Bodybuilding returned to the Windy City.
Last updated on July 20th, 2025
Rosemont, IL, was the host city for the 2025 Chicago Pro on July 18-19. The event hosted 2025 Olympia qualifiers for three men’s and five women’s IFBB Professional League divisions. The annual Men’s Open contest was not held for this show, but fans saw over 140 pros grace the stage in the eight featured contests.
The 212 division was a headliner. Frankie Mercado emerged as champion, qualifying him for the 212 Olympia.
2025 Chicago Pro Results
The full results and the other seven divisions are below:
212 Bodybuilding
- Frankie Mercado (USA)
- Bo Lewis (USA)
- Dwayne Quamina (USA)
- Jose Marte (USA)
- Elijah Saddler (USA)
- Filippe Abreu (Brazil)
- Anthony Plaza (USA)
- Gary Ullrich (USA)
- Kevin Johnson (USA)
- Sealy Cruz (USA)
Classic Physique
- Kellen Wilson (Canada)
- Samuel Paquin (Canada)
- Marof Montanary (USA)
- Nick Koeu (USA)
- Robert Lawrence (USA)
- Matt Norman (USA)
- Kane Bieghler (USA)
- Camilo Diaz (Colombia)
- Dave Rienzi (USA)
- Wagnao Abreu (Brazil)
- Rob Van Sant (USA)
- Mark Vasylenko (USA)
- Kevin Stutz (Austria)
- Michael Reilly (USA)
- Damien Patrick (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Jonathan Allen (USA)
- Irfan Asghar (USA)
- Lorenza Brown (USA)
- Jorge Guerrero (Mexico)
- Kelvin Hinde (UK)
- Greg Larson (USA)
- Kiyoshi Moody (USA)
- Phong Nguyen (USA)
- Artem Piari (USA)
- Alex Pomeroy (USA)
- Tyler Sibley (USA)
- Derrick Simmons (USA)
Men’s Physique
- Aj Ellison (USA)
- Burak King (USA)
- Dan Ibrahim (USA)
- Shaun Blokker (USA)
- Dustin Nahale (USA)
- Marcel Treichler (Switzerland)
- Vaughn Walker (USA)
- Donald Johnson (USA)
- Ryan Jones (USA)
- Rayan Awad (USA)
- Ryan Sibley (USA)
- Travis Cleveland (USA)
- David Sykes (USA)
Women’s Bodybuilding
- Melissa Teich (USA)
- Kristina Mendoza (USA)
- Anastasia Rider (USA)
- Tina Williams (USA)
- Fabiana Dos Anjos (USA)
- Monica Vega (USA)
- Nidia Hermosilla Ocampos (Paraguay)
- Cristina Arellano (USA)
Figure
- Aksana Yukhno (USA)
- Elizabeth Nieder (USA)
- Nicole Zenobia Graham (USA)
- Danielle Rose (USA)
- Madison Dinges (USA)
- Jessica Baltazar (USA)
- Tereza Linhartova (Czech Republic)
- Adela Diaz (USA)
- Carissa Walmsley (USA)
- Leah Sterling (Canada)
- Chie Nadeshiko (USA)
- Yolanda Leotta (USA)
- Veronica Gallego Garcia (Spain)
- Candace Blau (USA)
- Viviane Sajousse (USA)
Tied for 16th
- Mariko Augurson (USA)
- Saundra Clarke (USA)
- Edith Davis (USA)
- Rebecca Godwin (USA)
- Nelly Gonzalez (Mexico)
- Sassy Hansen (USA)
- Giselie Heathcote (Canada)
- Samantha Jenkins (USA)
- Jennifer Johnson (USA)
- Claudia Knowles (USA)
- Andi Lampart (USA)
- Yinet Rodriguez (USA)
- Chey Wiegand (USA)
- Paige Wirtz (USA)
Bikini
- Kate Carroll (New Zealand)
- Savannah Dolezal (USA)
- Marie-Eve Duchesneau (Canada)
- Savannah Watchman (USA)
- Jessica Nicole Dolias (USA)
- Jodie Yuncker (USA)
- Vanessa Guzman (USA)
- Uliana Stadnik (USA)
- Samantha McNamara (USA)
- Kristen Reilly (USA)
- Oliwia Dobrowolska (Poland)
- Sydney Zaragoza (USA)
- Renata Guimaraes (USA)
- Priscila Vega (Mexico)
- Joanna Jean (Canada)
Tied for 16th
- Tomo Hashimoto (Japan)
- Oksana Kulpa (USA)
Women’s Physique
- Paula Ranta (Finland)
- Marika Beal (USA)
- Heather Grace (USA)
- Donna Jones (USA)
- Eileen Aviles (USA)
- Daphney Holmes (USA)
- Natalia Morrell (USA)
- Natalie Rae Wolfe (USA)
- Vallie Eden (USA)
- Jess Uribe (USA)
- Katrina Blackburn (USA)
- Kimberly Drizen (USA)
- Kristine Salinas (USA)
- Stacey Lewis (USA)
- Karla Melissa Torre Cruz (Mexico)
Tied for 16th
- Evangeline Belton (USA)
- Catherine Castles (Australia)
- Carrie Gearing (USA)
- Nicole Lareau (USA)
- Tamsen Larsen (USA)
- Oksana Piari (USA)
- Christine Porter (USA)
- April Rule (USA)
Wellness
- Liza Kazanina (Ukraine)
- Morgane Germier (France)
- Emily King (Australia)
- Nuannaree Olsen (Thailand)
- Jamie McKenzie (USA)
- Simara Walter (Brazil)
- Lili Dong (USA)
- Ruth Bentson (USA)
- Pam Lomba (USA)
- Rachael Wojtysiak (USA)
- Annastasia Young (USA)
- Clarissa Sanchez (Puerto Rico)
- Amanda Burnett (USA)
- Dove Putterman (Canada)
- Miriam Talamantes Soto (Mexico)
Tied for 16th
- Abbie Elsner (USA)
- Amber Engle (USA)
- Gina Ferrigno (USA)
- Jamilia Murphy (USA)
[Related: Bodybuilding Legend Victor Martinez in Recovery Following Medical Emergency]
212 Bodybuilding Winner — Frankie Mercado
Mercado, a newcomer to the pro ranks, pulled off a big upset over runner-up Bo Lewis. Mercado admitted not liking his back poses, but kept displaying more detail as the competition progressed. He scored his first pro win and Olympia qualification.
Classic Physique Winner — Kellen Wilson
Kellen Wilson and Samuel Paquin were the final two in the Classic Physique showdown, but the judges, including head judge Steve Weinberger, unanimously gave Wilson the win.
Wilson qualified for the Classic Physique Olympia for the second consecutive year.
Men’s Physique Winner — AJ Ellison
The Men’s Physique show was the closest on the men’s side of the stage. A single point separated AJ Ellison and Burak King.
Ellison got the nod in the Open and Masters divisions, qualifying him for the Olympia and Masters Olympia in Tokyo, Japan, in August.
Women’s Bodybuilding Winner — Melissa Teich
With this win, Melissa Teich became the 10th competitor to qualify for the Ms. Olympia. This is her third Olympia qualification but her first in this division.
Teich competed in Women’s Physique before moving to Women’s Bodybuilding in 2023.
Figure Winner — Aksana Yukhno
The Figure division had a competitive lineup of 29 athletes, but Aksana Yukhno emerged victorious. Silver went to Elizabeth Nieder, and bronze went to 2025 Body Be 1 Classic Pro winner Nicole Zenobia Graham. Even though Graham did not win this contest, she remains qualified for the Figure Olympia.
Bikini Winner — Kate Carroll
Kate Carroll ranked 15th at the 2025 Republic of Texas Pro but came in leaner for this contest to take her first Chicago Pro title. Her tan looked better, helping secure her second Olympia qualification.
Women’s Physique Winner — Paula Ranta
Women’s Physique winner Paula Rants was most recently on the Olympia stage as a Figure competitor in 2022. She earned her first win in her new category and has already verified she will enter the Women’s Physique Olympia.
Wellness Winner — Liza Kazanina
2024 Amateur Olympia winner Liza Kazanina made her IFBB Professional League debut with a win to qualify as a Wellness Olympia participant.
Other Notes
The event was livestreamed. Replays are available to purchase through the event’s website.
Classic Physique athlete Eric Berger announced his retirement from competition following this contest. Berger competed at the pro level from 2019 through 2025 in the Men’s Bodybuilding, 212, and Classic Physique divisions as both an Open and Masters competitor.
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Featured Image: @vincent.dutilly on Instagram
