Ms. Olympia Prepares an End to Long Reign

Cory Everson has thighs that some people dream about and others envy.

Her legs are so well defined that the quadriceps in her 24-inch thighs show even when she wears pants. Combined with her chiseled biceps and perfectly tanned skin, it’s no wonder that Everson has men and women doing double-takes--even if they don’t know who she is or what she has accomplished in body building.

She’s become a familiar face in Northridge, her home of four years, particularly at Gold’s Gym, where she does most of her weight training, and at the store where she buys the Snickers and Milky Ways she eats for breakfast every morning.

But the Valley area isn’t the only place Everson stands out. She’s famous among body builders. In fact, she’s been the queen of body building for three years.

The 28-year-old has done what no other woman has achieved: She’s been crowned Ms. Olympia three times.

She is the only body builder to earn the title more than once. This year, Everson attempts her fourth--and last.

“It’s gotten to the point where I’m making more and more commitments to other things and it’s taking time away from training,” she said.

“I’ll still be involved with it even if I’m not competing, whether it’s doing commentary in Toronto for the women’s world competition or just promoting the sport in general. Besides, if I miss it badly enough, I’ll just come back.”

Everson could conceivably quit and then make a successful comeback. After all, she won the Ms. Olympia title on her first try.

“I guess I just lucked out,” she said.

That explanation, of course, overlooks a lot of hard work.

“When I got started, I was the only former athlete doing it,” Everson said of body building. “Now you see softball and volleyball players and other athletes getting into it . . . because through weight training they see a change in their bodies and get enthusiastic about it.”

But Everson, a one-time University of Wisconsin pentathlete, wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about working out with weights at first.

“I hated it,” she said, “because I was in school and I was training for track four hours a day. Anything you do at 10 p.m. you don’t like or feel much enthusiasm for.”

She learned to love it.

And now, the 147 pounds of muscle she carries on her 5-9 frame have gotten her more than just stares on the street. They’ve helped launch a business career.

She posed in a swimsuit for a poster that is plastered on the walls of gyms across the nation.

She’s also been in numerous magazines and was featured in “Super Pump,” a book that features the strategies of the world’s best female body builders, including their routines, diets and training secrets.

“Body building will get more and more attention as time goes on,” Everson said, “because everybody is into being fit and toned and looking good.

“Everyone wants to have this California body, and through weight training they’ll find that they can.”

The publicity has brought numerous endorsements. It also has allowed her to sell her own products.

“You still have to work for it and have a certain talent to succeed in the business world,” she said. “But body building has given me the recognition that has allowed me to succeed.”

Everson recently signed a contract with Reebok International, a fitness equipment company, and a toy company is making a Corinna doll. A line of swimwear bears her name and she is working on a line of children’s fitness wear.

Everson is also writing a book with her husband and manager, Jeff, who was her strength coach at Wisconsin and is now editor of Muscle and Fitness magazine.

“It’s simply going to be the story of Cory and how she got to be the best body builder in the world,” he said.

At Wisconsin, Everson studied interior design until she decided to become a professional body builder.

“Being Ms. Olympia requires a life style that not just anyone can lead,” she said. “It means a lot of of sore muscles, aching joints, over-training and under-sleeping.

“Plus, it cramps your social life.”

That’s why she said this will be her last year training for the Ms. Olympia contest, which will be held in Madison Square Garden in November.

Until then, she’ll continue her daily five-hour workouts. And she’ll continue to feel what she’s felt for years--”that everyone wants to dethrone Cory Everson.”

That doesn’t bother her. She doesn’t take it seriously and jokes about her post-Ms. Olympia plans.

“I want to win the lottery and buy my own street and name it Olympia Avenue, and I want to have a bunny farm and raise rabbits,” she said.

“Seriously, I don’t want people to forget me. I always want to be remembered for having changed and contributed to the sport.”