2017 IFBB League Toronto Pro Supershow
Fitness, Figure, Bikini, Bodybuilding & Physique Championships - Part 1
(Toronto, Ont. - May 27-28, 2017)
One of the longest running and most prestigious IFBB League shows, the Toronto Pro Super Show included every category contested. The finals were presented
at two separate venues, Part 2 will address those divisions where finals were held on the Expo Stage. Saturday evening at the Bassett Theatre saw a packed
audience treated to a parade of some of the best in the world. Starting with Bikini, exotic looking Michelle Sylvia took top honors. Of note from a home
team perspective were the top placings from Quebec's Yulia Berezina and Yulia Berezina. 20 competitors in a very tough field!
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Unlike the other categories where initial judging was held earlier in the day on the Expo Stage, Men's Bodybuilding had all the drama of judging plus
finals held together for the capacity crowd! Only 10 competitors but it's quality that matters. Canadian champion Paulo Almeida was an imposing figure
up there with a strong 4th Place finish. USA dominated the top 3, Jeff Beckham's routine was very artistically inspired (3rd Place) and veteran Jonathan
Dela Rosa was a solid 2nd. Johnnie Jackson dialed it in nicely to take top spot.
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Fitness saw a whopping 15 competitors vie for the title, and thankfully for this reporter, all routines were performed at finals.
On a side note, had to skip the earlier judging round to cover finals of the OPA (Ontario Amateur) Provincials so wasn't privy to
the callouts and judges' initial thoughts on ranking based on physique alone. Jodi Boam has always been one of the favorites to
cover on this site, whether in her amateur CBBF days or as a Fitness/Women's Physique Pro. Her look onstage was truly her best
ever, and the judges agreed in the physique round. We're too busy to notice these things while shooting a fast paced fitness routine,
but an injury during warm-ups hampered her ability to deliver as stellar a performance as she's capable of. So 3rd Place when the
dust settled but we KNOW she'll make it to the Olympia stage! Young phenom Ariel Khadr placed 2nd while Finland's Piia Pajunen's high
placings in both the Physique and Routine rounds netted her the win.
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The last time I had met Ronny Rockel was up in Alaska at the Arctic Pro as we were heading to the airport. A second place up there and heading to the next
show in the bid to qualify for the Olympia, it's good to see him "bring home the bacon" this time, a very deserving win. South Korea's Nam Eun Cho (no
stranger to this website having placed 2nd at the 2016 Vancouver Pro Show) wowed the crowd to lock up 2nd here. 12 competitors in all in this division.
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Turning to Figure, a late entry from Puerto Rico's Jessica Reyes Padilla certainly made an impact, she won! As noted when she won the 2016 Vancouver
Pro, beautiful lines to her physique, a strong contender at the Olympia. BTW, the winner in all divisions get an invite to the Olympia without having
to go the route of earning points at each contest. Having said that, it's still an advantageous thing to some extent to continue being part of the
circuit despite a win, for both prize money and fine tuning one's look. Back to the competition, runner-up Martina Yabekova is epitomizing the ideal Figure
shape the sport is looking for having just won the Orlanda Europa Figure title a week earlier! The USA's Sara Ford placed third, then strong showings
from Canadians Mary Valid and Azaria Glaim, placing 4th and 5th respectively. Of note were other Canadians who were making their Pro debuts such as
Michelle Soares and Maria Sharp. Looking forward to their next shows.
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Last, but not least was the inclusion of Women's Bodybuilding at this event. Fantastic routines, the always graceful Maria Mikola never disappoints,
placed 2nd here. Eight competitors in all, the USA's Kim Buck took 1st place.
Thanks to the athletes, promoters, fans, judges, volunteers, exhibitors and
everyone else who contributed to making this such a successful event.
Official results of the Pro show can be found at
The IFBB Professional League
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(Please notify me of any placing or name spelling errors, thanks.)
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