New bodybuilding judging format in 2007
Also: How to Qualify for the Olympia Competitions
October 14, 2006

  • There is a new judging format for bodybuilding in 2007. Here is what it says

    1. In a preliminary assessment, each competitor shall be called onstage individually and in numerical order; shall be introduced by number, name and country; and shall have up to a maximum of 90 seconds to perform the eight (8) mandatory poses, the order of which shall be up to the competitor's discretion. During this procedure, the Promoter shall provide light background music. The Head Judge shall not be required to call the poses for each competitor.

    2. Immediately on completion of the individual mandatory poses, the entire line-up shall be called onstage in a single line and in numerical order. The Head Judge shall direct the line-up to perform the four (4) quarter turns. Where numbers warrant, the Head Judge may divide the line-up into smaller groups before proceeding with the quarter turns and callouts.

    3. RD1 (symmetry) and RD2 (muscularity) shall immediately follow the abovementioned quarter turns. The judges shall proceed directly to the callouts. For each callout, the Head Judge shall direct the competitors to perform first the four (4) quarter turns and then the eight (8) mandatory poses.

    4. On the completion of RD1 and RD2, the judges shall submit to the statisticians their placings of the competitors using the form Judge's Marks RD1+RD2.

    Here is how to qualify for the Olympia competitions

  • For the Mr. Olympia: The Promoter of the Mr. Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

    1. The top 6 from the previous year's Mr. Olympia;

    2. The top 6 from the same year's Arnold Classic;

    3. The top 5 from the same year's New York Pro;

    4. The top 3 from any Grand Prix or similar competition held after the previous year's Mr. Olympia;

    5. The winner of the Masters Pro; and

    6. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Article 4.5.

  • For the Ms. Olympia: The Promoter of the Ms. Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

    1. The top 6 from the previous year's Ms. Olympia;

    2. The top 6 from the same year's Ms. International;

    3. The top 3 from any other bodybuilding competition held after the previous year's Ms. Olympia; and

    4. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Article 4.5.

  • For the Fitness Olympia: The Promoter of the Fitness Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

    1. The top 6 from the previous year's Fitness Olympia; starting with the 2006 Olympia

    2. The top 6 from the same year's Fitness International;

    3. The top 3 from any other fitness competition held after the previous year's Fitness Olympia; and

    4. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Article 4.5.

  • For the Figure Olympia: The Promoter of the Figure Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

    1. The top 6 from the previous year's Figure Olympia, starting with the 2006 Olympia;

    2. The top 6 from the same year's Figure International;

    3. The top 3 from any other figure competition held after the previous year's Figure Olympia; and

    4. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Article 4.5.

  • Additional Factors: The following additional factors apply:

    1. Any former Mr/Ms/Fitness/Figure Olympia winner has lifetime eligibility. However, this eligibility is not automatic. Where more than five (5) years have elapsed since the last Olympia win, approval of the Pro League is required.

    2. The Pro Leaguehas the right to increase or decrease the number of qualifying competitors from any Pro Leaguecompetition.
    3. The Promoter of the Mr. Olympia has the right to nominate one competitor, as a "special invitee", who has not qualified for the current year's Mr. Olympia competition. This competitor may compete only with the approval of the Pro Committee.

    4. In men's and women's competition, if the Athletes who qualify for the next year's Olympia pursuant to articles 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 are already qualified, the next highest placed Athlete will also qualify, provided he or she is not already qualified, in which case, no further Athletes will qualify.

    5. In any year where there are less than three "open" women's professional bodybuilding competitions (the term "open" is defined as competitions other than the Ms. Olympia and the Ms. International), the following qualifying criteria shall apply:

      1. At the Ms. International, the top six finalists qualify for the Ms. Olympia. If any of the top six finalists are already qualified, up to a maximum of three previously unqualified athletes may also qualify. For example, if five of the top six finalists are already qualified, the remaining top-six finalist will qualify as well as 7th and 8th place.

      2. At "open" competitions, the top three finalists qualify for the Ms. Olympia. If any of the top three finalists are already qualified, up to a maximum of three previously unqualified athletes may also qualify. For example, if the top finalist is already qualified, the remaining two finalists will qualify as well as 4th place.