Iris Kyle

Iris Kyle[1]
— Bodybuilder —
Personal info
Nickname Chocolate Chip,[2] The female Ronnie Coleman, Game Over, Iron Maiden, Olympia[3][4][5][6]
Born (1974-08-22) August 22, 1974[1]
Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.[1]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[7]
Weight In Season: 157–165 lb (71–75 kg)
Off-Season: 175–180 lb (79–82 kg)[7][8][9][10]
Professional career
Pro-debut IFBB Ms. International[11], 1999[11]
Best win IFBB Ms. Olympia champion[11], 2001 (Heavyweight only), 2004 (Heavyweight and overall), 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014[11]
Predecessor Valentina Chepiga
Lenda Murray
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia[11]
Successor Lenda Murray
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
None[11]
Active Since 1994[11]

Iris Floyd Kyle[12] (born August 22, 1974) is an American professional female bodybuilding champion.[13] She currently lives in Katy, Texas.[14] Currently, she is the most successful, female or male, professional bodybuilder ever, with ten overall Ms. Olympia wins and two heavyweight wins, along with seven Ms. International wins and one heavyweight win.[11][15] She ranks as the best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List.[16]

Early life and education

Iris Kyle was born in 1974 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the fifth of six children. Her early athletic endeavors included running cross country, basketball (point guard), and softball (shortstop). She was an All-American in basketball, and received a number of athletic scholarship offers. Iris attended Benton Harbor High School continued her education at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, on a basketball scholarship, majoring in business administration and minoring in accounting.[1][16][17]

Bodybuilding career

Amateur

Iris Kyle claims the reason she got into bodybuilding was when she moved to Orange County, California, and being surrounded by fit, healthy-looking people, she thought she could obtain a similar highly trained, sculpted physique. Iris recalls, she walked into a gym and took out a membership. "I distinctly remember being a bit overwhelmed with the facilities and the seemingly endless variety of training equipment, but I knew at that exact moment … without feeling even the slightest doubt … that I could develop the kind of physique I wanted." says Iris. She was later hired by the same gym and, as an employee, got more opportunities for training and growth. She became a voracious reader of the magazines FLEX, Muscle and Fitness, and Iron Man.

Iris recalls, "I remember the first time I saw a photograph of Lenda Murray in a magazine. I was in complete awe," Iris also recalls "I cut out that picture and placed it on my refrigerator and, from that point on, my goal was to develop a physique like hers." One day, a local promoter named Butch Dennis was in her gym and, after sizing Iris up, suggested she enter a competition he was doing in 10 weeks, the Long Beach Muscle Classic. Kyle won her first contest, the 1994 Long Beach Muscle Classic. Since 1994, Iris was advised and coached by professional bodybuilder Patrick Lynn. She earned her IFBB pro card at the age of 23 by winning the heavyweight class and overall title at the 1998 NPC USA Championship in Las Vegas.[1][18][19][20]

Professional

1999–2001

Kyle has had a series of high placings as a professional. With the exception of the 1999 and 2008 Ms. Internationals, Iris has always placed in the top six in every IFBB pro bodybuilding competition in which she competed. At the 2000 Ms International, Tazzie Colomb and Kyle were both disqualified for diuretic use.[21] Kyle won her first professional contest at the 2001 Ms. Olympia, winning the heavyweight title, but losing the overall Olympia title to Juliette Bergmann. Looking back, Iris maintains, "I sincerely believe that I was the rightful 2001 Overall Ms. Olympia. I’m not saying Juliette didn’t display a nice overall package; I’m just saying I believe my physique was better."[1]

2002–2005

In 2002, Lenda Murray returned from retirement to reclaim her Ms. Olympia title in 2002 and 2003, with Iris coming in second both times behind her idol. In 2004, Iris won both the overall and heavyweight titles of Ms. International and went on to beat Murray and win the overall and heavyweight title of the 2004 Ms. Olympia. In 2005, Iris skipped the Ms. International, and focused defending her Olympia title. However, in 2005, the IFBB changed the rules and abolished the weight class system for Ms. Olympia, along with the new '20 percent rule' requesting "that female athletes in Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure decrease the amount of muscularity by a factor of 20%". This allowed Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia to win both the 2005 Ms. International and dethrone Iris at the 2005 Ms. Olympia.[1]

2006–2014

In 2006, Iris rebounded by regaining both her Ms. International and Ms. Olympia titles. In 2007, she again won both Ms. International and Ms. Olympia.[1] There was a bit of a controversy at the 2008 Ms. International. Iris was placed seventh due to "bumps" on her glutes which according to head IFBB judge, Sandy Ranalli, caused “distortions in her physique”,[22] but rebounded at the 2008 Ms. Olympia by winning the show. Kyle went on to win both 2009 Ms. International and 2009 Ms. Olympia titles in the same year. At the 2010 Ms. International, Iris won her fifth Ms. International, surpassing Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia's four Ms. International wins, becoming the most successful Ms. International champion ever. She has gone on to win the 2010 Ms. Olympia and 2011 Ms. International and 2011 Ms. Olympia.[11] In 2012, she could not attend the 2012 Ms. International due to a leg injury.[23] Iris went on to win the 2012 Ms. Olympia and regained her Ms. Intentional title in 2013. In 2013, she won her ninth overall Ms. Olympia, making her the most successful female professional bodybuilder of all time. In 2014, she won her tenth overall Ms. Olympia title, breaking her own previous record of nine overall Ms. Olympia titles.[11]

First retirement

After winning her tenth overall Ms. Olympia title, Iris stated that she was retiring from bodybuilding.[24]

2015–present

On September 25, 2015, in an interview with Dave Palumbo, Kyle announced she will be coming out of retirement to compete at the 2016 Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World Championships.[25]

In the Winter 2016 edition of Muscle Sport Magazine, Iris Kyle, in an interview with Joe Pietaro, criticized the IFBB for its treatment of female bodybuilders and called for the reaction of a union and ambassador for female bodybuilders.[26]

Currently, Kyle is the most successful, male or female professional bodybuilder ever.[11][15] She ranks as the best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List.[16]

Number of titles

Kyle has won seventeen overall IFBB professional titles and three IFBB professional heavyweight titles, which is more IFBB professional overall wins than any female bodybuilder. Of those wins she has ten overall Ms. Olympia titles, and has two professional heavyweight wins in her weight class. Between 2000 and 2004, there were two weight classes, and from 2001–04, there was an overall winner between the two class winners. In 2001, she won the heavyweight class, but lost the overall Ms. Olympia title to the lightweight winner Juliette Bergmann. This discrepancy has led to confusion in various sport publications as to the number of Ms. Olympia titles Kyle has won. She also has the most consecutive Olympia wins, with nine, dating 2006 to 2014. She also has seven Ms. International overall wins with one heavyweight win, more than any female bodybuilder.[11][15]

Competition history

Actress career

Iris Kyle appeared as the character "Dina" in the film We Are Sisyphos.[27]

Television appearances

On September 9, 2008, Iris Kyle made an appeared on episode 9, The Special Episode, of season 1 of the show, Wipeout.[28] During the episode she suffered an accident on a water slide in which several of her ribs were broken. Ms. Kyle was also constantly referred to as "he" by one of the shows hosts.[28] On September 16, 2008, her appearance was featured the top 25 moments of episode 11, Top 25 Moments, of season 1 of the show, Wipeout.[29] In an interview with RX Muscle Girls Inc. (with hosts Colette Nelson and Krissy Chin), Kyle revealed that she was invited back for another appearance on Wipeout due to the popularity of her episode. Ms. Kyle declined, citing the possibility of another injury and the lack of respect she received from the shows hosts.[30][31]

Real estate agent career

Iris is a real estate agent with ERA Realty.[32]

Personal life

Kyle is a Baptist and routinely thanks the Lord after winning competitions. She always starts her day off with a prayer and a reading from the Bible. Sunday is her rest day and at least every other Sunday she attends church.[33] Her current boyfriend is bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi, she had previously dated bodybuilder John Sherman.[34] Despite having described her political views as liberal,[35] she voted for fellow bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, for Governor of California.[36] Since July 1998, she has been an advanced personal trainer who runs her own business, Healthier by Choice, an online training & nutritional business.[37][38] Since September 2011, she has been a promoter of the company Visalus.[37][39] Since 2013, Iris has been the co-owner of Bodi Cafe, a smoothie cafe in the City Athletic Club in Las Vegas, Nevada.[40][41] She is also sponsors PNP Nutrition.[32] She is fluent in English, German, and Spanish.[35][42] Iris currently lives in Katy, Texas[14] and has previously been a resident of Cypress, Texas; Glen Flora, Texas; Fullerton, California; Huntington Beach, California (where she is the co-owner of the "No Mercy" Gym); Henderson, Nevada; Houston, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; Tustin, California and Westminster, California.[1][1][12][18][37][43][44]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Iris Kyle, Ms. Olympia". IFBB Pro. April 8, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ About
  3. ↑ Iris Kyle Takes the Ms Olympia!
  4. ↑ Iris Kyle Runs Away with Ms. International – Again!
  5. ↑ 2013 Ms. International Finals: Iris Kyle Wins Her 7th In Style
  6. ↑ Afwwrestling Iris Kyle
  7. 1 2 A few Q's
  8. ↑ How much do you weigh?
  9. ↑ "Ms. Olympia Report By Bill Dobbins". billdobbins.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  10. ↑ 2008 Ms. Olympia Preview
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Iris Kyle – Ms. Olympia and Ms. International, IFBB Pro Bodybuilder". Iris Kyle.com. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Iris F Kyle". peoplefinders. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ "2010 Ms. International Preview". Flex Online. February 24, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  14. 1 2 "Iris Kyle – Ms. Olympia and Ms. International- VIP Members". Iris Kyle.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 "THE OZONE: IRIS KYLE MAKES HISTORY". Flex. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 "IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List". getbig.com. September 1, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Iris Kyle". AMG Lite. 2005. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  18. 1 2 3 "Female Bodybuilder Iris Kyle Tribute". criticalbench.com. April 12, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Female Bodybuilding Interview of the Month". fbbfan.com. November 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  20. ↑ Iris Kyle the women
  21. ↑ "THE IFBB MS. INTERNATIONAL 2000". billdobbins.com. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Iris Kyle Discusses Ms International Results with Pro Bodybuilding Weekly". MESO-Rx.
  23. ↑ "Muscle Gossip #49- Iris Kyle Injured". RX Muscle. 2012. Retrieved 2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  24. ↑ 2014 Olympia Weekend: Iris Kyle wins 10th title, announces retirement
  25. ↑ Iris Kyle Is Back: Exclusive Interview at City Athletic Club
  26. ↑ Muscle Sport Magazine Winter 2016
  27. ↑ "We Are Sisyphos (2014)". imdb.com. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  28. 1 2 Wipeout Season 1 Episode 9 Episode 109
  29. ↑ (Episode 11)
  30. ↑ ""Wipeout" Sneak: Iris". metacafe. June 12, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Muscle Girls Inc. (03–03–09): Iris Kyle and Monica Brant". RX Muscle Girls. March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  32. 1 2 "Iris Kyle". Muscular Development. May 30, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  33. ↑ "An Exclusive Interview With the Ms. Olympia Champion Iris Kyle". RX Muscle. February 5, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  34. ↑ Did Wings of Strength Push Iris Kyle Out?
  35. 1 2 "Iris Kyle". Facebook. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Iris Kyle meets Arnold Schwarzenegger at Arnolds Classic 2013". Youtube. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  37. 1 2 3 "iris kyle". Linkedin. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Iris Kyle". Iris Kyle.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Advanced Personal Trainer". Iris Kyle.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Iris Kyle – Ms. Olympia's 90day Health Challenge shared her photo.". Facebook. November 16, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Iris Kyle BodiCafe Co-Owner". Web.stagram. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Female Bodybuilding Interview of the Month". fbbfan.com. November 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Iris Kyle – Las Vegas, NV". mylife.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Iris Kyle Wins Ms International at the Arnold Sports Festival". docstoc.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.

External links

Ms. Olympia
Preceded by:
Valentina Chepiga		 First (2001) Succeeded by:
Lenda Murray
Preceded by:
Lenda Murray		 Second (2004) Succeeded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia		 Third (2006) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Fourth (2007) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Fifth (2008) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Sixth (2009) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Seventh (2010) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Eighth (2011) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Ninth (2012) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Tenth (2013) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Eleventh (2014) Succeeded by:
None
Ms. International
Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia		 First (2004) Succeeded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia		 Second (2006) Succeeded by:
Herself
Preceded by:
Herself		 Third (2007) Succeeded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia		 Fourth (2009) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Fifth (2010) Succeeded by:
Herself
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Herself		 Sixth (2011) Succeeded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia
Preceded by:
Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia		 Seventh (2013) Succeeded by:
None
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