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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/kristenmcgregor-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4465" /><figcaption> Kristen McGregor (centre) smiles after winning at the IFBB Diamond Cup in St Maarten in July. (Photos: Contributed) </figcaption></figure>
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<p>Winning on her professional debut has firmly put Jamaican body fitness queen Kristen McGregor on the pathway to achieving her goal of winning the coveted Ms Olympia title. </p>
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<p>Tall and
statuesque, Kristen walked into the IFBB Diamond Cup in St Maarten on July 28
and won her last tournament as an amateur. Then, with her newly minted Pro Card
in hand, she took on a professional field from across the world and won that
too.</p>
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<p>It was a
major step on her journey to the ultimate career goal, the Ms Olympia title. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“It is a
major accomplishment as I am now eligible to earn from the sport now, as the trips
aren't cheap and neither is the preparation,” she said. “It was overwhelming as
I wasn’t expecting it. I just went in with an open mind. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/kristen3-667x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4466" /><figcaption>Kristen shows off her physique. </figcaption></figure>
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<p>Kristen grew
up in Kingston, Jamaica, with three siblings and was always into some form of
sport - in part due to the influence of her dad, tennis coach Lockett McGregor.
She also wanted to become a physiotherapist, a nutritionist and a track star.</p>
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<p>“I was always into fitness, doing tracks from a young age until I stopped in university and started playing rugby until I was recruited by Audrey Allwood, President of the Jamaica Bodybuilding Association and the owner of FitFarm Fitness Club where I train,” said Kristen, who did her degree in sport management. </p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“I don’t like disappointments, and I don’t like to boost myself.” </p><cite>— Kristen McGregor</cite></blockquote>
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<p>After
joining FitFarm, Kristen progressed quickly. In 2017, her first year in
bodybuilding and fitness, she finished third in Body Fitness at the Jamaican
championships.</p>
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<p>She won the
national title in 2018, the same year she won the CAC title.</p>
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<p>As she
prepared for her last amateur tournament and her first as a pro, Kristen
decided to raise the ante and changed coaches – moving Barry Wilson to Henry
Graham.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/kristen2-1024x813.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4467" /><figcaption>Kristen is flanked by her very toned competitors. </figcaption></figure>
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<p>After
preparing for a year for St Maarten, those in her camp were confident, Kristen was
not sure what to expect.</p>
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<p>“I don’t
like disappointments, and I don’t like to boost myself,” she said, explaining
that she shut out all the praise and expectations of her colleagues when she
departed for St Maarten in July. </p>
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<p>However, winning
was not without challenges, as both of her bikinis got damaged.</p>
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<p>“So, I
almost had a panic attack … It wouldn’t affect the judging, but it would affect
the judging if I had no bikini,” she said.</p>
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<p>Kristen’s next stop along the road to her dreams is the IFBB Elite Pro World Professional Championships in Tarragona, Spain, in November. There, she hopes to continue building on her incredible winning record even though she will be up against the best in the world.</p>
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<p>— <em>Story by Chase</em></p>
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