Carla Dunlap
Encyclopedia
Carla Dunlap is a professional American
female bodybuilding
champion.
. She started competing in sports with gymnastics
at age 10. She later competed in swimming
, both speed and synchronized
. Dunlap attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts
on a full scholarship, earning a degree in Advertising Design. She won the gold medal in synchronized swimming in the 1977 Junior National Team Championships, and a bronze medal at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1978.
Nationals in 1981 and 1982. Her most successful year of competition was 1983 when she won three pro shows, including the Ms. Olympia
contest (she had lost the Ms. Olympia to Rachel McLish
by two points in 1982). In addition to her individual accomplishments, Dunlap won the World Professional Mixed Pairs title in 1984 and 1988 with Tony Pearson
. Dunlap is the only female bodybuilder to have competed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In January, 1999, Dunlap was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame
.
Away from the contest stage, Dunlap appeared in the bodybuilding documentaries Women Of Iron (1984, with fellow competitor Deborah Diana) and Pumping Iron II: The Women
(1985). She was selected by ABC
to represent women's bodybuilding in the women's Superstars
competition in 1984, where she finished seventh in a field of eleven competitors. Dunlap was a regular on ESPN
's BodyShaping
series from 1990 to 1995. She has also appeared as a color commentator on bodybuilding and fitness telecasts for NBC
, U.S.
, and ESPN
.
| colspan = 3 align = center | Ms. Olympia
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Rachel McLish
| width = 40% align = center | First (1983)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Cory Everson
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
female bodybuilding
Female bodybuilding
Female bodybuilding is the female component of competitive bodybuilding. It began in the late 1970s when women began to take part in bodybuilding competitions.-Beginnings:...
champion.
Early life and education
Dunlap was born in 1954 in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. She started competing in sports with gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
at age 10. She later competed in swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, both speed and synchronized
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
. Dunlap attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts
Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts
Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts was a city-run vocational and art school in Newark, New Jersey. Opened in 1882 as the Evening Drawing School, its name was changed in 1909 to the Fawcett School of Industrial Arts, and changed again in 1928 to the Newark Public School of Fine and...
on a full scholarship, earning a degree in Advertising Design. She won the gold medal in synchronized swimming in the 1977 Junior National Team Championships, and a bronze medal at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1978.
Bodybuilding career
In 1979, Dunlap decided to enter the "Best in the World" bodybuilding contest at the suggestion of Steve Wennerstrom. She had never trained for bodybuilding, but still placed fifth among 45 entrants. She started training seriously for bodybuilding the following March, and was soon competing successfully in top level amateur contests. She won the NPCNational Physique Committee
The National Physique Committee is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in various competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC...
Nationals in 1981 and 1982. Her most successful year of competition was 1983 when she won three pro shows, including the Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia is the title given to the winner of the women's bodybuilding portion of Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1980, and since 2000 it has been held at the same...
contest (she had lost the Ms. Olympia to Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish née Raquel Livia Elizondo is an American female bodybuilding champion, actress and author.-Early life and education:...
by two points in 1982). In addition to her individual accomplishments, Dunlap won the World Professional Mixed Pairs title in 1984 and 1988 with Tony Pearson
Tony Pearson (bodybuilder)
Tony Pearson grew up in St. Louis, Missouri is an American bodybuilding champion. In 1976 at the age of nineteen he moved to California to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. He headed straight to the "Mecca of Body Building" Venice Beach where he was discovered by Arnold...
. Dunlap is the only female bodybuilder to have competed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In January, 1999, Dunlap was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame
IFBB Hall of Fame
The IFBB Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to honor outstanding athletes and officials in the sport of bodybuilding.-1999:*Carla Dunlap*Cory Everson*John Grimek*Lee Haney*Rachel McLish*Sergio Oliva*Reg Park*Bill Pearl*Steve Reeves...
.
Away from the contest stage, Dunlap appeared in the bodybuilding documentaries Women Of Iron (1984, with fellow competitor Deborah Diana) and Pumping Iron II: The Women
Pumping Iron II: The Women
Pumping Iron II: The Women is a documentary film about female bodybuilding, focusing on several women as they prepare for and compete in the 1983 Caesars World Cup....
(1985). She was selected by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
to represent women's bodybuilding in the women's Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
competition in 1984, where she finished seventh in a field of eleven competitors. Dunlap was a regular on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's BodyShaping
BodyShaping
BodyShaping is a TV fitness and exercise show, with segments on weight training, cardiovascular exercise, stretching and nutrition. It was in production from 1990 to 1998, and has been in reruns ever since....
series from 1990 to 1995. She has also appeared as a color commentator on bodybuilding and fitness telecasts for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Contest history
- 1979 IFBBInternational Federation of BodyBuildersThe International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
Best In The World - 5th - 1980 AAU Ms. America #1 - 1st
- 1980 Eastern Cup - 1st
- 1980 Ms. Atlantic Shore - 2nd
- 1980 Bodybuilding Expo I - 1st
- 1980 NPCNational Physique CommitteeThe National Physique Committee is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in various competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC...
USA Championship - 9th - 1980 NPC Nationals - 3rd
- 1981 World Games I - 4th (HW)
- 1981 NPC USA Championship - 2nd (HW)
- 1981 NPC Nationals - 1st (HW and Overall)
- 1981 Pro World Championship - 4th
- 1982 Super Bowl of Bodybuilding I - 1st
- 1982 Night of Champions - 1st
- 1982 AFWB American Championships - 1st (HW and Overall)
- 1982 Swedish Grand Prix - 1st
- 1982 NPC USA Championship - 2nd (HW)
- 1982 NPC Nationals - 1st (HW and Overall)
- 1982 IFBB Ms. OlympiaMs. OlympiaMs. Olympia is the title given to the winner of the women's bodybuilding portion of Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1980, and since 2000 it has been held at the same...
- 2nd - 1982 Pro World Championship - 1st
- 1983 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
- 1983 IFBB Caesars World Cup (Grand Prix Las Vegas) - 1st
- 1984 Pro World Championship - 2nd
- 1984 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 4th
- 1985 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 4th
- 1986 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 9th
- 1987 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 12th
- 1988 Pro World Championship - 10th
- 1988 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 9th (originally 10th)
- 1993 Ms. InternationalMs. InternationalMs. International is a contest of professional female bodybuilding, organized by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . "The Ms. International" is generally considered to be the second-most prestigious competition for female bodybuilders . It was first held in 1986, and has been held...
- 13th
Personal life
Dunlap is married to a man named Phillip Kaan, and currently runs a private personal training business called Flexfit.External links
| colspan = 3 align = center | Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia is the title given to the winner of the women's bodybuilding portion of Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1980, and since 2000 it has been held at the same...
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish née Raquel Livia Elizondo is an American female bodybuilding champion, actress and author.-Early life and education:...
| width = 40% align = center | First (1983)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Cory Everson
Cory Everson
Corinna Kneuer , best known by her stage name Cory Everson, is an American female bodybuilding champion and actress. She won the Ms. Olympia contest six years in a row from 1984 to 1989.-Education:...