Our 2022 Olympia Recap

Your 2022 Olympia Champions!
Photo credit: NPC News Online

Literally the largest Olympia in history has officially come and gone with new champions crowned and current ones retaining their crowns. Here’s my take on each division as well as who made the top 5 in each female category.

MS. OLYMPIA

Ever since the return of the Ms. Olympia competition in 2020, Andrea Shaw has proven that she is the new standard of women’s bodybuilding. This was no different this year as Andrea left Vegas as a 3x Champion, putting herself in dynasty mode with the likes of Cory Everson, Lenda Murray, and Iris Kyle. Outside of winning, Angela Yeo couldn’t have had a better Olympia debut, as she placed 2nd. I would not be suprised if Angela is the one to dethrone Andrea down the line…maybe as early as next year! Helle Trevino placed 3rd with her incredible physique. Margie Martin places 4th in her final show, and considering her career, that’s not a bad way to go being one of the top five female bodybuilders in the world. Branka Njegovec, who NO ONE (including yours truly) had in their predictions, rounded out the top 5.

Ms. Olympia Top 5:

1. Andrea Shaw
2. Angela Yeo
3. Helle Trevino
4. Margin Martin
5. Branka Njegovec

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE OLYMPIA

“Be so good they can’t ignore you”. That’s one hell of a quote that is oh so true. After spending nearly half a decade being the bridesmaid at the Olympia, this year she FINALLY breaks through the glass ceiling and can finally add Women’s Physique Olympia champion to her incredible lists of accolades. She had to be perfect to win the title and it was clear from prejudging that she could not be denied any longer. Sarah Villegas, the now-former champion, was the talk of the town at the Olympia Press conference due to showing off her outstanding legs, and folks said that a third title was in the bag. But one day can change everything and that’s exactly what happened. Natalia was better in every way, shape, and form this year and it resulted in a new champion. But Sarah will NOT go down that easily, and I’m already awaiting a rematch between them in 2023. Brooke Walker finished 3rd once again, but came in with a better package and might disrupt Natalia and/or Sarah next year if she keeps this up. Barbara Menage (who many say should be a Masters Olympia favorite next year) placed 4th and Ivie Rhein rounded out the top 5.

Women’s Physique Olympia Top 5:

1. Natalia Abraham Coelho
2. Sarah Villegas 
3. Brooke Walker
4. Barbara Menage 
5. Ivie Rhein

FITNESS OLYMPIA

A new champion was guaranteed due to Whitney Jones sitting out due to health concerns. When Missy Truscott walked on stage during prejudging, it was made painfully clear that it was hers to lose. Missy was head and shoulders above everyone else this year. How appropriate that her routine was her being a shark smelling blood in the water. It was fitting as she walked away with her 2nd Fitness Olympia title in 3 years. Jaclyn Baker brought a much improved physique and routine which made her runner-up and her highest Olympia placement yet. Ariel Khadr, this year’s Fitness International Champion, placed 3rd with her Terminator routine and her physique, which was impressive but a bit softer than at the Arnold, which might have hurt her at the Olympia. Sarah Kovach placed 4th and rounding out the top five was Michelle Freda-Mensah in her Olympia debut, and capping off a huge first year for her as a pro.

Fitness Olympia Top 5:

1. Missy Truscott
2. Jaclyn Baker
3. Ariel Khadr
4. Sarah Kovach
5. Michelle Freda-Mensah

FIGURE OLYMPIA

Tell me if you’ve heard this before: “Cydney Gillon is Miss Figure Olympia.” Since 2017, she has won every Olympia. Her last loss came in 2018 at the Arnold Classic Australia, where she placed 2nd. At this point, the only two ways Cydney will lose the title is 1) she retires, making way for a new champion or 2) the person that can beat her has yet to step on an Olympia stage. But there is no denying that Cydney will go down as the greatest figure competitor of all time. Jessica Reyes Padilla, who had an amazing 2022, placed 2nd to cap off her big year. Lola Montez, who had a banner 2022 herself, made HUGE strides to place 3rd. Jossie Becerra placed 4th in her Olympia debut, and Natalia Soltero rounded out the top five.

Figure Olympia Top 5:

1. Cydney GIllon
2. Jessica Reyes Padilla
3. Lola Montez
4. Jossie Becerra
5. Natalia Soltero

BIKINI OLYMPIA

The one thing that’s for sure about the Bikini Olympia…is nothing’s for sure. In what to me was the surprise of the weekend, Maureen Blanquisco took home the Bikini Olympia title, ending a big year for her. Last year’s champ Jennifer Dorie would end up in the runner-up spot. Ashley Kaltwasser, while winning more shows than anyone in IFBB history hasn’t won the big one since 2015, will have to wait another year to capture the gold once again as she placed 3rd. Daraja Hill, who is quickly becoming a star in the bikini division, placed 4th and Lauralie Chapados, after placing runner-up last year, rounds out the top 5.

Bikini Olympia Top 5:

1. Maureen Blanquisco
2. Jennifer Dorie
3. Ashley Kaltwasser
4. Daraja Hill
5. Lauralie Chapados

WELLNESS OLYMPIA

Last year, Francielle Mattos made history by becoming the first-ever Miss Wellness Olympia. This year, with a even better physique, Francielle made sure she was the ONLY one who could call herself Miss Wellness Olympia as she successfully defended her title against a much bigger field of competitors. The first-ever Wellness International Champion Isabelle Nunes placed in the runner-up spot, meaning we will have to wait a bit longer for our first-ever Undisupted Wellness Champion (Arnold and Olympia in the same season) to be crowned. She switched places with Angela Borges, who placed 3rd this year after being the runner-up last year. Kassandra Gillis made a HUGE jump from last year right out of the top 10 (11th) to placing in the top five at number 4. Rounding out the top five was Rayane Santana, who many feel could be a future Wellness Olympia champion sooner rather than later. 

Wellness Olympia Top 5:

1. Francielle Mattos 
2. Isabelle Nunes 
3. Angela Borges 
4. Kassandra Gillis 
5. Rayane Santana

While the Olympia in Vegas brought back plenty of memories and nostalgia, next year’s event goes back to Orlando and it will take place the first week of November, so a bit earlier than this year. For everything Olympia, including photos and placings of ALL the competitors, go to https://www.mrolympia.com as well as the NPC News Online Olympia Recap.

2022 Olympia Predictions

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, ya filthy animals! This is the best time of the year…and no, I’m not just talking about the holidays…I’m talking about the Olympia, which is BACK in Vegas for the first time since the pandemic moved the event to Florida in 2020. This weekend, we will determine the best of the best of all divisions. To make it to this stage is vindication of you as a competitor. It shows that you are among the best in the world at what you do. 196 women will step on the biggest stage in bodybuilding, more than any time in HISTORY. Only 6 can call themselves THE absolute best. Below are my predictions on what I THINK will happen, and nothing more. Please remember that as you read through them. I picked my top six in each category as well as a dark horse (or two). Enjoy!

MS. OLYMPIA

21 women are in this year’s Ms. Olympia contest, including current champion Andrea Shaw. When the Ms. Olympia made its return in 2020, Andrea has represented what I feel most want women’s bodybuilding to be: incredible size, shape, and condition with plenty of feminine qualities, and Andrea has it all and then some. Margie Martin has shown that she is among one of the best in the world and has given Andrea a run for her money ever since the Ms. Olympia resurgence. Helle Trevino has wowed folks for quite some time and has what it takes to do it again. Angela Yeo has some of the biggest buzz I’ve seen for a pro female bodybuilder in some time and when you look at her, it’s not hard to see why. Theresa Ivancik has returned to bodybuilding after a stint in women’s physique and I feel she is in the right division for her, and she will show that this weekend. I also feel MayLa Ash is going to turn some heads as well with her incredible physique. For the Ms. O, I got Andrea remaining queen of bodybuilding and Margie as runner-up. For the rest of the top 6, I have Angela in 3rd, Helle in 4th, Theresa in 5th, and MayLa in 6th. My dark horse is Irene Anderson.

PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 MS. OLYMPIA:

1. Andrea Shaw
2. Margie Martin
3. Angela Yeo
4. Helle Trevino
5. Theresa Ivancik
6. MayLa Ash (Dark horse: Irene Anderson)

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE OLYMPIA

24 women will compete for the honor of calling themselves the best women’s physique competitor in the world. Last year, Sarah Villegas proved that her win in 2020 over Shanique Grant was no fluke when she successfully retained her title. I know I shouldn’t beat against Sarah given her track record but this year’s crop of ladies is INSANE. Brooke Walker put folks on notice last year with a 3rd place finish. Anne Mohn is the current Arnold UK Champion and is looking incredible. Natalia Coelho has fought and fought and fought for the last few Olympias and would love to FINALLY taste Olympia gold rather than silver for the first time in her career. We finally get to see Ashley Jones make her much-anticipated Olympia debut and I feel that woman is gonna turn some heads this weekend. With that being said, I just don’t see Sarah giving up the title just yet, so I see a 3-peat in her future. I got Anne Mohn in the runner-up spot, followed by Ashley Jones in 3rd (yes, I have her that high for her first Olympia), then Natalia in 4th, Brooke in 5th, and Melissa Teich to round out the top six. My dark horse is Evon Pennington.

PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE OLYMPIA:

1. Sarah Villegas
2. Anne Mohn
3. Ashley Jones
4. Natalia Coelho
5. Brooke Walker
6. Melissa Teich (Dark horse: Evon Pennington)

FITNESS OLYMPIA

At least one division will have a new champion as Whitney Jones will not be defending her title due to health issues she’s working on. She will be having other roles at the Olympia this weekend. 20 fitness women (as of this writing) are set to compete this weekend. To me this is going to come down to three ladies: current Fitness International Champion Ariel Khadr, and former Fitness Olympia Champions Missy Truscott and Oksana Grishina. All three come in with crazy physiques and insane routines that have wowed the crowd for quite some time. My pick to win goes to Ariel slightly because she has tasted winning one of the big ones in the form of the Fitness International title and she would love nothing more but to leave Vegas as the UNDISPUTED Queen of Fitness. Missy wants to come back with a vengeance after losing her title in 2021, but I feel she will be runner-up again…but it will be by a very slight margin. As far as the rest of the top 6, I have Oksana in 3rd, Tamara in 4th, Jaclyn in 5th, and Minna in 6th, with my dark horse being Sarah Kovach.

PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 FITNESS OLYMPIA:

1. Ariel Khadr
2. Missy Truscott 
3. Oksana Grishina
4. Tamara Vahn
5. Jaclyn Baker
6. Minna Pajulahti (Dark Horse: Sarah Kovach)

FIGURE OLYMPIA

39 women are set to compete for figure’s top prize, which for the last few years has been dominated by one woman…Cydney Gillon. Since 2017, Cydney has been the standard for the figure division. Last year, she arguably became the greatest figure competitor of all time by winning her fifth-straight title. She will look to continue to put herself in the history books by winning an sixth-straight Olympia title. VERY few have done that, but if anyone can do it, It’s her. HOWEVER…it won’t be easy. Jessica Reyes Padilla has had one of the most impressive winning records this year of any figure competitor, and to me will be the one woman that keeps Cydney from winning title number six. But big time players always show up in big time moments, hence why I’m going to give the notch to Cydney but barely. I have Jessica as runner-up, followed by Nicole Zenobia Graham in 3rd, Lola Montez in 4th, Natalia Soltero in 5th and Bojana rounding out the top six. I’m going to pick TWO dark horses for figure: Wendy Fortino (who has went a WHOLE new level this year) and Angelita Lopez (who I feel is going to shock many folks this weekend)

PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 FIGURE OLYMPIA:

1. Cydney Gillon
2. Jessica Reyes Padilla
3. Nicole Zenobia Graham
4. Lola Montez
5. Natalia Soltero
6. Bojana Vasiljevic (Dark horses: Wendy Fortino and Angelita Lopez)

BIKINI OLYMPIA

Bikini’s top honor will be contested by 54 women….54 WOMEN!!! BRUH! That’s a lot of women to judge in one division. EASILY the biggest category of the weekend, male or female. Last year, Jennifer Dorie won the Bikini Olympia for the first time in her career, and honestly…I don’t see her wanting to give it up that easily. But at the same time, I can see Ashley Kaltwasser (the most winningest champion in IFBB history) want to win the Olympia again (she hasn’t won it since 2015) to add to her impressive resume. And then there’s Erin Stern, who has made quite the amazing transition from figure star to bikini star who I feel has finally found her footing in bikini. Janet Layng would love to be Bikini Olympia champion once more. With that being said, I’m going go with Jennifer repeating, with Erin as the runner-up, then Ashley in 3rd, Janet in 4th, Elisa in 5th, and rounding out the top 6 with Daraja. My dark horse is India Paulino, a woman that is NO stranger to being a top bikini star.

PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 BIKINI OLYMPIA:

1. Jennifer Dorie
2. Erin Stern
3. Ashley Kaltwasser
4. Janet Layug
5. Elisa Pecini 
6. Daraja Hill (Dark horse: India Paulino)

WELLNESS OLYMPIA

Last year, history was made with the first-ever Wellness Olympia. This year, we have 38 women looking to add their name to the list…or technically 37 women to add their name to the list and only one to make sure she IS the list…the current champion Francielle Mattos. Once all the ladies made their Wellness walks last year, it was clear that Francielle would be the one to make history. She looks to keep it going this weekend as she has VASLEY improved on her physique, which some folks will say her winning again is a foregone conclusion. The first-ever Wellness International Champion Isabelle Nunes will have something to say about this, as she looks to become the first-ever Undisputed Wellness Queen (winning both the Arnold AND Olympia Wellness titles). Yarishna Ayala did not come in at her best at last year’s Olympia. I have a feel she will right that wrong and MAYBE witness her dream of becoming an Olympia champion. The Andrews sisters are going to bring it like very few can, especially Dr. Sunny, who has continued WOW fans all over. Jacqueline Rios and Rayane Fogal are two ladies that many folks say will turn the Wellness Olympia on its head should they come in. Kassandra Gillis has made an incredible transition from figure to wellness and has proven she belongs on the big stage. Amanda Burnett and Maria Paulette have made folks speechless with their social media content. I have a feeling that will translate well into the Olympia. I can’t front, this is a crapshoot for me to make predictions but here we go anyways: I have Isabelle winning the show, following by Francielle as runner-up, then Rayane in 3rd, Kassandra in 4th, Yarishna in 5th, and Dr. Sunny in 6th, with Maria Paulette as my dark horse. This is the category that I have the LEAST amount of confidence in picking, so please don’t place bets on this one. LOL.

PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 WELLNESS OLYMPIA:

1. Isabella Nunes
2. Francielle Mattos
3. Rayane Fogal de Souza Santana
4. Kassandra Gillis
5. Yarishna Ayala
6. Dr. Sunny Andrews (Dark horse: Maria Paulette Aranguren)

There you have it. My predictions for quite LITERALLY the biggest Olympia in history. We are in for a special weekend before Christmas, and Santa Claus is gonna give a few competitors a Christmas present they will never forget in the form of calling themselves Olympia Champions. To everyone in Vegas competing, good luck to you all! To everyone in Vegas that is competing or just there for the festivities, please be safe and have fun! For everything Olympia, including the full list of all competitors and how to order the PPV, go to https://www.mrolympia.com. Also make sure to follow our Instagram as we hope to have some exclusive content from various folks that will be in Vegas.