With the Arnold starting this week and being the owner of 3 Fitness Studios I felt like this was the perfect time to start speaking with some of the Worlds Best Bodybuilders and Fitness athletes. In our first interview with an athlete in the sport we were able speak with one of the top in the field, Nicole Wilkins. Nicole is an IFBB Pro Athlete with an impressive resume, including 4x IFBB Figure Olympia Champion and 3x IFBB Figure International Champion.
As a Strength coach and track coach I really want to stress how important it is to never give up despite injuries. As you will read, Nicole ran into some knee injuries early on but didn’t give up, she refocused and found success in Fitness Competitions. I’ve seen many athletes retire their athletic career early due to a bump in the road while others saw their misfortune as a new road for success. For our athletes, check out her answer to #2, “You either win or learn”. Amazing view on competing.
Thanks Nicole, good luck with your training and competitions this year.
1: How did you get into this sport?
I was a gymnast from age 8 to 19 and during high school I had two knee surgeries. The surgeries happened around the time most athletes are recruited for college teams, so I missed out on any scholarships and could have walked onto a team. I decided that I had more fun just weight training and couldn’t imagine doing 4 more years of gymnastics. My freshman year in college I entered my first fitness competition and the rest is history.
2: How do you overcome obstacles in your training/career?
Nothing you do will ever be smooth and obstacle free. Obstacles force you to think differently about a situation and overcoming obstacles teaches you lessons that will become helpful in the future. When I am faced with one I try to think of all possible alternatives and outcomes. I love taking risks because you either win or learn. Trust your gut and go for it!
3: What is your favorite and/or most important exercise for your sport?
I have a lot of favorite exercises, but one of the most important would be focusing more on mobility and stretching. Most fitness professionals do not have an issue getting in weight training/cardio workouts. The recovery portion of fitness is often neglected and can lead to injury and decreased range of motion which will limit your progress. Take the extra time to foam roll, do yoga and get a massage.
4: What advice would you give a young athlete?
Be strong, be fearless, set goals high and go for them. Enjoy the journey because it goes by fast and soak up as much as you can in the process. Never think that you know everything because there is always more to learn.
5: How big of a role is nutrition when it comes to your training?
Nutrition is HUGE. 80% of the way you look and feel will come from what you put into your body. Take care of it because it is the only one you get!
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