(WP): Let’s begin with you telling our viewers a little about yourself.

(AA): My name is Arina Manta. I am originally born in Romania (Transylvania, the country of Dracula) and for the past 16 years, I reside in Sydney, Australia. I started my sporting career at the tender age of three where being born in a Communist country we were selected by the Government at a very young age to become the future of Romania (in athletic field). We were selected for different sports by our genetics (also they were looking at our parents genetics as well, my father at the time was a Pro Soccer Player and my mom was an ex gymnast), and also we were chosen by the bone structure. Only few kids were selected and I was lucky enough to be one of them. I was selected for gymnastics and springboard diving.

Until the age of 6, I was trained for both sports, until I won my first spring board diving competition and I was selected to represent Romania at the age of 7 at the European Championships in Germany. At the age of 12, I was rewarded with my spring board diving Pro-Card and that made me the youngest Pro-Athlete ever in Romania and one of the most talented young athlete of that time. With hard training, my discipline and strong will to be the best I stayed at the top for 10 years consecutively, until I had an accident and had two operations to my knee.

Not long after that I retired, knowing that I could not be 100% able to train to be the best. I retired as a Champion, believing that was a good way to retire. I stared my tertiary education studying Sport Science at University, where I aspire to become a diver coach. Despite coming for a lovely and well-educated family, the restrictive and draconian practice of Communism would soon make me take the decision to leave everything behind me and move overseas to make it better for myself and to be offered better lifestyle and more freedom. Moving to Australia and having a heart of a competitor and always training for all different reasons. A few years later, I started to enter few competitions as a Bikini/Sport model.

Having a good athletic background, few years later, I entered my first fitness competition and since then, I never looked back. Couple of years later, I became Miss Fitness Australia (State title), where I competed for few years and represented Australia at the World Championships. Then I moved to figure; where in my first competition, I won the short Figure and the overall, becoming Miss Figure Overall Australasia (State title). Again, I represented Australia in the World Championships. Then few months later, I was rewarded with my Pro-Card. Becoming Professional for the second time in my life at a different sport, I was very pleased with my achievements. In the mean time, I was also became the Trainer of Champions (Master Trainer Coach), Supplement Consultant for ASN (Australian Sports Nutrition), an Elite Fitness Model, a Choreographer and a Make-up artist.

(WP): What has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?

(AA): My stepping stone was my strong mind, my discipline, my ambition, my love for training and my passion for health and beauty.

(WP): What has it been like to maintain your physique? Have you done anything different lately?

(AA): Maintaining my physique was not that hard for me, maybe just because I like being healthy and the reward is having a great physique at the same time and feeling FANTASTIC. I always change my nutrition and training plan. I like to experience, especially with nutrition, different types of food and see how my body reacts to it. With my training, I always like to challenge my body to the max.

(WP): Are you planning to compete again in the future?

Arina Manta2(AA): Yes, I do plan to compete in the future, but when? I will decide soon which competition I will be entering.

(WP): Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?

(AA): In my years, I have been dating and have been in few relationships, but always it was something missing. Now, for the past few months, I am in a relationship with an amazing man. Robert Bell. I finally found my other half, Mr. Right, which understands my way of living. He is my best friend, lover and biggest supporter. Robert, being himself an athlete at a very young age, (a Semi Pro footballer) and being a very successful entrepreneur in US, he does understand so well the way of living of being discipline, have ambitions, have a strong mind and not being afraid of taking risks to climb to the top.

In life, without the support of our partners, it is hard to achieve our own dreams. Myself, I like to dream big and I am never afraid to make those dreams a reality. Now with my partner’s support, I know that nothing will stop me to climb to the very top.

(WP): Sounds like you have found the right man for you. What a blessing! What has figure competitions taught you thus far?

(AA): Figure taught me to keep striving for perfection, to stay focused and keep being discipline.