Dona Oliveira
Encyclopedia
Dona Oliveira is a former professional female bodybuilder
from the United States
. She competed from the mid 1980s through the early 1990s.
gym and trained for twenty minutes, three times a week as she had been told. At the time she has no desire to develop the type of bodies of the female bodybuilders of her time or even compete. Dona felt that the well developed physiques of female bodybuilders were "too much". But Oliveira soon became frustrated with her exercise routines; she enjoyed the little pump she got from her training, but was disappointed with the minimal change she saw in her physique. This soon changed when Dona got a look at some bodybuilding magazines and was able to see top women bodybuilders such as Rachel McLish
and Mary Roberts
. While she had no intentions of training for competition purposes, Oliveira knew that she wanted more of the shape and muscle tone she saw on the photos of those magazines.
Dona began training with Saul Friedman, a powerlifter friend in his basement gym and soon saw results. Saul also set a goal for her to compete in a local bodybuilding contest. Four months later after she started training with heavy weights, Oliveira entered her first bodybuilding show and placed second. The following year she won several shows and switched to the NPC
on the advice of some friends. She continued to win shows and quickly became a pro within two years. Her highest achievements in amateur competition were winning the 1984 East Coast Championships, the 1985 NPC USA Championship, and NPC World Games in London, England. As a professional, she won the 1988 IFBB
Pro World Championships in Nice, France, and placed 6th at the IFBB Ms. Olympia
in the same year (originally she placed 7th, but was later awarded 6th place when Tonya Knight
was disqualified).
, bench presses
, and deadlift
s with bodybuilding exercises such as shoulder presses
, laterals raises, dumbbell flyes, and barbell rows
. During her competitive days she typically trained on a three day split routine (three days on, one day off) during the off-season, training up to three bodyparts per training session. During the contest season she would switch to a four day split routine (four days on, one day off) to focus on her weak points; during the contest season she would train one or two bodyparts. Dona was a strong believer in the idea that the psychological aspect of bodybuilding was just as important as the physical aspect of it, and felt that goal setting was important to develop her physique.
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:...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She competed from the mid 1980s through the early 1990s.
Biography
Like many other women, Dona first started exercising to get in better shape. At a young age she joined a NautilusNautilus, Inc.
Nautilus, Inc. , located in Vancouver, Washington, United States, is the marketer, developer, and manufacturer of branded health and fitness products sold under such names as Bowflex, Nautilus, PEARL iZUMi, Schwinn Fitness, StairMaster, Trimline and Universal.Nautilus and its corporate...
gym and trained for twenty minutes, three times a week as she had been told. At the time she has no desire to develop the type of bodies of the female bodybuilders of her time or even compete. Dona felt that the well developed physiques of female bodybuilders were "too much". But Oliveira soon became frustrated with her exercise routines; she enjoyed the little pump she got from her training, but was disappointed with the minimal change she saw in her physique. This soon changed when Dona got a look at some bodybuilding magazines and was able to see top women bodybuilders such as Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish
Rachel McLish née Raquel Livia Elizondo is an American female bodybuilding champion, actress and author.-Early life and education:...
and Mary Roberts
Mary Roberts (bodybuilder)
Mary Roberts was one of the top professional female bodybuilders of the 1980s. Her career peaked in 1985, when she won the Women's Pro World Championship and placed second in the Ms...
. While she had no intentions of training for competition purposes, Oliveira knew that she wanted more of the shape and muscle tone she saw on the photos of those magazines.
Dona began training with Saul Friedman, a powerlifter friend in his basement gym and soon saw results. Saul also set a goal for her to compete in a local bodybuilding contest. Four months later after she started training with heavy weights, Oliveira entered her first bodybuilding show and placed second. The following year she won several shows and switched to the NPC
National 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...
on the advice of some friends. She continued to win shows and quickly became a pro within two years. Her highest achievements in amateur competition were winning the 1984 East Coast Championships, the 1985 NPC USA Championship, and NPC World Games in London, England. As a professional, she won the 1988 IFBB
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The 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 ,...
Pro World Championships in Nice, France, and placed 6th at the IFBB 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...
in the same year (originally she placed 7th, but was later awarded 6th place when Tonya Knight
Tonya Knight
Tonya Knight is an American former IFBB professional female bodybuilder.-Background:Knight was a regular on American Gladiators as Gold from 1989 to 1992 until she left due to an injury to her left knee....
was disqualified).
Bodybuilding philosophy
Oliveira's training consisted of simple compound movements with mostly free weights with few cable and machine exercises. She focused on a combination of powerlifting exercises such as squatsSquat (exercise)
In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
, bench presses
Bench press
The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
, and deadlift
Deadlift
The deadlift is a weight training exercise where a loaded barbell is lifted off the ground from a stabilized, bent over position. It is one of the three canonical powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press.-Overview:...
s with bodybuilding exercises such as shoulder presses
Military press
The military press is a variation of the overhead press weight training exercise using very strict form.The military press targets the deltoid muscles in the shoulders as well as the triceps...
, laterals raises, dumbbell flyes, and barbell rows
Bent-over row
A bent-over row is a weight training exercise that targets a variety of back muscles. Which ones are targeted varies on form. The bent over row is often used for both bodybuilding and powerlifting...
. During her competitive days she typically trained on a three day split routine (three days on, one day off) during the off-season, training up to three bodyparts per training session. During the contest season she would switch to a four day split routine (four days on, one day off) to focus on her weak points; during the contest season she would train one or two bodyparts. Dona was a strong believer in the idea that the psychological aspect of bodybuilding was just as important as the physical aspect of it, and felt that goal setting was important to develop her physique.
Contest history
- 1983 AAUAmateur Athletic UnionThe Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Massachusetts State Championships - 1st - 1984 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...
East Coast Championships - 1st - 1984 NPC Nationals - 4th (MW)
- 1985 NPC USA Championship - 1st (MW & Overall)
- 1985 IFBB World Games - 1st
- 1985 IFBBMs. 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...
- 17th - 1986 IFBB Pro World Championships - 9th
- 1986 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 17th
- 1988 IFBB Pro World Championships - 1st
- 1988 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 6th
- 1989 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 12th
- 1990 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 16th
- 2007 NPC Southern States-Figure Class A-5th