Published On:Tuesday, August 31, 2010

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

She is the first Bahamian female bodybuilder to achieve professional status. But for Jena Mackey, the road to the top has been a very difficult one.

On July 17, Mackey competed at the 2010 IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships in Tampa, Florida, where she finished 16th out of a field of 28 competitors in the Open women's bodybuilding division.

Mackey, who received her pro card in 2007 when she won the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships, said it's definitely much different from the amateur ranks.

"It's really rough. You have to continue going back to the drawing board and try to figure out what the judges are looking for," Mackey said.

"Most of the girls have been there like five to seven years and so they have the experience. So it's really tough."

In toughness, Mackey said she wasn't just referring to her diet and preparation for an event. She was referring to actually going on stage and competing against the 28 competitors as she did in July.

"You don't know what the judges are looking for and you do this show every year," said Mackey, who competed last year in the show for the first time and ended up 12th overall.

"Most of the times, the judges are familiar with the girls who keep coming back. But for me, having done it for just the second time, the judges were not quite familiar with me."

The former national team soccer player said as she looks ahead to the future, she will definitely have to concentrate on developing more mass.

"I was dense, but my legs still had a problem," she pointed out. "It's getting better every time I do my show. I'm seeing the improvement. But there was always something lacking."

After working with pro male bodybuilder Joel Stubbs for about 21 and-a-half years when she earned her pro card, Mackey is now back with Stephen Robinson, whom she worked with for seven years as an amateur.

"This is her third year as a professional bodybuilder, competing against some of the top women in the world," Robinson said. "Based on the 23 women she competed against, she came in 16th, which I think was a great feat.

"For the most part, I think it's all about her personal development where she wants to get into that top 10, then the top five and eventually the Ms Olympia. I think every year that she goes and competes, it's all about her improving on her physique."

Having spent the past six months training her, Robinson said he saw the improvement Mackey made, particularly with her legs, which complemented her back and arms that she always prides herself on.

In preparation for next year, Mackey said she hopes to go away to train for at least three weeks prior to her first show. Her goal is to compete in at least two shows and eventually qualify for Ms Olympia.

"For now, I'm still in the gym trying to stay in shape," she said. "I'm not trying to wait until next year to try and get in shape because it will be too hard.

"That's double work to put in when I can just cruise through and I can properly diet and train. I really want to be ready next year. I'm just waiting on the schedule to come out so that I can know when I will be competing."

Robinson said he plans on putting Mackey in an early show in February or March and then come back to compete again in Tampa in July.

In the meantime, Mackey said the Bahamas Government's subvention has enabled her to stay focused in training. But she's hoping that she can get a little more support because it's costly to maintain her status as a pro.

"Bodybuilding is not a five or six month sport," Robinson stated. "She will have to dedicate herself year round in order to prepare for Ms Olympia or to get into that top 10. It all boils down to money. When you reach the level she and Joel are competing now, you need sponsors behind you for supplements, your meals, travel and everything else that goes into preparing for a world class event."

For the Tampa show alone, which featured the CAC winner from Trinidad & Tobago in 2008 and the winner from Aruba in 2009, Robinson said Mackey spent about $2,500 for the weekend.

But on an average, over the last three months to prepare for a show of that calibre, Robinson said Mackey could incur expenses totalling at least $6,000.