Important note: The top-3 predictions made here are simply that -- predictions -- and are not the final results. Fitness is, I think, far more difficult to judge than bodybuilding. In fact, I think that if I went downstairs to the casino and walked up to a roulette wheel, my odds are better of picking the correct number on a single spin than picking the winner here. Still, I'll tell you how it went down and go out on a limb and tell you how I think it will shake out. Susie Curry is my favorite fitness competitor. With an amazing physique that combines conditioning, shape, and femininity, I think that Susie improved even further this year. Heck, she even showed some lower-lat striations and she has a shoulder-to-waist ratio that makes fans gasp! In the two-piece bikini round I had her as the clear winner. Jenny Worth is a crowd favorite, and I liked what she did last year myself. This year, though, she appeared off -- a tad smooth, particularly in the legs. Kelly Ryan is another crowd-pleaser and this year she totally revamped her look. Coming on with blonde hair, I heard some people around ask, "which one is Ryan?" Like Worth, though, Kelly seemed a little "off" physique-wise. Still, Ryan nailed the compulsory routine (probably the best of everyone) and I believe that will quite easily keep her in the top spots. Like Ryan and Worth, well-known Jenny Hendershott did not seem in top form, but it's her routines that help to boost her placings too and her performance in the morning was appreciated by the crowd. There were about a dozen other competitors and with all the comparisons, posing, etc., I simply lost track. Still, there appeared to be one oversight: While Stacey Simons may not have had a top-3 physique, I felt her overall shape and conditioning would have had her at the top range of the pack. However, the judges left her standing most of the time and I think she's not going to place as high as she should. It's also important to point out two that I think are up-and-coming competitors: Canada's Christine Bergeron (a former Canadian champion) and Poland's Aleksandra Kobeilak (a former world champion). Both display unique beauty and have charisma on the stage. But like I said: fitness judging is difficult -- so what do I know? Doug Schneider's top-3 predictions: Susie Curry's combination of physique, stage presence, and good overall routines will allow her to be a three-time Fitness Olympia winner; Kelly Ryan's routines always dazzle and this will land her in the second-place spot; and third place is so far in the air that I'm not going to even hazard to guess. Like everyone else, I'm waiting for the Friday-night show. Highlight Photos
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