Northside’s body building champions

NORTHSIDE – Chantal van Loggenberg and George Herwill recently returned home as world champions in body building.

The two fitness instructors went to Thessaloniki, Greece, for the World Fitness Federation (WFF) World Championship. Held on 19 October, Loggenberg and Herwill knocked their competition’s socks right off.

Van Loggenberg received bronze in the Super Body category, despite the fact that it’s only her second year competing in the sport. She has been training for the last 12 years, however, and currently works as a personal trainer both from home and at Femme Fitness Gym in Constantia Kloof. As a businesswoman and mother of two, she has a “no excuses” approach to health and fitness.

“Women come for training with me and they say that they have trouble finding the time to exercise,” Van Loggenberg said. “I then try to inspire them to prioritise their health along with doing their everyday jobs and running their households. If I can run two businesses, take care of my children and still stay fit on top of it, then every woman can.”

Herwill took first place in the Extreme Body Building category, a highly impressive feat seeing as it was his first time competing. “After training for the last 10 years, my friends encouraged me to enter,” he said and adds with a smile, “I’m glad I did.”

Van Loggenberg stated that she would like to thank her husband, Chris, who supported her wholeheartedly throughout the event, and Herwill wanted his wife, Mari, to know that he couldn’t have done it without her backing. “Lastly, the biblical verse of Lucas 1:37, which assures us that with God, nothing will be impossible, got me through this,” said Herwill.