The next Olympia qualification will be decided in Anaheim, CA. The 2023 Musclecontest Irongames Pro Bikini division show will take place on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Twelve competitors will do their best to win and earn the 41st qualification to the 2023 Bikini Olympia, part of Olympia Weekend in Orlando, FL, on Nov. 2-5, 2023.
Eleven of the 12 athletes taking the stage are from the United States. Malu Duarte will represent Brazil in this contest. The roster for this contest as of Aug. 31, 2023, is below:
2023 Musclecontest Irongames Pro Roster
- Maya Soleil Astabie (USA)
- Hong Chen (USA)
- Jessica Nicole Dolias (USA)
- Malu Duarte (Brazil)
- Tara Grier (USA)
- Chantel Hall (USA)
- Sammy Jo (USA)
- Erin Mahon (USA)
- Erin Mayrhofer (USA)
- Laura Moore-Shay (USA)
- Yurika Shigemoto (USA)
- Mandy Watanabe (USA)
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Athletes to Watch
Below are three of the likely favorites to reach first callouts:
Maya Soleil Astabie
This is Maya Soleil Astabie’s third contest of the 2023 season. She is coming off a runner-up finish in the 2023 Mile High Pro and a seventh-place rank in the 2023 Nevada State Pro. Three-time Bikini Olympia champion Ashley Kaltwasser won both of those contests. Astabie is in her rookie season but has competed with some of the best athletes in the division and held her own. Expect the same in Anaheim.
Tara Grier
Tara Grier already qualified for the Olympia thanks to her victory at the 2023 Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro. This will be her sixth contest of the year. However, instead of trying to qualify for the Olympia, she will do her best to keep a rival out of the lineup.
Only winners move on to the 2023 Olympia — the qualification cutoff is on Oct. 9, 2023. Grier ranked ninth in this contest in 2019 but has placed no lower than fifth in any of her five showings in the 2023 season.
Yurike Shigemoto
Shigemoto seeks her second straight win in as many weeks. She’s coming off a victory at the 2023 Tokyo Pro, where she qualified for the 2023 Olympia as a result. She bears no risk in Anaheim, as her ticket to Orlando remains secure even if she loses. She ranked 12th in the 2022 Olympia and hopes another win boosts her momentum as November approaches.
Featured image: @yurika_ifbbpro on Instagram
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