Champion Melbourne bikini bodybuilder Bettina Grimaud reveals why she wont be doing it again

A college student who transformed her body into a finely sculpted machine to win three bodybuilding championships has revealed why she won’t do it again.

Bettina Grimaud was just 19 years old when she embarked on a grueling 14-month quest to win the 2023 ICN Rising Star and Rookie of the Year championships.

On Sunday, Bettina participated in all three of her events, including Rising Star Bikini Model, Under 23s Rookie Bikini champion, and Rookie Bikini Open.

After: Bettina Grimaud won three titles as Rising Star and Rookie of the Year Championships from Sunday’s 2023 ICN

Tuned: Bettina Grimaud worked every inch of her body to crush her opposition

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia from her home in Melbourne, Bettina revealed the cost of competing in competition on her mind, body and relationships.

‘It was a great decision and it has completely changed my life. It’s more than being able to hit the gym every day and living a healthy lifestyle. It is not healthy. I’m not going to lie about it,” Bettina said.

I have made many sacrifices to be able to do the best I could do. I have lost many friends. I lost my relationship. My social life has completely gone out the window because something like this really shows you who’s there for you.’

Bettina paid tribute to those involved in the sport for helping her achieve her goals despite life’s many setbacks.

‘He taught me a lot. She brought out the best in my personality and developed my mental toughness and the best version of myself,” she said.

“It has given me a lot of resilience. If it weren’t for my coaches I wouldn’t be in this position. Family and friends have also pushed me. It’s not a sport for the light-hearted, but it has tested my limits and I feel more alive and empowered than ever.’

Bettina described the sheer dedication it takes to succeed in the sport.

You’re on a diet full time. I have had to eat with my family eating my food and go on vacation and not be able to eat what they are eating and it is very difficult in that sense,” he said.

“People aren’t going to understand, but what I’ve learned is that the people who understand and accept are the real people for you, and experiences like this really detoxify and bring out the true colors of the people around you. ‘

Bettina Grimaud during her transformation into a championship bodybuilder.

Bettina (center) faced off against a dozen competitors for the coveted title of Rising Star Bikini Model 2023

Bettina came from a strong background in gymnastics before developing what she described as “tunnel vision” to achieve her goal.

“It’s taught me some life lessons in terms of discipline and commitment and having that tunnel vision and knowing what you want and marking the non-negotiables every day to get there,” he said.

The traumas of her first fitness campaign saw her end up in the hospital with appendicitis before resurfacing with a new approach.

Under the wings of trainers Tabby Knight and Donna Atkins, Bettina embarked on a 14-month training campaign that saw her hone every muscle in her body.

“I thought if I want this, I have to be really selfish and disciplined and not take bulls from anyone,” Bettina said.

Over the past year, Bettina has pushed herself to the limit to sculpt her body.

‘My hardest days were when my calories were going down. My trainer would give me a boost in cardio and especially towards the end when I got really skinny and it was a really big mental challenge because how low do you want your food to go? How high does your cardio want to go?’ she said.

Bettina Grimaud developed “tunnel vision” to achieve her goal.

How it started: Bettina Grimaud took her fitness dreams to new ‘intense’ levels.

As the competition date approached, Bettina said that people would tell her that she looked sick.

“They would ask me why I’m doing this to myself and question my coach’s advice,” he said.

You don’t want to accept those opinions, but a part of you does. He kinda depressed me because she makes you doubt yourself.

Bettina described the ‘burnout’ process, the final push to perfect her body, in the days leading up to the competition as ‘intense’.

“I couldn’t sleep because I was starving,” he said.

Bettina, who has shared much of her fitness journey in instagramhe said he would now ‘pass’ the competitive world of bodybuilding to focus on his college studies in psychology and neuroscience.

“I’ve won all three of my divisions and I think it’s a good way to start something and finish it,” he said.

“I just think it’s really important that I put a lot of time and the same kind of commitment and tunnel vision into that and I’m off to a really good start and I want to push myself through college.”

Despite her retirement from the sport, Bettina said she had no plans to binge on burgers.

Walking offstage, he treated himself to a fruit salad and a protein cookie.

‘I’ll still stay really fit. I wake up very early in the morning and do my steps, keep training and living a healthy life,” she said.