Witpoortjie bodybuilder claims hat-trick of wins in 2021

Behold a model of superhuman sacrifice and redefining limitations.

From just wanting to get into better shape, Monique Giraud-Groener has climbed her own personal mountain. After first picking up weights in 2008, Monique decided to go into competition in 2017 and can now call herself a champion bodybuilder. Her first taste of silverware came in 2018, but 2021 has seen her win a provincial title, national competition and on November 21, an Arnold Classic Africa Sports Festival title, completing a very unique hat-trick.

Lining up in the Wellness Masters category, this wife and mother trains six days a week for four to five hours a session. This hobby has turned into an obsession that has seen her push every known limit of her body in pursuit of polished form and definition. To impress the judges, bodybuilding athletes need to combine well-presented muscle tone and leanness with a personality fit for a champion.

Affiliated to the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), Monique’s first step to glory came at the West Rand provincial competition before taking the stage again at nationals. “I placed first in my line-up and then placed first again in my line-up at nationals. It was a huge moment taking part in the Arnold Classic where I again won my line-up. It is a very special achievement and I am incredibly proud,” she said.

The 37-year-old began competing in the Bikini Fitness category but evolved into the Wellness section. “My favourite muscle group to train is glutes and quads. I am leg-dominant, and choose to spend the majority of my time focusing to get my lower body perfect,” she explained. Sponsored by fitness gurus JLAB, Monique’s nutritional and training regime comes from coach Julian Naidoo, adding, “I do weekly check-ins with him, which then guides the plan for the next week, dependent on how I look”.

Already planning for 2022, Monique is quick to acknowledge the support of her family. “Once you invest in yourself, and your loved ones around you support that decision, it is only upward from there.” Inspirational inside and outside her home, she concluded, “My goal is to encourage and empower other females who do not have the self-confidence and are consciously aware and uncomfortable in their own skin, to make the start. The hard part is being consistent, and my best friend always tells me ‘The consistency in what you do will depend on how badly you want to reach your goals’.”