Canuck Corner-Installment #12
Hi Everyone!
Well friends I have to say that I am so hugely excited for this year's 2012 Figure Olympia! The Olympia Qualification Point System added a whole new aspect to 'nerves' when it came down to this past weekend's last Figure shows. Nerves in that even after a 2nd place finish in Chicago , a 4th at Border States , and a 5th at Toronto Pro, I could have been edged out of my Top 5 standing spot by some tough competition, as there was a 3 way tie for 4th!
The Top"5" finished like this:
Allison Frahn 10 pts
Larissa Reis 8 pts
Mallory Haldeman 8 pts (you go Rookie!!)
Natalie Waples 7 pts ('in' as 2nd place in Chicago is higher than...)
Andrea Cantone 7 pts (highest finish was 3rd)
Aleisha Hart 7 pts (highest finish was 3rd)
All in all 6 of us made the cut and round out the 25 who will be competing on the Olympia stage. Pretty cool! Aleisha is also Canadian so her and I round out the Canuck contingent for Figure -- GO CANADA!!!
Personally I didn't have my best placing at TOC on Sept 8th (my worst of the year actually with an 11th), but hey you win some, you lose some, and you keep on working either way :) I've attached a couple stage shots -- overall I was really pleased with my showing, but every competition is different and I'm going to work with my coach Tad Inoue to do some fine tuning for the O. The amazingly talented Tamee Marie is crafting my Olympia suit as I write this, and I will also be bringing a different 'look' to the stage.... Keep your eyes open for #24!! And yes standing next to #25 Arnold & Olympia Figure Champ Nicole Wilkins (thank you alphabetical order) is slightly intimidating, but I'll take it!
So yes, back to the TOC. The show was a lot of fun, and despite a 2nd call ou
t I had an absolute blast with my fellow competitors, and also had some great friends travel in to support me :) It was good to get the kinks out before the Big Dance and despite not placing where I would have 'liked' I am super excited for what lies ahead. This week I am back in the gym doing double cardios (have to flush out the post show water retention), high volume rep schemes and an impeccable diet. Tad has switched up my plan with a variety of proteins, some starches, and of course lots of veggies, coupled with the right combo of supplementation.
With there being one final show this weekend in St. Louis (Pro Bikini), the pro contingent from Canada on the Olympia Stage is going to look like this (alphabetical order where applicable):
Men's BB:
Ben Pakulski (it may say USA as he lives there now, but Ben’s from Ontario , Canada J )
Women's BB:
Cathy LeFrançois
Lisa Giesbrecht
Figure:
Aleisha Hart
Natalie Waples
(Full list available here www.mrolympia.com/figure.html)
Bikini:
*Justine Munro (Justine currently has 8 pts and is tied for 3rd in the bikini standings and is competing this weekend in St. Louis -- bring it girl!) If she places Top 5 she's in!
Fitness:
Jodi Boam
Myriam Capes
Ryall Graber-Vasani
Vanda Handarean
Fiona Harris
Danielle Ruban
Happy and proud to have 
such an impressive Canadian lineup at this year's show (especially in Fitness!) and am very excited for the 'Meet the Olympians' press conference which is held on Thursday, Sept 27th at the host hotel/finals venue, the Orleans . This is an opportunity for the public and VIPs to meet all the Olympians, take pictures, and ask all their burning questions.
There are just over two weeks until the Olympia , and with lots on the go I am sure it is going to fly by! One of my good friends is getting married September 22nd, so I am attending her 'Brittany Spears' inspired bachelorette this weekend, and will then be at her wedding (albeit water loading!) next week. Now that will be interesting... running to the bathroom every 20 mins in between toasts and clinking of glasses! The bride-to-be even offered to have the kitchen make my appropriate meal so I wouldn't have to pack my tupperware -- how sweet is that?!
Have an absolutely great week my friends! And for those of you who are attending the O, please be sure to come support the female athletes who will be on stage at the expo at approximately 11am on Friday, September 28th -- the more the merrier!
Yours in health,
Natalie
Natalie Waples
IFBB Figure Pro
www.nataliewaplesfitness.com
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