This year, for the first time since 1980, women’s bodybuilding will not be a part of the Mr. Olympia. Earlier this year, the same happened at the Arnold Classic 2015. Both of the world’s largest bodybuilding competitions will not include a category for the ladies in bodybuilding. Does this mean the end for women’s bodybuilding?
No Women’s Bodybuilding at Olympia 2015
In the article “The Stigma of Bodybuilding, Strength Training for Women” I write about the rise of women’s bodybuilding and the development of various classes[1]. “Lighter” classes were created because, just like the men, female bodybuilders were getting bigger and bigger. The masculinization of the athletes that accompanied this, has been a subject of debate from the start regarding the desired physique of the female bodybuilders. As a jury, you can debate about it. However, as an organizer of competitions, you can objectively determine that women’s bodybuilding is attracting less and less audience.
On the other hand, other classes for women that have emerged, such as figure & physique, women’s fitness, and bikini-fitness, are attracting more audience. As an organizer of competitions, you have a limited amount of time to distribute over different classes. In terms of popularity, it’s a logical development. No audience, no competitions.
Last year, the IFBB therefore decided not to offer a stage for women’s bodybuilding at Olympia 2015.
“Scandalous”
But try explaining that to ten-time Ms. Olympia Iris Kyle and her competitors who have dedicated their entire lives to the sport. I try to imagine how we would react if it were another sport. “Sorry Mrs. Williams, but we’ve decided not to let women participate in Wimbledon this year”.
The big difference, of course, is that there are people who watch women’s tennis. It sounds harsh, but the failed campaigns to keep the women in Olympia point to scant support. In ten months, a petition by Jim Manion to retain women’s bodybuilding at the Olympia barely reached half of the requested 5000 signatures[2]. If it were about the men’s open class, this number would be reached in no more than 5 minutes. No one with a bit of understanding of bodybuilding wants to detract from the commitment, hard work, and dedication of these women. However, it changes nothing about the fact that the vast majority of us just don’t find it appealing.
The Future for Women’s Bodybuilding
Of course, this does not mean the end for women’s bodybuilding. There are still other competitions in this class in the IFBB. Moreover, there are plenty of bodybuilders who do not see competition as motivation for their bodybuilding. If you just train to be as big as possible, you have nothing to do with an IFBB or an Olympia.
However, it does remove the biggest dream of those who do want to achieve the highest level within competitive bodybuilding. For them, the federation probably hopes that the women will move more towards the other classes. The “lighter classes” such as figure and physique where the ladies are equally muscular or more muscular than the women who participated in the first Olympia for women’s bodybuilding in 1980. And by lighter, I mean lighter in muscle mass, not in the amount of required effort or dedication.
Not Fair, But Justified
It would turn the world of bodybuilding upside down if the above story was about male bodybuilders. Men like Phil Heath and Kai Greene. The men among whom none has more victories at the Olympia than Iris Kyle.
The most successful athlete at the Mr. Olympia ever has been told that she and her competition cannot participate due to lack of interest. That is not fair, but in my eyes, it is justified.
References
- fitsociety.nl/krachttraining/het-stigma-van-bodybuilding-krachttraining-voor-vrouwen/
- https://www.change.org/p/mr-jim-manion-include-ms-olympia-bodybuilding-to-the-2015
