Hardbody – Female Sports, Health and Fitness

Check out my review of the 2010 Europa Super Show. I break down each division and give my two cents on the competition. Each of the winners tasted victory for the first time, which is pretty cool and something you rarely see on the pro stage. Congrats to all the competitors.

Check it out.

I ran across a blog on The Dallas Observer today and it’s a perfect example of a writer not taking the time to be accurate in his/her reporting. The author admits he’s never been to a bodybuilding competition and his ignorance shows. Here’s a small sample of what I’m referring to:

By late Saturday afternoon, I’d missed the “Hot ‘Fit’ Moms” competition, but just made it in time for the women’s bodybuilding finals. Called onstage by a white-suited guy brimming with Shooter McGavin sleaze, women from around the world took their turns running through elaborate routines that were equal parts yoga, striptease and gymnastics, in a series of moves to accentuate their unlikely contours. Ripping off a coat to start her routine, German woman woke babies in the crowd with the first beats of her driving techno backing music. An American bodybuilder danced to a club mix of “Over the Rainbow,” skipping onstage with a picnic basket and peeling off her clothes piece by piece, revealing a new Wizard of Oz character costume with each layer.

CJ and Bob backstage at the Europa Super Show.

I did get a chuckle out of Bob Cicherillo being referred to as Shooter McGavin (Happy Gilmore reference) but the author clearly was more interested in Bob’s coat than what he was announcing. There was no professional women’s bodybuilding in the show and the routines he’s referring to are those of Fitness competitors.

Shooter McGavin and KISS impostor.

I don’t know if the author was trying to be funny or just clueless by referring to the Europa Super Show as EuropaCon but I do kinda like the name. I shouldn’t be surprised that “mainstream media” would miss the boat on their coverage however a little ground work can go a long way.

Check out the thousands of photos from the Europa Super Show on Bodybuilding.com. Ron Avidan and I shared the photographic duties through out the weekend. We got ya covered front stage, backstage, the expo and more.

Ms. Olympia Fitness Champ Adela Garcia still has to carry her own boxes.
What up with that?

Yesterday the ladies took to the stage at the IFBB Europa Super show and there were a few surprises. The bikini top three will be Ali Rosen, Nathalia Melo and Amanda Latona. The show is between Latona and Melo who have the best butts in all of bikini. Melo was off her stride a bit from previous shows. Her upper body was a bit too lean, make-up slightly off and the posing we’ve grown to expect and love wasn’t on point. Latona stepped up her game and brought a smaller, slightly tighter physique from earlier in the year and I look for her to take the show. Ali Rosen has a pretty face and sexiness to her and will land in third. I’d still like to see her pose from the front when she comes out for her individual shots. We could see Bianca Binno in the 4th place position and if she does she’ll head to the Olympia. It looks like Monique Minton Ricardo could miss the top five in this show. The top three women are already qualified for the big dance next month.

Amanda and Ali go after Nathalia at the Europa Super show.

Fitness physique portion had Myriam Capes, Bethany Wagner, Shannon Meteraud and Alti Bautista in the first call out. I like Wagner’s physique the best with Meteraud in second. Alti showed she still has it after a six year absence from the Fitness stage. Myriam is in great condition and is in the third or 4th position heading into tonight’s finals. The routines are kicking off the finals at 2:30pm and I look for it to come down to Shannon and Myriam for the win.

Your guess is as good as mine on what was going on here.

The Figure portion of the show had a few surprises when the dust settled. Two of the favorites heading into the show may be absent from the top five. Mindi Smith was way off her mark and resembled nothing like Phoenix Pro or Figure International. She has six weeks to get her groove back if she hopes to be in the top five at the Olympia. Ava Cowan had hoped to improve upon her 4th place showing in Jacksonville but it won’t happen in Dallas. The judges appear to favor Terri Turner for the win in this show. If she does win which I believe she will, it will be her first pro victory. I like Alicia Harris for the win but it looks like she’ll take second. Teresa Anthony appears to have a lock on third place. Josie Zamora could slip into the 4th place spot and if she does she’ll be Olympia qualified since the top three already are. Monica Mark brought a smaller physique and is in the mix for a top five spot but not enough to get into the top three. This was a big show and a number of women showed improvements while others slipped. I saw a number of simply missteps like bad hair, bad make-up, poor tanning and bad suit choice. These may seem like little mistakes but they all add up and count towards the overall look and ultimately the placings.

Alicia and Teresa are gunn’n for number one but will likely settle for second and third.

We’ll see how it all shakes down in a few hours. I’ll provide a full contest report after tonight’s finals.

The fitness routines will kick things off at 2:30 pm at the Europa Super show in Dallas. Follow along on twitter @hardbodynews and @BBcomcontests.

Follow all the action from today’s prejudging at the Europa Supershow Dallas. Keep in mind that I am photographing the show while tweeting, which means I may misspell some things. I’ll do the best I can to keep ya updated & give you an inside look behind-the-scenes. I’ll be tweeting under BBcomContests and Hardbodynews through out the day. If you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and thoughts as they happen today.

Last night over 100 IFBB pros checked in for the Europa Supershow in Dallas. The prejudging begins at 2:00pm Central time today and it is going to be a monster show. The IFBB Bikini pros will start the show off, followed by the Men’s 202. The Fitness women will only be judged in their 2-piece swimsuit today and their routines tomorrow at the finals. I’ll be photographing the event and tweeting my thoughts and call-outs via follow @hardbodynews and @BBcomcontests. If you’re tweeting about the show use #EuropaTX as the hash tag.

Here are a couple photos from last night.

There are a number of nuns running around the host hotel for another event. It’s an interesting and amusing sight to say the least. The always entertaining Andy Haman was chatting it up with a couple of the lovely ladies and convinced them to hit a couple poses.

Andy & Michelle Haman hit a pose with the Catholic Nuns. Hilarious!

Alti is back on the fitness stage for the first time in 6 years.

Olympia Fitness Champ Adela Garcia representing Jug Nation!

Props to IFBB Bikini Pro Nicole Moneer Guerrero for the recent exposure in the Chicago Sun Times. I never would have guessed Nicole was 37 – pretty awesome. She has the physique and look of an early 20-something. Follow Nicole on twitter @nmoneerguerrero. Congrats on the exposure Nicole and good luck in Dallas.

BIKINI FIT: NICOLE GOES PRO FOR SHOW
When it comes to being fit, Nicole Moneer Guerrero is it.

She is a certified personal trainer at Lifetime Fitness in Schaumburg, a fitness model, a spokesmodel and more.

The former Luvabull won her International Federation of Body-Builders pro card in July and will make her IFBB pro debut Saturday in the women’s pro bikini category at the Europa Super Show in Dallas.

Not that she lacks for experience. She has the 2009 Ms. Bikini Classic Universe title, among others, to her credit.

”Challenge yourself,” she told Quick Hits during a recent visit to the gym, where she demonstrated one-armed pushups, among other exercise (watching was enough to wear out yours truly).

The soon-to-be 38-year-old definitely follows her own advice.

Naturally.

”I’ve been lifting weights for over 17 years, but I’m not big and bulky,” she said.

A quick glance showed she was correct.

Working out appears to be Guerrero’s fountain of youth.

”I tell all of my 20-year-old friends and clients and people I know that it gets better in your 30s,” she said. ”I’m definitely mentally stronger now. Nothing can stop me.”

And physically?

”I’ve had a few things stop me physically,” she said. ”But for the most part, I push through it.”

Source: Sun Times.

This weekend 14 IFBB Fitness Pros are slated to take the stage at the Europa Super Show in Dallas, Texas. Last year Adela Garcia made her return to competition and took home top honors. Myriam Capes was the runner-up to Adela last year and will look to move up a spot this weekend. Can she do it? Let’s breakdown the women who will be standing her her way.

2010 Europa Super Show Competitor List & Hardbody Breakdown:

Alti Bautista - Alti last competed in 2007 but that was in figure. It’s been SIX years since she competed in fitness. Alti placed 7th at the 2004 Europa Super Show (it was called the Southwest pro that year). She tells me she’s ready to have some fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what she brings to the stage.

Sonja Bruce - Sonja turned pro at the 2005 Team Universe Fitness contest and has only one pro show under her belt. She placed out of the top 10 at the West Palm Beach Pro in 2007 but is back looking to improve upon that placing. We’ll see what she brings and how her physique looks with a little away from the stage.

Myriam “Mimi” Capes - Myriam has positioned herself as a top contender if she’s in shape. I give her mad props for improving her physique over the years. I remember seeing her compete in this show back in 2007 and thought she was a little bulldozer. She’s always had the gymnastic skills and performs a solid routine but her physique has held her back. She’s refined her physique and improved her routines… now the question is can she bring both to the stage at the same time? She wasn’t able to at the Fitness International but did redeem herself at the Europa Orlando. She’s one of the favorites this weekend and we’ll see if she can move out of the bridesmaid spot.

Regiane Da Silva - Regiane puts on one of the most entertaining routines and has some crazy skills. She’ll bring another kick ass routine to the stage but how will her physique look? If she can make the top call-out in the physique round look for her to be in the mix for an Olympia qualification.

Autumn Edwards – Autumn will be making her IFBB debut after turning pro at the 2010 NPC Jr Nationals. She’s one of the taller competitors in the show and has great shape to her physique. I’d like to see her have a different cut to her suit that she wore at the Jr Nationals and come in a bit tighter with her conditioning. Autumn has the potential to make an immediate impact in Fitness and I could see her landing in the top five.

Allison Ethier – Allison will make the trip down from Canada looking to leave with an Olympia qualification. She’ll have her work cut out for her and it will come down to how her physique looks. If she can get a top call-out in the physique round she’ll have a chance but if she’s not conditioned I don’t see her in the top five here. She’s improved since her debut at the Fitness International and can be a contender his weekend if her physique is conditioned.

Ryall Garber-Vasani – She was 9th at this show last year and will look to improve upon it here. She has a nice physique and if her routine has improved she could move up. Ryall may have been a little too hard last year but we’ll see what she brings this year and if she can improve her placing.

Cinzia Massaro-Clapp – This will be Cinzia’s IFBB debut and makes the long trek down from Alaska. I applaud Cinzia for the energy she brings to the stage in the beginning of her routines and she’ll need to maintain it throughout if she hopes to hang in the pros. She always starts strong but seems to get winded and run out of gas the last 30 seconds of her routine. I’m hoping we see a different routine than that of JR. Nationals and Team Universe. One could say well it helped her turn pro so why change it? Fair point. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t get the FEDEX package followed by chipmunk voices. I’m never a fan of when a competitor mouths the words to their music. We’ll see what she brings to the stage this weekend and how she matches up against the season pros.

Stacey McDowell - Last year she told me she was retiring (read the article here) but that didn’t last long. She competed earlier this year at the New York Pro Fitness and placed 10th. I always enjoy seeing Stacey’s display of flexibility but will have to find out why she decided to come back and compete. If she hopes to crack the top five here she’ll need to bring a tight, conditioned physique.

Shannon Meteraud - Don’t count Shannon out just yet. I was critical of Shannon last year at the Fitness Olympia and felt her physique looked tired compared to the other competitors. She’s taken the beginning of this year off from competing and is ready to show the rookies how things are done. Shannon was 7th at the Olympia and took top honors at the 2009 Atlantic City Fitness. This stage has been favorable to her in the past and is the one to beat heading into this weekend’s competition. When the first place name is announced on Saturday afternoon don’t be surprised if Shannon Meteraud.

Daniela O’Mara - This will be Daniela’s pro debut. Name not familiar to ya? It’s because she calls Australia home and many times competitors outside of the United States don’t get the same recognition as the stateside competitors. She competed at the 2010 Arnold Amateur (placing 4th) and in May was awarded her IFBB pro card. We’ll see how she stacks up against the competition here but I like the look of “Australia’s Fitness Princess”.

Traci Redding – We last saw Traci on this stage in 2008 where she placed 13th. She’s able to entertain the hometown crowd with her routines but her physique has hindered her in the pros. She’ll need to bring a streamlined body and a routine that is non-stop action to crack a top spot. Rest assured she’ll have one of the loudest cheering sections in attendance.

Kristina Rojas – Kristina cracked the top five earlier this year at the Orlando Pro Fitness and is looking to match and improve upon it here. She brings a tight, conditioned physique and at times can almost be too conditioned. If she brings a balanced physique with the high energy routine look for her to be a contender here. I like what she brings to the stage and should be in the mix of the top five.

Bethany Wagner – Bethany has one of the best physiques, and arguably thee best, in the competition if it’s conditioned. She has great shape and well balanced. This show will be extra special for her since her fiancé is competing in the 202 Bodybuilding division. I really like her physique and if her routine is on point she’ll be in the hunt for the title.

Follow all the action via twitter this weekend and use #EuropaTX for the tag throughout the weekend. I’ll be photographing the event and tweeting live.

The 2010 IFBB Europa Supershow Bikini lineup has seen a number of changes in the last few days. It looks like there will be 14 women competing in the show but we’ll have to see what the final list looks like on Thursday. This will be a competitive show with a number of women already qualified for the Olympia. It’ll be tough for any women not already qualified to crack the top three in this line up. It’s not impossible but it will be a challenge.

Competitor List & Hardbody Breakdown:

Bianca Binno - She made her pro debut last weekend in Jacksonville and looked great. She’s tall and doesn’t carry a lot of muscle but bikini shouldn’t have too much muscle. I like her Penelope Cruz look-alike-look and what she brings to the stage. She has a very swimsuit type of look to her physique.

Jennifer Dietrick – She was 8th at the Pittsburgh Pro Bikini and 11th at the Muscle Contest Pro Bikini. She has a nice physique and if she can bring better presentation than in her previous shows she could move up.

Janet Harding - If perseverance was awarded in bikini, Janet would be the recipient. She’s competed in nearly every bikini show and has yet to match her 5th place finish in Orlando. She ditched the BAM posing in Jacksonville but still landed in 14th. Can she crack the top five here? My swami crystal ball says no but I’ve been wrong more than once.

Safiya Johnson – The bikini division is definitely a better fit for Safiya’s body than fitness but she’ll need to tighten it up a bit to improve her placings. She was 15th in Jacksonville.

Amanda Latona – She’s one of the women already qualified for the Olympia. Amanda took care of business in her first pro show and the pressure is off going into this contest. She has one of the best butts in the IFBB and is without question one of the most stunning women in the bikini ranks. I’d like to see Amanda bring the stage presence she brought to the FLEX bikini model search contest. It had a bit more sass than she had in her pro debut. She has a little more muscle than some of the other women so we’ll see how that compares in this contest.

Brandy Leaver - Brandy has a baby about 8 months ago. Talk about a transformation! She notched an overall figure win to her belt in Tampa and went on to turn pro at the NPC USAs last month. She has a nice look to her and could be a top contender here. Brandy will make her pro debut on the same stage as her husband, Brandon Curry. Brandon will be competing in his second pro show.

Dayna Maleton – Dayna is one woman who is on the line of figure and bikini. She stopped training and ate junk food to prepare for her last competition. Why? Because genetically she’s gifted and puts on muscle easily. If she ate differently and trained like “normal” she’d likely have a competitive Figure physique. She’s back to try her hand at bikini. The issue with Dayna is her presentation. When she comes out on stage you can tell she is nervous and has a deer in the headlights look to her. If she can put the fears away and rock some confidence on stage she could move up.

Nathalia Melo – The Brazilian Bombshell has set the standard for bikini and remains undefeated. The thing that separates Nathalia from the rest of the competition is her presentation. She’s confident, sexy and not over the top with her posing. The energy she projects isn’t fake or contrived, it’s genuine and it comes across when she presents her physique. She has the face, booty and body for bikini. I look for Nathalia to leave with another win under her bikini and head into the the Olympia as the one to beat.

Nicole Moneer-Guerrero – Nicole will be making her pro debut after turning pro at this year’s Team Universe contest. She has a nice physique and good look to her. I felt her posing was a little much at the NPC Jr Nationals but she corrected that in New York and it paid off. She could be a top five contender here.

Monique Ricardo – Don’t recognize the name? It’s Monique “Momo” Minton. Monique has been in stealth mode the last few months and got married along the way. She’s already Olympia qualified and has the luxury of driving the the show from home. Look for a tighter, smaller Monique than you saw in California. Monique should be in the top spots but it won’t be easy.

Ali Rosen – Ali has been on a winning streak notching an overall win at the NPC USAs and then taking top honors at the Jacksonville Pro. She’s a pretty girl who presents herself in a sexy, cutesy manner. One thing that is a little different than other women is that she never poses straight on when she comes out for her individual poses. I asked her about it and she said she likes to show her best angles. I can’t argue with that but we never get to see her body from the front, only the side. She’ll face a different judging panel than in her last two shows so we’ll see how she fairs against some stiffer competition. Personally, Ali’s physique is a little too soft for my liking but we’ll see what the judges think on Friday.

Alea Suarez – Alea is the opposite of Ali. Alea comes in looking a little too hard. Her skin looks dehydrated on stage. I’d like to see her soften up a bit from Jacksonville and come in with a healthier look to her physique.

Sonya Vecchiarelli – Sonya made her pro debut in Jacksonville and had a few rookie mistakes. She’s a cute girl but it was lost on stage. Her overall presentation was a bit lackluster. Her hair, make-up and overall presentation needs to improve if she hopes to move up. If she can bring some sass to the stage, which she showed when she turned pro at the 2009 NPC Jr. Nationals she could move up. She has everything it takes to be in the mix but needs to put it together and present it on stage.

Nathalie Waples – Natalie is finding her groove since making the switch to bikini. If she can ramp up the energy and presentation this time around she’ll move up.

The top five will be very competitive. Will Ali make it three in a row? Can Amanda Latona top the charts for the first time in bikini? Can Nathalia remain unbeaten? We’ll find out on Saturday afternoon when the results are announced. Follow the action here and on twitter with the hash tag #EuropaTX – I’ll be photographing and tweeting under twitter.com/BBcomcontests

Another IFBB Pro Bikini competition is in the books and three more women are headed to the inaugural Bikini Olympia. The event wasn’t the strongest line-up of the year but it was competitive. I’ve been in attendance for every IFBB Bikini Pro show, with the exception of New Zealand. There are some things that I find work well and others that are distracting. Keep in mind each show has different judges and what one panel likes another may not. What I gravitate towards isn’t always what the judges reward. There will be a variety of opinions and we’re all entitled to them but doesn’t mean we’ll all agree. Who cares if we disagree, I’m not telling anyone who to be just giving my opinion. Let’s break it down…

1. Dianna Dahlgren – As I mentioned heading into this show she would be improved and a favorite for the win. Toot, toot goes my horn on calling this one but hold on a minute. Dianna improved her presentation from her debut but still needs to work on it if she wants to hang with the likes of Melo and Nagrani. Many of her poses make her look too straight up and down. She has one of the best bikini butts in the biz and presents it well from the rear poses. Job well done by the youngster and has some momentum going into her next show. We’ll see if she can present herself a little curvier from the front and how she stacks up in Dallas against tougher competition.
View contest photos.

2. Jessica Jessie – The Queen of the “side walk” had a strong showing in her pro debut as most expected. The photos don’t show the presentation of bikini competitors and you have to watch video or see the “side walk” in person to understand what I’m referring to. She basically looks straight ahead while her body is turned walking on stage. Personally, I’m not a fan of it but props to her for being able to do it and not trip. She has a “pageanty” presentation to her which the judges seem to gravitate towards. Her suit is flattering to her physique and fits her personality on stage. Her physique has improved from Jr Nationals and will need to continue if she hopes to crack the top five at the Olympia.
View contest photos.

3. Dianna Fields – Dianna has a good bikini butt. I’m not a fan of her presentation and it’s a little too much sass for my liking. The mouth open gasping while hitting poses is not a flattering look. Props to her for securing a bit to the Olympia. I wouldn’t have her in my top three but hey I’m not a judge.
View contest photos.

4. Jelena Abbou – Talk about a turn around in two weeks. She finished in the top ten at the New York Pro Figure and dramatically changed her physique for this show. Her legs and butt are always areas that plague her. She brought them down and rocked a new suit. I would have had her in the top three. My guess is that the judges felt her upper body was too hard and her butt a little too soft. I think bikini is the division for her and could see an Olympia qualification if she competes in one of the remaining shows
View contest photos.

5. Kat Holmes – Kat tightened up a bit from Tampa but her lower half continues to hold her back from placing higher. If she tightens her conditioning a bit she could move up in a future show. She should be content with a fifth place spot.
View contest photos.

6. Tabitha Klausen-Leandri – She’s one tall drink of water. Nearly 6′0″ without heels she towers over some of the other competitors but holds her own. I think her suits and presentation held her back from a higher spot at this show. I think she had one of the best physiques in the show and could have been a couple places higher. If she ditches the distracting strings on the bikini she’ll likely move up.
View contest photos.

7. Jessica Lawrence – I had her in or around this placing. Jessica has a nice physique but has no energy on stage. If she could bring some life to her presentation she could move up but until then you’ll likely see her out of the top five
View contest photos.

8. Kelly Gonzalez – Kelly’s pro debut was a decent start. She’s a tiny competitor and has a nice physique. If she continues to improve her presentation she could move up.
View contest photos.

9. Natalie Waples – HUGE, HUGE improvement from Tampa. Natalie ditched the first time bikini mistakes and made major improvements at this show. She seemed more comfortable, had a better suit and improved presentation. If she continues to get comfortable on stage you could see her place higher. I would have had no problem seeing her a few places higher here
View contest photos.

10. Janet Harding – Oh Janet what are we going to do with you? I’ve coined her the Emeril of bikini. If you’re not sure what I’m referring to check out Chef Emeril and his “BAM” video here. Janet had a different hairstyle, a new suit and new posing. The hair color was good. The new suit – a nice improvement. The posing – horrible. I told her this backstage and asked her what was up. She said she’s working with a new coach and hadn’t perfected her poses just yet. When she came out at prejudging she hit her poses fast and furious like Emeril on his cooking show. BAM! BAM! She did slow things down a bit at the night show which was good.
View contest photos.

11. Juliette Primak – This was her IFBB pro debut and went relatively unnoticed. She’s cute but will need to tighten up the butt and present with some energy to make her mark in future shows.
View contest photos.

Notes:
• Long strings on the bikini bottoms are distracting. I think it looks best if you choose a suit without the strings on the bottoms.

• Pose with class and not like you’re looking for a pole to climb. If the bikini division is to be taken serious competitors need to keep it classy. I don’t see it much in the pros but the amateur shows are plagued with it. The IFBB pros set the tone for other competitors. Many women in the NPC ranks emulate what the pros do. Pros – keep that in mind when you’re on stage as many women want to be in your shoes.

•  Presentation is everything in bikini. Looking at photos is great but doesn’t tell even 1/2 of what the judges are looking for. Smile and project positive energy on stage. Remember whatever you’re thinking it will be magnified by 10 fold to the audience.

• Know your body and your angles. A pose that works for one competitor may not work for you. Create an illusion that makes you look curvy and sexy.

Dianna Dahlgren bounced back from her first pro show to win the inaugural Europa Battle of Champions. She took straight firsts from the judges. Jessica Jessie was second in her IFBB Pro debut and Diana Fields moved up into third place. Jelena Abbou placed a disappointing 4th. Personally, I had her in the top 3 but I’m not a judge. I’ll share my breakdown later on the contest. Congrats to all the women going to the bikini Olympia.

EUROPA BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS – BIKINI
1. Dianna Dahlgren
2. Jessica Jessie
3. Diana Fields
4. Jelena Abbou
5. Kat Holmes
6. Tabitha Klausen-Leandri
7. Jessica Lawrence
8. Kelly Gonzalez
9. Natalie Waples
10. Janet Harding
11. Juliette Primak

Congrats to Candice Keene for her first IFBB Pro victory. She took home straight ones to win this show. Terri Turner edged out Gina Trochino by one point to take second. Gina landed in third and secures a spot in the Figure Olympia.

EUROPA BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS – FIGURE RESULTS
1. Candice Keene
2. Terri Turner
3. Gina Trochino
4. Marcy Porter
5. Hazal Nelson
6. Monica Mark-Escalante
7. Tivisay Briceno
8. Jennifer Hernandez
9. Julie Kulla
10. LaVonda Ezell
11. Caroline Hernandez
12. Jennifer DeJoya
13. Aleisha Hart
14. Jennifer Migliacci
15. Melody Clere
16. Petra Mertl
17. Mia Finnegan
17. Rachel Cammon
18. Ginette Delhaes
18. Kristin Nunn
18. Laura Sutter
18. Michele Mayberry
18. Mikaila Soto
18. Vicki Nixon

Congratulations to Brigita on her second win in a row. The top three women are now qualified for the Olympia in September.

Europa Battle of Champions Full Results
1. Brigita Brezovac
2. Helen Bouchard
3. Cathy LeFrancois
4. Nicole Ball
5. Debbie Bramwell
6. Skadi Frei-Seifert
7. Lisette Acevedo
8. Tazzie Columb
9. Wendy McCready
10. Cassandra Floyd
11. Beverly DiRenzo
12. Rita Rae
13. Tammy Patnode
14. Maria Calo
15. Aurelia Grozajova
15. Daniela Sell
16. Elizabeth Gomez
16. Irene Andersen
16. Mary Ellen Jerumbo
16. Sarah Bridges

Check out the prejudging photos from the 2010 Europa Battle of Champions on FLEXonline.com.

Who do you think will win the Figure and Bikini? The call-outs in Figure left many wondering how the final placing would end up. We’ll find out this afternoon when the Finals take place at 2:30 PM EST.

Top four or battling for third?

Three women will qualify for the Bikini Olympia. Who will be odd woman out?

Follow the live coverage from the IFBB Europa Show of Champions Pro show today.

I will be tweeting from the event as well as photographing the action. I’ll be tweeting under BBcomContests and if you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and get my thoughts on the events as they happen today.

Photos posted from prejudging at FLEXonline.com. Check em out!

Today we’re rock’n the OhYeah! Fist Pump Fridays in Hartford. Stop by the OhYeah! Booth at the Europa Show of Champions and rock your fist pump to win some FREE stuff. Make sure you tell the booth representatives that you love “FIST PUMP FRIDAYS” with Hardbody and OhYeah! in order to win.

I’ll be tweeting from @Hardbodynews and you can follow OhYeah! at @OhYeahNutr.

Tomorrow afternoon 24 IFBB Figure Pros will take the stage at the Europa Battle of Champions. There are a number of women who have a chance to crack the top five. This will be the first pro show where there is only one round, the two-piece swimsuit.

Terri Turner and Marcy Porter are already qualified for the Olympia. Terri will look to move up from her 3rd place finish at the New York Pro while Marcy will look to get back on track after slipping at the same show. Monica Mark will look to redeem herself after the showing she had at the Phoenix Pro and could be a contender if she is on point. The biggest headline of this line-up is the return of Mia Finnegan. Mia was the first Fitness Olympia champion and has been absent from the stage for quite some time. She said she is doing the show to get some practice before the Olympia. She will be competing in the Fitness Olympia but will try her hand at Figure for the first time. Candice Keene and JulieAnn Kulla will be ones to watch as they try to snag an Olympia qualification. Mickaila Soto will make her pro debut after graduating to the big league at the 2010 Team Universe. Kristin Nunn has been away from the stage for a few months and will look to get back in the swing of things here. Rachel Cammon took some time off from the stage and is back for another go-round.

We’ll see who brought the A-game when they take the stage for prejudging tomorrow afternoon.

The competition schedule is in full swing and this weekend marks another IFBB Bikini event. Ten women are slated to compete in this weekend’s Europa Show of Champions and it is an interesting line-up. The obvious headline in bikini is 3x Figure Olympia Davana Medina returning to the stage but in the bikini division. ** UPDATE – Davana Medina has withdrawn from this show.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
Jelena Abbou - Beautiful woman who is back to bikini after a stint another stint in Figure at the New York Pro. I like her physique for the bikini division. Her biggest challenge will be the booty. Can she bring in a tight bottom to make it into a top three spot?

Dianna Dahlgren - Dianna sky-rocketed to the top of the fitness modeling world in a relatively short time. There’s no question she has the face and the booty but she’ll need to bring some of that 20 year old sass to the stage. In my opinion, she got the shaft in her first bikini contest with a seventh place finish but will redeem herself in Hartford. This will be her second IFBB show and I have her as a top three contender.

Diana Fields - Diana was 4th last week in Tampa and will look to improve on it here. She’ll have her work cut out for her though. Personally, I’d like to see Diana pose without opening her moth and gasping during every other pose. The photos don’t show how her physique is presented on stage but if she showcases her physique a little classier she’ll be in the mix.

Kelly Gonzalez - This will be Kelly’s pro debut after turning pro at the NPC Team Universe event. We’ll see how she fairs against a few “seasoned” bikini pros.

Janet Harding - Janet seems to be trying everything under the sun to move up into a top spot. She’s changed not only her posing but her suit with nearly every show she’s entered. While her stage presence has improved I still see the cards stacked against her in this line-up. I don’t want to say she can’t place higher but I don’t see her in the top five here.

Kat Holmes - Kat has improved her stage presence and presentation but still plagued by coming in tight enough in her bottom half. Can she bring a tighter physique here and move up? We’ll see if a week made any difference. She was 5th in Tampa.

Jessica Jessie - Another rookie making her debut. Jessica was the overall champ at the 2010 NPC Jr. Nationals and it was her stage presence that gave her the win. She’ll bring an improved physique to the stage and has the stage presence the judges gravitate towards. I look for her to be one of the top three at this show.

Tabitha Klausen-Leandri – Tabitha is one of the dark horses in this show. She placed 8th in her pro debut at the NY Bikini Pro. She has the looks and if she brings in a tighter booty and a new suit look for her to be in the top 5 at this show.

Davana Medina – The 3x Figure Olympia returns to the stage to try her hand at bikini. It will be interesting to see how she presents her physique and how her body compares as a bikini competitor. It’s a coin toss as to where she will finish but I’d go “heads” with her finishing in the top spots.

Natalie Waples - Natalie made the transition Figure to Bikini at the Tampa Pro and finished at the bottom of the pack. She will need to bring a better suit and some personality to the stage if she hopes to move up. I think she has a better bikini body than figure but will need to improve on the little details to place higher.

My Top Picks: Dianna Dahlgren, Jessica Jessie, Davana Medina, Tabitha Klausen-Leandri & Jelena Abbou.

Who do you have in your fab five?

I will be there covering the action for FLEX magazine, Bodybuilding.com, NPC NEWS and IFBBPro.com. Check back for updates throughout the weekend.

Check out the new addition to this year’s Europa Expos. There will be a gym in the middle of the expo floor at all three Europa shows. Those in attendance will get the chance to watch the pros train. The expo gym is sponsored by Apollo Fitness Equipment and the pros are sponsored by various supplement companies.

This year’s events take place on April 16-17 in Orlando, July 23-25 in Hardford and August 13-14 in Dallas. Visit: www.visionstarinc.com for more information on the show and how you can watch the Pros train.

Ron Avidan was backstage during the Europa Super show and snapped a number of great shots. Here’s a look at your top three, Olympia bound, fitness competitors hitting a few diva style shots. Check out more on bodybuilding.com. Good stuff!

Nicole, Adela and Myriam go Charlie Angel style backstage.

These three fitness ladies are Olympia bound.

Congrats again ladies on a job well done in Dallas.

The 2009 Europa Super Show is in the books and here are your full results in fitness and figure.
PRO FITNESS
1. Adela Garcia
2. Myriam Capes
3. Nicole Duncan
4. Bethany Wagner
5. Laticia Jackson
6. Kristina Rojas
7. Michele Mayberry
8. Stephanie Irick
9. Nita Marquez
10. Siene Silva
11. Amanda Marinelli
12. LeslieRae Newton
13. Jo Marriner
14. Maggie Blanchard
Did Not Finish – Mandy Polk

PRO FIGURE
1. Jenny Lynn
2. Krissy Chin
3. Meriza DeGuzman
4. Alicia Harris
5. Siobhan Tewari
6. Amy O’Neil
7. Katina Maistrelles
8. Michelle Craven
9. Tivisay Briceno
10. Consuelo Rojas Figueroa
11. DJ Wallis
12. Alicia Marie
13. Sue Upson
14. Rosalind Vanderpool
15. Tonya Burkhardt
16. Cynthia Sharp
17. Jacqui Jarrett

I was pretty close in my earlier picks, not perfect but not too shabby. A quick look at your top five in figure and fitness from the Europa Super show. Full results and more photos coming later.

Top five in figure.

Top five in fitness.

Top five results (full results posted later)

Figure:
1. Jenny Lynn*
2. Krissy Chin*
3. Meriza DeGuzman*
4. Alicia Harris
5. Siobhan Tewari

Fitness:
1. Adela Garcia*
2. Myriam Capes*
3. Nicole Duncan*
4. Bethany Wagner
5. Laticia Jackson*Qualify for the Olympia

The women were flying high tonight in Dallas. Here’s a shot of your top five women from tonight’s Europa Super show. BOOM BOOM POW!

Adela gets UP! The chica is back and flying high.

Myriam Capes had a kick ass routine.

Nicole Duncan had some sic moves in her routine.

Bethany Wagner was flying high.

Laticia Jackson got WAAAY up in her routine.

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