“56 Year Old Wins Pro Card after 25 Years”
This is a story of perseverance and commitment to a dream twenty-five years in the making.
Meet Donna Sterling, who is 57 years old. Donna has been in involved in the fitness industry since the 90’s. Donna always knew that fitness was her calling in her life she had to answer. She started out as an aerobics instructor and later became a personal trainer. For her, it was always about her clients. Donna takes her work very seriously. Her objective has always been to make a difference in her clients lives by sharing her knowledge and leading by example.
At the age of 28, Donna contemplated the idea of competing in bodybuilding event. Her inspiration was 6x Ms. Olympia Cory Everson. After seeing a magazine with a photo of Cory she knew instantly that was the physique she wanted to have and so she embraced the bodybuilding world.
Donna competed at several bodybuilding competitions. It was evident she would be a contender. She was featured in fitness magazines and was even on the cover of Women’s Physique World and NPC magazine. Donna was also featured on ESPN. Donna was well on her way to becoming a professional athlete when she suffered an injury that almost ended her bodybuilding career.
At the age of 38 Donna started a family and gave birth triplets, two boys and a girl. Caring for three little ones was a full-time job. However, Donna was able to provide at home personal training as well as, doing rehab from her injury. She stepped away from competing in bodybuilding but never stopped dreaming of one day earning her Pro Card.
There was something about turned 50 that made Donna reflect on the dream of becoming a professional athlete. Her triples were now 16 years old and she knew that soon they would be following their own dreams. She thought, “how can I inspire my kids to pursue their goals when I had given up on my own”. That was the catalyst that motivated Donna to return to the world of bodybuilding after taking a break for fifteen years.
Donna competed in bodybuilding competitions at the local level and quickly advanced to the national level. She could see her goal was within reach but it wasn’t going to be easy. Donna had to overcome several setbacks including another injury, divorce and even getting Covid. Once again Donna was forced to step back from the stage for an entire year.
In order to qualify to compete at the national level Donna had to enter and win another national competition. Finally, after waiting 25 years, Donna earned her IFBB Pro card in Women’s Physique!
If you think Donna’s story ends here, your wrong. Not only will Donna continue to compete as a professional athlete, she has inspired her daughter to follow in her footsteps. Her daughter, Samantha, took the stage for the first time at an NPC show in June 2022 competing in Figure. Donna will make her Pro Debut in Physique in July 2022. Watch Donna as she trains to compete at the Pro Level.