Gayle Under Fire! Figure Olympia 2026 Prejudging

Friday morning in Las Vegas’ South Hall was all about symmetry, elegance, and muscular definition. Ever since the legendary Cydney Gillon hung up her competition swimsuit, an all-out war has raged in the Figure division over the vacated throne. Although reigning champion Rhea Gayle claimed the crown for herself last year, the semifinals showed that her challengers won’t give her a moment’s peace this year.

Rhea Gayle Brings Out the Big Guns: Fuller, Harder Legs

Rhea Gayle knows very well that defending a title is harder than winning it for the first time. That’s why she took the stage with visible progress in her lower body. Her legs displayed incredible fullness and deep separation, marking a huge leap forward compared to last season. Thanks to this, her front poses had just the right “pop,” and the champion appeared dominant and confident on stage.

Razor-sharp abs and timeless aesthetics

But Gayle is far from having it in the bag, because the rest of the field really stepped up this year, and there was a lot going on on stage:

• Lola Montez: A girl you couldn’t take your eyes off of. Her extremely narrow waist and abs carved in stone made her an instant star of the stage. This is a package that can take gold.
• Denise Zwinger-Tynek: She opted for a risky strategy, but it paid off. She presented a much fuller look, yet without losing her signature chiseled physique and sharp definition.
• Jessica Reyes Padilla: The 2023 Masters Olympia champion clearly proves that age is an absolutely irrelevant statistic. On stage, she showcased top-notch aesthetics and proportions that catapulted her straight into the medal race.

The judges had their hands full with this elite field and evaluated the competitors in five groups plus the grand final. Here is the complete breakdown:

First Callout – Elite Eight: It became immediately clear who reigns supreme this year.

• Dorathene Agathina
• Lola Montez
• Lena Ramsteiner
• Jessica Reyes Padilla
• Cherish Richardson
• Jennifer Zienert
• Denise Zwinger-Tynek
• Rhea Gayle

Second Callout - Battle for the Top 10:

• Tamera Barrett
• Anna Borin
• Vanessa Happle
• Ashley Howells
• Tessa Meetze
• Sarah Molina
• Dekel Quant
• Kristina Zafirova

Third Callout:

• Da Jeong An
• Kristina Bodnariuk
• Nicole Graham
• Jeanne Kassel
• Brittne Pence
• Natalia Soltero

Fourth Callout – A Czech Presence on Stage

Czech representative Tereza Linhartová also appeared in this callout!

• Eileen Arilles
• Lauren Calderoni
• Nadine Claudia Huber
• Sachiko Ito
• Jaslyn Kyander
• Tereza Linhartová
• Sara Pozzer
• Missy Truscott

Fifth Callout - Additional Comparison:

• Dorathene Agathina
• Tamera Barrett
• Sarah Molina
• Lena Ramsteiner
• Cherish Richardson
• Jennifer Zienert

Final Callout - The Showdown

The top four. Which one of them will walk away with the trophy?

• Lola Montez
• Jessica Reyes Padilla
• Denise Zwinger-Tynek
• Rhea Gayle

The judges are in for a hell of a night. Will Rhea Gayle defend her title thanks to her toned legs, or will the Figure division crown a new champion?

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