Dixon nearing peak for trip to Los Vegas

SCULPTED: Whanganui bodybuilders Jan Dixon (left) and Krista Adams limber up back stage at the Wellington Regional and Asia Pacific Championships in the capital at the weekend.

Jan Dixon is an athlete on fire and focused heavily on peaking in November to defend her Natural Miss Olympia title in Los Vegas.

The Turakina farmer has scooped the pool at three prestigious bodybuiling shows in the past few months as she works toward peaking for the Natural Olympia tournament in the United States in a few weeks time.

Longtime Wanganui City Gym coach Pat McNamara said the 50-year-old had won the open short woman and the overall titles at the Wellington Regional and Asia Pacific Championships in the capital at the weekend.

"That's the third time in recent weeks Jan has done this," McNamara said yesterday.
At the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) competition in Taupo last month Dixon competed in the Masters over-40 class and the Open Short Women grade.

There were three competitors in each class and Dixon took out both titles, which qualified her for the Overall Women's Bodybuilding category. She took this title as well. Five weeks earlier, Dixon also won the NABBA overall title in Hastings.

"Jan is on the right track. Everything is guaged at peaking for Los Vegas and we're on target," McNamara said.

Dixon and McNamara have worked together for a decade. She's won numerous high profile titles at competitions in New Zealand, Australia, the US and at the worlds in Dubai last year.

"We prefer the natural competitions where there are no drugs. We've got the New Zealand nationals in Napier at labour Weekend to put the final polish on. The nationals are not natural competitions, but we've beaten these guys before," McNamara said.
In typical modest fashion Dixon conceded she was "slowly getting there" when asked if she felt like she was peaking at the right time.

"We'll get the nationals out of the way first and then focus on Los Vegas - I'm getting there slowly," Dixon said yesterday.

Meanwhile, fellow City Gym bodybuilder Krista Adams came second in the women's figure competition in Wellington at the weekend after 11 years away from McNamara's coaching influence.

"Krista won as a junior under me 11 years ago and then went overseas and had children before returning to me this year," McNamara said.