Diana Schnaidt Describes Her Long Road to Competing in the 2022 Chicago Pro
Schnaidt has been competing as a pro since 2014. She originally started in the Figure division, but had since moved to the Women’s Physique division. She considers the contests she enters the highlights of her year.
“It’s something else. The feeling is something between a heart attack and extreme happiness,” she said. “Every time I get up there, I feel like I’m getting ready to fly.” Continued Gains with Pain
At the beginning of 2022, Schnaidt had a plan for where she was going to compete during the season, and she hoped that this would be the year that she finally moves on to the Olympia. However, the year didn’t start out on the right foot to say the least.
“I’m not sure what happened, but back in January, I started feeling pain in my left foot,” said Schnaidt. “For around a month, I was limping, and I realized it wasn’t getting any better.”
“A few days, I would wear the boot, then a few days, I’d do whatever,” she admitted. As a result, she suffered another broken bone in the foot, and the doctor ordered her to wear the boot for another five weeks. This time, she listened, and one of the bones healed. Unfortunately, the other one had not.
“That would mean the world to me. That would be my dream coming true.”
That dream is what has propelled her throughout the year so far. While she had to struggle with the physical toll of the injury, the Ukranian athlete that now calls New York home was faced with more adversity – the Ukraine/Russia crisis that started in early 2022. Diana Schnaidt has family in both Ukraine and Russia, and they are torn over the war. Several family members, including her parents, sister, her sister’s husband, and her nephew are all in Ukraine trying to stay safe as the fight continues for her homeland. She reported that at this time, they are unable to leave Ukraine for another country.
“I’ve been trying to talk to them every day to see how they are doing,” she explained. “They are all very tired and exhausted. Unfortunately, things are not getting better over there.”
Meanwhile, her aunt and other relatives are in Russia, and they are seeing news and updates that are being broadcasted in that country. Because of that, they have a completely different perspective.
“Now, I feel like my body’s ready, I’m ready,” she said. While the struggle to train with her injuries continue, she feels that training has served a much higher purpose for her.
“Going to the gym has been my therapy. Weight training has been working as therapy for me. It puts my mind in a better place.”
She reported that her upper body training never changed in spite of the injury, and even though she can’t squat or do lunges, she has found ways to train her legs with cable and machine work. Regardless of how she has to train, nothing is keeping her from being onstage for this show. She’s competed in the Chicago Pro every year since 2016. Her best finish came in 2017 when she placed second to Autumn Swansen. Part of the reason she is going all in is the contest itself.
“I just love that show. It’s one of the largest of the season, and you see all of those great athletes on that stage.”
“Tim Gardner shows, Wings of Strength shows, they definitely treat all the athletes very well. That’s why this one and the Tampa Pro are two of my favorite shows.” said the eighth-year competitor. What stands out the most to Diana Schnaidt is that she gets to test herself against a lineup of great competitors.
“Some athletes choose to do smaller shows so they can win, but if fewer competitors show up, it’s not a real competition,” she explained. “Of course, everybody wants to win, but when you compete against strong athletes, you feel like you’re really competing.”
She will get her wish when she graces the stage in Illinois. Fourteen Women’s Physique athletes from nine states and one competitor from China will pose side by side with Schnaidt while having the same goal she does – winning and moving on to the Olympia. In her eyes, that would be a result of personal and international magnitude.
“It would make me very, very happy and proud. I would feel like I not only won for myself, but I won for Ukraine and my family who is there.”
