Local resident shows her strength in Dubai
Jaimee Best finished fourth in the Elite Pro Mr and Mrs World competition in Dubai.
IT is said that success is attained through dedication, sacrifice, persistence and most importantly, hard work.
One person who can attest to this is Durban North resident and fitmodel athlete, Jaimee Best, who was crowned the SA Fitmodel U166 champion earlier this year.
That achievement saw her being selected among 10 other athletes for the South African team to compete at the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Elite Pro Mr and Mrs World competition in Dubai.
Best finished fourth in her category, an incredible achievement, considering this was her first international competition under the IFBB rules.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and despite the hiccups and challenges we faced along the way, I wouldn’t change a thing. My time on the IFBB international stage in Dubai was by far the best stage experience I’ve ever had. Rather than feeling the nervous energy around me, there was a calm and relaxed atmosphere, and I really did just enjoy myself and have fun.
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“As cheesy as it may sound, I feel I walked away with a ‘win’ of my own. Although I was hoping and aiming for a top-three placing, I can honestly say that I would choose my own physique over those of the ladies who placed higher than me, and so I am extremely proud of the package I presented,” she said.
Best said that finishing fourth in the world has given her an enormous amount of self-belief.
“With every show competed in and each performance on stage, comes an increase in confidence and self-belief, realising what you as an athlete are capable of and have achieved. The opportunity to compete against top athletes from all over the world has also provided me with new insight, which I can carry forward.
“The experience, as a whole, re-ignites that flame and passion, and seeing the standard and quality of other athletes, pushes you to be better. Standing against top athletes from around the world gives perspective in terms of where you stand in your division, what your strengths are and what you need to improve on. The insight and knowledge gained are definitely beneficial when setting a game plan for the way forward in your competitive career,” she said.
