Australia-bodybuilding.com

Click through to read a comprehensive wrapup of Australian bodybuilding and figure for 2008. The year started off great with the return of Australia’s best bodybuilder Lee Priest not only to the IFBB, but also to live in Australia. Lee re-signed with American publication Muscular Development and secured a great contract with Australian Supplement Company Body Ripped with included a customized Holden Maloo car. His move back wasn’t without hitches though, as Lee was welcomed back to Australia by being charged for his gym membership.

Multiple time Australian NPFC/IFBB Champion Con Demetriou picked up pro status in 2008, making his pro debut at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix, and going on to compete in the New Zealand Pro, New York Pro and Atlantic City Pro. Quite successful offstage, Con secured a contract with Australian supplement company Max’s, appeared in Anabolic Xtreme ads in Muscular Development magazine and also was featured in a seven page spread in the North American version of Musclemag magazine.

With the gain of two IFBB Australian pros, came the loss of another. Popular IFBB pro Luke Wood announced his retirement from competing after almost ten years as a pro. Luke’s sole competition in 2008 was the Atlantic City Pro, which saw a slight hitch in his preparation.

The 2008 Australian Grand Prix was held with Dexter Jackson winning it for the third time which started off his stellar year which saw him win the most prize money of any bodybuilder in history via winning the Arnold, Australia, New Zealand, Olympia and Romanian pro shows.

ANB bodybuilder Ryan Laos started the Aussie international winning ways with his overall victory at the WNSO World Championships in Canada for which he was awarded pro status in the WNSO. Ryan was joined in victory by female bodybuilder Michelle Goodall, who also won the overall title at the WNSO World Titles to achieve pro status.

On the INBA international win front, Warren Clampit brought the INBA Universe professional title back to Australia after he secured the overall win. He was joined in the INBA pro ranks by Tim Martin, by virtue of his win at the INBA Olympia.

Areti Anagnostellis won the WFF Universe Title – for the 4th year in a row. Sarah Whitby was awarded a FAME pro card after winning the FAME North Americans.

2008 saw the comebacks of two great champions of years past – NABBA Champion and former IFBB pro Sammy Ioannidis made a 2008 comeback, competing in the NABBA Universe and three time Australian NABBA Champion Irene Nickole also made a comeback, placing 2nd at the 2008 Australia NABBA Nationals. 2008 Australian NABBA Champions Coral Moody and Justin Wessells also represented Australia at the NABBA Universe.

Australians had their best ever year in the IFBB pro fitness/figure divisions with both Donna Jones and Rosa-Maria Romero having a breakout year both placing 6th, making 2008 the best year in history for Australians in this genre.

Ten year old Maughan Wellham created an international media frenzy with her entry in the INBA All Female Classic in July 2008, which resulted in her being not only a focal point in Australian media but also appearing in an international bodybuilding magazine.

Australia must have broken the record for the largest age difference of physique competitors in a year, as Ray Moon also attracted attention by competing in the NABBA Victorian Titles at age 79.

On the media front Hardcore Aussie Muscle was joined on the newstands by a second all Australian bodybuilding publication Australian Natural Bodz and Australians David Rylah and Arina Manta both released their own DVDs.

On the international front, there were enough tragedies to last a lifetime. Top IFBB figure pro Amanda Saville was murdered by her boyfriend, a member of the largest bodybuilding forum killed himself live online, IFBB pros Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan were sentenced for murder, Ms Figure Olympia’s husband passed away, an expeditor died backstage at the Olympia and IFBB founder Ben Weider passed away.

And on a non-building but an Australian note, Febuary 2008 saw the long awaited and much deserved formal apology to the Indigenous people of Australia.

And of course we have to go here - 2008 saw the emergence of the best and biggest website online covering the Australian bodybuilding, fitness and figure genres. With over 1,000 wallpapers, 2,500 graphics, 3,000 photos, 200 videos, 100 athlete profiles, 250 media scans , the best contest coverage of all feds, this news blog with hundreds of posts, interviews, articles and so much more totaling well over 5,000 pages - with more added daily.

For 2009 we plan so much more for our site as to use a cliche “we have only just begun” and want to extend a quick thanks to all the readers and those that helped us along the way. Here’s to 2009!