By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — A local woman has placed sixth in her first national bodybuilding competition held on June 15-16.

At the National Physique Committee Jr. national competition, held in Rosemont, Ill., Taylor Gordon exceeded even her own expectations by placing herself in the top ten of bodybuilders in her division. Gordon may just be a natural at her craft, as she competed for the first time on the national level with others who have seen the stage on several occasions prior.

“I was very nervous,” said Gordon. “Most of the girls there have been on stage multiple times. My posing was definitely off, so I must have done something right.”

Gordon, who works as a trainer at Anytime Fitness in Plover, is a UW-Stevens Point graduate with a degree in Health Science, and plans to head to graduate school soon to pick up her Masters. She hopes it will eventually land her a position as a professor in the Health Science department at UWSP.

Her passion for lifting and bodybuilding began through her education at UWSP, and after tracking food and becoming invigorated with the fitness lifestyle, decided to “take it up a notch” and began adding muscle for bodybuilding. Soon after her first competition in bikini, she soon switched to figure, and claimed first place in regionals last year.

However, Gordon has her short-term goals set on turning professional, and from waking up at 3AM for cardio to constantly adjusting her caloric intake over this year, it’s not a stretch to expect this 24-year-old to do just that. Her prep for these competitions actually start 24 weeks out, where Gordon tracks her progress through pictures every week. In her off-season she will eat up to 2,500-3,000 calories a day when building muscle, and reducing that amount to as low as 1,300 a day when prepping for competition.

For Gordon, it’s all about willpower.

“It’s knowing I have the willpower to say no to food and yes to exercise,” said Gordon. “It’s all about the willpower.”

Gordon plans a return in next year’s competition, with her sights set squarely on first place.