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"Work on your biggest weaknesses until they become your greatest strengths" Goblet Squats with 75lb to kick off leg day! #legday #figureprep #figure #NPC #npcfigure #IFBB #chasingprocards #fitfam #glutes #EPathlete #teamironcladphysique #teampromera #equinoxmademedoit (at Equinox Sports Club Washington DC)

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A Recap of Team Universe- 2014

Since getting back from Team Universe this past weekend, I've been flooded with the same question: "How did it go?"

Rather than continually rehash a competition that I'd much prefer to forget, conjuring up feelings of anger and frustration- I'll just explain it all on here.

My prep for Team Universe began the day of the Arnold.  Backstage I met a fun Brazilian girl named Andressa Ribiero.  We got ready together, did our hair & make-up together, oiled each other up and stepped on the big stage. Not only is she a sweet person, she has a phenomenal physique and went on to win her height class & the overall Arnold Amateur Figure title!  Shortly after the show I texted her and asked for her coaches contact information- I knew I wanted to be the best and that means working with the best.  Clearly what he did with Andressa worked, and I wanted to combine his knowledge & expertise with my persistence and determination.  That week I was on the phone with Jamie Ibone and became the newest member of Team Ironclad Physique.  Jamie manipulated my diet & supplementation plan while my current coach, Kris Petersen, spent a week researching a new approach to my workouts.  Working with the two of them in tandem I felt invincible.

Twelve weeks passed, I got bigger, I got stronger, and as I started to cut I got leaner.  I never felt this great going into a prep- I had energy, my muscles still felt full, I felt lean and I felt ready to battle hard for the top 2 spot and earn my IFBB Pro Card.

The day before pre-judging, I arrived at the Teaneck Marriott for check-ins to get my number and first coat of tan.  I had spend the previous six hours driving north from DC being stuck in both rain storms & traffic, but I was ready to stand tall & measure in.  Typically I'm just over 5'7" which puts me in Figure F (this is what I put on my application when I submitted it) however I measured in at 5'7" on the dot meaning I was down one height-class shorter: Figure E.  "Ok, that's cool" I thought- "up against some people I don't normally compete next to!"

As pre-judging arrived, Kris & I were at the venue and I was sitting in front of the mirror doing my make-up.  A man came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder asking "excuse me, where is the bathroom?" As I turned around to answer his question, I saw both my mom & dad standing there!  They had driven down that day from Massachusetts to surprise me!  My mom in particular had been opposed to my figure aspirations, and after having already competed in 7 shows this is the first they'd get to see me on stage! I was elated and overcome with emotion.  I thought to myself "Yes! They'll see me at my best- the show where I have a great shot at finishing top 2 and qualifying as a pro!"

Hours passed and the Open Figure E girls lined up to take the stage- all 27 of us!  As we filed onto the stage, I was second to last in the lineup and watched some girls with great physiques hit their model poses and gracefully file to the side of the stage.  I followed suit.  After the last girl complete her turns, the Open Figure E girls took the stage for call-outs.  (For those who don't know about bodybuilding judging, you want to be in "first call outs" these are typically the athletes who place the highest and have the best shot at winning.  Typically the judge will move the top girl to the center, and line the rest of the girls up around her).  First call-outs were announced,six girls, and no #199, my number.  "Shoot! I had a great shot this show at first call outs, and now that's not going to happen". Those girls filed off, then the head judge announced the second call-out girls, another 8 girls filed to the center of the stage, but no #199 again- "what the heck, for sure I thought I'd fall here".  Those girls were shuffled around, then moved off stage, on to third call out, another 6 numbers were called, and again no #199.  By this point my blood was boiling..."did the judge have something against me? I've made such great improvements why am I doing so poorly?" Finally the announcement "the rest of the girls, please line up" - the final 8 of us took pour places in the center and immediately I moved to the center.  At that time the head judge looked confused- he called over one of the expediters and I could overhear their discussion "First call outs should have been..." and he repeated the six girls that were originally on stage.. "plus #199".  Finally I felt a little relief.  This is the spot I busted my butt for the past 12 weeks, this is where I want to be!  AS they dismissed us, I left stage feeling much more confident.

The next day I was able to spend some time with my parents & Kris and we went around NYC- touring Central Park, The 9/11 Memorial & Freedom tower, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and shopping on 5th Ave.  We made it back to the hotel and I prepped for Finals.

The night of Finals, we all filed on stage one by one, and lined up along the side of the stage.  Awards were given for the top 5 girls, and after the debacle the day before in pre-judging then being positioned back with the first call out girls.  The announcer came on "Open Figure E- 5th place #199 (my number) Chephirah Williams" - then they announced 4th-1st and my head was in a haze.  They said my number, but another girls name.  I just stood on the side hoping they'd realized they had made a mistake.  After we filed off stage from finals, I ran over to my coach and asked what happened.  He told me to go backstage and find someone working the show and explain my situation.  He pulled out his score sheet, followed my name across, #199 and showed me I had in fact placed 11th.  My head was swirling with questions.  "How could I place 11th when I was only compared to the top 6 girls, and the girls in 22nd-27th".  In a sport that's solely based on comparison's, how was it possibly I Placed amongst girls I wasn't even compared with??

It's three days after the show, and I'm still in disbelief.  Something I spent so much time committed to, I spent so much money on preparing for and I left feeling overlooked and dismissed.  I came into the show looking so much better than the Pro Qualifier (USAs) that I did last year where I placed 9th. How could I be moving backwards when I'm making such huge strides in moving forwards?  Sure people can chalk it up to the fact that "you look so much better, you should be proud of how far you come" and "placing doesn't matter" but the truth is, it does! In order to progress and get to the next level of competition I need to place 1st or 2nd so all that truly matters is how you place. 

I've gone through a wide array of emotions since Saturday- Anger, Disbelief, Frustration, Defeat. I've thought about quitting Figure, throwing in the towel and admitting this just isn't for me, I'll never be in that top spot.  I've thought about it a lot since Saturday night- but what would that prove?  That when the going get's tough I quit? That the feeling of defeat is stronger than my desire to succeed?  No! I grew up as a gymnast, and I learned from a young age as soon as you fall off the beam, no matter how much it hurts, you get right back up and keep going.  So here I am, back with a vengeance, ready to continue to pursue my dream, to make improvements, to work harder and come back better than before!

Mixed with all the negative emotions over the weekend, there were some GREAT things that came out of it:

-My parents were finally able to see me compete.  No matter how old you get, you always want the approval of your parents and finally, after 2 years of competing, I've received their support!

-I was able to meet my coach, Jamie Ibone, in person and know I've made the right choice investing in him.

-I was able to spend quality time with Kris (and my parents) both in NYC and at Six Flags on the drive home!

-My client and good friend Tara made the trip up to NJ to cheer me on, and having her moral support meant the world to me.

-I was able to meet other Ironclad Physique girls, Betsey, Debbie & Melissa and realized I am so blessed to be around girls who are so fun, easy to be around, and have the same drive as me :)

Be Good. Be. Fit. Be Healthy.