Rotar, DeGuzman, Gonzalez gear up for the California Pro Figure Championships
by Allan Donnelly
May 22, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
With the California Pro Figure Championships looming this Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, California, a host of competitors are gearing up for a chance to make a name for themselves and, in the process, qualify for the 2008 Figure Olympia.
Keeping that in mind, we caught up with three competitors who will be competing this weekend – Meriza DeGuzman, Zhanna Rotar and Celeste Gonzalez – to get their take on the Cal Pro.
WHAT: GNC California Pro Figure Championships WHERE: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Culver City CA WHEN: Saturday, May 24 TIME: Prejudging starts at 11 am PST; Finals at 6:30 pm PST
HEIGHT: 5’4″ CONTEST WEIGHT: 122 pounds LIVES: Rancho Santa Margarita, California PRO QUALIFIER: 2005 NPC Team Universe, Class C Winner
HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL PLACING: 2006 San Francisco Pro Figure Championships, 4th LAST CONTEST: 2007 Sacramento Pro Figure Championships, 6th
CHANGE YOUR TUNE: “I’m taking a completely different approach to my physique. My problem in the past, people would always tell me that because IÂm so competitive and such a hard worker, I would come in too lean, too hard, and not place as well. Training-wise, I’m going for kind of a more streamlined look. I used to train like a bodybuilder, now I train like fitness model.”
TOP OF THE CHARTS:“I’m a humble person, don’t get me wrong but I do believe that if I’m not top three or top five, I didn’t do a good job. I go back and I try to work really hard at it. It’s my wish and my desire to always place in the top 5 and win a couple shows.”
NAME DROPPING: “Heather Mae French. Great girl. Meriza DeGuzman has a lot of popularity lately but I haven’t seen her in a contest yet so I can’t tell you. Felicia Romero looks great, always looks really good. I like her a lot. But I respect everyone. The girls at this level, everybody does their homework.”
FINISH: “My confidence is top five and my absolutely fantastic finish would be top three. Of course winning would be absolutely amazing. I’ not scared to say I’ going to win it, but becasue I”m brining a totally different packaage that could either be great or …you know. I want to see how that measures up. This time I’m definitely trying to outsparkle the competition as well as out-tone them.”
Rotar, DeGuzman, Gonzalez gear up for the California Pro Figure Championships
by Allan Donnelly
May 22, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
With the California Pro Figure Championships looming this Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, California, a host of competitors are gearing up for a chance to make a name for themselves and, in the process, qualify for the 2008 Figure Olympia.
Keeping that in mind, we caught up with three competitors who will be competing this weekend – Meriza DeGuzman, Zhanna Rotar and Celeste Gonzalez – to get their take on the Cal Pro.
WHAT: GNC California Pro Figure Championships WHERE: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Culver City CA WHEN: Saturday, May 24 TIME: Prejudging starts at 11 am PST; Finals at 6:30 pm PST
HEIGHT: 4’11 and 1/4″ CONTEST WEIGHT: 100 pounds LIVES: San Diego, California PRO QUALIFIER: 2007 NPC Team Universe, Class A runner-up
HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL PLACING: 2007 Tournament of Champions, 3rd LAST CONTEST: 2007 Palm Beach Pro, 12th
POOPED IN PALM BEACH: “Right after the Olympia I did the Palm Beach Pro. I shouldn’t have. I was just so tired. It was just a fun thing, I thought ‘Oh, I might as well’.I was only like 94 pounds, It didn’t matter, I was carbing up on a Wednesday but it just wasn’t working anymore. My body was tired.” NOT SHAKEN OR STIRRED: “It didn’t take away any confidence just beause I knew my body was tired already. It wasnÂt even anything about placing high so [I wasn’t] devastated or disappointed with the placing. Now I’m fresh and a little bit more relaxed and revived this time. This time, this is my first year now, so I’m looking forward to this one.” OFFSEASON SUCCESS: “I maintained a healthy, off-season nutritional plan but I stayed within about 10-12 pounds of my competition weight all year. I’m so happy with the shape and curves I’ve added to my legs this past year! I’ve been very careful to create a more flowing, balanced package between my upper body and my lower body.” YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY: “I am so excited to get up there! This show means so much to me. It was at this show four years ago that I saw my first pro figure show and decided that this is something I really wanted to do. Who would have known that four short years later, I’d be getting ready to stand on-stage with all these beautiful women! I’m so thankful for the opportunity!”
THREE’S COMPANY: “I really like the physique of Heather Mae French, we are both short and have nice lines. Her symmetry is really nice. Really impressed with ther physique, so probably sheÂs the one that I am looking at. Heather Green too, she looks really nice. Those are the girls. My top three – it would be number one: Me. Number two probably Heather Mae and three is Heather Green.”
Rotar, DeGuzman, Gonzalez gear up for the California Pro Figure Championships
by Allan Donnelly
May 22, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
With the California Pro Figure Championships looming this Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, California, a host of competitors are gearing up for a chance to make a name for themselves and, in the process, qualify for the 2008 Figure Olympia.
Keeping that in mind, we caught up with three competitors who will be competing this weekend – Meriza DeGuzman, Zhanna Rotar and Celeste Gonzalez – to get their take on the Cal Pro.
WHAT: GNC California Pro Figure Championships WHERE: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Culver City CA WHEN: Saturday, May 24 TIME: Prejudging starts at 11 am PST; Finals at 6:30 pm PST
PRO QUALIFIER: 2005 Mediterranean Championships, 1st HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL PLACING: 2006 Grand Prix Holland, 3rd LAST CONTEST: 2007 Kentucky Pro Figure, 15th
COMING TO AMERICA: There aren’t many competitions in Europe – the last one was in Holland in 2006. It’s hard to compete in the United states. It is very expensive and very far away. I am getting sponsored by the city of Santa Cruz in my home of the Canary Islands to compete here. ItÂs an honor to participate and compete here, especially at the Olympia where you are competing with the best of the best. Just coming out here is satisfaction that I accomplished something, just being here with all of the elite competitors.”
CLASSIC CULTURE :“I used to do classic ballet. I started when I was 14 years old. When I stopped at 19, I joined a gym to keep my figure up. I was introduced to weights and fitness also by seeing a magazine and decided thatÂs what I wanted to do.”
NO REST FOR THE WEARY: “Since the Olympia I haven’t stopped, I’ve been training every day. Every competition motivates me. Even if I don’t place well, every competition I learn something new. And I can do better every time.”
COMING DOWN: This year I made many changes in my training and in my diet. Last year in Kentucky the judges spoke to me, so I have made changes. I thought by having more mass I was going to place better, but the judges told me had to come down. I am 12 pounds lighter than last year. But I like my new body. It has been hard work but very gratifying, because I have a better waist now and better legs. Like a lot of the girls, I would love to be in the top 3 and qualify for the Olympia, but donÂt know what judges are going to think of me. It will be kind of a surprise when step on stage with the other girls.”
