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2012 Arnold Classic Europe amateur bikini over all winner, the runner up from the 2012 IFBB worlds Slovenian Tanja Canc turns pro…

And a lil review by IFBB – http://www.ifbb.com/newsletter/detail.php?id=10451&date=2012-10-16&language=english&prov=index

2012 ARNOLD CLASSIC EUROPE

by Andrew Michalak

Official contest reults CLICK HERE

It was a real marathon lasting from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. But it was a very exciting marathon. Great venue with tremendous space, great stage with impressive back wall banner, great IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja, being a host and keeping an eye of every aspect of this sport festival, great master of ceremony, Mr. Armando Marquez, near the end exchanged by Mrs. Rosella Pruneti (who can stand and speak more than few hours?). And great chief judge, Mr. Pawel Filleborn, who couldn’t leave his place even to eat something and was responsible for smooth and fast proceedings. And great athletes, giving us so many exciting feelings and emotions. Now short comments on each class run today.

Junior women’s bodyfitness

One big star, 2012 European junior overall champion Doina Gorun of Italy, who showed the perfect physique and received the perfect scores from the judges.

Junior men’s bodybuilding

One clear leader Raul Maghir of Romania. Very complete, harmonized bodybuilder, with no weak points and in the best shape in the line-up. Top quality muscles with separation and definition. Two guys: Wesley Gasparotto (Italy) and Yury Burnaev (Russia) showed big, full muscles but lacking top quality and definition.

Master men’s bodybuilding, age 50-59

Once again a clear leader: 2009 European masters overall winner Rafael Arana of Spain, who definitely won all three rounds due to the perfect body condition and quality. Much bigger competitor, former European champion Jose Camacho Rebolo of Portugal couldn’t challenge Arana due to lack of muscle definition. Competitor with biggest legs in the line-up, Eduardo Zoega of Brazil, placed 5th due to the same shortcomings.

Master men’s bodybuilding, age over 60

Nobody could challenge the world and European champion Bernie Cooper of the United Kingdom who combine muscle size and quality. The other world champion Rafael Vera of Spain displayed very good body proportions but needed a bit lower bodyfat level.

Women’s bikini fitness up to 163 cm

In each of three categories more than 20 athletes. Amazing review of female beauty, styles of presentation and bodylines. In each category a small “return match” after the Women’s Worlds in Bialystok a week earlier. Some of them improved their body condition, the other have lost it. Amy Wright proved once again her domination in the short class up to 160 cm. Cynthia Benoit of Canada jumped from 5th place in Bialystok to the 2nd position but the more impressive moving up was done by Heather Schofield of the United Kingdom, who placed 15th in Bialystok but took the 3rd position in Madrid. She was looking great and returned to the 3rd position won at the latest European Championships in Zagreb.:

Women’s bikini fitness up to 168 cm

Second great duel of Tanja Canc (Slovenia) and Karina Antovska (Slovakia). In Bialystok Antovska dethroned Canc but in Madrid Canc successfully returned to the top position and, moreover, won the overall title as well. Great success of this bikini fitness diva from Slovenia. Antovska didn’t give up easily: she even won the first round and lost the leadership in the second round. Brazilian newcomer at this level Marcia Goncalves, jumped to the 3rd position while Ukrainian blond beauty Liudmila Diachuk once again in the 4th position, after Zagreb and Bialystok, despite the fact that she was in her life condition in Madrid. Nina Silic of Australia – once again in the 6th place.

Women’s bikini fitness up to 168 cm

The biggest sensation of this day: world champion Anna Virmayoki of Finland out of the semifinals! This unexpected occasion was successfully used by Vladimira Krasova (Czech Republic) and Rhiannon Harris (Australia). They exchanged their positions compared to Bialystok: Krasova moved up to the top while Harris stayed in the 2nd place.

I was personally impressed by the perfect style and condition of Egle Eller-Nabi of Estonia who moved up one place, to the 3rd position, but only one point behind Harris. Jana Majernikova of Slovakia still in the 5th place but improved her style a lot. The biggest advancement: Adalheidur Ólafsdóttir of Island who finished in the elimination round in Bialystok and now moved up the 6th place.

Women’s bodybuilding

What a different view than in Bialystok! Seventeen impressive athletes on the stage created very interesting and exciting competition. First place went to someone new in the IFBB line-up, former world Thai Boxing champion Jacqueline Fuchs of Switzerland. Being in the perfect shape she managed to push down famous Czech star Katerina Kyptowa to the 2nd position – the same like a year ago. Kyptova displayed big and full muscles but needed a bit higher quality and more details. Salla Kauranen of Finland finished in the 3rd place, same like at the 2011 Arnold America.

Women’s physique

New category in the IFBB and the successful inauguration. Category for women between bodybuilding and bodyfitness, something similar to men’s classic bodybuilding but with no weight/height limits. Most girls looked very attractive, some of them needed a bit harder and dried bodies. First titles went to:

– Zsuzsanna Tirpak b(Hungary) in the short class, up to 163 cm class

– Eva Pogacnik (Slovenia) in the tall class, over 163 cm

We could see in the line-up many former bodybuilding and bodyfitness stars like: Liudmila Tuboltseva (Russia), Alina Cepurniene (Lithuania), Noemia de Abreu (Brazil) , Kristina Dybdahl (Denmark), Lorena Inarra (Spain), carola Nostas (Bolivia), Ester Parisi (Italy), Branislava Jovanovic (Serbia).

Bodybuilding up to 70 kg

Unquestionable leader: 6-time world champion and 2011 Arnold America and Arnold Europe winner Jose Carlos Santos (Brazil), who dropped into 3rd place at 2012 Arnold America but now returned to the top position. Full, hard and well separated muscles earned him the perfect scores. In the 2nd place someone new, German bodybuilder Ismaile Boruco, few points ahead of experienced champions: Fabio Branciamore (Italy) and Johnatan Reverte (Spian).

Bodybuilding up to 75 kg

Excited duel of two-time world champion Corrado Maggiore (Italy) who tried in the other organizations in 2009 and now came back to the IFBB in 2011, wining the 2nd place at Arnold Europe. Karol Malecki of Poland won the 2nd place at the 2011 Arnold America and won the first Amateur Olympia in London. In this tough combat over Maggiore he won two rounds and they were tied in the 3rd round what brought the victory to Malecki. This can be considered as his life achievement.

Bodybuilding up to 80 kg

The next very close battle of the 2012 world champion from Mumbai, Ahmad Paydar (Iran) and 2010 World Championships bronze medal winner Andriy Sharapov (Ukraine), who unfortunately was not placed at the 2012 Arnold America. But in Madrid Sharapov was in his best conditions, forcing Paydar to the maximum efforts. This was a duel of the two top world bodybuilders and very attractive to the viewers.

Paydar won two rounds and lost in the third round but it was enough to win the gold medal. Sharapov displayed tremendous upper body but need to harmonized legs to his trunk.

Bodybuilding up to 85 kg

Czech bodybuilder Vojtek Koritensky has just moved to the IFBB being successful in the other organization. And he confirmed his quality, winning all three rounds and showing muscularity with no weak points and tremendous thigh and calf development. Behind him, three others were fighting for the silver medal: Saied Karjalian from Iran against two Rusians: Alexander Kolyashnikov and Artem Masalov. It was a very close battle in the semifinals but Karjalian earned better scores in the finals, placing ahead of Kolyashnikov and Masalov.

Bodybuilding up to 90 kg

The longest line-up with 28 competitors and packed with big names. Jose Bustamante of Venezuela came in a glory of 2012 Arnold America winner to defend his 2011 Arnold Europe title. He was short, very muscular , with professional quality legs but, unfortunately, a bit too smooth and dropped to the 5th position. The other bodybuilding star Alexander Kodzoev of Russia displayed super quality conditions and gave no chance to his opponents winning all three rounds with perfect scores. Behind him we can see new Iranian star Reza Kakavand – athlete with nicely balanced muscular development and good quality. Then Ricardo Correia of the United Kingdom, who could be titled “the king of legs” and Emiliano Dell’uomo of Italy.

Pictures:

by http://www.eastlabs.biz

JUNIOR WOMEN’S BODYFITNESS:

Junior women’s bodyfitness open category top three (from L to R): Barbora Cernáková (2nd place); Doina Gorun(1st place); Hafdís Ásbergsdóttir (3rd place).

Perfect physique of the 2012 Arnold Classic Europe winner: Doina Gorun (Italy).

JUNIOR MEN’S BODYBUILDING:

Junior men’s bodybuilding top three (from L to R): Daniel Miranda (2nd place); Raul Maghir (1st place); Ruben Lopez (3rd place).

Junior men’s bodybuilding 2012 Arnold Classic Europe champion: Raul Maghir (Romania).

WOMEN’S BIKINI FITNESS UP TO 163 CM

Women’s bikini fitness up to 163 cm category top three (from L to R): Cynthia Benoit (2nd place); Amy Wright (1st place); Heather Schofield (3rd place).

Women’s bikini fitness up to 163 cm category 2012 Arnold Classic Europe champion: Amy Wright (Australia).

WOMEN’S BIKINI FITNESS UP TO 168 CM

Women’s bikini fitness up to 163 cm category top three (from L to R): Karina Antovska (2nd place); Tanja Canc (1st place); Márcia Gonçalves (3rd place).

Women’s bikini fitness up to 168 cm category 2012 Arnold Classic Europe champion: Tanja Canc (Slovenia).

WOMEN’S BIKINI FITNESS OVER 168 CM

Women’s bikini fitness up to 163 cm category top three (from L to R): Rhiannon Harris (2nd place); Vladimira Krasova (1st place); Márc Egle Eller-Nabi (3rd place).

A lil preview by IFBB.com; the biggest stars listed and the schedule announced:

HE BIGGEST IFBB STARS COMING TO MADRID

Andrew Michalak

2012 Arnold Classic Europe seems to be the biggest event ever held in the IFBB: over 700 athletes have been nominated by 54 National Federations! Rare opportunity to see all of them on stage at the same event. Visit

Pabellon De Cristal de la Casa de Campo in Madrid

Avenida de Portugal

in the following days:

Friday, October 12, 2012, with the following schedule:

09:00 am: juniors, bikini fitness, masters bodybuilding, women’s bodybuilding, women’s physique

11:00 am: women’s and men’s athletic fitness

02:00 pm: men’s bodybuilding 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, 85 kg, 90 kg

Saturday, October 13, 2012, with the following schedule:

09:00 am: women’s and men’s fitness, men’s classic bodybuilding

02:30 pm: masters bodybuilding 40-49 years old, women’s bodyfitness

Sunday, October 14, 2012, with the following schedule:

10:00 am: men’s bodybuilding 100 kg, +100 kg,

02:30 pm: women’s fitness finals

The top international IFBB stars coming to Madrid:

Marta Aguiar (Uruguay): South American women’s fitness overall champion

Oleg Anissimov (Estonia): 2011 world men’s fitness champion

Karina Antovska (Slovakia): 2012 world bikini fitness overall winner

Zulfija Bitiyeva (Kazakhstan): 2011 Eastern Europe bodyfitness champion

Renee Campbell (UK): 2012 world women’s bodybuilding overall winner

Tania Canc (Slovenia): 2012 world bikini fitness 168 cm runner-up

Bernie Cooper (UK): two-time world masters bodybuilding over 60 champion

Daniela D’Emilia (Italy): 2009 world bodyfitness 163 cm runner-up

Angela Derzpaf (Germany): 2012 world bodyfitness 158 cm runner-up

Kristina Dybdahl (Denmark): Nordic countries champion, now in women’s physique

Christian Egner (Norway): 2011 European athletic fitness overall winner

Zrinka Fiser (Croatia): three-time world bodyfitness 163 cm champion

Helean Forsen (Sweden): 2012 European women’s athletic fitness champion

Ekaterina Gamagina (Russia): 2012 world bodyfitness overall winner

Gorkem Gursoy (Turkey): 2012 European bodybuilding 90 kg champion

Doina Gorun (Italy): 2011 European junior bodyfitness overall champion

Anastasia Gurina (Belarus): 2012 world bodyfitness +168 cm and overall champion

Salla Kauranen (Finland): Arnold America women’s bodybuilding runner-up

Magdalena Kazimirova (Slovakia): 2012 European bikini fitness overall winner

Fedir Khashalov (Ukraine): 2012 world men’s fitness 3^rd place winner

Ott Kiivikas (Estonia): 2011 IFBB World Cup bodybuilding winner

Pavel Kirilenko (Russa): 2009 Arnold America bodybuilding 100 kg winner

Alexander Kodzoev (Russia): 2011 Arnold America bodybuilding 90 kg winner

Andrzej Kolodziejczyk (Poland): 2011 world bodybuilding +100 kg runner-up

Taavi Koovit (Estonia): 2011 world classic bodybuilding 180 cm champion

Katarzyna Kozakiewicz (Poland): 2009 world bodyfitness 168 cm champion

Anatoliy Kudlay (Ukraine): 2010 world masters bodybuilding overall winner

Katerina Kyptova (Czech Rep.): 2011 Arnold Europe women’s bodybuilding runner-up

Aleksey Lesukov (Russia): 2011 Arnold America bodybuilding 100 kg winner

Corrado Maggiore (Italy): two-time world bodybuilding 75 kg champion

Arvydas Mickus (Lithuania): 2010 Arnold America bodybuilding +100 kg runner-up

Oksana Orobets (Ukraine): 2012 world women’s fitness +163 cm runner-up

Ahmad Paydar Iran): 2011 world bodybuilding 80 kg champion

Ako Rahim (Sweden): 2012 European athletic fitness +175 cm runner-up

Jose Carlos Santos (Brazil): six-time world bodybuilding 70 kg champion

Christine Schranz (Austria): 2011 Arnold Europe bodyfitness +168 cm winner

Khoudiedji Sidibe (France): 2012 world bodyfitness +168 cm runner-up

Mikhail Sidorychev (Russia): two-time European bodybuilding +100 kg champion

Melinda Szabo (Hungary): 2011 world women’s fitness 163 cm champion

Elana Stasiukyniene (Lithuania): 2011 world masters bodybuilding champion

Anna Szczotka (Poland): 2012 world bodyfitness 163 cm runner-up

Timea Taraba-Sifter (Hungary): 2012 world women’s fitness 163 cm runner-up

Alevtina Titarenko (Ukraine): 2011 world women’s fitness overall winner

Liudmila Tuboltseva (Russia): 2012 European women’s bodybuilding overall winner

Tatiana Volkova (Kazakhstan): 2012 Asian women’s fitness champion

Amy Wright (Australia): 2012 world bikini fitness 163 cm champion

Alex Zuccaro (Italy): 2011 Arnold America bodybuilding 70 kg winner

Totally amazing 54 nations attending!

In photos:

South American fitness star Marta Aguiar (Uruguay).

2011 fitness world champion Oleg Anissimov (Estonia).

2012 world bikini fitness overall winner Karina Antovska (Slovakia).

2012 world bodyfitness overall winner Ekaterina Gamagina (Russia).

Arnold Amateur Championships winner Pavel Kirilenko (Russia).

2011 World Championships super heavyweight runner-up Andrzej Kolodziejczyk (Poland).

2011 Arnold Europe women’s bodybuilding runner-up Katerina Kyptova (Czech Republic).

2011 Arnold Amateur Championships 100 kg winner Aleksey Lesukov (Russia).

Two-time world bodybuilding champion Corrado Maggiore (Italy).

Six-time world bodybuilding champion Jose Carlos Santos (Brazil).

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Arnold Sports Festival is coming to South America

The first-ever Arnold Classic Brazil will be held May 10-12 in Rio de Janeiro and will feature IFBB Pro League men’s bodybuilding, a complete lineup of amateur bodybuilding events and a fitness expo.

Arnold Classic Brazil is a joint venture between Gov. Schwarzenegger, Arnold Sports Festival co-promoter Jim Lorimer, International Federation of Body Building president Rafael Santonja, and Savaget Promotions of Sáo Paulo, Brazil.

“We are very excited to take the Arnold Sports Festival model to South America in 2013,” Lorimer said. “The creation of the first Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid in October 2012 proved that there was great demand worldwide for the Arnold Sports Festival concept, and we look forward to continuing our globalization efforts in Rio de Janeiro next year.”

The Arnold Classic Europe will feature professional men’s bodybuilding sanctioned by the IFBB Pro League and amateur contests sanctioned by the International Federation of Body Building. Additional sports and contests will be announced in the near future.

The Arnold Classic Brazil will partner with the Rio Sports Show, held annually in Rio de Janeiro, to create a health and fitness expo that will attract more than 35,000 attendees. The expo will feature the latest in equipment, sports nutrition, apparel and accessories. An accompanying “Fight Pavilion” will feature the latest in mixed martial arts and other combat sports.

Organizers hope the Arnold Classic Brazil will build on the success of the Arnold Sports Festival, which began as the Arnold Classic professional men’s bodybuilding competition in 1989 and has grown to include more than 18,000 athletes competing in more than 45 sports and events each year. The Arnold Classic Europe debuted in October 2011 and will return in October 2012.

http://www.hardbody.com/news/2012/06/12/arnold-classic-brazil-to-debut-in-rio-de-janeiro-may-2013/

IFBB report from the amateur events – http://www.ifbb.com/newsletter/detail.php?id=10083&date=2012-05-01&language=english&prov=index

2012 AMATEUR CUP IN MADRID: THREE NEW PROS

by Andrew Michalak

Last weekend has brought three new nominations for the Pro League professional athletes. New Pro Cards will be issued to: Ekaterina Gamagina, Aliaksey Shabunia and Vicente Santamaria.

The final start list of the athletes in Madrid was quite different than that published few days prior to the contest. A couple of athletes resigned in the last moment, the other decided to compete.

Men’s Bodybuilding over 85 kg

There was no sensation or surprise: Belarusian super heavyweight champion Aliaksey Shabunia finally got the Pro Card, winning all rounds with the perfect scores. Finally, after two years of “unpleasant” second places, he was successful this time.

But the 2nd place can be treated as a little surprise: it went to the Spanish bodybuilder Djalma Laroque Da Costa, who is not so well-known in the IFBB amateur circles. He just appeared in the IFBB at the 2011 Arnold Classic Europe, coming second in the 100 kg category, just 2 points behind Russian star Andrey Sorokin. Miha Zupan of Slovenia placed 3rd at that event and repeated this result recently in Madrid.

Two nominated Slovaks: Peter Kovac and Boris Prekop didn’t come. Instead we saw three Spanish bodybuilders: Fernando Navarro, Anselmo Cortado and Roberto Castellano. From them only Navarro tried to fight over Zupan for the 3rd place but failed.

Men’s Bodybuilding up to 85 kg

The Pro License was an internal matter between two Spanish bodybuilders: Vicente Santamaria and Manuel Canadillas. Santamaria was the runner-up of the 2010 European Championships in Maastricht, where he lost only to his team-mate Jonatan Reverte. Reverte also came to Madrid but was a bit off and placed 6th. In Madrid Santamaria looked very good: hard, dried and striated, so there was no problem with scoring; however in the first round he was tied with Manuel Canadillas. This was a surprise as Canadillas participated only in one IFBB international event: 2010 European Championships finishing out of the top ten in classic bodybuilding. He has improved a lot in those two years being a demanding rival to Santamaria this time. The 3rd place went to the Finland’s rising star Kimmo Hovilainen.

Women’s bodyfitness open class

The number of participants went up to 10 and it was a top quality line-up. Two athletes: Ekaterina Gamagina of Russia and Freyja Sigurdardottir of Island were fighting arm to arm for the Pro Card and it was a very equalized battle. Gamagina is a famous IFBB star, continental and world champion. But Freyja, who participated in a couple of Nordic countries events only, was an extremely demanding challenger and lost only by 1 point in each round. This was an exciting duel!

The next two athletes: Emi Perez and Lorena Inarra, both of Spain, are also very well-known stars and displayed top quality. Unfortunately, the last World Championships bronze medal winner, Mari Pakkila of Finland, was not in enough shape to run a close battle against the winners.

In the interview before the event, IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja informed that there will be no more contests of this type and the Pro Cards will be awarded only to the top three athletes at the continental championships and top six at the world championships. And this is the right decision because some of the pro athletes who were given the Pro Cards “too early” can’t prepare top quality condition for the pro events, what was seen at the Mr. Europe Pro same weekend in Madrid, but not only.

AliakseyShabunia with the trophies.

And congratulated by Dr. Santonja.

Laroque vs. Shabunia (right).

Djalma Laroque was a very demanding challenger.

Vicente Santamaria with the trophies.

Santamaria vs. Canadillas (right)

Santamaria vs. Hovilainen (right).

Ekaterina Gamagina with the trophies.

Ekaterina Gamagina.

Sigurdardottir vs. Gamagina (right).

ATHLETES COMING TO :

2012 EUROPEAN MEN’S; JUNIORS & MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

– SANTA SUSANNA, SPAIN

by Andrew Michalak

Mikhail Sidorychev (Russia) – he will come to defend his title In the super heavyweight category. He will meet last year finalists: Dmitry Golubochkin (Russia) and Temucin Canel (Turkey).

Marcin Kosel (Poland) – 2010 European champion and 2011 Worlds finalist in 65 kg class who will meet Andrii Iarmola (Ukraine) – 2011 European champion in 70 kg category, 2011 Worlds finalist Mauro Ranieri (Italy) and 2011 bronze medal winner Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria). They all will participate in the 70 kg category as the 65 kg class was cancelled at the European championships.

Artem Bradov (Ukraine) – 2009 European champion vs. Vicente Santamaria (Spain) – 2010 runner-up will be the exciting duel in the 80 kg category.

Ladislav Kuzder (Slovakia) – 2011 European champion will defend his title in 90 kg category against the attacks of 2005 runner-up Ott Kiivikas (Estonia) and 2009 World Classic Bodybuilding Championships finalist Tomasz Pabiniak (Poland).

Miha Zupan (Slovenia) – 2011 runner-up seems to be the main pretender to the title in the 100 kg category. He will meet 2011 finalist Mohammed Bellahcene (France).

CLASSIC BODYBUILDING

Petr Havlik (Slovakia) – 2006 European champion will come back and fight against 2011 runner-up Piotr Zaniewski (Poland) in 168 cm class.

Vladimir Kurdov (Bulgaria) – 2009 European champion will meet 2011 runner-up Antonio Ludovico (Italy) in 175 cm category.

Robert Majewski (Poland) – 2009 runner-up will come back and fight for the title against 2010 finalist Lepomir Bakic (Serbia).

Andrey Lopushanskiy (Azerbaijan) – 2011 Worlds runner-up will battle in the over 180 cm category against coming back Drazen Vrbancic (Croatia) and two former top junior champions: Peter Bella (Slovakia) and Boris Orava (Czech Republic).

JUNIORS

Nikola Weiterova (Slovakia) – 2011 Women Worlds champion will battle against Junior Worlds medal winners: Andrea Katselou (Greece) and Roza Mazurek (Poland).

Denis Avlasenko (Russia) – 2010 European junior champion will battle against 2011 runner-up Piotr Borecki (Poland), 2010 runner-up Wesley Gasparotto (Italy) and 2010 Junior Worlds runner-up Stefano Scarlata (Italy).

Anghel Birica (Romania) – 2011 world junior fitness champion against new faces.

Mihaela Serban (Romania) – 2011 runner-up against 2011 bronze medal winner Cristina Alonso (Spain) in junior women’s bodybuilding.

Laura Cupsa (Romania) – 2010 world junior fitness champion (up to 163 cm) against Dominika Multanova (Slovakia) – 2010 European junior champion and 2010 runner-up Marianna Holbova (Slovakia).

Nikoletta Resch (Hungary) – 2011 world junior fitness champion against less experienced athletes.

Emi Perez (Spain) – 2011 Masters Worlds runner-up and 2012 Arnold Amateur runner-up against 2011 Arnold Europe 3^rd place winner Priscilla Katzmair (Austria) and former top world bodybuilder Giuditta Magazzino (Italy) in women’s masters bodyfitness class.

Kristín Kristjánsdóttir (Iceland) – top world women’s maters bodyfitness competitor, now in over 45 category.

Henryk Hryszkiewicz (Poland) – three-time Masters Worlds runner-up in up to 70 kg category (masters bodybuilding age 40-49) against 2011 finalist Mario Hernandez (Spain).

Andrzej Maszewski (Poland) – 2011 Europeans runner-up in over 90 kg category (age 40-49).

Faruk Horhor (Turkey) – 2011 Masters Words bronze medal and 2010 silver medal winner in up to 80 kg, age 50-59.

Jose Camacho Rebolo (Portugal) – 2008 masters world champion over 80 kg, age 50-59 against Aleksandr Alekseev (Ukraine) – 2009 European masters champion.

Elena Stasiukyniene (Lithuania) – 2011 world masters women’s bodybuilding champion against Natalia Vtyurina (Russia) – 2010 Europeans women’s bodybuilding overall champion and Ludmila Tuboltseva (Russia) – 2011 Women’s Worlds runner-up (up to 55 kg category).

COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN THE

2012 EUROPEAN MEN’S, JUNIORS & MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

– SANTA SUSANNA, SPAIN

1. Austria
2. Azerbaijan
3. Belarus
4. Belgium
5. Bulgaria
6. Croatia
7. Cyprus
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Estonia
11. Finland
12. France
13. Germany
14. Greece
15. Hungary
16. Iceland
17. Ireland
18. Italy
19. Latvia
20. Lithuania
21. Malta
22. Moldova
23. Netherlands
24. Poland
25. Portugal
26. Romania
27. Russia
28. Serbia
29. Slovakia
30. Slovenia
31. Spain
32. Sweden
33. Switzerland
34. Turkey
35. Ukraine
36. United Kingdom

WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE UPCOMING EUROPEAN AMATEUR CUP?

by Andrew Michalak

Two big international events will be held in the upcoming weekend in Madrid:

– 2012 European Amateur Cup

– The 3^rd Mr. Europe Pro

Both events will take place in the famous Palacio de Congresos at Paseo de la Castellana, which was the venue for the 2011 Arnold Classic Europe.

The Amateur Cup will be held on Saturday, April 28^th, 2012: Semifinals at 10:00, finals at 15:00. Tickets: €20.

Amateur bodybuilders and bodyfitness athletes will fight for three Pro Cards. The following athletes will compete in two men’s bodybuilding categories:

Up to 85 kg category:

Luc Chabot (Netherlands)

Kimmo Hovilainen (Finland)

Samir Troudi (Sweden)

Difficult to find out a favourite. Samir Troudi won the up to 91 kg class at the 2012 Battle of Scandinavia but lost to Ott Kiivikas at the 2012 Loaded Cup. Kimmo Hovilainen was a “surprisingly large newcomer” at the 2009 Oslo Grand Prix as James Riley wrote in the FLEX magazine but there is no record on his further achievements despite his extraordinary workouts: 60 kg dumbbells bench press of 15 reps and machine supersquat. Luc Chabot placed 2^nd in the 80 kg class at the 2012 Loaded Cup, behind Thomas Askeland.

Over 85 kg category:

Peter Kovac (Slovakia)

Boris Prekop (Slovakia)

Aliaksey Shabunia (Belarus)

Miha Zupan (Slovenia)

There is a clear leader in this categpry: Aliaksey Shabunia, 2012 Arnold Amateur super heavyweight runner-up and winner at the 2012 FIBO. 2011 European Championships runner-up (up to 100 kg class) and 2012 Arnold Amateur 3^rd place winner Miha Zupan will be a demanding challenger, if in top shape and definition. Both Slovak bodybuilders are not so experienced at the international level.

Bodyfitness open category:

Roxanne Lensveld (Netherlands)

Einhildur Yr Oskarsdottir (Iceland)

Mari Pakkila (Finland)

Cristina Romano (Italy)

Freyja Sigurdardottir (Iceland)

PICTURES;

Shabunia: Aliaksey Shabunia at 2012 Arnold Classic.

Zupan: Miha Zupan at the 2012 Arnold Classic.

Pakkila: Mari Pakkila at the 2011 World Championships.

Sigurdardottir: Freya Sigurdardottir at the recent contest.

Hovilainen: Kimmo Hovilainen .

Prekop: Boris Prekop.

Troudi: Samir Troudi at the 2012 Loaded Cup.

Chabot: Luc Chabot at the 2012 Loaded Cup.

http://www.ifbb.com/newsletter/detail.php?id=10052&date=2012-04-01&language=english&prov=index

2012 LODED CUP: POLOCZEK WINS OVER HAVLIK

by Andrew Michalak

After two-year break Loaded Cup returned and in a big style!. Contest promoter and physique sports enthusiast Stellan Bossen put in this event all his energy and a lot of money (total prize money was nearly EUR 11 000) but the contest attracted nearly 90 athletes from 14 countries, compared to 30 athletes in 2009. Moreover, he managed to bring to this event as guest posers and seminar lecturers so famous stars as the current Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, top 202 category bodybuilder James Flex Lewis, top pro bodyfitness star Larissa Reis and former pro champion Dennis James.

The following champions won the amateur bodybuilding categories: Ismael Borucou (70 kg), Thomas Askeland (80 kg), Ott Kiivikas (90 kg), Stefan Havlik (100 kg) and Paul Poloczek (+100 kg). Then they met in the overall battle and it brought the sensational victory to Poloczek, over the 2012 Arnold Amateur overall winner Stefan Havlik. Poloczek showed perfect body condition, with sharp definition, while Havlik was a bit too smooth, especially in the thigh area.

The next top star was Denmark’s Kristina Dybdahl, an experienced bodyfitness athlete who decided to try a new sport this time: women’s classic bodybuilding, which is often included at the Nordic countries contests. Kristina displayed amazing quality and wonderful posing routine, performed with body and soul.

Bikini fitness was dominated by the next Icelandic beauty: Adalheidur Yr Olafsdottir and bodyfitness: by Norwegian star Vibeke Hermansen.

Loaded Cup was the first IFBB international contest with official inauguration of a new sport: athletic fitness. This time only men competed and the best one was the well-known Swedish athlete Ako Rahim, who also won a demonstration performance at the 2011 World Classic Bodybuilding Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. It seems that Ako will be a favourite of the first Athletic Fitness European Championships in Santa Susanna.

More detailed information and pictures in the next IFBB Universe online magazine.

Pictures:

http://www.loeadedcup.dk

The best bodybuilders from bodyweight categories fighting for the overall title (from L): Ott Kiivikas (90 kg), Soren Moller (+100 kg), Magnus Samuelsson (100 kg), Stefan Havlik (100 kg) and Paul Poloczek (+100 kg).

And this battle was successful for Paul Poloczek (Germany), who was perfectly prepared, with striated muscles and super overall body proportions.

The 80 kg category winner Thomas Askeland (Norway) also showed top muscle quality and low bodyfat level.

Hard and dry 90 kg category winner Ott Kiivikas (Estonia).

100 kg category winner Stefan Havlik was not so sharp as at the recent Arnold Amateur Championships in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Outstanding body structure of Paul Poloczek.

Iceland’s bikini star Adalheidur Yr Olafsdottir was unbeatable in Ringsted also.

Feminine and charming Kristine Dybdahl won the women’s classic bodybuilding division.

Contest promoter Sellan Bossen (right) and Mr. Olympia Phil Heath presented the trophies. On the left: 100 kg category runner-up Magnus Samuelsson (Iceland).

In IFBB newsletter about the Mr Europe Pro event – http://www.ifbb.com/…lish&prov=index

THE NEXT 2012 MR. OLYMPIA CONTENDER WILL EMERGE IN MADRID

by Andrew Michalak

While the list of athletes for the 2012 Mr. Europe Amateur Cup is still being completed, the names of most pro bodybuilders coming to the 2012 Mr. Europe Pro are already known. The list includes nearly 20 names, mainly from Europe, so European professional bodybuilders have now the possibility to compete and win money awards without expensive trip to America. And this is not the only pro show in Europe available this year. One week before, pro athletes will be able to compete at FIBO Power in Essen (Germany), and in the second half of the year in Lahti (Finland); London (Great Britain) and once again in Madrid, at Arnold Classic Europe. Probably, it is the first time in history, that five big pro bodybuilding shows will be staged in Europe same year.

Looking into the list of pro athletes entering the Mr. Europe Pro in April, we can see a couple of well-known names with long and successful competitive history. If we analyze this list according to the places won in the past shows, the leader is Gustavo Badell (Puerto Rico), 3rd place winner at Mr. Olympia (2004 and 2005) and at Arnold Classic (2005). But he had a three-year break and his comeback at 2012 Arnold Classic was not so impressive (13 place). Badell started his pro career in Europe, taking part at the 1998 German Grand Prix but will turn 40 in November this year, so it would not be so easy for him to improve and return to the condition from his best days.

Then the next three names: Paco Bautista (Spain), Johnnie Jackson and Ben White (both of USA). Bautista, 41, won the 1999 IFBBB World Championships and then turned pro. Won two pro shows in Europe (2006, 2007) and has enough potential to add the third victory but has not been seen on stage since 2010 Mr. Olympia, so his current condition is unknown.

Johnnie Jackson, 41, is the only 2011 Mr. Olympia top fifteen bodybuilder coming to Madrid. Last year he finished 3rd at the British Gran Prix and 4th at FIBO Power and, for sure, will be among the main pretenders to win in Madrid this year.

Ben White, 34, placed in the top three of a couple of shows in the past but 2011 Mr. Olympia and 2012 Arnold Classic was not so successful for him (didn’t place). It’s the next opportunity for him to show his big potentials. He and Johnnie Jackson are known as one of the strongest pro bodybuilders in the world, having good results in powerlifting lifts also.

In the role of challengers we will see some of the newest pros: 2011 Arnold Europe winner Feras Saied (Italy), 2011 Arnold America winner Matthias Botthof (Germany), 2008 IFBB world champion Baitollah Abbaspour (Iran), European Championships bronze medal winner Mirsad Terzo (Bosnia & Herzegovina), former world championships participant and Bollywood movie star Varinder Singh (India), who showed very good muscle quality at the 2012 Grand Prix Australia few weeks ago and… former world champion Sergey Shelestov (Russia), who is more experienced but still looking for his way to be successful with the pros.

Raul Carrasco (Spain) and Lee Powell (Great Britain) are bodybuilders who previously competed in the lightweight, so the open category will not be easy for them.

With all these famous names the 2012 Mr. Europe Pro will be an exciting event and a great day for European professional bodybuilders and their fans. On Saturday, April 28, in Madrid, the name of the next 2012 Mr. Olympia contender will be announced. This is the privilege of the winner but the next four competitors will earn points in the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series, increasing their chance to get a ticket to Las Vegas next September (top five athletes from this Qualification Series will advance to Mr. Olympia).

The next interesting news is that the European professional bodybuilding family will have two new “babies”, as the winners of two amateur classes in Madrid will be awarded with the IFBB Pro Cards. More info soon.

The current list of pro bodybuilders coming to Madrid:

1. Paco Bautista (Spain)

2. Carlos Asensio (Spain)

3. Antonio José Morales (Spain)

4. Raúl Carrasco (Spain)

5. Johnnie Jackson (USA)

6. Matthias Botthof (Germany)

7. Gustavo Badell (Puerto Rico)

8. Feras Saied (Italy)

9. Ben White (USA)

10. Alvin Small (UK)

11. Lee Powell (UK)

12. Luke Timms (Australia)

13. Varinder Singh (India)

14. Mirsad Terzo (Bosnia)

15. Sergey Shelestov (Rusia)

16. Jari Mentula (Finlandia)

17. Baitollah Abbaspour (Iran)

NOTE ** Baitollah Abbaspour**

More information shared about the show in Madrid;

THE NEXT AMAZING WEEKEND IN MADRID

by Andrew Michalak

– MEN’S PRO BODYBUILDING SHOW

– MEN’S ELITE AMATEUR BATTLE FOR TWO PRO CARDS

– WOMEN’S ELITE BODYFITNESS BATTLE FOR A PRO CARD

SATURDAY, APRIL 28^TH, PALACIO DE CONGRESSOS, MADRID, SPAIN

Spanish capital Madrid has become very active in the area of bodybuilding contests. Hosting the Arnold Classic Europe last autumn, now it will host the next pro and amateur contests this spring.

Palacio de Congressos (The Congress Palace) has been opened to beautiful and muscular bodies last October, when the first out-of America Arnold Classic was staged there. We all had a chance to see how marvelous place for body beauty presentation it was. The next event is coming closer now.

The first Mr. Europe Amateur Cup will include two bodyweight categories:

– Lightweight, up to 85 kg

– Heavyweight, over 85 kg.

“The contest is intended for elite bodybuilders and bodyfitness champions from all over the world! Both men’s categories winners will be awarded the IFBB Professional League Pro Cards!” – IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja said.

Then they will run the battle for the overall title.

Similar, women’s bodyfitness open division winner will also be awarded with the IFBB Pro Card!

This is the only opportunity to win the Pro Card so early in the year and then battle with the pros in the upcoming events for Olympia ticket.

The final list of participants has not been closed yet, so National Federations can still nominate their top champions to participate in this extraordinary event and battle for the pro cards.

But there are only three pro cards for distribution and the event has specially been scheduled in this way that if you fail to win the Pro Card you may still participate in the European Men’s or Women’s Championships planned for the first half of May or in the Asian Championships planned for the beginning of June. So, the risk that you will be out of the schedule doesn’t exist. Why not to try?

After this elite amateur event, the pro show will be run in the evening. Over a dozen of top pro bodybuilders from Europe and America will battle for one ticket to 2012 Mr. Olympia and points in the Olympia Qualification Series. According to the new Pro League rules, only the winner of each contest qualifies to Mr. Olympia directly. But the next top four competitors win points, which will be added at the end of the Qualification Series and five bodybuilders with the highest totals will qualify to Mr. Olympia. So, the winner in Madrid will qualify directly and bodybuilders at places from 2^nd to 5^th will be awarded 4, 3, 2 and 1 point. Top exciting battle!

Organizers of the amazing weekend in Madrid also prepared special attractions for the viewers: one of them will be the guest appearance of the top pro fitness competitor who already qualified to 2012 Fitness Olympia, Regiane Da Silva!

More info about the stars coming to Madrid this April soon. Stay tuned!

Photos below;

In photo 1; Palaco de Congressos in Madrid.

In Photo 2; Palaco de Congressos elegant interior.

In photo 3; Saied Feras of Italy won the previous event on this stage and was awarded the IFBB Pro League Pro Card. Who will be the next Pro Card winner? Here with Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger (left) and IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja (right) who will take care of everything during the upcoming event also.

Photo 4; Spanish bodyfitness diva Raquel Hernandez won the Pro Card on this stage last October. Who will be the next happy winner in April?

Photo 5; This is a dream of top amateur bodybuilders: IFBB Professional League Pro Card. Three of them are waiting for the next winners in Madrid.

Some recent interviews and other updates in the scene…

Team-andro.com interviewed amateur competitor David Hoffmann in the end of January (interview in German language though – http://clips.team-an…-vom-24.01.2012

Norwegian legend, 3rd placer at 2011 masters IFBB world championships Jorgen Corneliussen met Treningsforum.no website – besides everything else, Mr Corneliussen told he will have this year off from the stages and focus on improving and coming back to the stages during 2013. A short vid filmed in March;

European MD columnist Giles Thomas interviewed a bunch of interesting BB names during the Arnold weekend. Those interviews are now online on MD;

http://www.musculard…les-thomas.html

http://www.musculard…les-thomas.html

http://www.musculard…les-thomas.html

Very detailed, written category by category, review from the juniors & masters worlds by Mr Andrew Michalak

2011 IFBB JUNIORS AND MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

When you are young at your heart…

by Andrew Michalak

This is the phrase from music background of the Canadian master bodybuilder and is key to understand tremendous popularity of masters categories in the IFBB. Their soul is young, their mentality is young and their body is young, what they presented in details on the stage. “Bodybuilding as weight training and healthy nutrition is the key to prolong your mental and physical youth and allows you to prolong your life and rise the quality of this life” – as the IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja emphasized in his opening speech. The number of participating masters has broken a new record of 162 competitors.

This year’s World Juniors and Masters Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships were held in the Spanish Mediterranean spa of Santa Susanna. Several World Women’s Championships were held there but they will host Juniors and Masters for the first time. This was the biggest IFBB contest of this type, with over 500 participants, including athletes, delegates and supporters. The whole Caprici Verd Hotel was booked and it was not enough. Altogether, 228 competitors from 50 countries and 6 continents came to these Championships. The host country, Spain, entered the biggest number of athletes (A- and B-Teams) and won the team’s classification, ahead of Germany, Poland and Czech Republic. 24 sets of medals were distributed, including the new categories, held for the first time in the IFBB championshps: junior women’s bikini fitness and master men’s bodybuilding over 65 years old.

Spacious Parc Colomer Sport Center served as a venue site and was perfectly prepared by the Spanish Federation officials with two Ramos brothers: Jose (Spanish Federation President) and Carlos (Catalonia Bodybuilding Federation President) working closely with the City Council Sport Department and City Mayor Joan Campolier, who undertook this responsible task with great enthusiasm.

Mr. Campolier welcomed IFBB Executive Council members and managers and national teams managers at the special dinner given Friday night. The contest was run in a new order, with semifinals and finals of some categories on Saturday and shorter, attractive finals of the other categories on Sunday. Then there was the farewell banquet at the hotel and Monday morning all teams were delivered to the

El-Prat International Airport in Barcelona.

Now the battles! What happened in each category?

JUNIOR WOMEN BODYBUILDING: Three-time European champion and two-time world champion Liana Pall (Romania) easily won her third worlds title. Her main challenger was her team-mate and European Juniors runner-up Mihaela Serban but distance between them is still big.

JUNIOR MEN BODYBUILDING UP TO 75 KG: 8 athletes, with two top from the 2011 European Junior Championships: Yovko Tihov (Bulgaria) and Burak Güllü (Turkey). They ran a close battle for the victory once again but only in the routine round (8:9 to Tihov). Compulsory poses rounds went clearly to Tihov, who displayed bigger muscle size and deep separation.

Gullu was in good shape but needs bigger thighs, which looked too small compared to his massive arms. Third place went to a newcomer from Germany, Mike Niessen, strongly pressed by the newcomer form Poland, Rafal Domin. I was especially impressed by Niessen’s overall predispositions for physique sports: he is taller, wide-shouldered, with longer legs. Perfect body lines for bodybuilding and I think he will need one-two years more of training to follow his famous team-mate Tim Budesheim and climb up to the top, probably in the heavyweight category.

JUNIOR MEN BODYBUILDING UP OVER 75 KG: Only 4 athletes but what a quality! It is a great pleasure to observe how a young bodybuilder has been gradually growing and progressing, finally reaching the top in his class. Tim Budesheim of Germany is a perfect example of the above. Beginning his competitive career in 2009, he won the junior overall title at the 2010 Nationals, then debuted at the Junior Worlds, finishing in the 4^th place. One year more of diligent training and nutrition and he advanced to the top. He showed not only bigger and better muscularity but also hardness and quality. Having no weak points, he will be a very competitive bodybuilder among seniors soon, if not turning pro too quickly like his predecessor from Germany few years ago, Daniel Hill.

Budesheim had two demanding rivals in Santa Susanna: Federico Gonzales from Argentina and Witold Pomecko from Poland. Both of them have nice physiques and good muscularity but not so big and hard like the winner. Gonzales is the next “export” bodybuilder form Argentina, following 2010 world junior overall champion Rodrigo Piriz and he has similar, very attractive body structure. Pomecko also showed fantastic frame but suffered a stomach flu just before coming to Santa Susanna, so was dehydrated, with flattened muscles.

JUNIOR MEN CLASSIC BODYBUILDING: 7 bodybuilders but nobody from the previous year finalists except … Milan Oboril (Czech Republic), who moved from bodybuilding (4^th place at the 2010 Worlds in Antalya in 75 kg class) to classic bodybuilding and took his rivals by surprise. Milan was an unquestionable leader of this category, winning all rounds with the perfect scores. He impressed the judges with his muscle quality (abs, thighs), so his rivals will need one year more to advance to the top (Milan already turned 21) if… IFBB will not change the rules moving up the upper age limit for juniors to 23, what was seriously discussed in Santa Susanna. But better to wait for the official announcement.

JUNIOR WOMEN FITNESS UP TO 163 CM: 7 athletes but of the extraordinary quality! The routines of the top five were really fantastic! In my Preview I asked who could stop Melinda Szabo from winning the next world title? Now we know the answer: nobody could. Melinda continued her amazing series of victories, started in Alcala with the 2011 European junior’s title, then winning the Arnold Europe and Women’s Worlds. Now she completed this series with Juniors Worlds victory, grasping all titles she could fight for. Infant prodigy? Maybe. Melinda’s power is that she is as good in the physique round as in the routine round (received 7 points in each round). This is necessary nowadays, if you want to be an unbeatable fitness champion. Former world champion Laura Cupsa did her best but she lost too many points in the routine round to challenge Melinda for the final victory. She rather had to focus to advance to 2^nd position ahead of next Hungarian young star Renata Meri, who is able to won the routine round even over Szabo but showed too soft body. Cupsa did something very difficult, moving up from the 5^th place in the routine round to the 2^nd place in the physique round and in total.

2010 European champion and bronze medal winner at the 2011 Women’s Worlds Dominika Multanova (Slovakia) was helpless in this situation, despite the fact she was also very well prepared to this event, both in routine and body. And then two newcomers at this level: Inna Nosolenko (Ukraine) and Alexandra Alekhanova (Russia). We can expect that Nosolenko, being trained by famous coach Antonina Orobets (her both children: Oksana and Maxym already won the world juniors fitness titles), will be improving and moving up quickly.

JUNIOR WOMEN FITNESS UP OVER 163 CM: 8 athletes but no so high level like in the short class. 2010 Worlds bronze medal winner Nikoletta Resch (Hungary) used up the absence of the top two from Antalya and moved up to the top, winning no single round. Olga Stepina of Ukraine was unbeatable in the routine but it was no surprise. She is well-known of her top acrobatic possibilities but I couldn’t see any bigger progress in her body quality. It seems that the judges had the same opinion and put her in the 5^th palace in the physique round what pushed her down to the

3^rd position in total. Barbora Micianova of Slovakia – the opposite: won both physique rounds but coming last in the finals’ routine round and dropped to the 4^th place.

JUNIOR MEN FITNESS: Nobody from the previous year. Most of them already turned 21. The battle began with big surprise, advancing 15-years-old newcomer from Paraguay, current South American men’s fitness champion Hermann Rolon to the 1^st place as a winner of the routine round. But he didn’t manage to keep this place as much older (age 21) and matured European champion Anghel Birica of Romania showed bigger muscularity and easily won the physique round, taking the gold medal, ahead of Rolon and the second Romanian Costin Dumitru. According to Paraguayan delegate and judge Mr. Fernando Mederos Caldarelli, it was the first IFBB World Championships medal for Paraguay in the history (2010 world bodyfitness champion Nora Martinez lost her medal due to the Anti-Doping Rules violation).

Anyway, very young Hermann Rolon is a new interesting men’s fitness rising star, with all predisposition for the future successes.

JUNIOR WOMEN BODYFITNESS UP TO 163 CM: There was an internal battle between two Czech girls: 2010 world champion Jana Cernovska and newcomer Michaela Podnecka, who was very close to dethrone the champion, winning the semifinals. But Cernovska managed to reverse the course of events advancing to the top in the finals, mainly due to the very attractive T-walking presentation. Podnecka emerged at the 2011 European Junior Championships finishing 3^rd there. She is one year younger than Cernovska, 20, and has all qualities (perfect body frame) to be the future champion. The same can be said about the 3^rd place winner, Tatiana Piackova of Slovakia. Time will show which one will be progressing faster.

JUNIOR WOMEN BODYFITNESS UP OVER 163 CM: 7 competitors, with clear domination of the former European overall junior champion Adela Ondrejovicova (Slovakia), who had so nice debut at the latest Women’s Worlds in Novi Sad (4^th place). Telling the truth, when I saw her first time at the 2010 Europeans in Doneck, I didn’t think she would progress so fast and would ever reach so high quality. Now I have to change my opinion: girls at that age can change their body in a surprising tempo and range. In Santa Susanna I heard from the judges that Adela will become the second Yulia Ushakova! And I can agree with this point of view. She has done a real metamorphosis, transforming her body to perfectly developed one, with narrow hips, slim, hard thighs, tiny waist, impressive lats and shoulders. She had no problem to win the overall title as well. Congratulations to her and her trainer Pavol Jarabek. Barbora Cernakova of the Czech Republic finished once again second behind Ondrejovicova, same like in Donetsk, showing no visible progress and being strongly pressed by a gifted newcomer from Lithuania, Ana Merdenova, who is only 15 years old and the future will belong to her, I think.

JUNIOR WOMEN BIKINI FITNESS, OPEN CLASS: This was a new category at the World Juniors and Masters Championships, so only 4 athletes competed as many National Federations didn’t know about this change in advance and didn’t nominate their athletes. The first, historical IFBB world champion, Bettina Nagy of Hungary, is already a top quality athlete, with brilliant perspectives not only in juniors class but among women’s also. The next girls: Andrea Ketselou of Greece and Roza Mazurek of Poland were too slim and too soft, needed more time for developing better body lines and quality.

MASTER WOMEN BODYFITNESS: The longest line-up, with 23 competitors and one great name: latest Arnold America and Arnold Europe winner, 2011 European master champion and 2010 Worlds masters runner-up Raquel Hernandez (Spain). The battle was so tough that many titled athletes didn’t enter the finals: Anna Maria Giordani (Italy), Marisa Lopez (Spain), Carina Isaksson (Sweden) and Roberta Raguth (Switzerland). Under the absence of the 2010 world champion Dagmar Simmen, Raquel Hernandez was the main pretender for the title and she didn’t fail. Presenting her usual top condition, elegance and self-confidence in T-walking, she won both rounds and… declared to turn pro next year, so it was her farewell performance at the IFBB Worlds.

The next two places went the newcomers: Emi Perez (Spain) and Natalia Vetrova (Ukraine). Perez has competed in bodyfitness since 2001 but in the other organizations and moved to the IFBB this year, finishing 3^rd at the 2011 European Masters Championships and at Arnold Europe (women’s bodyfitness over 168 cm). She is tall (172 cm) with nice body lines and low bodyfat level. Vetrova won the 2011 Ukrainian Nationals and debuted at the international level in Santa Susanna. She displayed top body quality, with delicate abs and quads separation but her T-walking presentation was a real feast to the eyes. Stepping to the music, almost dancing, she was passing along the stage with lightness and poison. Has great potentials.

The tallest competitor on the stage, graphic artist from Norway, Jorun Steine (180 cm) came to her third consecutive Masters Worlds and took the 4^th position for the third time. We can only wish her to win a medal next time. Next places went to the railway manager from Russia, Elena Kizima, and cooking expert from Venezuela, South American Women’s runner-up Tibis Araque.

MASTER WOMEN BODYBUILDING: 14 athletes from 9 countries, with two big names: 2009 Women’s Worlds bronze medal winner and 2010 Masters Worlds silver medal winner Elena Stasiukyniene (Lithuania) and 2007 European master champion and 2008 Masters Worlds runner-up Marina Nikotina Russia). And one new top quality athlete came to these Championships: Josefina Sanchez of Spain. But really new? Josefina had not been seen on the stage for over 10 years but… I’ve found in my files that she won silver medal at the 2000 European Championships in Torremolinos. Now returned and made some troubles to the champions. Stasiukyniene was in her best life conditions, with rock hard and defined muscles, showing a lot of details. She was “untouchable” this time but Sanchez, who was the most muscular bodybuilder on the stage and placed 5^th in the semifinals, improved her muscles quality (separation) till the finals and advanced to the 2^nd position, ahead of two blond stars from Russia (Marina Nikotina) and Norway (Nina Midling). Midling was successful in the other organization but recently moved to the IFBB and won the 2011 Nordic Championships (+55 kg category). Nikotina won her third Masters Worlds bronze medal, having the same results in 2001 and 2009 as well as silver medals in 2003 and 2008. She is persistently hunting for her first “gold”.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 40-49, 70 KG: 9 athletes in the line-up. 2009 world masters champion Miguel Lopez (Spain) came in so perfect condition that nobody could do any damage to him and he unanimously won all rounds. Ideal body proportions backed up by the top definition, with paper-thin skin and details. Successful autumn season for him, following his 2^nd place at Arnold Europe, just behind multi-time world champion Jose Carlos Santos. The next three athletes also showed beautiful physiques and frames but not so good definition. Jose Bustamante represented Peru but lives in Barcelona, Spain – better upper body and abs but smoother legs, Carlo Capucci – good separation but smaller muscle mass (legs) than Bustamante, Sandro Brocca – nice body proportion but too smooth (thicker skin). Athlete who could be a dark horse, five-time European men’s champion Adam Cibula (Slovakia), came a bit off and was too smooth.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 40-49, 80 KG: The longest line-up, with 23 athletes in a row and many experienced, famous bodybuilders with a lot of titles. Some of them had to finish the completion in semifinals: 2011 European masters champion Maurizio Minoccari (Italy) – 7^th place, 2009 world masters champion Leonardo Carballo (Spain) – 8^th place, 2010 European masters champion Steven Graham (UK) – 9^th place. So, who advanced to the finals? First of all, a new great star was born: Valeri Koptenko, 45, from Kyiv, Ukraine. Valeri has been known from late 1990s, when he started his international career winning bronze medal at the European Men’s Championships. But then he had had less successful years and just this autumn started to win major international contests, beginning with Arnold Europe. In Santa Susanna confirmed his body quality. He is short, 160 cm, with very full, rounded muscles. His muscle size compared to his body height is amazing. He won all rounds. Congratulations to his trainer Ms. Alyona Fedorova.

There were the next two famous names in the finals: former world master champion Luiz Carlos Sarmento (Brazil) and 2010 silver medal winner Hakan Gumus of Turkey but they were over passed by Spanish bodybuilder Esteban Amat from Barcelona, who was not so successful in the past but placed 4^th in 80 kg men’s category at the recent Arnold Europe and advanced to the 2^nd place now, in masters division. Amat is 5 cm taller than Sarmento and has longer legs, what creates a very nice vertical body proportions. Moreover, he was visibly harder than Sarmento and got 2^nd place in all rounds. Sarmento showed incredible back and arms quality but his abs and quads lacked of sharp definition. Gumus also showed not too sharp definition and placed 4^th, but won the last round (routine) over Sarmento. The 5^th place to bodybuilder from Libya, Hussain Abdalla, what is probably the first participation of the Libyan athlete after the recent Civil War and since many, many years.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 40-49, 90 KG: Only one athlete less than in the previous class and, once again, few famous names ended in the semifinals, like 2011 European masters overall champion Jakub Potocki of Poland, despite the fact he was in quite good condition. There were so many top quality athletes in this class. We could look for the main pretender to the title among two biggest names: Arnold Europe masters overall winner Pedro Jose Villa (Spain) and Arnold Europe 85 kg men’s category winner Jose Bustamante (Venezuela). But, finally, the other athlete won, complete newcomer on the international bodybuilding scene Valentin Antonov (Russia), who just turned 40 in September. Antonov has no international contest history but when I was surfing through Russian sites, I found that he participated in several Sankt Petersburg Championships since 2000 and in 2008 won these Championships (80 kg category). In 2010 he participated in his first Eastern European Championships and in October 2011 won the overall title at the Russian National Men’s Championships, ahead of such stars like Igor Losev (bronze medal at the 2011 Men’s Worlds in Mumbai) and 2011 European super heavyweight champion Mikhail Sidorychev. This was a remarkable success, so it isn’t a surprise that he did so well at the Masters Worlds in Santa Susanna. He is trained by the other famous Russian bodybuilder Alexander Kodzoev (2011 Arnold America winner). Will the student become greater than his teacher?

If someone was a loser in this category it was Bustamante. He clearly won semifinals (6:16) and the routine round (10:11) but lost four points to Antonov in the second round and… lost the title. Then the three-time Masters Worlds bronze medal winner Ernst Zimmermann (Germany) who added the fourth bronze medal to his collection. Uff! It’s time to think about higher place. He was in perfect shape but is taller and has longer, slimmer legs, so it’s difficult for him to place ahead of shorter, massive bodybuilders. And then, in 4^th place, former world fitness champion Zoltan Kormos (Spain) for whom it was a big success, and in 5^th place Pedro Jose Villa, who presented not so good condition (definition) as at the Arnold Europe and dropped out of the medal zone. Incredibly tough category!

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 40-49, OVER 90 KG: While Bustamante failed a bit, his team-mate in the heavier category, William Ortuno, was fully successful. He has been known for over ten-year contest history but has begun to take higher places when turned 40 and moved to masters. Following his 4^th place last year, he definitely won this category in Santa Susanna, being at the top in each round. Maybe, the sport level in this category was not so high like a year ago or in the lighter classes this year. Many athletes showed not so sharp definition and dropped into the lower places, like 2011 Arnold Europe winner Luis Gigena (Argentina) or Nordic star Magnuss Bess Juliusson (Iceland). But the battle for the silver medal was very exciting. Multi-time Norwegian champion and Stavanger Open overall winner Jorgen Corneliussen had it after the compulsory poses round but lost it in the routine round for the benefit of German bodybuilder Ralf Herget. Herget is shorter (174 cm) and very muscular but was not so sharp this time. The 4^th place went to athlete with beautiful overall body proportions and tiny waist Kwadwo Sarpong of Switzerland. He needs bigger muscles only. Sam Harris (Germany) came with much sharper definition than at the Arnold Europe and placed 4^th.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 50-59, UP TO 80 KG: This was a shorter category, with 9 competitors and… surprising course of battle. The first round went smoothly to the Spanish star Alfonso Gomez, who won the European title in 1988 (over Luciano Andreose, who will appear later at this event) then turned pro and disappeared from the stage for long years. But two hours later, when the finals were started, Gomez lost the leaderships being scored at the 5^th place and his team-mate Armando Villa went to the top from the 4^th position, also receiving the perfect scores. It happens very rarely that judges change their scores so drastically in so short time. Villa looked most muscular and hard in this category, so his victory was welcomed with applause by the viewers. In this way, he defended his title won in Antalya a year ago. 2010 runner-up, Faruk Arda Horhor of Turkey, tried to defend his silver medal and was semi-successful, having it after the first round but then lost the next two rounds to the 2011 European masters champion Michele Vossier (France) and dropped to the 3^rd position. Both showed very good condition, with hard, separated muscles and, probably, better legs definition and a bit fuller lats decided about higher place to Vossier.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 50-59, OVER 80 KG: Three European masters champions: Antonio Vergiani (2011), Inigo Ortiz De Mendibil (2010) and Alexandr Aleksejev (2009) against three Europeans runner-ups: Stanislav Shakh-Nazarov (2007), David Lamptey (2008) and Wolfgang Schober (2009). And who won? Runner-up from 2009 Wolfgang Schober! Few weeks earlier, at the Arnold Europe in Madrid, he lost to Armando Villa but placed ahead of De Mendibil and Vergiani. In Santa Susanna Villa had a separate category and Schober moved up to the top, wining over De Mendibil, Aleksejev, Shakh-Nazarov, Vergiani and IFBB newcomer, engineer from Stockholm, Sweden, Ali Kazemi, who took the 4^th place.

Dr. Schober, who is also Austrian Federation President, displayed beautiful body lines, full, hard and deeply separated muscles, with no weak points. Very complete and balanced physique. Won all rounds. De Mendibil – better legs than upper body. Aleksejev – big muscles but not so good definition, Kazemi – classic body proportions and impressive back but to small thighs and arms.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING 60-65: This was the new category, created by splitting of the former over 60 years old class. One great name, 2010 world champion Esmat Sadek of Egypt and five other bodybuilders. Sadek, who started to compete in the late 1970, won three Men’s Worlds bronze medals, then had had a short pro episode, came back to the amateur status and won his first world masters title in 1998 (over 50 years old division). Then was less successful, lost his title and regained it just a year ago, in over 60 category. Maybe this year he was not so hard and defined like at the previous Championships in Antalya, but showed good condition, with nice quads and the best abs in the line-up. It was enough to defend the title but his routine was performed with nonchalance, not taking care of music, so he had only one point advantage over his main challenger Gilles Pomerleau of Canada in this round. Pomerleau’s routine was started with a song declaring “when you are young at your heart” what had a special meaning in this category; however masters bodybuilders are young not only at heart but also in their bodies, showing so well-developed muscles, so we can say that their body and soul are young.

Three competitors: Pomerleau, Luciano Andreose (Italy) and Baki Köseahmetoglu (Turkey) presented similar level, receiving 28:28:30 points in the compulsory poses round. The routine round cleared up the situation. Pomerleau has begun to compete even earlier than Sadek, in 1974, but only at the national level and won his first national title in 1990. Then over 15-year break and come back in 2005. Next few-year break and returned to the stage this year, coming to his first international contest. Silver medal paid off. Andreose started to compete internationally in 1983, winning the Europeans silver medal in 1988, behind Alfonso Gomez, who also came to Santa Susanna this year and participated in 50-59 age division. Then over ten-year pro status and came back to amateur division in 2004, winning Masters Worlds silver medal in 2008. Now added bronze medal to his achievements.

MASTER MEN BODYBUILDING OVER 65: This was a great inauguration of the new age division in the IFBB. The main question was: who would be the first, historical IFBB champion? This category had a longer line-up than the younger class, with 10 Grand Masters on the stage. Among them three former world champions: Bernard Cooper (UK), Manuel Valbuena and Rafael Vera (both of Spain).

Since Vera was a bit too smooth this time and finished 3^rd, the main battle was: Cooper vs. Valbuena. Both were in top condition, muscular, hard, with low bodyfat level. Cooper won all rounds once again, showing “V-taper” upper body and deeper abs separation; however the “Back double biceps” pose went to Valbuena who displayed hard, nicely separated back muscles, with “Christmas tree” in lower back and even slightly cut-up glutes. Our respect for this champion, who turned 68 earlier this year and his hobby is… powerlifting. Maybe this is a secret of his so dense and full muscles?

Personally, I was quite impressed with the German bodybuilder Willi Neubauer, who has made so big progress since the previous Championships in Antalya, when he came back to the stage after dozens of years. But there was one newcomer this year: South African businessman and great bodybuilding enthusiast, Dion Friedland, who decided to start his contest adventure in Santa Susanna, being 68 years old. Former pro bodybuilder Francis Benfatto advised him during the preparations to his debut. IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja honoured Mr. Friedland with the IFBB Athletic Achievement Award. The same award was presented to the oldest bodybuilder on the stage: 76-years-old Teddy Kaplan of Israel. He was born in South Africa to parents who had come from Russia. Started to compete in track and field but then South African athletes were not allowed to compete internationally due the apartheid policy ran by this country, so Mr. Kaplan moved to Israel and began to represent his second homeland. He participated in four World Track and Field Championships (wining one bronze medal) and in 9 World Masters Weightlifting Championships (winning 7 gold medals). When turned over 50, started to compete in bodybuilding also. He has been recognized as a role model for sport excellence in Israel and in January 2011 was elected to The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame run by the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports in Netanya, Israel. We can be proud having with us so outstanding sport personality, so the IFBB President honoured Mr. Kaplan with the well-deserved IFBB Athletic Achievement Award.

MASTER MEN CLASSIC BODYBUILDING 40-49, OPEN: 2011 world men’s classic bodybuilding champion from Tallinn, Taavi Koovit, was nominated to these Championships but didn’t come and, maybe, it was a good decision because the other world champion from Tallinn, Jerzy Pisulski (Poland) came and… lost. The sport quality of masters classic bodybuilders in Santa Susanna was so high that even the Men’s Worlds title didn’t guarantee the success! Pisulski experienced this bitter lesson, finishing 3^rd despite quite good condition, not worse than in Tallinn. This happens from time to time. Enough to recall the 3^rd place of the world superheavyweight champion Ahmed Hamouda last year in Antalya or world women’s bodybuilding champion Simone Linay, who has never won the world master title. Coming to masters championships you have to expect extremely dried and defined rivals and this happened in Santa Susana also. Gold medal went to Roman Senti of Switzerland, who moved up from the 2^nd position last year. He displayed extremely low bodyfat level, with thin skin and hard, full of details muscles visible under it. This impressed the judges and they put him in the 1^st place. Similar qualities were shown by the 2^nd place winner, Dr. Michael Aprin, MD, from Germany, who was a newcomer at the international level, having won only silver medal at the 2010 German Championships. His body structure and overall proportions are also perfect. 4^th place went to 2011 Arnold America and Amateur Olympia winner Mariusz Balazinski (Poland), 5^th to 2011 European champion Giuseppe Brancaccio (Italy) and 6^th to Hassan Tabrizi of Iran, brother of the famous world men’s bodybuilding overall champion Ali Tabrizi. The quality of athletes in this class was the best in a short history of this sport at the IFBB masters championships.

MASTER MEN CLASSIC BODYBUILDING OVER 50, OPEN: this category was not run at the 2010 Worlds, so 2009 world champion Frantisek David (Czech Republic) came to defend his title won in Bialystok. The category was shorter (5 athletes) but the battle was interesting. This time it was a great day for the mathematics teacher from Japan, Atsushi Katakawa. He started to compete in 2000, wining Japan Nationals (masters over 40 class). In 2008 he went to the Asian Championships and won the continental masters title but was not successful at the IFBB Worlds (out of the top ten). Constantly improving, he has been especially successful this year, having won Japan Nationals, Asian and World Championships. His muscles looked full and hard, with better separation that in his rivals. Two Czech bodybuilders: Frantisek David and 2011 Europeans 3^rd place winner Michal Sidik showed similar qualities and condition but this time Sidik was granted higher place and won silver medal.

WHEELCHAIR BODYBUILDING : Incredible! Who could expect this level of excitement when most of the European top wheelchair bodybuilders already turned pro? This sport, with only three-year history in the IFBB, is still surprising and unpredictable. After the last year Worlds in Antalya and outstanding muscularity presented by the world champion Tolga Murat Balikci of Turkey, I thought that nothing better could be seen in the next few years. One year passed and two better wheelchair bodybuilders appeared: Shan Singh of India and Mohammad Reza Tabrizi of Iran (the next brother of Ali Tabrizi). Singh showed amazing muscle quality, which is not so often seen at the Men’s Worlds or even at the pro contests. His skin was so thin that was almost invisible, like see-through membrane. His muscles (chest) were striated with dozens of strips, same with his shoulders. Judges had a tough problem because the next two athletes presented the similar quality. Sing won both rounds because of the extreme definition of his muscles. Balikci and Tabrizi were running a very close battle for the silver medal. Balikci had it after the first round but failed to keep it in the second round. Tabrizi showed the biggest arms in the

line-up and great abs but a bit less dense and striated muscles than Singh. Balikci was, maybe, not so full (arms) like a year ago but presented the similar lever and condition, with nicely shaped and separated muscles. All three of them are great champions and it’s a pity that only one could be the winner. Now the only question coming to my mind is: what will we see next year?