KUCHING: As she was cleaning out the cluttered storeroom of her parents’ house one day, she stumbled upon a fitness magazine, with a cover photo featuring a female athlete posing confidently, with well-defined muscles and a lean physique.
The image seemed to leap out of the page and into her heart and she decided to hit the gym; with the sole intention of shedding the weight that had burdened her for years.
Philomena won a silver medal at the 16th Southeast Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Yangon, Myanmar in 2018.
“I joined the gym as I was overweight, about 80kg…I knew I needed to lose some weight to be healthier and of course, to feel and look more confident,” she recalled.
Little did she know that her life was about to take a remarkable turn as she found herself scouted by a fellow bodybuilding athlete, Dr Malvern Abdullah, at the same gym where she had embarked on her weight loss journey.
A new chapter in her life unfolded, one that would lead her down a path she had never anticipated, into the world of bodybuilding and self-discovery.
She is Philomena Dexclyn Siar, who has made history by winning a gold medal at the 55th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal in September this year.
The 40-year-old Bidayuh woman has become the first Sarawakian woman to win a title in the Asian competition.
Speaking to the New Sarawak Tribune recently, she shared that she did not expect to win a gold medal and was hoping it would be ‘good enough’ if she could be in the top five.
“This gold medal definitely marked another significant milestone in my athletic career and this (winning) also secured my place in the national team, where there will be funds and grants.
“Before this, I have been using my own money to join competitions.”
Previously, she won a silver medal at the 16th Southeast Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Yangon, Myanmar in 2018.
Challenges in her body-building journey; a male-dominated sport
Philomena started her journey in a male-dominated sport in 2016, has faced various challenges, including the lack of female mentors, coaches, or teammates to provide the essential support system.
Constantly feeling intimidated and judged by the predominantly male gym-goers, she realised that her unique approach to workouts, tailored to her goals, sets her apart.
Philomena was once an overweight woman before she started her bodybuilding journey.
“It’s not uncommon for men, accustomed to heavy lifting, to feel threatened when I handle 70% of their weights, sometimes even attempting to disrupt my workouts.”
Apart from that, she said, there were misconceptions surrounding women in bodybuilding and weightlifting, which often revolve around fears of bulking up, losing their feminine features, and potential health risks.
However, the fact is that women naturally possess fewer muscle-building hormones than men; therefore, building significant muscle as a woman is a more challenging and time-consuming endeavour compared to men.
“This does not mean that body-building is not for women; it is just that we need more time.”
Secondly, she said, women’s bodybuilding offers a wide range of categories, from smaller sizes to more muscular physiques, including model, sport, fitness, athletic, and bodybuilding, whereby the choice of how you sculpt your body and which category you aspire to compete in is entirely yours.
Philomena has achieved a fit and toned physique, reflecting a healthy and empowered woman with increased self-confidence.
“I am the living proof that bodybuilding and weightlifting do not turn women into The Hulk; a big angry and muscular monster,” she quipped.
“Despite my heavy training regimen, daily dedication, and strict dietary habits, I’ve achieved a fit and toned physique, reflecting a healthy and empowered woman with increased self-confidence.”
Currently, Philomena is able to maintain between 58kg and 60kg during off-season; and 50kg for her competition weight.
Advice for Aspiring Female Bodybuilders and Weightlifters
For women considering entering the world of bodybuilding or weightlifting, investing in a reputable personal coach is paramount.
“Look for someone with a solid track record in both knowledge and competition experiences in these fields. This coach will not only guide you but also relate to your journey as an athlete.”
She also pointed out that bodybuilding and weightlifting are undeniably expensive and demanding sports, requiring unwavering dedication, motivation, and an unrelenting drive.
“Therefore, be prepared to make sacrifices, whether it’s in terms of time, your social life, or leisure activities. This path isn’t for the faint-hearted.
“Above all, remember to never give up when you encounter challenges, hardships, or pressure. In this demanding journey, resilience is your best friend.”
What’s next?
Philomena’s next target is to win gold in the World Championships that will be held in South Korea in November.
However, her aspirations extend far beyond personal success as she is also determined to raise awareness and promote the sport; as well as to encourage more women to take up bodybuilding.
“For my personal goal or career, I will continue bodybuilding as long as my body allows me. At the same time, I hope to identify more talents and scout more potential women bodybuilders in Sarawak.”
She also wants to create more local and national championship platforms; offering women the opportunity to step onto the competition stage and to maximise their full potential.
To ensure the sustainability of this vision, she aimed to open doors to coaching bodybuilding-specific courses for women, to high-quality female bodybuilding coaches.
As such, she believes, it will be instrumental in shaping the next generation of women bodybuilders and competitive athletes.
In addition, she said it is equally important for the Sarawak government, sports bodies, and organisations to support and provide equal opportunities for female bodybuilders.
They need to come together, to organise more events, programmes and courses on sport science knowledge in bodybuilding, ensuring access to top-notch sport facilities for stage and competition performance, and offering sport grants to fuel sport development programmes and competition organisation.
“The future of female bodybuilding depends on such collective effort,” Philomena emphasised.
