Local body building couple obtains Protea colours and takes SA team abroad
The Van der Walts have both received the Protea colours as officials in this sport
SECUNDA – Although they did not have to flex their own muscles, local couple Mr Juan and Ms Natasha van der Walt, represented South Africa in body building in Poland last year.
Mr Van der Walt is the manager of the South African Women’s team that competed in the International Federation of Body Building (IFBB) World Fitness Women Championship held in Bialystok.
Ms Van der Walt who is the head judge of Mpumalanga, was personally invited by the IFBB World President, Dr Rafael Sontonja, to be the stage manager of this prestigious event.
He was so impressed with her work as stage manager at the Arnold’s Classic in Johannesburg last year, that he invited her to the World Championship.
While Mr Van der Walt had to make sure the South Africans’ travel arrangements, exercise, food, costumes and tanning requirements are met, Ms Van der Walt showed the athletes where to stand and what to do on stage to ensure a smooth run of the competition.
The South African women who took part, were Victoria Sethabela in the division for Women’s Wellness up to 163cm, Rachel Brun in the Fitness Bikini up to 160cm division,
Talitha Mayhew in the Fitness Bikini up to 172cm division, Hayley Wright in the Fitness Bikini over 172cm division and Dominique Froneman in the Body Fitness over 168 cm.
“The World Championship is an eye opener.
“There you can see the women are just in another league, especially the girls from Russia,” said Ms Van der Walt.
The couple had their own quick tanning booth for athletes to tan or touch up before going on stage and although Mr Van der Walt is not fazed by spraying the tan on naked women, he prefers to leave this to his wife or one of their female co-workers.
The Van der Walts have both received the Protea colours as officials in this sport.
Ms Van der Walt also used to take part as a participant, but due to an old neck injury and an operation, she cannot do much lifting at the moment.
Mr Van der Walt is the chairman of IFBB in Mpumalanga and together with his wife, they organise the shows for three regions.
They took over the reins of the committee in 2013.
“We want to be good to the athletes and encourage them to constantly improve.
“There are plenty of competitions in the IFBB as this is the only federation that has 88 shows per year.
“We also have our own shows in Mpumalanga.”
The first of Mpumalanga’s shows will be the IFBB MP Novice Show on 6 April at the Secunda Sasol Club.
The IFBB MP Puma Classics, which is an Arnold’s qualifier, will take place on 4 May and the Arnold Sport Festival is scheduled for 17 to 19 May at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The IFBB MP Intermediate Show will take place at the Secunda Sasol Club on 8 June and the last contest for the year will be the Mpumalanga Championship on 17 August.
Ms Van der Walt said the gym work might make body building feel like an individual sport, but the athletes also need the support from their kin in competitions for moral support and cheering.
Their two daughters, Tuané (12) and Sumi (10), are constantly accompanying their parents to shows.
Comparing the athletes on show in Mpumalanga, the two daughters constantly compare the athletes on the stage and gives them ratings.
If you compare their ” judging” to the rest of the judges panel, their judging is on standard.
They attend seminars and judging courses with their parents and other shows in different provinces to keep it a family sport.
