Less than 24 hours after a record-setting press conference and successful Meet the Olympians event, the 2024 Olympia will open with free judging Friday morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Thousands of fans sat in their seats and stood behind the seating areas as their favorite competitors from around the world graced the stage and faced the judges at the 2024 Olympia Pre-Judging Event.
Fitness, 212, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. Olympia and Wellness Olympia were all featured on stage at the World Fitness Expo on October 11th. If you missed the event, here’s a quick look back at what happened in Sin City.
2024 Olympia Qualifier: Fitness
Although the fitness pose rounds only count for a third of your overall score, they are still very important. Two-time winner Missy Truscott returned to the stage in 2023 after sustaining a serious knee injury. She and Tamara Byrne were at the center of the final call, meaning they were on the back foot after the opening round. Next up is the Performance Round at Resorts World, which will determine the champion later tonight.
2024 Olympia Qualifier: 212
Spectators already knew this contest would be a rematch in 2023. Defending champion Keene Pearson and two-time winner Sean Clarida closed out the competition and will be on stage for the opening round. Both of them are in the driver’s seat of victory. The only question is who will leave the stage as champion. Clarida had great conditioning and depth, while Pearson had a unique shape and size. We will have to wait until the final to find out who will leave the stage as the 2024 world champion.
2024 Olympia Qualifier: Diagram
Judging by fan reaction, Sidney Gillon appears to be on track to win her eighth straight Figure Olympia title. Her only threat appears to be 2023 Masters Olympia champion Jessica Reyes Padilla. They remain center stage at the end of the round and are the favorites to advance to the final later tonight.
2024 Olympia Qualifier: Women’s Physique
The same cannot be said for the women’s physique division. The crowd and judges appear to be divided between three-time defending champion Sara Villegas and 2022 winner Natalya
Abraham Coelho. If Villegas is successful, he will challenge the division’s all-time record of four wins. Meanwhile, Coelho appears to be the second fighter to regain his title after losing it. Either way, history will be made at Resorts World Theater.
2024 Olympia Preliminary: Miss Olympia
There was also a dramatic finish for Miss Olympia. Four-time champion Andrea Shaw was looking for redemption after losing to Angela Yeoh at the 2024 Rising Phoenix. Meanwhile, yo was aiming to become the second champion in the category since Miss Olympia was restarted in 2020. As far as the judges are concerned, this contest is all about these two. Shaw had a size advantage and was in better condition than Rising Phoenix. Yaw was determined to hold his own and excelled in Las Vegas as well. Nothing is resolved here and we’ll have to wait and see what happens later tonight.
2024 Olympia Qualifier: Wellness
Franciel Mattos is the only champion in the history of this division. She had won four consecutive Olympia titles and was looking to build on her accomplishments. But Isabel Nunez and Eduarda Bezerra want to establish that the future of the sector is now. If fan support had helped determine the champion, Meadows might have walked away with the trophy this morning. Nevertheless, we will have to wait until tonight to find out if she will be the winner.
The final will be held on Friday night
Running through all these divisions, the historic 60th Mr. Olympia Qualifier will also be held later tonight at the Resorts World Theater. Watch all the Las Vegas action live by ordering the 2024 Olympia pay-per-view at www.olympiaproductions.com. Also check out our Muscle & Fitness YouTube channel to see what’s happening at the 2024 Olympia World Fitness Expo.
