Beachview resident Ki-Yano Schoonraad is primed and ready to take the stage at the International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation World Junior Championships in Ecuador this weekend.
Taking place in Quito from Friday to Monday, the competition will feature some of the best male and female junior bodybuilders from across the globe as they battle for supremacy.
Schoonraad, who celebrated her 20th birthday on Tuesday, began the first leg of her almost 36-hour journey to Ecuador to compete in the junior women’s fitness division.
“It is the greatest honour. I burst out crying and couldn’t believe it when I received my colours,” she said.
“I am aiming for at least a top six position. That would make me extremely happy, but the goal is always to win.
“I work to win and, if I don’t, I don’t break myself down. I just keep trying my best.”
Schoonraad also participated in the Eastern Province Championships in August, where she claimed the women’s fitness division and overall titles.
Prior to that, she took to the stage at the Arnold Classic, where she claimed silver in the junior division, and bronze in the open division.
Schoonraad said she was expecting a tough lineup at the world event, but will not be focused too much on what her competitors will be doing, but rather what she needs to do to be stage ready.
Training twice a day and six times a week, Schoonraad says she is self-coached but is also assisted by her boyfriend
“My main aim during this prep was to make sure that I have ticked all the boxes, strengthening my weaknesses,” she said.
Having taken up the sport just three years ago, Schoonraad said she was initially not open to the idea at the time.
“I started at a new gym and had no idea what bodybuilding was,” she said. “When personal trainers suggested that I think about competing in shows, at first I was like this is not for me because I don’t want to be big and muscular.
“But once I did more research, I saw there were natural bikini divisions and the fitness bikini.
“It’s still very natural and small, healthier bodies that compete and that’s when I decided to take on the challenge.”
Schoonraad participated in her first novice show, which she only had a week to prepare for and claimed first place in her division, as well as the overall title.
She replicated the feat a week later, claiming both the division gold as well as the overall title.
Since then, Schoonraad has gone on to win 13 titles in her short career and said the sport had taught her a great deal when it came to discipline.
Training twice a day and six times a week, Schoonraad said she is self-coached but is also assisted by her boyfriend, Aidan Vermeulen.
She also receives guidance from Durban-based Riaan Dohne, the owner of Rishape Fitness.