Rachel Cammon, Kris Murrell and Ana Tigre look to make an impact in Las Vegas
by Allan Donnelly
July 24, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
Over 230 female competitors will be taking center stage on Friday night and Saturday at Artemus Ham Hall in Las Vegas vying for the seven pro cards which will be awarded at 2008 NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships. Below, we highlight three competitors – Rachel Cammon, Kris Murrell and Ana Tigre – who hope to make their mark in Las Vegas.
WHAT: NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships WHERE: Artemus Ham Hall, Las Vegas NV WHEN: July 25-26 PREJUDGING: Men’s Bodybuilding and Figure Friday at 4:30 pm PST; Women’s Bodybuilding and Figure Saturday at 9 am PST FINALS: Saturday at 6:30 pm PST FOR MORE INFO: Go to musclecontest.com
For a complete list of competitors for the 2008 NPC USAsgo here.
BEFORE: In high school I was soccer player and a skier always had those skier thighs, big legs on me. In college is when I started lifting more. I was born and raised in Denver so I’ve been skiing since I could walk. I used to compete in moguls in a bunch of contest growing up. I’ve still got healthy knees, surprisingly.
GETTING STARTED:It was just me. I figured spent so much time in the gym why not push as little bit further and see what could do I got bored. There wasn’t wasn’t anything working towards in the gym. And I work better when I have a goal. My first contrest was in April of this year. I just started this. I didn’t know I was ever going to compete, I just wanted to look good and feel good.
SURPRISES: My cheeks shake when I smile. I haven’t felt that since senior pictures. I haven’t hade to put on the cheesy smile in a long time. I know it sounds stupid, but it’s the most difficult part for me. I wonder if the audience can see my cheeks actually shaking … that’s whats going in my mind.
USA GOALS: I have no idea what to expect, I’m just kind of picking the brain of everybody who has done a national show. I just want to do well. What’s doing well in my eyes? I’m not going to say placing in the top five because I’m a newby at this, but I’m a compettive gal that’s for sure. So I’d like to be top 10 at least. So I’m going out there with my little brother so I’ll have one quality bonding time with him. And then after the show eat my bodyweight in pancakes.
Five burning questions heading into the 2008 NPC USA Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships
by Allan Donnelly
July 24, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
NAME:Kris Murrell AGE: 29 HEIGHT: 5’6″ CONTEST WEIGHT: 176 pounds DIVISION: Women’s bodybuiding, heavyweight NATIONAL-LEVEL EXPERIENCE: None PROFESSION: Owns and operates a personal training and chiropractic studio
NATIONAL-LEVEL EXPERIENCE: 2007 NPC Nationals, 4th Place heavyweight; 2006 Nationals 7th place heavyweight; 2006 NPC Jr. Nationals, 1st Place heavyweight; 2005 Junior Nationals, 5th place heavyweight
BEFORE: “My background is actually in dance, and I did cheerleading. I started dancing at 3, I’ve got 24 years experience. I’ve danced a t Bush Gerdens, I’ve danced in Disney. I started teaching dance and that’s what I was doing when I got started in bodybuilding.”
GETTING STARTED: “It was kind of accidental. I was teaching dance at a studio and working at a gym part time and went to my first show [the 2001 Capitol City Classic] and realized I could do it. I did my first show and got second and I’m very competitive so I wanted to make sure I at least got first, so I had to do the show again. And then I went back and won my weight class and the overall. You kind of love it or you hate it and I just got hooked.”
NATIONAL EXPOSURE: “My first year at Junior Natioanls was such an eye opener. Your first time at a national-level show is overwhelming, you don’t really know what to expect. Going from a small state level to the national level stage your kind of there for the experience. The second year you become more focused and more in tune to what you need to do.”
USA GOALS: “Going to the usas is definitely, it’s kind of hard to say since I haven’t been to the show. I know the caliber of the show. I look at each show kind of as a show to show, I never really expected to mke it this far in this industry and to do as well. B ut I’m at the point where I’m not in it for kicks and giggles anymore. I’m in it to win. I’m excitred. I’m nervous. I guess if you weren’t nervous there would be somthine wrong. There are some amazing competitors out there, you never know what to expect. I’m going to try to bring the best that I can bring. “
THREE REASONS SHE WILL WIN: “Hour one hour two and hour three of cardio! I’m more focused. More determined. I’ve made changes my the whole prep. The diet is completely different, it’s something I’ve never done before.”
PREDICTION: “If I can nail my condition I feel almost 100 percent that I can come into this show and take it. If things go the way that they’re going right now, if I can continue to tighten up, I’m gonna come in and win my class and I’m gonna take the overall.”
Five burning questions heading into the 2008 NPC USA Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships
by Allan Donnelly
July 24, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
NAME: Ana Tigre AGE: 33 years old HEIGHT: 5’3 1⁄2″ CONTEST WEIGHT: 118 lbs DIVISION: Figure, Class C NATIONAL-LEVEL EXPERIENCE: 2007 Junior Nationals, 10th Clas B; 2008 Junior USAs 3rd, Class C; 2008 Junior Nationals 4th, Class C PROFESSION: Fashion Designer/ co-owner of Fizeek Brazil
BEFORE: Growing up in Brazil I was a national-level equestrian. I started showing horses at the age of four until I turned 20 years old, when I moved to the United States to go to fashion school. That’s where my leg development comes from, years of riding horses.
GETTING STARTED: I started training after I moved to the US and started gaining weight because of the American diet. I went to the gym for the first time when I was 23 years old. I fell in love with training and how powerful it made me feel. I have not taken more than a couple weeks off the gym since. Growing up in Brazil, it was unusual and even taboo for women to have muscles, but I have always thought it was beautiful. Nowadays, when I go back to visit my family I see a big change in perspective where people find see it as a sexy and feminine look.
MEETING THE MAN: I met the NPC promoter Jon Lindsey at the gym I was training at the time. I had seen pictures of competitors in magazines and knew it was something I would like to do. He explained to me how it worked and got me in touch with a trainer to get started. Three months later I competed in my first figure show. I have done 16 shows since.
FIRST TIMER: This is my first time competing at the USAs. I am very confident and excited to get on stage. I have been working very hard for a long time to develop my body and I think I have made noticeable improvements this year. I am also looking forward to seeing all of my friends backstage; I have met wonderful girls since I started competing.
USA GOALS: My goal is to win my class. I am coming in the best I have ever looked. Let’s see what happens.
