ABOUT THIS EPISODE
This one covers a lot of ground, and honestly, it's one of those conversations that stays with you.
Courtney Farrell is a bikini competitor, newly minted pro, and qualified accountant who works with fitness professionals across Australia. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on a competing journey that has been anything but linear, including a big off-season commitment, going through IVF while staying in the sport, and the pressure she carried into her pro debut in Dubai.
We get into the real emotional weight of competing, what it actually feels like to watch your body change when the goal is not stage-ready, and the perspective shift that comes with chasing a baby and a pro card at the same time.
Then we switch hats.
Courtney breaks down the financial side of competing that most athletes never think about until it is too late. If you run an online coaching business, there are legitimate ways to structure competition costs, and there are also common mistakes that cost people money every single year. She walks us through what can and cannot be claimed, why record-keeping during prep season matters more than most people realise, and what she would tell every competitor-coach to start doing today.
Whether you are heading into your first show, sitting in a big off-season wondering if it is worth it, or trying to figure out how to make the finances of this sport work for your business, this episode has something for you.
In this episode:
- What Courtney wishes she knew heading into her first show
- Why she committed to a significant off-season and how that shaped her pro card journey
- Going through IVF during prep life and what it changed about the way she sees her body
- The pressure she put on herself for Dubai and the advice she has for anyone doing the same
- Post-show recovery then versus now
- What fitness business owners can and cannot claim around competing
- The financial mistakes she sees competitors making repeatedly
- Her top tips for reducing comp costs without cutting corners
Social Media Coaching, Management & Sponsorships
The Comp Closet Cost Planner
The Comp Closet Instagram
Sarah Moore (Host) Instagram
