Would I Want To Be A Sponsored Athlete?

Wait a minute - Am I actually an ‘Athlete’? – LOL (for my Mum who surely doesn’t know short text - that means Laugh Out Loud).

You see, in my mind I have always associated the term ‘Athlete’ for the likes of Usain Bolt or Cathy Freeman or that caliber of achievement. I have to say that I have never been able to really accept the ‘Athlete’ title for the first-time winner of a bodybuilding show. Geeps – I’m surely going to lose a few more social media friends here … not my intention by the way, but I’m sure it will happen.

And another one of those questions is this – who decides you are an ‘Athlete’? Does Facebook Management see the gazillion post-show photos showing a ripped happy winner, holding tight with an overhead biceps pose on one side and an uplifted trophy in the other, and make contact suggesting you rethink your name banner and add on the clearly appropriate title that you have now earned? I mean how does it happen? A few protein shakes with friends and suddenly you all hatch the idea to make yourself an Athlete? Do the fans suggest it should happen?

Can a bodybuilder be classed as an Athlete? Well I think they can. There are some out there that have years of solid work behind them and they present a physique of a world standard consistently and they clearly live the life of their chosen sport. So surely a random Fitness Division first-time winner who touts themselves suddenly as an 'Athlete' is a bit of a kick in teeth? Or maybe that's just my opinion and the everyone else feels different to me - won't be the first time that happens!

Does a world-class runner become an Athlete because they won a race? Or because they have been around for a certain amount of time, giving credibility to their status? Open for interpretation isn't it.

As for becoming a Pro - am I dreaming or is this becoming so much easier with each season? Not due to the diminishing physiques, but due to the serious increase in the number of pro cards being offered and the relative ease in which you can qualify. In saying that - I haven't earned one so it can't be that easy!! I guess I'm meaning in relative terms to what I hear it used to be like to earn that status.

Following on from this controversial theme – when do you cease to remain an Athlete? Do you get to keep the banner when your last show was some 3-4 years ago? Does one heady win mean the ‘Pro’ status stays as some sort of lifetime achievement award? Does it get awkward when the Athlete no longer looks like an athlete, doesn’t compete in shows and yet still maintains this page? Well I find it awkward!

Am I just jealous because Facebook haven’t contacted me and urged me to rethink my lowly status as simply Kirsten Engels? Haha – maybe I am! And they haven’t by the way.

Least this just sound like a meanie blog, I’ll move onto the second topic – being sponsored. Again, no one has beaten down my door and offered me the prestigious title of Sponsored Athlete/Person/Mum/Wife/Daggy Dresser – I’m not sponsored for anything and nor have I been. I suspect there are a few reasons for this – the main being that I haven’t really done anything profound enough to warrant sponsoring. That’s a bit of brutal honesty for the day.

Here are a couple more reasons; I’m a tad mouthy and won’t pretend to like something that I actually don’t like. I’m not really into looking fabulously chic and am much more at home with whatever’s comfy and cool (I mean cool in the tropical weather – not cool as in ‘dude’ cool – I just can’t seem to pull off that sort of cool no matter how hard I try!!). I don’t care whether the likes of Lorna features in my gym attire or whether a capital W is responsible, and I certainly have not, will not and never would contemplate a full face of make up for training. Nor do I care for the taking of constant selfies – though I understand that, due to this stance, I’m missing out on a million “You look great!!” and “Hot hot HOT!!!” comments from loved ones .. sigh.

Oh yeah, I also like to write this blog that stirs the hornets nest.

Being sponsored is like another job if it’s done right, and I probably don’t have time for that if I’m being honest.

Proviso: If there are any of my favourite protein makers out there that were just on the cusp of sponsoring me – please, please, please ignore this whole blog and make contact asap!! I’d sell my Grandma for a constant supply of my delicious chocolate powders!!

Ok – I’ll start being serious. As I said, being sponsored is a job. The items being offered are only being offered because you are expected to do something in return. If you’re not doing anything to promote your sponsor, your sponsor is a dick and clearly has more money than good sense. It’s a partnership and your shameless self-promotion should be used to sell or promote the article you are being supplied with.

That means you shouldn’t then support another item from a competitor. Sponsorship 101.

That means you can’t shit-can your sponsor or their product. Sponsorship 101.1.

That means you are now a walking advertisement for that product so swearing, badmouthing and showing yourself in a bad light to the general public is somewhat uncool. Sponsorship 101.2.

 

 

There are some sponsors out there that are not savvy enough to keep an eye on their ‘Athletes’ which is unfortunate for them because their behaviour on social media is atrocious. I shake my head and have a good old laugh some days. Other days I just shake my head. If I were a business advisor I would seriously suggest the money would go way better into standard advertising on some occasions!!

And let's keep it real - sponsorship for females in particular often means a beautiful girl is selling a product. There are some fabulous physiques out there that aren't sponsored and there is an aesthetic reason why sometimes - yes I know, not all times, but some times. Surely you agree.

So being an unknown has its benefits. Sure, you have to pay for everything you use, but you can remain unscrutinised other than by those you choose to have in your life. You can also stay true to your choices without any influence.

To illustrate freedom, I’ll leave you with this thought; there is a particular supplement manufacturer that produces a range of products and they also provide mega sponsorship (there are so many of these companies about the place that you’ll never work out which one it is so don’t even try). Their protein tastes like I imagine chemical warfare would taste like. On top of that, it is watery and bland. It is seriously the most horrible protein I have ever tasted. Watery chemicals. And yet, there are happy little campers all of the place posing with these products and singing its praises and I can only think one or more the following is applicable;

·         They have all lost their taste buds in a nasty accident with a hot beverage

·         They are on drugs

·         They like drinking watery chemicals

·         Or they are excellent fakers

The thought of being sponsored by this company and actually having to drink that protein would present a very awkward scenario of being paid for something I wouldn’t use or recommend - unless stuck on a desert island with nothing else to drink. So it is with genuine excitement that I can confirm this company has never approached me to be one of their ever-expanding team. Yay for no sponsorship!! LOL (means Laugh out Loud Mum!!)