Lorelle Haag: Defying limits and inspiring generations
In the world of bodybuilding, Far North local Lorelle Haag stands as a testament to resilience, determination and the unwavering belief that age is merely a number.
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In the world of bodybuilding, Far North local Lorelle Haag stands as a testament to resilience, determination and the unwavering belief that age is merely a number.
At 58 years old, Lorelle has recently clinched a series of victories, taking home first place at the Natural Bodybuilding Australia (NBA) state titles on April 27, first place at NBA nationals on May 12 and first place at the ICN state and national titles in the over 50 category plus second place in the open category on May 19 and 25 respectively.
Having her first body building competition at age 48, 10 years later she now has the oppportunity to compete on the international stage after securing the Masters Oceania Professional Athlete Card
Lorelle’s path to success has been far from easy.
Just before her 14th birthday, she faced a life-altering battle with cancer, a struggle that forged her mental toughness.
“You feel like you can beat anything, it made me tough,” she said.
“It made me a strong person in the end because back then there wasn’t a lot of awareness of it. My friends at school didn’t understand. Some kids at school can be very cruel. I got bullied at school, because I was sick all the time. I was away from school all the time, because I was always in hospital having chemotherapy, but in the end, I became a stronger person.”
This early ordeal instilled in her a resilience that would shape her future endeavors.
Later in life, Lorelle balanced becoming a mother of three and a full-time job.
She later met her husband and former bodybuilder, Peter Dodd, who introduced her to the sport.
Grappling with multiple injuries - a broken wrist, two knee surgeries, and a fractured lower spine - it was at the age of 45 that she earnestly turned to bodybuilding as a means to rehabilitate and strengthen her body.
Starting her bodybuilding journey at 50, Lorelle defied initial skepticism, including doubts from her husband about the physical demands on her smaller frame.
Armed with unwavering determination, she embraced a rigorous training regimen and meticulous diet.
Her mornings now begin at 3am, training alongside her husband before embarking on a full day of personal training at Just4UPT.
Lorelle’s rise through the ranks of bodybuilding underscores her philosophy that age should never be a barrier to pursuing passion or achieving physical fitness.
Her own transformation from a cancer survivor and injury-ridden athlete to a national and international competitor is a living example.
Her message is clear.
“It doesn’t matter what injuries you have or how old you are, you can always improve your health and fitness,”
“I’m 58 and fitter and stronger than I was in my 30s. I went to a high school reunion last year. Every single one of them said I’ve got back issues, I’ve got leg issues, I’ve got health issues.
“It doesn’t matter what injuries you’ve got, I had cancer when I was little. I’ve had two knee operations, I’ve had broken wrists, I’ve fractured my lower spine. I didn’t think I’d ever get back into the gym properly, let alone do any more bodybuilding competitions. I’ve taken it to the extreme, but it’s just about improving where you are now.
Looking forward, Lorelle has her sights set on international competition, eager to represent Australia on the global stage. Her ambitions include participating in the Natural Bodybuilding Australia Asian Pacific competition, demonstrating that her journey is far from over and that the best may be yet to come.
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Originally published as Lorelle Haag: Defying limits and inspiring generations
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