 
Te Aroha News
19 August 2009
Building Up To National Competition
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| POSE: Jordan Kaiki came third in the novice athletic tall category. |
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| HEART: Linda Hart put her heart and soul into winning the competition. |
Te Aroha's Linda Hart and Jordan Kaiki muscled their way to first and third place in their respective categories at the National Amateur Body Building Association's Waikato championships.
Hart competed and won the senior figure woman section and Kaiki placed third in the novice athletic tall category in Hamilton.
"It was out first competition," Hart said. "I had been bodybuilding for four years but knuckled down and went for it this year."
The pair were trained by Healthfit Te Aroha gym instructors Nigel Jenkins and Stella Hemmes, who competed in the championship last year.
"I started out coming to the gym three days a week. Because I have a high pressure job, which I really love, I needed something that would get rid of my stress."
Hart said around Christmas last year she had some personal issues and her whole world just came crashing down.
"Everything stopped. I needed something to focus on to get my life back on track and that is when Nigel and Stella suggested I compete in the competition. It was a way to get my life back on track."
At just 19-years-old, Kaiki also competed in the championships for the first time after deciding to seriously compete last year.
"It was actually after these (bodybuilding) shows," he said. "I was always into muscles as a youngster and I've always kept in reasonable shape by going to the gym and running."
Kaiki and Hart went through a cruling 12 weeks of training and strict dieting.
"The confidence I have gotten from this is priceless. Getting up in from of all those people ion next to nothing was completely nerve racking but well worth it," Hart said.
The pair will now turn their focus to the national competition in October.
By Letitia Atkinson @ Piako Post |
