View source for Bev Francis

{{Short description|Australian bodybuilder and powerlifter}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox bodybuilder
| image            = Bev Francis with Dr. DeFabio.jpg
| name             = Bev Francis
| caption          = Francis interviewed in 2011
| nickname         = 
| birth_name       = Beverley May Francis
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|02|15}}
| birth_place      = [[Geelong|Geelong, Victoria]], Australia
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| height           = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}<ref name="bev's last stand" />
| weight           = {{convert|160|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="bev's last stand" />
| firstproshow     = Caesars World Cup
| firstproshowyear = 1983<ref name="Musclememory" />
| bestwin          = IFBB World Pro Championships
| bestwinyear      = 1987<ref name="Musclememory" />
| predecessor      = [[Juliette Bergmann]]<ref name="Musclememory" />
| successor        = [[Dona Oliveira]]<ref name="Musclememory" />
| yesorretiredyear = Retired 1991<ref name="bev's last stand" />
}}

{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport | Women's [[powerlifting]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[International Powerlifting Federation|IPF]] Women's World Powerlifting Championships }}
{{MedalGold | 1980 Lowell | [[List of world championships medalists in powerlifting (women)#Category 75 kg|{{convert|75|kg|abbr=on}}]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1981 Honolulu | [[List of world championships medalists in powerlifting (women)#Category 82.5 kg|{{convert|82.5|kg|abbr=on}}]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1982 Birmingham | [[List of world championships medalists in powerlifting (women)#Category 75 kg|{{convert|75|kg|abbr=on}}]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1983 Adelaide | [[List of world championships medalists in powerlifting (women)#Category 82.5 kg|{{convert|82.5|kg|abbr=on}}]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1984 Santa Monica | [[List of world championships medalists in powerlifting (women)#Category 82.5 kg|{{convert|82.5|kg|abbr=on}}]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1985 Vienna | [[List of world championships medalists in powerlifting (women)#Category 82.5 kg|{{convert|82.5|kg|abbr=on}}]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''Beverley''' "'''Bev'''" '''Francis''' (born 15 February 1955) is an Australian gym owner and retired [[female bodybuilding|professional bodybuilder]], [[powerlifting|powerlifter]], and national [[shot put]] champion.<ref name="abb_bio"/>

==Early life==
Beverley Francis<ref name="HoF" /> was born on 15 February 1955 in [[Geelong|Geelong, Victoria]], the youngest of five children. As a child she dreamed of playing [[Australian rules football|football]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-23/bev-francis-the-strongest-woman-in-the-world/100215946 | title=The strongest woman in the world - ABC News | work=ABC News | date=22 July 2021 }}</ref> In 1976, she graduated from the [[University of Melbourne]], where she obtained a degree in physical education and a teaching diploma. She then worked as a high school physical education and mathematics teacher for eight years.<ref name="HoF" /><ref name="abb_bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.australia-bodybuilding.com/bevfrancis.htm |title=Bev Francis, Biography Page |publisher=Australia Bodybuilding |year=2009 |access-date=28 April 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810162826/http://www.australia-bodybuilding.com/bevfrancis.htm |archive-date=10 August 2010 }}</ref><ref name="AWW1980">{{cite news | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51191417 | title=Bev is the strongest woman in the world. | work=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=22 October 1980 | access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse">[http://www.bevfrancis.com/bev/about-bev Bev Francis Powerhouse]</ref>

==Career==
===Shot put===
As a teenager, Francis became an accomplished [[shot put]]ter. In February 1974, she began serious training. In 1977, she broke the Australian shot put record. From 1977 to 1979 and 1981 to 1982, she was an Australian track and field team member. She missed the 1980 track season due to a knee injury. In 1982, she won the Australian national shot put championships. Along with shot put, she performed the [[discus throw]], [[javelin throw]], and [[100 metres hurdles|100 meter reserve]].<ref name="AWW1980" /><ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse" /><ref name="bevsresults">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.athletics.com.au/history/athletes/athlete24.htm
 |title = Australian Athletics, Historical Results: Beverley Francis
 |publisher = [[Athletics Australia]]
 |access-date = 28 April 2010
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091017174006/http://www.athletics.com.au/history/athletes/athlete24.htm
 |archive-date = 17 October 2009 }}</ref>

===Powerlifting===
In 1980, Francis held all world records in the {{convert|82.5|kg|abbr=on}} weight class. At the 1981 World Powerlifting Championships, she set a world record when she bench pressed {{convert|150|kg|abbr=on}}, the first woman's bench press over 300 lb. At the 1982 Australian Powerlifting Championships in [[Adelaide]], she set a world record in the {{convert|82.5|kg|abbr=on}} class with a squat of {{convert|216|kg|abbr=on}}. She won gold medals in her weight class in the [[International Powerlifting Federation]] Championships from 1980 to 1985.<ref name="HoF" /><ref name="AWW1980" /><ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse" /><ref name="CTSquatWR">{{cite news | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126889853 | title=POWERLIFTING. | work=[[The Canberra Times]] | date=16 August 1982 | access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref>

====Best lifts====
* [[Squat (exercise)|Squat]] – {{convert|500|lb|abbr=on}}
* [[Bench press]] – {{convert|335|lb|abbr=on}}
* [[Deadlift]] – {{convert|509.27|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse" />

===Bodybuilding===
====Professional career====
After becoming the first woman to bench press over {{convert|300|lb|abbr=on}}, a picture of Francis striking a [[Most Muscular|most muscular]] pose, or "the crab", while wearing a bikini appeared in several bodybuilding magazines around the world. She possessed far more muscular size than the most muscular female bodybuilders at the time. Her powerlifting accolade led to her being invited by producer [[George Butler (filmmaker)|George Butler]] to take part in the film ''[[Pumping Iron II: The Women]]'', which was being shot around the Cesar's World Cup being held in [[Las Vegas]] in December 1983. At that contest, she said she should have been "first or last". She placed in the middle as 8th among 15 competitors.<ref name="HoF">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.ifbbpro.com/hall-of-fame-welcome-message/bev-francis/
 |title = IFBB Hall of Fame Inductees for 2000
 |work = [[International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness]]
 |access-date = 28 April 2010
 |archive-date = 25 October 2011
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111025130543/http://www.ifbbpro.com/hall-of-fame-welcome-message/bev-francis/
 |url-status = dead
 }}</ref><ref name="bev's last stand">[http://www.musculardevelopment.com/team-md-blogs/the-mcgough-report/11926-bev-s-last-stand.html#.U8WwNLGsjqw BEV’S LAST STAND As Seen Live on ESPN] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730193452/http://www.musculardevelopment.com/team-md-blogs/the-mcgough-report/11926-bev-s-last-stand.html#.U8WwNLGsjqw |date=30 July 2014 }}</ref> Disappointed with the results, she attempted to reinvent her physique along the lines of what was being rewarded, especially after hearing that she was "too muscular" for the judges' tastes.

Francis guest-posed at the 1985 [[Mr. Olympia]] competition, igniting the audience. She finished 10th in her Ms. Olympia debut in 1986. In 1987, she won the World Pro Championships. She followed up with three 3rd-place finishes at the Ms. Olympia in 1987, 1988, and 1989, then moved into 2nd place at the Ms. Olympia in 1990 (as runner-up to [[Lenda Murray]]). She had overhauled her physique radically from that 1983 Cesar's World Cup, when she was told she was "too muscular", but at the 1990 Olympia she was told she was "not muscular enough" to top Murray. Determined to win their next meeting, she resolved to build the most densely muscled physique ever seen on a female up to that point.<ref name="bev's last stand" /><ref name="youtube" />

====Ms. Olympia 1991====
The [[1991 Ms. Olympia]] contest was the first to be televised live by [[ESPN]], broadcasting a women's bodybuilding contest to the largest audience ever at the time (and contributing to the ensuing controversy). To facilitate the network's needs, the competition was held over two days. Rounds one (symmetry) and two (muscularity) were held on Saturday evening, 12 October 1991, whilst rounds three (posing) and four ([[posedown]]) were conducted 24 hours later, with the Sunday night proceedings broadcast live.<ref name="bev's last stand" /> At the prejudging, Francis walked out with {{convert|160|lb|abbr=on}} of dense and conditioned muscles stacked on her {{height|ft=5|in=5}} frame. The audience gasped—none had seen such musculature on a woman before. Almost all the competitors came in considerably larger than at the last competition, surprising not just the mainstream ESPN viewers, but some bodybuilding fans as well. The defending champion Murray was herself 11 lb heavier than the previous year.

At the end of the first night's judging, Francis led the field, four points ahead of Murray. On the second night, just before the start of the final two rounds, ESPN (in an unprecedented move for professional bodybuilding) flashed up the half-time scores for their national audience and those inside the [[Shrine Auditorium]] to see Francis in the lead. Since the posing rounds had never been recognised as opportunities for a lagging competitor to [[come from behind]], most insiders, including Francis herself, predicted that she only had to avoid falling over to take the title.<ref name="bev's last stand" /> However, at the conclusion of the second night's events, as Francis stood onstage holding hands with Murray, she was announced in 2nd place, with a score of 31 points to Murray's 32. Francis's hand rose halfway to her face in shock before she regained her composure, smiled, and congratulated Murray. This was the slimmest margin of victory yet for a Ms. Olympia win, with Murray edging Francis by only one point. The audience and commentators were thrown off by this result, since Francis was in the lead after the first two (more contentious) rounds, only to be overtaken somehow in the concluding set.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

It was usually suggested that the IFBB and ESPN leadership did not want a woman carrying more muscle mass than most middleweight men to be recognised as the planet's premier female bodybuilder, and instructed the judges to swing the contest in Murray's favor. Such interference was not unheard of in the male competition (most controversially at the [[1980 Mr. Olympia]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/1980_olympia_review.htm|title=1980 Mr. Olympia Retrospect - 28 Years Later!|newspaper=Bodybuilding.com|date=30 September 2008 |access-date=2016-09-03}}</ref> A few months later, the IFBB issued a new policy announcement warning that excessive overt muscularity would be marked down, sparking persistent debate over the subjective criteria and "how much is too much".<ref name="bev's last stand" /><ref>[http://imbodybuilding.com/articles/ms-olympia-turns-30/?p=2 Ms. Olympia Turns 30]</ref> Francis retired afterwards, citing disgust over her controversial loss. She stated in 1993:

{{cquote|You know when I came in as the most muscular competitor at that 1983 Caesar's Palace contest I said I should have been first or last. The same should have applied at the 1991 Ms. Olympia. After being in the lead with only the posing and posedown to go I still can't believe I lost that contest. In my heart and in my mind I can't motivate myself to compete in another bodybuilding contest. The fire for competition is no longer there. I have no bitterness. Bodybuilding gave me a great life and I'm thankful for that.<ref name="bev's last stand" />}}

====Body image and judging criteria====
Francis and her career played a significant role in the concurrent turmoil over ideals of form (especially regarding muscle mass) and judging criteria for female bodybuilders, which often relied on vague, contentious, and shifting notions of a "feminine" figure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musculardevelopment.com/news/bodybuilding-news/11926-bev-s-last-stand.html|title=BEV'S LAST STAND|last=McGough|first=Peter|website=www.musculardevelopment.com|access-date=2016-09-03}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.musculardevelopment.com/news/the-mcgough-report/13832-the-making-of-pumping-iron-ii-rachel-mclish-vs-bev-francis.html|title=The Making of Pumping Iron II - Rachel McLish vs. Bev Francis|last=McGough|first=Peter|website=www.musculardevelopment.com|access-date=2016-09-03}}</ref> Her 1983 debut in the made-for-film Cesar's World Cup received much attention for potentially pushing the sport in a more muscular direction. [[Feminism|Feminist]] icon [[Gloria Steinem]] commented that her performance "redefined the boundaries of femininity".<ref name=":0" /> However, when she placed 8th, her loss led her to spend years changing her look in an attempt to meet the apparent ideal preferred by the judges.<ref name="bev's last stand" />

Despite years of attempting to achieve higher scores on the femininity aspect of the contests with measures including a [[rhinoplasty|nose job]], [[hair bleaching]], and slimming down her physique by losing muscle, Francis still failed to take first place at the major competitions. However, after successfully developing methods of achieving a more symmetrical physique while maintaining the size built from her powerlifting background (the three power lifts are central to bodybuilding, and bodybuilders with backgrounds as champion powerlifters tend to have tremendous size and density for their frames), she won the World Championship in 1987. She continued to experiment with her physique, leading to a disappointing 1990 [[Ms. Olympia]]. There, she was criticised as not having the fullness or muscularity compared to winner [[Lenda Murray]], and subsequently worked on becoming as massive and symmetrical as possible for the 1991 Olympia.<ref name="bev's last stand" /> After the ensuing 2nd-place finish and resulting controversy, she retired from bodybuilding.<ref name="bev's last stand" />

Marcia Pally, in a 1985 article on the film ''Pumping Iron II: The Women'', had reported that people often thought of Francis as [[lesbian]]. Francis commented: "The categorization annoys me more than what I'm accused of. I've been called a [[transsexual]], a man, and a lesbian. People have to stop putting together things that don't belong together. Muscles don't make a woman a lesbian."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=k1uD3rGvUbEC&dq=bev+francis+lesbian+accusations&pg=PA22 Building Bodies edited by Pamela L. Moore]</ref>

===Contest history===
* 1983 Caesars World Cup – 8th 
* 1984 [[International Federation of BodyBuilders|IFBB]] Grand Prix Las Vegas – 8th
* 1986 IFBB Grand Prix Las Vegas – 3rd
* 1986 IFBB LA Pro Championship – 3rd 
* 1986 IFBB Ms. International – 3rd 
* 1986 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 10th 
* 1987 IFBB Pro World Championship – 1st 
* 1987 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 3rd 
* 1988 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 3rd 
* 1989 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 3rd 
* 1990 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 2nd 
* 1991 IFBB Ms. Olympia – 2nd<ref name="Musclememory">[http://www.musclememory.com/show.php?s=Bev+Francis&g=F Musclememory Bev Francis]</ref><ref name="abb_bio"/>

==Other work==
Francis is the co-author of the book ''Bev Francis' Power Bodybuilding''. She has also produced a training video titled ''Hardcore Training with World Champion Bev Francis''. She has contributed articles to the monthly ''Female Bodybuilding'' magazine and has written for the men's magazines ''[[Flex (magazine)|Flex]]'', ''[[Iron Man (magazine)|Iron Man]]'', and ''[[Muscle & Fitness]]''.<ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse" />

In 1985, Francis gained notice through her role in the movie ''[[Pumping Iron II: The Women]]''. The movie featured her in the 1983 Caesars World Cup. The film casts her in a controversial role within the ongoing debate over femininity and female muscularity, with her naturally massive size and muscular development challenging preconceived notions about the limits of female [[bodybuilding]].<ref name="HoF"/><ref name="bodypol">{{cite news
 |url = http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-03-28/news/the-body-politic/http
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091012202610/http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-03-28/news/the-body-politic/http
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-date = 12 October 2009
 |title = The Body Politic |last = Trebay |first = Guy |work=[[The Village Voice]]
 |access-date = 28 April 2010 |date = 28 March 2000}}</ref>

Francis was featured in the 2001 [[TLC (TV network)|TLC]] documentary ''[[The Greatest Bodies]]''.<ref name="youtube">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3hhPukyYd4 The Greatest Bodies (Part 2 of 5) ]</ref>

==Personal life==
At the 1983 Caesars World Cup, Francis met IFBB judge and powerlifter [[Steve Weinberger]]. She moved in with him on [[Long Island, New York]] and they were married on 30 September 1984. They have a son and daughter together. In 1986, she and her husband opened Bev Francis' Bodybuilding Gym on Long Island. In 1990, they expanded the gym to Bev Francis Gold's Gym in [[Syosset, New York]]. In 2005, the gym's name was changed to Powerhouse Gym, Bev Francis. She and her husband lived in Syosset prior to their divorce.<ref name="bev's last stand" /><ref name="abb_bio"/><ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse" /><ref name="bevgym" /> Bev is now back in Australia living in Geelong with her female partner Lee Johnson.<ref name="ABC">{{cite web |last1=Stevens |first1=Rhiannon |title='I've been looked upon as some sort of freak': The strongest woman in the world |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-23/bev-francis-the-strongest-woman-in-the-world/100215946 |website=ABC |publisher=Earshot |access-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405231059/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-23/bev-francis-the-strongest-woman-in-the-world/100215946 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |language=en-AU |date=22 July 2021}}</ref>

==Legacy==
From 1981 to the early 1990s, Francis earned the accolade of "Strongest Woman in History". She was the first woman in the world to bench press over {{convert|300|lb|abbr=on}}. She broke over 40 world powerlifting records and was undefeated during her powerlifting career. She was inducted into the [[International Powerlifting Federation]] Hall of Fame in 1987.<ref name="HoF" /><ref name="Bev Francis Powerhouse" /><ref name="ipfhof">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.powerlifting-ipf.com/Hall-of-Fame.43.0.html
 |title = IPF Hall of Fame
 |publisher = [[International Powerlifting Federation]]
 |access-date = 28 April 2010
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100430094944/http://www.powerlifting-ipf.com/Hall-of-Fame.43.0.html
 |archive-date = 30 April 2010 }}</ref><ref name="International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=88wUAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Cathy+Millen%22 | title=International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports | publisher=Macmillan Reference USA | author=Christensen, Karen | year=2001 | isbn=9780028649528}}</ref><ref name="bevgym">[Athletes Grow Strong in Syosset Gym {{cite web|url=http://www.antonnews.com/syossetjerichotribune/news/33526-athletes-grow-strong-in-syosset-gym.html |title=Athletes Grow Strong in Syosset Gym |access-date=2014-07-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726183534/http://www.antonnews.com/syossetjerichotribune/news/33526-athletes-grow-strong-in-syosset-gym.html |archive-date=26 July 2014}}]</ref>

Francis was inducted into the [[IFBB Hall of Fame]] in 2000. She is also a judge for the [[International Federation of BodyBuilders]] (IFBB).<ref name="HoF"/><ref name="abb_bio"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.bevfrancis.com Bev Francis Gold's Gym]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131129152458/http://bevfrancis.com/medias/articles Comprehensive list of articles on Bev Francis]
*{{World Athletics|14615886}}
*{{Tilastopaja|387502|sex=f}}

{{Footer Australia NC Shot Women}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Bev}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Australian female bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Australian powerlifters]]
[[Category:Australian women shot putters]]
[[Category:Australian women writers]]
[[Category:Female powerlifters]]
[[Category:LGBTQ powerlifters]]
[[Category:Australian LGBTQ sportswomen]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ sportswomen]]
[[Category:Australian LGBTQ writers]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Geelong]]
[[Category:People from Syosset, New York]]
[[Category:Professional bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:University of Melbourne alumni]]
[[Category:Strongwomen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Australia]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:People from Geelong]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportswomen]]