2023 New York Pro Preview, Competitors List & Top Names to Watch

The 2023 New York Pro takes place this weekend and serves as the third most significant event of the IFBB Pro League calendar. With Blessing Awodibu away from the stage, a new champion will be crowned on May 20. This contest will feature a total of nine divisions: Men’s Open, Classic Physique, 212 Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness.

In addition to 2022 champion Blessing Awodibu’s absence, the 2021 New York Pro winner, Nick Walker, has opted to use the extra time to prepare for 2023 Mr. Olympia. Whoever claims Steve Weinberger’s New York Pro title over the weekend will gain substantial momentum in their quest to shine on the Mr. Olympia stage in November. 

With the event set to kick off Saturday in Teaneck, NJ., fans are eager to see their favorite athletes vie for gold and a coveted 2023 Mr. Olympia invitation. Find a full competitors list and names to watch below:

2023 New York Pro Lineup

Men’s Open Bodybuilding

Heading into New York, fans expect Tonio Burton to make a statement. Having competed in 212 and the Open, Burton continues to make strides and sports a freaky physique. Last year, he won a Men’s Open show at the 2022 Legion Sports Fest Pro and plans to secure another title this weekend. 

However, Burton will have to get through a couple of threats, such as veteran Maxx Charles and Nate Spear. At the 2022 New York Pro last year, Charles took third and intends to inch closer to gold in his next appearance.

On the other hand, Stuart Sutherland has shown promising updates during prep for his New York debut, weighing as much as 253 pounds. Spear, who last competed at the Boston Pro (7th) appears to have added size as well. Other notable standouts include Joe Seeman and Slavoj Bednar. 

• Slavoj Bednar
• Tonio Burton
• Maxx Charles
• Lionardis Cardoza Delfino
• Walter R. Debbs
• Jason Hebert
• Mike Hulusi
• Josef Kveton
• Keunwoo Park
• Joe Seeman
• Nathan Spear
• Robin Strand
• Stuart Sutherland
• Brent Swansen
• Mariusz Tomczuk
• Eric Wood

Classic Physique

Having just claimed gold at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, Michael Daboul is an obvious favorite heading into this weekend’s event. Considering he’s already in shape and riding momentum, it will take a massive effort to overshadow him on stage. As a former Men’s Physique competitor, fans expect a big turnout from Matthew Greggo in his debut for Classic Physique. Greggo’s last contest came last year in seventh place at the 2022 Tampa Pro. 

In addition, Junior Javorski is in the running for gold. He competed against the 2023 Arnold Classic champion Ramon Dino but ultimately left town in sixth. He also has ambitious plans this weekend and is aiming to earn his Olympia invitation. 

• Eric Abelon
• Munkhsaruul Altangerel
• Zeek Andrews
• Kherlan Batbayar
• Brandon Coope
• Michael Daboul
• Camilo Diaz
• Javie Duarte
• Jorge Luis Guerrero Gallegos
• Matthew Greggo
• Callum Hinze
• Junior Javorski
• Hubert Kulczynski
• Tyler Okowinsky
• Rickoy Palmer
• Rob Van Sant
• Herbert Surita Sotillo
• Alexander Westermeier
• Jeremiah T. Willies
• Andrew Wilson

212 Bodybuilding

Defending champion Noel Adame plans to silence any doubters on Saturday. He dominated the show last year to win his first New York Pro title, showcasing an impressive blend of conditioning and balance.

Kerrith Bajjo plans to steal the 212 spotlight again after a successful season last year. He won the Texas Pro before taking seventh at 2022 Olympia. In light of his recent physique updates, fans believe Bajjo could make a run for first place. 

• Noel Adame
• Kerrith Bajjo
• Peter Castella
• Anthony S. Dellaventura
• Ralph Farah
• Ho Yeon Jang
• Sung Yeop Jang
• Jason Joseph
• Shuqing Lin
• Marc Lobliner
• Jose Marte
• Diego A. Guerra Montoya
• Babacar Niang
• Jicheng Qian
• Michael Schneider
• Nate Telow
• Jordan Wise

Men’s Physique

Men’s Physique favorite Ryan Terry will make a quick turnaround after narrowly finishing second to Corey Morris at last weekend’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro show. Given his record of success and massive chest, he hopes to earn a victory after the close call in Pittsburgh. 

Meanwhile, Charjo Grant also stands out as an early favorite. He last appeared in December on the Mr. Olympia stage where he impressed in fourth place. And while Vitor Chaves took 13th at the 2022 Olympia, many in the bodybuilding community refuse to dismiss his chances on the East Coast.

Daniel Ammons is a surefire frontrunner as well as he found loads of success on stage in 2022. He enters this show on the heels of back-to-back wins at the Tampa and Texas Pro. 

• Philip Acevedo
• Daniel Ammons
• Joseph Angell
• Vitor Chaves
• Andrew J. David
• Matthew J. Gelia
• Juan Manuel Gochez
• Maxim Golovatii
• Charjo Grant
• Aaron Harvey
• Jarrett Jenkins
• Dennis Kloster
• Ephfram Lawhorne
• Joseph Mencel
• Gage Moran
• Sidy Pouye
• Francisco Rodriguez
• Ryan Terry
• Dawid Wachelka
• Deke Walker
• Richard Young
• Miguel A. Zapata

Women’s Bodybuilding 

In Women’s Bodybuilding, 2022 Toronto Pro Supershow fourth-place finisher Gisela Nunes Chan is determined to shine in her latest outing. Tamara Makar, who took ninth at last year’s Tampa Pro, is on track to bring her best look to date. However, the biggest favorite of the night is likely Donna W. Salib, who enters the contest as the defending New York Pro champion. Before calling it a season last year, she took 14th at 2022 Olympia. 

• Saqweta Barrino
• Gisela Nunes Chan
• Tamara Makar
• Rene Marven
• Vera Mikulcova
• Donna W. Salib
• Andrea Saurer
• Towanda D. Smith
• Julia Whitesel

Women’s Physique

Saturday will feature the reigning 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia Natalia Abraham Coelho. She brought exceptional conditioning to Las Vegas last year and defeated former two-time Olympia champ, Sarah Villegas in a huge upset. Coelho enters this contest with added momentum as she won the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro title a week ago. 

• Candice Carr
• Natalia Abraham Coelho
• Sarah Crail
• Debbie Gaccione
• Ann Gruber
• Yuna Kim
• Amandine Kolly
• Alexis Lowery
• Angela Noury
• Diana Schnaidt
• Joseli Schoenherr
• Tanja Schroder
• Becky Short
• Christine Siegrist
• Michele Steeves
• Jennifer Taylor
• Christina Wilson

Figure

Top five Figure Olympia finisher Natalia Soltero is aiming for another pro show victory. Last weekend, she walked away in second following a very close competition against Cherish Richardson at the Pittsburgh Pro. The event was certainly memorable as it featured a star-studded lineup of Open class guest posers. 

• Yukhno Aksana
• Jessica Baltazar
• Danielle Barros
• Yukina Betz
• Lynn Centino
• Angelika Chapman
• Lu Faustin
• Annelies Charlotte Fortuin
• Rebecca Godwin
• Constance Jones
• Julie R. Medina
• Rene Miller
• Traci Miller
• Nina Paulus
• Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
• Danielle Rose
• Kelly Sammut
• Nakeisha Scruggs
• Jiyoon Seo
• Natalia Soltero
• Andrea Villalobos
• Thais Cabrices Werner
• Aksana Yukhno
• Jennifer Zienert

Bikini

Aimee LeAnn Delgado is on a roll in 2023 with three consecutive pro show victories. Earlier this year, Delgado dominated the Klash Series Pro, the Wasatch Warrior Pro, and most recently, claimed gold at the Pittsburgh Pro, where she defeated popular three-time Bikini Olympia winner Ashley Kaltwasser. 

• Maria Acosta
• Marnie Al-Saraf
• Bridget Bailey
• Shenese Case
• Aimee LeAnn Delgado
• Ivi Escandar
• Valerya Fedorenko
• Eli Fernandez
• Christina Friscia
• Rudie Guerrero
• Reijuana Harley
• Langsha He
• Yume Kurokawa
• Noemi Lavacca
• Alice Rocha
• Angely Rojas
• Rachel Schartz
• Areum Song
• Nedjie Thompson
• Petra Voldanova
• Jessica Wilson

Wellness

Even with a smaller competitors list, fans expect a fiery Wellness contest given that Gisele Machado is participating. She last competed at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and took first place. Since she earned an Olympia invite already, she’s aiming to prevent other competitors from making their way to the Olympia stage in November. 

• Carol Canrarero
• Lili Dong
• Daisha Johnson
• Edna F. De Souza
• Gisele Machado
• Tefani-Sam Razhi

RELATED: Dan Solomon Reveals 2023 Olympia Will Return To Orlando, Florida In First Week of November

As it stands, the 2023 Mr. Olympia Qualification System has undergone notable changes. Most importantly, IFBB Pro League athletes can no longer qualify for the annual Mr. Olympia competition based on points. The point system has been removed and bodybuilders must win a pro show to guarantee passage to the biggest event of the year.

With the 2023 New York Pro set for November 20, fans are excited to see the bodybuilding season move forward. The 10 winners from this contest will have the opportunity to face the respective champions of their division in less than six months.