A previous neck injury will keep her off the stage.
Last updated on September 23rd, 2024
Three-time Fitness International champion Ariel Khadr is out of the 2024 Fitness Olympia, scheduled to be held on the weekend of Oct. 10-13, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV, as part of the 2024 Olympia.
- Khadr is dealing with a neck injury she previously suffered and recovered from.
That returning injury has forced her to step aside from the world championship competition. Her announcement can be seen below via her Instagram page.
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“In 2018, I discovered a severe neck issue that left surgeons telling me I needed surgery or risk paralysis. I chose to forego surgery & took all of 2019 to focus on recovery,” Khadr shared. “Against the odds, I competed again in 2020. Every year since I have also qualified for the Olympia. I’m most grateful for winning three consecutive Arnold titles, ‘22, ‘23, and ‘24. Becoming Ms. Fitness International will always be a dream come true.”
Khadr continued, “Unfortunately, my neck has become an issue again. Recently, I’ve been unable to train or practice my routine due to pain from these disc extrusions in my neck. After medical evaluation, I’ve made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2024 Fitness Olympia to prioritize my health. This is one of the hardest realities to accept, but health comes first.”
Khadr did not share if she has a return date to the stage in mind. She has competed in the IFBB Pro League since she earned her pro card in 2009 at the age of 17. She was the youngest athlete to turn pro in IFBB history.
Khadr has seven career pro wins, including three Fitness International titles from the Arnold Classic. She has been on the Olympia stage seven times, finishing as high as third in 2022.
Olympia Quick Look
Khadr is the second athlete out of the 2024 Fitness Olympia lineup. Five-time defending champion Oksana Grishina is expecting a child and will not compete. Three-time Fitness Olympia winner Whitney Jones qualified for the 2024 contest but is not listed on the roster of competitors, meaning she is not expected to compete.
2020 and 2022 Olympia winner Missy Truscott and 2023 Olympia runner-up Taylor Learmont are the early favorites of the 12 remaining contenders to win in Las Vegas. Truscott has been recovering from an injury she suffered during the 2023 Fitness Olympia, which left her unable to finish the competition.
Learmont is coming off a win at the 2024 Titans Grand Prix show in Anaheim, CA, on Sept. 21, 2024, making her the first athlete to qualify for the 2025 Fitness Olympia.
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Featured Image: @itsarielkhadr on Instagram
