1984 IFBB Women’s Amateur World Championships

Sunny Brisbane, Australia, played host to the second IFBB World Amateur Women’s Championships, staged by Paul and Carole Graham. With two weight classes to separate a total of 27 top competitors from 17 countries, the event enjoyed a quality of athlete of the highest caliber.

In a very tough lightweight class, Holland’s Ellen Van Maris was a comfortable gold medal winner over hometown favorite Erika Geisen of Australia.  The bronze medal for third went to Belgium’s Christine Laurant.
Ellen Van Maris would later move into the pro ranks enjoying a successful career that included a runner-up finish to Cory Everson at the 1987 Ms. Olympia. In 1986, Erika Geisen would also turn pro and become the first winner of the IFBB Ms. International in Columbus, Ohio.

Ellen’s dynamic presence in six straight Ms. Olympia contests from 1984 to 1989 helped redefine what women could achieve muscularly.

The middleweight class produced an equally impressive winner in American Clare Furr.  From Louisiana, Furr became the first American to win a gold medal at the IFBB World Amateur Championships. She also finished second to Cory Everson at the 1986 Ms. Olympia.

This video presents the complete women’s contest from Round 1 through to the final awards.

Photos courtesy WPW Magazine.

1984 IFBB Women’s Amateur World Championships – Results

HeavyWeight
1. Clare Furr   (USA)
2. Pirjo Haapolo   (Finland)
3. Dominique Darde   (France)
4. Asa Gillberg   (Sweden)
5. Hildegard Schaeffer   (Germany)
6. Velma Buckles   (USA)
7. Anita Pinnock   (United Kingdom)
8. Patsy Delaender   (Belgium)
9. Deanna Panting   (Canada)
10. Connie Heusdans   (Netherlands)
11. Prudence Ravasi   (Switzerland)
12. Suzy Martin   (Australia)
13. Pam Wilkins   (Australia)
14. Susan Alderton   (New Zealand)

LightWeight
1. Ellen Van Maris   (Netherlands)
2. Erica Giesen   (Australia)
3. Christine Laurent   (Belgium)
4. Camilla Palazzi   (Sweden)
5. Liv Sundby   (Norway)
6. Helene Calmel   (France)
7. Kornelia Kindbeiter   (Germany)
8. Glennis Frazer   (New Zealand)
9. Chris Wesenberg   (Canada)
10. Masami Kitazawa   (Japan)
11. Rachel Williams   (Singapore)
12. Jeanette Cartledge   (Australia)
13. Dolores Bertoni   (New Caledonia)