Nicole Tovey heads for Marbella, Spain, today to represent Bermuda at this weekend’s Olympia Amateur against athletes from all continents.

Tovey, who competes in the bikini open and masters class, wants to earn an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness pro card, which would enable her to grace the stage at professional shows for cash prizes.

Achieving her ambition will be no mean feat, with Tovey not only having to win her own height class but also beat the winners of all the other height classes for the overall first place.

“My ultimate goal is absolutely to get that pro card, which means I would be designated a professional athlete under the IFBB and able to compete among the best worldwide,” Tovey said.

“To get it is a pretty fierce battle. Generally only the overall winner of each category at an IFBB amateur competition will be eligible for a pro card.

“In some competitions that can mean beating upwards of 150 to 200 other competitors. Tough gig!”

Tovey captured glory at last year’s Night of the Champions at CedarBridge Academy, winning the overall bikini class, and has finished second and third twice at the Central American and Caribbean Championships.

She ranks her third-place finish at the Arnold Amateur Class in Columbus, Ohio, in March as her top showing and feels in even better shape ahead of her trip to the chic and sun-drenched Costa del Sol.

“My preparation for [the Arnold Classic] was much shorter than usual and I didn’t feel like I was in my best condition,” the Australian said.

“I had aimed to make top ten, so third place was an incredible feeling at such a prestigious international competition.”

Tovey, a lawyer at Taylors in association with Walkers, has never previously competed in Europe and admits she is stepping into the unknown in terms of the competition and physical preferences of the judges.

“I try not to carry expectations into a competition,” said Tovey, who trains under Muhsin Nasir, the Bermuda coach, at the Bermuda Elite Athletic Strength Training gym.

“Of course I enter wanting to win; who doesn’t? But it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a subjective sport and so much comes down to the condition and presentation of not only myself, but all the other competitors and what the judges are looking for.

“I always aim to better my last show in terms of presentation, physique and conditioning, and I feel that I have achieved that since the Arnold’s.

“That said, I’ve never competed in Europe before so it will be a whole new ball game in terms of what condition the European girls bring and whether I fit what the judges are looking for. I want the win though!”