MUSCLE CAMP : Former Ms. Olympia Flexes for Fitness

Cory Everson’s finely chiseled muscles bulged as she bench-pressed 200 pounds in front of 90 fitness enthusiasts at Loyola Marymount University.

The five-time Ms. Olympia was surrounded by half a million dollars worth of high-tech fitness equipment in Loyola’s Alumni Gym, yet she was the main attraction.

Her sleeveless purple shirt revealed incredibly muscular biceps and her black tights exposed big, strong calves. Her brawny thighs also drew attention at the fourth annual Muscle and Fitness Camp, which started on July 4 and ends Aug. 13.

“I never wear clothes like these,” Everson said, glancing at her attire. “This is the first time I’ve worn tights in ages. I always wear baggy clothes and sweats, but they wanted me to show my muscles.”

Exposing a robust physique, however, was not the sole function of Everson’s two-week visit to Muscle Camp. She was there to share winning techniques and demonstrate workouts to those who pay $735 a week to live, eat and train with champion bodybuilders.

“Her presentation has been the best,” said Domingo Rodriguez-Cue, a doctor from Miami who spent two weeks at Muscle Camp. “She’s gone through a whole routine and it was fabulous. I learned a lot of solid techniques.”

Rodriguez-Cue, a novice bodybuilder, was amazed by Everson’s thorough workout tips, as were most other spectators. They paid attention as she paused between sets and, along with husband Jeff, a former strength coach at the University of Wisconsin and editor of Muscle and Fitness magazine, explained the benefit of each exercise.

Between workouts she talked about deltoids, biceps and triceps. Some students recorded it on video, others took photos and many wrote notes.

All seemed impressed with the 30-year-old’s appearance, strength and knowledge of the sport. She is, after all, the queen of bodybuilding, having reached the sport’s pinnacle in 1984 when she won her first Ms. Olympia title.

She swept her last title in 1988 by performing a slow and dramatic routine, making her the only woman to win the prestigious event five times.

That’s partly why she’s the favorite guest athlete at the camp, which also features bodybuilding stars like five-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney, former Ms. Olympia Carla Dunlap, world mixed pairs champion Diana Dennis and world power-lifting champion Bev Francis.

“Cory is still the most popular,” said camp founder and director Marc Missioreck. “Campers call and ask for her. They want to see Cory because Cory represents the ultimate women’s physique and she’s a five-time champion. She’s a role model for a lot of these people.”

Francis, who demonstrated power training, agrees. The six-time world power-lifting champion from Australia switched to bodybuilding three years ago and is now one of Everson’s top competitors. She says it’s not impossible to beat Everson at the Ms. Olympia, but it would be difficult.

“Cory presents a very complete package,” said Francis, who has placed third in the last two Ms. Olympia contests. “She’s always in great shape because she never stops training. Coming in second (to Everson) at the Olympia is no shame.”

It shouldn’t be. Everson’s symmetry and natural muscle give her a big edge over other top women bodybuilders. Her athletic background has also contributed greatly to her success. At the University of Wisconsin, where she majored in interior design, she was a gymnast and a Big 10 pentathlon and heptathlon champion.

She says it’s great to be on top, but it can also be tough.

“When you’re there,” Everson said after autographing a fan’s leather weight-lifting belt, “everyone looks at you closely. Judges (at the Ms. Olympia) are always looking for any tiny flaw. There really is a lot of pressure to be perfect.

“But at this point I know I can’t get any bigger or more defined. Your body can only get so muscular and so big and so defined, and I’ve reached that point.”

Everson hasn’t decided whether she’ll enter this year’s Ms. Olympia in November. She didn’t plan to enter last year’s until three months before the Madison Square Garden event.

Part of the reason is that she wants to focus energy on other things. She stars in a daily fitness show on ESPN television, designs her own line of clothing and has taken up martial arts and tennis. She also spends lots of time decorating her new San Fernando Valley home and playing with her rabbit and birds.

“I’m not officially retired from the sport,” Everson said. “I might enter. Maybe I just need to get it out of my system because I’m still an athlete and I’m still a competitor.

“But I won’t enter unless I’m in top shape. If I enter, I guarantee nobody is going to beat me. Well, except maybe Bev (Francis) or Carla (Dunlap).”

Either woman will find it difficult to top the 145 pounds of muscle that make up Everson’s 5-foot-9 frame, and it seems like her admirers at Muscle Camp know it.

“She’s the most popular female bodybuilder in the world,” said Rodriguez-Cue.”

Maybe Everson will return next year and tell campers about the innovative routine she used to win her sixth Ms. Olympia title.