16 New IFBB Pros Are Coming out of Canada! Wrap-up of the 2013 CBBF Nationals
After months of dieting, tr
aining and getting prepped, well over 500 competitors were qualified to compete and a total of 17 IFBB Pro Cards were ready to be handed out. Like last year, the CBBF Nationals held two separate events – one in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the Bodybuilders and the other, a month later in New Westminster, British Columbia for the Bikini, Fitness, Figure and Physique competitors.
With so many talented competitors – some brand new to the CBBF Nationals and some returning to either keep their title or shake things up – it was evident that the judges would have a hard time. Each competitor had made sure that they brought their best overall package to the stage in order to stand out from the rest and in hopes of being one of the lucky ones.
For those not familiar with the Canadian side of the industry, according to the CBBF home page, "the CBBF is Canada's only federally recognized governing body for amateur bodybuilding, fitness and body fitness (figure) competition. This is the only Canadian organization that qualifies competitors for competition at the three annual IFBB World Championships, and the only one that awards competitors an IFBB Pro Card. Participating in CBBF events means you are able to compete with the best athletes in Canada who qualify through stringent tiered systems in their host provinces and are judged by qualified provincial and national judges.
Only those competitions that appear on our Events listing under each of the sections are sanctioned by the CBBF. The CBBF's Executive is an elected body of representatives comprised of a president, vice president and secretary/treasurer, whose role is to guide the CBBF for the betterment of each sport."
With that being said, on Saturday, July 6, 2013 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, over 200 of the best Bodybuilders, both male and female, from all across Canada, joined together to compete with the hopes of making an impact and winning the Overalls in order to take home an IFBB Pro Card (there were a total of 6 IFBB Pro Cards allotted to this event).
In both the Men's and Women's classes, competitors ranged from Junior to G
rand Masters and anywhere from 3 to over 20 competitors per class. Seeing that this event was solely for Bodybuilders, this was a huge turnout and representation of competitors, as well, it added to the challenges that the judges would have to encounter when deciding who the Top 3 would be.
As with any competition, there is always going to be emotional reactions either for or against the judging and outcomes by the fans, family, supporters and competitors themselves. But to those who understand this industry and what it means to step on stage and compete with the best in the country, that alone is a victory, and being judged among the group you are part of should be another reminder of how far you have come and won already. In truth though, I understand that this does not matter to most and it is all about the final placing and the win.
Now last year one of the crowd favorites was Ontario's Christopher Wong. He placed Top 5 in both the Masters and Superheavyweight, and it seemed that many fans and supporters were not happy. This now opened up the discussion of whether or not he’ll compete in 2013. Well, he did! Not only did Christopher Wong bring in his best conditioning to date, he wowed the crowd and judges with his mass, symmetry and overall appearance to become the winner of the first IFBB Pro Card handed out that night. Not ones to shy away from hard work, Ontario's Tana McGowan and Zane Watson also became IFBB Pros.
At the 2012 CBBF Nationals, Quebec's Larry Vinette earned his IFBB Pro status and what must have felt like an emotional roller coaster for him then, was repeated this year with his friend Henri-Pierre Ano, whom Vinette trained, earning his IFBB Pro Card as well. After a full day filled with lat spreads and front double bis, the newest IFBB Pro Card winners in Bodybuilding are:
Men's Overall Winner: Henri-Pierre Ano (PQ)
Women's Overall Winner: Tananarive McGowan (ON)
Men's Overall Masters Bodybuilding Winner: Christopher Wong (ON)
Women's Overall Masters Bodybuilding Winner: Tananarive McGowan (ON)
Additional IFBB Pro Card winners:
Daphne Madigin (AB) (Women's Lightheavyweight)
Zane Watson (ON) (Men's Heavyweight)
Source: http://cbbf.ca/ContestResults/2013CanadianNationalChampionships.aspx
About 5 weeks later on Saturday, Augu
st 17, the 2013 CBBF Canadian National Bikini, Figure, Fitness, and Physique Championships took place in British Columbia. Over 300 competitors were ready to win one of the 11 IFBB Pro Cards. With Physique being a newer class within the industry, and this year its inclusion in the Olympia, the number of competitors was fairly larger at the CBBF Nationals resulting in the class to be divided into short, medium and tall, as well as two IFBB Pro Cards to be handed out to the Top 2 Overall winners.
As with the first Nationals, there were anywhere from 3 to 20 competitors in each class and all divisions were covered. This event had many favorites return to the stage, as well as many new ladies and men who were ready to shake things up. With this being one of the biggest turnouts of competitors, each had to make their mark and prove their worthiness for a chance to be selected as the Overall winner and earn their IFBB Pro Card.
Probably one of the most anticipated classes was that of Women's Physique. Now with two IFBB Pro Cards to be won by the Top 2 Overalls, the pressure was on. With a strong group of women, the Top 2 Overall Winners and newest IFBB Pros came out of Ontario and Nova Scotia. What is great to note with new IFBB Women’s Physique Pro, Leah Johnson, is that her brother is IFBB Pro Michael Johnson. This seems to be a family of IFBB Pro quality, not only in Physique but Bodybuilding.
And Ontario's Lise Thexton made a return to the stage this year, after placing in the Top 5 in 2012. The drastic changes made were noted as she took home the second IFBB Pro Card in Physique.
In many of the classes and divisions, several of last year's winners were able to hold onto their titles but there were also a few new competitors or dark horses that seemed to catch the attention of the judges and take the overalls.
The Men's Physique was also one of the groups many were watching. N
ot only for who the two IFBB Pros would be, but what was the look and/or build to be in favor. A great group of men represented the short, medium and tall classes, but it was Quebec and Ontario that claimed the IFBB Pro Cards.
All in all the night produced many amazing competitors and new IFBB Pros – from women returning to stage after maternity leave, changing federations, to those competing for the first time in 2013 and ending up an IFBB Pro before the year is over. So at the end of the night, the 11 IFBB Pro Cards were awarded to:
Men's Physique Overall Winner: Chris Gurunlian (PQ)
Women's Physique Overall Winner: Leah Johnson (NS)
Masters Figure Overall Winner: Jolene Fonseca (ON)
Figure Overall Winner: Emily Zelinka (ON)
Masters Bikini Overall Winner: Valerie Cantin Boyd (BC)
Bikini Overall Winner: Belinda Kiriakou (ON)
Fitness Overall Winner: Domi
nique Matthews (PQ)
Additional IFBB Pro Card winners:
Wayne Chambers (ON) (Men's Physique Medium)
Lise Thexton (ON) (Women's Physique Tall)
Erin Oakie (ON) (Figure D)
Breanne Hensman (AB) (Bikini Medium)
Source: http://cbbf.ca/ContestResults/2013Bikini,Figure,Fitness,andPhysiqueChampio.aspx
Another CBBF Nationals came to a close and Canada has 16 new IFBB Pros ready to make a statement on the IFBB Pro scene. Some may choose to compete before the year is done and others may take a moment to celebrate the win, consider what it means to now be a Pro, and look to bring a better version of them to the 2014 IFBB Pro Season. Whatever the decision of the new Pros and those that stepped on the CBBF Nationals stage, they may realize that they are the best of the best and no one can tell them otherwise.
