Defending her title this year as Ms O won’t be easy for Iris Kyle. The four-time winner and reigning champ faces fierce competition in a pool of contenders that’s deeper than ever before, adding even more excitement to what’s already being billed as the greatest Olympia in the event’s illustrious history.
WHAT: Ms Olympia WHERE: Las Vegas, Nevada WHEN: Friday, September 25 PREJUDGING: 11 a.m. PST, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall FINALS: 7:00 p.m. PST, Orleans Arena FOR MORE INFO:CLICK HERE
Kyle, the runaway favorite, will have her work cut out for her as she faces former champ Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia, who beat Kyle in 2005, last year’s runner-up Betty Viana-Adkins and a field of cotenders determined to keep Kyle from leaving Las Vegas with her fifth championship.
We caught up with Kyle and challengers Debi Laszewski and Heather Armbrust – who placed second and fourth, respectively, earlier this year at the Ms. International – to get their take on this year’s big O.
IRIS KYLE Age 35 Height 5’6″ Weight 160 pounds Country of birth United States Current Residence Cypress, Texas Olympia History 1999, 4th; 2000, 5th (heavyweight); 2001, winner (heavyweight); 2002 2nd (heavyweight); 2003, 2nd (heavyweight); 2004, winner (heavyweight and overall); 2005, 2nd; 2006-2007, 1st; 2008, 1st
FLEX: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you going into this year’s competition?
KYLE: “I’d love to give myself a 10 but I think remaining optimistic is a better approach; therefore, an 8.5 is sufficient. Have you ever heard the expression: “If it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it?” Well, look it up in the dictionary, it reads Iris Kyle.”
FLEX: Who will be in the first callout?
KYLE: In no particular order: myself, Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia, Dayana Cadeau, Betty Viana, and Heather Armbrust or Lisa Aukland – maybe Debbie Laszewski if she can display her same Ms. International physique.
FLEX: If you could issue a warning to your fellow competitors, what would it be?
KYLE: Iris will not go down without a fight. Iris will be dialed in and ready for battle. Title number six is calling my name. [At the 2001 Ms. Olympia, Kyle won the heavyweight class but lost the overall to Juliette Bergman]
FLEX: This year at the Olympia, I want to be compared to
KYLE: If I have it my way, I’d like to be compared to only the top deserving physique. No one in particular, but that means receiving one callout. After that, it’s a wrap.
FLEX: Who will be your biggest threat this year and why? (Please don’t say “myself.”)
KYLE: Now, now, now, what happened to being able to respond to the questions as I see fit? Anyhow, since Yaxeni has beaten me in the past, she will always cross my mind as a threat. Other than that, you have the best athletes in the world on the Olympia stage, therefore I consider everyone a threat.
FLEX: Do you feel any added pressure in your preparation to defend your title?
KYLE: Of course. I have no room for error. It’s totally different when you’re the under dog; being the champ intensifies the pressure one thousand times more.
Kyle, Laszewski and Armbrust speak out
By Zack Zeigler
September 25, 2009
FLEXONLINE.COM
Defending her title this year as Ms O won’t be easy for Iris Kyle. The four-time winner and reigning champ faces fierce competition in a pool of contenders that’s deeper than ever before, adding even more excitement to what’s already being billed as the greatest Olympia in the event’s illustrious history.
WHAT: Ms Olympia WHERE: Las Vegas, Nevada WHEN: Friday, September 25 PREJUDGING: 11 a.m. PST, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall FINALS: 7:00 p.m. PST, Orleans Arena FOR MORE INFO:CLICK HERE
Kyle, the runaway favorite, will have her work cut out for her as she faces former champ Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia, who beat Kyle in 2005, last year’s runner-up Betty Viana-Adkins and a field of cotenders determined to keep Kyle from leaving Las Vegas with her fifth championship.
We caught up with Kyle and challengers Debi Laszewski and Heather Armbrust – who placed second and fourth, respectively, earlier this year at the Ms. International – to get their take on this year’s big O.
HEATHER ARMBRUST Age 32 Height 5’6½” Weight 168 pounds Country of Birth United States Current Residence Wheat Ridge, Colorado Olympia History 2007, 5th; 2008, 14th
FLEX: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you going into this year’s competition?
ARMBRUST: Confidence is better than last year. It can vary from day to day, so between 7-9.
FLEX: Who will be in the first callout?
ARMBRUST: First call out is completely up to the judges. It can go so many different ways with this line up.
FLEX: If you could issue a warning to your fellow competitors, what would it be?
ARMBRUST: Nothing they don’t already know: be as ready as possible ’cause this is the best line up in years.
FLEX: This year at the Olympia, I want to be compared to…
ARMBRUST: The woman in the first call out.
FLEX: When the final placing is announced, where will you be and why?
ARMBRUST: I don’t want to jinx myself with a prediction on placing.
Kyle, Laszewski and Armbrust speak out
By Zack Zeigler
September 25, 2009
FLEXONLINE.COM
Defending her title this year as Ms O won’t be easy for Iris Kyle. The four-time winner and reigning champ faces fierce competition in a pool of contenders that’s deeper than ever before, adding even more excitement to what’s already being billed as the greatest Olympia in the event’s illustrious history.
WHAT: Ms Olympia WHERE: Las Vegas, Nevada WHEN: Friday, September 25 PREJUDGING: 11 a.m. PST, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall FINALS: 7:00 p.m. PST, Orleans Arena FOR MORE INFO:CLICK HERE
Kyle, the runaway favorite, will have her work cut out for her as she faces former champ Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia, who beat Kyle in 2005, last year’s runner-up Betty Viana-Adkins and a field of cotenders determined to keep Kyle from leaving Las Vegas with her fifth championship.
We caught up with Kyle and challengers Debi Laszewski and Heather Armbrust – who placed second and fourth, respectively, earlier this year at the Ms. International – to get their take on this year’s big O.
DEBI LASZEWSKI Age 40 Height 5’3″ Weight 143 pounds Country of Birth United States Current Residence Jupiter, Florida Olympia History Rookie
FLEX: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you going into this year’s competition?
LASZEWSKI: I am very confident in this year’s competition; I would rate it a 10.
FLEX: Who will be in the first callout?
LASZEWSKI: I believe, myself, Iris, Lisa Aukland, Yaxeni, Heather Armbrust
FLEX: If you could issue a warning to your fellow competitors, what would it be?
LASZEWSKI: All I can say is that I have been training for this since the Arnold and have made many gains.
FLEX: This year at the Olympia, I want to be compared to…
LASZEWSKI: My last competition and beat that preparation.
FLEX: When the final placing is announced, where will you be and why?
LASZEWSKI: I feel I will be in the top three, and hopefully first. If so, I will have earned it through my sacrifice and hard work this year.
