Andrea Shaw’s dominance on the Olympia stage remains unparalleled as she won her fourth Ms. Olympia title at the 59th edition of Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend.
The 2022 silver medalist, Angela Yeo, gave Andrea Shaw a run for her money in the Finals. Yeo is the best poser in the Women’s Open division, and her captivating posing routine fired up the crowd. However, it wasn’t enough to thwart Shaw’s campaign for her fourth Ms. Olympia title. Yeo ultimately settled for a well-deserved runner-up position.
This victory at the 2023 Olympia makes Shaw the joint fourth-winningest Ms. Olympia champion alongside Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls. Ten competitors qualified for the 2023 Ms. Olympia, but the four-time Rising Phoenix champion effortlessly distinguished herself from the rest of the field from the get-go.
Andrea Shaw had momentum behind her coming into the 2023 Olympia, having won the 2023 Rishing Phoenix title in October.
Shaw has an incredible physique characterized by size, muscularity, and aesthetics, which truly sets her apart when she graces the stage. Her muscle size, lines, density, separation, symmetry, and balance have helped her maintain a vice-like grip on the Ms. Olympia and Rising Phoenix thrones for four long years.
Background & History
Born on Dec. 18, 1983, in Detroit, MI, Shaw was into gymnastics and competitive cheerleading growing up. She decided to switch to weight training at the age of 15 after she experienced burnout from the two sports. Although she originally wanted to be a fashion model, she switched to professional bodybuilding, believing her 5-foot-5 stature might put her at a disadvantage in the modeling world.
Shaw started her bodybuilding journey in the Figure division but took an eight-year sabbatical from competitive bodybuilding to focus on her studies. She returned to the stage in the Women’s Physique division and earned her pro card at the 2018 NPC Nationals.
Shaw competed in the Women’s Physique division until 2019 and podiumed in almost every contest. However, she realized she was too big for the division and switched to the Open division after consulting Irene Andersen, Margaret Marvelous, Lenda Murray, Alina Popa, and IFBB Pro League judges.
A month after transitioning to the Open division, Shaw placed second at the 2019 Chicago Pro. Since moving to the Open division, Andrea has emerged victorious in every competition she’s entered, except for the first two.
Shaw became the first bodybuilder to win the Ms. Olympia title in 2020 after it was reintroduced in Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend after a five-year break.
Going Forward
The Women’s Open division has always been on turbulent waters, with the IFBB frequently attempting to modify the judging criteria to regulate the amount of muscle mass female bodybuilders could add to their frame.
The Ms. Olympia division was discontinued in 2014, citing declining popularity and a lack of fan interest. The Women’s Open division was reintroduced in the premier bodybuilding competition after Jake Wood took over the Olympia brand in 2020. Wood also owns the celebrated women’s bodybuilding promotion company Wings of Strength, which organizes the Rising Phoenix contest. With Wood in the lead, the Ms. Olympia contest is here to stay.
The 39-year-old Shaw is steadily narrowing the gap between her and legendary female bodybuilders like Corinna Everson, Lenda Murray, and Iris Kyle, who boast six, eight, and 10 Ms. Olympia titles to their names, respectively.
Read also: All Ms. Olympia Winners & The History of the Show
2023 Olympia Results
Saturday Results:
- 2023 Mr. Olympia Results All Divisions
- 2023 Classic Physique Olympia Results
- 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia Results
- 2023 Bikini Olympia Results
- 2023 Wheelchair Olympia Results
Friday Results:
- 2023 212 Olympia Results
- 2023 Fitness Olympia Results
- 2023 Figure Olympia Results
- 2023 Women’s Physique Olympia Results
- 2023 Ms. Olympia Results
- 2023 Wellness Olympia Results
Fitness Volt congratulates Andrea Shaw, her coach, family, and devoted fans, for her remarkable fourth Ms. Olympia title victory!
Experience the excitement of the 2023 Mr. Olympia with our comprehensive coverage! From pre-judging and event recaps to in-depth analysis and final results, find everything you need at our Olympia coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia. Don’t miss out on the action!
Published: 4 November, 2023 | 9:33 AM EDT
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