That Juliette Bergm
ann was a pioneering personage in the early years of women's bodybuilding is undisputed. And almost from her earliest years as a young entrant in local Dutch contests, few would argue that she was destined to become a full-fledged phenomenon becoming what many felt was the most symmetrically sound physique in the history of the sport. One thing is certain, Juliette Bergmann stands as a graphic illumination as to how blessed genetics, years of progressive-resistance weight training and special attention to specificity exercises can craft an extraordinary superstructure capable of winning a Ms. Olympia crown.
With little question
, this year's second edition of the Olympia Women's Physique Showdown had been drawing major pre-contest anticipation since last year's inaugural event that saw Dana Linn Bailey flex her way to the first-ever title. In just three years this pro division has generated huge interest, and on a weekend when the enormous Olympia Festival was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia and the female bodybuilders were competing in the 35th annual Ms. Olympia, this rookie event was holding its own in attracting attention.
The huge Olympia Weekend on September 18-21 is
now a part of bodybuilding lore and tradition, and the Women's Bodybuilding division once again chipped in with a flair for creating an ongoing re-writing of its own history. Of course the major story came by way of the fact that this year's Olympia was the 50th anniversary of an event that has long been recognized as the premier showcase for the finest physiques in the world. NBC had even jumped on board to televise the Mr. Olympia on this special weekend.
Just ask IFBB N
orth American promoter Gary Udit if he has seen positive growth in the Women's Physique division of the North American Championships since moving the contest to Pittsburgh and he'll quickly quote the numbers of the open division.
In 2012 when the event still offered three height classes the contest drew 32 contestants as Jill Rudison captured the overall title. Last year the event swelled to 53 entrants with the addition of a fourth height class and Desunka Dawson winning the overall crown. This year, however, the proverbial dam broke as 76 women lined up to take a number in the four height classes. As is often said, numbers don't lie. And that magical number of 76 didn't even include those women who had also opted to enter the Masters Over-35 and Masters Over-45 Physique divisions.
While Americans have dom
inated the overall women's bodybuilding North American titles dating back to the early ‘80s, Canada has managed to step up to take a crown back to north of the our border on occasion. And more recently they are doing so with more frequency. When Zoa Linsey won the 2009 North American overall title, it was the first time since another Canadian – Sharon Bruneau – had won the prestigious title in 1991, an 18-year span of time. But since Linsey's 2009 win, Canadian Gillian Kovack took the overall honor in 2011, and this year not only did Tara Silzer win the overall crown, her country mate, Amanda Aivaliotis, also won the overall Masters North American title.
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