2017 IFBB Amateur Olympia - Las Vegas
Bodybuilding, Physique, & Bikini Championships
(Las Vegas, NV - Sept. 14, 2017)
The inaugural year for this event in conjunction with the Olympia Weekend, the level of competition was absolutely top notch. Promoter Robin
Chang and all of those involved in organizing and running this event went above and beyond to make this a memorable experience for the athletes, audience
and the media. The beautiful Orleans Showroom was the perfect theater setting for a physique competition! Being only a one day event (for now), there were
a limited number of Pro Card eligible categories and made for a long but well timed day, with the judges taking their time to properly and fairly do
their due diligence so to speak. We covered the show for Muscle-Insider.com where there
are show day galleries from all the categories. The recap here is to augment that coverage and share our thoughts.
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Starting with Bikini, what a cosmopolitan representation of the Americas we witnessed! Class after class filled with "pro worthy" competitors, so many brought their
'A' game. Everyone got a chance to do their individual presentation walk, solo on the Olympia Stage. IFBB Pro League Cards went to Jodi-Ann Riley and Na'iyma Thompson.
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Outstanding routines along with outstanding physiques were the order of the day in the Bodybuilding, Classic Physique and Classic Bodybuilding categories.
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Not to be forgotten, Men's Physique continues to be popular at all levels. Truly a hard category to judge, but conditioning (as it should) won out in the end.
There were also a couple of demonstration categories which did not award Pro Cards, but certainly gives more avenues/looks for the sport. One was Muscular Men's
Physique for all those who've been told they're "too big" for the category but don't necessarily wish to compete in the flexed poses categories. Another
was Wellness Fitness, which had the flair and personality of bikini posing with more muscularity but not super lean necessarily. I'd call it the "photoshoot
division" from a photographer's perspective where one is definitely in shape, but not looking as "drawn" for show day, which is what bikini and figure seem
to require in order to excel.
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Ending here with one of the most dramatic overall win photos of the day on the left. If this doesn't explain the emotion and how prestigious this event is,
nothing will!
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(Please notify me of any placing or name spelling errors, thanks.)
(click for full size)
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