July 23, 2023 – This past weekend, the annual 2023 Chicago Pro bodybuilding competition came to a rousing close. An exciting lineup of bodybuilders across 10 divisions put forth their best efforts in hopes of securing a place at the prestigious 2023 Olympia.
New rules this year meant that former winners, unless they placed in the top three last year, or top five in the Men’s Open, would need to clinch a win at a competition to qualify for Olympia. As a result, the Chicago Pro was an essential stepping stone for many competitors.
Antoine Vaillant, the previous year’s champion, chose not to defend his title, leaving room for new blood to take the stage. High-profile competitors included Blessing Awodibu, Stan de Longeaux, Patrick Moore, and Justin Shier, among others, whose performances added to the highly charged atmosphere of the competition.
The Men’s Open category was a particular highlight of the event. An intense competition ensued on the second day, with competitors showcasing their finest conditioning. Standout performances were delivered by Stanislaus ‘Stanimal’ Longeaux, Jonathan DeLaRosa, and Justin Shier. Shier’s prominent quads caught the judges’ attention swiftly, while DeLaRosa showcased arguably his best form yet.
The competition concluded with Justin Shier claiming a major victory in the Men’s Open, his first in an IFBB Pro show. The win has cemented his place in the upcoming Olympia. Jonathan DeLaRosa, showcasing an impressive comeback, landed second place. Stanislaus ‘Stanimal’ Longeaux, who recently competed at the 2023 Orlando Pro, took the third spot. Blessing Awodibu and Patrick Moore rounded off the top five positions.
The complete results breakdown for all the 10 divisions are as follows:
2023 Chicago Pro Results Breakdown
Men’s Open Bodybuilding
- Justin Shier
- Jonathan DeLaRosa
- Stanislaus de Longeaux
- Blessing Awodibu
- Patrick Moore
- Eiren Gauley
- Matt Kouba
- Erik Ramirez
- Emmanuel Longoria
- Stephen Daniels
212 Bodybuilding
The 212 division of the 2023 Chicago Pro was a heated contest, ultimately won by Chris Jones, who secured his 2023 Olympia ticket. Jones and his key competitor Jason Nguyen, both having claimed first places at the 2022 Amateur Olympia in Orlando and the 2022 NPC North American Championships respectively, exhibited remarkable size and detailed conditioning. Nguyen gave a strong performance, landing in second place, while Mohamed Embaby and Kevin Johnson claimed third and fourth positions, respectively.
- Chris Jones
- Jason Nguyen
- Mohamed Embaby
- Kevin Johnson
- Yumon Eaton
- Jordan Janowitz
- Francisco Mercado Jr.
- Peter Burmester
- Ivan Cabrera
- Devon Causey
Classic Physique
The Classic Physique category at the 2023 Chicago Pro witnessed intense competition, with Marcus Perry emerging victorious, earning a place to compete against Chris Bumstead on the Olympia stage. Matthew Greggo gave stiff competition, exhibiting commendable conditioning and upper body aesthetics, having recently taken fourth at the 2023 Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro. Perry, rebounding from a non-placement at the 2022 Olympia contest, triumphed in a closely contested finals. Greggo settled for second, with Krimo Ammari and Dylan Bursey earning third and fourth places respectively.
- Marcus Perry
- Matthew Greggo
- Krimo Ammari
- Dylan Bursey
- Tony Coke
- Gregory Dawson
- Robert Waterhouse
- Jerark Toribio Perez
- Anthony Barbera III
- Patryk Karpuk
Men’s Physique
In the Men’s Physique division of the 2023 Chicago Pro, Drew Cullen emerged as champion, following his third-place finish at the 2023 Vancouver Pro. Defending champion Nick Koeu, who claimed the title in 2022 but didn’t place at his last Olympia stage appearance, put up a strong fight, ultimately finishing second. Kirmani Victor and Alonzo Jefferson rounded out the top four, finishing third and fourth respectively.
- Drew Cullen
- Nick Koeu
- Kirmani Victor
- Alonzo Jefferson
- Jahvair Mullins
- Benjamin Iverson
- Montae Bailey
- Alexander Toplyn
- Joaquim Camps Angel
- Alexander Rogers
Women’s Bodybuilding
In the Women’s Bodybuilding category, Kristina Mendoza and Jessica E. Martin emerged as noteworthy competitors, both presenting exceptional lower body and shoulder form. Mendoza, who last competed in the 2021 Chicago Pro, clinched her first Chicago Pro title and an Olympia qualification. Martin, a consistent contender with her most recent appearance at the 2023 Optimum Classic Pro, secured the second spot. Melissa Teich and Kyna Squarey completed the top four.
- Kristina Mendoza
- Jessica E. Martin
- Melissa Teich
- Kyna Squarey
- Wendy Sanchez
- Maria Monica Vega
Bikini
The Bikini division of the 2023 Chicago Pro witnessed fierce competition, with Lizzie Martinez and Savannah Dolezal leading the field. Both athletes had previously displayed their talents at the 2023 Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro, finishing fifth and fourth, respectively. Ultimately, it was Dolezal who triumphed at the Chicago Pro, securing an Olympia qualification, with Martinez finishing a close second. Adair Libbrecht and Ashley Hampton claimed the third and fourth spots, respectively.
- Savannah Dolezal
- Lizzie Martinez
- Adair Libbrecht
- Ashley Hampton
- Katiuska Gintilli
- Fallon A. Wainwright
- Liana Giannamore
- Mary Ann Parks
- Kateryna Kauffmann
- Tatiana Lanovenko
Figure
The 2023 Chicago Pro Figure category was dominated by Autumn Cleveland, who took home the title. Adela Ondrejovicova, recently victorious at the 2023 Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro, placed second, while Edith Driver and Shanice Abrams claimed third and fourth places respectively.
- Autumn Cleveland
- Adela Ondrejovicova
- Edith Driver
- Shanice Abrams
- Danielle Rose
- Nelly Gonzalez
- Ashley Radiance Fuller
- Lena Johannesen
- Erica Freneey
- Ayra Bahar
Fitness
The Fitness division at the 2023 Chicago Pro saw Jodi Boam claim the championship title, with Noemie Champagne-Cloutier placing as runner-up. Both athletes demonstrated excellent balance and conditioning, with Boam showcasing one of her best looks, following her third-place finish at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow. Champagne-Cloutier, coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Vancouver Pro, proved to be a strong contender. The third and fourth places were claimed by Sarah Kovach and Anna Fomina, respectively.
- Jodi Boam
- Noemie Champagne-Cloutier
- Sara Kovach
- Anna Fomina
- Annaleise Varga
- Aurika Tyrgale
- Layla Mikayla
- Layla Mikayla
Women’s Physique
The Women’s Physique division of the 2023 Chicago Pro saw Danielle La Martina emerge victorious, securing her Olympia invite, followed closely by Nadia Vandal as runner-up. La Martina impressed with her well-defined abs, while Vandal caught attention with her exceptional conditioning during the prejudging rounds. Both competitors improved significantly from their previous performances at the 2022 Toronto Pro Supershow and the 2022 Chicago Pro. Marie Berouskova and Justin’s Rudnicka claimed the third and fourth spots, respectively.
- Danielle LaMartina
- Nadia Vandal
- Marie Berouskova
- Justyna Rudnicka
- Natalie Juron
- Marika Jones
- Marissa Jinkoji
- Vallie Eden
- Diana Schnaidt
- Lisa Kudrey
Wellness
In the the popular Wellness division of the IFBB Pro League, Danai Theodoropoulou clinched the title at the 2023 Chicago Pro. Both Theodoropoulou and Amy Li presented symmetrical, well-rounded physiques that caught the judges’ attention. Theodoropoulou, coming off a second-place finish at the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro, edged out Li, who improved significantly from her tenth-place finish at the 2022 Shawn Ray Hawaiian Classic Pro. The third and fourth places were secured by Daniela Deina and Quintaysia Goodley, respectively.
- Danai Theodoropoulou
- Amy Li
- Daniela Deiana
- Quintaysia Goodley
- Maria Paulette
- Edna Ferreira de Souza
- Kat Williams
- Keana Burr
- Charnice Bain
2023 Chicago Pro Scorecards
The 2023 Chicago Pro served as an great stage for these athletes to exhibit their talents and hard work, and was a key qualification event for the upcoming 2023 Olympia. With the competition now concluded, all eyes will be on the athletes as they prepare for the next step in their careers.
