Welcome to FigureRX's coverage of the 2007 IFBB Figure Olympia!! The big boys and girls do such a great job covering this show, and many have exclusive agreements for things like video. Someday. So this year FigureRX is tagging along and trying to add specific value where we can. Thanks for checking us out!!

FOR THE FULL DOWNLOADABLE FIGURERX SCORE SHEET CLICK HERE



NEWS FLASH - Evening show call-outs in one piece posing suits. This is looking just like predicted so far, with perhaps Jennifer Gates getting a little higher look than expected. Sonia Adcock is filled out and looks big and conditioned, her best ever, and Amy Fry looks just as good as she did yesterday.

First call out: Sonia Adcock, Gina Aliotti, Jennifer Gates, Jenny Lynn
Second call out: Monica Brant, Amy Fry, Amber Littlejohn, Amanda Savell
Third call out: Mary Elizabeth Lado, Ziville Raudoniene, Chastity Slone, Valerie Waugaman, Latisha Wilder
Fourth call out: Natalie Benson, Andrea Dumon, Jeanette Freed, Shannon Meteraud, Inga Neverauskaite
Fifth call out: Susanne Bock, MaryJo Cooke, Meriza DeGuzman, Bernadette Galvan, Nicole Pitcher-Scott
Sixth call out: Chaundra Coffey, Celeste Gonzalez, Heather Green, Danielle Hollenshade, Felicia Romero

Note: The information and commentary below was written on Friday afternoon after the pre-judging.

Two piece pre-judging call-out information (from Friday) is as follows.

First call out: Sonia Adcock, Gina Aliotti, Jennifer Gates, Jenny Lynn
Second call out: Monica Brant, Amy Fry, Amber Littlejohn, Amanda Savell
Third call out: Monica Brant, Amy Fry, Mary Elizabeth Lado, Valerie Waugaman
Fourth call out: Andrea Dumon, Inga Neverauskaite, Ziville Raudoniene, Chastity Slone, Latisha Wilder
Fifth call out: Natalie Benson, MaryJo Cooke, Meriza DeGuzman, Shannon Meteraud, Felicia Romero
Sixth call out: Susanne Bock, Chaundra Coffey, Jeanette Freed, Bernadette Galvan
Seventh call out: Heather Green, Celeste Gonzalez, Danielle Hollenshade, Nicole Pitcher-Scott
Eighth call out: Adcock, Gates, Littlejohn, Savell, Waugaman

So many of these athletes are in their best shape ever, the lineup is amazing. So on the figure side, how are the FigureRX favorites looking? In our opinion, the "uncrowned champion" Monica Brant looks better than she did last year or at the Arnold. She's improved her back definition and her legs and delts look spectacular as usual. But some feel that she is not at her best, and might be outside the top five at this show. She's also on stage with a lot of tall athletes and that has diminished her aura just a little bit. Monica finishing outside of the top three would mean her retirement, based on her previous statements - so this could be the last hurrah for an icon of the sport.

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----------------------------------------------------Monica Brant

Our feature spotlight athlete Amy Fry looks unbelievable - conditioned, filled out, and carrying the right amount of muscle for a tall athlete. This is her debut and she will be a force at the top for years to come. Amy got second call-out in her two piece!!! We have been hoping for a top ten in her debut and we think she's there (fingers crossed).

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-------------------------------------------------------Amy Fry

The reigning champion Jenny Lynn looks a little vulnerable, but will anyone be able to take advantage of that? We don't think so, based on the call-outs it seems like she was pre-annointed for the win. They called Jenny out first and barely compared her to anyone. She still looks good overall, but we have seen her with more visible abdominals and more conditioned upper thighs. We'd also like to see her arms filled out a bit more for the evening show. But as of press time we are predicting that she will retain her title.

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------------------------------------------------------Jenny Lynn

But in our opinion it doesn't get better than Gina Aliotti's physique. We all could see it coming after last weekend's performance, but she has even exceeded those expectations. Gina has it all, the perfect package everywhere, and if this is not her year then she is a Ms. Olympia of the future.

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------------------------------------------------------Gina Aliotti

We're pleasantly surprised by Jennifer Gates. As the year wore on and she competed a lot we thought she gave up some of her size, but the time off before the Olympia seems to have done her well!! Jennifer's back is thicker (in a good way) and her midsection is tight. We'd like to see more leg definition but it's hard to fault her conditioning because her upper body is spot on. With this package (plus the "wink and a nod" endorsement from JMP) we give her a shot at the top five.

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-----------------------------------------------------Jennifer Gates

Sonia Adcock has also brought her best package, we love how her arms have filled out as usual and her vascularity allows her to create the illusion of more size. Her calves, hams and glutes look full and ultra conditioned - the best combination. The only problem is that Sonia looks tiny standing next to Gina, so we'll have to see what that means.

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----------------------------------------------------Sonia Adcock

We think Amanda Savell looks amazing, full and ripped, but she is conditioned at a level that has been penalized by the judges in the past. We absolutely love her look though, especially her arms.

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---------------------------------------------------Amanda Savell

By contrast, Amber Littlejohn looks almost anorexic, especially in her face and her arms which have not filled out as they have in previous years. Amber has her trademark shoulders but has struggled a little bit with her tan as well. Her strength has always been her proportion (which allows her to create an illusion of size) and at this show her big shoulders are overwhelming her arms. Amber's quads also look to be more straight up and down at this show, less curvy than in the past. We would not be surprised to see her fall out of the top five even though she is a favorite of the judges.

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-------------------------------------------------Amber Littlejohn

Here is a photo of Amber at the Olympian interview session.



The fact that we are talking about the Green Goddess way down here does not bode well for her placing, but we're still optimistic that she will be able to move up with her performance on Saturday. Valerie Waugaman seems to have been able to strike the right balance between size, beauty and conditioning. She's softer than she was at the Arnold, but that's what she was told to do in order to move up. And yes, beauty does matter in figure - it is and should be one of the many judging criteria. When Valerie does well it's good for the mainstream marketability of the entire sport.

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-------------------------------------------------Valerie Waugaman

Here is a photo of Valerie at the Olympian interview session.



Based on how she usually comes in, Mary Elizabeth Lado is a little bit off on her conditioning. But we actually like her look, she's showing more size in her legs and the best back thickness on her that we have seen in a while. Mary is the last athlete in the third call-out and we would placed her just outside the top ten. We'd love to see her put on a bit more muscle and then show up hungry and determined to defend her title at the Arnold!

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--------------------------------------------------Mary Elizabeth Lado

Of the athletes in the fourth call-out, we think that Inga Neveraskaite looks the best. Inga probably doesn't get the credit that she deserves for the solid package that she has put together. She has the genetics (starting with those all-important tiny knee and elbow joints) and she looks spectacular on this stage.

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------------------------------------------------Inga Neveraskaite

Natalie Benson looks gorgeous as expected, she's carrying a lot of muscle which looks great on her. Even though she did not make a high call-out, we're putting her here because she was badly overlooked and is another athlete who has a perfect figure shape. You won't find better ratios anywhere, inside or outside this sport.

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----------------------------------------------------Natalie Benson

We also like Heather Green's look in her debut - close to an all-time best for her. She deserved a better call-out but she's had a spectacular debut - look out for Heather next year!

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----------------------------------------------------Heather Green

Ziville Raudoniene did make the fourth call-out and she is improved, at least by FigureRX standards, with a thicker back and a very tight midsection.

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--------------------------------------------------Ziville Raudoniene

Latisha Wilder is a teensie bit off relative to her previous looks, carrying a small amount of water in her midsection. She also seems to be a little flat in her upper body and needs to carb up on Saturday. Latisha's legs look almost perfect - we're happy with her level of quad muscle and separation, especially her quad sweep and teardrop combined with her tiny knees. If Latisha can bring her calves up a little bit she will have some of the best legs at the Olympia.

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----------------------------------------------------Latisha Wilder

We will discuss everyone else in our full report. Thanks for reading!!
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Visit the web site of one of the top figure athletes in the IFBB pro ranks today, Gina Aliotti, at
http://www.ginaaliotti.com/!!!

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www.FigureRX.com

I'm very impressed by the call outs...i think Monica looks unbelievable as always, i'm not just being biased because she's my idol either! ...Gina you got this girl too you look great as well. Amy great job, i remember us being called out together in our few times competing, i know you must feel great and you look beautiful. I do think that valerie and amanda should be up there in the top 5 too, but hopefully there is a good judging system. Good luck girls and just remember you can eat some pizza once it's over:)
danielle rouleau

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www.DanielleRouleau.com

Our Olympia contest coverage is complete. Please go HERE for our full review which will be released later today!!

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www.FigureRX.com

Wow, great turn out at the Big O this year! Nice to see Jenny and Monica return to the stage. Gina Aliotti came out looking great, her figure was thick, proportional and not overly lean. I'm pleased she placed so well, definitely becoming a favorite of mine along with Monica and Val. Monica, has really toned down her muscularity over these past few years, looked great and has wonderful stage presence but I'd love to see her bring back the look she had in her earlier fitness/figure days. I must admit, I believe shes been robbed many times over the years- her more muscular look was hands down my favorite physique in the industry. I don't think it has been rewarded enough! Val came in looking alittle softer than at Arnold, still a very lean body however. A few features I love about her physique are her great leg development and her small joints, not to mention just a beautiful girl overall. Shapely physiques like hers are few, the closest I've seen would probably have to be Nancy Georges, whos career is also flourishing. I really believe Val should have landed top 5 at this show, she always brings such a great package to her competitions this being no exception. Difficult to guess the placings at this level- theres always inconsistancy, and each competitor brings her own unique strengths to the stage. Overall great show and congrats to all the competitors who graced the stage this year!

Ali, is this what you mean? This is one of my all time favorite "looks" for Monica ....

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www.FigureRX.com

Monica looks unbelievable there, which Olympia was that?

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Women's Bodybuilding, Fitness, & Figure...

That was from the 2003 Figure Olympia. I loved that look, too!

My thoughts on the Figure part of the Olympia, as posted on a blog I did earlier:

It seems while this was the biggest of the female categories, this was also one of the most interesting yet confusing of the entire show.

Jenny Lynn had to have looked like a freaking pig in order to lose her title this year…she didn't. She looked great, not Hollywood like last year, but great nethertheless. Many people though thought that Gina Aliotti should have won the title. Gina was on at this show, showing off a beyond-impressive physique…and at only 23 no less! All I have to say on that is…Gina is very young and has a good amount of time to take home a major title. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I can't see how Sonia Adcock got thrid place. I just don't see it. If someone knows, can you help a brother out? Thanks! What can I say about Miss Jennifer Gates? This girl was just hoping for maybe a top-ten spot. She understood that she was just a rookie. But WOW! She made a statement at the O, and the statement was: My name is Jennifer Gates. I'm the future of figure. Fear me! After people saw her on stage at the O, a few even saw her as the runner-up. Some are even saying that if she keeps this up…she will be the NEXT FIGURE O CHAMPION! Stranger things have happended in this sport, ya know. Definitely the 2007 Rookie of the Year without a doubt! Amanda Savell is an intense competitor, and the sport of figure could be built around her easily. Her vascularity and muscularity, as well as her unique Southern style, has made her a fan favorite, and rightfully so. She could very well be the next Figure International champion. Hmm…Amber might have made somewhat of a mistake returning to the stage, as she dropped from the runner-up spot to sixth place this year. OUCH! She looked good, though. I actually had her in the top three.

Now for the suprises…

Monica Brant in…SEVENTH PLACE?!?!?! Man, the chances of her winning a figure title seemed to be winding down year after year after year, with this being her worse placement in God know how long. This was the only thing that bugged me more then the Julie Childs thing and the fitness top six thing. I know that Monica is a trooper and is arguably the most gracious competitor in the history of the sport, but one has to wonder…could it be time for Mo to hang it up? I mean she's done everything under the sun to please the damn judges, and it's gotten her nowhere. I mean what else can she do? She's only human after all…

Valerie…Valerie…Valerie. Here's someone who I'd marked down as the person that would get a definite top 5 spot. She placed in the top 5 at the Arnold (where many people thought she should have won there) and went on to win every other competiton she was a part of this year. Yet at the O, she placed ninth?! Again, blame the judges for their incomptence. Sonia over both Mo and V-Dub…I can't get over that, I just can't.

I don't understand what happened to Mary. She is the reigning Figure International champion, and she got 10th place. I did expected her to be higher than 10th. She did seemed somewhat off, but looked good nethertheless. No doubt she will look for some retribution as she will find a way to return to the O stage next year.

The rest of the ladies were on their game as well: Andrea Dumon nabbing a last-minute spot to the show and looked great, Shannon Meteraud bringing a built body back to the O, completing her comeback as she was off having a couple of youngens, Natalie Benson gained a lot of fans in her O debut, Latisha Wilder AGAIN being overlooked at the big dance.

This was just based on the pics and the webcast from my point of view. The figure world is slowly but surely getting some respect. One of the best line-ups ever for the show.

That could change once 2008 comes around!