Every Winner of the Figure Olympia

Prior to the start of the 21st century, the only two women’s divisions in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) were the Ms. Olympia and the Fitness Olympia. This meant that pro women’s bodybuilding was only available to women who wanted to achieve the bigger muscles featured in Ms. Olympia and those who were able and willing to perform the kinds of gymnastics, dancing, and tumbling featured in the Fitness Olympia. To expand women’s bodybuilding, the IFBB started the Figure Olympia in 2003.

Figure features athletes that have shape, symmetry, and some muscle size. Athletes competing in the Figure Olympia typically are judged for a more stereotypically "feminine" shape and appearance, with a focus on developed shoulders and upper back with a smaller waist and bigger glutes. But, these athletes aren’t generally as big as classic bodybuilders. The division was met with a positive response, and today the division has become a force all its own. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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There have been seven champions in the division’s 19-year history. Three women have held the title three times or more. Cydney Gillon holds the record for the most Figure Olympia wins, with five and counting as of this writing. The only one-time champion in the division’s history is Jennifer Gates, who won it in 2008. Two women have reclaimed the title after losing it. Here’s a more detailed look back at the history of this prestigious contest.

Every Figure Olympia Winner

• Davana Medina (2003-2005)
• Jenny Lynn (2006, 2007)
• Jennifer Gates (2008)
• Nicole Wilkins (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014)
• Erin Stern (2010, 2012)
• Latorya Watts (2015, 2016)
• Cydney Gillon (2017-2021)

Davana Medina (2003-2005)

The very first Figure Olympia took place in 2003, and there was mystery surrounding how the new division would be met by the fans. It turned out to be a highlight of the 2003 season. Davana Medina was crowned the first champion that year, and she maintained a grip on that title for the next two years.

2003

1. Davana Medina
2. Monica Brant
3. Jenny Lynn
4. Mari Kudla
5. Dinah Al-Sabah
6. D.J. Wallis
7. Jamie Franklin
8. Aleksandra Kobielak
9. Sharon Kouvaris
10. Hannah Park
11. Elaine Goodlad
12. Theil Bradford

2004

1. Davana Medina
2. Jenny Lynn
3. Monica Brant
4. Jamie Franklin
5. Amber Littlejohn
6. Christine Pomponio-Pate
7. Mari Kudla-Donnelly
8. Elaine Goodlad
9. Zena Collins
10. Aleksandra Kobielak
11. Mellisa Frabbiele
12. Shannon Meteraud
13. Dinah Al-Sabah
14. Jaanaa Kotkansolo
15. Lisbeth Halikka

2005

1. Davana Medina
2. Jenny Lynn
3. Monica Brant
4. Amber Littlejohn
5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
6. Christine Pomponio-Pate
7. Valerie Waugaman
8. Amanda Savell
9. Jennifer Searles
10. Monica Guerra
11. Chastity Slone
12. Latisha Wilder
13. Michelle Adams
14. Tara Scotti
15. Melissa Frabbiele

Jenny Lynn (2006 and 2007)

After three tries, Jenny Lynn finally cleared the hurdle to become the second Figure Olympia winner. It wasn’t without a fight; both Amber Littlejohn and Monica Brant pushed her to the limit.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Lynn hoped to start her own run as champion, and succeeding in grabbing two consecutive titles for herself. 

2006

1. Jenny Lynn
2. Amber Littlejohn
3. Monica Brant
4. Christine Pomponio-Pate
5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
6. Gina Aliotti
7. Amanda Savall
8. Gina Camacho
9. Jennifer Searles
10. Latisha Wilder
11. Jessica Paxson
12. Valerie Waugerman
13. Michelle Adams
14. Inga Neverauskaite
15. Andrea Dumon

2007

1. Jenny Lynn
2. Gina Aliotti
3. Sonia Adcock
4. Jennifer Gates
5. Amanda Savell
6. Amber Littlejohn
7. Monica Brant
8. Amy Fry
9. Valerie Waugaman
10. Mary Elizabeth Lago
11. Latisha Wilder
12. Zivile Raudoniene
13. Inga Neverauskaite
14. Andrea Dumon
15. Chastity Slone

Jennifer Gates (2008)

Lynn was expected to three-peat at the 2008 contest, but no one saw second-year pro Jennifer Gates coming. She showed up ripped and confident to Las Vegas, and she pulled off an incredible upset to take the title. Lynn finished in fourth place. Gates never returned to the Olympia stage again after taking the victory.

1. Jennifer Gates
2. Gina Aliotti
3. Zivile Raudoniene
4. Jenny Lynn
5. Mary Elizabeth Lado
6. Sonia Adcock
7. Kristal Richardson
8. Amy Fry
9. Nicole Wilkins
10. Heather Mae French
11. Lenay Hernandez
12. Julia Ann Kulia
13. Huong Arcinas
14. Jessica Putnam
15. Jelena Abbou

Nicole Wilkins (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014)

In the early 2010’s, Nicole Wilkins was among the most popular athletes of any gender in fitness. Her rise to superstardom began when she won her first Figure Olympia title in 2009.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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After relinquishing the title in 2010, she regained it the following year. She missed her peak in 2012, but would bring a more muscular physique to the 2013 contest to clinch her third world title. She would repeat in 2014 to make it four wins on the biggest stage in bodybuilding.

2009

1. Nicole Wilkins
2. Gina Aliotti
3. Heather Mae French
4. Kristal Richardson
5. Amy Fry
6. Erin Stern
7. Jenny Lynn
8. Jessica Putnam
9. Felicia Romero
10. Monica Brant
11. Sonia Gonzalez
12. Larissa Reis
13. Alicia Harris
14. Kristi Tauti
15. Meriza DeGuzman

2011

1. Nicole Wilkins
2. Erin Stern
3. Ava Cowan
4. Candice Keene
5. Teresa Anthony
6. Alicia Harris
7. Cheryl Brown
8. Latisha Wilder
9. Jelena Abbou
10. Larissa Reis
11. Gennifer Strobo
12. Chelsey Morgenstern
13. Heather Dees
14. Alea Suarez
15. Felicia Romero

2013

1. Nicole Wilkins
2. Erin Stern
3. Candice Keene
4. Heather Dees
5. Mallory Haldeman
6. Ann Titone
7. Camala Rodriguez
8. Gennifer Strobo
9. Candice Lewis
10. Dana Ambrose
11. Allison Frahn
12. Alea Suarez
13. Kati Alander
14. Swann Delarosa
15. Candice John

2014

1. Nicole Wilkins
2. Candice Keene
3. Candice Lewis
4. Ann Titone
5. Latorya Watts
6. Gennifer Strobo
7. Julie Mayer
8. Dana Ambrose
9. Cydney Gillon
10. Allison Frahn
11. Alicia Coates
12. Jessica Graham
13. Camala Rodriguez
14. Wendy Fortino
15. Andrea Calhoun

Erin Stern (2010 and 2012)

The biggest rivalry in this division would be between Wilkins and Erin Stern. Stern would be the athlete to disrupt Wilkins’ championship reign not once, but twice. She won her first Olympia in 2010 to kick off the decade. After Wilkins reclaimed the title in 2011, Stern took it back in 2012.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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She wouldn’t win the title again afterwards, but her contribution to the division was cemented thanks to the competitions she and Wilkins put on during that stretch of time.

2010

1. Erin Stern
2. Nicole Wilkins
3. Heather Mae French
4. Kristal Richardson
5. Felicia Romero
6. Alicia Harris
7. Teresa Anthony
8. Terri Turner
9. Candice Keene
10. Larissa Reis
11. Cheryl Brown
12. Carin Hawkins
13. Gennifer Strobo
14. Gina Trochiano
15. Kristi Tauti

2012

1. Erin Stern
2. Nicole Wilkins
3. Candice Keene
4. Heather Dees
5. Mallory Haldeman
6. Teresa Anthony
7. Candice Lewis
8. Allison Frahn
9. Ava Cowan
10. Larissa Reis
11. Alicia Harris
12. Ann Titone
13. Alea Suarez
14. Candice John
15. Monica Specking

Latorya Watts (2015 and 2016)

Bridging the gap between the division’s two winningest athletes is a competitor who should be very proud of her own career. Watts upset Wilkins to take the title in 2015, and she then held off contenders Candice Keene and Cydney Gillon to win her second straight Olympia.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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That makes Watts the only athlete to have beaten both Wilkins and Gillon on the Olympia stage.

2015

1. Latorya Watts
2. Nicole Wlkins
3. Candice Lewis
4. Camala Rodriguez
5. Candice Keene
6. Gennifer Strobo
7. Ann Titone