Nový začiatok Allison TESTU: Som šťastná, že som sa nikdy nevzdala

Allison Testu je meno známe všetkým fanúšikom bikinifitness. Kráska z Portugalska má za sebou niekoľko vzácnych úspechov, medzi nimi aj víťazstvo na Majstrovstvách Európy, vďaka ktorému získala možnosť prestúpiť medzi profesionálov do Elite PRO, ktoré patrí pod IFBB International. Tam sa porovnala s najlepšími bikinifitnesskami, zúčastnila sa viacerých Elite PRO Shows a napokon aj Elite PRO majstrovstiev sveta. Medzi jej najväčšie úspechy v Elite PRO patrí 2. miesto na 2019 Arnold Classic Europe. Prečo sa napokon rozhodla prestúpiť a začať „od nuly“ v NPC? Aj to sa dozviete v tomto interview.

Z nemocničného lôžka na súťažné pódiá

Športu a pohybu sa Allison venovala už od mala. Medzi jej aktivity patril tanec, gymnastika, judo, no najmä jazda na koni. „Tomuto športu som sa venovala 16 rokov, až kým môj jazdecký klub nepredal môjho súťažného koňa. Následne sa zavrel celý klub,“ spomína Allison. Do fitka sa dostala vo februári 2016, najmä kvôli zlým stravovacím návykom. „Začala som trénovať po tom, čo som kvôli nedostatku železa skončila na niekoľko dní v nemocnici,“ hovorí. Po pobyte v nemocnici si Allison rýchlo uvedomila, že niečo nie je v poriadku, a tak začala na sebe pracovať. „Môj priateľ ma požiadal, aby som začala dodržiavať jedálniček a trénovať v gyme s jeho trénerom. Predtým som jedla intuitívne a len vtedy, keď som pociťovala hlad.. Niekedy som však nebola hladná jeden, či dva dni,“ spomína.

Jej telo na tréning reagovalo veľmi dobre. Súťažný potenciál v nej videl najmä jej priateľ. Ona sama v tom čase so súťažením nesúhlasila a pripadalo jej skôr ako klišé. „Vždy som obdivovala Yanu Kuznetsovu a Oksanu Brygidyr, no len na obrazovke telefónu. Snívala som a sledovala ich úspechy“. A tak sa Allison napokon rozhodla skúsiť súťaženie  - len 8 mesiacov potom, ako začala trénovať v posilňovni. Súťažiť v bikinifitness však nebola jediná možnosť. Podľa jej slov uvažovala aj nad súťažením v bodyfitness. ,,Moje telo sa rýchlo adaptovalo na diétu a tréning a svaly rástli veľmi rýchlo. Bodyfitness by svedčalo mojej genetickej výbave najviac, no ja som nebola pripravená byť taká svalnatá v bežnom živote,“ dodáva Allison. A tak sa v októbri 2016 prvýkrát postavila na súťažné pódiá v nominácii bikinifitness.

Kolísavé vzťahy medzi amatérmi

Miesto medzi pretekárkami v Elite PRO si Allison vybojovala 3. miestom v OVERALL poradí na 2018 Majstrovstvách Európy v Santa Susanne. Aký vidí rozdiel medzi amatérskou a profesionálnou scénou? „Páčilo sa mi súťažiť medzi amatérmi. Keď som sa však stala Elite PRO pretekárkou, všetko okolo toho mi vyhovovalo viac, napríklad priateľstvo medzi pretekármi." Medzi amatérmi sú vzťahy podľa jej slov napäté a bola úprimne rada, že môže dať týmto chvíľam zbohom. ,,Aj napriek tomu boli niektoré chvíle v amatéroch súčasťou mojich najkrajších spomienok,“ dodáva Allison.

Prestup do NPC

Pred začiatkom pandémie mala naplánovaných niekoľko súťaží v Elite PRO. Všetky boli napokon zrušené, Allison však pokračovala vo vytrvalej príprave a zlepšovala sa. Vnímala rozdiely medzi ňou a ostatnými pretekárkami, ktoré v Elite PRO určovali trend bikinifitness: „Pre niektoré z nás to bolo veľmi ťažké. Vedela som, že potrebujem svoj look zmeniť a už som bola na to takmer pripravená! Zrazu som však začala uvažovať – chceš sa zmeniť, ale prečo? Čo tým získaš?“

Allison vnímala Elite PRO a IFBB PRO ako úplne odlišné organizácie. A zdôrazňuje aj rozdiely v prístupe k pretekárom. „Akoby žiaden sponzor nechcel spolupracovať s Elite PRO pretekármi. Aspoň mám taký pocit. Nikto ma nikdy nepovažoval za jednu z najlepších, vždy mi bolo povedané, že som len jedna z nich. A vtedy som si uvedomila: prečo by som mala meniť svoju formu? Aby som bola len jedna z mnohých? Nechápte ma zle, Elite PRO som milovala, no z tejto stránky to bolo naozaj ťažké,“ vysvetľuje ambiciózna športovkyňa. A tak sa Allison kvôli svojej muskulatúrnej forme, ale aj týmto dôvodom rozhodla skúsiť šťastie medzi amatérkami v NPC. 

Nový začiatok

„Všetko bolo také, aké som si predstavovala,“ popisuje svoj prvý štart v NPC. „Starali sa tam o mňa aj napriek tomu, že som pred touto súťažou pre nich neznamenala nič,“ dopĺňa. Allison spomína na súťaže v IFBB international a tvrdí, že sa v NPC po prvýkrát cítila ako hviezda. Dobrý pocit zo súťaže podčiarkol vynikajúci výsledok. Keď počula svoje meno v TOP 3 v absolútnom poradí, prirovnáva k deja-vu zo Santa Susanny. Vtedy už vedela, že je z nej nová Bikini PRO pretekárka. ,,Po lícach sa mi kotúľali slzy a otriasalo mnou tisíc emócií. Ako by môj vnútorný hlas povedal: vidíš, ako to dopadne, keď sa nikdy nevzdáš!“ Tento nový začiatok však pre talentovanú Portugalčanku neznamená len zmenu PRO kariet. S novou federáciou jej do života vstúpili noví sponzori: „Mám troch nových sponzorov a konečne môžem zarábať aj propagáciou na sociálnych sieťach. To je to, čo môžem konečne nazvať ovocím tvrdej práce." Testu tvrdí, že život sa jej práve mení a hviezdičky v očiach, ktoré sa strácali neúspechmi v Elite PRO sa vrátili späť.

Najväčší úspech

„Môj najväčší úspech som získala na súťaži, ktorú som nevyhrala,“ odpovedá jednoznačne Allison. Hovorí o súťaži 2019 Arnold Classic Europe, kde súťažila medzi Elite PRO dievčatami. „Vtedy ma z jednej strany držala za ruku Yana Kuznetsova a z druhej vedľa mňa stále Oksana Brygidyr. Plakala som ešte pred tým, ako som vedela svoje umiestnenie," spomína. Prečo? Pamätá si totiž, ako v roku 2016 pozerala na ich fotky a opakovala si, že „jeden deň bude stáť vedľa nich“. Do zoznamu najkrajších spomienok Allison pridáva tiež získanie IFBB PRO karty na NPC European Championships.

Jasná vízia

Allison sme mali možnosť vidieť v roku 2020 už na niekoľkých PRO shows. Na nový rok súťaže ešte nemá presne naplánované vzhľadom na situáciu s pandémiou. Jeden cieľ má však jasný. „O tejto lige sa musím ešte veľa naučiť, je to tu všetko iné.. no dúfam v jedno. Dúfam v kvalifikáciu na Bikini Olympia vo Vegas. Budem robiť všetko preto, aby som uspela,“ hovorí. Allison žije bodybuildingom a tvrdí, že chce preň žiť tak dlho, ako jej to telo umožní. Zvykla si stanoviť nejaký cieľ a robiť preň maximum. „Nateraz je pre mňa jasná vízia Bikini Olympia. Chcem sa raz postaviť vedľa Isy Pecini. Tak, ako som si vysnívala stáť vedľa Yany a Oksany.“

„Chcela by som na záver dodať, že som šťastná, že som sa nikdy nevzdala. To je správa, ktorú by som chcela dokázať aj ostatným. Viďte sa takých, akí v skutočnosti ste, stanovte si najväčšie, takmer nedosiahnuteľné ciele.. Prečo? Aby ste dokázali veci, ktoré sa zdajú byť nemožné. Ďakujem BikiniFitness.sk za možnosť prehovoriť s otvoreným srdcom,“ hovorí na záver Allison Testu, ktorej budeme držať prsty aj na ďalších súťažiach, ktoré absolvuje. 

Why and when did you start training in the gym? Did you do some other sport when you were a child? 

I started working out in February 2016, after an iron inefficiency and a short stay in hospital. My boyfriend @emanuelmorgado asked me a favor when I came back, to follow a diet (cause actually I was eating intuitively and only when I was hungry - it could take 1 or 2 days without the hunger feeling) and to start a program at the gym with his coach @teammhd.

In the past, I have made dance, gymnastics, judo, but mainly horse-riding for 16 years before my horse-club sold my favorite soul-mate horse, and closed the club.

When and why did you decide to compete in bikinifitness? Who was your biggest bikini idol?

After starting the program with his (now our) coach, my boyfriend was already a Men's Physique athlete (IFBB Portugal) and told me I could succeed if I decided to compete in Bikini Fitness, and that I had potential to do (possibly) great. But I refused, I was thinking it was a bit cliché (strass, silicone, heels, posing etc.). But after a long reflection, I decided to give it a try in October 2016. 8 month after starting to workout and diet. I was admiring Yana Smith and Oksana Brygidyr behind my mobile screen… Dreaming and watching them achieving successes.

Have you ever consider to compete in another division?

Yes. Actually from the beginning, my coach and a lot of people told me that my potential and lines were not for Bikini, as my body could adapt fast to diet and workout, and I grew new muscles pretty fast. So yes, Bodyfitness was the category which could fit my genetics the most, but I was not ready to be that big for my everyday life.

How long do you compete in bikinifitness?

I compete since October 2016. In amateur, of course, and got my first Pro Card (Elite Pro) in Santa Susanna 2018 (I placed 3rd in Overall).

What did you like more – being amateur athlete in IFBB or professional athlete in Elite PRO?

I liked being amateur, but when I went to Elite Pro, all the ambiance was more fitting my temper, friendship between athletes, for example. Amateur level is hard, weight-ins for many hours, small wars between amateur athletes, I was happy to say goodbye to all that small unpleasant moments. Even though some amateur moments were part of my biggest and best memories.

Why did you decide to switch to NPC? Were you unsatisfied in Elite PRO?

As I was planning to start my second year as a Pro with Oslo Pro, ACA Pro, Madrid Pro, the Covid showed. And everything was cancelled. It was not a bad moment for me, as I am prepping all year round since 2016 without resting. I just kept my way of life as it was, and hold on to my goals of being always a better version of myself. But in Summer 2020, I lived a super self-analysis, and made the check on my Elite Pro Career.

Too many ups and downs, and I was almost the only one to live that, the classifications of all the other pro athletes were more or less always regular, but mine could be as awesome as it could be really negative. And I needed to change my overall look, I knew this, and I was ready for it, ready to create the Bikini package that I did not have, despite my systematic prep for the stage. But then, I wondered to myself, you will change, yes, but for what goal? A possible first place at the World Pro and then?

No want to work so hard with Elite Pro. With Pro League it's different. No one consider you as "one of the best" in Elite Pro, I've always been told that Elite Pro is just a second zone compared to Pro League. I was thinking about what was the point, to change my physics to be recognized as a second zone Pro Bikini, for the people, for the sponsors, for the marketing and brands? It was not my point of view as I adored Elite Pro, but commercially speaking, it was a hard reality. So I've decided to switch and change my physics for a good reason, a better future.

Because I was not particularly happy to be honest to soften my shape to fit the bikini category, so I needed a strong reason, a reason that could worth it. I spoke to IFBB PORTUGAL about my decision to go back to amateur but in NPC. I am still waiting their answer today. At the beginning I was sad to leave, but regarding their non-recognition, I left without any regrets and more focused than ever.

Could you describe your first NPC competition – NPC Europe Championships?

Everything was as I was expecting. There was recognition for me as an amateur, much more than when I was Elite Pro, and I was nobody before the NPC contest for them. But they treated me like a star, they knew who I was, from my Elite Pro status, and just for that I was thousand times more grateful than in all my 4 years in IFBB. I stepped on stage without any expectation, just giving my best, and I won my category. Then when I've heard my name in TOP3 Overall (one more time it felt like a Santa Susanna, déjà-vu ) so I was new IFBB PRO LEAGUE athlete. 

I felt the tears going out, my breathe was short and I started shaking because of 1000 emotions, the voice inside my head appeared and told me, "you see what happens when you don't give up". Marketing speaking, I got 3 new sponsors, and my social medias increased as never before, and that's what I call "fruits" of the hard work. My life is changing right now, and the stars in the eyes I had lost in Elite Pro, they came again, every morning now, every second of my life.

What was the difference between European Championships in Santa Susanna, where you were competing in the past, and NPC Europe Championships in Alicante?

NOTHING. I actually placed exactly the same, a Pro Card win there too, it's so similar that it is scary to me. The organization, the tanning etc… at the amateur level, it takes more time, a lot of time waiting… But that's normal. The only difference is that I won my Pro Card with my friend… Ivanna ESCANDAR, previously Elite Pro. I was praying for that to happen. My happiness was as important as hers.

You had a really great start in NPC – you succeeded and got the Bikini PRO card. How did you feel while competing with Bikini PRO girls ?

I felt as a child, but not as much as in ACE Pro in 2019 when I was waiting the awards with Yana and Oksana. My role models had always been IFBB types athletes, even if Yana has lived a huge Pro League experience in the past. I have a lot to learn about Pro League, it's completely different, the criteria, the body balance, the emotion that you have to deliver to the judges, nothing is similar to IFBB. I am a baby Pro League of 30yo, I have to work and learn, fast. 

What are your plans for 2021? What do you want to achieve?

I have 4 shows planed for 2021, UK PRO, ROMANIA MUSCLE CONTEST PRO, SAN MARINO PRO, and OLYMPIA PORTUGAL PRO (if there is, for now it's not confirmed). Nothing is clearm due to covid-related restrictions, not even the place where I'm gonna workout tomorrow, so seing that far in 2021 is too early. But well… Bikini Olympia qualification I hope. I am gonna work for that until I succeed.

What do you consider to be your biggest success?

My biggest success is one show where I did not win - Arnold Classic Europe 2019, cause Yana took my hand, and Oksana was next to me. And I started crying before I knew my placement because I remembered that in 2016 I was looking at the phone screen, telling to myself : "I will be next to them one day". Now we can add the NPC European to the list of the best memories. You know, just because before I switched to NPC, people told me… "You see Allison, NPC is not as Elite PRO… that's another level".

That sentence was a moto in my head. The rage I had to prove the quality of the Elite PRO athletes, was leading my steps every day. And well… Ivanna, Angela Borges, me, some "second zone" Pros, we gave a lesson that weekend. The federation does not make the quality of the athlete… just the athlete does.

What are your biggest dreams – both in bikini career and your personal life 

My biggest dream? Keep living as long as I can from Bodybuilding because this is what I do. Progress step by step and set everytime a new dream. Now it's Olympia, but for deeper reasons, I love Bodybuilding, and I want to do what is my passion till my death. Not only the competitions but everything connected with them. And particularly hold the hand of Isa Pecini one day, on stage. Just like i was dreaming about standing on the stage with Oksana and Yana. I am patient, and I work hard. Now it seems impossible, but in 2016 wishing to be next to Yana and Oksana seemed impossible too. I know my time will come. I trust in destiny and my life is full of Déjà-vu's.

Is there anything you want to add?

Just to tell that I am so happy I never gave up. It's what I wish to all the people who are in my 2016 shoes now. See yourself as you are, set biggest goals, almost unreachable, and accomplish the things that seem impossible. And thank you BikiniFitness.Sk for giving me a chance to speak with an open heart.