by gene x hwang - November 2002

A recent trend in women's bodybuilding is competitors coming back after lengthy layoffs. And these competitors are not just coming back and taking the stage, but winning and making impressions on the sport. Take Juliette Bergman's return and victory at the 2001 Ms. Olympia and then this year, Lenda Murray doing the same. One other competitor who's made a similar sort of impact is Nancy Lewis.
So what was Lewis doing and why did she return to competition?

"I was training hard, working and stressed from outside distractions. I was not pleased with the condition I was coming in for my competitions. I knew I was better than that. So, I decided to take time to focus on my finances and experience other things that life has to offer."

Obviously that time was well spent as anyone who saw Lewis dominate the competition at the 2002 Jan Tana Classic saw.

The behind-the-scenes work though was really where most of the improvements were made. Lewis admits to enjoying lifting heavy, although she admits it's more the technique that's important than the amount of weight.

With the 2002 competitive season now wrapped up, Lewis does not have any immediate plans for competing in 2003, although things can always change. In the offseason, Lewis weighs between 145 and 148 lbs. She stand 5'3" and targets the 135 lb. lightweight class when competing.

Her training stays the same in the offseason, and she reponds best to heavy training.

"I train anywhere from four days on, one day off, or sometimes five days on, two days off. I just listen to my body. As far as food, I do treat myself more often to what I want," she adds.
That might be similar to what many other competitors do in the off-season, but there is a lot about Lewis that makes her stand out, even begining at an early age. For example, she was voted 'most individual' in high school, and admittedly "steps to the beat of (her) own drum."

In college Lewis went on to be a gymnast, but after graduating, she wanted to stay in shape and a friend of hers suggested that she join a gym to stay in shape.

"I basically started to stay in shape after long and competitive years in both track and field and gymnastics. I did not look at what I was doing as unconventional. It appeared obvious to me after I began to build muscle because the response I got from non-athletic people were stares and speaking under their breaths. I do bodybuilding because I enjoy it and I refuse to conform to what society thinks I should do as a woman."
A refreshing and confident statement from one of the greats in the sport. Hopefully her return may also inspire other women to get on stage.

Outside of training and competing, Lewis has a couple of horses that keep her busy. She enjoys going for long trail rides and also has two Brussels Griffons (dogs) that keep her occupied.

2003 should be an exciting year. With the fall of Ronnie Coleman to Gunter Schlierkamp (at the 2002 GNC Show of Strength), and two years in a row of new Ms. Olympia's you never know what will happen in the world of bodybuilding. And that suits Lewis just fine. As she herself says with a smile: "Always expect the unexpected from me!"