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Every Winner of the Fitness Olympia

There are almost three decades of history behind this competition.

Written by Roger Lockridge
Last updated on July 17th, 2023

There are six women’s divisions in the IFBB Pro League. It’s hard to imagine an Olympia weekend without all the athletes in those divisions taking the stage and presenting their best physiques. However, it wasn’t long ago that only one division, Ms. Olympia, saw women stepping on stage. 

That changed in 1995 with the introduction of the Fitness Olympia, a unique competition that was part of a bodybuilding competition and part gymnastics routine. After the posing round, athletes perform a routine that showcases strength, athleticism, and inspiration. The high-flying display of power and strength proved a success, and the Fitness division has since been a mainstay at the Olympia. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Missy T IFBB Fitness Pro 🇺🇸🇨🇦🦈 (@ifbbmissytruscott)


There have been 27 Fitness Olympia contests and 11 champions since its debut in 1995. Six of those champions only won the title once. The most decorated winner in the contest’s history is Adela Garcia, who has won the Fitness Olympia eight times. As of 2021, the last champion was Whitney Jones, who won it for the third time in her career. The results documented here came from the IFBB Pro League website and NPC News Online.

Every Fitness Olympia Winner

The 1990s — 5 Champions in 5 Years

This contest saw serious competition from the get-go. Throughout the first half-decade, the title changed hands every year. Mia Finnegan made history as the first Fitness Olympia winner. Next up was Saryn Muldrow in 1996, followed by Carol Semple-Marzetta in 1997. In 1998, Monica Brant took the title, and she is still revered as a legend in the sport of bodybuilding today. The 20th century concluded with Mary Yockey holding the title of Ms. Fitness Olympia in 1999.

1995

  1. Mia Finnegan
  2. Carol Semple
  3. Saryn Muldrow
  4. Dale Tomita
  5. Denise Paglia
  6. Madonna Grimes
  7. Monica Brant
  8. Debbie Kruck
  9. Christine Tooze
  10. Penny Price
  11. Sharon Bruneau
  12. Maria Gonzalez
  13. Carmen Moreno

1996

  1. Saryn Muldrow
  2. Mia Finnegan
  3. Karen Hulse
  4. Dale Tomita
  5. Carol Semple
  6. Teresa Hessler
  7. Monica Brant
  8. Michelle Bellini
  9. Debi Lee
  10. Claire Hillman

1997

  1. Carol Semple
  2. Saryn Muldrow
  3. Lena Johannesen
  4. Susan Curry
  5. Dale Tomita
  6. Monica Brant
  7. Karen Hulse
  8. Teresa Hessler
  9. Carmen Moreno
  10. Alexandra Beres
  11. Timea Majorova
  12. Michelle Bellini
  13. Stephanie Worsfold
  14. Jennifer Collins
  15. Michele Ralabate

1998

  1. Monica Brant
  2. Susan Curry
  3. Mary Yockey
  4. Saryn Muldrow
  5. Lena Johannesen
  6. Timea Majorova
  7. Debbie Lee-Stern
  8. Carmen Moreno
  9. Tina San Antonio
  10. Jennifer Worth
  11. Cristiana Casoni
  12. Alexandra Beres
  13. Stacy Simons
  14. Marietta Zigalova
  15. Claire Hillman

1999

  1. Mary Yockey
  2. Kelly Ryan
  3. Susan Curry
  4. Monica Brant
  5. Timea Majorova
  6. Amanda Blank
  7. Lena Johannesen
  8. Melissa Frabiele
  9. Jennifer Worth
  10. Marietta Zigalova
  11. Stacy Simons
  12. Cristiana Casoni
  13. Madonna Grimes
  14. Ursula Buckanes-Henry

Susan Curry (2000-2003)

The turn of the century saw the first champion defend her title successfully. Susan Curry became the standard-bearer of Fitness in 2000, and she accumulated four consecutive titles — winning again in 2001, 2002, and finally in 2003.

After her fourth consecutive victory on the big stage, Curry opted not to compete in 2004, thus ending her streak of world title victories. She left the sport as the first multiple-time winner, and her record of four wins would stand for the next seven years.

2000

  1. Susan Curry
  2. Kelly Ryan
  3. Jennifer Worth
  4. Timea Majorova
  5. Adela Garcia (then known as Friedmansky)
  6. Shannon Meteraud
  7. Jennifer Hendershott
  8. Klaudia Kinska
  9. Lena Johannesen
  10. Melissa Frabielle
  11. Shena Forkner
  12. Stacy Simons
  13. Lisa Lowe

2001

  1. Susan Curry
  2. Jennifer Worth
  3. Kelly Ryan
  4. Adela Garcia
  5. Timea Majorova
  6. Jennifer Hendershott
  7. Jennifer Hanke
  8. Stacy Simons
  9. Aleksandra Kobielak
  10. Laura Mak
  11. Nicole Hobbs
  12. Melissa Frabielle

2002

  1. Susan Curry
  2. Kelly Ryan
  3. Jennifer Worth
  4. Adela Garcia
  5. Jennifer Hendershott
  6. Stacy Hylton
  7. Tracey Greenwood
  8. Shannon Meteraud
  9. Christine Bergeron
  10. Tanji Johnson
  11. Anna Level
  12. Stacy Simons
  13. Laurie Vaniman
  14. Lisa Reed
  15. Aleksandra Kobielak

2003

  1. Susan Curry
  2. Kelly Ryan
  3. Adela Garcia
  4. Tracey Greenwood
  5. Jennifer Hendershott
  6. Anna Level
  7. Klaudia Kinska
  8. Stacy Hylton
  9. Julie Palmer
  10. Jennifer Worth
  11. Kim Klein
  12. Stacy Simons
  13. Shannon Meteraud
  14. Kim Odiatu

Adela Garcia (2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2013)

Adela Garcia had been trying to win the title since 2001. It would take Curry retiring before Garcia claimed the title for herself. In the following years, she would be in a competitive rivalry with Jen Hendershott, who would take the title one year later.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Adela Garcia Penalo (@msfitnesso8)


In 2006, Garcia became the first champion to regain the title after losing it, but her run would be derailed two years later when she had to miss the 2008 contest. However, she would get back on track after her return in 2009 and remained atop the sport until 2013, when she retired after winning Olympia number eight.

Garcia had planned to return to the Olympia in 2020 but was unable to compete due to an injury. It remains unknown if she attempts to compete at the Olympia again as of 2022.

2004

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Jen Hendershott
  3. Kelly Ryan
  4. Kim Klein
  5. Tracey Greenwood
  6. Julie Palmer
  7. Stacey Hylton
  8. Tanji Johnson
  9. Mindy O’Brien
  10. Anna Level
  11. Klaudia Kinska
  12. Stacy Simons
  13. Jennifer Hanke
  14. Teri Mooney

2006

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Kim Klein
  3. Jen Hendershott
  4. Tanji Johnson
  5. Tracey Greenwood
  6. Julie Palmer
  7. Julie Childs
  8. Angela Monteleone-Semsch
  9. Mindi O’Brien
  10. Rediane Da Silva
  11. Deana Lee
  12. Amy Haddad
  13. Heidi Fletcher

2007

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Kim Klein
  3. Jen Hendershott
  4. Tanji Johnson
  5. Tracey Greenwood
  6. Julie Palmer
  7. Oksana Grishina
  8. Julie Lohre
  9. Julie Childs
  10. Mindi OBrien
  11. Stacy Simons
  12. Bethany Gainey
  13. Regiane Da Silva
  14. Angela Monteleone-Semsch
  15. Heidi Fletcher

2009

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Tanji Johnson
  3. Tracey Greenwood
  4. Julie Palmer
  5. Tina Durkin
  6. Myriam Capes
  7. Shannon Meteraud
  8. Nicole Duncan
  9. Regiane Da Silva
  10. Trish Warren
  11. Mindi O’Brien

2010

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Tanji Johnson
  3. Trish Warren
  4. Myriam Capes
  5. Oksana Grishina
  6. Bethany Wagner
  7. Tina Durkin
  8. Regiane Da Silva
  9. Nicole Duncan
  10. Camala Rodriguez
  11. Shannon Meteraud
  12. Mia Finnegan
  13. Kizzy Vaines (tie for 12th)
  14. Yenny Polanco

2011

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Tanji Johnson
  3. Myriam Capes
  4. Tina Durkin
  5. Oksana Grishina
  6. Michelle Blank
  7. Bethany Cisternino
  8. Jodi Boam
  9. Camala Rodriguez
  10. Nicole Duncan
  11. Diana Monteiro
  12. Regiane Da Silva
  13. Kizzy Vaines

2012

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Oksana Grishina
  3. Tina Durkin
  4. Myriam Capes
  5. Tanji Johnson
  6. Bethany Wagner
  7. Ryall Graber
  8. Camala Rodriguez
  9. Regiane Da Silva
  10. Kizzy Vaines
  11. Vanda Hadarean
  12. Danielle Ruban
  13. Jodi Boam
  14. Fiona Harris
  15. Nicole Duncan

2013

  1. Adela Garcia
  2. Oksana Grishina
  3. Tanji Johnson
  4. Myriam Capes
  5. Bethany Wagner
  6. Trish Warren
  7. Ryall Graber
  8. Regiane Da Silva
  9. Whitney Jones
  10. Michelle Blank
  11. Nataline Planes
  12. Fiona Harris
  13. Diana Monteiro

Jen Hendershott (2005, 2008)

Hendershott had been considered a contender for several years before winning her first Olympia in 2005. Garcia’s second wave of dominance short-stopped any more victories for Hendershott, but she placed third in both 2006 and 2007.

However, in 2008, Garcia wasn’t in attendance, and Hendershott left Las Vegas, NV, as the champion that year, and it was her swan song. 

2005

  1. Jen Hendershott
  2. Kim Klein
  3. Adela Garcia
  4. Tracey Greenwood
  5. Julie Palmer
  6. Debbie Czempinski
  7. Julie Childs
  8. Mindi O’Brien
  9. Angela Monteleone-Semsch
  10. Tanji Johnson
  11. Stacy Simons

2008

  1. Jen Hendershott
  2. Tracey Greenwood
  3. Kim Scheideler
  4. Julie Palmer
  5. Tanji Johnson
  6. Regiane Da Silva
  7. Mindi O’Brien
  8. Laticia Jackson
  9. Trish Warren
  10. Erin Riley
  11. Nicole Duncan
  12. Heidi Fletcher
  13. Stacy Simons

Oksana Grishina (2014-2017)

Oksana Grishina had been in the mix at the Fitness Olympia for quite some time, but she wouldn’t win it until 2014. However, her reign may be among the most memorable in the division’s history.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Oksana Grishina 🇷🇺🇺🇸 (@oksanagrishina)


While Grishina isn’t the winningest champion, her performances are considered by many to be the most entertaining. After four years atop the division, Grishina opted to retire following the 2017 Olympia. She returned to the stage in 2020 and 2021 to attempt to win number five, but she was unsuccessful on both attempts.

2014

  1. Oksana Grishina
  2. Regiane Da Silva
  3. Tanji Johnson
  4. Bethany Wagner
  5. Myriam Capes
  6. Fiona Harris
  7. Trish Warren
  8. Whitney Jones
  9. Danielle Ruban
  10. Marta Aguiar
  11. Amanda Hatfield
  12. Somkina Liudmila

2015

  1. Oksana Grishina
  2. Tanji Johnson
  3. Myriam Capes
  4. Regiane Da Silva
  5. Bethany Wagner
  6. Michelle Blank
  7. Fiona Harris
  8. Ryall Graber
  9. Whitney Jones
  10. Marta Aguiar
  11. Chika Aluka
  12. Kristine Duba
  13. Sarah Kovach
  14. Missy Terwilliger

2016

  1. Oksana Grishina
  2. Tanji Johnson
  3. Regiane Da Silva
  4. Whitney Jones
  5. Bethany Wagner
  6. Fiona Harris
  7. Ariel Khadr
  8. Kristine Duba
  9. Dominique Matthews
  10. Aurika Tyrgale
  11. Marta Aguiar
  12. Rebecca Sizemore
  13. Derina Wilson
  14. Jeanine Taddeo

2017

  1. Oksana Grishina
  2. Myriam Capes
  3. Regiane Da Silva
  4. Ryall Graber
  5. Bethany Wagner
  6. Fiona Harris
  7. Ariel Khadr
  8. Derina Wilson
  9. Pila Pajunen
  10. Sally Kendall-Williams
  11. Emma Paveley
  12. Giorgia Foroni
  13. Diana Monteiro

Whitney Jones (2018-2019, 2021)

Jones made her Olympia debut in 2013 and slowly worked her way up the ranks. She missed the 2017 Olympia due to a neck injury, which meant she wasn’t seen as a major threat to win the Olympia in 2018 when she returned.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by MS. OLYMPIA WHITNEY JONES (@whitneyjones_ifbbpro)


However, Jones shocked the world and won the title in Las Vegas that year. She was dominant in 2019 and repeated as champion. 2020 would see the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant the contest was moved to Orlando, FL. Jones placed third that year to champion Missy Truscott and the returning Grishina.

One year later, Jones put on the show of her life, winning both the physique and routine rounds to regain the title. This made her the third woman to do so in the Fitness division.

2018

  1. Whitney Jones
  2. Ryall Graber
  3. Myriam Capes
  4.  Missy Farrell
  5. Bethany Wagner
  6. Darrian Borello
  7. Ariel Khadr
  8. Jennifer Worth
  9. Giorgia Foroni
  10. Jaclyn Baker
  11. Kate Errington
  12. Allison Ethier
  13. Sara Kovach
  14. Emma Paveley
  15. Danielle Chikeles

2019

  1. Whitney Jones
  2. Missy Truscott
  3. Ryall Graber
  4. Jaclyn Baker
  5. Tiffany Chandler
  6. Jeanine Taddeo
  7. Marta Aguiar
  8. Darrian Borello
  9. Jennifer Worth
  10. Sara Kovach
  11. Tamara Vahn
  12. Liudmila Somkina
  13. Minna Pujalahti

2021

  1. Whitney Jones
  2. Missy Truscott
  3. Oksana Grishina
  4. Ariel Khadr
  5. Jaclyn Baker
  6. Tamara Vahn
  7. Sara Kovach
  8. Darrian Borrello
  9. Minna Pujalahti
  10. Aurika Tyrgale
  11. Derina Wilson
  12. Alix Small
  13. Debbie Fowler

Missy Truscott (2020)

The uniqueness of her routine and the density of her physique made Truscott unbeatable in 2020. She is the first Canadian to win the Fitness Olympia, and she hopes to become the fourth to take it back before her career is over.

2020

  1. Missy Truscott
  2. Oksana Grishina
  3. Whitney Jones
  4. Ariel Khadr
  5. Jaclyn Baker
  6. Tiffany Chandler
  7. Aurika Tyrgale
  8. Minna Pujulahti
  9. Darrian Borello
  10. Derina Wilson
  11. Sally Kendall-Williams
  12. Terra Plum

2022 Olympia

The 2022 Fitness Olympia will be a part of the 2022 Olympia weekend, which will be held in Las Vegas, NV, on the weekend of Dec. 16-18.

If Jones defends her title, she will be the fourth athlete to have at least four Fitness Olympia wins to her credit. If Truscott is victorious, she will become the sixth to have more than one title. A new champion could also be crowned, which will be the 12th in the division’s history.

Featured Images: @oksanagrishina, @msfitnesso8, @whitneyjones_ifbbpro on Instagram

About Roger Lockridge

Roger "Rock" Lockridge has been writing professionally for 10 years and has been training for 20. His work in the fitness industry has been seen in numerous outlets and has been a part of coverage for several events including the Mr. Olympia, Arnold Classic, the CrossFit Games, and the Olympics. He's also shared his own personal success story in several interviews and articles. Lockridge lives in West Virginia with his wife and son.

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