New competitors join the stage at the last Townsville ICN Tropix
From a former drug user who turned her life around to a 40-year-old divorcee, RAAF worker and 20yo motocross rider — meet some of the region’s best bodybuilders.
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For the past 12 years, the ICN Tropix has been a staple for the Queensland circuit, bringing some of the best bodybuilders in the country to Townsville.
Now, in its final year of flashy fit competition, the organisers are set to go out with a bang with one of the largest yet.
Meet some of the new local faces taking the final Tropix stage on Saturday, and why they decided to throw themselves into the ring against 700 other competitors.
Liv Muscat
Liv Muscat is entering the world of bodybuilding competitions for the first time this weekend to compete in seven different categories.
The 21-year-old began her fitness journey in November of last year and has been working hard to ensure she is ready for competition season.
Her journey began after years of drug abuse and the arrest of her boyfriend.
“When he went inside, I started going to the gym and got off (drugs),” Ms Muscat said.
“I saw all those girls competing in the (ICN) Tropix last year and just got obsessed with it.”
“I was like ‘I want to do that’ so I turned my life around.”
Now she is working hard to achieve her dreams while spreading awareness about her journey.
“I speak about it on my Instagram a lot because it got very bad,” Ms Muscat said.
“I got expelled from school in grade 11 and I kind of just hit everything and anything for the last three years.”
With constant support from her friends and family, her coach Becca Stephenson as well as fellow body builders, she has been able to stick to her strict program.
“So many girls are so supportive and so kind, if you need anything you can just message and they’ll help you out.”
Anne Camplin
Anne Camplin is stepping onto the bodybuilding scene for the first time at 40 years old.
Ms Camplin found the gym after going through a divorce in 2016.
Since then it has always been a dream of hers to challenge herself and enter a bodybuilding competition.
“I just had the opportunity to invest back in myself,” she said.
She began training in February of 2022 and has maintained dedication to her program while going through a breakup, a car accident and her dad’s sickness.
“It’s that support system at the gym, family and friends, and definitely my coach,” she said.
“I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Ms Camplin is excited to get up on stage and show off her 18 months of hard work.
“What better way to celebrate being a 40-year-old woman, looking the best and feeling the best that I ever had in my life,” she said.
Melissa Tymrakiewicz
Melissa Tymrakiewicz has tried it all, including weightlifting, crossfit and F45 classes.
In the decade that she has been enjoying exercise and fitness and has always been searching for something new, and in October of 2022 she began her bodybuilding journey.
The 34-year-old mother of one said she has fallen in love with the sport.
“I’ve wanted to do it for a very long time, but I never really had the dedication and motivation to do it,” Ms Tymrakiewicz said.
“I never realised how much I actually enjoyed being by myself and doing what I have to do in the gym.”
Jane Federico
Jane Federico has been preparing for her first show for the last two years and now feels more than ready to reap the benefits of her hard work.
After being introduced to the gym by her boyfriend three years ago, she decided to go all in and take on a long-term program in order to achieve her bodybuilding dreams.
The new competitor has been juggling her security role with the Royal Australian Air Force while building her physique.
“I prioritise my training before I start my shift because that is what’s important to me,” Ms Federico said.
“It’s definitely taking a while, especially being a shift worker and working long hours, but I’ve been able to manage it.”
The new bodybuilder is set to make her debut this weekend but has already planned ahead for her future in the competition.
“This is my passion,” Ms Federico said.
“This is the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Nick Auld
At just 20 years old, Nick Auld is making big steps to make bodybuilding his full-time career.
Even though this is his second year at ICN Tropix he is coming into this year with a new-found knowledge and confidence that he didn’t have previously.
“Stepping on stage for the first time in front of thousands of people, it’s definitely nerve-racking,” Mr Auld said.
He first found bodybuilding after stepping into the gym to strengthen up for motocross.
“I needed to build more muscle and it just got to the point where I kind of fell in love with it,” Mr Auld said.
This year he is excited to be stepping onto the stage with a bit more experience.
“I’m feeling more confident,” he said.
“I’ll definitely do a lot better than I did last year.”
Originally published as New competitors join the stage at the last Townsville ICN Tropix
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