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Published on Wednesday, 03 October 2012 21:49
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Written by Ruth Silverman
The Ruthless Report 8: at the O—Saturday
Riding the bus to the Olympia Expo with the newly recrowned Ms. Olympia, Iris Kyle, was a great way to start off the day. We talked corsets and competition. "Get an expensive one," she advised, regarding waist-cinchers (not bodybuilders). Honey, with my muffin—and bagel—top I need to. As for her competition, as usual the champ professed that she had been focused on herself backstage and not assessing the lineup—but she may have snuck a peak at a couple of up-and-comers with potential. Alina Popa was one (well, she's been around for a few shows; Iris was bound to notice). Anne Luise Freitas, the very muscular newcomer from Brazil, was another. The ride was over all too soon, and I grabbed a shot before we parted in the expo lobby. Dang. Never got a chance to ask her where she got that great purse.
Did we talk about Debi Laszewski? I'll never tell. Later, when I ran into Debi, hanging at the Pro Tan booth, she was all smiles and then some. And why not? Laszewski had not only muscled her way past Yaxeni Oriquen Garcia into second place at the Ms. Olympia, but she'd gained a point on Iris, 11-19. We discussed the various measures she was taking to bring in her waist, famously the one weak spot in the 5'4" Florida flexer packed-with-
muscle physique—no dumbbell rows, lots of preexhaustion and wide grip pullups. Debi is beyond motivated. "I will be Ms. Olympia," she said.
It was my day to talk with folks who have worn the Olympia crown. The first person I ran into at the expo was multi–Masters Owinner Vince Taylor, who said he was helping current Masters Mr. Olympia promoter Jarka Lorie Schneider talk up the event, which is scheduled for December 7 and 8 in Miami, along with Pro World contests in fitness, figure and bikini. "You're not competing?" I raised an eyebrow. "No, I'm done," he said with a hearty chuckle. "Just helping out."
Vince headed off, but Jarka's booth was a few yards away, there was one person behind the table: eight-time Ms. O Lenda Murray. "You're not competing?" I raised an eyebrow. We burst into laughter. I'd last seen Lenda on Labor Day at Muscle Beach, Venice, California, where she helped induct Betty Weider into the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame. As you can see in the accompanying photo, she was shocked at the thought of my suggestion.
Speaking of people with small waists, Ann Pratt was taking in the expo like a tourist for the first time in years. The Arizona figure pro was not working a booth, but she was definitely focused on the upcoming Houston Pro on October 12 and 13. After taking third at the Nordic Pro earlier in the month, she was just getting the hang of the Olympia points system. Quarter-turn on, Annie! Quarter-turn on!
Dropping by the GNC booth to congrat
ulate Adela Garcia on her big seventh Fitness Olympia win, I found myself staring at Michelle Adams, totally confused. What was Kristal Richardson doing at the GNC booth? Michelle, who like Adela is a longtime booth rep for the company, took it in good stride. I wasn't the first to tell her she resembled Kristal, and she considered it a compliment. Whew. Here she is with still more GNC mainstays, Kim Cotton and Tina Durkin.
Much later that night, after the last crowns had been awarded, I was having a bite at Friday's with photographer Roland Balik, my colleague at Iron Man magazine, when Ava Cowan came in with a party. The weekend that saw her drop out of the top six at the Figure O was over, and she was looking radiant. "I'm keeping the hair," she said with a smile, referring to the new ’do that was not a favorite of the commentators. Ava was also looking forward to going to Spain on October 12 and 13 and competing in the first Arnold Classic Europe. Count on her to be picking up some points for 2013 there.
Also radiant after the show was new-for-the-second-time Figure O champ Erin Stern. "It's the spangly stuff on my arms," she said. Of course, we'd all had a few Diet Pepsis by then. Erin, who took the crown again after two runner-up finishes to Nicole Wilkins, at the ’11 Olympia and the ’12 Figure International, was not out of the woods yet, has she and Nicole and Olympia third-placer Candice
Keene were all heading for the Sheru Classic in New Delhi this coming weekend.
Final fun facts. A last stroll around the Alligator Bar at the Orleans Hotel found 212 Showdown fourth-placer Jose Raymond holding court with a few friends. "Did you realize," I said, "that if Kai Greene had won the Olympia rather than taking second to Phil Heath, he'd be the first Team Universe champ to become Mr. O?" Jose did me one better, pointing out that we had probably set a record this year for former T.U. Overall champs competing at the Olympia—"Me, Kai, Tricky [Jackson] and Shawn Rhoden." It's an exclusive club, for sure, Jose.
