IFBB Bikini Olympia 2012 (Part 1)

Hi ya'll,

Today I'm back home to Bremerton, WA; crisp morning dew on my bicycle seat, an empty fridge, and an inbox full of messages remind me I'm back to reality after spending Thursday-Sunday living the dream. The dream of competing in the big kahuna of all fitness competitions: The Olympia.

 
Link to: Bodybuilding.com - 2012 Olympia Weekend Coverage

The word "Olympia" is plastered on inspiration boards, gallon water jugs, rubber bracelets, and the front of workout journals of Olympia-hopefuls all across the world as a constant reminder of what they're training for. Or at least what they hope to someday be training for! I am beyond blessed to be one of the few who can say, "I am an Olympian," and I have photos and a medal to prove it! The Olympia is the show that most only wish of attending, and few achieve the privilege and honor of competing in. With a 2nd place finish in my Pro Debut at the IFFB St. Louis Bikini Pro, I qualified for the last available slot to in the Bikini Olympia, a short two weeks after receiving my invite. Let me just say those last two weeks were 120% blood, sweat, and tears to bring my best. I got closer to my coach than ever, as she led me closer than ever to my fitness goals than ever. I went to the Olympia last year: Blessed the The Olympia blog post, but not as an "Olympian!"

Shannon and I post-show

. . . . Before I go any further, I must say "Thank You" . . .

The Olympia may have been in Vegas, but I know I'm not lucky- I'm blessed. A year and a half ago I entered a Bikini show at the suggestion of my then acquaintance, now dear friend- Jerika Allick. I loved it- so I googled "Nathalia Melo's trainer," found Team Bombshell and struck out on a journey to compete as an NPC athlete: hoping to inspire many, share what I was bound to learn about health and fitness, and e an example the dreams an the desires of your heart CAN come true. See where I started here: Going For it: My First Competition. How it went: Bikini Babay!!, And how I joined Team Bombshell: No Plan B - Joining Team Bombshell.

Today I look back in awe of how far I have come!! I am a Team Bombshell trained athlete, I have won multiple Bikini shows and an Overall title, become a Zipfizz sponsored athlete, earned my Pro card, signed with the elite Fitness Management Group (FMG), competed and placed second in my Pro debut, and qualified for Miss Bikini Olympia!  I even had the opportunity to do a 5 page spread for Muscle&Fitness Hers. See it! The trip recap: New York:  M&F Hers Modeling.

I can hardly believe how many blessings God has given me, lead me to, and helped me obtain. Or how many trials and tribulations He has faithfully lead me through; and how many times He provided provision and help when I needed it most. Often times, it was through the amazing people in my life. You may not think you made any difference in my life, but you all have touched heart in a special way- THANK YOU. You are an angel into my life and I will always remember your kindness :) 

Training for the Olympia is more than physical training- I would actually say it was more of a mental and spiritual workout to rise to the title of "Olympian" than it was a physical workout. I am a stronger woman and Christian than I was 2 weeks ago! You really get to know God when the stakes rise above your own control. And I'm glad they did.

 

 So, you get it- I trained hard and brought my best- You ask:
- "Was it worth it, was it fun, am I happy with my presentation?"
It was SO worth it, the most fun I have EVER  had at a show, and I definitely improved my presentation and strutted that stage with confidence and nailed my routine! 

- "How'd I place?" "Did I win?" I did not win. I know, maybe next time ;) No, out of the top 32 women in the WORLD: I tied for 16th place, aka the last place that is judged after the top 15 to save hastle to the judges from trying to decide 32nd from 31st. Tying with my inspirations and coaches, Vanessa Campbell, Diana Graham, and Sky Taylor among others. How awesome is that?! 

L to R: Skye, Vanessa. me

Me and Nicole Moener

Me and Nicole Nagrani

Me and Amanda Latona

In case you missed it, Nathalia Melo WON. A tough decision between her and defending champ Nicole Nagrani, it was sexy (Nathalia) vs. Cute (Nicole) for the win. This time sexy prevailed. Both girls, and 3rd place finisher, India Paulino (shout out to her and a huge thank you for doing my foundation/make-up base for the show! Thank you so much!) are Team Bombshell teammates of mine so of course I am ecstatic for their success!!

Bombshells again dominated the bikini stage :)



Nathalia and Nicole backstage before Finals

See all the action from the Friday's prejudging (Day #1) and Bikini Finals (Day #2)  ....
** TONS of PHOTOS and VIDEO REPLAY at the links below **

- courtesy of Bodybuilding.com

PHOTOS 

   ~ 2012 IFBB Olympia Weekend - Athlete Check-in Photos

   ~ 2012 Olympia: Women's Prejudging Report

   ~ Ruthie Harrison 2012 Bikini Olympia Prejudging Photos (*Me!!*)

   ~ Nathalia Melo Wins Bikini Olympia

Team FMG at Meet the Olympians

 

VIDEOS

   ~ 2012 IFBB Bikini Prejudging Replay, Part 1

   ~ 2012 IFBB Bikini Prejudging Replay, Part 2

   ~ 2012 IFBB Bikini Olympia Confirmation Webcast Replay  

Whew! So that covers my competing experience on Friday, next post will be about Saturday where I worked the Muscle and Fitness/FLEX magazine booth at the Olympia Expo, judged the FLEX Bikini Model Search (yes- the very show that I competed in last year!), "fun meal" dinner out :), and all the Vegas after-party festivities!!

 

Blessings,

Ruthie

 

"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." - Psalm 37:5

No Sex, No Glory

Today I writing to you guys from a very vulnerable position. I've matured enough in my Christian faith to realize I was doing some things wrong when it came I portraying myself in a Godly way; and I've also realized that lots of other people are stuck getting it wrong too... No, I am not trying to save the world here, I just want to discuss and hear your feedback and opinions on a hot topic- sexuality in our modern culture.

Like I said, I don't have all the answers but one thing I do know is that in our modern world, casual sexuality just that- casual. On popularized and heavily promoted "reality" TV dating shows, ie: Bachelor Pad, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette, sex before marriage is treated as a "test drive" to find your soul mate. With such influences, its understandable how one can get desensitized to protecting and cherishing one's sexuality.
Reference: A History of Ridiculous Reality Dating Shows

The inner turmoil I experienced along these lines of "sexuality" was when I tried to find a balance between modesty and freedom of dress/clothing style.

Case and point: Lolo Jones is an Olympic-level hurdler, safe to say she is a "good" athlete, and preforms at the "elite" level right? Right. Okay, so she got 4th (in the entire world) at the Olympics in the 100m hurdles. Its heartbreaking and disappointing to come soooo close to an Olympic medal and gall short, but still - She is a great athlete and is completely worthy of admiration and respect. Yet, instead of discussing het race, the Twitter-verse blew up ridiculing her for staying a virgin and honoring her commitment to save sex for marriage. Read the story here: Critics Blame Lolo Jones Virginity On Her Poor Olympic Performance.

More articles >
- Blog: Lolo Jones
- Lolo Jones: The Most Eligible Bachelorette of The Olympics

I see it all the time in modern culture, and even (or especially?) in the fitness world. Athletes and fitness models are treated as sex symbols not ATHLETES and FITNESS models. For women, it seems if she isn't seen as "sexy" then it's: NO SEX, NO GLORY.

A female athlete or fitness model's success and popularity (glory), is highly enhanced if men think she's "sexy" (Ex: Jamie Eason, Lolo Jones, Hope Solo, Jennifer Nicole Lee, Nathalia Melo), which is what drives (I'm guessing) most fitness models to be sexy-fitness models.  

JNL

Jamie Eason

 Now, I could argue it's as much the person in the photo's responsibility to keep unclean thoughts from happening as it is the person looking at the photo. I mean, who's really having the sexual thoughts? The observer. BUT there's some responsibility to prevent yourself from encouraging those thoughts, right? BUT there are people who see a woman preforming a sport (Hope Solo, Lolo Jones) and get all sexual about it by default. How can you prevent that!? Not play soccer? Not hurdling? ... Not fitness modeling?... How about not be a pervert!? I can see both sides of the story. Ok, posing nude (see below) is not helping your sex symbol vs. athlete profile, Lolo ....

But let's be honest, I MYSELF have done some less than "athletic" photo shoots. YES, at times I have been blinded by what is definitely a strong pull to do sexual photo shoots. I am only human, and thank God we have Him, because the heart of man (woman) is desperately wicked!

Some fitness modeling's photos aren't as obviously sexy or athletic. Often they ride a thin line... for example, certain photos of Jamie Eason are what inspired me to get ripped and build muscle, but those same photos can encourage lust just as easily. In one light it can inspire and motivate women to get fit and be confident and happy with their bodies... but on the other hand, all some guys see when they look at the photo is SEX SEX SEX.

What did you think when you looked at my photo? (Now ask 50 men and 50 women the same question and imagine the varied answers!) Now I'm not singling out men... I admit I have looked at male fitness model photos and thought the words "He's sexy" instead of "What great definition in his pecs, I wonder if he trained with drop sets," but for my purposes in this post I am focusing on the sexuality placed on female athletes.


This post is as much a riducule of the immoral, secular, sex-driven modern culture as it is a personal confession of my conforming to it. I am a FITNESS model and I compete and model to be ATHLETIC and FIT not sexy, desireable, and an object of lust for men; yet, this is what you get when you google "fitness model:"

Now-a-days, sex is everywhere. Especially wherever the focus is on the human body - like sports and fitness modeling. Even if the focus on the human body is suposed to be focused on training it, building muscle, developing athletic ability, and growing stronger.... sex creeps in.

Every competition, photo shoot, post, and fitness expo I have done in the past I have learned from- I learned when I was wrong, when I was right, and how to stand my ground when it comes to Christian morals. Last spring I began to chase what I feel is my "calling" and my deep driving desire to help others by being an inspiring voice and good role model in the fitness industry.


My desire is to inspire people of all types & backgrounds to live a healthy life. If I can motivate just one person to choose to resist the world, choose to love their God, and choose to honor Him by taking care of the beautiful creation that He crafted for us - our bodies- then I have fullfilled my calling in this life!

I train in Jesus' name, I train to mold myself into the best version of me; to be all God intended me to be: in health, in heart, in spirit, and most importantly... IN HIM.

I am so so far from the perfect creation God sees I can be. Many times- and many more times- I will sin, act immaturely, not care for others, be self absorbed, forget to pray, harbor unforgiveness, serve the world's desires, and lose sight of the never-ending joy available to me through my greatest gift: salvation. But what I will ALWAYS do is strive to not make the same mistake twice, and to always grow more and more like Chrirst until my heart is like His. I pray that I will ALWAYS repent and come running to the cross. And for anyone reading this, I pray that when this life (as inperfect, secular, sinful, or immoral as it may be) is over, I'll see YOU in HEAVEN because you too believed upon Jesus (John 3:16) and were given the free gift of eternal life.

Here's to Living 4 Eternal Bliss.

Foster your health to honor God and live a
happy, healthy life; NOT to satisfy the
world's unyeilding pull to "get sexy."

No sex, no glory? That's fine. Glory be to God; not me.

Blessings,
 ~ Ruthie