Chicago Pro 2025: results and report

Last weekend in Chicago, USA, the attention of the entire bodybuilding world was focused. The prestigious professional competition IFBB Chicago Pro 2025 was held there, which for many athletes represented one of the last and biggest chances to qualify for the famous Mr. Olympia. Top athletes competed in eight divisions, but only the winners could secure direct advancement to the top show of the year. Tension and tremendous competition defined every battle on the stage. The competition also had a strong Czech footprint.

So let's take a detailed look at each of the eight professional divisions and introduce the champions who took home the most valuable prize from Chicago - a ticket to Las Vegas.

Classic Physique: Kellen Wilson's expected win

In one of the most spectator-attractive categories, expectations were confirmed. Kellen Wilson from Canada was the main favourite and fulfilled his role 100%. On stage he presented a massive, but at the same time aesthetic figure with perfect lines. In the final he fought a thrilling battle with Samuel Paquin, but in the end Wilson's overall size and muscular readiness made the difference. It's an important win for Wilson and sends him to the Olympia with big ambitions.

Figure.

This category was particularly interesting for Czech fans. The competitor Tereza Linhartova fought her way to a fantastic 7th place in a huge competition, which is a huge success at such an important competition. She confirmed that she belongs to the world's best. Aksana Yukhno finally won the category, convincing the judges with her perfect combination of muscle tone, symmetry and elegant presentation.

Men's 212.

The under 212 pounds (96 kg) category always guarantees extreme muscle quality and hardness. This was no different in Chicago, where a number of great fighters took the stage. Bo Lewis emerged victorious from this battle, managing to bring a balanced mix of bulk, great sculpting and full, round muscles to the stage. For Lewis, qualifying for the Olympia is the fulfilled goal of a demanding preparation.

Men's Physique.

This category is looking for an athletic and beachy physique rather than extreme muscle volume. AJ Ellison best fit these criteria. He particularly impressed with his well-developed abs, broad shoulders and narrow waist, which is the key to success in Men's Physique. His sovereign performance deservedly earned him first place.

Bikini: Kate Carroll's elegance wins

In the Bikini category, which emphasizes symmetry, femininity and overall impression, Kate Carroll was the best. She presented a flawless figure with the ideal amount of muscle mass and a low fat percentage. Her posing and stage presence were of the highest standard, securing her not only the win but also a coveted qualification to the Olympia Weekend finals.

Women's Bodybuilding.

In Women's Bodybuilding, the experienced Melissa Teich was delighted with her victory. In this division, maximum muscle development and sculpting is crucial, and that's exactly what Melissa demonstrated. Her sophisticated and muscular physique was unrivalled and she will take home the gold medal from Chicago and the certainty of participating in the Olympia.

Women's Physique.

The Women's Physique category is a compromise between the more muscular bodybuilding and the more subtle Figure category. This balance was best found by Finland's Paula Ranta. Her physique combined impressive muscle mass with feminine lines and aesthetics, leading her to a clear victory.

Wellness.

The youngest professional division, Wellness focuses on the dominant development of the lower half of the body - thighs and buttocks. Liza Kazanina was unbeatable in this respect. Her physique perfectly matched the standards of the category and she was the clear choice for the judges for first place. So she too can look forward to competing with the best at Olympia.

Masters over 40: Slavoj Bednar takes bronze from Chicago!

In addition to the main professional categories, where the fight to qualify for Olympia was fought, there was also a lot of attention paid to the fights of experienced fighters in the Masters categories. The competition here was absolutely top-notch. Czech bodybuilding had a significant sting in the fire in this battle, in the form of Slavoj Bednar, who took part in the men's bodybuilding masters category over 40 years old.

Bednar, known for his massive physique, confirmed that he belongs among the world's elite. In a packed starting field of top veterans, he showed great form and took a fantastic third place. To win a bronze medal and to fight his way onto the podium at such a prestigious American competition is a huge achievement.

This is another great news for Czech bodybuilding. Slavoj Bednar proved that even in a big competition he can think about the highest places and he deservedly takes the precious metal from Chicago.

It has been an endless wait and I really believed today that I would defend last year's victory, albeit in a much bigger competition.

After the semi-final I could have thought about the title and I did, but I guess it was not my wish and in the end I have to admit that 3rd place is not bad either. You have to take the best out of it! Try to come back in 3 weeks for Masters Olympia even better!! And that's the main goal this year and I'm not discounting that, no matter how it turned out today.

Anyway, my feeling about my form is maximum! Dryness, fullness, muscle density!! We still have our place here and we still have something to show!!
So let's keep going!!