The fifth annual Nailympics London 2009, at Olympia Beauty, hosted 23 nations in 180 competition seats in September.
For the first time, Cyprus, China, France and Australia were represented, widening the event’s already massive global presence.
2009 saw the first Team Trophy awarded. There were six teams in all – Team ONS Finland, Rome Nail Academy, Victory Company Russia, Team Hungary, Nails & Beauty Italy and Comp Team Sweden. The clear winner was Nails & Beauty Italy accruing 1116.5 points over the event.
There was a more unusual mix of nations, with Europe seeing more competitors than ever before meaning winners were seen from regions that have not enjoyed so much success before. Sweden, Hungary, Russia, Italy, Finland, Holland, Switzerland, Latvia, the UK, France, Cyprus and Belgium all triumphed, with Australia and Japan also taking home medals.
Australia’s Viv Simmonds, from Vivid Nail & Beaute, won first place in the Fantasy Division. Her medieval inspired work is pictured, below. 
The international judging panel included experts from the USA, Holland, Italy, Sweden, the UK and Switzerland. MC for the awards, co-founder of the original US Nailympics competition, David Daniel, congratulated each winner while inspiring with his message of the importance of nail competitions and the power of professionalism in the nail industry.
While the 2008 Nailympics London had one sponsor, Scratch magazine, the 2009 event attracted support from five nail companies: LCN UK (Beauty Concepts Int), Entity UK (The Beauty Partnership), Akyado Switzerland, Essie UK (Perfect Nails) and Nubar UK (Palms Extra), as well as Scratch and Gloss magazines.
“This event is firmly embossed on the global nail industry calendar. Every year I am overjoyed to see new faces from new nations and delighted to see people returning to compete, showing the power of its growth and its reputation,” organiser, Alex Fox, said.
“To find such strong sponsor support during difficult times as well as techs themselves travelling far and wide to be a part of the event is incredibly exciting. Long may this competition reign as a benchmark of skill, auditor of talent and arbiter of professionalism. The Nailympics London brings a wealth of nail professionals together for a weekend like no other; dexterity, flair, creativity and expertise are just four reasons why this event is so magnificent.”