Isa Long also places in bodybuilding tourney

Isa Ha’ani Long went home with three trophies in her bodybuilding debut in last month’s 2022 California OCB Bay Area Amatuer Bikini Bodybuilding Championships.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Isa Ha’ani Long made an outstanding debut in the world of bodybuilding by finishing second and taking two third place trophies in the 2022 California OCB Bay Area Amatuer Bikini Bodybuilding Championships held last July 23 at the San Leandro Arts Center in San Leandro, California.
The co-valedictorian of the Tinian High School Class of 2022 finished second in the novice class, third in the debut class, and third again in the open class.

Considering it’s her first bodybuilding competition ever, Long was understandably thrilled by her achievement. 

“After taking second in novice and third in open as well as third in debut, I was shocked and really happy. Since this was my first competition I wasn’t expecting much, considering I was competing in the States and I was the youngest competitor. However, I was really happy with the results,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Long said placing in her first bodybuilding competition wasn’t a piece of cake. In fact, she said it took a lot of sacrifice and commitment on her part.

Isa Ha’ani Long, second from right, poses with other participants of last month’s 2022 California OCB Bay Area Amatuer Bikini Bodybuilding Championships in San Leandro, California. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“I spent some months building muscle then went into preparation for 16 weeks leading up to my competition. I have been going to the gym for around three years now and I decided to take up bodybuilding to form a better relationship with my nutrition and challenge myself both mentally and physically,” she said.

Her father, Tinian Chamber of Commerce president Philip Mendiola-Long, said he and his wife are mighty proud of their daughter’s latest achievement.

“As parents, Arley and I are immensely proud of Isa for her dedication and commitment to the sport of women’s natural bodybuilding. Both her twin sister Cielo and her wake up at 6am to work out and then again in the evening. Doing this all while on a strict diet while the rest of us in the house eat what we want,” he said.

Mendiola-Long said Isa has always been go-getter so it doesn’t surprise them anymore what she’s become at a very young age. 

“Isa has been a driven individual since she was little. Very competitive and always seeks to push herself. Her recent placement in the California OCB Bay Area Amateur Bodybuilding Championships has proven that even a 17-year-old island girl from Tinian can compete at the national level and place.”

Long’s father said the family expects bigger things coming from Isa as she transitions to college with her twin sister. 

“We can’t wait to see what levels Isa pushes herself to next. She has already stated she will be competing again in Massachusetts while attending Harvard. Not only will she be the youngest, but most likely the only competitor currently attending Harvard, unless of course her sister Cielo decides to join as well. As parents, you can probably imagine how proud we are of Isa,” he said.

A week before Isa’s triumph in San Leandro, Cielo finished third in the 2022 California WNBF Muscle Mayhem Bodybuilding Competition in Sacramento.

She was the first of the Long twins to make her debut in the sport when she won the bikini competition of the 2021 Dee Clayton Classic at the Saipan World Resort in November last year.