By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SERENA Salius Decius-Norius made a successful debut as a bikini model at the NPC 2020 CJ Classic and Sunshine State Bodybuilding Bikini Physique Figure Fitness Classic that was held in West Palm Beach, Florida, over the weekend.

Italian born Decius-Norius, the wife of Bahamian pro bodybuilder Jimmy Norius, captured the bikini A short class divisional title and placed second in both the bikini masters over 35 and the bikini novice, while getting third overall in the bikini open class.

Although she’s not that fluent in English, Decius-Norius said she was quite pleased with her performance.

“I was very pleased,” she said. “I worked very hard to get ready.”

Norius, speaking on behalf of his wife, said prior to going to the competition, they had some uncertainty about any expectations because Decius-Norius was making her debut.

“There were so many bikini girls that she told me, ‘Jimmy, I just want to make the final. I just want to make the final,’” he said.

“This CJ Classic is the toughest show in Florida right now, so I told her if she can get through this, it would be easy for her to compete in any other show in the future.”

Norius said they will return home and make preparations for the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s National Bodybuilding Championships on August 8 and hopefully represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

“She put in the work, but I was just there to train her and to guide her along the way,” said Norius, a personal fitness trainer. “She had it down-pat and it showed in her performance at the end of the competition.”

Norius, one of the top bodybuilders in the country, said he’s very proud of his wife’s achievement in such a short time.

“Considering that this was her first show, the judges loved her,” he pointed out. “They said her form, her genetics, her body structure will enable her to make it very far, if she remains consistent. She got a first, two seconds and a third.

“They told me about the mistakes that she made that she will definitely correct for her next show. I am looking forward to her competing again when she competes in our local nationals on August 8.

“This show was for her to get the exposure, experience and to get her feet wet.”

Norius said that he will ensure that she is ready to hit the stage and make a successful showing on the local scene at the nationals.