JOANNE STEWART – FANTASTIC FEW MONTHS

By Andrew Michalak

We presented Jo in one of the Newsletters over a year ago, when she told in an interview – “I would love to place in the top five of an international event. That is my goal for this year. Yeah, I would be very happy with that. I dream that dream every day.”
And what happened later is the best evidence that your dreams may come true if they are very strong and very longed for. At the end of November Jo and her husband Mark headed to Budapest, Hungary, where Jo, following very tough combat, was unbeatable during the World Juniors and Masters Championships, taking home the title of the World Champion.
After coming back to the Southern Hemisphere (exactly: to her home in Auckland, New Zealand), she hadn’t had much time to recuperate, not to mention time to relax, because she decided to hold her condition and take part in the 2008 Arnold Amateur Championships in Columbus, Ohio, at the end of February.
Wonder, how is it possible? Jo already answered to your second thoughts about this – “Love going to bed knowing I have done everything I could possibly do that day, to get me the results I long for. I just like to stand on that stage knowing that I have done everything within my power to get there. It occurs that with this type of mentality you can be a champion every few months. In Columbus Jo unanimously won all three rounds in the lightweight class, ahead of 11 other competitors.
Someone may ask: OK, so much success, probably she will retire soon. Here is her answer – “Mentally I will never be ready to retire, and physically – my body is still improving.” So, you had better go and book your ticket to Taipei to see Jo at the 2008 World Women Championships. This time, after so many very long trips to Europe or America, she will have a much shorter trip and will stay in a similar time zone.

Joanna Stewart with her World Championships gold medal in Budapest. Who is more proud? Jo or her husband Mark?

Jo declared the winner at the 2008 Arnold Amateur Championships in Columbus. Next to her Millie Cleveland of Bermuda, 2nd place winner.

Between her “green, green grass of home”, 2 weeks prior to the Arnold Championships.

Obliques of the Champion.

”Queen of the Muscles” from New Zealand.

Jo’s professional equipment for her interval cardio sessions: sophisticated bike, two fans… Is she going to participate in the next Tour de France?

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