Thread: IFBB Pro Women's BB: Was this interview the straw that broke the camel's back?

The following interview appears on MD's message board and was initially posted on May 30, 2009.

See http://forums.musculardevelopment.co...2827-Iris-Kyle

IFBB Pro Women's BB: Was this interview the straw that broke the camel's back?

5 Questions with Iris Kyle
by Shawn Ray

1) You have won the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia many times over, is there anything other than that, that gets you out of bed each day?

A) Yes, Shawn, you are absolutely correct. I am fortunate to have won the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia my fair share of times, and when I say fair share, I mean I earned each and every one with total passion, patience and perseverance.

Besides all the hard work and the time it takes to prepare, I manage to still follow God's will through prayer, helping others by donating to different charities events, staying in close ties with family and friends along with managing my online training and nutritional business.

Also, I have x amount of clients I train in the gym. I refrain from taking on too many clients at once, due to my other obligations internationally with my sponsors PNP Nutrition. So I do experience high volume of travels through out the year in UK market hosting training and nutritional seminars.

Although most of my time is devoted in the health and fitness industry, I still find time to help others find their dream home. I am a real estate agent with ERA Realty. Showing homes is an equal love to working out.

Witnessing my body transform beyond belief and helping others gain something they can call home, they're both equally mind-blowing and fulfilling to say the least.

2) What would you like to accomplish that you haven't already before your competitive career onstage is over?

A) Shawn, Shawn, Shawn, come on now, I think most who follow the woman sport closely know the answer to this question, but to hear it from me, Iris, would only confirm my exact intentions.

As I always said, as the Lord is my witness, my provider, protector, teacher and my leader, he has it all planned out for me. And if everything goes as planned, I would like to accomplish winning the Ms. Olympia four more times, being crown the all-time best female Bodybuilder in the history of the sport.

And leaving the sport on top as a champ is something that's rarely obtainable. I'm hoping to retire due to goals being accomplished, not because my days were numbered.

3) What would you like to see happen within Women's Bodybuilding before your time is up to improve it?

A) First and foremost, I am honored to be a part of such a small elite class of female athletes. A lot women take a lifetime just trying to remain in decent shape for not only themselves, but their male companion.

Now, the real issue here is the current status of women's bodybuilding. Hey, Shawn, a blind man can answer that question. Personally, it down right "SUCKS" in a major way.

Our biggest problem is very few shows are held through out the calendar year, then the show which are held the prize money is a freakin' joke. The amount of money being paid? It takes that amount and some to properly prepare yourself.

The killer part to all this is the promoters holding the shows are not willing to pay for any of the athletes expenses, that's three whammies in one. So NUMBER ONE issue for change is prize money needs to be increased tremendously including more shows offered.

Another concern us women are enduring is sponsorships. The doors opening up for the women is a thing of the past. It would have been great if the opportunity would had permitted itself to know exactly what it takes to be accepted by the different sponsors. By all means, I am for certain, the majority of us women would have followed suit.

Unfortunately, doors were gracefully shut in our face without the least bit of reasons. It's sad to say but it's definitely true. You have male athletes with multiple sponsorships, half of which are amateurs or others who are remotely undeserving credible candidates.

Therefore, number two issue for change is more sponsorships offered for women athletes.

Being a professional athlete, and one of the best in the world, I would think I could pick up any of the latest magazines and notice an article or two on me. Nope! Hell, now its seem to be a crime to place us women athletes in the magazine.

How can we survive the no coverage epidemic? We cannot at this rate. Our only recourse is to follow similar steps like Denise Masino by establishing our own magazine. That way we can guarantee a reasonable amount of coverage.

The perfect solution—the bottom line—is we need more support. I mean proper and real support. Someone who actually cares about the women's sport. That support can start from the people in those particular areas of decision making. It can happen, that's far from the problem, but the question that remains is, do the people in the organization want it to happen?

Therefore, third change needed is yearly magazine coverage, not just during contest season. Now, the improvement part of the sport will always start by showing women the same respect as the other athletes. We work as hard, or harder, so it's only fair to give women athletes their just due.

We are not asking for anything any different than what is being given to the male athletes including Figure and Fitness athletes. Sure the prize money will always be slightly different, but the amount given today is something we as athletes and supporters, agree is definitely despicable.

I think the organization needs to take a step outside the box, allowing the public to get more involved. The more the main media are aware of women athletes, the easier it becomes for the regular old Joe's and Jane's to get accustomed to us.

Just like everything else that's being accepted in society. If you can remember, not so long ago, the gay community had the hardest time being accepted. Kudos to them for holding their ground, by not being afraid of the aftermath.

So what happened to the gay community for holding their ground? Well, after it was all said and done, the public look upon the gay community as another part of society.

With that being said, I think the IFBB organization needs to let go, allow us women to blossom into a beautiful flourish like flowers with muscles and I guarantee we will win the rest of the world over.

Only time can bring about a change. Shawn, I can go on for days on ideas for improvement, I just think the most important improvement we all should practice, that goes for all mankind, is "To do unto others as you would want others to do unto you."

Keeping that motto in mind everything else will take its course as it should. The final change is more support and real support from the IFBB organization.

4) Tell me about the passion that drives and has sustained your career?

A) I think we all have a purpose in life, or should I say journey, where you come to halt and say okay and you're looking for the next fix of depending on something or someone to fuel, fill, love, accept and acknowledge you, believe in you, value, appreciate and respect you.

In other words, I have come to a place where I am the only one other than God who is truly responsible for initiating and controlling the outcome and destination of my own happiness. Being created with a purpose, uniqueness and predestined path and future for our lives, I became aware that everything that has been programmed in my mind, heart and soul has mostly come from the families or the belief systems I grew up with.

I have learned that weakness can turn into strengths. I learned that personal attacks such as prejudices, judgments, assumptions, opinions and perceptions as well as ignorance, envy, jealousy, disrespect and discrediting are truly not about me. It's really about the person who is delivering the negative and toxic message.

I have a choice whether to receive it or not. I take all the good and the bad, tie it together, and I establish endless will power to go through things instead of around them which places me in the position I have currently achieved.

The bottom line Shawn, I learned that trials and hardships are really training tools for growth, maturity and for the development of character. Don't sweat the small stuff! Some things are not in your control. Words can be powerful, they can speak life to build up one another or they can destroy. Life is a journey, but is also a gift therefore my gift from the Lord is to create my own happiness.

5) Three things you want to do in this industry that you haven't already done before you pass the torch?

A) Three things I'd like to do before passing the torch.

1. Open a wellness facility for men and women with low self esteem and health issues.

2. Host mini camps nationwide for all walks of life, which reminds me, Cathy LeFrancois and me are in the midst of working out the kinks on our first mini camp to debut sometime after 2009 Olympia weekend.

3. Promote my own contest and fitness clothing line. And a bonus thing is to have a book written about my history in the sport.

Thank you,
S RAY

Good job