Finally back in Sydney after an additional 2 weeks away from home visiting my family in the UK, I feel like I still haven’t quite had the recovery time my head and body needs after our exciting and emotional tour to Canada and Miami.

Looking back it seems like it all went so quickly, yet amidst the action each day packed in so much intense focus and emotion I can literally feel the energy and pressure in and around my head at the constant rush of neurological communication.

I had no idea what competing overseas would demand or provide but I certainly knew it was going to rock my world and teach me phenomenal amounts about myself and growing as an athlete and a person. A rollercoaster it most definitely was.

Having spoken to other international and local competitors it was a general consensus that as a travelling athlete, one is always going to be disadvantaged simply due to the imbalance of routine not only for the body but the mind and day to day organisation which is paramount throughout the entire preparation towards a show not to mention the last week. Then perhaps more specifically the finetuning of ones condition and the hindrance of fluid retention, rebalancing of the body clock, variation in dietary ingredients, food preparation and timing and so many other physical changes with psychological and emotional challenges all too often overlooked but easily threatening negative influences at times.

There are definitely many things I would do differently and be more aware of next time, such as self catering and not relying on other people to have a hand in my dietary preparation, more responsible funding or sponsorship and not travelling on such low finances when self care and peace of mind is just so important in this sport. As with every show, local or overseas, there are always presentation and conditioning tips and tricks from suit colour, to makeup maintenance tricks, to backstage dietary tips, one can learn from ones own mistakes or from the education of others, and certainly the experience of these two international shows provided me a whole list of these as a figure athlete constantly looking to further perfect my package.

The most influential negative experience I had, and there were many things I learnt through perceived negative incidents on this trip (whilst I have a personal motto to never judge any situation as negative, but as an experience to which I will learn and develop from, I use this term generically referring to situations that were unexpected and challenging at first) was the operational methods of both federations and subsequent judging. As a perfectionist and an obsessively organised individual I could talk for hours about my disappointment with the running of the shows, more specifically the communication from the organisers to the athletes and the time keeping backstage. As an athlete we prepare for hours and hours a day whether this be weight training, cardio, stretching, recovery, massages, rest, meal preparations, research, trip organisation, routines, costumes, posing, meditation, mental focus, sponsorship searching and so much more. Months of dedication and sacrifice lead up to the last few days of conditioning prior to a show and the crucial dietary specifics of the last week and morning of the contest, and to have this challenged and disrespected by disorganisation and miscommunication onset is nothing short of unprofessional and inexcusable. I truly believe one will only develop and grow in success by creating and focusing on positives, and as such I have had to do so in this case.

However as an example of my experience, on one occasion, having been told I had 5 minutes until I was due on stage, I was left with this belief for a further 4 hours. This is an extreme case I am sure, yet as an amateur in this sport, and depleted at that, the difference between 5 minutes and 240 minutes and my subsequent dietary requirements is massive and extremely unfair being that these changes can certainly be the difference between placing’s.

Not only was the communication to athletes backstage poor, but communication to athletes weeks if not months before the show advising us of the federations differences and expectation was lacking, and left the majority of athletes shocked and distressed only hours before they went on stage. It was most certainly proven time over that the rules were made up as the event took place, which seems to me unfair, unprofessional and disadvantaged some athletes greatly.

The most influential positive experience I had was the outstanding support, expertise and true passionate love & kindness from my team organisers and team athletes. With exceptional display I want to thank Lindy Olsen who was truly no less an angel the entire two weeks we travelled and competed. There was no time that Lindy or Dallas were ‘off duty’, they simply couldn’t have been powered by anything less than pure passion and desire for the sport. Every concern or question or requirement was met instantaneously providing so much reassurance and guidance that made an unquestionable difference in my entire experience and most definitely my condition, performance and success. Lindy I can not thank you enough, I truly hope you could feel my gratitude and respect to you, you simply blew me away with your passion, and beauty.

Competing with such a diverse team of athletes was a wonderful honour for me. I learnt something from each competitor and certainly made friends for life. I want to thank Markeeta for being my girl throughout the months building up to our trip all the way to show time and beyond. A unique and lifetime beautiful friend I will cherish forever. I would like to thank Stef for the time we spent together in Miami. We both experienced some controversial moments yet though I may not have been completely aware during this emotional time, I know for sure I was grateful to have you Stef by my side rather than to have been alone through this experience.
To the legend Muzz and the beautiful Tiger G who went through so much unfair trauma during their trip, although I was saddened to have not spent as much time together as we had all hoped, the words and energy you both shared with me were unmatchable, you are both incredible athletes and im so proud to say I have toured with you and can call you friends.
Though I didn’t share as much time with Michelle, I have to express how deeply her words touched me during our time in Toronto. Such a beautiful lady with so much compassion and respect and of course a World Champion no less!
Finally to another World Champion Mr Ryan Laos, I had you placed 1st before we even left Australia, you truly have a phenomenal physique, and im so proud that you took first place. Thank you so much for being there for all my desperate questions, your advice and friendship has been so valuable to me and I know will only continue to grow.
Finally to ANB. Having experienced these two shows I want to award you first place trophy for show organisation! Haha… but seriously you are a huge family who have warmly taken me under your wing, and never withheld any guidance or support and I never lacked any feeling of pride or protection from you as my representative federation.

I have grown immensely as an individual and of course as an athlete.

The future is more exciting than the past, which is an amazing thought because my past has certainly been extraordinary.

If you have a dream or a wish, Stop! Realise what you are thinking! Take your passion deep into that thought! Breathe! Now understand that your next thought will be the difference between your dream remaining simply that, or becoming reality. You WILL create what ever you believe in.

Love Naomi x