Listed: Top South-East fit rigs and how they got ripped

They’re ripped and muscled – now these fitness influencers are sharing how they achieved their enviable physiques. See the South-East’s top bods.

Some of the South-East’s fittest rigs. Picture: Supplied

When it comes to ripped and muscled rigs, the South-East has some truly dedicated athletes with impressive figures.

See the list of shredded athletes inspiring others with their competitive prowess and online platforms.

Jamie McInerney

Handle: @jamiemci

Followers: 425

Jamie McInerney survived a horror three-car smash and has gone on to inspire able-bodied and Paralympic athletes. Picture: Supplied

Despite a neuromuscular condition Jamie McInerney has proven she’s not to be underestimated. Picture: Supplied

After miraculously surviving a horror crash when she was just five years old, Jamie McInerney is an inspiration to athletes living with a disability.

The car her mum was driving was hit from behind while on travelling along the Princes Hwy, roughly 10km west of Mount Gambier.

Pushed into oncoming traffic, the car was then struck again by another car.

Though she has no memory of the crash herself, Ms McInerney said the road to her recovery had been long.

As a child she had to relearn how to walk and talk — and she has been left with a permanent brain injury and neuromuscular condition.

In 2005 she began competing in Little Athletics before she went on to represent Australia in 2011 at the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships.

Ms McInerney made the transition from athletics to CrossFit in 2018 and in 2021 was crowned second in Australia and 19th in the world in the neuromuscular division in the CrossFit Open.

The para-athlete said she does see herself as a bit of a role model to both able-bodied people and those living with a disability.

“It’s important to make people understand what we are capable of,” she said.

Megan Cris and Ethan Bradley

Handle: @m.e.g.a.n.e.c.r.i.s.p

Followers: 239

Handle: @ethos3690

Followers: 175

This power couple from Naracoorte have gone on a transformative journeys to reach their individual goals.

As a student Megan Cris struggled with her weight, describing herself as a chubby kid.

After leaving school she started to hit the gym and after years of training solo, decided to enter her first bodybuilding competition in 2021.

“I was kind of scared to get into weights. But then this old mate at the gym sort of showed me what to do and I was like, you know, more fun than running on a treadmill,” she said.

Megan Crisp and Ethan Bradley. Picture: Supplied

In 2022, after a year-long build phase Ms Cris won two third-place titles and a fourth at the ICN SA Bodybuilding competition.

It was after her first competition the 33-year-old convinced partner Ethan Bradley to train with her for the next one.

“I thought why not give it a go — I’ve been training to probably 10 years on and off before that so I just decided to dedicate myself for those eight months,” Mr Bradley said.

He went on to win a number of titles at his first competition including a first place in an open category and second overall.

Bailee DeDonatis

Handle: @baileesarafit

Followers: 699

Bailee DeDonatis after her big 2023 ICN win. Picture: Supplied

Bailee DeDonatis has just celebrated a big 2023 ICN win. Picture: Supplied

Bailee DeDonatis is a well-known face among the gym-goers of Mount Gambier achieving incredible success in her bodybuilding performances.

In her first performance, at just 19, Ms DeDonatis won first in the under-23 category at an ICN bodybuilding competition as well claiming second in both the first-timers and open category.

Two years on, she took home three first-place titles, four second-place titles and one fourth-place at an ICN bodybuilding competition earlier this week.

The title-winning bodybuilder credits her dad for inspiring her passion for health and fitness and plans to study a double degree in sport science and nutrition at Bond University.

“I’ve been training since I was pretty young, about 16,” she said.

Ms DeDonatis said she hoped to see more young people take to the stage, but added that it required a lot of long-term commitment.

“It’s weighing my food to the gram,” she said. “I’ve been eating the same things every day for 20 weeks straight. I’ve been training consistently five days a week for two hours at a time.”

Adam Ruediger

Handle: @roody1286

Followers: 134

For Adam Ruediger fitness and business go hand-in-hand.

He had been training in Blue Lake CrossFit for eight years before he took over ownership of South-East business with his partner in 2020.

“The old owners came to us and basically said they were going to shut the doors — they offered us a chance to purchase the business and continue what they had started,” Mr Ruediger said.

“We decided we’ll give it a crack. It’s something we both loved. So we thought we would see where it leads us.”

But it was a rocky start to the launch of the business.

“The week that was our date to take over. We actually got shut down because of Covid,” he said.

Jeht Branstone

Handle: @jehttrenlee

Followers: 523

A plasterer by trade, Jeht Branstone is currently preparing for his first competition in October.

Jeht Branstone is gearing up for his first bodybuilding competition in October. Picture: Supplied

Mr Branstone said he had been a fan of bodybuilding for about five years, but had never had the confidence to perform on stage.

He’s trained daily since graduating high school but said getting ready for a competition was different.

To maintain muscle mass, Mr Branstone consumes roughly 4500 to 5000 calories a day.

However, he will slowly transition to a calorie deficient diet in the lead-up to the October competition.

Since beginning his journey towards competition bodybuilding Mr Branstone said he had inspired others to hit the gym.

“It’s actually surprising how many people I’ve actually gotten to sign up at the gym and start their fitness journey — it’s pretty cool,” he said.

“I didn’t really start (posting), to inspire people, but it’s kind of half turning into that.”

Cate Skeer

Handle: @fxf_mount_gambier

Followers: 222

Founder of Forged by Fitness, Cate Skeer. Picture: Supplied

Founder of Forged by Fitness, Cate Skeer. Picture: Supplied

Founder and owner of Forged by Fitness, Cate Skeer’s journey into the bodybuilding arena has not been an easy one.

Ms Skeer had always wanted to compete, but said a “toxic” relationship hindered her opportunities on stage.

“I put that goal on hold until I was able to finally say stuff you,” Ms Skeer said.

Her first foray into a bodybuilding competition was again delayed after she became pregnant before Covid-19 caused mass cancellation of events.

She made her debut appearance in 2022 with two more shows lined up for this year.

“I compete in WBFF, which is very different from some of the other federations around, it’s more glitz, glamour and beauty,” she said.

“The basis behind it is having a healthy physique rather than like a shredded physique.”

Ms Skeer who also works as a bookkeeper celebrated Forged by Fitness’ fifth anniversary in late March.

“I love teaching people about health how to make healthy changes that are sustainable and you know, educating people on how to move their body for longevity,” she said.