Holly Savage

During high school I played State League Basketball with the Cairns Lady Marlins Team.

On a trip to the south-east I came across a newspaper article about a 21 year old Brisbane bodybuilder Rowena O'Hanlon. She was pictured holding a stacked vertical barbell, her physique strong and her eyes focused.

Rowena was tipped to take the Australian title and her quest was to become the first Australian woman to qualify for the World Universe Titles. I don't know what success she had, but the article stayed in my scrapbook and in my mind, it was a subconscious source of inspiration that ignited my desire for my own bodybuilding aspirations some 20 years later.

At school I also loved athletics, particularly sprinting and triple jump. My role models were Carl Lewis and the amazing and flamboyant Florence Griffith Joyner or Flo Jo.

Flo Jo in an Olympic advertising campaign was asked "What do you need to be the best?" she replied

"Concentration, Discipline, A Dream – It's up to you".

Traits I believe I have volumes of and this mantra plays on a continual loop in my mind. I got a lot of reward playing both indoor and field hockey through representing Cairns, Townsville, Queensland and the Australian Women's Country Hockey teams.

Highlights were co-captaining the Queensland Country Women's Team in Townsville where we won the National Championships convincingly, playing in the Australian Country Hockey team at two Arafura Games in Darwin and touring New Zealand and Malaysia. Outrigging has been another passion. I was fortunate to paddle and steer with North Queensland champions from the Magnetic Island Outrigging Canoe Club. Bodybuilding plays to my mental strengths of self discipline, self-motivation, independence and desire.

In 2007 I took up an offer from my brother-in-law, Dale Free (2 x IFBB Australian Title holder) to train for the 2008 season.

These are my results since I began:

2008

ANB North Qld Natural Bodybuilding Titles 3rd Place

ANB State Natural Bodybuilding Titles 4th Place

ANB National Natural Bodybuilding Titles 3rd Place

2009

ANB State Natural Bodybuilding Titles 1st Place

ANB National Natural Bodybuilding Titles 2nd Place

2010

ANB North Qld Natural Bodybuilding Titles 1st Place

ANB National Natural Bodybuilding Titles 5th Place

2011

ANB Asia Pacific International Natural Bodybuilding Titles 2nd Place

ANB National Natural Bodybuilding Titles 2nd Place

In 2009 I was privileged to be sponsored by Powerzone Nutrition Health and Fitness Supplements. Every one of these natural products is top class and the professional proprietors, Steve and Antonietta Jones are extremely knowledgeable, the best people I have ever met in the fitness and bodybuilding industry and my role models!

In 2010 I was overawed at meeting a rock solid Lee Priest at the Coral Coast Classic, a regional competition hosted by Jim and Rhonda Barnes, owners of Townsville Gyms. I was also honoured to be part of a photography shoot promoting their gyms which are the best in this district.

2011 has also been very rewarding, with having been asked to judge at three regional bodybuilding competitions, placing 2nd at the ANB Asia Pacific International as well as the ANB Nationals and being asked by Leanne K Avery to be part of the Inspirational Bodies website!

2012 is yet to be written but I'm excited about what may unfold. I love training with weights. Feeling strong and conditioning my body to be in its best shape time and time again.

I love the challenge of competing, the consistency, discipline and eating clean food. My other passion is sports and portrait photography and I gratefully acknowledge Stephen Duffie of Wizpics, Robert Bell of Inspired Photography and Rob Parsons from Through the Looking Glass Studios. Three men who are successfully living part of my dreams.

Elizabeth Hardy thank you for sharing your photographs with me also and inspiring me to find joy in everything! I am blessed to be able to inspire other women and members of my family and community to look after their health and fitness.

I am very thankful to all those that have helped me along through this journey, my family, my sister Kaylynn her husband and kids, my sponsors Powerzone Nutrition, work mates, friends, face book gang and of course you Leanne Avery! Thank you for this opportunity to be part of your dreams.

While I'm here I still have a bucket list full of dreams to realise, by no means am I done yet.

I believe I am where God wants me to be right now fulfilling his purpose and maximising the opportunity of another day.

Live Happy and live what you dream! Holly x