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2002 Olympia Weekend Report
2002 IFBB Ms. Olympia and Fitness Olympia - October 17-18, 2002 - Las Vegas, NV, USA

2002 IFBB Ms. Olympia and Fitness Olympia
by gene x hwang - October 18, 2002



Betty Viana photo by gene x hwang Las Vegas, NV - Lenda Murray can now be considered the most dominant female bodybuilder having established a new record by winning her seventh Ms. Olympia title, beating out Juliette Bergmann for to break the record.

In what was one of the most star-studded lineups in recent Olympia history, there were three former Ms. Olympias competing. Bergmann battled it out with Valentina Chepiga for the lightweight crown, with Fannie Barrios coming in a close third. Laura Creavelle also made a comeback this year, but looked sorely out of place on stage. She was a shadow of herself in her prime, and wasn't able to replicate the success that Bergmann and Murray were able to have upon returning to the competitive stage.

First-time Olympia competitor Susanne Niederhauser presented her streamlined package well, but did not have the mass to compete with veterans like Angela Debatin and Barrios who were both thicker and harder. Canadian Sophie Duquette improved by adding more thickness and was very well-conditioned. However, with her thicker waist, was not able to place higher. Duquette presents herself well on stage, but against Bergmann and Chepiga, will have a difficult time overcoming their symmetry and balance.

Chepiga pushed Bergmann hard, with excellent conditioning and as always, impeccable stage presentation - including perhaps the most elegant posing routine of the night. However, in the end, the judges rewarded Bergmann, perhaps under the consideration that you have to knock out the champion to beat the champion.

The heavyweight class was impressive, and when the lineup emerged on stage, it was evident that it would be a shootout between Murray and Iris Kyle.

The rest of the class was competitive and deep with first timers Beth Roberts and Betty Viana both looking impressive in their Olympia debuts. Nancy Lewis also continued her comeback but had to compete in the heavyweight class when she was just over the 135 lb. cutoff during the weigh-ins. Coming off her impressive Jan Tana overall victory, Lewis was not quite as sharp this time. However, with trying to make the weight cutoff and holding her condition from before, it was a challenge to stay that sharp and tight.

Dayana Cadeau came in as she usually does, but was not as shredded as Kyle or Murray, and managed to place fifth. Roberts, who was making her second pro appearance was impressive, and looked like she belonged on stage, with a balanced, lean package. Viana also made waves in her first Olympia with her curvy, and thickly muscled physique catching the attention of many in the crowd. If Viana can come in a shade harder, she will definitely be a threat to win any competition she enters. Even in relaxed poses, Viana looks impressive with almost exaggerated lines that almost make her hard to ignore.

Vickie Gates was in good shape, but not outstanding, which is to be understandable with the recent death of her mother. However, her third place finish was probably not as deserved, with Yaxeni Oriquen looking tight. Oriquen was not in the same shape as she was when she won the Ms. International, but still looked tremendous with her 'best-in-class' hamstrings.

In the end though, Kyle and Murray were definitely the top of the class. Both were shredded with impressive thickness and definition throughout. However, many thought Murray's legs were not as good as Kyle's and with respect to calves, it was obvious that Kyle had Murray in that category. Murray may have had the better back, but overall, it was a tough one to call. If Murray and Kyle were both unknowns, it may have been Kyle taking the title, but Murray did have the best routine of the evening, easily outshining every other routine of the evening. A magnificent stage performer, Murray may have taken the title with her routine. In the end though Kyle was once again a hard-luck bridesmaid and Murray walked off the stage as Ms. Olympia.

Susie Curry defends her title

While former a Ms. Olympia won her title, a current and former Ms. Fitness Olympia did the same. Susie Curry again defended her title although her dominance in titles wasn't quite as apparent on stage.

Fitness Olympia prejudging Pushed hard by Kelly Ryan, Jenny Hendershott, Jenny Worth and Adela Freidmansky, Curry will have to do even more to keep her title next year. While her physique is strong, her routine was eclipsed by several athletes.

Stacy Hylton and Hendershott had the two most entertaining routines, with Worth also impressing. Hylton may have had the most polished overall routine, with a smooth flowing presentation that included numerous power moves, getting big air on her tumbling and some of the more creative transition moves.

Always a favorite, Hendershott did not disappoint with a dynamic routine that had all the elements the judges are looking for. Hendershott also continues to include creative, new moves like the one in which she flipped herself over 180 degrees from her fron to land on her back. It was impressive since it involves a tremendous amount of quickness and power, and again solidified Hendershott as one of the premier fitness athletes in the world.

Kelly Ryan also had a solid routine although it was the same one that she has used in several of her previous contests. The hometown girl did win the fitness round though, which helped to propel her to her eventual second place finish. Worth took third, but was visibly upset when her name was announced, as the callouts in the previous rounds indicated that Worth should have probably been in at least second place, having made the first callouts against Curry and Freidmansky in both physique rounds.

One thing that was interesting was the range in scores that the judges placed various athletes. For example, Shannon Meteraud placed as high as 3rd and as low as 15th (last) in the fitness routine round. It's hard to imagine that there should be such a wide variance in scoring and that may be how some of the final results came out as they did, even though through prejudging, t looked like it might be a bit different from the final placings.

Lenda Murray and Iris Kyle by gene x hwang However, it's not that surprising as even during the press conference many of the questions were addressed to the IFBB and Wayne DeMillia rather than posing questions for the athletes themselves.

In the end, it looked like there was a bit of favoritism/bias in the judging for both the bodybuilding and fitness competitions, and this year, even more people seemed to be talking about it. Perhaps the fans and competitors are finally getting fed up and it might be the time for positive change in the sport.


Results:
Ms Olympia 2002: Lenda Murray

Lightweights
1) Juliette Bergmann
2) Valentina Chepiga
3) Fannie Barrios
4) Sophie Duquette
5) Angela Debatin
6) Laura Crevalle
7) Susanne Neiderhauser

Heavyweights
1) Lenda Murray
2) Iris Kyle
3) Vickie Gates
4) Yaxeni Oriquen
5) Dayana Cadeau
6) Nancy Lewis
7) Betty Viana
8) Beth Roberts


Ms. Fitness Olympia
1) Susie Curry
2) Kelly Ryan
3) Jenny Worth
4) Adela Friedmansky
5) Jenny Hendershott
6) Stacy Hylton
7) Tracey Greenwood
8) Shannon Meteraud
9 tie)Christine Bergeron
9 tie) Tanji Johnson
11) Anna Level
12) Stacy Simons
13) Laurie Vaniman
14) Lisa Reed
15) Aleksandra Kobielak

Mr. Olympia

1) Ronnie Coleman
2) Kevin Levrone
3) Chris Cormier
4) Dexter Jackson
5) Gunter Schlierkamp
6) Lee Priest
7) Flex Wheeler
8) Markus Ruhl
9) Orville Burke
10) Dennis James
11) Craig Titus
12) Art Atwood
13) Ahmad Haidar
14) Ernie Taylor
15) Nasser El Sonbaty
The rest (in alphabetical order):

  • Gustavo Badell
  • Paco Bautista
  • Darrem Charles
  • Bob Cicherillo
  • George Farah
  • Claude Groulx
  • Jaroslav Horvath
  • King Kamali
  • Tommi Thorvildsen
  • Don Youngblood

  • Send comments, critiques, inquiries, etc. to genex@genex9.com

    © 2002 gene x hwang All Rights Reserved - Last updated 10/20/2002 - 6:32 p.m. PT (-08:00 GMT)


           

         

         

           

         

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

         

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

         

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

           

           

           

           

           

           

          

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

           

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