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McGregor revelling in Ms Olympia Amateur title

Published:Thursday | January 14, 2021 | 12:05 AM
MCGREGOR
MCGREGOR

After capturing her first win at the highest level in her category, national bodybuilder Kristen McGregor has credited the foundations laid by her various stints in different sports as preparation to compete in her new chosen discipline.

The University of Technology, Jamaica alumnus recently won the Miss Olympia Amateur title in the women’s figure category at the 2020 NPC Worldwide Amateur Olympia competition, which was held in Orlando, Florida, last month.

McGregor was a former track and field athlete, but then switched to rugby union before she found her calling in bodybuilding.

“Whatever I was doing back then, I would say it was a preparation for what I’m doing now,” she said. “So, all the track and field, all the rugby was a building phase for me to be where I’m at now. When I started bodybuilding, I was [in] fairly good condition for improvements to be added.”

She has, so far, won the body fitness category at the 2018 Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association National Championship and Fitness Festival, and also won gold at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships that same year in Mexico.

NO PRESSURE

In the midst of competing at the elite category of her sport, she said that she was not intimated and approached the competition with an open mind and no internal pressure on herself.

“I had no intimidation, because I had no expectations,” she said. “I had always said to myself, at the end of the day, I have done my part and it’s up the judges to judge me according to their criteria. I just went there, performed, and did what I had to do.”

McGregor said that the build-up to the tournament had been challenging because of COVID-19 restrictions, which caused her to train at home, as well as the additional stress caused by the tournament being pushed back multiple times. However, she says that she is grateful for the experience, as it has motivated her to continue pursuing excellence.

“It was a privilege for me to be there because I was able to see the top of the line [athletes],” she said. “It was an experience that I will always cherish and will always look back at, because to be in the same arena as the top athletes, it means that there is hope for you if you put in the work.”

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com