Rising Stronger: Resilience, Persistence, and the Power of Preparation

From Cyclone to Competition: The Beginning of a Journey

A few years ago, when Cyclone Gabrielle swept through Hawke’s Bay, it left devastation behind. For me, it also created a turning point. Rebuilding after the storm meant more than fixing fences or structures — it meant rebuilding myself. That was when I discovered bodybuilding, a path that taught me to care for my body, mind, and spirit with greater intention.

Resilience and Persistence in Bodybuilding and Life

Bodybuilding became more than a sport. It became a lesson in resilience and persistence. Success has not been about one single win or one stage performance. It has been about thousands of small, consistent decisions: showing up for training sessions, preparing nutrient-dense meals, and finding the strength to keep going on the days when it felt easier to stop.

Resilience is not about never falling down. It is about standing up again and again, no matter the challenge. That determination carried me from gumboots on the land to standing proudly under the bright lights of a bodybuilding stage.

In August, I competed at the Hawke’s Bay Champs and walked away with two gold medals in the 40+ Fitness and Sports Model categories, as well as two silvers in the novice divisions, proving that persistence can take you toe-to-toe with the younger competitors. That moment of achievement was not only a personal milestone but also a stepping stone, as I have now been invited to represent Aotearoa as part of Team New Zealand at the Oceania Championships on 1 November.

Preparation and Consistency: The Keys to Success

If resilience is the spirit, then preparation and consistency are the tools. Bodybuilding has shown me that success is created long before you step onto a stage. It begins in the quiet hours of preparation, in the meals weighed and measured, in the early mornings when the body is sore but you show up anyway. Consistency builds momentum, and momentum transforms into results.

These same principles apply to life far beyond sport. Whether it is chasing a personal goal, starting over after loss, or creating new habits for health and wellbeing, preparation and consistency will always be the foundation.

Flipping the Script on Aging

One of the most powerful outcomes of this journey has been discovering that age does not define potential. Society often tells us that getting older means slowing down, losing strength, or fading into the background. My experience has proven the opposite. Like a fine wine, I believe I am getting better with age — stronger, sharper, and more confident than ever before.

Competing at a high level has given me the opportunity to show others that it is never too late to set a goal and pursue it with passion. Aging with vitality is not about luck; it is about commitment, self-care, and refusing to accept limitations.

The Bigger Message: What We Can All Achieve From the devastation of a cyclone to the triumph of international competition, my journey is proof of what is possible when you refuse to give up. Resilience, persistence, preparation, and consistency are not just the qualities of an athlete — they are the qualities of anyone who chooses to rise, no matter what life throws their way.

We all face storms. We all encounter setbacks. But when we set our minds to something, commit to the process, and keep showing up, there is very little we cannot achieve. The greatest barrier is often in the mind, and once we learn to master it, the possibilities are endless.