When the world is your oyster!

• Published date: 12 December 2022
• Publication title: The Sunday Mail

A debut could be one of the most cherished and memorable experiences in sport.

Regardless of the sporting discipline - be it football, cricket, swimming, rugby or any of the various codes that exist in the world - one usually never forgets one's first.

It can be exciting, nerve-racking, energising or overwhelming.

For Nomathamsanqa Phiri - the reigning Women's Beach Bikini winner and Most Outstanding Female Athlete at the Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness National Championships - 2022 has been a year of many firsts.

She debuted at the Ironman Festival. It was also her first time competing at the Marume and Harare classics, as well as at the nationals, which were staged in the capital a fortnight ago.

All these events have given the 28-year-old a year to remember.

'My bodybuilding career actually started in March, when I decided to enter the Novice competition, with the goal being to get a feel of the sport and then start working from there,' said Phiri.

'My first medal was a bronze at the Novice contest, which was a first at both competing and winning something.

'It was an amazing experience as they don't really joke around when they call it an amateur competition, and all didn't know anything about competing.

'I then moved on to my first Ironman competition, one of the top contests in the sport, and I got another bronze.

'This particular competition was actually the most outstanding for me, in terms of growth, as this was when I had my breakthrough and realised that I actually had potential,' she said.

What makes Phiri's breakout year more remarkable is the fact that each competition holds a special memory for her.

While the standout memory in the Novice contest was both her competition and medal finish, in the Ironman Festival, she got the chance to meet one of her idols in Regina Jonga. 'I have two role models I love and hope to meet and trade war stories, the first being Phoebe Hagan, who recently won the inaugural Arnolds UK competition.

'She is one of my huge inspirations, and I love her. 'Locally, there is Regina Jonga, and I am in awe of her.

'Her career has really opened up doors for us as young ladies who are in the...