Bjepoljka Ljubica Šekularac is the only active competitor in bodybuilding and fitness in Montenegro and, although she is 44 years old and has two grandchildren, she often beats younger girls.
She started bodybuilding 15 years ago when her doctor advised her to engage in physical activities due to ossification of the cervical spine.
The other adult members of the Šekularac family also play sports - Ljubica's husband Zlatko, sons Stefan (24) and Nemanja (20) and their wives Ljubica and Đina are fitness instructors and personal trainers. The bodybuilders are Zlatko and Stefan.
Behind Ljubica's success, as she explains, is hard work and love for this sport, and her goal is to encourage as many women as possible to take care of their health through physical activity and to slow down aging.
"Accomplished as a mother, and since three years ago as a grandmother (grandson Petar is three years old, and granddaughter Ljubica is a month old), I am the best proof that this is possible. A woman does not have to achieve top results, but she can work on herself and be healthy," says Šekularac.
She took part in the physical culture congress held in Vienna at the end of February, and then in the World International Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship in Linz, as a fitness model in the category.
In about eight years of active participation in this sport, she performed at about 30 international competitions, and for the last four years she has not missed a performance. She is a certified instructor in multiple fitness federations and is the only woman to hold so many international licenses.
Stefan is the state champion in power lifting. He is a former national, European and world record holder in those disciplines, and has also performed more in bodybuilding, while Nemanja is an instructor, but also a national representative in basketball.
Ljubiča's husband Zlatko says that their children grew up with sports and that they are big supporters of a healthy diet.
"I've had a gym for a long time and I've always directed my sons to sports and using the gym to make them strong athletes, but I've never influenced which sport they choose as an upgrade," says Zlatko and adds that sports are the best recipe and way to separate children from the streets and to turn to healthy lifestyles.
Zlatko and Ljubica run the "Olimp" fitness club in Bijelo Polje, and Stefan "Kolos gym" in Tivat, where he lives with his family.
The big problem of the Sekulars is that their competitions do not have adequate support from state institutions
The big problem of the Sekulars is that their competitions do not have adequate support from state institutions.
"All these years until the arrival of Aleksandar Žurić as the President of the Municipality, the support was almost symbolic and we did everything at our own expense. However, the last Arno Classic competition in Madrid was helped by the Ministry of Sports, which provided the travel, while the costs of the competition were borne by the Municipality", said Ljubica.
Mother and son perfect models
At the physical culture congress in Vienna, Ljubica was presented as a perfect model and presenter.
Along with Ljubica, her son Stefan was presented as a perfect model in Vienna. Ljubica was the only participant from Montenegro at this, as well as at the Arnold classic in Madrid.
"Stefan and I were presented with gold medals and plaques and certificates of appreciation for participation and contribution to the congress," said Ljubica.
In Vienna, Stefan and Ljubica received an offer from the president of the APCF federation to come to Beirut on May 5 and present the perfect harmony of psychophysical health in their bodies.
The invitation came from Samir Banout, one of the winners of the Mr. bodybuilding competition. Olympia, to come to Florida and I'm getting ready for that prestigious competition.
Ljubica says that she was overjoyed when, after being invited to Beirut, she was told that a surprise gift was waiting for her there as a woman whose family members are all successful athletes.
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