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View Full Version : Memo To Ms. Elena Seiple


Echo
November 19th, 2005, 11:21 PM
Dear Ms. Seiple:

I came across this post on another forum. It was a post by fitness competitor Jodi Leigh immediately after she had learned how you had fared at the 2005 Women's Nationals Bodybuilding Championship.

The message is simple, well stated, and might be good food for thought for all Ladies, not just yourself, who have been training hard for years, playing by the rules, but have not yet reached the pinnacle of bodybuilding success.

RE: Elena Seiple

It's a hard lesson, but in this particular industry and federation, you cannot necessarily do what the judges tell you to do and expect to see the results they may or may not promise to you. There are so many other factors involved, and in the end, you have to bring a sense of consistency to the stage and do what makes you happy.

And because there is a lack of written, explained, consistent, across the board criteria and judging/grading rubric for bodybuilding, fitness, and figure, this will continue to happen.

Unfortunately, judges will say whatever they can say at the spur of the moment in order to provide what seems like a relevant explanation for a placing. Some judges are more accurate and truthful and caring. Others bring a total lack of substance and relevance. Remain aware of this dichotomy. As an individual, you have to take a step back, strip yourself of personal emotions, and examine the judges' feedback, your own trainer's feedback, and your personal and honest assessment of your physique and see if the judging fits with what you determine to be true. If it does, follow the advice. If it doesn't, don't be afraid to continue to do what you do best: be yourself at all times.
__________________
Jodi

"What I see is unreal. I've written my own part. . . . I'm crawling back to start."--Alice in Chains

www.jodileigh.com

Andrea Trent
November 19th, 2005, 11:51 PM
I was really hoping that this was Elenas show!!!

pict
November 20th, 2005, 04:55 AM
I was hoping so as well. She's an amazing athlete and person - highly deserving of happiness and success. Here's hoping she'll achieve both in spite of judging inconsistencies.

jeff

CalJoe
November 20th, 2005, 10:47 AM
Echo, I agree with your post. When you start catering to what the judges tell you and come into a show "softer" you give them the excuse they need to tell you why you didn't win. If the judges told Elena she was holding a bit too much water and her conditioining was off could she argue? Not really. I would prefer that the athlete come into a show the way she really wants to come; with the conditioining she wants to show onstage. If the judges tell the athlete that she is "too" hard, well let them look foolish in the process.

Jodi Leigh
November 20th, 2005, 03:00 PM
Thank you for posting that, Echo. I only wrote from my own personal experience.

buffdoll
November 20th, 2005, 04:13 PM
I was really hoping that this was Elenas show!!!
absoltely.........