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Cory Everson

Written in: Grade 4 | Year: 2009

Good afternoon teachers, judges, and fellow students, I have a question for you. Have you heard of the woman who won 6 Ms. Olympia titles in a row? It’s Cory Everson!

But, of course you don’t know her yet. So, just listen up and I will explain everything! Corinna Kneuer, best known by her stage name, Cory Everson is a female body builder and actress born in Racine, Wisconsin. She won the Ms. Olympia contest 6 times in a row between 1984 and 1989. She was born on January 4th, 1958. Her nickname is “Female Arnold”.

Cory attended Deerfield high school in Deerfield, Illinois, where she was a 4 sport star in gymnastics, track and field, badminton and swimming. She majored in interior design at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she also won big 10 pentathlon championships. While attending the University of Wisconsin, Madison, she met Jeff Everson, a competitive body builder who worked there as a strength coach. They were married in 1982. Also, in 1982, she got a strange swelling on her left leg, which could have stopped her career, but the swelling stopped after medical attention. Doctors found out that Cory had suffered from a rare genetic enzyme deficiency that can cause dangerous blood clots and unpredictable swelling. But with medication, she got back to her career in 1983. After Cory Everson’s graduation, she started to train seriously as a body builder and made rapid progress. In the earlier years, she and Jeff trained at Ernie’s gym on Sherman Ave in Madison. Aside from 6 consecutive Ms. Olympia titles, Everson holds the distinction of being the only woman with an undefeated record in professional body building competition.

In January 1999, aged 40, Cory was inducted into the International Federation of body building and fitness hall of fame. She was also introduced to the Muscle Beach Venice body building hall of fame on September 5th, 2005. At the 2007 Arnold Classic, she became the first woman to be presented with the life time achievement Award. Cory and Jeff Everson divorced in 1996; however she kept “Everson” as her stage name. She married Dr. Steve Donia, a cosmetic dentist in 1988. They adopted 2 children from Russia, named Nina and Boris, who are both her most prized accomplishment. Everson’s sister, Cameo Kneuer, is a 2 time Ms. National Fitness Champion, so Cory and her sister have much in common. Cory retired from competitive body building in 1989 while she was still on top. She has never really left bodybuilding though.

In 1992 she appeared in the Jean-Chaude Vann Damme movie “Double Impact” playing a tough fighting woman. Cory Everson acted in many other movies, such as “The Morning After”, “Natural Born Killer” and “Ballistic”. She also appeared on TV. She was on “Home Improvement” and “The Late Night with David Letterman”. She is even producer of TV series “Body Shaping”. Most of her appearances were in the 90’s. Cory Everson’s friend, Carla Dunlap, preceded her in her 1st Ms. Olympia win. I guess this is all why Cory Everson is one of the greatest Americans alive.