FITNESS
2005-11-18
Susanne
Hougaard Nielsen,
Fitness
Competitor of Spain
Profession:
Wellness-Fitness Consultant
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her letter:
I was born in Denmark in the year of 1962.
I was in the Danish Navy for 2 years, doing communication on a minelayer, before
joining up, I was training some bodybuilding in 1983. I had big plans for
competition, but never managed to do anything.
During
my time in the Navy, I meet my X husband on a holiday in Mallorca.
And, I stopped doing my sport and moved to the UK. In 1986 I had my first
daughter Danica.
Me and my family moved to Mallorca and started our own Boat business, and in 1989, I had my second daughter Tamara.
Busy with my family life, and business, I never had the time to go to the the gym to carry on what I once had started.
In October 1999, after separating from my husband, I managed to get to the gym and start doing Aerobic classes. It didn´t take me long to start doing weight training , and already in March, 2000 I begun. In the summer, after looking at my body changing so quickly, I spoke to my trainer and signed up for a competition the same year, in the Regional Competition of Balearics. Great experience after not doing anything for 17 years(!), at last I was at my goal( I thought, this was very important for me).
Must add, that I basically always have looked after my self, but I have been blessed with a body that responds very quickly to strength training. This first competition I ended up third place, out of three competitors.
In 2001 I trained hard and intense and also started going to the fairs on mainland Spain. This was a great way to pace your self to get better. When I think today, that my idol was and still is Sabina Herrera from Canarias( today she is a very dear and close friend), I would never have dreamt of getting as far as I am today in such a short time.
2001. Another Regional competition in the Balearics. I enjoyed it even more because of the first experience. I ended up 2nd, out of 2 competitors.
2002. This time I had decided to give it all, and try first the Regional Competition, and then carry on to the Spanish Nationals. In the Balearic I got 2nd out of 6 competitors, and went on to the Spanish, and placed 2nd out of 12 competitors. The winner in Spain was 22 years old, I think, and I was proud of being 39!!
2003:
My disaster year I call it, regarding competition. Did everything, and was
obviously tired from all the years. Managed to be placed 4th in Nationals.
I
decided to go to see the World Championships in Santa Susanna nearby city Barcelona.
I was asked by the Vice president to Co present the championships with him.
Fantastic!! One of the events in Spain that I think anybody should assist, if
they like Fitness and Bodybuilding. Great event.
In 2004 I managed to see at the internet that they had started the category for master( women over age 35) in The World Championship in Opave, Chez Rep. I did not know until 2 weeks before the competition that I could participate, but I had been preparing my self in any case, Just If If!! And I did go and represented Spain for the first time in this new Master category. This was a great honour, and I was pleased to bring home 3rd place.
In beginning of 2005 I decided that now it was time to rest, to recover from all training. In the mean time I have taken my judge title, and I have been judge in
The Nationals and The Regionals in 2005. This year I also had the pleasure of Presenting the World Championships semi-finals alone and Co. presenter in the Finals.
I am living the fitness world to the fullest. In my daily job I am helping new athletes to get to their goal/dream, just like I have done, but I must admit that my time as competitor have not finished yet. I still want to do more, very soon I am age 43, so it is right now, as time soon will tell me to stop, because of my age, or I have to try and get a new category up for age over 40.
My aim in 2006 is to go to European Master Championships for Women aged over 35, which is in June in Italy. I personally think it is so important as a parent to educate your children to make sports a part of your daily life. Every year, more and more cases of obese and health problems occur because sports have been parked up, and children are more seated in front of TV and PC. And eating habits are another thing in question, our children need more guidance in what to eat and how.
I have had my 2 daughters involved from my very first Competition until the last. They have been there for me, supporting me, cried when they thought that the judges acted unfair. So lets keep this sport going, we need muscle to survive a healthy LIFESTYLE!
 Balearic 2001 |
 2004, The World Championship in Opave |
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| 2004, The World Championship in Opave |
