HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPIA
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IFBBPRO Rule 4 – Qualifications for Special Events

4.1 Mr. Olympia:
The Promoter of the Mr. Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Mr. Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Arnold Classic;
3. The top 5 from the same year’s Iron Man Pro Invitational and New York Men’s Professional Bodybuilding Championships;
4. The top 3 from any Grand Prix or similar open competition held after the previous year’s Mr. Olympia; and
5. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Rule 4.5.

4.2 Ms. Olympia:
The Promoter of the Ms. Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Ms. Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Ms. International;
3. The top 3 from any other open bodybuilding competition held after the previous year’s Ms. Olympia [except as detailed in Rule 4.5.5 and Rule 4.5.6]; and
4. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Rule 4.5.

4.3 Fitness Olympia:
The Promoter of the Fitness Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Fitness Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Fitness International;
3. The top 3 from any other open fitness competition held after the previous year’s Fitness Olympia; and
4. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Rule 4.5.

4.4 Figure Olympia:
The Promoter of the Figure Olympia competition must invite the following competitors:

1. The top 6 from the previous year’s Figure Olympia;
2. The top 6 from the same year’s Figure International;
3. The top 3 from any other open figure competition held subsequent to the previous year’s Figure Olympia; and
4. Any other competitor who qualifies pursuant to Rule 4.5.

4.5 Additional Factors:
The following additional factors apply:

1. Any former Mr/Ms/Fitness/Figure Olympia winner has lifetime eligibility.  However, this eligibility is not automatic. Where more than five (5) years have elapsed since the last Olympia win, approval of the Pro League is required.
2. The Pro League has the right to increase or decrease the number of qualifying competitors from any Pro League competition.
3. The Promoter of the Mr. Olympia has the right to nominate one competitor, as a "special invitee", who has not qualified for the current year’s Mr. Olympia competition.  This competitor may compete only with the approval of the Pro League.
4. In men’s and women’s competition, if the Athletes (top 6, 5, 3 or 1 as the case may be) who qualify for the next year’s Olympia pursuant to Rules 4.1, 4.2 (see Rule 4.5.5 and Rule 4.5.6), 4.3 and 4.4 are already qualified, the next highest placed Athlete will also qualify, provided he or she is not already qualified, in which case, no further Athletes will qualify.
5. In any year where there are less than three "open" women’s professional bodybuilding competitions (the term "open" is defined as competitions other than the Ms. Olympia and the Ms. International), the following qualifying criteria shall apply (otherwise Rule 4.5.4 and Rule 4.5.6 shall apply):

a. At the Ms. International, the top six finalists qualify for the Ms. Olympia.  If any of the top six finalists are already qualified, up to a maximum of three previously unqualified athletes may also qualify. For example, if five of the top six finalists are already qualified, the remaining top-six finalist will qualify as well as 7th and 8th place.

b. At "open" competitions, the top three finalists qualify for the Ms. Olympia.  If any of the top three finalists are already qualified, up to a maximum of three previously unqualified athletes may also qualify. For example, if the top finalist is already qualified, the remaining two top-three finalists will qualify as well as 4th place.

6. At any bodybuilding competition that is divided into two categories, only the top finalist in each category shall qualify for the Ms. Olympia.  Rule 4.5.4 shall still apply.

 *Note: For the qualifying rules for the 202 Olympia Showdown, please click here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 7:40 am and is filed under News.