Its not everyday little old Go Figure in New Zealand gets emails from IFBB Professional athletes. So when IFBB Pro Gina Aliotti emailed and told us about her New Nutrition and Training DVD she's launching, we said sure we'd love to help promote it for her.  But there's a catch!  she's going to have to let me pick her brains and answer all those questions us kiwi girls have always wanted to ask a real live Professional Figure athlete.  I've been known to ask alot of questions! So we just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to Gina for perservering with my questions and giving us a detailed look into your fitness and contest regime.  We know you'll help motivate and inspire the kiwi figure girls to try and look just as great as you.

Gina Aliotti 1st Arnold Classic 08

Admittedly we didn't know much about Gina. But on much research and extensive googling we have gathered that she is quite the rising figure star.  She's already reached one of her ambitions of competing and winning at the Arnold Classic which she won in 08. At only 24 years (turns 25 in July), Gina has already been a professional figure athlete for 3 years, first gaining her Pro card at 21.  Much of that awesome muscularity probably comes from her father who's also a bodybuilder, who started Gina doing morning weight training circuits everyday during her high school years.  Gina could also thank her mother for bringing her up in a healthy environment, you see Gina's Mum owned (and probably still does) a health food and supplement shop so Gina grew up eating all the healthy diet foods.

 

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24 Sept 10: We are sad to report that one of our Wonder Women, Nola Tonks, has lost her long battle with cancer and passed away on the 23 Sept 10. As you can see by the articles we've done on Nola in previous years, she showed an amazing fighting spirit despite being affected by cancer. Nola was a legend in South Island and NZ bodybuilding and competed at South Island Champs and Nationals for more than 6 years during her battle with cancer.  She last competed at the NZFBB South Island Champs in 09. We will miss you and your fighting spirit. In tribute to Nola, the IFBB South Island Champs this Saturday 25 Sept, will award "a most promising athlete award".

Feb 09 Nola Tonks is one tough cookie. In 2004 Nola discovered she had breast cancer but that didn't stop her from competing in the Masters physique class at the NZFBB South Island champs that year, then again at the NZFBB Nationals in 2005.  So in this update we thought we'd republish the profile we did in 04 to remind you of just how inspirational Nola Tonks is. Check out her story below and get motivation from her attitude to fight her battle at the time.

Nola will have to summon all that attitude again as the current news is that Nola's cancer has returned in 09.  She found out about lesions when she was reassing herself as she'd like to give competition another go. Nola thought she wasn't in too bad shape.  All she needed to do was to drop a few kilos, increase cardio etc and she'd be on track. Unfortunately she discovered several lumps (swollen lymph nodes in her neck and along her right clavicle). " Yes I have been diagnosed with cancer again- buggar!!!" Nola said.

 

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Can you spot our Wonder Woman in the photo on the right?  you'd have to look pretty hard to see that nestled in amongst her 5 children is the amazingly youthful figure of Rose Hyde - who turns 40 on 9th April!  Although Rose is a relative novice to competitions, she's already competed in 4 Shape comps with NABBA in 2008. And judging by her goals this year, she's only just starting her competition journey showing that age is not a hurdle to competitive bodybuilding. In this update Rose shares with us how she copes with juggling her family commitments with her own training needs, and her very unique dieting regime!

Rose with her 5 children Rose is 2nd from right at back

*Occupation:full time mum. Obviously I spend alot of time at the gym, my family reckon I might as well work there. I might look into doing some sort of training/course while I'm still at home for when I get back into the workforce.    

*Family: married to derryn Hyde who I met when I was 14.

*We have 5 kids;
- Jami 19 she belongs to a local hiphop krew Fearless who won Bronze medals at the world hiphop champs 2007 in L.A.
- Louis 17 he's my I.T computer guy
- Chantelle 16 still at high school 6th form
- Caleb 13 just started high school
- Hemi 10 home schooled.

* What do your children think of you competing and being up on stage?
My children have never been to any of my competitions they have watched me on dvd. a couple of them said if I wanted them there for support they would come. my sons seem to have picked up eating eggs and if I have protein shakes I have to make enough for them as well, plus they all want gym memberships. They have grown up seeing me perform at different events/shows locally it's just
abit weird now because of the skimpy costumes.

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Congratulations to Viola Etuata who was named Samoan Sportswoman of the Year at the Annual Awards night on Dec 13 in Auckland. Viola won the Overall Physique Title at the South Pacific Champs in October.