2017 IFBB Olympia
Women's Physique Division
(Las Vegas, NV - Sept. 16, 2017)
This was the first time this reporter has had the pleasure of attending the Olympia, let alone photographing some of the greats of the sport onstage. Was ostensibly
there to cover the Amateur Olympia for Muscle Insider (thank you) but found the time to take in some of the Expo events including the entire Women's Physique Division
show. Our vantage point was the very back of the seating area, but for website content, more than adequate. Sorry, couldn't do much about cameras and heads popping up
way in front. It was particularly special to cover this division being acquaintances of a number of the participants, some for many years. And it may not sound like
much to seasoned IFBB Pro League correspondents, but we had covered three events in 2017 which included this division...Vancouver Pro, Toronto Pro and Arctic Pro
(hoping to be at all three again in 2018), so a
fitting end to the season!
|
Defending champion Juliana Malacarne dominated once again as the scoresheet indicates, pictures do not do her justice! Very close for 2nd and 3rd places
while there was unanimity for 4th and 5th. Of note in her first Olympia and certainly not her last was Canada's Eleonora Dobrinina (winner of the Toronto
Pro Supershow) finishing 9th! Also great to see fellow Canadian Jodi Boam up there too. From a rocky start in Fitness this year with a foot injury just
before her Finals routine in Toronto, to a great bounce back with her win in Physique at the Vancouver Pro Show. Italy's Doina Gorun was a welcome new friend
in 2017, photoshoots in Alaska and Vegas and no doubt our paths will cross again in the future! Ekaterina Grima won the Arctic Pro up in Alaska. A treat to see Dani Reardon as
well, she was guest performer at the Iron Ore Classic in Prince George, BC in 2016. And of course my Northwest friend Keri Ann Heitzman, who coincidentally
we first met at the NPC Northwest Championships in 2011, a show I'll be returning to cover in a little over a week at the time of this writing! For anyone who
has that dream/goal to make it to the pinnacle of success, there's no shortcuts and Keri Ann is a perfect example!
|
More will be added to this page as time permits. While we don't really "edit", there tends to be some cropping and straightening (while we're at it) required when
shooting from far back and not filling the frame, so a bit more work involved than normal.
|
(Please notify me of any placing or name spelling errors, thanks.)
(click for full size)
Trophy Time
 |
|