The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FANIA Johnson is hoping that the third time around will be the charm for her at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.

On Saturday at J-Line Fitness Centre where the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation staged its showcase to select the team heading to San Salvador, El Salvador, from August 12-16, the 32-year-old attorney on the Bahamas Financial Services board secured her berth on the team for the third straight year. “I’m hoping to bring a much better package than I did in 2019 and 2020,” Johnson said. “I’m hoping this is the pro card, year for me. I’m not sure if this is the show, but I’m going to give it my best.

“We’re approximately three weeks out from the CAC and I know there’s still a lot to be done to refining my physique. But I know I can do it in time.”

As she prepares for the championships, Johnson said she’s quite aware of what she needs to work on in her training sessions at Mac-Fit 360.

“For me right now, my upper body is pretty strong, so I’m quite satisfied and pleased with how I look right now,” Johnson said. “It’s really my lower body, which is always a challenge in terms of leaning out properly. “Last year, the main critique was that I was too lean. I came in too lean, too dry and too hard. I think the reason for that was because I tried to cut down on my legs and I wasn’t strategic in the way I did it. This year, I’m a little more strategic. I’m going to keep my cardio at a minimum and do more sprints, as opposed to hours and hours of steady pace walking on the treadmill.”

With a change in her approach to this year’s championships, Johnson said she will continue to assess her body and make the necessary tweaks, unlike what she did in the past, which she feels will help to propel her to the top of the podium in El Salvador.

Unlike when she made her debut in the sport in 2019, for the second year, Johnson didn’t get a chance to compete in a show hosted by the federation because of the COVID-19 restrictions, but she’s not going to let it get to her.

“Last year was a similar circumstance. The only problem is that the gyms were closed last year, so it was really a lot of running and doing cardio workout,” Johnson said.

“At least this year, the gyms are still opened so we could train. “I would have liked to compete in a local show this year and to win that title, but I didn’t win the title. I won the novice bikini in 2019, but I never won the overall national title. That was my hope for this year, but that didn’t happen, so I’m hoping to shine at the CAC Championships.”

With more at stake than a national title, Johnson said she’s confident that she can go to El Salvador and make her presence felt.