Karen Flaherty’s trophy cabinet received a massive boost when she won two titles at last month’s World Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Greece.By Marc McGowan
CRANBOURNE is home to Ms Olympia after champion bodybuilder Karen Flaherty claimed two titles at last month’s World Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Greece.
The 43-year-old won the Masters Figure class before adding another in the open short (157-to-163 centimetre) category.
Flaherty, who finished third in both events at the World Bodybuilding Championships in Perth last year, was thrilled with her achievement.
“I was blown away coming third last year and said straight away to a girlfriend that I was going back the next year,” she said.
“It’s been 12 months’ preparation and I peaked for this one.
“Third last year was amazing and I said if I could run second this year I’d be stoked, but to go back and win overall is a dream come true.”
After winning the Australian title last year, Flaherty placed third in this year’s competition in Canberra in October.
“I came away with my head down and just thought ‘okay, I’m going to have to work a bit harder’,” she said.
“I spoke to a few judges on what I could improve on and they told me to come in a bit leaner.”
But the lead-up to the 25 November competition was hardly ideal for Flaherty.
The former amateur jockey was unable to organise accommodation with the rest of the 15-strong Australian squad and was forced to reside a long way from her team-mates.
The mother of Bree, 9, and Jasmine, 4, also chose not to eat during the long flight to Greece, which also involved a stop in Bangkok, to avoid getting sick.
Her weights training ended five days prior to judgement day and she revealed she was at breaking point near the end.
“You’re hungry, tired and you want to breakdown and cry, but you keep going and it paid off with the results,” Flaherty said.
“My friends have been amazing and (eldest daughter) Bree is that year older and is awesome help.
“I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Flaherty’s hectic lifestyle is set to relax slightly in 2008, but she still hopes to defend her title in San Francisco next November.
“I’ve given up a lot. At first I felt like an outcast, but my friends have been great,” she said.
“I’ve learnt to diet, socialise and still do things and not make it my entire life, which I had to do with the girls.
“I am going to ease off. I’ll still train five nights a week at the gym because I’m a gym junkie, but I’ll definitely drop my cardio down – I don’t need to do it two times a day.”
Money is a constant struggle for Flaherty as she juggles her parental duties and her sport.
She refinanced her house this year and had to get a full-time job in March to do so.
“I went to my old boss (leading Cranbourne horse trainer Mick Kent), who I used to ride trackwork for, and he gave me a job with no hesitation,” she said.
“It’s big-time tough. It has added to my training, but has hindered it as well.”
Local businessman Steven Maskell has been an ongoing financial support, but Flaherty is desperate to receive more backing.
“I’d like to go back (and defend my world title), but it will come down to money,” she said.
