2020 Olympia Figure Predictions

Olympia Contest Coverage Sponsored by BODYPRO Gym

Looking at the Women’s Figure Division, we have little doubt in our minds that reigning Miss Figure Olympia Champion Cydney Gillon is likely to earn her 4th straight Olympia championship this year. We just don't see anyone dethroning the Figure champ this year! She has a physique that's been just unbeatable over the past few years. Other than two 2nd place Arnold finishes in 2018, Cydney has won every other show she's entered since her first Olympia Figure title win in 2017. Look to see her walking away with the championship title once again.

Another incredibly impressive athlete to grace the Figure Olympia stage is two-time Figure Olympia Champion Latorya Watts. After winning back to back titles in 2015 and 2016, Latorya has come runner-up to Cydney in 2017 and 2019, with a break from competing in 2018. We anticipate another 2nd place finish for Latorya this year.

Unless there is a surprising standout at this year’s event, we expect to see a final podium like that of the 2019 Figure Olympia contest. That would leave Nadia Wyatt finishing once again in 3rd place, for the third year in a row! While Wyatt has an impressive physique, it's not likely that anyone will knock off the top two ladies in this category.

Jessica Reyes Padilla has placed 4th at the past two Figure Olympia contest and we expect to see her hold onto this placing one more time this year. While she does have great balance and a very aesthetic physique, she needs to bring sharper conditioning to the Olympia stage to advance in placings. Her stage presence was strong and elegant in her 3rd place finish at the 2020 Figure International, so if she can bring this or better, we may just see her slide into a top 3 finish. But 4th place is a dangerous spot for her career as she can slip in the second tier if she misses the mark at this show. 

We have 3 Canadian Figure Olympians stepping on stage this year in Orlando. Likely the most recognized name of the 3 would be Vancouver's Martina Yabekova (pictured above). Last year marked the 3rd appearance for Martina on the Olympia stage where she finised 9th place which was her best Olympia placing to date. As a Canadian fitenss media source, we've followed Martina’s competition career for many years now and she's always improving. It's actually been astonishing to see the progress she's made over the years and we can’t wait to see what she brings to the Olympia stage this year. 

Asmaa Salimi won her IFBB Pro Card at the 2019 Ben Weider Naturals and that same weekend competed in the Ben Weider Pro show which she also won! This qualifying her for the 2020 Olympia and here we are. This will be Asmaa’s first appearance on the Olympia stage. With great shoulders, arms and quads, she'll definitely make a statement but she's now on stage with the best Figure competitors in the world and this is not a tested show. In our opinion, it will be difficult for her to match the size, conditioning and overall balance of the top tier competitors at this early point in her career. But this will be good experience for her. 

She's also joined by fellow Canadian Figure Pro Maryam Bamdad. Another first-timer to the Olympia stage, Maryam is relatively unknown in the industry. She did get a small bit of exposure from a pro show victory at the 2019 Romania Muscle Fest Pro Figure which qualifed her to compete in this year's Olympia. She followed this with a 13th place finish at the 2020 Figure International (Arnold Sports Festival), but her physique was impressive (especially her back). Like Matina, Maryam has made dramatic changes to her physique and is almost unrecognizeable to her previous look. We are excited to see what she'll bring to this year’s Olympia stage but strongly encourage her to put as much time into builder her brand on social media as she does her body!

Muscle Insider’s John Cardillo is one of the premier fitness leaders in the bodybuilding industry. Here are John's top picks for the Figure Division this year:

John Cardillo’s Olympia Predictions Figure:

For more information, visit MrOympia.com as Trifecta presents Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend brought to you by Northern Chill and by Wings of Strength the weekend of December 17-20.

To keep up with the latest fitness industry news and product releases, subscribe to our free newsletter!