The IFBB Pro League Wellness division has fast become of the most popular divisions in the federation. The Wellness International division debuted at the 2022 Arnold Classic and received a warm welcome. Gillis showed up with an impeccable figure to win her maiden Arnold Classic Wellness International title. She becomes the second woman to hoist the AC Wellness Internation trophy.
The 2022 Arnold Classic Wellness International champ Isabelle Nunes withdrew from the 2023 AC a few weeks before stepping on the stage in Columbus, OH, due to health reasons, leaving the Wellness International throne vacant. Nunes was the favorite to win the 2023 AC and retain her title as she had placed runner-up behind two-time Wellness Olympia champ Francielle Mattos.
Nunes’s absence made Angela Borges, Kassandra Gillis, and Rayane Fogal the frontrunners for winning the 2023 Arnold Classic title. The three athletes finished third, fourth, and fifth at the 2022 Olympia.
The Wellness division was one of the most closely contested battles at the Arnold Classic. It was Gillis, however, who hoisted the AC Wellness International trophy once everything was said and done.
The Wellness division is the newest addition to the IFBB Pro League roster. The judges primarily look for body mass in the hips, glutes, and thigh areas in athletes in the Wellness division. Plus, they should hold the same muscle mass, definition, and separation in their upper bodies as the Bikini division girls.
Gillis’s win at the 2023 Arnold Classic earns her direct qualification for the 2023 Olympia.
Prejudging
Alexis Adams had very good conditioning, which earned her a fourth-place finish at the 2023 AC.
Rayane Fogal had a flowing physique. She was not as conditioned as the other girls but displayed a complete package.
Borges improved by leaps and bounds after the 2022 Mr. Olympia. She has a tiny waist and a flawless lower body. Her round and full glutes are second to none. The Brazilian Wellness star brought her best package to the 2023 AC stage.
Gillis was the most muscular girl on the Wellness International stage and had a very similar physique to Borges. They went head-to-head in each pose, giving the judges a hard time picking between them.
Angela, Alexis, Gillis, and Fogal made it to the first callout. All girls went head-to-head with each other in every pose, but Angela and Gillis made it to the final callout, making them the favorites to win the title.
Finals
Fogal improved in the confirmation round compared to her figure in the prejudging. She gained some conditioning later in the day and had a flawless posing routine. Fogal took third place at the second-most prestigious bodybuilding show.
Borges was the first Wellness competitor who qualified for the inaugural Wellness Olympia in 2021. She, however, had to settle for a second-place finish at the 2023 AC.
Gillis nailed her posing routine during the finals, which helped her close in on Borges. The Canadian holds her own in a sport dominated by Brazilians. She dominated the roster to win the 2023 AC.
Gillis improved during the finals. Her physique was full and flowing, catching the judges’ and fans’ eyes. Her complete package helped her best her third-place finish from the 2022 Wellness International.
Gillis’s win at the 2023 Arnold Classic makes her the biggest threat to Mattos’s Olympia crown at the 2023 Olympia, scheduled for Nov 2-5 in Orlando, FL. Will Gillis shatter Matto’s dreams to become the first three-time Wellness Olympia champ, or will Mattos prevail at the Super Bowl of bodybuilding? You’ll have to stay tuned to Fitness Volt to find out.
2023 Arnold Classic Day One Results
Catch full coverage of the 2023 Arnold Classic, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final and full results at our Arnold Classic coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
Published: 3 March, 2023 | 10:05 PM EDT
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