by John Plummer

Meg Lawrence was a 42-year-old mother of two when she started seriously working out with weights.

She transformed her body and has since enjoyed considerable success on stage with the UKBFF in the masters bikini fitness class for women aged over 35. But she always harboured am ambition to compete in India – the country where she was born.

Meg, who moved to the UK when she was three, finally fulfilled her dream last weekend by competing at the IFBB Diamond Cup India.

Diamond Cup events, which take place around the world, are open to leading amateur IFBB athletes who do well in major competitions run by their national affiliate federation, which is the UKBFF in the UK.

They are a great opportunity for athletes to compete around the world against top class opponents and attempt to win IFBB Elite Pro cards. So when the opportunity arose for Meg, who is now 46, she set her sights on last weekend's Diamond Cup event in the country of her birth.

Despite the long flight, she placed third of seven in an open bikini fitness class against women of all ages. “I was battling it out against girls half my age and double my height,” says Meg.

But it was about more than winning a trophy. “This competition meant a lot to me,” she says. “Firstly, I have Indian heritage and secondly I wanted to show that bodybuilding is a sport that Indian women can participate in too. It is still something not many do.

“So this was something I wanted to do before I hang up my bikini.”

The trip proved to be everything she hoped for an more.

“The welcome and hospitality we were given was absolutely outstanding,” says Meg. “Accommodation, transport and food was all paid for by the federation during the competition weekend. We were really well looked after and made a fuss over. I thought I was a Bollywood star!”

The head judge told Meg she looked so good she ought to continue – and judging by the way she continues to improve, we suspect she can win more trophies and be a role model to others.

“I'd like to encourage and inspire older athletes,” she says. “It's never too late.”

Meg isn't done for the year yet. This weekend she is part of a strong quartet of four female UKBFF athletes in the Czech Republic for the Diamond Cup Prague.

Good luck to her and fellow Brits Olga Upelniece (bodyfitness), Victoria Crewe (bodyfitness) and Shannon Mackie (wellness).