. Bojana Vasiljevic
  12. Karina Grau
  13. Rhea Gayle
  14. An Da Jeong
  15. Lola Montez

2020

  1. Cydney Gillon
  2. Natalia Soltero
  3. Nadia Wyatt
  4. Nicole Zenobia-Graham
  5. Latorya Watts
  6. Jessica Reyes-Padilla
  7. An Da Jeong
  8. Carly Starling-Horrell
  9. Rhea Gayle
  10. Anna Banks
  11. Bojana Vasiljevic
  12. Julia Waring
  13. Ajanel Williams
  14. Latoyia Farley
  15. Maryam Bamdad

2021

  1. Cydney Gillon
  2. Natalia Soltero
  3. Stephanie Gibson
  4. Jessica Reyes-Padilla
  5. Nicole Zenobia-Graham
  6. Larhannah Robinson
  7. An Da Jeong
  8. Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
  9. Lola Montez
  10. Heather Dees
  11. Julia Waring
  12. Sandra Grajales
  13. Bojana Vasiljevic
  14. Wendy Fortino
  15. Bahar Ayra

2022 Figure Olympia

The 20th edition of the Figure Olympia is slated to take place Dec. 16-18, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV as a part of the 2022 Olympia weekend. There are now six women’s divisions that will grace the Olympia stage, but the Figure will be among the most anticipated because the fans will be excited to see who will challenge Gillon next.

Featured Image: @latoryawatts / Instagram