Laura Combes

[fbsun]

A memorable female board deserves more mention of true pioneers. and Laura Combes is one.  Aside from having a personal connection to Laura (she was the first muscular female bodybuilder I was introduced to), she broke grounds for other muscular woman so she deserves a mention.

Laura's bodybuilding career began in the late 70's.  she used to be a rugby player and started lifting weigh for rehab after an injury. Laura started entering contests in the late 70's and looking at pictures, you can see the striking difference in her muscularity against other competitors.

Laura won the first NPC national in 1980 and was considered the most muscular woman to do so.  In 1981, she won the AAU ms america.  In that same year, Laura was featured in the show Real People and that catapulted her to national exposure.  I can say with some certainty that segment of Real People probably got many people interested in female bodybuilding. for those older fans that want to see that clip, go to youtube and search for "IFBB Hall of Fame Pioneer Bodybuilder Laura Combes" and you will be treated to a tasty morsel of fbb bodybuilding history (respecting board rules, no hot linking). Young 'uns, see the clip to learn some history on female bodybuilding.  after that segment, she was featured in a strength and health magazine cover.  she also wrote a book on female bodybuilding. 

During the 80's Laura was considered very muscular, when compared to other female bodybuilders.  She was also known to say about her muscularity "If you think I'm muscular, wait till you see what bodybuilders will look like ten years from now."  Tragically, as much intelligent and promise Laura had, she died of alcohol acute poisioning on October 4 1989.  a sad day for female bodybuilders worldwide. 

What if Laura had lived through modern times?  how would she have influenced bodybuilding?  would she have gone and focused on hardcore old-school bodybuilding, that is, avoiding any sort of implants and building muscle through pure weights and wholesome nutrition or on the other extreme, breast augmentation, glam or even into porn?  with her intelligence, I think she would go the hardcore old-school route, training young and upcoming atheletes, speaking up on women's issue and ultimately opening and running a hardcare gym, mentoring both men and women from bodybuilding to being th ebest athelete.  Being the athelete she was, I would even guess that she probably would've been into cross-fit or other physically demanding sports.  I can't imagine how she would react seeing a physique like Renee Toney today; it would make her prediction on women's muscularity come true. 

whatever path Laura would have taken, I truly feel that Laura has influenced changing our perception that a woman does not have to look like a burly man to be muscular and it is ok for a woman to be strong and muscular and still look feminine.  She may not have been a major influencial force, but she certainly started it because muscular physique in woman is far more accepting today than back in the 70-80s; so many sports have muscular women today , cross-fit, track, gymnastics, all flexing their biceps in victory.  I think girls all over the world should thank Laura (and other pioneers from the 80s) for making it ok for a woman to be strong and muscular. 

finally, as a tribute to all legends, a poster on this board Tiago has made a post honoring all female bodybuilder that are no longer with us.  it is a sad post, but a great way to remember past legends who are no longer with us today.  here at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login  . respect. 

Laura, you are a legend and a pioneer.  May you rest in peace. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

This picture is a nice tribute by the mother of bodybuilding doris barrilleaux  You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Here's some pictures of Laura.  some o them have other budybuilders as well.  compare to other bodybuilders of the time, you will see how muscular she was.  old pictures are hard to come by but these certainly took me back to memory lane. 

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Peace.

[fbsun]

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[mooveeguy]

Wonder what she could bench press, squat, or curl?

[Female Bodybuilding]

Laura Combes

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[Female Bodybuilding]

Laura Combes

Born 1954

Died October 2 1989


1979

Ms Florida - SPA, 5th

1980

American Championships - AFWB, Winner
Ms Florida - SPA, Winner
USA Championships - SPA, 7th

1981

Ms America - AAU, Overall Winner
Olympia - IFBB, 4th
World Pro Championships - IFBB, 6th

1982

Olympia - IFBB, 6th


Magazines

1981 July   Vol 49, Num 4   Strength and Health

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[kingofaser]

Laura Combes

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[alison brundage]

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Florida contest.  There she is in the middle.  Is that Georgia Fudge on the left?, dunno. 
Laura is another that died too young.  Alcohol intoxication of all things.  Sad . 
RIP
Alison