2022 Ben Weider Natural Pro Predictions
One of the founding fathers of bodybuilding was Canada’s own late, great Ben Weider. He along with his brother Joe laid the foundation for the sport and industry we all follow today. Ben Weider’s name is on the marquee of a prestigious contest that is taking place this weekend. The 2022 Ben Weider Natural Pro will take place on Friday, Sept. 30th in Alexandria, VA.
While the show will be 15 minutes from the US capital, Washington D.C., there are currently 17 Canadian athletes scheduled to compete within the six IFBB Pro League divsions. Here’s who we think will be among the winners at the end of Friday night.
Classic Physique
Lenny Wicks
The 2021 champion of this contest will likely go back-to-back. He’s competed twice this year. He placed 9that the Arnold Classic in Columbus, and he was 10th in Atlanta. The combination of his big stage experience combined with the improvements he’s made in size since his win here one year ago will take him to the victory spot once again.
Peter Boncardo
Boncardo is a former 212 competitor that placed 2nd at this contest one year ago. He made the switch to Classic Physique in 2022. We think he has the structure to fit well in this new division, but this will be his first time competing. His experience on this stage and overall as a pro will serve him well, and it won’t be a shock to see him place second or even first if Wicks is off the mark.
Tywuan Williams
Williams was the runner-up to Wicks one year ago. The only issue he may have had was that Wicks looked more shredded in 2021. Williams certainly has the structure and posing to do well at this contest again. He has yet to compete in 2022.
- Peter Boncardo
- Justin Freeman
- Chan Young Kim
- Yongseung Lee
- Chuck Mauceri
- Lenny Wicks
- Tywuan Williams
Men’s Physique
Yujin Lee
Lee was third at this show in 2021, but winner Zheyu Zhang and runner-up Michael Williams are both out of the lineup. This could be a great opportunity for him to redeem himself by winning gold at this show. His lower body isn’t weak, but his upper body does overpower his legs. He will benefit if he brought those up to match.
Drelyn Hunt
Hunt’s only competed once this year, but it was at the Arnold where he placed 9th. He wasn’t big enough to match winner Erin Banks there, but his potential was obvious. With six plus months to improve, it will be interesting to see what adjustments he made for this contest.
Long Wu
It's not often that you see an Olympia competitor in a lineup, but Wu was in the 2018 Olympia before taking a four-year layoff. This is his second contest upon his return to the sport. He was 10th at the Tournament of Champions, but we think his experience will help him make the adjustments needed to fare much better at this show.
- Cordeua Anderson
- Hunter Axton
- Robert Bassey
- Peter Burnett
- Chien Hsin Chen
- DiAngelo Marcell Freeman Jr.
- Drelyn Hunt
- Dan Ibrahim
- Kwabena Konadu
- Yujin Lee
- Cedric Miller
- David Odom
- Toby Owen
- Terrell Robertson
- Jerome Shanklin
- Jumpei Taguchi
- Torre Washington
- Long Wu
- Muying Zhai
Women’s Physique
Princess Hodges will be making her pro debut after winning her pro card at this show in 2021. She will be the only American in this lineup, and the other three are experienced Canadians. Victoria Myslik is a former Olympia competitor, and we see her bringing the title back to Canada. Wendy Wun Kwok is coming back from a three-year absence, and we believe she will be much improved. They will likely be the top two in this show. Hodges and Sonia Dominigue will be vying for the bronze spot in the lineup.
Victoria Myslik
Wendy Wun Kwok
Sonia Domingue
- Sonia Domingue
- Princess Hodges
- Wendy Wun Kwok
- Victoria Myslik
Fitness
Abby Bolton
We may appear to be bias with this pick because she represents Canada, but Bolton won the Vancouver Pro in July. This contest gives her an opportunity to not only gauge her progress leading up to the 2022 Olympia, but another win at a show with a Weider name could be a great way to gain momentum. Winning Ben Weider’s show is a great start to preparing for Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend.
Michelle Gales
Gales was third in Chicago earlier this year, and she finished 8th in this contest in 2021. We see her coming closer to her Chicago finish than we do the latter. Gales will be in the hunt for a win here. It’s just a matter of whether her routine will be impressive enough to match Bolton’s.
Cong Mou
Mou’s last contest appearance was in Tampa, where she placed 8th. However, she was the runner-up to Tamara Vahn in Puerto Rico. While it is hard to pinpoint an exact finish for her, the chances of placing in the top three in this lineup are good.
- Martina Bianchini
- Abby Bolton
- Savahannah Byczek
- Noemie Champagne-Clouter
- Heather Coscia
- Danielle DaCosta
- Michelle Gales
- Corina Harkelroad
- Cong Mou
- Jessica Zehr
Figure
Asmaa Salimi
Last year’s second place finisher wants her first pro win, and she wants it to be on this stage. She hasn’t competed yet this year, so we don’t know how much she has improved in her time away from the stage. However, being that close only can serve as extra motivation, and we think that can get her up to that center spot on the final photo of the contest.
Belinda Hope
Hope came in third in 2021, and she also wants this specific show under her belt of wins. She is a Masters competitor that turned pro in 2012. Salimi was slightly leaner than Hope in their last matchup. So, look for her to come in as shredded and dry as possible here.
Chelsea Mooney
Mooney turned pro at the 2021 CPA Natural Canada Pro Qualifier, and this will be her pro debut. She has the shape of a Figure competitor, but she displays dense muscle and was very lean at her last amateur appearance. The unknown factor could serve to her advantage, and she could surprise the field.
- Shea Crotty
- Carina Dupree
- Maude Exantus
- Danielle M. Grant
- Jennifer Hampton
- Belinda Hope
- Florencia Hunt
- Khadijah Khan
- Chelsea Mooney
- Asmaa Salimi
- Leah Berti Sterling
- Thais Cabrices Werner
Bikini
Leslie Billups
Billups is from Virginia, so this contest could be a home game for her. She has already competed once in the DC area, finishing fifth at the DC Pro. None of the top five from last year are in this contest, and Billups has shown that she can hold her own in competitive lineups. Her first win could be at this show.
Maia Gordon
Gordon is coming off a fourth-place finish at Janet Layug’s Battle of the Bodies contest. That momentum could follow her from Florida to Virginia. She also has Olympia experience, having competed in the 2020 contest. She finished out of the top 15 at the Olympia, but being on the biggest stage is still worthy of respect, and she’s only gotten better since.
Shaneeka Harmonson
Harmonson is the highest finisher from last year that is back this year. She was 8th in 2021, but she was a rookie in the IFBB Pro League. She’s had a year to learn from her mistakes and build on her strengths, which include her wide shoulders and small waist. We see her making the first callout at least, and a top three finish is certainly possible.
- Lesley Billups
- Natalie Donohue
- Lawna Dunbar
- Maia Gordon
- Allex Granger
- Shaneeka Harmonson
- Ann Marie Lawrence
- Jennifer Lynch
- Myesha Rodgers
- Elisabet Vang
- Flora Wang
Wellness
Rachel Lee
Three of the seven athletes in this lineup also call Canada home. However, Rachel Lee oF Texas is also in this lineup, and and she has placed fifth at the Clash of the Titans and sixth at the Republic of Texas Pro in her two showings this year. Both of those lineups were very competitive, and she is a rookie. Win number one will very likely come at this show.
Mallory Myers
Myers was in the first Wellness Olympia in 2021, but she has yet to score a pro win in her division. This could be as good of an opportunity as any other she may have. She has yet to compete in 2022, so this will be her first appearance since the Olympia in Orlando, Florida last October.
Dove Putterman
Putterman will be making her pro debut after winning her pro card at the 2022 CPA National Pro Qualifier last month. She won both the Masters and overall titles at that contest. She has great potential to be a pro, and as long as she doesn’t let the moment of a pro debut get to her, she can do very well in Alexandria.
- Mizel Cataquiz
- Rachel Lee
- Winglam Lee
- Mallory Myers
- Amina Amelie Oumesrour
- Renee Porter
- Dove Putterman
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