10 Years at the Arnold Classic: 2010

FAMILIAR RESULTS NEW & OLD

All three division winners were also the reigning Olympia champions.



Need I say anything? I imagine the contest was over as a contest the second Iris faced the back and flared her lats. Whether you see 'bumps' (aka 'distortions') on those glutes or not, whether you think Iris was the best ever or a major factor in IFBB pro Female Bodybuilding's demise, it's impossible to deny that she didn't deserve to win. Again.



Meanwhile, in the Fitness division, four-time Fitness Olympia champ and two-time Fitness International winner Adela Garcia returned to the Arnolds after a two-year break to resume normal service and continue a nine-show winning streak that had started at the 2009 Olympia and finished at her final show, the 2013 Olympia.



And then there was Nicole Wilkins. As we saw yesterday, Nicole had given Fitness a crack at the Arnolds in 2009. Here she returned to the division in which her previous best Arnolds finish had been 12th in 2008, but she was returning as the reigning Ms Olympia. Still, I should point out, needing to wear both a one-piece and a two-piece in this division, and clearly not yet needing to show much definition to win over the Figure judges, Nicole took the first of three consecutive Figure International titles.

FUTURE PHYSIQUES



I imagine the stark contrast between Nicole and Iris may have had something to do with the realisation on the part of the authorities that the women needed another division, intermediate between Figure and Bodybuilding. The creation of the Physique division is a little way down the road yet, and its Arnold bow is even further down the road, but the some of the women who would populate it would often have years of Arnolds experience behind them, and there were more than a few on stage in 2010.



And when the women came into this brand new division, they didn't only come from one direction. Zoa Linsey (top), as I'm sure you know, competed a Bodybuilder - she finished a very creditable 7th here given the competition. In the Amateur show, future Physique stars Heather Grace, Jillian Reville,and Mikaila Soto all competed in the same Figure class at the 2010 Arnolds, while Autumn Swansen (then stlll Edwards) and Minna Pajulahti both appeared in the same Amateur Fitness class.



And in Amateur Bodybuilding, the now obviously built for Physique Sherri Gray, and - though she wasn't quite finished with Bodybuilding yet - Katka Kyptova both made their Arnold debuts here and would later go on to strut their stuff in the WPD.



THE NEW BREED?



It wasn't just a case of plus ça change with Iris winning. The only difference between the 2009 and 2010 Ms International top 6 was that Yaxeni and Debi swapped places.



But down in 8th - yes, one place lower than Zoa Linsey! - Arnold audiences caught their first glimpse of Alina, who would soon join the ranks of the serious challengers to Iris' crowns, and, like Heather Policky before her, would carry the hope of a legion of fans that finally "the sport" could, at last, be about to have a new Queen.



The quality of the Amateur Bodybuilding show, however, was starting to wane. Fewer women competing (just five in each of the three classes) and much less of the quality that had so electrified audiences for its first two years. In not very competitive classes, Lisa Aranda (Lightweight) and Marina Lemenovskaya (Middleweight) were both worthy winners, but hardly looked to be about to turn pro FBBing on its head.



Happily though, Rita Bello was Overall champion. A year too late, perhaps, but at least here was a woman who was entering the pro ranks fully formed and ready to do battle. Where was the next international generation though? It wouldn't be long before the answer to that question was definitively NOT at the Arnold Amateur.

BRITISH INTEREST?

For the first time, YES!!!



Future World's Sexiest Grandmother Sharon Madderson was the first to represent Britain in Bodybuilding at the Arnolds. Sharon finished 4th (out of 5) in the Bello-dominated Heavyweight class, also behind the much bigger Salla Kauranen and Nidia Hermosillo. Enjoyed the experience though, if the pictures don't lie.



And Kizzy Vaines, who, until Emma Paveley came along, carried the pro Fitness flag for Great Britain all by herself, placed 12th after achieving some impossibly deranged body positions that doubtless had fellas in the audience licking their lips.

FBBUK: Sharon Madderson Weekend! (Sunday)

I haven't spoke openly about this before, wrote Sharon on her Instagram recently,
but it's a topic which has plagued me and I'm sure other athletes.



We've decided to reproduce her post in full, because it's eloquent and true and all those things, but also because we, in our adoration of Sharon and her peers, can often forget that not everyone is so in awe of these magnificent women, and just because we are, it doesn't mean that the way we might behave when we are lucky enough to encounter one of them is the right way to behave. Our swestruck gawping might inadvertently be just as offensive to them as a negative comment.

Muscular women put up with a lot, even in the supposedly more forward-thinking countries of the world both online and in their daily lives. This very fact might make us, or indeed anyone else, admire their dedication and commitment even more, but that doesn't mean it is emotionally easy for them to be who they want to be and look how they want to look, on top of all the physical effort.

Enough of my yakking. Sharon says it so much better...



Being a female bodybuilder is my choice and I'm extremely proud of how I look and the person I am. I know what sacrifices and dedication it has took and I never force my opinions upon anybody else.

So I struggle to understand why people stare and comment so disrespectfully. I'm subjected to this on a daily basis. Some offer their hand to congratulate me on my look, some even ask for a pic or ask inquisitively about my training, which is lovely, and is something I will always give time to.



Unfortunately though too many simply stare ignorantly at me and question my look (body). Often I even hear their comments: "Why would she look like that?", "Is that a women?", "She's spoiled herself"... Or the best one: "That's not natural".



I'm a serious professional athlete but I'm also a normal person, a mother, wife and Grandma. I have feelings like anyone else.

It is hurtful above all.

I know I'm not perfect, and I have the same hang ups and insecurities about myself like anyone else has.



Please read this with an open mind and next time you are out and about take notice of how you and your family/friends react. Don't be someone to pray on others in this way. Compliment, or even question, those who may not be your society's "normal" - their story will most likely be amazing, with the potential to change lives.



Let's try to do our best to stamp out this type of abuse in our society and bring our kids up differently. Praise others around us, raise them up and it's likely you'll be happier too!



'Listen and learn without prejudice and pass no judgment. We are all the same, just on different adventure paths.'

Sharon Madderson



Amen.

FBBUK: Sharon Madderson Weekend! (Saturday)

Sharon Madderson, as we've seen previously on FMS, has been one of the shining lights of British female muscle over the last twenty years. She began her long and varied competitive career as an EFBB Figure competitor back in 1999, and eventually made it all the way to the IFBB pro ranks as a Bodybuilder. Now, however, she may have decided to call time on that career, her final appearance the recent WABBA International Universe, where she finished runner-up to Sarah Williams.



I've had an amazing experience, Sharon told her Instagram followers as she kissed her trophy after the Colchester show. This might be my retirement of competing but the start of a new journey. Notice the "might". Lots of Sharon fans have. Congratulations but please don't! begged one. You still have lot to give on stage...



FMS couldn't agree more. One forum poster recently said that they felt Sarah Williams was "actually getting better looking with age". The same could definitely be said of Sharon Madderson. And as images and video of her preparations for her maybe last contest have come to the attention of the forums recently, she's become as popular as ever - at the age of 51. With her conditioning and this new long blond hair, she's an absolute goddess! commented one, clearly smitten, new fan.



But just like Margie Martin, who recently announced next year (at least) she will be "making bodybuilders", Sharon's not about to stop training - "the lifestyle I adore" - but rather than compete, she'll focus on training other people with her husband (the man responsible for Sharon becoming a Bodybuilder) out of their North-east base. Graham and I already have so much planned for 2017, she says. We can't wait to share it all! We are so excited to see our Madderson Muscle Athlete Team grow internationally, and to be as successful in their journeys as our already amazing squad.



Sharon's career has, as we've noted before, been a little stop start, with periods out of competition punctuating her appearances on stage. Maybe this is the beginning of one of these breaks, maybe it really is retirement. If it is indeed the latter, and the Universe really was her last competitive outing, then Sharon certainly made sure she wouldn't be forgotten in a hurry, and certainly left this fan at least wishing for more.



And more Sharon is what we'll be having tomorrow.

FBBUK: Sharon Madderson

Last weekend, Rosanna Harte flew the flag for the UK at the Arnold Amateur, but who was the first British woman to be invited to compete there?

Given the title of the post today, it probably won’t surprise you to find that the answer to that question is Sharon Madderson, who appeared there in 2010 and finished 4th (one place higher than a certain Katerina Kyptova) in a very competitive heavyweight field that was won by the Argentinian femuscle beast Rita Bello.


left: Arnold Amateur 2010; right: Chicago Pro 2012

That appearance was probably the pinnacle of her career (so far), and despite her disappointing placing in her most recent competitive outing at the Chicago Pro last year, I think it’s fair to say that Sharon can claim to be the most successful British female bodybuilder of the last 15 years.



Like Georgina McConnell, Sharon hails from the north-east of England, but unlike Georgina (and Kate Austin), who from a very young age wanted to be muscular, she didn’t take up the sport until she was 30, admitting she had paid little attention to her body until then. And it wasn’t a female bodybuilder who inspired her, but rather the men she saw once she had entered the gym.

I was truly amazed at what they could do with their bodies. I knew then that this was for me. After a short while I began to notice and feel the difference my efforts were making to my body, this incredible feeling helped to motivated me further.



One of the men at the gym was her future husband, Graham, and with his guidance, Sharon began to train to compete, making her debut in 1999 in a local competition as a figure competitor. She won that contest and later in the year became EFBB Miss Figure UK. The following year she was NABBA Miss North Britain, finished 4th at NABBA Britain and 2nd in the Figure class at the Miss International.

After a three-year break she returned to the stage, this time as a bodybuilder, winning the 2003 EFBB Miss North East overall title and finishing runner-up at the EFBB British Championships, before going on to the NABBA Universe and finishing 7th. Another three-year break, and she was back in action, now a heavyweight, as overall winner at the UKBFF Midlands, which she followed up with the UKBFF British title. Then another three-year break and she reappears at the 2009 IFBB European Championships and finishes 6th, which brings us up to 2010 and the 4th place at the Arnold Amateur.




But why all these breaks? Why, every time Sharon seemed to be on the cusp of an international breakthrough did she take three years away from competition?

Well, FMS can only speculate on the reason, but it’s certainly not because of the grind of training and diet. I thoroughly enjoy the contest preparation and the preparations before the show, she says. Perhaps then the reason is a more practical one, because Sharon has three children, and now two grandchildren.



Nevertheless, a pretty impressive CV for a UK bodybuilder. A long career, with plenty of success both at home, in Europe and ultimately in the US. In spite of the stop-start nature of her career, I can’t think of a female bodybuilder active today in the UK who can boast of such achievements. And anyway, are contest finishes the only measure of female muscle success? After all, how many 47-year-olds, indeed how many grandmothers, do you know who look this good?




We leave you today with a clip of Sharon from a UK TV appearance in 2009. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing (and there’s no reason why you should) Sharon appears from the 3.27 mark. Check out the presenter’s face after Sharon flexes her pecs for him – do you think we have another secret female muscle lover at the BBC?



Enjoy!