Iris Kyle
Encyclopedia
Iris Kyle is an American
professional female bodybuilding
champion.
,the fifth of six children. Her early athletic endeavors included running cross country
, basketball
(point guard), and softball
(shortstop). She was an All-America
n in basketball, and received a number of athletic scholarship offers. Iris attended Alcorn State University
in Lorman, Mississippi
on a basketball scholarship, majoring in business administration.
USA Championship in Las Vegas
. Kyle has had a series of high placing as a professional, including sixth consecutive top five showings at the Ms. Olympia
. She won the heavyweight class at the Ms. Olympia in 2001, then captured the overall titles at both the Ms. International
and Ms. Olympia in 2004. In 2006, Kyle won both her second Ms. International title and her second Ms. Olympia title; she repeated this double victory in 2007. She won her third straight Ms. Olympia title in 2008. At a height of 5'7", Iris typically competes at a bodyweight of approximately 155–161 pounds.
In recent times Kyle had spent time trying to increase her marketability by auditioning for movies and TV shows. Most recently she appeared on the TV show Wipeout. While competing in the show she was constantly referred to as "he" by one of the hosts and also suffered an accident that broke several ribs, during the first segment on the water slide. Due to these injuries she was not able to train correctly for bodybuilding competition and placed 7th at the 2008 Ms. International, but rebounded at the 2008 Ms. Olympia by winning the show.
In a recent interview with RX Muscle Girls Inc with the hosts Colette Nelson and Krissy Ching, Kyle talked about her appearance in Wipeout as well as her performance at the Ms. International. In the interview she said that she was invited back to the show due to the popularity of her episode, but she declined due to the possibility of injury as well as feeling disrespected by the sexist host who referred to her as a he.
More recently Kyle went to the 2009 Ms. International and won the show, becoming only the second woman to win the show a record of four times. In a recent interview she said that she is planning to come back to break the record and become the greatest Ms. International in history.
. This discrepancy has led to confusion in various sport publications as to the number of Ms. Olympia titles Kyle has won.
| colspan = 3 align = center | Ms. Olympia
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Lenda Murray
| width = 40% align = center | First (2004)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen
| width = 40% align = center | Second (2006)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Herself
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Herself
| width = 40% align = center | Third (2007)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Herself
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Herself
| width = 40% align = center | Fourth (2008)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
-
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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
"Iris Kyle" was born in 1974 in Benton Harbor, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
,the fifth of six children. Her early athletic endeavors included running cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
(point guard), and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
(shortstop). She was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in basketball, and received a number of athletic scholarship offers. Iris attended Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is an historically black university comprehensive land-grant institution in Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871-History:...
in Lorman, Mississippi
Lorman, Mississippi
Lorman is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Mississippi, United States. It is home to Alcorn State University, which was attended by Medgar Evers and Steve McNair ....
on a basketball scholarship, majoring in business administration.
Career
Kyle won her first contest, the 1994 Long Beach Muscle Classic. She earned her pro card by winning the heavyweight class and overall title at the 1998 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...
USA Championship in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Kyle has had a series of high placing as a professional, including sixth consecutive top five showings at 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...
. She won the heavyweight class at the Ms. Olympia in 2001, then captured the overall titles at both the Ms. International
Ms. International
Ms. 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...
and Ms. Olympia in 2004. In 2006, Kyle won both her second Ms. International title and her second Ms. Olympia title; she repeated this double victory in 2007. She won her third straight Ms. Olympia title in 2008. At a height of 5'7", Iris typically competes at a bodyweight of approximately 155–161 pounds.
In recent times Kyle had spent time trying to increase her marketability by auditioning for movies and TV shows. Most recently she appeared on the TV show Wipeout. While competing in the show she was constantly referred to as "he" by one of the hosts and also suffered an accident that broke several ribs, during the first segment on the water slide. Due to these injuries she was not able to train correctly for bodybuilding competition and placed 7th at the 2008 Ms. International, but rebounded at the 2008 Ms. Olympia by winning the show.
In a recent interview with RX Muscle Girls Inc with the hosts Colette Nelson and Krissy Ching, Kyle talked about her appearance in Wipeout as well as her performance at the Ms. International. In the interview she said that she was invited back to the show due to the popularity of her episode, but she declined due to the possibility of injury as well as feeling disrespected by the sexist host who referred to her as a he.
More recently Kyle went to the 2009 Ms. International and won the show, becoming only the second woman to win the show a record of four times. In a recent interview she said that she is planning to come back to break the record and become the greatest Ms. International in history.
Number of titles
Kyle has won seven Ms. Olympia titles, and has eight wins in her weight class. In 2000, she won the heavyweight class, but lost the overall Ms. Olympia title to the lightweight winner Juliette BergmannJuliette Bergmann
Juliette Maria Suzanna Bergmann is a champion Dutch female bodybuilder, the 2001 Ms. Olympia.-Early years:Bergmann was born in Vlaardingen, Netherlands, from a Dutch mother and an Indonesian father. During her childhood she lost two brothers, causing much grief to her mother, who laid a larger...
. This discrepancy has led to confusion in various sport publications as to the number of Ms. Olympia titles Kyle has won.
Contest history
- 1994 NPC Ironmaiden Championships - 2nd (MW)
- 1996 NPC Orange County Muscle Classic - 1st (HW and Overall)
- 1996 NPC California - 1st (HW and Overall)
- 1996 NPC USA Championships - 2nd (HW)
- 1997 NPC USA Championships - 3rd (HW)
- 1997 NPC Nationals - 4th (HW)
- 1998 NPC USA Championships - 1st (HW and Overall)
- 1999 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 ,...
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...
- 15th - 1999 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...
- 4th - 1999 IFBB Pro World Championship - 2nd
- 2000 IFBB 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...
- 3rd (Later disqualified) - 2000 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...
- 5th (HW) - 2001 IFBB 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...
- 2nd (HW) - 2001 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 ,...
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...
- 1st (HW) - 2002 IFBB 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...
- 2nd (HW) - 2002 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 (HW) - 2002 IFBB GNC Show of Strength - 2nd (HW)
- 2003 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 (HW) - 2004 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 ,...
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...
- 1st (HW and Overall) - 2004 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...
- 1st (HW and Overall) - 2005 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 - 2006 IFBB 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...
- 1st - 2006 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...
- 1st - 2007 IFBB 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...
- 1st - 2007 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...
- 1st - 2008 IFBB 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...
- 7th - 2008 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...
- 1st - 2009 IFBB 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...
- 1st - 2009 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...
- 1st - 2010 IFBB 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...
- 1st - 2010 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...
- 1st - 2011 IFBB 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...
- 1st - 2011 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...
- 1st
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:
Lenda Murray
Lenda Murray
Lenda Murray is a champion female bodybuilder from the United States. She is an eight-time winner of the Ms. Olympia title, the highest achievement in professional female bodybuilding.-Early life and education:...
| width = 40% align = center | First (2004)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen
Yaxeni Oriquen
Yaxeni Oriquen is a professional female bodybuilding champion from Venezuela.- Biography :Yaxeni was born the youngest of nine children . Yaxeni won four amateur contests in 1993, earning her pro card in the process. She then moved to the United States. Her most noteworthy achievement as a...
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen
Yaxeni Oriquen
Yaxeni Oriquen is a professional female bodybuilding champion from Venezuela.- Biography :Yaxeni was born the youngest of nine children . Yaxeni won four amateur contests in 1993, earning her pro card in the process. She then moved to the United States. Her most noteworthy achievement as a...
| width = 40% align = center | Second (2006)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Herself
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Herself
| width = 40% align = center | Third (2007)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
Herself
|-
| width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Herself
| width = 40% align = center | Fourth (2008)
| width = 30% align = center | Succeeded by:
-