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Changes in 2000
The IFBB introduced several changes to female bodybuilding in 2000. The Ms.
Olympia contest would no longer be held as a separate contest, instead being
incorporated as part of the "Olympia Weekend". Weight classes, long a standard
part of amateur contests, were introduced in the pro ranks. Also, new judging
guidelines for athlete presentation were introduced. A letter to the competitors
from Jim Manion (chairman of the Professional Judges Committee) stated that
women would be judged on healthy appearance, face, makeup, and skin tone. The
criteria given in Manion's letter included the statement "symmetry,
presentation, separations, and muscularity BUT NOT TO THE EXTREME!"
Of the three pro contests held in 2000, only the Ms. International named an
overall winner - Vickie Gates, who had won the contest in 1999. The Jan Tana
Classic and the Ms. Olympia simply had weight class winners. With Kim Chizevsky
retiring from bodybuilding to pursue fitness competition, the Ms. Olympia title
was shared by class winners Andrulla Blanchette and Valentina Chepiga.
Two legends return
The 2001 pro schedule opened routinely enough, with Vickie Gates winning the Ms.
International title for the third consecutive year. However, the Ms. Olympia
featured a "surprise" winner, as Juliette Bergmann returned to competition at
age 42. Bergmann, the 1986 Pro World champion, had not competed since 1989.
Entering the Olympia as a lightweight, she defeated heavyweight winner Iris Kyle
for the overall title. In the five years that the Ms. Olympia was contested in
multiple weight classes, this was the only time that the lightweight winner took
the overall title.
In 2002, six-time Olympia winner Lenda Murray returned after a five year
absence. Bergmann (lightweight) and Murray (heavyweight) won the two weight
classes in both 2002 and 2003. Murray won the overall title both years, setting
a new standard of eight Ms. Olympia titles. Another noteworthy event in 2003 was
the thirteenth and final Jan Tana Classic, won by newcomer Helle Nielsen from
Denmark.
Two titles for Iris Kyle
Murray was unseated as Ms. Olympia for the second time in 2004. Iris Kyle, a top
pro competitor since 1999, defeated Murray in a close battle in the heavyweight
class, and bested lightweight winner Dayana Cadeau for the overall title. Kyle
became only the second woman to win both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia
titles in the same year, matching Kim Chizevsky's feat of 1996.
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