Andrea Shaw had won the Rising Phoenix World Championships in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Her winning streak was broken in 2024. Angela Yeo won the contest. Fans were wondering what exactly happened. A successful athlete is bound to have some losses. Winning all the time is not possible considering a number of factors. Andrea Shaw got second place in the 2024 Rising Phoenix Championships. This should not be considered a decline in performance. Various factors explain the contest results. The apparent explanation was Andrea’s physique. It was not different compared to her 2020 to 2021 version. Andrea Shaw made changes based on the judges preferences in the 2022 to 2023 period. Instead of listening to them, she worked with her coach to regain her 2020 to 2021 version of physique. Angela Yeo is becoming a formidable force in the sport. Andrea Shaw now has a rival that can be a genuine threat. How a contest is judged also decides the outcome. The lowest Andrea Shaw placed was an 11th place in a physique contest in 2019. Ever since she has mostly won first place. The outcome of the 2025 Rising Phoenix, might see Andrea retake first place. Despite the lost contest, Andrea Shaw still won the 2024 Ms. Olympia.
Andrea’s physique was different in the 2024 Rising Phoenix World Championships. Comparing photos shows this. Her muscle size was off. Symmetry and definition were fine, but her physique was not the way it was in 2020 to 2021. It was not a massive reduction of muscle mass, but slight enough for dedicated fans to notice. Looking at her lower body, more mass was added to her legs for the 2024 Ms. Olympia .
Second Place – Certain fans had an overreaction to Andrea’s placing in the contest. The most mendacious claim was that Andrea Shaw has reached a nadir.
Andrea’s torso was a bit smaller during the 2024 Rising Phoenix World Championships. The difference is slight, however compared to her Ms. Olympia appearance she was fuller. Andrea’s physique on had minor size differences, which she corrected. The reason for this change was following the dictates of the judges. Often contradictory or inconsistent this can confuse competitors. Angela Yeo went on stage with a massive physique and won. Andrea made the required changes and then was victorious at the Ms. Olympia. This indicates that the Rising Phoenix World Championships prefers a smaller physique compared to the Ms. Olympia.
Angela Yeo has officially become Andrea’s main rival. The only description that is comparable is Lenda Murray and Laura Creavalle in the 1990s. Angela Yeo fills a similar role as a threat to the current champion. Angela Yeo has the size, shape, and symmetry to make her formidable. The 2024 Rising Phoenix World Championships was not an error or a random fluke. Angela had a chance of repeating this at the 2024 Ms. Olympia. Andrea Shaw learned from the previous loss and did the necessary changes.
Andrea and Angela are official rivals on the bodybuilding stage.
Andrea Shaw was still challenged at the Ms. Olympia contest. Competing is not easy; champions just make it look that way. During the pose off between Angela and Andrea both had all the proper elements for a bodybuilding physique. What was noticeable is that Andrea had just a little more definition. This was seen in the abdominals. When it comes to size and symmetry both are close to being on the same level. Angela Yeo showed her talent. Fans and judges just did not notice until the 2024 Rising Phoenix World Championships.
Some fans question the judging. The debate relates to the subjective nature of the sport. Then there is another factor. With so many high quality physiques on stage, it become difficult to make a selection. Comparing both Andrea Shaw and Angela Yeo in contest would be a challenge for any judge. Speculation was that Andrea was given second place, because the judges wanted a change. No evidence sports this theory. Some cited that Andrea Shaw might have lost due to her back poses. Different judges may favor certain competitors, even if they are following the same guidelines. Based on the information available that was not the case for the 2024 Rising Phoenix World Championships. Andrea Shaw probably could as a strategy just skip the Rising Phoenix World Championships and focus on the Ms. Olympia. Lenda Murray never competed in the Ms. International. Andrea Shaw has a lifetime qualification for competing in the Ms. Olympia. However, she likes having both titles. This is similar to Iris Kyle during the 2000s to 2010s. Iris Kyle after winning the Olympia in 2004, lost it in 2005. A single loss is not the end of the world. It does demonstrate how judging can be inconsistent or ambiguous. At times outcomes of contest depend on who the judges are, not how closely an athlete follows the criteria.
The 2025 Rising Phoenix World Championships are going to be fascinating. Andrea Shaw will most likely seeking to recapture the title. The task will not be simple seeing as Angela Yeo is a capable competitor. Margie Martin was the first Rising Phoenix World Championships winner. Helle Trevino and Alina Popa won the contest, but by 2020 Andrea Shaw dominated. A four year winning streak was stopped by Angela Yeo. Fans would call this an upset, rather it is an exciting development. Andrea Shaw and Angela Yeo are going to provide great entertainment in the next contests. Andrea is probably more motivated to win the Rising Phoenix World Championships. Angela Yeo understands that retaining a rank requires meticulous work. Andrea Shaw was not slipping; she got a push to become even better. Andrea Shaw can win the Rising Phoenix World Championships again . All Andrea has to do is follow the same approach when she won the 2024 Ms. Olympia.