Paula Ranta's Single-Point Loss at Romania Muscle Fest Sparks Online Outcry

Paula Ranta placed second in the women's professional bodybuilding contest at Romania Muscle Fest on Sunday, prompting intense debate among fans and athletes. Ranta has risen in the bodybuilding ranks, climbing to world No. 4 earlier this year as our earlier report noted.

Anastasia Korableva won the event for the third consecutive time. Ranta lost by a single point, and there was a four-point gap between second and third. That narrow margin led many on social media to hail Ranta as the "people's winner" and to question the judges.

Commentators said Ranta appeared more feminine and symmetrical, while Korableva drew criticism for excessive mass. Korableva replied on Instagram, saying this is bodybuilding's most extreme category and defending the judging.

Ranta said her preparation went well and that she had improved her physique since Ms. Olympia, where she placed fourth after switching from the physique category just ten weeks before Romania. She accepts the judges' decision and plans to chase qualification elsewhere, tentatively targeting shows in New York, Pittsburgh and Tampa if they include women's bodybuilding. "There are no bad feelings," Ranta told Tamperelainen.