Pamela Kusar of the United States took the gold medal with an upset win over world champion Utako Mizuma in the women's lightweight class at the sixth World Games in Akita Prefecture on Sunday. Mizuma was disappointed after placing second in the 52-kilogram weight class competition at Akita City Culture Hall, followed by Germany's Sandra Weber who was third.
Kusar, a veteran bodybuilder of 14 years who won her first championship after competing in six world tournaments, said all of her hard work had finally paid off. Athletes in bodybuilding are judged based on bulk, balance and expressiveness in posing. Competitors must have powerful muscles and lean bodies without excess fat. They should also have defined muscle lines where the veins are visible.
Japan got another pair of medals in the men's competition, where Yoshihiro Yano and Makoto Tashiro picked up silver and bronze behind Germany's Andreas Becker in the 75 kg.