Las Vegas, Nevada, September 28th: The Ms. Olympia. Whether looking at its past history and tradition, or the continuing mystique it carries with it to the current day, the contest is still magic in the world of women's bodybuilding. Virtually every year has brought a remembrance that adds to the storied heritage of the event. Legendary personalities have grown from this contest over the past three decades, and with each passing year new light is shed on those who are fortunate enough to make it to the Olympia stage. This year's edition – the 33rd since the inaugural event in 1980 – brought with it the most varied group of competitors possible in a field of just 13 entrants.
Sarasota, Florida, September 8th: You could say that when Patricia Valenti became a IFBB pro after winning the overall title in the Bikini division of the 2010 NPC Masters Nationals, she jumped in with both feet - not only as a pro competitor but also taking on the ambitious effort of promoting a pro event as well. For any promoter, staging a first-time event is a stressful learning experience especially when still active as a competitor. But none of that deterred the owner of the Evolution Fitness Center in Sarasota, Florida. Valenti was up to challenge. With the Hyatt Regency Hotel serving as the venue of this inaugural event, she was determined to make a positive first impression in the hopes of building a tradition for this fledgling contest. With divisions for men's bodybuilding and physique, the women also took center stage in fitness, figure, bikini and physique divisions with prize money offered in all divisions.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 31: It's been 30 years since the first North American Championship was held back in 1982. That year an up-and-coming star named Cory Everson became this event's first winner. Since then, the IFBB North American Championships has established an illustrious tradition that has gone on the produce an additional pair of Ms. Olympia winners in Lenda Murray and Kim Chizevsky as well as many outstanding pro competitors who have represented Canada, Mexico and the USA in the past three decades.
Tampa, Florida, August 11: Ask any amateur bodybuilder about the anxieties of first reaching the pro level and what the future will bring, and most will say they only hope for the best and to be judged fairly. All realize that making a strong first impression is important. More often than not, and on many occasions the experience of making a pro debut can be a sobering one. Of those, some have even been driven away by an initial placement that leaves them numb and to the realization that the pro ranks are far more difficult than they realized. Others - made of stronger stuff - hold out with a deep desire and passion to succeed. Of those who stick around – and there are many – ultimate success is elusive. But every so often, the cream does rise to the top. A glowing example of that fact came by way of Texan Sarah Hayes as she landed the top spot at the 2012 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships in the Audubon Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Hotel.
Las Vegas, Nevada, July 28: Dedication is a valuable commodity in many facets of a given sport and it isn't an exclusive arena for athletes alone. Coaches, training partners, sponsors and of course, promoters all share in the need for unwavering dedication. So, when you speak of dedication in the world of promotion in bodybuilding, and more specifically as it pertains to the NPC USA, Jon Lindsay is the poster boy of dedication to bodybuilding promotion at this huge annual event.
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