Tresca Trott achieved a remarkable podium place at the Arnold Classic in Barcelona last weekend as the first Bermudian bodybuilder to compete at a European competition.

Trott exceeded expectations with a third-place finish in her height class in the amateur figure category to suggest she is well on track to achieve her goal of earning an IBFF pro card.

She will now look to build on her encouraging showing at this weekend’s Central American Caribbean Championships in the Dominican Republic, where she will join eight other Bermuda athletes.

A pro card will be, once again Trott’s objective, with the 39-year-old having to win her height class and beat all of the winners of the other height categories.

Trott, a two-times figure-class winner at the Night of Champions in Bermuda, said her “amazing experience” in Barcelona had given her a huge lift ahead of the CAC Championships.

“I feel amazing about what happened in Barcelona and I hope to do better in the Caribbean,” said Trott, who heads to the Dominican Republic today with the rest of her team-mates.

“I felt confident going in and, of course, I was nervous and didn’t know exactly what to expect.

“It was more competitive than I thought it would be, but I felt confident about the package I was bringing.”

Trott’s performance was all the more impressive considering she was unknown to the European judges who are thought to favour athletes from their region who they have already laid eyes upon.

“The judges hadn’t seen me before, so I was quite surprised to achieve a podium,” said Trott, who finished third in her class at last year’s CAC Championships.

“It felt like a good start for what’s coming up at the CACs, but I can’t afford to rest on my laurels.”

Also competing at the Arnold Classic Europe were local bodybuilders Nicole Tovey, in the bikini class, and Bernard Opoku, in the men’s fitness class. Tovey, an Australian, and Englishman Opoku were unable to reach the finals of their categories.

Tovey, 40, heads to Czech Republic for the EVLS Prague Showdown this weekend while Opoku, 30, will be action at the CAC Championships.

Muhsin Nasir, the Bermuda coach, said Trott’s top three was a huge achievement in her first major international competition.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen as it was the first time a Bermudian had competed in Europe,” said Nasir, who become the first Bermudian male to win a pro card at the NPC Team Universe in New Jersey in 2014.

“It’s a visual competition and the judges tend to pick the look they’re comfortable with.

“So, for a Bermudian who has only competed in the Caribbean to go up against predominantly Europeans and do so well was a real plus.”

Nasir will travel with Bermuda’s team to the Caribbean and believes all nine athletes can pull off podium places.

Bermuda’s squad also includes Deon Brangman, Julian Johnson and Cervio Cox in the men’s physique, Melissa Smith and Susan Rebello in the women’s physique, Shameela Simons in the figure class, and Karen Hodgson in the fitness category.

Also travelling will be Candy-Lee Foggo, the Bermuda Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation president, who will judge along with Ranae Cann and Wendy Dill.

“We have guys who have placed on the podium before and there’s a good chance for our newcomers too because the competition [at the Night of the Champions] was very close,” Nasir said.