Sports Person the Week - Meloney Martin

A familiar face to visitors to King's Sport Centre, Meloney Martin operates the My Health store.

She has worked in health and fitness for 12 years, nearly half of them on Grand Cayman.

Her interest in sports started in her pre-teen years at school and is now part of her lifestyle. She plays badminton and squash, is a member of the Caledonians five-a-side football team and competes in five kilometre runs but her main interest is working out in the gym.

A member of the National Bodybuilding Association, in November 2005 Meloney competed in the Cayman National Bodybuilding Extreme Championships coming third in the amateur figure event.

Outside sport she likes travelling, and is particularly attracted to places with large carnivals.

Her outlook on life is heavily influenced by her customers.

"They have a very positive attitude to life and it rubs off," she said.

Adopting a 'practice what you preach' attitude to her work she has a simple advice to people:
"Use the gym as preventative medicine, do not wait until you need it."

The great attraction of her work is that it involves motivating people of all ages and levels of lifestyle.

Every day she can pass on a simple message that nutrition and exercise give them a healthy lifestyle but if they are going to work out they should do it because it's fun.

One simple motto sums up Meloney's attitude to life.

"The Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."