A 49-year-old mother of two transformed her body in just six months and won a bodybuilding title – as well as a place in the world championships. Klaudia Kotuszyńska’sjourney started with an unexpected message on social media.
A coach who trained athletes for bodybuilding competitions contacted her, complimenting her natural symmetry and muscle tone. Klaudia said: “I’d always admired bodybuilding competitions—the beauty, the hard work, the spectacle. But I never thought I’d be on that stage myself. Then I thought, why not? Just once. To feel it. And now here I am.”
Klaudia, who was a lawyer started going to the gym as an outlet and a way to maintain her mental health. She said: “I didn’t want to think about how bad things were, so I threw myself into training. It was like therapy, but it also set me on this unexpected path.”
In her first competition she took home a gold medal. Over the next two weeks, she secured two more golds, an overall title, and a qualification for the PCA World Championships.
Klaudia followed an uncompromising schedule, waking up at 5am every day for an hour of cardio before breakfast and morning client sessions as she took on a role as a personal trainer. Her own intense training came later, followed by carefully planned meals and evening work with clients.
“By 10pm, I was in bed, utterly exhausted but driven,” she said. “It wasn’t easy, but greatness never is.” Her diet was equally demanding. Six identical meals a day, meticulously calculated and void of indulgences. “No cheat meals,” she says firmly. “I don’t lie to myself. Discipline is everything.”
She added: “I’ve been on stage since I was a teenager as a dancer, so it feels natural. While others are nervous, I’m in my element. That confidence? The judges notice, and it makes all the difference.”
For Klaudia, the journey wasn’t without its struggles. She said: “It made me rethink everything. Despite having a good job, a wonderful family, a home, a car, and everything I could need, I felt stuck. Life had become a repetitive cycle—always meeting others’ expectations, doing the same things over and over, with no real sense of purpose. It was like being in a loop.
“That realisation hit hard. I understood that the life I was living wasn’t aligned with my dreams or ambitions. So, I started searching within myself—not for what others wanted from me, but for what I truly wanted. And I found it. I found a goal. These competitions became my focus. Having a clear goal is so important in life. It gives you direction and purpose. Once you find it, you just have to go for it—no matter what!”
In preparation for the competitions, Klaudia committed to an intense training schedule: 13 sessions a week, each lasting about 2.5 hours. “It was hard,” she admits. “But quitting? Never. My coach suggested a short break, and that helped me come back stronger.”
Balancing her demanding fitness regime with family life was another hurdle. As a mother to two teenagers, Klaudia had to make sacrifices. “They’ve been so supportive, but I missed spending time with them. Every passion has its cost, and that was mine.”
Her advice is simple: “Stop complaining and start acting. Bad day? Go to the gym. Heartbreak? Gym. No motivation? Gym. Discipline will take you where motivation can’t.
“Nothing is impossible if you truly want it and commit to it. Never give up.”