By Gary Chappell
IN A sport that often rewards diplomacy over disruption, IFBB Pro Wellness athlete Carly Thornton Davies has thrown a very different kind of post-show message into the mix – apologising "on behalf" of the sport's media for not promoting her.
Fresh off her appearance at the Tanji Johnson Classic Pro in the USA, the veteran Wellness competitor took to Instagram and Threads with an emotional, unfiltered rant aimed at UK bodybuilding media.
Her frustration? A perceived lack of recognition and promotion from UK-based bodybuilding pages.
“Bodybuilding pages in the UK have let the fans and followers down and I apologise on their behalf,” she said. “No bodybuilding channel in the UK promoted me. I’ve been in the bodybuilding industry for over 20 years. I’m a legend. I’m a GOAT [Greatest Of All Time].”
The message quickly gained traction for its bluntness, with Thornton Davies doubling down on her long-term contribution to the sport and her perceived lack of return on that investment.
“I’ve been loyal to bodybuilding. I’ve shared so much fucking value throughout the years. Yeah, I get fuck nothing back,” she added. “I’m the UK’s No1 fitness model back in the day. I didn’t have no lucky tickets. Everything I’ve done, I’ve earned.”
While emotionally charged, her comments tap into a wider ongoing frustration some athletes feel around visibility, particularly in divisions such as Wellness, where UK coverage can be inconsistent compared to Men’s Open or Bikini.
Thornton Davies finished 16th in a stacked Wellness lineup at the Tanji Johnson Classic Pro in the US, a brutal international field where even seasoned athletes struggle to break into the top callouts.
While the domestic amateur circuit continues to surge, a small group of UK Pros tested themselves internationally over the same weekend, with mixed but valuable outcomes.
The standout British performance came from Sasan Heirati, who delivered a statement showing in a deep Men’s Open line-up. He made the final callouts and secured third place, finishing behind winner William Bonac and runner-up Edward Kargbo.
It is a significant result in one of the most competitive European stages of the season and further evidence that Heirati is steadily establishing himself as a legitimate top-tier Open contender.
Andy Scott continued his strong run of form with another 10th place in the Men's Open. A consistent presence on stage all season, Scott once again delivered a package that held its own in a deep line-up. Kemal Topaloglu was 15th.
Jordan Gomes also stepped into a loaded 212 lineup, placing seventh in a field packed with more than 20 athletes. Still early in his Pro journey, Gomes continues to gain valuable exposure at elite level, the kind of experience that tends to pay off later in the season.
And Michael Kent stepped into the biggest lineup of the day – a stacked Men’s Physique Open field of nearly 40 professionals – and immediately made his presence known.
A first callout appearance early in the prejudging signalled he was right in the conversation and he capitalised on that momentum to secure a 10th place in his season opener. Gabriel Ogunmakin finishes 12th, while Tamas Godo and Scott Martin placed joint 16th.
In the Men's Classic Physique, Ross Hume took 16th. Antonia Divers finished 16th in Women's Figure.
In Women's Bikini, Claire Murphy took fourth place in a field of 20, while Nikki Beattie finished 10th of 10 in Women's Physique. In Wellness, Chelsey Warnes took ninth place.
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