Pumping up for title bid

Two Katanning women have been pumping weights and flexing their muscles to qualify for the body-building world championships.

Personal trainer Kerry Wilhelm and accountant Marie van Blommestein both placed in the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness world qualifier last month.

Competing in the Open Women’s Figure rounds in Perth, Wilhelm finished in second place and Van Blommestein placed third.

Wilhelm said she had been preparing for the March 16 competition for three months.

Despite all the heavy lifting, the ladies’ placings did not earn them qualification, but they enjoyed the experience.

“When they put me in the open round, I was shocked, it really put me out of my comfort zone,” Wilhelm said.

“The people I have met on the journey made the experience so enjoyable.”

Van Blommestein said it was the first time she had competed in the qualifiers, following in her husband Phil’s footsteps after he won the men’s competition last year.

“I started preparing for the competition a little late, so my goal was just to qualify to get on stage,” she said.

“To get that lean and qualify was a really good achievement, not a lot of people can keep up with the training and diet.”

Both women hope to compete in the same tournament next year, and Wilhelm is hoping to improve her muscle size.

“I love fitness and doing this has given me strength and confidence,” she said.