Erin Stern (born February 5, 1980) is an American IFBB fitness professional and two-time Figure Olympia champion. She is a self-proclaimed lifetime natural athlete and now competes in the IFBB bikini division.[2]
Erin Elyse Stern was born to a religious Reform Jewish family and attended a religious school. Her parents were both athletic; father formerly played football for C.W. Post and Adelphi University, and her mother ran three miles a day. She started horse riding in competitions at a young age, and later developed a passion for running, just like her mother, which led her to her track career.[3]
Education & track career
Encouraged by her father, Stern earned a collegiate division I track and field scholarship to the University of Florida where she attended from 1999 to 2002.[4] She competed in the high jump and earned Junior All-American status.[5] She hit her high mark of 5-8.75 as a freshman, but later broke her foot and didn't hit a personal best again until six years later, competing in amateur competitions, clearing 5-11, which would have been good enough to win the SEC championship in three of her four years at school.[4]
She graduated with a BA in Environmental Policy.[2]
In 2008, Stern missed the chance to try for the US Olympic team as a high jumper by just 3 centimeters.[2]
Bodybuilding career
Stern started bodybuilding in 2008 after feeling like she had reached her potential in the high jump.[6] That same year, she won every amateur competition she entered, including winning the overall title at NPC Nationals in Atlanta and earning her pro card.[4]
In March 2009, she made her pro debut at the Arnold Classic. She placed tenth at that competition but moved up to second place at the Arnold the following year.[2] She made her Olympia debut in 2009, placing sixth and getting named Rookie of the Year.[3] She then went on to win her first Figure Olympia title in 2010 and won again in 2012.[7]
Stern had always competed in the figure division until she transitioned to the bikini division in 2020, where she continues to compete today.[8]
Stern is the author of three books: MPower Your Life (April 2015), The Bodybuilder’s Kitchen (Alpha, April 2018) and Train Like a Bodybuilder (Alpha, July 2019).[9]
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