Novice Figure competitor takes first place in bodybuilding
Date: 06-08-2010
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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In preparation for the 2010 National Physique Committee Southern States Fitness, Figure, Bikini and Bodybuilding Championships, Stephanie Svoboda shared a slogan with her personal trainer Patrick Jacobs.
"Our big slogan was always stay the course," said Svoboda, 24, of Boca Raton, "meaning don't do more work than prescribed and don't do less work than prescribed. Do what you're supposed to do and you will be fine."
Jacobs' advice for Svoboda worked to fruition recently during the 30th annual championships at the War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th St. in Fort Lauderdale.
The 5-foot-6, 140-pound weight trainee took home first place honors in the Novice Figure Division. "I was very overwhelmed; this was my first time competing in any event," said Svoboda. "I played college soccer, but this was different. You're by yourself wearing a bikini on stage."
Being judged on her physique by a long panel of judges, Svoboda admitted she was also surprised and excited to have won the competition, which she began preparing for with Jacobs over the course of 16 weeks. In that time frame, Svoboda lost 30 pounds and 11 percent body fat.
"We practiced a lot," said Svoboda, who previously played on the Palm Beach United Soccer Club. "I carried out what I was supposed to do pretty well. I didn't trip on my heels when you do these little turns. The judges want you to turn and kind of re-adjust your body to the faster pace."
From Svoboda's perspective, the Figure Championships are based on each competitor presenting their own softer appearance.
"You want to have round, full muscles, a narrow waist, and a balanced athletic physique," she said. "You don't have the cross-variations, or the horizontal variations of the muscle. You want to be symmetrical; that's what you're judged on. You're shoulders and the width of your hips should be the same."
With over 275 of the nation's top-sanctioned NPC entrants looking for a spot into nationals, Svoboda and company were competing in the largest regional national qualifier east of the Mississippi held for men and women of teenage, adult and senior years.
"I was very interested and I really wanted a goal," said Svoboda, who had members from her gym at the YMCA on South Palmetto Circle in Boca cheering her on. "I wanted to do well at the show, not necessarily to win, but to stand on stage and be comfortable. Be happy that I worked hard at what I did."
