A banner weekend for international competitions, the NABBA Universe was also held this past weekend in the United Kingdom. NABBA like the IFBB Worlds, is also dominated by the Europeans. Offering top class physiques that arguably hold their own againest IFBB pros, NABBA is not as well known in the USA but is a very prominent worldwide organisation. Maria Stukova of Russia won the figure overall, with Vivian Hijlkema of Holland winning Miss Physique [bodybuilding]
There are some “notable differences” in posing suits from the style North Americans may be used to…
Alina Popa of Romania [shown below] won the bodybuilding overall of the IFBB World Championships this past weekend in Spain. As I mentioned in my prior post, the powerhouse nations at the Worlds are the European nations and Brazil, and this held true to form with every single top 6 finalist being from either Europe or Brazil.
The USA sent Team Universe Champions Sheryln Roy, Cassandra Floyd, Nita Marquez and Kim Landry, with the highest placing being 11th by Nita in Fitness.
Shannon Pole-Summers is a powerlifter who set the World Record female bench press with a 531 pound bench.
Earlier this year, the 270lb powerlifter was arrested in South Carolina on charges of first-degree burglary, identity theft, grand larceny and assault with intent to kill.
She had been living under an assumed identity, and after police got a lead they began surveillance on where she was suspected to be living.
The arresting officer was quoted as saying “I might be 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, but I made sure I had my Taser ready,” he said.
Questions did arise about the “assault with intent to kill” with people wondering whether the assault might be a simple assault that was charged higher because of Pole-Summers’ considerable strength and corresponding ability to do harm.
The 2008 IFBB World Championships is being held from October 3rd-6th, 2008 in Santa Susanna, Spain.
With teams coming from all over the world, the powerhouses are normally the Eastern European nations with Brazil also normally being a strong team. The photo on left [click to enlarge] courtesy of the Czech version of Muscle and Fitness shows the Czech female team.
A true inspiration, Barb Guerra is an NPC fitness competitor and mother of two boys. She lost both arms in an electrical accident when she was two years old. You can view a 90 sec video of her fitness routine at the 2004 NPC Sherman Classic here
Mother of five [yes I am serious] Mendi Sakamoto who recently earned IFBB pro status at NPC nationals, is set to make her pro debut at the Sacramento in November.
“I am devastated by the loss of Steve. He was truly one of my closest friends. The NPC was born in 1981, and he was already a friend of mine. We both had gyms at the same time—his in Rockland County and mine in Bergen County NJ–about 40 minutes apart, so we were not rivals.
He was about the kindest, most giving person I have ever met. You know our history through his competing, time at Pumping Iron and Sharon, with them living together at his place on York Avenue. We were then working together on “MuscleSport USA” from 1988 until 2002.
I was the one who taught him how to expedite, because I was doing that before him, but he took it up about 100 levels and turned it into a science. Over the past 15 years or so, I have been to hundreds of shows and Steve was there pretty much every time. I can’t imagine what it will be like backstage at shows without Steve. I am just so glad that we got to spend time at the Olympia like we did since he started doing the O.
We sat together on the flight out to Vegas last Tuesday, like we do every year, and had most of our meals together until Andrea arrived. I cherish all the time together because Steve always made you feel like you were so important.
I want to express my deepest condolences to Andrea, and his family. Let me finally say Rest in Peace to Steve Stone–the brother I never had. He was truly one of a kind.”