The largest yoga studio chain in the U.S. is making it easier for yoga students to unlock HSA/FSA funds for CorePower Yoga classes and memberships

Truemed, a payment solution company that simplifies the process for consumers to use their tax-free savings accounts to access health and wellness services and products, has partnered with CorePower Yoga.

The collaboration allows qualified yoga students to unlock their Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefits for CorePower classes and memberships.

A recent data brief from the CDC reveals that approximately one in six Americans are yoga enthusiasts, demonstrating that yoga remains one of the most popular mind-body practices. CorePower Yoga has over 220 studio locations in the U.S. and offers both live and on-demand classes and yoga teacher training.

“Accessibility and democratizing yoga are key pillars we strive for at CorePower Yoga in all facets of the business,” CorePower Yoga’s chief marketing and commercial officer, Sarah Choi, said. “This partnership with Truemed is a meaningful step forward on our brand mission and underscores the importance of yoga as a powerful health intervention.”

Interested yoga enthusiasts complete a health intake survey from Truemed, which is reviewed by a licensed healthcare practitioner. If eligible, they will receive a Letter of Medical Necessity, allowing them to reimburse their CorePower Yoga purchases using pre-tax HSA/FSA funds.

“Yoga is more than just exercise; it is an effective non-pharmaceutical intervention for various conditions, such as heart disease and depression,” Truemed co-founder and CEO Justin Mares. “We’re excited to partner with CorePower Yoga to help make this practice more accessible by enabling eligible individuals to use HSA/FSA funds where applicable.”

Truemed’s partnership with CorePower Yoga follows a similar deal it forged earlier this year with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) so that consumers can use tax-free funds for personal training, gym memberships, exercise classes, equipment, supplements, and sleep aids. 

Pre-Tax Wellness

As gyms and luxury clubs continue to integrate health and wellness offerings within their facilities, fitness brands are making it easier than ever for consumers to tap into their FSA and HSA accounts for products, membership, and classes. Most recently, smart home fitness brand Tempo partnered with Flex to make its AI virtual personal training program more accessible via HSA and FSA accounts.

Additionally, Dr. B, a telehealth provider, has partnered with Xplor Mariana Tek, BODi, F45, and SoulCycle to save consumers money and invest in their health and wellness.

Wellness and recovery tech brand Hyperice has also joined the movement, partnering last year with Sika Health so consumers can use their funds for Hyperice products, such as the brand’s Hypervolt, Normatec, Venom, Hyperice X, Vyper, Hypersphere, and compression wearables lines.

The post Truemed and CorePower Yoga Partner to Make Yoga More Accessible appeared first on Athletech News.

Three-time Men’s Physique Olympia champion Brandon Hendrickson has confirmed he will not compete at the 2024 Men’s Physique Olympia, set for Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV. Hendrickson is healthy but felt he needed a break from competition.

Hendrickson confirmed his absence in an Instagram story and appeared surprised that the news was now being shared. Hendrickson did an Instagram live from the audience in the 2024 Koloseum Pro contest in Milan, Italy.

Seems y’all just found this out. I’ve been kicking it all year.

This will be the first Men’s Physique Olympia without Hendrickson since 2014. He won the championship in 2018, 2020, and 2021, one shy of the record for most Olympia wins in his division. Jeremy Buendia won four titles.

Hendrickson ranked second to Ryan Terry at the 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia in Orlando, FL. Many fans anticipated a three-way rematch between Terry, Hendrickson, and 2022 champion Erin Banks. Terry and Banks will be the only two former champions in the lineup. Jeremy Buendia intended to compete in Las Vegas but suffered an Achilles injury earlier in the year.

Fortunately for Hendrickson, he will not have to enter a show to qualify for the 2025 Olympia. As a past champion within the last five years, he is eligible to compete in the 2025 edition of the world championship contest, the date and location of which have not been confirmed by promoters at the time of this article’s publication. 

Pre-judging for the 2024 Men’s Physique Olympia will occur in the morning at the Expo stage in the Las Vegas Convention Center; finals are later that evening at Resorts World.

Fans not in attendance can watch both rounds of competition live on the Olympia pay-per-view, available for purchase on the Olympia Productions website. BarBend will provide coverage and updates of all 11 pro divisions throughout the 2024 Olympia weekend.

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CrossFit CEO Don Faul spoke at the West Region Affiliate Summit hosted by CrossFit Invictus in San Diego, CA, the weekend of September 14. 

About 115 affiliate owners and coaches representing 60 affiliates from the area were in attendance. 

Faul kicked off his presentation with some reasons why affiliate owners do what they do.

“Despite living in the wealthiest and most technologically advanced country in the history of the world,” Faul said, “we have a society that is increasingly sick, that is increasingly lonely, that is increasingly unhappy.” 

Faul recently went to Washington, D.C., with the End Chronic Disease Coalition, where he said they had “really exciting conversations” about specific steps forward, like expanding HSAs to help pay for CrossFit memberships with the help of partner TrueMed. 

Although he felt they made good progress, he is aware of the amount of investment from much larger companies whose “future financial success is dependent on making sure that we become more and more medicated.” 

“I left those conversations both inspired and daunted. This is not an easy fight,” Faul told the crowd of owners. 

Faul then broke down CrossFit’s plans into three segments: Media, brand, and coaching. 

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Media

CrossFit media has been lacking since the mass firing of the media team in 2018, following the most successful Games season in terms of participation and viewership. That said, Faul was clear that they are making a “meaningful” investment in media.

The first campaign, called “Hear Their Stories,” has already started. The videos will be on YouTube, which will also be cut into shorts and used on Instagram as well. 

The trailer for this campaign was released on YouTube on September 23, and the first full video was released on September 30, which highlights the community of Model City CrossFit in Anniston, AL. 

He asked for affiliate owners and members to share their stories. Anyone can do so by emailing content@crossfit.com. 

He said the goal is to release one to two long-form pieces every single week through the end of the year. 

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“Expect to see the velocity of content really pick up,” Faul said. 

Affiliates currently receive a monthly marketing toolkit that will see an increase in resources as well. 

The Brand

The CrossFit Medical Society was launched earlier this year to connect medical professionals with gyms and individuals so they can give their patients long-lasting, sustainable options. 

“We will continue to work with them to provide more information and education for members,” Faul noted. 

He also reviewed plans to get more people inside affiliates, highlighting the extensive work going on behind the scenes to get CrossFit to the top of Google searches. 

According to Faul, if you searched Google for “CrossFit gyms near me” a year ago, the number one result was “F$@king Orange Theory.”

“Not anymore,” he continued. “We’ve been working hard on capturing that existing intent and getting those folks into your gyms.” 

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He pointed out that leads to affiliates are up 450% in a year. According to Faul, that will equate to about 60,000 leads by the end of the year. He said that would be about seven leads per gym, which equals 1.5-2 members per gym. This will hopefully create the income to cover the annual affiliate fee.

He said they are continuing to invest in their legal team to protect the brand from “copycats.”

“Our legal team processes thousands of these cases a year. We win over 90% of them,” Faul said. 

He shared that the legal team recently had a big win and acquired trademark protection in Mexico after a decade of litigation.

Coaching  

Faul said that CrossFit aspires to build a team of world-class coaches at every gym throughout the world. He believes that the coaches are the individuals who retain members, help build communities, and change lives. 

“Fundamentally, [coaching] is a huge part of what separates us from our competitors,” he said, “and we need to make sure that folks who have not experienced CrossFit yet understand that.”

Earlier this year, CrossFit HQ announced that, along with increased annual fees, a level 2 certification would be required of all affiliate owners. 

“Coaching drives everything. We are doing well here but we’re not doing good enough,” Faul asserted.

Recognizing that this can be a financial burden for owners, CrossFit is offering a $500 discount on the L2 course. 

Additional investments in coaching by CrossFit: 

A coach mentoring program is in the works. This will provide members of the seminar staff with access to coaching feedback. It is currently in the testing phase. 

Growing the weightlifting and gymnastics courses. Faul believes these courses, along with the level 1 and level 2, are essential. “I would argue they are a must-have for every coach if you aspire to be great in this community,” he said.

Launching a new YouTube channel specifically focused on training. “Free resource with really high-quality content.” Expect to see this in the next “month or so.”

Making a “Big push on the level 1.” Faul pointed out that it is the starting point for future coaches and affiliate owners. Members who don’t become coaches who take the level 1 are “stickier.” They believe in the methodology and are invested in the brand. 

Faul concluded with the last part of the plan, which is hosting more affiliate summits. 

“The assets that we will deliver online are great. But there is nothing that beats bringing people together.”

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IFBB Pro League Men’s Open bodybuilder Nathan De Asha is out of the 2024 Mr Olympia contest, scheduled for Oct. 11-12, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV. 

On Oct. 5, 2024, De Asha revealed he is in good health but is making a business decision not to compete in the 60th edition of bodybuilding’s biggest event.

For some people, the Olympia is a big deal. For me, it’s not.

De Asha previously spoke about missing the contest. He concluded that the cost was too high for travel from the United Kingdom to the United States to compete. The potential prize money he could earn would not be worth the financial commitment. He noted that other contenders would likely fill the top six favorites.

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I see bodybuilding now as a business that I want to succeed in. Right now, the Olympia, financially, is just not there for me.

De Asha revealed that he was in his offseason at the time of filming and intended to enter the 2025 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH, from Feb. 27 through March 2, 2025. The Arnold Classic is an invitation-only contest — De Asha would have to apply to gain entry while promoters are accepting applications.

De Asha won the 2024 Mr. Big Evolution contest to qualify for the Mr. Olympia. His position in the lineup is not expected to be filled. Despite qualifying several times, he has not competed in the Olympia since 2018, when he placed eighth. He missed the 2023 Olympia due to travel issues.

De Asha was the second competitor to withdraw from the contest shortly before the big day. 2024 New York Pro winner Nick Walker bowed out earlier on the same day. 2024 Flex Weekend Pro winner Behrooz Tabani is also out due to visa issues. That leaves 16 Men’s Open athletes to compete in Las Vegas, including defending champion Derek Lunsford.

The 2024 Mr. Olympia contest is the main event of 11 pro divisions that will host competitions in Las Vegas. All pro competitions and the Amateur Olympia will be available to watch live on pay-per-view through the Olympia Productions website. 

BarBend will provide updates and coverage leading to and during the 2024 Olympia in Las Vegas. 

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The post Nathan De Asha Withdraws From the 2024 Mr. Olympia appeared first on BarBend.

IFBB Pro League Men’s Open bodybuilder and 2024 New York Pro champion Nick Walker is out of the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest, slated for Oct. 11-12, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV. This is the second consecutive year that Walker is out of bodybuilding’s biggest contest.

Walker and coach Matt Jansen released a video on Walker’s YouTube channel, sharing the news and explaining their reasoning for withdrawing from the contest. The full video can be seen below:

“We just had to face the music; this is not the year,” Jansen said, explaining that Walker’s body was not responding to his prep as they felt it needed to win the 60th edition of the Mr. Olympia. Jansen stated this decision was not about avoiding losing on stage.

We’re not afraid to fail. I feel is in the best interest of Nick not to step onstage. His body is not operating like it needs to.

Walker showed emotion when he said this was not an easy decision to make, but ultimately, it was the best one for him.

“My body just said, ‘I need a break. I need to relax.’ That was it. I refuse to step onstage with anything less than my best.

Walker withdrew from the 2023 Olympia due to a hamstring injury he suffered in his prep’s final weeks. He recovered and returned to the stage to win the 2024 New York Pro. That qualified him to compete in Las Vegas.

Walker was expected to be a top contender for the Mr. Olympia title. In his four-year pro career, Walker has two Olympia appearances, ranking fifth in 2021 and third in 2022.

Walker said he would attend the 2024 Olympia, even though he was not competing. Jansen clarified that they would not announce Walker’s next contest until they felt he was ready. Walker will have to win a pro show during the 2025 qualifying season to enter the 2025 Mr. Olympia contest, the date and location of which have yet to be announced.

Who’s Still In?

With Walker’s absence from the 2024 event, another contender could potentially fill a top-five position. The other favorites for the Olympia are defending champion Derek Lunsford, 2022 winner Hadi Choopan, 2019 champion Brandon Curry, and top contenders Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked. 

Pre-judging for the 60th Mr. Olympia is set for Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, and finals take place the following night, Saturday, Oct. 12. Fans not in Las Vegas can purchase the 2024 Olympia pay-per-view on the Olympia Productions website to watch the action live.

BarBend will maintain live updates on all 11 pro divisions featured in Las Vegas throughout the Olympia weekend.

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The post Nick Walker is Out of the 2024 Mr. Olympia appeared first on BarBend.

Seher Kaya had plenty of standout performances during the 2024 CrossFit season.

She placed first in her region in the Open and eighth worldwide. Then, she placed first in both the Quarterfinals and Asia Semifinal in Korea. 

Kaya qualified for her third CrossFit Games and secured her best placing yet by finishing in 21st. (She placed 23rd in 2023 and 29th in 2022.) 

However, like many of the 2024 Games athletes, pain and insecurity hung over Kaya’s that weekend in Fort Worth, TX. And as she competed at the Games, heartbroken, she knew there was another competition just a month later: the TYR Cup. 

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Memories of Lazar

One of the early athletes announced on Team World, Kaya was looking forward to competing alongside Lazar Ðukić. In an Instagram post, days after Ðukić died, she reflected on one of their last interactions in Forth Worth. 

Prior to Event 1 on August 8, she was approached by Ðukić while they were all at the lake running through the event, and she helped show him where the swim began and ended.

“While I was explaining this, he goes, ‘We are going to win the TYR Cup, right?’ With his signature goofy smile of his, so I went, ‘Of course, we are going to win! They got no chance!’ And he goes, ‘Thank you! Exactly what I wanted to hear,’ and we started laughing,” Kaya wrote. 

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The TYR Cup

Like so many of the TYR Cup athletes who ultimately competed in Huntington Beach, Kaya approached this inaugural contest with a heavy heart that began to heal during the three-day event. 

“Actually, you know, after the Games, I didn’t know if I wanted to compete; I was so unsure. I really needed this weekend; I really did. I found [out] why I do this. My joy [is] to compete, I guess,” Kaya told Morning Chalk Up in an interview.

She shined on Team World with an incredible performance during the clean ladder event. This workout began with the athletes performing bar muscle-ups before moving through five barbells, each progressively heavier. 

“Obviously, the clean ladder was the biggest highlight because I know I’m not the fastest with the barbell, but I was feeling so calm,” she said. “I had my head in the game, and it went the way I did not expect. But I was so happy about it.”

Normally calm and collected, Kaya was jumping up and down, thrilled with her performance. It was clear to everyone in attendance that she was in her element.

“I promise you, I never celebrate, but then I got to the finish line, and I was like, ‘What just happened,’” Kaya said. “It was so great, and I felt the energy. I gave it to the team, and I set the standard for that event. It was great.”

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What’s Next for Seher Kaya?

When asked if the event lived up to her expectations, she shared that it surpassed them.

“It was way better than what I expected,” Kaya said. “I went into this weekend, I knew I was kind of the underdog. I was scared that I would be the weak link because we have some big names on my team, and we’re going against some big names, so I was super nervous. But I also told myself I didn’t want to let the team down. And I know how I am when I get to the competition floor — I put my head down, and I just work.” 

The work paid off — and, like other competitors, she found herself reenergized once the dust had settled on the TYR Cup.

“I think many people feel this way, not just the competitors, but the people all around. We were so unsure: is this right to do? But I’m so happy I came and did this,” Kaya said.

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Later this season, Seher Kaya hopes to compete at the Dubai Fitness Championship and some small community competitions in Turkey. 

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The post Seher Kaya Shines at TYR Cup, Thrives on Team World appeared first on BarBend.

A decade ago, Kai Greene was the number two bodybuilder in the world. Greene’s longstanding and, at times, explosive rivalry with seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath raised his profile in the larger-than-life Men’s Open division.

Long before Greene and Heath’s famous feud, though, Greene had a career in natural bodybuilding that flew under most fans’ radars.

In 2009, Greene actually out-ranked Heath at the Mr. Olympia, placing fourth to Heath’s fifth. They met on bodybuilding’s biggest stage five more times, but Greene couldn’t overtake Heath again. 

Years later, some of the world’s most renowned coaches and competitors consider Greene to be one of the best natural bodybuilders ever. 

Kai Greene: The Best Natural Bodybuilding Athlete Ever? 

If you’re relatively new to the sport of competitive bodybuilding, you’ll need a quick history lesson. Greene competed at the Mr. Olympia from 2009 to 2014, an event that doesn’t require the sort of stringent drug testing you’d see for most international sports.

Everyone has a past, though. Before making it into the big leagues, Greene had tremendous success in the natural bodybuilding industry. So much so that his legacy made for a hot topic between pro coaches (and competitors) Dr. Eric Helms and Alberto Núñez: 

“I see pre-enhanced Kai Greene as one of the greatest natural bodybuilders of all time,” Núñez said during a Sep. 9, 2024 episode of the Iron Culture podcast. “When I think of Kai, I think of an artist at heart.”

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Greene won the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) World Championships in 1996, according to MuscleMemory. That show, Helms noted, not only drug tested its competitors, but athletes were also required to subject themselves to a polygraph evaluation regarding any potential usage of anabolic steroids.

“I want to say he was only 20 or 21, and he won the overall,” said Dr. Helms of Greene’s extraordinary pedigree as a young and, presumably, unenhanced bodybuilder. “He had to have been polygraph and urine tested.” 

To endorse Greene’s status as a then-natural athlete, Dr. Helms mentioned that Greene’s body weight on stage leapt up “60 or 70 pounds” between his WNBF days and when he bagged his IFBB pro card. 

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Beating out older, more tenured athletes at WNBF Worlds in ‘96 wasn’t Greene’s only triumph. A year prior, he won the overall title at the 1994 NGA American Nationals show. In ‘97, Greene competed a ludicrous six times, placing either first or second every time. 

With Greene’s early career in natural bodybuilding in context, it’s no wonder he ended up on the Mr. Olympia stage, giving Heath — famously dubbed “the Gift” for his borderline perfect genetic propensity for bodybuilding — a run for his money. 

Kai Greene on Natural Bodybuilding

During an interview on the expo floor of the Arnold Sports Festival, Greene once provided a few choice remarks about his bodybuilding philosophy — including the importance of viewing PEDs as a last resort, instead of a first stop, on one’s physique journey: 

“It’s important to be able to find out what you can do and be willing to go as far as you can being natural. I competed for more than 15 years as an unenhanced natural athlete, and I’m very, very, very proud of that,” Greene said.

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Greene carries a complicated reputation in the world of pro bodybuilding, but one thing is crystal clear: he walked the walk. And his early successes, despite not quite elevating him to the fame he achieved in the first half of the 2010s, prove he has a real case as one of the unsung G.O.A.Ts of the natural bodybuilding scene. 

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The post Was Kai Greene the Best Natural Bodybuilding Athlete Ever? appeared first on BarBend.

Legendary bodybuilder Tom Platz is celebrated for his leg development, specifically the quadriceps, which earned him the nickname “The Quadfather.” Platz’s lower body paved the way for competitive success in the 1980s, and he finished as high as third at the 1981 Mr. Olympia. 

On Sept. 27, 2024, exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel shared his insights on the effectiveness of Platz’s leg day. Dr. Israetel analyzed various leg exercises demonstrated by Platz to decipher whether his techniques would work well for others or if Platz is a genetic outlier. 

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Tom Platz’s Training

Dr. Israetel recognizes Platz’s distinctive and intense workout approach. He discusses how the brain often restricts individuals from engaging in strenuous exercises. He attributes this limitation to fear, which arises from two specific conditions: pain and failure. 

Dr. Israetel describes pain as an inevitable part of training, suggesting that embracing discomfort is crucial to pushing oneself in the gym sufficiently.

The pain in your muscles when you’re lifting, the good kind of pain, is a sign that the growth stimulus is being delivered.

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Dr. Israetel Critiques Tom Platz’s Leg Day 

Dr. Israetel critiqued Platz’s leg curl, calf raise, barbell squat, hack squat, and leg extension.

Leg Curl

Dr. Israetel praises Platz’s intensity on the leg curl. However, his critique highlights that Platz’s execution during eccentrics raises the risk of hamstring injuries and fails to adequately engage the muscles at the bottom. Moreover, Israetel doesn’t believe Platz’s form when applying lengthened partials is ideal for hypertrophy. 

Calf Raise

Dr. Israetel suggested that non-elite lifters trying to mimic Platz’s calf raise might struggle to achieve their desired gains.

Tom did whatever needed to be done to grow muscle.

Platz’s spotter would hang off the machine during calf raises to add extra resistance.

Barbell Squat

Israetel asserts that while Platz didn’t invent the squat, he perfected it for bodybuilding. He notes that Platz employed various techniques throughout the years, with one particular standout: high-bar squats. Platz squated with his heels on the ground with his torso completely upright via a close stance. His knees tracked way over his toes. 

A video displayed Platz squatting 525 pounds for 23 reps, while Israetel gets the closest to 500 pounds for 10 reps. While Israetel praised Platz’s technique, he advises performing them slower.

Hack Squat

Israetel described Platz’s hack squat variation, which transitions from a hack squat to a sissy squat, as evolving into a proper rigid body leg extension that effectively targets the middle of the quadriceps.

Train this hack squat variation in the 10 to 15 rep range, aiming for near failure. Once there, transition to regular hack squats. This will offer greater tension at long muscle lengths, which can produce greater muscle hypertrophy. (1)

Leg Extension

Israetel highlights that Platz integrated various intensity techniques simultaneously. To maximize effectiveness of leg extensions, Platz employed lengthened partials, partial reps, and myo reps.

Ultimately, Dr. Israetel advised bodybuilders performing any exercises to use proper form and to put more effort into training. Although he acknowledged that most people can increase their workout intensity, he cautions those to avoid training quite as intensely as The Quadfather. 

Reference

Nunes, J. P., Jacinto, J. L., Ribeiro, A. S., Mayhew, J. L., Nakamura, M., Capel, D. M. G., Santos, L. R., Santos, L., Cyrino, E. S., & Aguiar, A. F. (2020). Placing Greater Torque at Shorter or Longer Muscle Lengths? Effects of Cable vs. Barbell Preacher Curl Training on Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy in Young Adults. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(16), 5859. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165859

Featured image: @tomplatz on Instagram

The post Dr. Mike Israetel Critiques Bodybuilding Legend Tom Platz’s Leg Day appeared first on BarBend.

The 2024 Wellness Olympia is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, as one of the 11 world championship events of the 2024 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV. The competition begins with pre-judging at the Las Vegas Convention Center that morning and concludes in Resorts World later that day.

Thirty-seven competitors will take the stage for the opening round. The full roster of competitors is below:

2024 Wellness Olympia Roster

Francielle Mattos (Brazil) — Defending Champion

Victoria Reyes Villa (Mexico)

Lisa Meiswinkel (Germany)

Dainora Dvarionaite (Lithuania)

Lili Dong (China)

Isabelle Nunes (Brazil)

Elisa Alcantara (Dominican Republic)

Giselle Machado (Brazil)

Alisha Sturkie (USA)

Hye Yoon Kim (South Korea)

Tefani-Sam Razhi (USA)

Sandra Colorado Acal (Spain)

Marcela Mattos (Brazil)

Leonida Ciobu (Moldova)

Bruna Seredich (USA)

Jennifer Zollars (USA) 

Rayane Fogal (Brazil)

Emily Azzarello (Canada)

Jade Cristaldo (Spain)

Marissa Andrews (USA)

Chen Qi Liu (China)

Valquiria Lopes (Brazil)

Alexis Nicole (USA)

Esmeralda Diaz (Mexico)

Natasha Peay (USA)

Danai Theodoropoulou (Greece)

Narla Vilar (Brazil)

Juliana Mota (Portugal)

Jenna De Manincor (USA)

Daniela Esquivel (Costa Rica)

Sunny Andrews (USA)

Daniele Mendonca (Brazil)

Eduarda Bezerra (Brazil)

Jasmine Baker (New Zealand)

Kassandra Gillis (Canada)

Jacqueline Huescas Rios (Mexico)

Camile Luz (Brazil)

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How to Qualify

This is the fourth edition of this contest, and athletes can qualify in three ways. Olympia champions have lifetime eligibility. The top three finishers from 2023 were automatically invited to return in 2024. 

The rest of the field consists of contest pro show winners who earned their spots throughout the qualifying season, which concluded on Sept. 15, 2024. The remaining way to join this contest is by special invite from the promoters, but none are expected to be issued in 2024.

Past Champion

There has only been one champion in this division’s young history. Francielle Mattos has been the number-one Wellness competitor since 2021. Less than four months after she won her third Olympia title in 2023, she was victorious at the 2024 Wellness International.

Mattos is considered the favorite to win in Las Vegas, but a very deep field of contenders want to be the second Ms. Wellness Olympia in history.

Top Contenders

Isabelle Nunes is the top contender. Nunes won the Wellness International title and placed second to Mattos at the 2023 Olympia and 2024 Wellness International. Of all the challengers, Nunes has come closest to knocking off the champ.

Elisa Alcantara ranked third at the 2023 Olympia, and many Brazilian fans think she is Mattos’s heir apparent. Meanwhile, fans in Canada are rooting for 2023 Wellness International champ Kassandra Gillis, who ranked sixth at the 2023 Olympia but needed three pro shows to qualify for the 2024 contest. 

Giselle Machado occupied the last spot in the top five for 2023. She will be in Las Vegas to move up the scorecards on the momentum of her e 2024 New York Pro win. If any of the other favorites are off, she could score a podium finish.

Dark Horses

Many fans and experts of this division have their eyes on those contenders, but Lisa Meiswinkel has been establishing herself as a threat to the title all year. She ranked 11th in 2023 but won four pro shows in 2024, including the Legion Sports Fest Pro, which qualified her for the 2025 Olympia. 

Sandra Colorado Acal is back in the Wellness Olympia after placing eighth in 2023. Marissa Andrews finished one spot back of Acal that year but felt she could move up in Las Vegas. 2024 Wellness International UK champion Leonida Ciobu could also contend for a top-six position if she is at her best.

Other Notes

Fans who won’t be in Las Vegas can keep up with both rounds of the competition by purchasing the 2024 Olympia pay-per-view, which will show all 11 divisions and the Amateur Olympia. Details on accessing that livestream are available on the Olympia Productions website.

BarBend will also post updates of both rounds of competition for every contest throughout the weekend. Check back if you missed anything to stay updated on all things Olympia.

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