In it to win it - Day 1

IFBB Pro Figure Competitor training video. Having competed in gymnastics from ages 4-12 and in playing netball and contesting athletic events for much of her younger life, the ever-determined Raechelle had always prepared to be at her very best, a trait that has seen the Kiwi world-beater near-seamlessly transition from casual fitness devotee to top professional figure champion. In placing a respectable tenth in her pro debut at the Sacramento Pro in 2009, the sublimely conditioned 5'7", 60kg Raechelle made it clear she was there not merely to make up the numbers. Since her inaugural outing she has competed professionally seven times, placing as high as third at the New Zealand Pro (in '11) and fourth at the Melbourne Pro the same year. But it is her inclusion in the 2011 Figure Olympia line-up -- her number one objective from the moment she received her pro card -- that has justifiably made her most proud. "Competing in the Olympia was just an amazing experience and a great honour," she says. "After three years of hard work it was good to finally make it onto the figure event's biggest stage. Competing at the Olympia, you are up there with 29 girls and they are all amazing. I am determined, but it's very tough getting ready to compete with three young children, so every time I am onstage I am just happy to have made it there because preparing for these events has never been easy for me. To be classed among the world's best figure competitors requires tremendous self-sacrifice and a great deal of confidence in one's abilities. By now we know of Raechelle's unbreakable work ethic, but, as a relative newcomer, has she the confidence to further flesh-out her impressive resume? "In the [2011] Olympia finals I was the second competitor in the third callout, placing me in the top 16, which showed me I have the ability to do well in this sport," says the likeable Aucklander. "To be in that callout with girls I thought were so much better than me just made me much more confident in doing this. I got the callout and knew I was nowhere near my best, so at that moment I thought I can actually do this and be up there with the top competitors.
Raechelle achieves her renowned shape by hitting the cardio equipment up to three hours per day while maintaining a six on/one off training-spilt shoulders/abs, quads, chest/abs, back, arms/abs, hamstrings (she feels that by training one body part per workout she can "apply 100 percent" to each). "I also get bored if I plan to train more than one muscle group, which then leads to a loss of focus and motivation, which can make training a chore. And I vary my workouts depending on how I'm feeling and my energy levels on that day." When preparing for pro events Raechelle makes an important change. "I concentrate more on weak body parts leading up to a competition, often training a particular body part more than once a week." She prefers her diet -- high protein, moderate carbohydrate, and low fat -- to be "easy and a bit boring so I don't have to do much thinking about what my next meal is going to be. Diet is without a doubt the hardest aspect of getting into competition form."