Bodybuilders flex for upcoming show

It is crunch time for local bodybuilders as they prepare for the upcoming International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Millennium Gold Plate Fitness and Bodybuilding Show.
This show is taking place in Kempton Park on April 16 and it is the athletes’ last chance to qualify for the Arnold Classic SA event.

The locals that are going to participate in the Millennium Gold Plate are Antonie Holtzhausen, Cindy Joubert, Hendryette Marais, Karlien Alberts, Odette Haultshauzen, Mark Whelan, Rochelle Reyneke, Sam van Vuuren, Savyn Outram and Wynand Reyneke.
Antonie’s competitive journey started in 2013.

“By being dedicated towards the sport I achieved all my goals I set myself over the last four years,” he said.

Antonie is currently the Mpumalanga Men’s Physique champion and made the top six at the IFBB South African Championship last year.

Mark who is 24 years old will be competing in the men’s u.80kg category.
Cindy (32) said three years of hard work, and eating the right foods was the best decision she ever made. She started preparing since January and two weekends ago received a third place in the IFBB Novice Beach Bikini category in a competition held in Secunda.
Hendryette Marais (36) is a physique competitor.

“My approach to my workout varies from where I am in my preparation, I start preparation 16 weeks out, during off season I hit it hard and heavy, low reps, heavy weights to try and add some bulk to my muscle, in season my approach is a lot of supersets, drop sets and compound movements. Cardio also increases during prep time,” Hendryette explained.

Personal trainer, Karlien Alberts (31) agrees that the right eating plan and exercise can change your health.
You will never say Odette Haultshauzen’s baby is six months old. She took a break in 2015 during her pregnancy but has now returned and is ready for the Millennium Gold.

Her motto is that you are never too old to start living healthier and she is no novice in bodybuilding. Since 2013 she has been collecting accolades in different competitions.
31-year old Rochelle Reyneke’s fine tuned body makes heads turn. She will be taking part in the Millennium Gold’s Body Fitness 168cm. Rochelle started taking training seriously in 2014 and in two years achieved the perfect body.
Rochelle’s advice is also a good eating plan and exercise.

Sam van Vuuren (30) agrees,

“I started my fitness journey because I wasn’t active or healthy enough.”

Sam will be competing in the Bikini Fitness category.
The right mindset is what changed Savyn Outram’s life. At 42 she too will be competing in the Bikini Fitness category. She spends 14 hours a week in the gym.

Exercise is part of Wynand Reyneke’s everyday routine. He is 33 years old and is preparing for the Mr Model Plus category for the Rossi Grand Prix Extravaganza taking place on April 23.
Hein van Kraayenberg, Marcell Meyer, Sonia van Heerden and Tanya du Preez have already qualified for the Arnold Classics that will be taking place at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on May 27 and 28. Hein started competing in 2013 in the H&H Classic. During the Mpumalanga Provincial Championships he not only won his class but also overall.

The bodybuilding bug bit Marcel in 2010 when he was 25 years old. He participated in the Millennium Gold Plat in 2012 and came second. Marcel has he goals set on the World Championships.
Sonia has a whole list of accolades behind her name. She qualified during the South African Championships and will be competing in the Body Fitness line-up. Sonia has only been training since last year. In her first competition in July she placed first in the Body Fitness line-up in the Intermediate show.

At age 42 Tanya is a mirror of health and has a beautifully defined body. She also qualified for the Millennium Plate and will be competing in the Ladies Physique up to 1.63. She achieved a hat trick by earning her Mpumalanga colors three years consecutively and achieved a third place in the South African Championships.

Bodybuilders are great athletes. The hours they spend in the gym, looking after their diet and mentally prepare themselves for a competition of this nature is not an easy task. That’s evident in how they transform their bodies into the massive hunk of muscles and it takes dedication to keep in shape.