American bodybuilder
Ondrea "Vickie" Victoria Gates (previously Ondrea Victoria Gates-Lewis born September 25, 1962) is a professional female bodybuilder from the United States.[1]
Early life and education
Gates was born on September 9, 1962, in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in Lawton, Oklahoma, one of six children (four sisters, one brother). She was the middle child.[1] In 1980, she graduated from Eisenhower High School. From 1982-1984, she attended Oklahoma State University.[4]
Bodybuilding career
Amateur
Gates competed in athletics and started lifting weights in college. In 1983, she competed in her first competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which she won. She worked her way up through the amateur ranks, eventually earning her pro card in 1993 by winning the middleweight class at the NPC Nationals.[1]
Professional
Gates's long string of high placings as a professional includes three consecutive Ms. International titles from 1999 to 2001. Those same years, she would also finish second at the Ms. Olympia on three occasions.[1]
Retirement
In 2003, Gates retired from bodybuilder after coming in 7th at the 2003 Ms. Olympia.[3]
Legacy
In 2010, Gates was inducted into the 2010 IFBB Hall of Fame.[5]
Contest history
Personal life
She is a Christian. Her hobbies include reading the bible and shopping. She currently lives in Arlington, Texas, with her daughter Kindra. Since September 1999, she owns a gym called Strictly Fitness in Irving, Texas. She is a personal trainer. She also used to work for Bally Total Fitness. She has been previously married, and at that time she used the last name Gates-Lewis. In 1992, she would meet her then boyfriend, Ronnie Coleman, an IFBB pro bodybuilder who went on to become an 8-time Mr. Olympia, at a GNC store. She dated Ronnie Coleman for nearly seven years. She is currently single.[1][6][4]
References
External links
