1999 Women's Extravaganza Weekend (IFBB Ms. Olympia)
By -jabber



Warning:  Due to my side-saddle seat for this event only (I had a good
center seat for the IFBB new Pro Event), I didn't have a great view of
comparisons, so I'll be a bit less opinionated than usual here. :-)

A no-show at this event, who was on the roster printed up for this event,
was Chris Bongiovanni from the USA (Minnesota I believe).  I'd not seen Ms.
Bongiovanni in a while and I'd be curious for her and Ms. Creavalle to
compare abs (both known for them).

In 12th place was Valentina Chepiga from the Ukraine (also birthplace of
-jabber's great-grandmother).  A very classy, almost delicate musculature
(almost - she's too darn muscular to be considered delicate) pervades this
physique.  Unfortunately, I felt she was more impressive at the Jan Tana
this past summer.  In 11th place was Gayle Moher, the Brit from Columbus,
OH, USA.  Quite shocking a difference since she just won the Jan Tana
earlier this year.  She didn't look THAT much worse, sheesh!

In 10th was Yaxeni Oriquen from Venezuela, who had finished bridesmaid to
Gayle at the Jan Tana.  Hmmph, Yaxeni was arguably better at the Jan Tana
than in NJ, yet finishes better than Gayle.  If the Ms. O moreso than the
Jan Tana rewards large impressive fbb's, that may explain it, as Yaxeni
seems to take a backseat to no one in the size department of late.  In 9th
was STILL one of my personal favorites, the smaller but oh so symmetrical
muscles of Brenda Raganot from the USA.  Congrats!

In 8th place was Laura Binetti from Canada, who earlier won the Women's Pro
Worlds in Detroit in convincing fashion.  Laura is impressive in ANY show
she enters.  In 7th place was Andrulla Blanchette from England.  Some folks
fault her symmetry, but she's one of the thickest, densest females out
there, and can come in in fantastic ripped shape at times.  She was a bit
off, but for a shorter fbb, I think she has great symmetry.  In 6th was
Tazzie Colomb from the country of Louisiana, oops, the USA. :-)  A
disappointing finish among many in the audience, she came in in ultra ripped
condition, perhaps the most ripped ever for her.  Possibly, while
condition-wise she was superb, she lost a bit of the fullness in her
muscles, which has been prevalent at previous shows.  I think her best combo
between fullness and conditioning was shown at the Ms. I earlier this year.


In 5th was another of my personal favorites, Lesa Lewis, from Kansas City,
USA.  Here's a woman who definitely does not take a backseat to anyone in
terms of size, at 5'10", she can compare any bodypart sizewise to the
biggest (Yaxeni, Ms. Binetti, Vickie Gates, and Ms. Chizevsky in biceps; Kim
and Tazzie in thigh size; and Kim in calves size) and measure up favorably.
Unfortunately, she came in looking not that much harder than her stellar
guest posing appearance a scant week earlier at the Lone Star in Ft. Worth,
Texas.  When she dials in conditioning to a tee, she will be Ms. O - strong
words, but watch out...

In 4th was still relatively new pro Iris Kyle, also from the USA.  She's
slowly developing the "pro" thickness and symmetry while retaining the good
conditioning she's shown at the amateur ranks.  A good recipe IMO.  In 3rd
was Laura Creavalle from Guyana and in 2nd was Vickie Gates from the country
of Texas.  A bit controversial placings here, but there's no denying Ms.
Gates kind of made Ms. Creavalle look small while Ms. Gates dialed in
conditioning quite nicely.  

But a world ahead, love her or hate her (I personally love her), the winner
was Ms. Kim Chizevsky, from the USA.  Not only looking quite impressive
physiquewise (as usual), she came in a more attractive package than previous
years.  Why that is so is beyond the scope of this review. :-)  Always
delighted when Ms. Chizevsky wins, I personally can only see an in condition
Ms. Lesa Lewis legitimately winning against Ms. Chizevsky - unless Kim comes
in way off her best condition next year.  

Does anyone else see a legitimate challenger to a Ms. Chizevsky in her
prime???  Until next review...

-jabber

P.S.  There will be no celebrities review - there were plenty but in my old
age, I'm a forgettin'. :-)