History of Women: Did You Know- Volume 2

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Published on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 02:00

Written by Steve Wennerstrom, IFBB Women's Historian

It's time again for another round of factoids, photos, figures and just plain interesting stuff from the world of women's bodybuilding.  This month our coverage will reach internationally to every corner of the globe. Enjoy.

Did you know that Zoa Linsey is the first Canadian to win the overall IFBB North American title since Sharon Bruneau swept to victory in 1991 - 18 years ago?  Fellow Canadians Chris Wesenberg (LW) and Deanna Panting (MW) won their respective classes at the North American in 1984, but no overall was selected that year.  So, Bruneau and Linsey are the only Canadians who have won the overall IFBB North American crown.

It's been 20 years ago now, but in 1989 a USA vs. UK dual competition was staged in Nottingham, England, pitting the weight class winners at the NPC Nationals against their British Championship counterparts.  The desire was to make the event an annual affair.

In the LW class Susan Myers was out-pointed by Sonia Newsam.  The result got the event off to a controversial start as Myers looked very impressive.

Sharon Arrildt (Marvel) was a convincing winner in the MW class against Erica Lawal, and her win helped even the score in the women's division.  But in the HW class, England's outstanding Paula Bircumshaw took an easy victory over American heavyweight champ Liz Karp.  Overall, the American team was an easy winner over the British team as all five men won their respective weight classes bringing the final score to 6-2.  Among the American men's weight class winners were HW Troy Zuccolotto, and LtHW Franco Santoriello.  Zuccolotto's victory came over impressive Brit heavyweight Ian Harrison.

Unfortunately, the event did not evolve into an annual match-up due primarily to the travel expense involved, in addition to the annual contest commitments for both competitors and administrators.

Did you know current IFBB men's rep Bob Chicherillo competed in the 1988 NPC USA Mixed Pairs Championships? Yep. He and partner Debbie Bouchard placed third overall. The winners of the event were Josie Cole and Snake Adger.  Both pairs were New Yorkers.

Lyris Cappelle, the recent winner of the 2009 Canadian Championships is only the second competitor from the province of Saskatchewan to win a Canadian national title.  She is, however, the first to win an overall crown as fellow Saskatchewanian (say that three times fast) Sherry Atton won the lightweight title in 1981 before the days when Canada selected an overall winner.  Atton entered the IFBB pro ranks and competed in both the IFBB Pro Worlds (she was third in 1983) and the Ms. Olympia in 1982 and '83.  Cappelle will no doubt make every effort to follow in her countrywoman's footsteps.

One of the most memorable and hotly contested NPCJunior National weight class races took place in 2003 when the middleweight class was jammed with an outstanding crew of bodybuilders who would soon move on to bigger and better placements.

Get this, the winner of the class was Dena Westerfield - now a pro.  Second was Kim Perez - now a pro. Third was Amanda Dunbar - who would win the overall crown at the 2005 NPC USA. Fourth was Kristy Hawkins - the eventual overall winner of the 2007 NPC Nationals. Ands down the list mired in 10^th place was Christine Sabo, who, in 2004 would win the overall NPC Junior Nationals, followed by a victory in the LtHW class at the 2008 NPC USA.  That is very competitive company!

Did you know that the evolution of the weight classes in the women's bodybuilding within the NPC has changed dramatically since the early 80's?  In 1982 when three classes were contested the break-offs were as follows: LW - under 105 ¾ pounds. MW - 105 ¾ to 116 ¾, and HW's were over 116 ¾.  In 1984 when a fourth weight class was added the weights were also markedly different by today's standards.  The LW was up to 105 ¾, and MW's weighed between 105 ¾ and 114 ¾. The new LtHW class was 114 ¾ to 123 ¾, and the HW class was anyone over 123 ¾.

Today the divisions stand with LW's up to 114 ½, MW's 114 ½ to 124 ½, LtHW's  between 124 ½ and 140, and HW's are over 140 pounds.

Imagine the lightweight class today at a break-off of 105 ¾.  There were NO contestants weighing less than 105 ¾ at the recent NPC USA! And at a contest like the NPC Nationals, a break-off of 123 ¾ pounds for the HW class would need two lineups filling the stage from end to end!

It's been 20 years since Mississippi's Debby McKnight won the overall NPC USA in 1989. At the same event McKnight also won the USA Mixed Pairs title with partner Luke Tesvich.  A year earlier in 1988 she was also the overall winner at the NPC Junior USA.  But did you know McKnight entered the pro ranks and competed in three Ms. Internationals placing as high as sixth in 1990 - a finish that qualified her for a trip to the 1990 Ms. Olympia where she tied for 17th. McKnight placed fifth at the 1991 Jan Tana Classic before calling it a competitive career.

Today, McKnight is still actively involved in the world of weights working as a  rehabilitative exercise specialist and personal trainer in Southern California.

A striking example of just how quickly things might change by way of placements from year to year can be found in the 1986 NPC USA heavyweight class won by Cathy Palyo.  Later in the year Palyo moved on to win the IFBB World Amateur Championships in the HW class and turned pro.  But finishing sixth in this class was Janice Graser, who, only one year later, followed in Palyo's footsteps to win the 1987 IFBB World Amateur Championships capturing a HW gold medal.  And even further down the HW list was 12^th-placed Texan Dorothy Herndon who, at an impressive 188 pounds, out-muscled all comers in the HW division to win her class and the overall title at the 1988 NPC USA. Both Graser and Herndon moved up to the pro ranks and competed in future Ms. Olympia contests.

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The 1980 United States Women's Championships gave birth to yet another startling example of remarkable turnarounds in contest placings - further strengthening the old adage ‘never throw in the towel' when all seems

Deborah Diana

hopeless.

At that inaugural 1980 event won by Rachel McLish, only one class was contested with a field of 30 contestants.  Tied for 19^th place was Deborah Diana, and right behind her in 21^st place was Stella Martinez.  Both were clearly lost in the shuffle.

A year later at the same United States Championships,  and now with two weight classes being contested, Deborah Diana won the MW category and the overall.

Not to be outdone, Californian Stella Martinez stepped up in 1982 to win the LW and overall titles at the same United States Championships.

Diana competed in both the 1982 and '83 Ms. Olympia contests finishing fifth and eighth respectively, becoming one of the most popular and sought-after guest posers in the country as well as internationally. Martinez, on the other hand, never pursued the pro level.  Both however went from total obscurity to the winner's circle in the blink of an eye.

It's difficult to comprehend that it has been 14 years since Canadian star Cathy Lefrancois turned pro.  And to her credit there are several elements that have helped keep her at the forefront of the sport by maintaining a bright, fresh look - a sound physique -  and an upbeat attitude towards her competitive efforts.

Shown here, Lefrancois poses with her trophy on the night she turned pro in winning the 1995 Canada Cup in Montreal.  Since then she has been a lightweight class winner at the Ms. International in 2003, has competed in four Ms. Olympia contests, and also took home a victory at the 2009 New York Pro Championships to qualify for this year's Ms. Olympia.

Unfortunately a training injury has sidelined Lefrancois for the 2009 Ms. O and her absence will be sorely missed.

Texas lightweight Margaret Negrete made a splash at the

recent NPC USA when her abdominal poses rocked the house and helped her to a USA lightweight title.  But nearly 20 years ago Karen Studer-Tarr was an Ohio lightweight who also showed some pretty fab abs.  Although Studer-Tarr reached the national level competing at both the NPC USA and Nationals, she never cracked the top five - although she did place fourth at the 1992 IFBB North American Championships.  But those striking abs were good enough for her to win the 1987 NPC Youngstown Championships, and the 1990 NPC Bavarian Natural Championships in the Buckeye State. Studer-Tarr worked as a first aid and CPR instructor and Mushball coach (yes, there is such a sport).

Did you know the 1993 IFBB European Championships featured two future Ms. Olympia winners (one who didn't even win her class), and a future IFBB World Amateur heavyweight champion who would place third two years in succession at the Ms. Olympia? Few, if any other contests in women's bodybuilding history can boast such a strong field of future stars.

The competition was heated 16 years ago at this huge annual contest held annually on the European continent. With little argument this 1993 event has to be considered one of the most impressive and hotly contested in the 29-year history of the contest.

First, England's Andrulla Blanchette won the LW class taking a one-point victory over German Karin Petz in a field of 14 contestants. Blanchette, of course, would go on to a very successful pro career competing in six Ms. Olympia contests winning the LW class of the 2000 Ms. O.

Next, Ukraine's Valentina Chepiga finished third to eventual winner Patricia David of France and runner-up Monica Riscoll of Sweden in a hard-fought MW class of

heavyweight Ms O 2000, Valentina Chepiga

contestants. Chepiga would go on to win the 1997 IFBB World Amateur overall title and as a pro, she would compete in seven Ms. Olympia competitions winning the HW class Ms. O in 2000 - coincidentally the same year Blanchette won the LW division.

Heavyweight European winner Natalia Murnikoviene was a stunning and convincing winner over 17 competitors in her class.  Like Chepiga, Murnikoviene would also win the IFBB World Amateur overall title - although the striking Lithuanian would accomplish her victory in 1994.

Murnikoviene's pro career was brief but impressive. In two trips to the Ms Olympia she finished third at both - in 1995 and 1996.  Each time she placed behind Lenda Murray and Kim Chizevsky, a feat of which any competitor would be proud.

Did you know Chris Bongiovanni ranks among the most successful competitors in NPC history? Beginning her competitive efforts in 1989 with a LW win at the NPC Upper Midwest Grand Prix, she competed both as a middleweight and heavyweight between 1990 and 1995. She was the NPC Minnesota overall state champion in 1992, and won the Minnesota state powerlifting championships the same year.

In 1994 she placed first in the MW class at the NPC USA, a few months later she followed up that placing with a runner-up position at the NPC Nationals.

But in 1995 she outdid her efforts of a year earlier by bumping herself up to the HW class winning both the NPC USA and NPC Nationals - an accomplishment only a rare few have achieved.

Entering the pro ranks Bongiovanni also excelled competitively. Competing in three Ms. Internationals she cracked the top ten in each contest.  She also placed eighth at the 1997 Ms. Olympia and ninth at the '98 Ms. O.

In 1997 she was the winner of the Jan Tana Pro Classic.

Bongiovanni has remained very active in the sport serving as the promoter of the NPC Gopher State and NPC North Star contests in her native Minnesota.  She also has plans to add the NPC Minnesota to her promoting duties in 2010.  Meanwhile she serves as the NPC District Chairperson for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, and has been  an NPC national judge for the past three years.

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